It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 33: Countryside Town

Episode 33: Countryside Town

Right after leaving the territory’s capital, I noticed someone watching us from within the forest along the road. I immediately marked them. For now, I’ll let them be.

The one who ran away yesterday had escaped into a nearby viscount’s territory. I don’t know how many enemies we’re dealing with. I’ll stay on guard.

It seems that person is watching us alone. If they’re part of a bandit group, then if I can locate their base, I can crush them all at once. 

I could use magic to search the whole forest. But that would generate too much information. Picking out the group from that would be a very tough job. 

There are even cases where what looked like a bandit base turns out to be a Goblin settlement. That brings its own problems. 

We’re in the middle of a request right now. I don’t want to create any unnecessary trouble.

Though we took breaks here and there, we basically moved without rest. That was only possible because I used fatigue recovery magic on everyone as we went.

The marked suspicious person couldn’t keep up, as expected. The distance between us started to grow. 

Still, seeing how they’re heading in the same direction as us, it seems their base is in the same direction as ours. 

Maybe they’re part of the mastermind’s group. This needs close attention. I’ll keep watching them.

With the number of people increased, I thought we might not make it by the end of the day. But we managed to reach the destination just before sunset.

It was a small countryside town. A forest and grasslands spread out nearby. And its main industry seemed to be dairy farming. 

In the fields we saw along the way, there were small structures like cowsheds scattered here and there.

Looking around the town, it seemed there was only one inn. 

We immediately went there and rented rooms. 

Alright, I managed to get enough rooms for everyone. 

That was close—some of us almost had to sleep outdoors.

Since today was just a travel day, we decided to rest well. 

The food wasn’t fancy like what the Count’s house served. But for us, who were used to commoner food, it was plenty delicious.

Unfortunately, there was no bath. 

Well, that’s expected. A fancy thing like a bath wouldn’t exist in a small countryside town like this. 

Just boiling water alone uses up firewood. 

Precious firewood can’t be wasted so easily. 

So instead of a bath, we just wiped our bodies down with water.

But that’s kind of tricky… 

Because I’m sharing a room with Pamela.

“Pamela, I’ll wait outside the room.”

“There’s no need for that. If it’s you, El-sama… I don’t mind you seeing anything.”

Blushing and fidgeting, Pamela said that. 

She probably wants me to wipe her back. 

Maybe she even wants me to wipe her whole body.

Reading between the lines, I helped Pamela take off her clothes and wiped her back. 

I made her wipe her front by herself, of course.

Just for the sake of bathing, going back home is actually a good idea. 

Bathing at the Count’s house involves a bunch of preparations and formalities, which is a pain. 

But if I go back to the base house, I’d be free from all that hassle.

Yeah, I should’ve done that from the start. 

I’ll do that starting tomorrow.

Once we were done wiping each other, there didn’t seem to be anything else to do. So we went to bed. 

The view from the window was wrapped in pitch-black darkness. 

There were no lights on in any of the nearby houses.

Fuel is a precious resource. 

They probably can’t afford to waste it. 

We’ll follow suit.

“Orto and Shiro-chan, please sleep on that bed. El-sama and I will sleep together on this one.”

Pamela briskly gave instructions to the two animals. 

I figured she’d do this—and yep, she did. 

The two animals obeyed and lay down on the bed.

“Pamela, isn’t this bed a little narrow for the two of us?”

The bed I glanced at was big enough for one person. But it seemed a bit tight for two. 

Unless we sleep clinging together, one of us will probably fall to the floor.

Pamela stared at the bed and covered her mouth with both hands, as if realizing the same thing. 

Maybe she hadn’t noticed until now?

“I-it’s fine. If we sleep holding each other tightly, we’ll be okay.”

Even as she said that, her voice trembled a bit. 

Seeing her so earnestly wanting to be with me tugged at my heart. 

Calm down. Endure it, me.

“I see. Then, let’s sleep holding each other.”

“Y-yes.”

Shiro watched our exchange with shining eyes, and Orto looked on cautiously.

When the room light went out, everything turned pitch black like being blindfolded. 

Feeling around in the dark, I pulled Pamela close. 

She fit snugly into my arms. 

Pamela’s body was warm. 

She must have been hearing the fast heartbeat in my chest through her ear.

I held Pamela tightly so she wouldn’t fall off the bed.

—

The next day. 

After eating breakfast—bread with bacon and salad stuffed inside—we immediately started moving.

I thought I might not be able to sleep. But I actually slept quite well. 

Pamela seemed to have slept soundly too—her complexion looked good. 

Apparently, using Pamela as a body pillow lets me sleep better. 

Maybe her gentle warmth and softness create a good sleep effect?

“Master, did you have fun last night?”

Shiro whispered that in my ear so others wouldn’t hear. 

I told him there’s no way that happened, and he shook his head side to side.

Has Shiro not noticed how thin the inn’s walls are? 

The creaking sounds were from the next room. 

Probably that sleepy-looking knight. 

I just hope there’s no trouble later.

“Today we’ll be doing interviews with the townspeople, so it might be boring for you. If you get tired, just say so.”

“Understood. But… aren’t the interviews already done?”

“I read the report. But still, I want to check things myself with my own eyes and ears. There might be something we missed.”

Pamela nodded as if convinced.

First, we greeted the mayor. 

We hadn’t greeted him yesterday since it was already around dinnertime.

The mayor, feeling humbled, insisted we stay at his house. But I politely declined.

Even if the place was spacious, we couldn’t all stay there. 

We should avoid splitting our forces. 

Someone might take advantage of that opening.

After that, we went around talking to the people in the town. 

In the end, everyone only said they’d heard *rumors* of a Dragon in the forest—no one had actually seen it.

We couldn’t trace the source of the story either.

On the other hand, a few people said they heard loud roars. It was seemingly from a monster, coming from the forest. 

There might really be some large monster in the forest.