Nameless, who had been making a dubious expression for a while, shook his head as if saying, “This is not it.”
“Master….”
“What is it?”
I couldn’t understand the reason at all, so I responded with a voice full of questions.
Nameless sighed deeply and pointed at the bed I had been lying on.
“What is that?”
I turned my head in the direction he pointed.
It was something that I had been fiddling with earlier before tossing it aside out of annoyance.
This guy… Well, he can see it, so why pretend otherwise?
Shaking my head at my disciple’s ignorance, I spoke as if teaching.
“Isn’t it a doll?”
“…What?”
His voice trembled as if he was baffled.
Nameless then opened his mouth in shock as if he had just realized something new, followed by holding his forehead in agony, as if it had been pounding.
“Even if I’m ignorant compared to you, Master… how could I not know that?”
“Then why are you asking?”
I gave a vague answer to Nameless’s somewhat ridiculous question while rummaging around the floor.
“Oho….”
This is an interesting object! When I put it under the blanket, it started glowing.
Is it shaped like a dinosaur? Or did they take inspiration from one of the monsters?
Considering it’s a fantasy world, there sure are a lot of ahead-of-their-time inventions.
I kept digging through the items, playing with, or rather, researching them for a long while.
“…How about looking outside?”
Nameless, who had come to sit across from me while I was laid sprawled on the bed touching various objects, approached me.
Nonetheless, I could only make a sulky face at his suggestion.
“Ugh… It sounds annoying.”
If I just stay put, food would arrive, and I could enjoy a warm bed with fluffy blankets, not to mention various playthings, or rather, research items.
Isn’t this heavenly?
Maybe I’ve already completed the goal I had aimed for.
Feeling like I had leveled up, a blissful smile crept up on my face.
Contrary to my happy expression, however, Nameless’s face seemed to grow increasingly sour over time as he picked up the things I had tossed around, repeatedly setting them down, eventually sighing as if the ground had sunk.
Tsk, tsk. If you sigh like that, you’ll lose your good luck.
I wanted to say something to him, who had no clue about that, but for some reason, his expression looked sinister and I clamped my mouth shut.
“Master.”
“…What is it?”
I had been holding a stone that changed color when touched, and at Nameless’s call, I slowly set it down.
I didn’t really know why, but it felt like the right thing to do.
With an anger masked as calmness, Nameless spoke as softly as he could.
“Do you know how long we’ve been here?”
“Umm… about two weeks?”
I tilted my head, confused while answering.
…The exact duration doesn’t come to mind.
Why would he ask such an awkward question while maintaining the atmosphere?
Hesitatingly, Nameless glanced around the numerous items near me and spoke.
“Do you know how long it’s been since you’ve been holed up in this room?”
“Uh… About two weeks…?”
After that rude little brat Camilla offered us a room to rest in, I’ve never once stepped outside, so I guess that’s right.
Nameless wiped his face and let out a deep sigh.
“Master’s words are indeed correct.”
He nodded as if my words were right.
However, I couldn’t understand the intent behind Nameless’s question, so I tilted my head in confusion.
“What does that matter?”
Nameless’s eyebrows furrowed deeply, and he blurted out.
“…Don’t you feel anything?”
Feel anything…
“When we go back to the hut, there’s a lot of stuff to take with us?”
Especially this bed; I definitely need to take this.
I patted the bed a couple of times, marking it as mine.
“…”
At that, Nameless’s expression began to contort severely.
Hmm, I’ve seen that expression somewhere.
I closed my eyes in thought for a moment.
It was definitely….
That time when Nameless bought three months’ worth of strawberries for storage in the icehouse, but they were gone in a day. He had made that same face then.
…Huh? Why is he making that face now?
I began to feel a cold sweat trickling down the back of my neck.
After that expression, I remembered what had happened.
“Wait…! Nameless! Hold on!”
With a grim expression, Nameless slowly got up and approached me. I tried to push him away, but instead of my body moving, the blanket on the bed shifted, slowing me down.
…Oh no! I’m caught…!
I quickly added strength to my arms and pushed back with my feet.
But I had overlooked one fact.
-Thump
This place is not a wide open space, but a room.
And I was right on the bed.
Soon, my back hit the wall, and there was nowhere to retreat as Nameless drew closer.
“Nameless! Wait a minute…!”
With a showy slow motion, Nameless’s arms reached out to me…
“Hyah!”
His hand slipped under my armpit, lifting me high in the air.
Thanks to that, I was dangling like a cat.
“Master.”
“Y-Yes, Nameless.”
Nameless’s cold gaze ran over my entire body.
“You must be feeling stiff, so how about getting some fresh air outside?”
“No… It’s a rare time to rest…”
Avoiding Nameless’s gaze, I turned my head slightly. But then his arm moved, rotating me to face him again.
“Uh, um, I guess you might be right that I’m feeling stiff…?”
I replied with an awkward smile.
The twisted expression on Nameless’s face from earlier seemed to have disappeared.
“I shall prepare.”
Nameless smiled brightly, nodding his head.
I’m the master here….
It’s such an unjust situation, and my hands and feet trembled as I pouted.
“Master, aren’t you going out?”
“I will!”
I hurriedly sat up.
*
What would we do by going outside, Nameless and I?
After a brief moment admiring the flowers and scenery blooming outdoors, I soon lost interest and tied the wooden sword to my waist, heading to the training ground.
As soon as I arrived at the training ground, I saw someone.
“Gahk.”
“Long time no see!”
It was Elia, wearing a big smile.
“What are you doing here?”
I asked, sticking my tongue out while clearly showing my displeasure. Elia, seemingly unfazed, continued to beam her friendly smile as she spoke.
“Ah… since just sitting around feels pointless, I’m treating the wounded knights while they train!”
Hmm, I had been cooped up in my room all this time.
While I was holed up, this girl had been helping others for no reason, as no one would say anything to her.
I averted my gaze slightly, feeling compared to her, and my eyes landed in the center of the training ground.
“Hans! You’re just as useless as before?! You need to push back your feet further!”
“Yes!!!”
“Gilbert! Raise your arms! They’re too low!”
“Yes!!!”
Despite the cold weather, numerous knights were swinging swords drenched in sweat, and in the center, Camilla wielded a massive sword, giving direct instructions to each of them.
For a moment, I couldn’t help but admire her powerful figure.
“Isn’t it impressive?”
Elia stood beside me and asked. I nodded without saying anything.
Indeed, Camilla is amazing for teaching so many people.
She directly corrects even the slightest of mistakes in stances.
“Someone like Camilla doesn’t need to directly do it.”
A small smile appeared on Elia’s lips.
“She teaches like this every morning.”
“I see…?”
“I may not be perfect, but I came to offer even a small bit of help.”
Thinking about Camilla’s usual behavior, I could hardly imagine her doing this.
Indeed, there must be a reason why the knights’ skills are so high…
With this sight igniting a fire inside me, I took Nameless’s arm and moved towards the training ground.
“Let’s hurry and go.”
“Yes, Master.”
Since Camilla graciously gave me a room to rest in, I think I can offer at least a little help.
“Hey, brat!”
“-A little more to the back… Ma’am?”
Camilla looked at me with a confused expression, as if to ask why I was there.
I drew my wooden sword and pointed it at her.
“There’s nothing that helps swordsmanship training as much as actual combat!”
Just a moment ago, the knights who had been diligently practicing looked at me with bewildered expressions.
I enjoyed their confused stares and proudly raised my nose.
“I’m in a good mood, so be grateful I’m here to help!”
I smiled and shrugged while gazing at Camilla.
Nameless seemed to be taken by my appearance as well, repeatedly clapping his hands.
“Truly, you are the master.”
“Indeed!”
After a moment of confusion, Camilla smirked and rested her gigantic sword on her shoulder.
“Why the sudden change after being cooped up for so long?”
“…That was all for the improvement of my internal energy through breathing techniques, not laziness!”
As I slightly turned my head when saying this, Camilla chuckled and planted her gigantic sword into the ground, calling out to her knights.
“Did you all hear that?!”
“““““Yes!!!”””””
The powerful shout of Camilla and the knights.
For some reason, the ardent energy gave me goosebumps.
“Get ready quickly before I change my mind!”
“““““Yes!!!”””””
