Uninvited Guests (5)
Leaving the freshly warmed mood behind us, I returned to the room with Ellen. Wiping the light-pink tinge from the tip of her nose and the rims of her eyes in one smooth motion, she spoke.
"I think it went well."
"Buney?"
"Yeah. He's kind and diligent, so he'll do the work well."
"Right. But..."
In an instant, the warmth and touched feeling that had suffused her small face evaporated without a trace.
"What is this?"
"..."
Calling a person "this"—this, of all things.
"Answer me. Don't tell me—"
The one Ellen was staring at with eyes gone ice-cold was none other than Mungchi.
"Don't tell me you're planning to put this thing to sleep here?"
"Uh, that's—"
I was busy recalling the excuses I'd prepared when I happened to turn and look at Mungchi. She was sitting beside the head of the bed...
"...But why are you sitting like that?"
"Uh, um."
To describe Mungchi's posture: back against the wall, rear on the bare floor, right shoulder pressed tight against my bed, both knees hugged to her chest. From that position, her fingers fidgeted without purpose, and her wavering eyes darted back and forth between me and Ellen.
"...Why do you ask?"
And in a small, halting voice, no less.
She was timidity itself, in the flesh...!
"Why do you think."
"Huh?"
When the curse of transformation lifted, Mungchi had become a perfectly presentable woman. No—presentable didn't begin to cover it.
Long, large eyes; hair that swayed near the nape of her neck; a cute nose with a slightly low bridge; small but plump lips; long, slender arms and legs; skin so pale it was nearly translucent...
She might have been of an alien race in these parts, but her face was beautiful beyond any argument.
"...Phew."
Watching a girl who looked like that huddle up even tighter than she had as a piglet, a sigh escaped me whether I liked it or not.
I gazed down into those big black eyes for a moment, then patted the bedspread.
"Come up and sit. Your butt's going to freeze."
"I'b fide."
"'I'b fide' my ass. Don't sit there all cramped—get up here and sit, I said."
"Uh... really, I'b fide. Thith ith a good theat."
"...What are you even saying."
As I muttered and pressed a hand to my forehead, Mungchi shot to her feet with a stricken look.
"I'm thorry, I'll thit."
"No, what do you have to be sorry for?"
"Uh, no. That, I—no, I—um, thorry, no..."
Half-crouched, neither sitting nor standing, she fumbled over her words, and it was honestly painful to watch. Seeing her face freeze up in panic, I waved my hands.
"No, I'm not telling you off. I just mean make yourself comfortable."
"Uh, I..."
"I'm not angry. Go on, take the good seat."
Saying that, I made a point of smiling, and only then did Mungchi nod. Then, with a "Yeth, thamk you," she sat back down where she'd been before. In her signature huddled-up posture, of course.
I really did need to teach her Milanor, and fast.
Just as I was resolving to do so, Ellen—who had at some point shed her cloak and folded it to one side—asked again.
"So what are you going to do? You're seriously putting that thing to sleep here?"
Ah, double the stress!
Suppressing the irritation surging up my spine, I arranged my face into perfect nonchalance.
"Ellen."
"Huh?"
"I told you—no calling people 'this' and 'that.'"
At my quiet words, she shut her mouth for a moment, then her lips began to fidget.
"...But she was a pig."
"Not anymore."
"I know that. But, um, I need time to adjust too. She—er, an animal suddenly turned into a person."
"What's there to be confused about? What's standing right in front of your eyes is a person."
"...I'm confused."
Watching Ellen shamelessly dig in while still sneaking glances at me, a snort of laughter burst out of me.
"Ellen."
"...What."
I'd been about to get to the point, but seeing her cowed, the urge to comfort her came first.
"Want a hug?"
"...Huh?"
"I'll hold you?"
When I spread both hands to show her, Ellen glanced at Mungchi and ducked her head.
"...She's watching."
"Mungchi? Honestly, you weren't even treating her like a person a minute ago."
"I told you. She's a person now, I'm adjusting..."
I took note of her toe tapping the floor, then turned to Mungchi.
"Mungchi."
"Uh, yes?"
"Could you close your eyes for a moment?"
"...My eyeth?"
"Yeah, just for a second."
At my request, Mungchi squeezed her eyes shut—then covered them with her palms for good measure.
"There."
Arms spread wide, I looked at Ellen with an expression that said, All clear now?
After pouting her lips for a moment, she buried herself into my chest.
Her hair brushed the tip of my nose, and a crisp lime scent washed over me. To savor it properly, I stroked Ellen's gleaming blonde hair and patted her small back, breathing deep.
Whether my breath touched her nape, she flinched—but Ellen only squeezed my chest tighter and gave no other reaction.
"Ellen."
"I don't know how many times I've said this, but I'm genuinely worried."
The girl with her face buried against my collarbone muttered something. But it was closer to incoherent mumbling than speech—I couldn't make it out even with my own ears.
"You don't have to be kind to everyone, but let's not make enemies we don't need."
"I'm trying."
"And be a little more careful with your words. Okay?"
"...Mm-hmm."
How long did we stay like that?
When I took her shoulders and gently pushed her back, Ellen held on for a moment before retreating a couple of steps. She swallowed drily, blue eyes half-lowered.
It wasn't hard to guess where Ellen's gaze was drifting. What she wanted was written all over her.
I wanted nothing more than to answer that expectation—but I somehow managed to hold back.
I was afraid that if I started matching Ellen's hopes, my flimsy self-restraint would collapse like a sandcastle. Then I'd blow right past whatever she was hoping for and end up plunging into those blue eyes, treading water for days on end.
Forcing my head to turn, I called for Mungchi.
"...Mungchi, you can open your eyes now."
"Uh, yes..."
Perhaps from the pressure of her palms, both of Mungchi's cheeks were flushed red.
Ellen took another couple of steps backward. I deliberately ignored the faintly disappointed look on her face.
"Ellen, I need you to look after someone."
"Who?"
"Mungchi."
Ellen curled her trembling fingers into her palms and crossed her arms with feigned composure.
"Hmm. Why?"
"You've seen it—her Milanor's clumsy, and she seems to be missing a few basics of common sense too. I'd like you to teach her this and that."
"...Leave it to someone else. I can't do that kind of thing."
"Who else is there?"
I burst out laughing.
"I can't ask Utekwai. Amias's men don't have much learning to begin with."
"Then you do it."
"Am I some fount of common sense qualified to teach anyone? Did you forget I had to ask how to spend silver in Southharbor?"
"That was before you got your memories back, and they're back now, aren't they?"
Let it slide, will you? So relentless about the most pointless details.
I casually took Ellen's hand and shrugged.
"Well, like I said this afternoon, my head's a bit of a mess."
"...Because of that strange voice?"
"Yeah. I can hardly play teacher in this state." Caressing the back of her hand, I met those blue eyes.
"That's why I'm asking you. Okay?"
After fidgeting for a moment, Ellen finally let out a sigh and nodded.
"...Fine. Then it can't be helped."
"Good."
Just as I broke into a grin, someone knocked on the door.
"Oh, that'll be it."
"...What will?"
"Bedding. I asked for one more set."
As I opened the door and took a blanket and pillow from the maid, Ellen wore a blank expression.
"...Why did you ask for that?"
"Uh, to lay on the floor."
When I smiled sheepishly with the bedding hugged to my chest, she pointed at Mungchi, looking utterly incredulous.
"Don't tell me you're actually putting her to sleep here?"
"Yep."
"No—why?"
"Because she has nowhere to sleep. I can't put her up in a barn or a shed."
"There are other rooms."
"They're all full. And I can't make her sleep with strangers she's never met..."
"Then have her sleep at an inn."
"Come on. How do I send a girl who can barely string a sentence together off on her own?"
"Ha."
Ellen let out a hollow laugh and sharply turned her head away.
"Hk—"
Mungchi, who had been crouching in silence, swallowed her breath. The fire-spitting glare was aimed at her.
After glaring at Mungchi a moment longer, Ellen shook her head with a resolute face.
"I refuse. The room isn't even that big—how are the three of us supposed to sleep in here?"
"Uh... if that's the problem, should I go?"
"...What?"
At her flabbergasted look, I shrugged.
"You said sharing a room with me made you uncomfortable anyway. I can just sleep in Utekwai's room."
"Uncomfortable? When was that? That was ages ago—now—"
Ellen paused, then cleared her throat.
"Ahem, it's fine now, I said. Just send her somewhere else."
"That I can't do."
"Why not?"
"People will talk if a grown woman sleeps alone with a man she's not related to."
"That's..."
Trailing off, Ellen suddenly shrieked.
"Ugh, it was fine all this time, so why bring it up now?!"
Ouch. My ears.
"Hey, lower your voice. It's night."
"Is that what matters right now?! Why bring it up now?!"
Pressed by her insistence, I pulled out the argument I'd prepared.
"Ellen, look here."
"Look at what."
"There were exactly three reasons we shared a room."
"...Three?"
I counted them off on my fingers, one by one.
"The first was, obviously, worry for your safety. The second was that another room was hard to come by."
"Then what's the third?"
"Your leg. Someone had to nurse you."
Watching her sit there pouting in silence, I had to fight to keep a straight face.
"Ahem. But... there's no real danger here. I can sleep with Utekwai, and your leg's all healed, so no nursing required. And now that you've got a cute roommate, I think it's only right I sleep separately."
"...Cute, 'roommate'?"
"A friend, I mean. A friend to share the room with."
The instant the words left my mouth, Ellen's head snapped around.
"This roommate or whatever—you don't mean her, do you?"
"...Uh. I do."
"She's not cute, and she's not my friend. Sleeping alone with that mystery woman—are you out of your mind?"
"Hmm, is that so?"
I scratched my brow for a moment, then held out my hand to Mungchi.
"Well, then it can't be helped. Mungchi, come here."
Mungchi, who had been quietly watching for her cue, sprang up as if she'd been waiting for exactly that and took my hand.
At some point Ellen was glaring at the two of us, fists clenched.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
"Mungchi and I will squeeze into Utekwai's room."
"What?"
"You said you didn't want to sleep three to a room, and you didn't want to sleep alone with Mungchi either. So sleep by yourself. Comfortably."
The girl, who had been trembling on her own, fidgeted her lips with a slightly panicked look.
"No, I... I just meant send her out."
"I told you. There's no reason left for the two of us to share a room."
"No..."
Ellen fumbled for a moment, then seemed to remember something and lifted her head.
"Right—there are only two beds in Utekwai's room too. Steedman's probably claimed one already?"
"He can sleep on the floor."
"But... you'd share a room with Steedman? The man's filthy."
"Steedman? Never noticed."
"Just look at him—he looks filthy. Probably never washes properly..."
"...Isn't that a bit harsh? Besides, the guy's bald. Even if he skips a wash, you can't really tell."
"Oh. Huh." The sullen blue eyes began to sparkle again.
"Right. Utekwai's still injured. He needs rest, and if the two of you pile in, it'll be cramped and distracting."
"Since when do you care about Utekwai? His wounds are nearly healed. And he's not that delicate a type, you know?"
"Well, that's true..."
At a loss for words again, Ellen's eyes sparkled once more, and she fished something out from inside her clothes.
"There—this!"
"...What is it?"
"The answer to that strange voice you keep hearing."
What she handed me was a glass bottle filled with a pale, watery potion.
"Don't tell me... the thing you said to look forward to tonight?"
"Yep, that's it."
"...You need a potion for it too? What on earth are you planning to teach me?"
Ellen's word cut the wings right off my freely soaring imagination.
"Meditation."
"...Medi... tation?"
With a hand resting on her hip, Ellen put on her most triumphant face.
"That's right—I'll teach you how to meditate. Contemplate your inner self, and you'll find the reason you hear that voice as well."
"...Aha."
Well, of course. I'm the idiot for expecting anything else.
Still, meditation, huh. Hmm. Might not be so bad, actually?
"But what does meditation have to do with this potion?"
"That's a potion of concentration. It's a knockoff brew, so the effect runs weak, but it'll clear away stray thoughts well enough."
"...Isn't something like meditation supposed to be mastered on your own? Is it okay to lean on this stuff?"
When I made a doubtful face, Ellen shook her head firmly.
"It's not leaning. You only get help at the very start."
"The start?"
"Yeah. Meditation isn't the kind of discipline you pick up easily. If a total beginner like you just charges in blind, you'll waste years for nothing."
"Drink that, take my help, and you'll get a feel for what meditation actually is. After that, the road is yours."
Ah. A trial version, in other words.
Come to think of it, even walking the same road, a journey goes far smoother when you've traveled it before. Same principle here, I supposed.
I nodded along quietly for a while, then blurted out,
"But this isn't a reason for us to sleep together either, is it?"
"...Huh?"
"Learning meditation doesn't require sharing a room."
"Well, no, but—"
Her triumphant face clouded over at once, and her white hands began wringing each other.
Watching Ellen carry on, I let a small smile slip.
"Ellen."
"Mm?"
"Should we just keep it at three, then?"
At my carefully worded question, she simply pouted her lips in silence.
"Why do you hate it so much? Is Mungchi still suspicious to you?"
"...A little of that, too."
"Really? Mungchi."
Mungchi, who had been standing quietly, caught the meaning behind my call and hurriedly opened her mouth.
"I, I won't do anything bad. I thwear."
"Really?"
"Yeth, really, I do..."
At Mungchi's unwavering timidity, Ellen's expression softened a little. Smiling, I gently coaxed her along.
"I'm asking you like this, so let's all stay together—just until Mungchi settles in. Okay?"
At my repeated pleading, Ellen finally nodded.
For all her fussing, she really was an easy one to handle...
Woof! Woof!
The dogs' frenzied barking bored into the tent. Randall, leader of 'Randall's Warriors,' could bear it no longer and roared.
"Fuck's sake, is nobody out there?! Make those damn dogs stop barking!"
The mercenaries around the tent scrambled busily, but the dogs refused to settle. The darkness draped over the forest kept prodding at their nerves.
"Damn it all. Even the mutts won't do as I say."
Randall sat perched on an arrow crate, three men lounging around him without a care. Leaders, each of whom commanded a mercenary band of his own.
Among them, the man nicknamed 'Pretty Boy' for his handsome face let a sneer slip.
"Heh. Even mutts have instincts."
"...What's that supposed to mean, Rigan?"
"I'm saying even dumb beasts can smell a coward who only feeds his own greed."
"You saying that to me?"
At Randall's growl, Rigan spat a glob of phlegm onto the ground and flashed an oily grin.
"Who else would it be for? Anyone here besides you who tucked tail and bolted from a single knight?"
"You think I actually ran because one knight scared me, you blockhead?"
"Then why?"
At Rigan's challenge, Randall sneered.
"Heh, you moron. That knight was the Silver Prince's man. If I'd killed him, I'd have had the Silver Prince's army hunting me down."
"Like the Silver Prince amounts to anything."
"'Amounts to anything'?"
Randall spread his hands in sheer disbelief.
"Ha! Norman, Machi—you hear that? The Silver Prince 'amounts to nothing,' he says!"
The man called Norman heaved a long sigh and shook his head.
"You do know who the Silver Prince is, don't you? Rigan, you're from Mitergelant, for gods' sake."
"What about where I'm from? You think because I broke a few High Plains idiots, every imperial should quake at my name?"
"I heard the 'few idiots' you broke included quite a few big names. Didn't something like a dozen forts and castles get flattened?"
Just as Rigan was huffing himself into silence, the dogs kicked up another racket outside the tent.
"Fuck! Those mutts bark one more time and I'll slit every last one of their throats!"
While Randall was bellowing at the world outside the tent, a mercenary came tumbling in, out of breath.
"Boss!"
"What?"
"Th-the guest is here."
"Guest? Who?"
At Randall's question, the young mercenary answered, his face somewhat flushed.
"Says he's with the 'Black Wolves.'"
"...The Black Wolves? The Black Wolves?"
"Yes, those bounty hunters. Says he has something important to discuss with you, Boss. Shall I bring him in?"
Randall mulled it over briefly, then looked to the other leaders. The leaders traded opinions in glances for a moment, and Randall nodded.
"Bring him in."
"Sir!"
The young mercenary, barely containing his excitement, darted out of the tent.
Heavy, deliberate footfalls followed, and two men in black cloaks stepped into the tent.
The man with a leather patch over one eye swept the tent's interior slowly.
"...Which one of you is Randall?"
"Me."
Randall, who had been quietly studying the man, soon broke into a grin.
"Didn't expect the boss himself to come."
"...You know me?"
"Of course. Aren't you 'One-Eyed Dirk'?"
The man called Dirk, swallowing an amused snort, perched his rear on a wooden crate rolling about the tent.
"That's right. But I'm not the boss."
"...Not the boss?"
"Stepped down years ago. Anyway."
The sharp single eye swept over the leaders one by one.
"You all look well. Don't look like men who've just been screwed over."
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
"No use playing innocent. I came knowing everything."
Randall, who had been silently glaring at Dirk, ground out his question as if chewing glass.
"What brings men who hunt humans to a kennel crawling with sons of bitches?"
"You already gave the answer yourself." Dirk smiled wide enough to bare every tooth and drew something from inside his cloak.
"We've come to take a person."
What he pulled out was a parchment scroll.