Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Sticky and Slimy
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Coming to my senses, I realized snow was gently falling from the sky before I knew it.
“Oh...”
Leaning half my body out the window, I stretched out my hand to catch some snow in my palm.
The snow that touched my hand gifted me a pleasant chill before melting away into my body heat, as if it harbored no regrets whatsoever.
Watching it disappear, I smacked my lips in disappointment. This time, I thrust both arms out the window, waiting for snow to pile up in my hands.
But inside a carriage hurtling along at high speed, that was never going to happen. Instead, I wound up with snow splattering across my face.
Pouting, I pulled my body back inside.
Nameless watched me with a small sigh, then pulled out a handkerchief. As he wiped the snow and moisture from my face, he spoke up.
“Master, the wind is biting cold.”
“Do I look like I care about that?”
“You don't, which is exactly why I have to worry.”
“...”
This rascal clearly knew full well that the weather held no sway over me, yet he said it anyway.
I could guess the reason, too.
As the weather turned colder, he was sulking—most unbecomingly—because I hadn't granted his little request.
I puffed out my cheeks.
“Didn't I tell you I can handle it myself?”
“And that's precisely why I'm fussing over you.”
...Look at this punk?
Daring to sass back at his master—who towered over him like the heavens themselves? That didn't bode well.
But losing my temper here would be the mark of an amateur.
I struggled to rein in my emotions, aiming for a calm tone—
“Eek! You baby me way too much!”
In the end, I couldn't hold back. Face beet-red, I bellowed and snapped a flick right on Nameless's forehead.
“Ow! Master, that hurts!”
“Outch! Hey, put your hand down!”
Nameless whipped his head every which way to dodge my finger, but the more he squirmed, the tighter I clung—pinning him down so he couldn't escape.
After that, the once-quiet carriage grew noisy from our antics.
“...What in the world are you two doing?”
Elia—who'd clearly been asleep just moments ago—blushed crimson and spoke in a lowered voice.
“P-Please save that sort of thing for when you're alone...”
“...Yes.”
“...Sorry.”
Nameless and I settled awkwardly back into our seats, staring out the window in silence.
An awkward hush filled the carriage.
...
Quiet or rowdy, the carriage pressed on toward our destination without pause.
When the snow-blanketed ground took on a reddish hue, the carriage finally halted.
...
I leaped out as if hurling my body from the carriage, then stretched my aching waist.
“Uggggh!”
It had taken over a month of nonstop travel to reach Ellen.
So much had happened along the way...
Memories bubbled up fresh and vivid, drawing a wistful look to my face.
Once, we'd spotted a squirrel-like critter. Curiosity piqued, I'd reached to pet it—only for Nameless to stop me, warning it was venomous.
As the chill deepened, he'd fretted over me enough to shrug off his own outer layer. But then his face turned scarlet; he wrapped me up tight, then frantically dug new clothes from our bags.
...He'd offered some to me too, but they felt too uncomfortable, so I'd passed.
I'd spent my whole life in this outfit—thick layers just didn't suit me anymore.
Nameless had tried persuading me: people in Ellen might stare at someone dressed so thinly. But my resolve held firm.
And as always...
Overseeing Nameless's training brought peals of laughter from our idle chatter.
Once a week, we'd sweat through the night as I widened his meridians.
For some reason, Elia never crossed paths with us the next day...
Last week, I'd been utterly drained from feeding excuses to Lily in my recurring dreams.
Well, you know—the Saintess and Hero are traveling with us now.
No clue how Lily found out, though...
She'd probed relentlessly, suspicious I'd broken our pact and turned against her side. My half-baked acting nearly killed me with awkwardness.
Luckily—whether I had a knack for it, or Lily was just that innocent—it blew over.
Of course, I hadn't fed her pure lies.
This journey was to size up the Hero and Saintess... and pursue my true goal, wasn't it?
I'd never once considered siding with the Hero.
His mere presence—that sickly, nauseating aura—twisted my guts. How could I ever join him?
Nor would I back the Demon King.
I just needed to live quietly. Safely. With Nameless alone.
If Lily and the Saintess had never glimpsed me, wouldn't Nameless and I be wandering villages right now, sampling every strawberry variety under the sun...?
My brow furrowed.
Strawberries dredged up that memory.
What thieving rat had swiped them? I'd bought plenty—gone in just three days.
Left gnawing flavorless jerky till my jaw ached.
If I nailed the culprit, they wouldn't get off easy.
The deeper I delved into those recollections, the tighter my frown grew.
“...”
Tsk. Not exactly fond memories.
Lips pursed in a sulk, I gazed at distant peaks. Nameless sidled up and took the luggage from my right hand.
“Master, the carriage can't go farther from here.”
“Right.”
I nodded and extended my hand to him.
He stared at it blankly for a moment, then clasped it and stepped forward.
...
A wind so frigid it pierced flesh grazed my cheek.
With every step, my legs sank deep into the snow. I flashed a exhilarated smile down at them.
Snow piled this high? A first for me.
Suddenly curious, I swung our joined hands.
“Nameless, isn't it wondrous?”
“What's that?”
“How the climate and weather change by region.”
Nameless glanced at his own snow-mantled feet and smiled back.
“Yes. Quite wondrous.”
“Hmm.”
His innocent smile sent a strange tickle through my chest.
The cold, maybe...?
Or...
As I mulled it over, Elia's voice sounded from behind. I turned.
“Ah... sorry.”
“No harm done.”
Lucius caught Elia—who'd half-tripped—in his arms, then steadied her with care.
Tch. What an idiot.
How utterly lax in training must one be to stumble in this pillowy snowdrift?
I clicked my tongue softly and swung Nameless's hand.
That said...
I needed to pick the right moment to ditch these two...
But that sparring promise made slipping away tricky.
Our real goal in coming north wasn't Ellen at all—but the Demonic Realm, dubbed the world's edge.
To retrieve the sheath matching Nameless's sword...
At this rate, we'd hole up in the duke's castle they kept yammering about in Ellen.
A faint sigh slipped out.
Puzzled, Nameless cocked his head and tugged my arm.
“What's wrong?”
“...Just thinking about meeting yet another stranger has my head pounding already.”
Nameless murmured a soft 'ah' and nodded as if he got it.
“True. Just picturing the one we'll meet tenses me right up.”
His tone implied he knew them somewhat...
I narrowed my eyes.
To keep Nameless from catching on, I piped up brightly.
“Hm? You know who it is?”
“Yes—Iron Blood, right?”
Even then, no one sprang to mind. I tilted my head.
...Who?
I've holed up in my hut forever—don't even know the emperor's name. Why would I recognize some backwater nickname?
Yet Nameless, who'd only lived in a village briefly as a kid, knew it. How big a deal were they...?
Seeing my baffled look, Nameless smiled faintly and went on.
“The empire's strongest, they call her.”
“Hoo...?”
“Slew a wyvern haunting the north—at just thirteen.”
A glint of admiration lit Nameless's eyes.
“At fifteen, she charged into battle on her own—racked up feat after feat.”
Gazing at the castle perched on that sheer distant cliff, Nameless kept talking.
Without so much as glancing my way.
“Yes, even now—unwed—she claims the title of the empire's shield. Holding back the monster hordes at the northern frontier.”
“...”
A sticky, slimy emotion welled in a corner of my heart.
“...You know her details awfully well?”
Nameless flinched—body trembling—then froze solid in place.
“What's that? Go on, then.”
I flashed a sweet smile his way.
Suddenly, beads of cold sweat trickling down the back of his neck caught my eye.