Episode 2-b. For Freedom and Adventure (1)
There is a nation that symbolizes freedom. Free spirits naturally gather there, advancing toward the world under the new name of adventurer. The Saravati Duchy. It is the holy land of adventurers and the one and only country created for the sake of freedom. In the past, in the present, and in the future yet to unfold.
That place will carry the destiny of being a nation of freedom and adventure through the ages.
However.
The freedom granted to people sometimes harms one another. That's why those who cherish only their own freedom and their own adventures flock there as well. For a woman bearing the gray, any kind of danger might lurk.
Someone might threaten the woman who steps out from tranquil peace in pursuit of freedom and adventure. So, to avoid facing crisis, trust those who walk beside you. Trust those who forge a new path ahead first. You, who have risen to stand and advance alone, must now learn to lean on others.
Therefore.
Trust the people who strive for your sake.
I opened my eyes and gazed at the scenery beyond the window. The sun had already climbed high into the midday sky. It had been so long since I'd slept in this late that I rubbed my dazed eyes, trying to shake off the fog in my mind.
Upon arriving in the duchy, I'd headed straight to this inn to melt away the exhaustion piled up inside me. I'd flung off my sweat-soaked robe and clothes, slipped into the pajamas Rain had packed for me, and collapsed into bed. I'd slept nearly a full day straight, so even lying comfortably now, my back ached.
With that, I decided it was time to get up and prepare to head out. The rickety wooden bed in this shabby inn creaked—
But that was the only sound. My body didn't budge an inch.
"…."
The reason? Well, yes.
"Haaah… mmm… ngh."
"…."
We'd clearly gone to sleep in our separate beds, but at some point, a disheveled noble lady had latched onto me tightly in her sleep.
"Hehe… so squishy… this… boobies to hug… mmm…."
"…."
Thanks to Idrin, I'd grown numb to such vulgar groping, but strangely, it had followed me even here to the duchy. A ragged woman was now gently squeezing my breast while letting out that lecherous "hehe" in her sleep-talk.
Smack! I grabbed her head with all my might and smacked it hard. She'd even drooled all over my pajamas.
"Guhk!? It hurts…!! Eek!!"
I had no idea why her scream sounded like that, but she shrieked right in my ear at full volume. Frowning, I smacked her again.
"Gyaak! It hurts, it huuuurts…!!"
"…."
Only then did Eileen finally detach from me, bolting upright and looking around wildly.
"A-Asha-nim! Asha-nim…! Ambush, it's an ambush…! Wh-who hit my head…. Uwagh, it hurts so much…!"
"Sorry, but no ambush. You declared war first, so this was justified retaliation."
"Ugh… it hurts so baaad…. And a declaration of war out of nowhere, wh-what do you mean…."
"…."
I just stared at her impassively, and she blinked in confusion, glancing around before her eyes inevitably landed back on me. Even someone as oblivious as her should realize by now that I was the one who'd hit her.
"No way, did Asha-nim hit me…? Why all of a sudden…?"
"…."
I didn't bother answering with words. Instead, I pointed out the evidence one by one to the pouting, teary-eyed girl. First, the bed. Then Eileen, you. And finally, the sopping wet shoulder of my pajamas.
"Ugh, I don't get what you mean…. My head just huuurts so much…."
Of course, a noble lady in name only wouldn't catch on. So, for her sake, I pointed again, spelling it out step by step.
"Violation of mutual non-aggression treaty via bed territory invasion."
"Eh…?"
"Clinging with your unwashed, stinky body—bioterrorism."
"N-no…."
"Spewing contaminated saliva from your unbrushed mouth, causing severe pajama pollution."
"…."
"Eileen Phrygia Delfinium, if you're really a noble, act like one."
"Y-yes…."
With that, I grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom. The drool stench was no joke—I stripped off the pajamas and tossed them into a basin. This damn noble lady. Not a child anymore, so why the hell does she sneak into someone else's bed in her sleep? I truly couldn't comprehend it.
And so, after Eileen and I washed up and got dressed, we stepped out of the inn together.
"Asha-nim."
"Yes."
"Do you have to hide yourself that much…? With the robe, bandana, and scarf all wrapped up tight, you look even more suspicious."
Eileen walked beside me in her usual outfit, unchanged. To avoid detection, I'd bundled up even more thoroughly than when driving the carriage. But she kept sneaking glances and cautiously spoke up.
"That bad?"
"Yeah, if I'm seen with you, I might get investigated and dragged off too…."
"…, but you said beyond the empire, there'd be tons of experts who could recognize me."
The sapphire necklace that altered my appearance, the robe that dulled perception, the crystal orb concealing my gray mana to some degree, and the bracelets and anklets suppressing mana to make me look like an ordinary non-mage. It still felt insufficient, so I'd even covered my exposed face.
"Just… if you get caught, knock 'em out and run…. Look, that guard over there is already eyeing you weirdly, Asha-nim…."
"…."
Eileen stared at me with an uncharacteristic grimace, pointing subtly at a distant guard. I sighed deeply and flicked off the scarf, stuffing it into my pocket.
"Yes, now you look a little less suspicious."
"Quiet."
And to hide my ears—which had probably turned redder than my hair or eyes—I pulled my robe hood down tight.
In any case, we pressed on. The guard who'd been staring from afar didn't grab or question me; we simply headed toward our destination.
"Alright, let's hit the adventurer guild first! I'll go in and scout! Yep, this is definitely helpful!"
"Hm."
"Not 'hm'! There's gotta be something you wanna say!"
Of course, top priority was adventurer registration. After all, neither Eileen nor I were adventurers yet—we were just ordinary travelers or tourists. I wanted proper ID through registration, while Eileen… well, she just wanted to become an adventurer, pure and simple.
"Yes, that does help."
"So insincere…."
"Wow, I am truly grateful, Lady Eileen Phrygia Delfinium. I don't know where to put myself."
"…."
"Now let's go."
With surprisingly light steps, I headed toward the blatantly obvious adventurer guild in the distance. A certain woman had grabbed my sleeve, lips pursed, so I took her wrist and half-dragged her along.
Adventurer Guild. The large building bore those words in rough lettering.
"Wooow… adventurers…."
Eileen, standing beside me, had shaken off her sulkiness, eyes sparkling as she gazed at the guild building. I gave her back a light nudge.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Eileen. Sneak a peek inside and report back."
"Ahem! Just trust me!"
She puffed out her flat chest and beat me to the door, creaking it open and slipping inside. Her beaming smile through the closing gap was actually pretty cute.
"…, fhew."
To put it simply, we'd finally reached the starting line. Register as adventurers step by step, track down Ain's traces, and follow the path he'd taken. That was all.
And.
Having someone help me like this—someone striving for my sake—felt pretty damn good. Like the people back in the empire waiting for Asha and me to return together, now I had a noble lady helping me out.
So.
I rather li—
Bang!
"Waaah… I-I'm really not a kid, I came to register as an adventurer…."
"No children. Come back when you're an adult."
"Next year… next year I'll be an adult…! Kyaaak!"
Thud!
Um.
"…."
"Ehehe… failure!"
"…, so you weren't even an adult?"
"I-I'm just one year short, so basically an adult, right…?"
Yes. Well, just as I was about to say Eileen—who'd flopped down flat in front of me—wasn't exactly trustworthy.
I'd wondered why a grown woman sneaks into a sleeping person's bed, but Eileen really was a kid.