It's Because of You -1-
Four days before James receives the mysterious guests.
A basket of letters arrived at the academy's girls' dormitory. Letters from distant lands. Letters from foreign countries. Love letters from sweethearts. Yuria made her way through the basket brimming with envelopes and found hers, flashing a bright smile as she headed back to her room.
She didn't even need to check—it was obvious who had sent it. There were only two people who would write to her: Dad. And Ricardo.
Yuria was in high spirits. Letters from those two were a lifeline amid her dull academy life, injecting it with vitality.
Clutching the letter, she tore open the envelope without a second thought, a small smile playing on her lips as she wondered what news it might hold.
"I wonder who...?"
To my beloved daughter, Yuria,
Yuria caught a faint whiff of her nostalgic hometown scent wafting from the letter, a soft smile gracing her face.
"Dad..."
Are you doing well? Your dad's letter from up north, living all alone, always starts with asking after you, just like always. Are you eating properly? Sleeping okay? Got enough pocket money? The usual fatherly worries brought a small laugh and smile to Yuria's lips.
"I'm eating better than you, Dad... You're the one who's starving..."
As if answering her worried mutter, James's letter replied to her question.
Dad's eating well and living fine.
Maybe it's the age, but meat tastes even better now. Heh heh, my teeth are still sturdy!
Yuria, you know worrying about Dad is the most pointless thing in the world, right? Even without you here, I eat breakfast every morning without fail, so don't worry.
Yuria let out a small chuckle at her father's teasing, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. She didn't know why, but his letters always tugged at her heartstrings. Nothing special in the words, yet they came from the one person who understood her better than anyone, and her eyes would well up every time.
She brushed away the gathering tears and clutched the letter tightly.
"I miss you."
After reading the lengthy letter for what felt like ages, she reached the end, where her father shared one special piece of news: a man and woman had arrived at his inn.
Yuria's gentle smile froze as she read on.
'Huh...?'
It's been a while since I had guests. It was getting lonely with no one around, so this is good timing.
They seem about your age. Came up north for a trip, or so they say—but Dad thought they were crazy. Who travels to the north in this dangerous time?
Yuria's eyes widened as she read her father's words. Having lived her whole life in the north, she knew exactly how perilous the region was right now. Just like Dad said, these weren't ordinary folk.
'...What unusual people.'
Even when I told them how dangerous it was, they said they knew.
"Impressive..."
But who could they be...?
Yuria started wondering about these two visitors. Then the next line stoked her growing unease.
They showed up at the inn with a woman who had a leg injury. Couldn't exactly kick them out for being suspicious, could I? Felt too heartless.
'A woman with a leg injury...?'
Anyway, what a pair. You know I don't toss around praise lightly. Not sure if they're good people, but the guy's face reminded me of my old adventuring days—handsome as hell. And he cooks like a pro. Learned this dish called 'gukbap'; I'll make it for you next time you visit.
Said he was from the academy—maybe you know him, Yuria? Red hair, four-letter name... Can't quite recall. Anyway, got any decent guys at school?
Kidding.
Yuria swallowed hard at two particular lines.
'A woman who can't move her legs.'
'A handsome red-haired man.'
They matched perfectly. She shook her head, telling herself it was a mistake, but the undeniable clues fueled her anxiety. What if Olivia had gone north to harm her dad?
She bit her nails, trying to shake off the dread.
"No way..."
She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts. Even if it was them, nothing bad would happen. She decided to brush off the complicated worries.
But the unease lingered.
No matter that they'd reconciled, that they'd saved her life—every incident with Ricardo and Olivia had ended in tragedy. At the academy. In the dungeon. In everyday life.
Yuria couldn't fully trust Ricardo, who thought only of Olivia. She bowed her head, soothing her dark mood.
"I shouldn't feel this way..."
Yuria was anxious.
And four days later.
She raced north.
"...I was right not to trust them."
Muttering with resentment, she sped toward the north.
Time flows back to the present—one day before Yuria receives the letter.
A peaceful, quiet night.
Returning to that moment when Yuria would come to hate them.
After James recommended some sights, the Young Lady and I were soaking away our fatigue in the hot springs.
"Haaah..."
"Hee hee."
The hot springs melted the tension from our bodies. In this paradise of peace, I turned to look at the Young Lady.
"Fun... Huh?"
She had a boiled egg perched on her chest, staring at it with utmost seriousness. I let out a deflated laugh and asked,
"What are you doing?"
"Brooding. Gonna hatch it and eat it as chicken."
"Impressive."
"Yeah. Wanna try, Ricardo? If you do it too, we'll have two chickens."
"I'll soak a bit more first."
"Okay."
She tucked the egg back into her treasure pouch and furrowed her brow. Seeing her incubating a boiled egg with such fervor, I chuckled softly.
'Gotta tell her later.'
Teasing the Young Lady was too much fun. As I grinned at the thought, I looked up at the brightly risen moon and let out a languid sigh.
'Tough... So tough.'
I'd spent the past three days wrestling with worries.
From a humanitarian angle.
From a selfish one.
No clear answers.
Run away, and Yuria gets in the way. Get involved, and things twist into disasters.
My heart felt heavy.
"Haa..."
All that was piling up were sighs.
Too late to do anything now anyway. I didn't even know when Yuria's dad died—or his name exactly. Nothing I could do. Had to get back, talk business with Malik, pass on new recipes... No time to spare.
'No clue.'
I gave a wry smile and glanced at the Young Lady. She was slumped like slime in the water, basking in tranquility.
"Hweee..."
"Given up on the chick?"
"Got hungry and ate it."
"...?"
"My body's so hot, it must've cooked."
"It was a boiled egg to begin with."
"...Cooked?"
She shot me a betrayed look. Puffing her cheeks like a furious chipmunk, fist clenched for chicken vengeance. I chuckled and met her anger with laughter.
"Eeeeek! Why'd you wait to tell me?!"
"Puhaha! You never know—maybe your love would've hatched it."
"I'm not an idiot!"
"Puhahaha! Aaaah! My bad!"
After our little spat, as I slumped gazing at the moon, I spoke to the grinning Young Lady in a soft voice.
"Did you enjoy the northern trip?"
"Yeah. Glad we came north. Kinda bummed I didn't see everything I wanted, but... it was fun."
"Good to hear."
She stretched her arms wide, leaning on a rock. On the verge of full slime mode, her face blissfully relaxed.
'Hm?'
My gaze naturally drifted to her towel-wrapped, majestic treasure pouch.
Not on purpose—just concern for her catching a chill. On my honor. I nodded with a smile.
"I think I like the north too."
The north. Not bad at all.
The Young Lady stared at the open-sky ceiling, grinning dopily.
"No one else in the hot springs. And tons of stars."
At her obvious remark, I stifled a shoulder-shaking laugh and replied confidently.
"Not obvious. We rented out the whole place."
"Heeek! Rented it?!"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"For a peaceful bath?"
Truth was, I didn't want anyone seeing her bare skin—so I splurged big. But keeping it casual sounded cooler, so I played the rich guy card.
"This much is pocket change."
"Ooooh..."
She thumbs-upped with an eye smile. Her treasures jiggled with the motion, making every coin well spent. Gotta tip the innkeeper big when we get back.
After stargazing for a while, she turned and stared at me.
"Ricardo."
"Yes."
"Ricardo. Your body's amazing."
"...?"
She gawked at my pecs in awe, hand inching closer like she wanted a feel. I hugged myself and yelped,
"What's that shady comment?"
"Just... didn't realize your body's this good."
"Always has been."
"Show-off."
"Excessive humility is..."
"Eek! Shut up!"
She splashed water at my face.
"Wanna go?"
"Ehehe!"
Grateful she never called my scar-covered body gross—un-evil-lady-like. I chuckled and played along in the water fight.
"The Butler's Fist, Chapter 1"
"Heeek!"
The hot springs churned with our fierce splashing. I misjudged my strength, and a massive wave surged toward her face.
"Eeeeek!!"
She flailed to block it. Facing a near-Sword Master gust, she took the water cannon full-body, thrashing about.
"Stop it!"
"You started it, Young Lady."
"Eeeeek...!"
And then.
-Swish.
"Huh?"
"It came off..."
"...?"
"Eeeeeek!"
I decided to give the innkeeper a massive tip.
*
After our bath, the Young Lady and I shook out our wet hair while sipping milk. A mildly embarrassing mishap occurred, but her strong pride let her bounce back quick—no big deal now.
"Ricardo. Pervert."
"..."
I rubbed my stinging cheek, enduring her grumbling. Still, one slap for a glimpse of paradise? Profitable. Part of me wanted another hit for another peek, but I buried that honestly and started toward the inn.
And then.
The inn's sight made me stop whistling and clench my fist.
"Huh. The inn's lights..."
"Are out."
The moment of choice had arrived.
I sensed it instinctively.