Rain, a Cave, and the Truth 3
The day of our departure was clear. Under a sky so blue it
felt like you could fall into it, the weather was just warm enough to make you
sweat slightly.
Ashren-sama
carried the blanket, pot, and lamp for me, but my backpack, which was about
one-third the size of my body, was still bursting at the seams. I tied my hair
into two pigtails below my ears so it would be easier to wear a hat. In
addition to the canteen hanging from my neck, I put a non-bulky cloth one in my
backpack just in case. Alright, preparations are perfect.
The escort knight was Mark-sama, and he was lightly
carrying luggage that was more than what Ashren-sama and I had combined.
「Mark-sama, please take care of me.」
「Same here. Just treat me like thin
air and don't worry about me.」
A refreshing smile with meaningful words. But this person
should know that I'm just a freeloader.
「Stop saying unnecessary things and
let's go.」
Ashren-sama,
neither denying nor confirming, pointed at the carriage with his chin. The
carriage was not the Marquis family's usual one; instead of a family crest, it
had a well-worn look. In short, it was a bit shabby. But apparently, this makes
it less likely to be targeted by bandits.
As I watched the familiar scenery of the Royal Capital
flow by outside the window, the carriage entered a gravel road and the swaying
grew larger. However, the seats were soft and there was little impact. Though
it looks shabby, it was apparently made so the ride quality is no different
from the Marquis family's carriage. Only the rich would go out of their way to
build an elaborate carriage just to ward off bandits, it seems.
Ashren-sama
sat next to me, and Mark-sama sat opposite us. Placing their swords
close at hand, the two of them relaxed, crossed their long legs, and
occasionally chatted. I occasionally joined their conversations, and the travel
time became more enjoyable than I had expected.
Our journey proceeded so smoothly it was almost
anti-climactic. Up until this point, that is.
The fourth day. Having reached the foot of the mountain in
question and taken lodging at an inn, we gathered in Ashren-sama's room
after dinner to confirm the mountain path we would climb tomorrow.
From Ashren-sama's room on the third floor, the
mountain we were to climb tomorrow was faintly visible under the moonlight. Due
to the rain that lasted until yesterday, its summit was hidden by clouds and
couldn't be seen clearly, which only seemed to emphasize the mountain's size,
making anxiety well up within me about whether we could reach it.
「Our destination is Liebel Village.
This is the shortest route, but the footing is a bit poor, you see.」
Spreading a map on an old table at the edge of the room, Mark-sama
crossed his arms with a sour face. On the table were two glasses containing
amber-colored liquor and one teacup.
Ashren-sama,
sitting next to me just like in the carriage, also glared at the map with
furrowed brows. Many lines were drawn on the map, and it seems the narrower the
gaps between the lines, the steeper the incline.
「What about the other routes?」
「The route I thought was optimal for
both incline and distance is apparently buried by a landslide. The only other
option is this one, but that would guarantee camping out.」
Mark-sama's
finger drew an arc circling around the map. It looked like a path that climbed
while taking a huge detour.
「I want to avoid camping out. Layla,
I'd like to take the shortest route, but will you be alright?」
Even being asked if I'll be alright, I don't have the basis
to answer "yes". Since I have never climbed a mountain, I don't know
my own limits. When I honestly conveyed that to Ashren-sama, he held his
head with a difficult expression, going, "True..."
「Well, if I carry Layla's
luggage too, and you take her hand, Ashren, we should be able to manage
somehow. We can swap roles if you prefer, though.」
「...It is better to avoid having your
hands full, since you're the escort.」
「Even though you have skills on par
with mine?」
Ashren-sama
glared at Mark-sama, who was grinning broadly, then turned his gaze to
me.
「What do you want to do?」
「I will do my best on the shortest
route.」
「Understood. Let us do that, then.」
Alright,
Ashren-sama and Mark-sama nodded at each other, then began
confirming things like where to take breaks and spots to be careful at while
looking at the map. I also tried to memorize the route as much as possible.
「Then, we will proceed with that plan
tomorrow.」
Ashren-sama
raised his glass, and Mark-sama clinked his own against it with a clink.
▲▽▲▽▲▽▲
The meeting finished, and following Layla, who left
the room saying good night, I also left Ashren's room.
As Layla was about to say good night to me while
reaching for the doorknob of the room two doors down, I suggested we talk
downstairs for a bit. She nodded, albeit looking bewildered.
I have no ulterior motives. I just felt frustrated seeing Layla
completely unaware of the fact that she was making that Ashren show such
a sweet expression. Ashren is my best friend. If that misogynist has
fallen in love, that's where I should provide cover fire. I am absolutely not
enjoying this situation. Though I am having a hard time hiding my grinning
smile.
Small tables were lined up at the back of the first floor,
and the counter where we had checked in now had liquor lined up that wasn't
there before. It was like a small tavern for the inn's guests.
I took two glasses of fruit water and headed to a nearby
table. In front of the small table meant only for drinking liquor were
long-legged chairs. The short-statured Layla sat there with a little
difficulty. It seemed this was her first time in a place like this, and she
looked around with deep interest.
The handed-over summer tangerine fruit water was in a tall,
slender glass usually meant for liquor. When she held it, the ice inside made a
small clink sound. Having an icehouse in the basement seems to be the
selling point of this inn.
「So, what is the matter?」
A slightly wary face she doesn't show to Ashren. I
purposely shrugged my shoulders.
「Don't be so on guard. I was just
curious about what kind of person the young lady that misogynistic Ashren
is keeping close at hand is like.」
Just when I thought Layla's round eyes had gone even
rounder, she put strength into her brow this time.
「I believe you already know this, but
I am not Ashren-sama's lover.」
「I know. But rumors don't die easily,
do they.」
「That is true. However, it's just
getting hit with cold glares from time to time, so there's no actual harm.」
Are people like Flora shielding her well? No, that's
not it. Looking at Ashren's face as he walks beside Layla,
everyone must have realized they have no choice but to give up. As for Layla,
perhaps because she's a researcher to the core, she seems uninterested in
romance and acts unbothered, thinking it can't be helped even if she finds it
troublesome. That's when a thought occurred to me. If I recall correctly, Layla
should have had a fiancé. I wonder how things were with that guy.
「Come to think of it, you had a
fiancé, right, Layla? Ah, you don't have to say anything if you don't
want to talk about it.」
「No, it's not that I particularly
don't want to talk about it, but...」
She looked at the fruit water in her hand for a moment, then
took a sip.
「Perhaps it's more accurate to say
that there is nothing to talk about.」
「Not that you can't talk about
it, but...」
「Yes. Even when I try to remember, he
never did anything fiancée-like for me. I don't even know Carter-sama's
favorite food or colors, you see.」
After saying that, she smiled a little sadly, saying it's a
tie since it's the same for him.
On that face, there is sorrow, but no lingering attachments.
It just seems she was simply sad.
「Then how much do you know about Ashren?」
「About Ashren-sama?」
She tilted her head in bewilderment, but immediately raised
her face.
「Despite his beautiful face, he's
quite two-faced, isn't he? It's like he always has a hidden trump card he
doesn't show to people. But, he is kind. Being by his side, I can tell he is
always caring for me.」
That face laughing brightly as if remembering something
looks incredibly happy. I see, so her denseness is not just towards others, but
towards herself as well.
「Have you ever conveyed that to Ashren?」
「Of course not.」
Yeah, I figured. If he had heard that, he would have been
much more forceful.
「I see, I understand very well.」
「Understand what?」
「No, nothing. Let's head back after
drinking this. If Ashren finds us, he'll half-kill me.」
「Fufu, surely that wouldn't happen.」
Her face, smiling without a care in the world, is plumper
and her complexion is better than when I first saw her. Yeah, this won't end
with just being half-killed. This is really bad.
「I heard a good story.」
Thanks, I said, and as I raised my glass, beyond it. Beyond my distorted vision. I saw Ashren radiating a cold bloodlust standing behind Layla, who was tilting her head. Oh crap!
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