Arrival at the Garden of Salvation
After days on the dusty dirt road, the wagon wheels finally rolled onto smooth pavement. Marina poked her head out the window and let out a gasp of awe.
"Wow..."
For someone who'd spent her whole life in the backwater village of Subu, the sight of Grandis, the capital of the Arkena Kingdom, must have been a total shock. Towering walls that forced you to crane your neck just to take them in. The outermost wall encircling the capital was so massively imposing it could crush the spirit of any country bumpkin. And the people streaming in and out of the gates looked different too. Marina couldn't tear her eyes away from them. They seemed like regular commoners, but the capital folk's clothes were neat and glossy, their strides full of leisure. Maybe comparing them to her own rough outfit made her self-conscious; she tugged her collar closed and gripped my sleeve tightly.
"Hey, Sian... where are we headed? Should we find an inn first?"
"To my place."
"Your place? You have a house in the capital, Sian?"
"Yeah. But... try not to freak out too much when we get there."
She tilted her head at my words, but soon got lost in the scenery again. That leisurely admiration didn't last long, though. As we approached the outer gate, her shoulders twitched in surprise.
"ID out! Open the cover and stand by!"
The kingdom's guards were blocking the way at the gate, conducting strict inspections. The sharp spear tips and the armored soldiers' intimidating presence had Marina on edge.
"Sian, what do we do... I don't have an ID..."
It was natural for someone from a rural village to lack one. I gently stroked her trembling cheek.
"Don't worry."
"Next!"
Our turn came soon enough. A grim-faced guard approached, planting his spear butt on the ground and jerking his chin.
"Present your ID and wait."
I pulled a silver-engraved plate from my pocket and showed it to him. It was an A-rank adventurer ID I'd made to hide my past as the Hero. The guard glanced indifferently at the silver plate and tossed it back to me. He eyed the wagon, nodded to another guard, then pointed with his chin at Marina clinging to my arm.
"And the one next to you? No ID?"
As her tense reaction to his gruff voice grew, I pulled her closer to me and brought my lips to her ear.
"What should I say? That you're my girlfriend? Or maybe... that I fell so hard I kidnapped a widow. What do you think, sis?"
With that intimate whisper, my hand slid down and gave her plump ass a sneaky squeeze over her dress.
"Eek..! S-Sian..."
She hadn't expected the touch in front of the guard and let out a small, pained whimper, her face flushing red. Watching her reaction, the guard seemed to get the picture and clicked his tongue shortly. He probably figured it was the usual case of a lusty mercenary picking up a pretty village girl.
"No trouble inside the capital. You're clear."
After passing inspection smoothly, I grabbed Marina's wrist as she tried to head to the cargo area and pulled her to sit beside me up front.
"Enjoy the view from here. This is the neighborhood you'll be living in from now on."
She cautiously lifted her head, and her mouth fell open wide.
"Oh my god..."
The scenery beyond the walls was on a whole different level from podunk Subu Village. Neatly paved roads stretched endlessly instead of dirt paths, lined with sturdy two-story brick buildings packed side by side. Clop-clop, clop-clop. Just then, a fancy carriage adorned with lavish gold leafing overtook our wagon. Glimpses through the window revealed nobles in dazzling clothes and sparkling jewelry. Overwhelmed by the class divide, Marina tugged anxiously at my sleeve.
"S-Sian... You really have a place here?"
"Told you, yeah."
"Carriages like the ones nobles ride are rolling around, and all the buildings are so grand... What could a country girl like me even do in a place like this? I'd just be baggage for you..."
Her spirit was totally deflated. I reassured her.
"Don't worry. It'll be way easier than working at the inn. I'll take care of everything—just stay by my side and you're good."
"Okay... I'll trust you, Sian..."
She let out a relieved breath and leaned against my shoulder.
"We're turning left here. Check out the road."
The wagon veered away from the flashy inner city path, slowly heading along a quiet outer road hugging the outer wall. After following the serene avenue lined with lush roadside trees for a while, a massive iron gate came into view, enclosing a vast estate with tall, sturdy walls. At a glance, it looked like a small fortress. This was the Garden of Salvation.
Creeeak—. Hearing the wagon, the heavy iron gate swung open, and an old knight strode out. Short-cropped white hair, ramrod-straight posture, worn but well-maintained leather armor—he was Bans, our Garden of Salvation guard captain, radiating the vigor of an active-duty soldier even in his fifties.
"Lord Sian, you've arrived. Later than expected."
"How've you been, old man Bans?"
He chuckled heartily, crinkling the wrinkles around his eyes at my casual greeting.
"What trouble could an old codger like me get into? Just some creaky joints aside, I've been guarding the garden fine. But..."
His sharp gaze shifted to Marina pressed close beside me. She flinched at the perceptive look sizing her up and clutched my clothes tightly.
"Who's the lady? From the vibe, did you bring someone new for the kitchens?"
"Your insight's as sharp as ever, old man."
His keen eyes had been key in rooting out traitors in the past.
"She came from a village inn... She'll be in charge of my bedroom from now on."
Bedroom duty's accurate enough—we'll be sharing the bed.
'Oh what the hell, quiet for a while and now this?'
Of course I woke up sensing a resonance partner. What do you expect from a hero who's historically horny—girls everywhere.
Ria snarked, but I couldn't keep talking. Ashamed by my introduction, she pinched my side with a flushed face. She put some force into it, but it didn't hurt—just felt soft and ticklish.
"Hahaha, I see! My apologies for the lack of tact."
Bans laughed good-naturedly and bowed politely to her.
"I'm Bans. I serve as guard captain here at the Garden of Salvation. Pleased to meet you."
"Ah, yes! I'm Marina. The pleasure's mine..."
Once her shy greeting ended, the heavy iron gate swung fully open. Stepping inside the Garden of Salvation at last, the first thing that caught the eye was the massive three-story mansion at the center of the broad, verdant garden.
"Whoa..."
It wasn't decked out in the ostentatious style of noble estates, but the cleanly built stone structure exuded dignity on its own. Staring up at it in a daze, she turned to me with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Sian... are you secretly a noble?"
The entire Subu Village wouldn't even match this estate's grandeur, so the misunderstanding was understandable. Strictly speaking, though, she wasn't wrong. My Hero exploits against the Demon King had been handled completely off the books, but in return, the royals had granted me a massive reward and the title of earl. Only the kingdom's top brass, high church officials, the adventurer guild master and his inner circle, and my party members knew. Tired of estate management and noble duties, I'd hidden my status and pocketed the cash instead—so publicly, I was just a wealthy A-rank adventurer.
"Noble? Nah, just your average sellsword."
I shrugged lightly, and she alternated glances between the mansion and my face, still incredulous.
"But... isn't a mansion like this for super-rich folks or barons at least?"
Barons? She thought all nobles lived cushy lives. Plenty of barons were scraping by on the capital's outskirts, job-hunting. I chuckled and pinched her dazed cheek.
"Ow."
"Made a killing as an adventurer. Why? Disappointed I'm not a noble?"
"Huh..?"
"If I were a real noble, you'd be my favorite concubine now, bossing around dozens of maids."
"N-No! Who said I was disappointed?! And con—concubine?!"
Flustered, she flailed about. Her reaction was adorable, so I yanked her waist into a hug. She gasped in surprise as she was pulled into my arms. Even if it was my house, she probably hadn't expected such bold PDA.
"So, what kind of relationship do you want?"
Unable to meet my teasing gaze, she darted her eyes around.
"What kind... I-I'll just cook and stay by your side..."
As she mumbled, I slid the hand on her waist down and gripped her plump ass firmly.
"Ah..!"
"I wouldn't put a woman who just cooks in my bed. After tangling so fiercely in that cramped wagon for days, you getting cold feet now?"
"What if someone hears..!"
Her face paled as she frantically tried to cover my mouth. Her flushed cheeks and fluttering lashes were enticing.
"Hate concubine? Should I say lover then?"
Acting like it's his front yard, total horn dog.
Ria griped in exasperation, but I brushed it off. I was just leaning in to claim her lips when—
"Master. Welcome back."
A flat, emotionless voice pierced my ear. Marina jolted and hastily pulled away from my embrace; I clicked my tongue in regret and turned.
There at the mansion entrance stood my first disciple, Iris. Waist-length raven hair, practical clothes that hugged her lithe, toned slender curves without restraint, and sharp, cat-like eyes coldly upturned.
