Camilla, with a blank expression, seems less responsive than I expected.
Hmm, did I overstep a bit?
I scratched my head in embarrassment.
…Well, thinking about it, I probably would react similarly if I were in Camilla’s shoes.
Those who act like they know everything just because they were born first receive everything from mild disdain to outright contempt.
“Uh…?”
Recalling that fact, I realized I had made a mistake.
I’m the one who’s abnormally old; Camilla surely wouldn’t be dismissed because of her age.
…I probably came off too patronizing, huh?
Rolling my eyes, I tried to gauge Camilla’s mood.
She still looked blank.
I felt like I could still recover this.
Nervously lifting one corner of my mouth, I smiled at Camilla.
“Well, not everything I say is necessarily right, so judge for yourself…?”
That was meant to ease the situation.
But the more I spoke, the worse it seemed to get…
At this point, there was no stopping.
I flailed my arms, trying my best to express that ‘I had no intention of upsetting you!’
“So, my point is…”
“Pfft.”
Maybe sensing my desperation, Camilla smiled gently even before I finished.
“Yeah, you’re right, old lady.”
What in the world? This sudden positivity.
I gulped.
Could this be a trap question? I need to answer carefully.
Wriggling my fingers, I hesitantly continued.
“…It’s not all correct, though.”
Saying that made me feel a bit proud.
I’ve managed to agree with her to some extent, and it’s a broad enough statement to encompass her thoughts, right?
Surely, Camilla must be satisfied too.
Sneaking a glance at Camilla, I saw—
“What? So everything you said until now was all fake?”
Her brows furrowed in a displeased expression.
“Th-that’s not it!”
I hurriedly waved my arms to refute her suspicion.
…Fake? Me?
I only spoke to Camilla with pure, unfiltered sincerity. If she doesn’t understand that, I’d be really hurt.
As I mulled over my thoughts, Camilla’s eyes began to narrow, and she had that uniquely irritating look on her face.
“What do you mean, it’s not all correct?”
“…”
I stammered, at a loss for words.
…What a blunder I just made.
Even if I regret it now, it won’t change anything.
“Uh? Old lady? Why aren’t you speaking?”
Camilla’s impatient prodding.
The only things I could say now were the usual phrases.
“…I’m sorry.”
As I mumbled while averting my gaze, instead of the usual condescending chuckle, I heard.
“Ahahaha!”
A hearty laugh that, considering Camilla’s appearance, could almost be described as cute.
…Why is she laughing all of a sudden?
I blinked, not grasping the situation.
Why on earth was she laughing in this moment?
“Ah… really.”
Camilla was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.
“Thank you, old lady. It’s been a long time since I laughed like this.”
Could it be that Camilla was just playing a prank all this time?
Looking at her like that, it might just be true…
“Hmm, yeah….”
However, doubts still lingered.
…This can’t be the only time I’ve been duped.
But I didn’t push it further.
I didn’t want to open my mouth and find myself in hot water again.
Above all, wouldn’t it be better to leave well enough alone?
Like Camilla, I smiled brightly.
“Well then, let’s head back.”
It was time to return.
I gave Camilla’s shoulder a couple of pats and started to move.
“What do you mean, let’s go back? What are you talking about, old lady?”
I was about to go.
If only Camilla hadn’t placed a hand on my shoulder.
“…Huh?”
“Can’t you see over there?”
Camilla pointed at the peak of the mountain, raising her index finger.
What’s over there?
With curiosity, I followed her fingertip with my eyes.
“Ah.”
Pooled red liquid and something that was a monster piled high enough to form a massive wall.
No way.
“Are we supposed to clean all of that up before we go?”
I mean, are we really going to clear all of that on our own?
With an expression of disbelief, I showed the look on my face.
“…What else would it be?”
Camilla took on a posture of disbelief, crossing her arms defiantly.
“With the smell of blood and flesh wafting from there, do you think other creatures will just ignore it?”
That point is valid, but…
Why am I the one who has to deal with this?
Just as I was about to pout, Camilla added.
“And the stench is a problem too.”
“…”
“Even if we’re far from the village, the festival is coming up soon, and it looks bad.”
Well, I’m saying, why should I be the one who has to do it…
I absentmindedly kicked the ground.
That was meant to show I wasn’t interested, but Camilla didn’t care and pushed my back.
“Clean it up quickly!”
As if that would make my legs budge!
I planted my feet firmly into the ground like an ancient tree, refusing to move.
“Ugh! I don’t want to do it!”
My declaration of will was just an added bonus.
Camilla looked at me as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Why don’t you want to? For someone like you, it’d be done in no time!”
What nonsense is this? Because I’d finish it quickly?
I might handle a sword well, but I have no talent in cleaning.
Why do you think Nameless has been cleaning up after me all this time?
“I can’t do it!”
I threw my body onto the dirty ground and lay flat.
“…Have you seriously lost it?”
A look of disdain slowly crept into Camilla’s eyes.
…It hurts.
But still, I refuse to do what I don’t want to do.
I’m the one who dealt with those things; why should I also take care of the aftereffects?
That’s simply repaying kindness with malice—it’s the height of ingratitude.
As I sulked and closed my eyes.
“Hah…”
I could hear Camilla’s heavy sigh.
Well, I’m still not doing it.
My resolve was firm; no matter how cold-hearted she was known as Iron Blood, she could never break me.
“…Fine, I’ll give you one of the drinks I cherish.”
Hah, trying to bribe me with something like that?
It’s truly foolish.
“Hmph, I don’t drink.”
With a rough turn of my head, Camilla rubbed her forehead a few times and then softly spoke.
“…It’s that fruit liquor I mentioned before.”
“Fruit liquor?”
My ears perked up.
“Yeah, the strawberry one that you love so much.”
Strawberry fruit liquor…
“Tsk-”
I hastily wiped the drool from my lips and shot up.
“How do we get rid of those?”
There’s a saying that goes like this: If you can’t buy happiness with strawberries, check if you have enough strawberries.
I can’t resist strawberries.
I couldn’t help but smile brightly.
*
After finishing the cleanup and heading back.
The sun was already halfway down, slowly revealing its presence through the covering snow.
“Wow, time’s really flown by.”
With a distant look, I gazed beyond the mountains when Camilla threw cold water on this warm atmosphere.
“…If you hadn’t slacked off midway, we wouldn’t be late like this.”
“Pfft, what are you talking about?”
I quickly averted Camilla’s gaze.
Camilla, seeing me like that, seemed even more amused, letting out a short, amused laugh before continuing.
“Because you keep doing that—”
I closed my ears.
I hadn’t spent this much time with Camilla before, so I didn’t really know.
Once she starts nagging, she just doesn’t stop.
Just walking along in silence now.
“Master.”
In the distance, Nameless waved at me.
“Disciple! I missed you!”
“Old lady…! Wait!!! Are you running away?!”
Running away? What absurd thing is this?
I would never run away.
I hadn’t seen my disciple in such a long time; how could I not be excited?
I just wanted to welcome my disciple back.
With a slightly raised corner of my mouth, I spread my arms wide and rushed towards Nameless.
“Disciple!”
“Master!”
Soon followed by an emotional embrace, and I cried inwardly.
Finally escaped from Camilla.
But setting aside this joy, meeting Nameless genuinely made me happy.
After all, how long had it been since we’d been apart?
I couldn’t remember; if I did, it must have been a rare occurrence.
Nameless, also pleased to see me, smiled widely, looking down at me.
“Have you come?”
“Yeah, have you been waiting long?”
Laughing lightly, I said, to which I expected him to shake his head, but Nameless nodded and replied.
“Yes, I’ve really waited a long time.”
How commendable.
I stretched my arm overhead, ruffling Nameless’s hair.
Unlike my soft touch, Nameless’s hair was a bit coarse and rough.
I really liked that feeling, ignoring the strange stares around us and repeatedly patted Nameless’s head.
