「Flowers in both hands, eh?」
「Does it look that way?」
「……All I see is a father humoring children.」
The one who could only look like a grandfather in this situation gave a faint smile and tapped his forehead lightly.
This was Konsuro, the old man serving as my idiot aniki’s adjutant.
A commoner by birth, he had risen to his current rank through sheer ability, a true self-made warrior.
This time he was looking after the royal guard soldiers who came with us. Except… every single one of them reeked of being new recruits.
「Why couldn’t we bring people from Noie’s squad instead?」
「At this time of year, vacations and other matters are unavoidable. Even those not on leave are stationed guarding the construction at the standby post.」
「So, you’re fine with nothing but rookies?」
At my question the old man gave a bitter laugh.
「Against a large dragon, even seasoned veterans can do nothing but watch. These men are here essentially to guard this ship and you, Argusta-sama.」
「I’m fine being protected, but…」
「Even with your wife in such a condition?」
「……Even like this, I believe Noie will protect me.」
I gently stroked her head.
Noie, using my lap as a pillow, had a frankly terrible complexion.
For the record, Lutte lay beside us staring up at the sky with a sickly grin.
Both of them were completely down from seasickness.
「Well, consider it Halfren-sama’s thoughtfulness and allow us to guard you.」
「I’m not complaining.」
Sensing my feelings, old Konsuro quietly withdrew.
I could never forget the casualty count from the previous attack.
Twenty advance scouts and the two knights assigned to protect them, all dead.
Of the two surviving knights, one lost an arm, the other an eye.
Even if that’s “normal” in this world, it still struck deep in the chest.
While softly stroking Noie’s head to calm myself, I quietly looked up at the sky.
Even if I wore full armor, in my case it probably wouldn’t help much. In that case, I really need to do something about magic so I can at least protect myself.
Noie keeps risking injury to shield me. Even if the wounds heal, I don’t want to see her get hurt.
「Maybe I should study magic when we get back.」
The words slipped out naturally… and Noie opened one eye to look up at me.
-0-
The sea voyage ended without incident.
It was only three or four hours downstream on the river, but the return trip will be by ship again, right?
I’m really curious how they manage to go back upstream against the current.
A carriage was waiting at the landing.
From here we’ll head straight to the coastal fort and simply wait for the dragon to appear.
「Mm～. For now, nothing unusual stands out.」
「Really?」
「Yes. Around this carriage and toward the sea… there are small ones, but no large ones.」
「Hey, Lutte. Go scout and call them over.」
「Don’t be unreasonable～!」
With one eye closed while using her blessing, sweat poured from her forehead in heavy drops.
The amount made it look like she had just stepped out of a sauna.
「You eat sweets all the time… but what about water?」
「I drink plenty. I collapsed once from forgetting, so I’m careful now.」
With a little heave she pulled out her canteen and gulped it down in one go.
She eats well and drinks well… I think I finally understand why her growth has been so remarkable.
In Noie’s case she eats a lot too, but she burns through it just as fast.
I stroked the head of Noie sitting beside me, happily munching on snacks.
She was swinging her legs while eating, bad manners, but since Noie looked so cute, I decided to overlook it.
「So tonight we’ll be staying at the fort?」
「Hm? No, that’s not right.」
「Really?」
「Yes. That’s the official plan for the others. We’re heading straight to the villa just before the fort.」
While Lutte munched noisily on baked sweets, I raised a questioning brow at her words.
「Are you plotting something again?」
「No, no. It’s just that we’ve confirmed some nobles are connected to foreign powers, so Konsuro-sama said better safe than sorry.」
「As long as that’s all, fine.」
If we get ambushed by that giant woman again, I’ll cry for real.
Sure, they fled once already, so they probably won’t come back so easily.
「Then we’re staying at that villa tonight?」
「Yes.」
「Hmm.」
Wait, villa?
「Whose villa is it?」
「Um… I believe it belongs to the royal family.」
「……」
「Is something wrong?」
「Nothing.」
The last royal villa we visited had hot springs attached.
That doesn’t mean this one will have them too. It doesn’t mean that… but a small part of me is hoping.
-0-
「In a way, they’re very thorough.」
The fluffy steam drifting upward was unmistakably from a hot spring.
Does the royal family of Univance have some rule about building villas at hot spring sites?
Still, I will say this outright, I approve wholeheartedly!
「Whoa… this one’s surprisingly hot.」
I eased myself in slowly, letting my body adjust to the temperature.
My left arm stayed wrapped in bandages, but I didn’t mind. I’m in a position where such luxury is permitted.
「Ah～. This really hits the spot.」
I scooped a little water with my right hand and poured it over my shoulder.
The skin still felt tight in places, but the wound on my back had improved quite a lot.
My left arm was healing faster than expected too. Could it be because of the spell formation Noie keeps applying to me?
When I asked her, she only said 「I don’t know」… so probably best not to overthink it.
「Um～. Argusta-sama～」
「Hm～?」
「The captain isn’t even trying to cover herself.」
「Let her do what she wants.」
「Oka～y.」
Noie, freshly released from the changing room, rinsed herself with a bucket of water before coming to sit right beside me.
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