Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Bondalles
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"What the hell are you talking about?"
Rishir let out a hollow laugh at Fienne's suggestion.
But then came a "Huh?" as he fell into thought.
"Come to think of it, it might not be a bad idea?"
"...Pardon?"
Fienne, who had been brazenly gauging Rishir's reaction as if she'd just made a terribly lame joke, looked flustered.
"Y-You're serious? You want to share a room with me?"
"To save money, right?"
"..."
It was an obliviousness that overwhelmed even her brazenness.
She must have gotten the answer she'd hoped for, but Fienne's reaction was ambiguous.
In the meantime, Rishir's gaze turned to Lona.
"Then about the room... Huh, wait a sec. What about Lona? What do people usually do with slaves in situations like this? Leave 'em in the stables?"
"...Stables?"
Rishir watched Lona's reaction silently for a few seconds before answering.
"Obviously a joke."
"If it was a joke, what was with that silence just now?"
"I was wondering what other slave owners would do. It's my first time owning a slave."
"Owning...? I'm not a dog or anything—"
"What do you think Lona would have done if the roles were reversed?"
"...I-If I were the master, I'd rent an extra room for her!"
"Ah, I see. And add the fee to her debt to exploit her even more viciously? Carrot and stick? I get the vibe."
"...It's a vibe you're not supposed to get."
Ahem.
Fienne cleared her throat and interjected.
"Lona does have a point, to some extent. A slave and master sharing a room? Ridiculous. 'As per Lona's opinion,' let's rent an extra room for Lona."
Fienne phrased it as if she were merely following Lona's wishes.
"Huh? Then what happens to our plan of bundling up to save on lodging?"
"..."
Fienne brazenly avoided Rishir's gaze.
"No helping it. Lona, sleep in the stables tonight."
"..."
Lona's face crumpled.
When Rishir said it, it sounded like a joke, but coming from this woman, it didn't.
"Aw, come on, Fienne. Don't be like that. Lona worked hard too, didn't she? Honestly, I've gained new respect for her. Didn't expect her to hustle like this. Lona deserves a nice inn bed like us."
Rishir patted Lona's back offhandedly, as if praising her.
Her sweat-soaked shirt transmitted a complex sensation to Lona.
"Eek...!"
Lona covered her body with her arms and backed away from Rishir.
"I-I'm warning you upfront! If you're expecting anything weird from me, give it up—I-I'm not that kind of girl!"
"Lona. Or should I say Miss Eron? Who doesn't know that? And since you seem to forget periodically, let me remind you: that doesn't change the fact that you tried seducing me naked in the middle of the night and got caught."
"That was...!"
"Anyway, enough cheapskate whining up front. Let's head in already. We're all tired. Rent rooms, wash up, and crash. Oh, these rooms come with private baths? Nice. Better than the room I had at the estate. Bastard's luck is looking up."
Rishir entered the inn with light steps.
"..."
"..."
Fienne and Lona watched his retreating figure in silence.
He'd surely achieved his goal—
So why this indescribable sense of humiliation?
In the end, the two women declared separate rooms.
"Fine by me? Yeah, it was weird anyway. Three people, mixed genders, one room? Sure. Do whatever's comfy. Do whatever. The bastard's gone mad. Bastard's paying tonight."
And at Rishir's ready agreement without a hint of regret, they fumed once more.
"Wait! Lona! Fienne! I've changed my mind! Share a bed with me tonight!"
I nearly shouted that the moment I paid the day rate.
I'd braced myself since the inn looked upscale at a glance, but the actual fee far exceeded my expectations.
The money pouch I'd saved over a year of odd jobs for independence was already embracing the virtue of non-possession, eager to share that enlightenment with this bastard.
The pouch felt light. My legs felt heavy.
And it wasn't just the lodging fee.
After baths, dinner with Fienne and Lona at a nearby restaurant cost a pretty penny too.
Moreover, even after shelling out that much, the meal wasn't entirely satisfying—which agitated me further.
Now in my second week of independence.
I truly realized it in an unexpected way.
'Money vanishes just breathing...?'
It hit me late.
Why bastards clung so desperately to their status.
As Bendel's bastard, I'd taken for granted living in the estate at the city center, enjoying (limited) perks without realizing—
Living the city life was a massive privilege in itself.
From some angles, it was worth enduring the scorn of bastard life to protect.
I pondered.
How much money would it take to maintain my previous quality of life here in Bondalles?
"Ugh—"
Acute vertigo from cash deficiency hit.
Calculations showed the bastard's year-long savings wouldn't last a week.
Was the bastard's income pitiful, or was Bondalles's prices insane for a bustling metropolis?
Probably both.
At this rate, I'd have to head to the outskirts.
My life's genre demoting from Fantasy World (Hope Edition) to Fantasy World (Despair Edition).
The innkeeper there would look at me like a madman if I asked where to bathe.
Ask what's in the soup? Madman stare.
Complain about smells, rats, bugs in the room? Madman stare.
Not an environment my modern sensibilities could endure.
And even if I could, I had no intention of living like that.
My departure from home wasn't mere escape.
A better life.
If escaping scorn as a bastard sufficed, I wouldn't have left the family.
I wanted better than my bastard days at Bendel.
Better than the Bendel folk who scorned me.
Ideally, better than my modern life before.
And above all, I had the means now.
The power of... purification, and magic.
Back at the inn after dinner, I sat on the bed and steadied my breathing.
Clearing my mind, preparing to focus.
High-end inn with private bath. Quality meal.
Today's indulgence wasn't just to celebrate arriving in a new city.
Haeren to Bondalles.
My first long journey ever.
Tougher than expected.
I'd squeezed in magic practice midway, but couldn't focus at all.
How regrettable.
All this was to soothe that regret.
Perfect rest, peak condition, organize insights and gains from the trip.
'Ideally after a full night's sleep, but—'
Even that's too precious now.
Tomorrow morning, we check out.
'Money drains just breathing, right?'
This mild anxiety was perfect stimulus.
"..."
Thoughts settled, breathing stabilized.
I cast aside all stray notions instantly.
Focus. On the mana flowing through my body.
On that flow. On the sensation of feeling it.
What to call this state?
Setup? Anyway, ready.
'Good.'
First, I pulled a coin from my pocket.
The lucky coin.
Time to recreate it.
Per Fienne, it was an "enchant"—a branch of magic imparting properties to objects.
-Hard to believe a mere 3rd circle can handle that.
She'd demanded an explanation, annoyed and incredulous.
How the hell did I do it?
What I want to know.
How the hell did I do it?
It was my subconscious at work.
This recreation's goal: shift that technique from subconscious to conscious.
Full mastery via systematization.
"Ha."
A chuckle escapes. Systematization, huh.
My word choice, but ridiculous.
A magic novice holed up alone, no mentor or books, just groping sensations wildly—where's the system?
Proper mages would blow their beards in rage.
That's not magic!
But what can you do?
No magic teacher or books for a bastard.
-My disciple~
-I'm a book.
"..."
Strange voices? Imagination.
I rolled the coin in my hand for a while.
Recalling the carriage sensation.
This hyper-systematic action didn't disappoint.
"It's here."
The sensation flashed.
I didn't let it slip.
Held it tight.
Even as the sky outside darkened and something dripped from my nose.
Fienne was in a foul mood.
-Fienne. Wanna grab dinner together?
Her expectation of a repeat from last night's dinner invitation was betrayed this morning too.
Up early, subtle makeup—not too much, not too little. Lay in bed pretending to sleep, waiting for Rishir.
He never came.
But fine. She still had a fallback.
'Just returning his invitation from yesterday.'
Absentminded hum and light steps.
Fienne went to Rishir's door to invite him to breakfast.
Knock knock.
No answer.
Knock knock.
Again, nothing.
"Rishir?"
Weird. She sensed presence inside.
"You're in there, right? I'm coming in."
Entering Rishir's room, Fienne beheld an extraordinary sight.
"Rishir!?"
Rishir's lower face.
Upper clothes. Pants. Bed.
All soaked in blood.
Fienne's petite body jolted.
She rushed to him frantically.
"Rishir! Rishir! Are you okay!?"
Rishir didn't answer. Couldn't.
He was concentrating every nerve to capture the hazy sensation before him.
"...Phew."
After a grave inspection, Fienne sighed in relief.
Then her face scrunched up.
"Really. Hopeless man."
Irritated, she extended her arm.
Fienne's power gently enveloped Rishir; his complexion cleared instantly.
She stood nearby, quietly monitoring him.
How much time passed?
"Huh? Fienne?"
Rishir snapped out of focus and spotted her.
Arms crossed, looking down at him.
"Sleep well?"
She sneered sarcastically.
"Feels like I'm still dreaming? Seeing an angel and all."
"~Refreshed, huh? Spouting nonsense like breathing. So—mind explaining what's going on?"
"...Was aiming to master the enchant, but a good idea hit midway, so I overdid it."
"Good idea?"
Fienne noticed belatedly.
The many coins scattered around Rishir.
Realizing none were ordinary, she let out a "Huh."
Half her face was grotesquely scarred.
High-rank adventurer Salana.
Woken by sunlight through the window, she started her day by grimacing.
As if preemptively accepting the horrors awaiting her.
Rising from bed, she first grabbed a hand mirror.
Soft cloth in the other hand.
Salana's daily first routine.
Wipe away the overnight crust on her face.
Resigned, bored expression.
"Sigh."
Deep breath, then mirrored her face.
As she brought the cloth to it—
"...?"
Salana's hand froze.
She stayed that way for a while.
A voice from outside.
-Rishir? You're in there? Coming in.
Nothing for Salana to mind.