Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: It's Common Sense for Master and Disciple to Sleep in the Same Room
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Inside the carriage racing mindlessly toward our destination.
Contrary to my expectation that it would be noisy with so many people, the carriage was proceeding in silence.
"Hmm...."
"““...””"
Of course, given my personality, conversing with others would feel uncomfortable too....
Still.
Does it make sense that after several hours since departure, not a single person has opened their mouth?
'This awkwardness is killing me....'
I wished someone would just break the ice....
Leaning on Nameless's shoulder, I glanced up at him with a sliver of hopeful expectation,
'Why is this guy acting like this...?'
I have no idea what he's so dissatisfied about,
but he's pouting with his lips pursed and his brows furrowed deeply, glaring at something.
'What a waste of that handsome face....'
Really.
My gaze toward Nameless grew icy cold.
Curiosity piqued by whatever he was glaring at so murderously, I turned my head to follow his line of sight, and there,
'Why is that guy acting like that...?'
was Lucius, staring right through me in the exact same posture as when we first met.
There was a hint of madness in his eyes that made me shudder involuntarily.
Not that I'd say this to his face, but....
Unlike Nameless, this guy looks overly effeminate, and his gaze feels incredibly burdensome.
I don't even want to make eye contact with him,
so I squeezed my eyes shut and leaned back against Nameless's shoulder.
'I didn't see anything.'
I have zero intention of getting involved in whatever bizarre behavior they're up to.
...That's what I say, but I don't really intend to ignore it completely.
He's staring at me that intently, so he must have something he wants to say....
Ignoring him outright feels a bit rude, doesn't it?
But I don't want to be the one to start talking, so I figured I'd get someone else to help.
...Weren't they chatting amiably with us when we first met, before we got here?
Elia would surely help out.
With eyes brimming with expectation, I turned to look at Elia,
'Why is that girl acting like that...?'
but Elia was just staring blankly at Lucius with a dazed expression.
She looked so lifeless that even I, watching from the side, felt myself shrinking back—it seems like Lucius must have done something major to upset her....
They were getting along great right up until we boarded the carriage,
so if Lucius messed up, it must have been after we got on.
Hmm, but... didn't he do absolutely nothing?
I tilted my head this way and that, pondering, but nothing came to mind.
Even with my sharp wits, if nothing springs up, then probably there's no real reason for Elia's behavior.
In that case, no need to worry.
I let out a light sigh and surveyed the people inside the carriage.
"..."
Nameless with his brows deeply furrowed, Lucius maintaining a rigid posture staring at me ever since we boarded, and Elia gazing at that Lucius with a dazed look.
Every single one of them seems a bit off in the head.
Is this really okay...?
No matter how positively I try to think about it, only anxiety fills my mind.
But what can I do about it here?
The best I can do is close my eyes and let them carry on with their nonsense comfortably.
Hmm, yeah.
I nodded to myself and leaned on Nameless's shoulder, closing my eyes.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with me.
...
Not long after dozing off against Nameless's shoulder,
I shook my head side to side at the touch of his hand tapping my shoulder.
"Master."
"Nngh... What is it...? Have we arrived already?"
"Yes. The others have gone ahead to prepare camp."
Rubbing my eyes with one hand at his words, I looked around.
Hmm, everyone really is gone.
To shake off the sleep, I lightly shook my head and extended both arms straight toward Nameless.
"Master? What's wrong?"
"Grab them."
As if understanding something, Nameless nodded slightly and grasped my outstretched arms, pulling me toward him.
He seemed to be trying to help me stand, but that wasn't what I wanted.
I pulled my arms in the opposite direction of his strength—toward myself—while bending at the waist.
But if I pulled too hard, he'd end up falling into my arms completely, so I adjusted the force just right....
"Ngh, urgh."
Crack-pop-
"...Master?"
"Kuh... Feels refreshing."
Sitting asleep like that had left my body stiff all over,
but stretching like this swept it all away, leaving a pleasant looseness throughout.
Grinning refreshingly, I peeked outside the carriage and saw the sun had fully set.
...That's a problem. How am I supposed to sleep later?
Sighing as I turned back to Nameless, his face somehow looked flushed.
"What's wrong?"
"...It's nothing."
Nameless whipped his head away and started climbing down from the carriage first.
"Why go ahead without me like that?"
I hopped down after him.
...
Guided by Nameless, we arrived at a spot where three tents were already set up.
While I was asleep, it seems Elia and Lucius had pitched them, including ones for me and Nameless.
...Right?
Lucius and Elia are lovers, so they'll share one for sure....
They know Nameless and I are master and disciple, so this must be their consideration.
Nodding approvingly at their thoughtfulness, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
Hmm... Or not?
If the coachman, Lucius, and Elia all sleep separately, these could be individual tents.
Ugh....
Better to just ask than speculate alone.
"Nameless."
"Yes, Master."
I tugged his sleeve to make him face me.
"Where's the tent we'll use?"
"Pardon? Isn't that one set up over there?"
Nameless pointed with his index finger to the tent on the far right.
Hmm, so that's how it is....
My initial guess was correct.
In that case, I should at least thank the Saintess's group.
I nodded and headed straight to Elia.
Elia was busy organizing luggage into the central tent,
and since she seemed focused on that and hadn't noticed me approaching, I cleared my throat lightly.
"Ahem, hem."
Only after the sound did she notice me, her shoulders jumping slightly as she turned.
"Ah, you're awake?"
"Mm, yeah."
I'd come to give thanks, but...
Now that I was here, it felt oddly embarrassing, and my mouth wouldn't open easily.
Tsk, my character isn't that bad....
As I stood there fumbling with my lips, Elia smiled faintly and waved it off.
"It's fine. We had time anyway."
"...Thanks."
Just from my hesitation, she seemed to grasp what I wanted to say and voiced it for me.
...After that, an awkward silence settled in again.
Hmm, nothing else to say....
The silence in the carriage felt so uncomfortable before I slept, but now that I'm trying to talk directly, I have no idea what to say.
...It's not that my personality is weird; it's just that aside from Nameless, I haven't talked to people for a long time.
Plus, unlike Nameless, Elia is a woman, right?
She'll lose interest in talking to me soon enough.
Feeling like I needed to justify it somehow, I mulled it over inwardly.
Yeah, that's right... I'm not the problem.
As I nodded to myself in self-assurance, Elia spoke first.
"Lady Hwarang."
"Hm?"
"Bring your luggage to put in the tent, and I'll help organize it."
"My luggage?"
Elia smiled and nodded instead of answering.
Hmm, to organize my stuff, she'd have to go into the tent Nameless uses too— is Elia okay with that?
...And I'm not some novice who needs help organizing luggage.
I shook my head with a somewhat stiff expression.
"Tell Nameless to do it. You organize yours."
"...Pardon? Is Mr. Nameless coming to our tent?"
"? What are you talking about?"
Elia and I both tilted our heads, not understanding each other.
Our tent?
Me sleeping in the same tent as Elia?
Why?
I narrowed my brows in genuine puzzlement and cocked my head, and Elia blushed, murmuring softly.
"...Surely you weren't planning to sleep in the same tent as Mr. Nameless?"
"Then...?"
She stared blankly at my confused expression, then her face flushed beet red.
"Th-that's indecent! A man and woman sleeping in the same place!"
"What's indecent about it...? Nameless and I are master and disciple...."
"E-even so, you two..."
Elia trailed off, fumbling with her lips.
Frustrated, I thumped my chest and spoke up.
"What about Nameless and me?"
"...I don't know!"