Ah… I can’t sleep.
Probably the result of that afternoon nap. Even though it’s already midnight, I’m wide awake.
Still, it’s kind of amazing how Shiro could sleep that much during the day, then go right back to bed again after dinner and a bath.
I’ve heard that kittens sleep about twenty hours a day, but do catkin sometimes sleep that much too?
Now then… what should I do?
It’s just me tonight, and I’m getting tired of lying in bed with my eyes closed. Maybe I’ll head out to a tavern that’s open all night.
Or I could get some work done ahead of schedule… no, no. I’m a man who proudly lives by the creed of ‘I don’t want to work’. Work can wait.
…If I go to a tavern, there’ll probably be some adventurers around, right?
Alright. Decision made, time to hit the night streets for the first time in a while!
I slowly opened the door and gently closed it behind me.
Everyone in the house is sensitive to sounds and presences, so I took extreme care not to make the slightest noise and wake anyone up.
「Mmm… nnnh… ahh…」
「Pya!?」
A low moan came from the living room, and I let out a weird squeak before freezing in place!
When I slowly turned my gaze toward the sound, I saw a dark silhouette swaying unsteadily in the pitch-black living room.
As it turned toward me, a cloud drifted away and moonlight poured in, revealing Renge, sitting on the sofa, staring at me with a puzzled look.
「Areh? Master?」
「Oh… it’s just you, Renge…」
Man, that scared me.
For a second, I thought it was some kind of ghost.
My heart’s still pounding…..
「What are you doing up this latessu? Ah, right, it’s a rest day today. Don’t tell me, you’re heading to one of those places with girlsssu? You really like that kind of thing… If you’d said so, I could’ve kept you company anytimessu?」
「No, just the tavern… Wait, what about you, Renge? What are ‘you’ doing?」
「Ahh, well, um…」
She probably meant to tease me like she always does, but the moment I threw the question back at her, her words got all tangled up.
I thought maybe she’d say she got thirsty and went to drink some water, but the way she’s acting is suspicious. Very suspicious.
「That reaction… you’ve been snacking, haven’t you? I don’t really mind, but Wendy’s gonna scold you later. So, what’d you sneak? Share some with me.」
「Wha! I’m not that much of a gluttonssu!? That’s more of a Shiro thing!」
Well, you know, since you were talking about individuality earlier, I thought maybe you were trying to add a new character trait or something.
Though, considering you already have that strong “actually a shrine maiden princess” thing going on, I figured that was more than enough.
「Hm? What’s that?」
「Ah, this… it’s a letter from Roukaku…」
Right, the old man, Kuduro-san, did say he sent a letter.
So, this must have arrived after he left.
Renge quietly handed me the letter, and when I read it, it started by asking about her health, followed by a report on the current state of Roukaku, pretty much the same things Kuduro-san talked about earlier today.
Then came the part detailing the increase in earth dragons, their appearance sites, and scale. I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in surprise.
「This is… more than I expected.」
「Yeah, it’s worse than we thoughtssu…」
I had imagined a few scattered appearances, but according to this, quite a number of them have been sighted across multiple locations.
「Can the military really handle this on their own…?」
There was a map included, and the largest city was probably Roukaku’s capital.
Scattered across the vast desert were several small towns, each marked nearby with red dots indicating the scale of the earth dragons, and there were more than ten of them.
「Not sure… Each town’s used to dealing with them, so they can probably defend themselves to some extent. But it depends on how long each battle takes for the army…」
「I see… What about Kuduro-san?」
He supposedly destroyed an organization with his “Meatball Knuckle”, so he must be incredibly strong…
「Gramps is strong, no doubtssu. In his prime, I couldn’t beat him. If he splits the work with the army, they might manage somehow… but, well, he’s still an old man nowssu. Traveling the desert and fighting one battle after another… not sure how that’ll go.」
Yeah… he definitely looked elderly.
Renge’s eyebrows drooped as she gave a troubled expression.
She was probably too worried to sleep after reading that letter.
Even though she must be exhausted from our quest, she’s still awake, thinking about her homeland, about Kuduro-san, and her little sister.
「You’re worried, huh…」
「…Yeah.」
Kuduro-san had probably come here with two purposes in mind, to rescue Renge, and to deal with the crisis threatening his homeland.
Even so, after seeing the happiness on Renge’s face, he must have decided to prioritize that above all else.
He likely forced himself to say it was fine, that he’d handle things himself, because she finally looked content.
Otherwise, he never would have made such a fuss, calling it an emergency and all.
I sat down in front of Renge, looked straight into her eyes, and asked.
「…With this many of them, could things be managed if you went?」
「…I’m the one most used to fighting earth dragons, so yeah… If I split duties with Gramps and the army, I think we could manage somehow…」
「…You want to go, don’t you?」
Anyone could tell just by looking at her face.
「Well… yeah, honestly, I do. But I’d also like you to understand the part of me that’s struggling not to say it out loud…」
You’re one to talk about consideration, after blurting out the “I’m master’s slave” thing right in front of your old caretaker.
「I belong to you now, masterssu. Causing trouble for you because of my family’s mess would be unforgivablessu.」
「Come on now… Didn’t I say I’d make you happy? I even swore that to Kuduro-san. If you want to go, then just say so. My job’s to make it happen.」
Renge drew her knees up on the sofa, hugging them as she turned her gaze toward me.
「You’re too kind, master… I kinda figured you’d say that… but, you know, sometimes I wonder if I’m just relying on you too muchssu. What if I’m pushing too much on you… What if you end up hating me for it…?」
That’s not like her at all.
If anything, I’m the one always doing whatever I please.
Compared to that, she’s nowhere near being a burden.
Honestly, even if she came up to me in her usual tone saying, “Hey, master, I’m gonna pop over to Roukaku real quick and beat up some earth dragonsssu, that cool?”, there’s no way I could ever hate her for it.
Seeing her this uncharacteristically hesitant just makes me want to grant her wish all the more.
「You idiot… Do you really think I could ever hate you?」
「…Even I’ve got a little bit of maidenly heart in messu? If there’s even the tiniest chance of being disliked… it’s scary. That’s what it means to be a maidenssu….」
Yeah, I know.
Renge can be surprisingly particular about atmosphere and mood sometimes.
Usually, she teases Sorte about her being the more “girlish” one, but that’s just Renge’s way.
「Besides… if I said I wanted to go help…」
「Of course. I’d let you, and I’d go with you.」
「Yeahssu… I figured you’d say that. That’s why you’ve been training your body, right…?」
Of course.
I’m not trying to get stronger because I dream of cutting down monsters and saving the world or anything like that.
…I just hate the idea of not being able to keep up.
I don’t ever want to be useless again.
「Haa…」
「Hahaha. Give it up. I won’t stop you if you’re going, but I’m coming too.」
If I did nothing and Renge’s country were destroyed, she’d never truly smile again.
I promised the old man I’d make her happy.
And if her happiness extends to Roukaku, then I’ll go with her, of course I will.
Because if the one before my eyes were to die, I know I’d never smile again either.
「Yeah… figured you’d say thatssu. But, master… maybe sit this one out? Earth dragons are way stronger than the monsters around here, you know?」
「I never said I’d be fighting. I’ll just support where I can, and mostly stay with Wendy and Mizera, floating somewhere safe in the Invisible Prison.」
I’m not giving up on going with her.
But I’m not going there to get in the way either.
Even if I can’t be of much use, it’s enough if I can avoid dragging them down and help when it really matters.
「Well yeah… Earth dragons can’t fly and their long-range attacks are just rocksssu, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerousssu?」
「Yeah, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. You’ll be there, and so will Shiro and the others.」
I smiled at her, putting all my resolve into that one look.
「Ah, you don’t plan on listening to me at allssu. Master has already decided….」
「Pretty much. I’m already thinking about what kind of meals to make in the desert.」
「You’re already planning that far aheadssu… Well, I mean, I’d be happy to eat your cooking out there, but still…」
Right.
If we don’t eat properly, we won’t be at our best.
If we had to rely on rations or makeshift meals and Renge got hurt because she wasn’t at full strength, I’d never forgive myself.
It’s better to be fully prepared.
「…Haa. Master.」
「Hm?」
「Please… let me ask you something.」
It’s a little late for that, and so very proper of her.
Well, sticking to formality is just like Renge… or rather, like the Red Line.
「Alright. Let’s hear it.」
「I want to go to Roukakussu. I want to protect my sister and everyone theressu.」
「Got it. I’ll go with you.」
「Yesssu… Master, I’ll protect you. I promise.」
With that, Renge rose to her feet, then sat down beside me.
She wrapped her arms around me and rubbed her cheek against mine.
「No one’s taking this warmth away from me.」
「Yeah. And no one’s taking away the soft feeling of your, uh, chest brushing against my arm either.」
「…Master. Not the timessu. You’re supposed to make it sound romantic! You ‘can’ do it when you try, so at least play along once in a whilessu!」
「I see. So I ‘can’ do it, huh… Then how about this?」
「Eh?」
I turned her body in one smooth motion and pushed her down onto the sofa, leaning over her.
Supporting myself with my arms, I looked straight into her eyes.
「Renge, you protect me. And in return, I’ll make you happy.」
「Ah… y-you actually can pull it off when you want tossu…」
Her face flushed red as she tried to hide it with her hands.
I felt embarrassed saying it so seriously, but seeing such a rare reaction from her made it completely worth it.
「Ahhh… that serious face is cheatingssu…! Of course, I’m gonna lose it when you suddenly get all cool like thatssu…」
「Fallen for me again?」
「Haaah… yeah. You’re so you, master, and I love you even more now than beforessu…」
「Yeah. I love you too, Renge.」
We both laughed softly.
Then Renge hugged me from underneath, and as I relaxed my arms and laid down with her, we stayed like that, holding each other until morning came.
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