The End of the Northern Journey
The carriage rumbling back to Hamel marked the close of our northern trip. As I loaded the luggage into the cargo hold, I let out a leisurely breath. I'd arrived with empty bags, but now they danced lightly at my fingertips, stuffed full of souvenirs. Money really is the best. Only one flaw, though.
"Young Lady."
"Hm?"
"Don't just sit there—help out a little."
The problem was the Young Lady, who sat there doing absolutely nothing. Perched in the plush seat of carriage number one, she showed no intention of lending a hand. She had a strip of jerky from James in her mouth as she stroked the horse, then offered it to me.
"Wanna eat?"
"..."
"It's good."
Raised as a pampered villainess, she had the awareness of a rabbit we'd left behind. For a fleeting moment, I thought we should've raised her a bit less delicately, but upholding the virtues of a butler, I nodded slightly and took the jerky.
"It's good."
"Right?"
"But it's kinda moist."
"Yeah. It's what I was eating."
"...?"
I shot her a resentful look.
"Why give that to me?"
"I seasoned it for you. Plain's boring."
"..."
I stared at the damp jerky in my hand.
-Squish. Now that I looked closer, the bite marks were vivid. The neat imprint of the Young Lady's pristine teeth on the jerky made me nod.
This is a bit...
I nodded as I tore off the end and chewed. It was a shame to waste even a little, but for human dignity's sake, no choice. Absolutely not because of any indirect kiss nonsense—it was just a waste to throw away food. Nothing else.
"Mm..."
Definitely tastier with the seasoning.
"It's good."
"Right."
"Must be the northern specialty."
Without a hint of hesitation, she pivoted to claim it was better because of her seasoning.
"I made it less salty."
"..."
"Want another?"
I let out a small sigh at the sight of her pulling fresh jerky from the bag. What to do with this villainess?
"Sure."
Of course, I didn't refuse. Chewing leisurely, it took about thirty minutes to finish loading when two familiar figures appeared in the distance.
"Over there...!"
Yuria, arms full of stuff, and James in his patient gown, came running. I couldn't fathom why James, beaming as he ran, wasn't resting at the hospital as told, but I chuckled softly and welcomed them. It wasn't me who was sick, after all.
"Yuria! James!"
"Hah... hah... I told you to say something before leaving! I got souvenirs!"
"Yuria said she'd stay to nurse you, so I snuck out. Didn't want to trouble you. And James, do you not know the word 'rest'?"
James, embarrassed in his gown, laughed heartily and clapped my shoulder.
"Haha! Stuck in that hospital, I was crawling with itch! Can't lie in bed when my lifesaver's leaving. Gotta help somehow—makes me feel better! Right, Yuria?"
"Yeah..."
"Ah! This pretty young lady's the daughter I told you about. Cute, huh?"
"D-Dad!"
"Takes after her mom—so pretty."
"Stop it! Be quiet."
"Why? Yuria, he's the best guy your dad's met. Wait'll I play matchmaker... Ow!"
Yuria elbowed James's gut as he got carried away and cleared her throat. Were all northerners this straightforward? Seeing Yuria's unfiltered side after so long, I smiled lightly.
"Why're you smiling...?"
"Just looks nice."
"Embarrassing..."
"You laughing happily with your dad is heartwarming."
Yuria blushed and muttered something too soft to hear.
'He called him Dad...'
James grinned uncle-like at her flushed ears, covering his mouth like a drama-obsessed auntie with a "Heh heh," then handed me the paper bag at his feet.
"Northern specialty."
"No, I've gotten more than enough."
"Take it. I got even more."
James thumbed up, thinking of the new inn under Malik's watch.
"Thanks to you, we can even hang a 'Friends-in-the-Forest Gukbap' sign."
"Pardon?"
"Oh right, it was supposed to be secret. My bad."
"The boss did that?"
"Said you gave the recipe, whipped out a contract on the spot."
"..."
I clicked my tongue at Malik's efficiency. No clue if gukbap would sell up north, but if Malik was involved, it wouldn't fail. Smiling at the thought of him.
He's the type who handles it all.
Recipe I'll pick up later—focus on recovering. No arguments.
Cleanup...?
I'll handle it. Statement too. Stretch out and sleep.
Pardon?
Gotta go.
The most uptight guy I knew turned out the sharpest—surprised, I nodded and wished James more luck.
"Give it your all. You've hit a huge stroke of fortune."
"Really...? I don't follow capital trends."
"Yes. Massive fortune. I'll drop by with the boss sometimes, so prep hard."
"Martial prowess aside, business too?"
"Nah, I just tag along. Brains are his."
James and I chatted business till the jerky in the Young Lady's treasure pouch ran out, exchanging final northern farewells.
Boarding the carriage, I waved.
"We'll be off."
"Safe travels."
"Thanks, benefactor!"
Olivia waved at Yuria.
"Bye-bye."
"..."
Yuria nodded slightly, gratitude mixing with the weight of her debt—not a bad feeling.
*
On the road, the Young Lady pulled fresh jerky from new packaging, easing the bumpy boredom with chews.
"Eeeeeek!!!"
"Young Lady."
"Eeeeeeeek!!!"
"Screaming won't yank your teeth out."
Tussling to see if the tough jerky or her gums won, she refused to quit the tug-of-war.
"Eeeeeek! Like Ricardo's scissors."
"..."
I drew a light line on the jerky for her—easy now that I was a Sword Master.
"Ooh!"
Her eyes sparkled as she thanked me with a mumble and tore in.
-Rumble.
I said lightly,
"Young Lady."
"Hm?"
"When did you start hiding the black magic?"
"Eep..."
She froze mid-chew, like a game item from my past life. Peeking at me, she chomped hastily.
"Don't touch a dog while it's eating, Ricardo said."
"Didn't we eat an hour ago?"
"Nope."
"Haha..."
I gave a wry smile and shook my head at her excuse. No easy confession coming.
Still, I had to know—for solutions, to avoid resentment. Gently,
"I won't scold you."
"Liar."
"I'll scold a little, but not much. You saved my life this time."
She peeked, gulped the stuffed jerky, wiped her mouth.
"For real no scolding?"
"Yeah. Just a bit."
"For real real?"
"Of course."
Fidgeting her fingers, she whispered,
"From the start..."
"Pardon?"
"Since my legs broke. Felt a whoooosh and boom..."
"Haha..."
I nodded solemnly at her timidness.
"I see."
"Mm."
"Then why hide it?"
"'Cause you'd scold me. You already hate it—didn't want more."
I smiled, patted her head.
"Spot on."
-Eeeeeeek!!!
Her scream echoed in the carriage. Pressing her forehead, I murmured,
"But what now?"
"Huh?"
"I told the family head."
"What?"
"That..."
The Young Lady's regressed.
"You're regressed. He'll read the letter by the time we arrive, right?"
"Oh?"
I gave an awkward smile, closed my eyes.
It'll work out somehow.
*
We arrived at the Young Lady's mansion after a long ride. Under the darkened sky, the unlit estate loomed. Bracing for tough cleaning after our absence, I peeked out at the familiar home.
"Huh...?"
A massive carriage parked at the main gate, emblazoned with the Desmont crest big as the doors.
Seeing the figure step down, I burst out laughing.
Olivia!!!!!
The doting dad's voice boomed.