I was in a room at an inn, drifting in and out of sleep in order to heal my wound.
The wound was deeper than I expected, the fact that it somehow didn't reach my internal organs is probably due to my well-built muscles and high quality armor.
I coated it in medicine, ate meat, and slept.
I had already repeated that for three days since I came here, and I can finally move about a little bit.
After the battle I was half carried by Schwarz north into Arcland's northern neighbor, the "Gordonia Kingdom".
Gordonia is one of the prominent nations in the central plains, with a population of 1.5 million people, and possessed of a good military and economy.
In particular, the capital with the same name, "Gordonia City", was the largest city in the central plains.
Gordonia is a country that boasts its military strength, but the border on its north is the Great Forest that marks the end of the Central Plains, with the Olga Federation on the other side — and it also shares borders with several other countries.
As for its political system, it's a monarchy with strong feudal elements, it had powerful nobles even the King couldn't ignore their clout.
The current King, Hybell the Second, adopted a peaceful, or to put it less flatteringly a don't-rock-the-boat policy, which lessens tensions with the neighboring countries and stabilizes the country's internal affairs.
I was in the Gordonia Kingdom's capital Gordonia.
I who was on top of being wounded, rocked about on a horse, took the first inn I found and so here I am now.
The people at the inn looked at me worriedly but took a 'don't bother me with something troublesome' attitude.
If Maria were here I'm sure I'd heal a lot faster.
The fourth night, when my wounds have healed to an extent, I was awakened by the sound of the floorboards creaking.
Still lying on the bed, I opened my eyes slightly and watched.
It seems I have an uninvited guest coming through the window.
Keeping the sound of their footsteps down, they rummaged through my belongings.
It was dark and I couldn't see clearly, but they looked petite, maybe a child or a small woman.
"My purse isn't there you know"
"!!?"
Moonlight shone on the small shadow, and the face it revealed was of a young girl barely past 10 years old, her hair was an unusual silver, though a bit dulled.
She sprung up and took alert by the window.
I rose slowly to my feet.
Seems the pain in my stomach was not so much that I couldn't withstand.
"!!"
The girl took out a 10 cm long knife from her breast pocket.¹
Looks like she means to rob me even if it meant killing me, now that she's been noticed.
¹ «TN: the inside pocket where you usually see people store a bag of coins in medieval settings»
"You're about right for rehabilitation… come here"
The girl silently brought herself down and lunged.
That was an unexpectedly fast and sharp lunge.
She looks like she's got a rather good knack for fighting.
Even an adult would end up having their throat sliced if they don't pay attention.
I knocked the girl's knife down while thinking, and pushed her down on the bed.
She struggled but now without her knife, she had no way of pushing me, with a better physical build, aside.
"! !!"
I was thinking I'd do her right then and there, but she's a little too young.
I don't find it enjoyable to rape children.
I pressed the girl's hands down and talked.
I haven't had the chance to talk with a woman lately, I might have been a little thirsty.
"What's your name? Why did you sneak in?"
I already know why, but it's still a topic to talk about, so I asked.
"...…."
"You can at least talk, can't you? Or would you rather keep silent and I take you to the guards?"
"Soot"
"Soot? Your name is Soot?"
The girl nodded, that's not a proper name.
"'Cause my hair is covered in soot, target is money"
Straight to the point.
"Why do you need money?"
"It was an order"
Ooh? Now this is getting interesting.
"By whom? and what for?"
"By Miguel. Says I have to bring money"
This girl seems to be a slave of this "Miguel".
Kidnapped when she was young, made to do all kinds of crime, and hand over the money.
"You never questioned the way you lived until now?"
A life of theft and burglary.
I shouldn't be saying anything about how others live their lives.
But the girl said "It was an order so there's no helping it", which rubs me the wrong way.
I was maybe seeing my younger self in her.
"If I don't bring back money I don't get food. I get beaten"
Using the money the girl earns for herself.
Or maybe choosing a different lifestyle.
Neither of those probably ever crossed her mind.
People won't think they can choose for themselves unless someone taught them to.
"Do you believe you're living a good life now? Have you ever want to eat something better than you are, or do something you like?"
"I don't know, but I can't do that…"
"You can, you just think you can't. Use your head and think. It's not about can or can't. It's about want or don't want"
"Is there any other way to live for me?"
"There is. There are infinite ways to live. You just couldn't see them"
"..."
The girl fell silent.
"Do you want me to rape you here now?"
"No. Don't want"
"Good. Then push me away. If you can't then try to talk me out of it. You can also scream."
"..... You're telling me to fight?"
"If you want to"
As I got up from the bed the girl jumped and rolled towards the window.
I threw a steel knife and it stuck a few centimeters from her head.
Unlike the one the girl took out earlier, it was 30 cm long, a knife for killing people.
"I'm giving you that. Think and choose for yourself, will you come at me again with it, will you sell it off for money, or will you use it to break the chains that bind you"
The girl held the knife in silence for a while, but she then left through the window just like how she came.
Doesn't look like she chose to come at me again.
If I were to be careless now I'd be done for if she picked up the courage to come here again.
While I thought that I closed my eyes.
... that girl probably never took a bath, ever.
The bed stank where I pushed her down.
When I was about to fall asleep, the window opened again with a creak.
I was surprised that she'd come again, but unlike before, she made no attempt to hide herself, her footsteps loud and clear.
Otherwise, I who had totally let my guard down probably wouldn't have noticed.
"What's wrong….. I see, you chose that, did you…"
The girl looked just like before, she was holding the knife I gave her drawn.
The difference is that she was covered from head to toe in blood, the knife was also bloody.
"You cut the chains?"
"The chains…. crumblier than I thought"
She cut away the chains that bound her.
But there's just one problem.
"Why did you come back to me?"
"I don't know anyone else. So I want to ask"
"Ask what?"
"Am I worth anything? Do you want me?"
She doesn't know enough words and cut straight to the chase.
But her feelings went through to me.
"Of course. You moved very well, but most of all, as a cute girl you'd have some value"
"I see. Then I want you to rule me"
"What?"
"You were the one who taught me to resist, to choose"
"What's that got to do with rule?"
"I broke the way I live until now. Your responsibility to teach me a new one"
That's not how it works.
Or so I thought, but well, yeah, it was me who incited her to destroy her way of life.
I don't mind taking her in, but there's one thing on my mind.
"Isn't that totally no different from how you lived until now?"
There's no meaning to breaking your chains if you're getting new ones.
"Not the same"
She spoke in a clear tone.
"You ruling me. Me living with you. That is my own will. My own choice. Choosing to be ruled by someone, isn't it choosing my own way of life?"
The girl chose to wind the chains and fasten the lock on herself.
Then all is well.
She'll come to know the world one day, I can release her lock when she wants to fly away.
I'll keep her nearby until then.
I'll also raise her and have a little taste afterwards.
"I don't plan on staying here. You might even die if you come with me"
I thought about threatening her a little, but the girl no longer had any doubt.
"I don't mind. Here is the same. I want to follow you. I want to go where you go"
I offered my hand.
My intent was a handshake, but the girl knelt and gave my hand a kiss.
Seems like this is what she means by rule.
"Then I will obey you…. umm"
"Aegir"
"Aegir-sama"
I told her the '-sama' isn't needed but she won't hear of it.
"You're teaching me how to live and letting me stay with you. Saying -sama is obvious", she says.
It doesn't sit right with me to have others obeying me but I gave up since this is what she herself wanted.
"So what's your name?"
"Soot"
"That's not a proper name"
Does anyone ever even gave anyone a name like that.
"Other than soot, there's 'you' or 'this kid'"
None of them are actual names.
"Those aren't people names. ….. Okay, from today on your name is "Celia", you're Celia"
"Celia…. Celia…. from today I'm Celia"
The girl muttered Celia, Celia several times, as if savoring the taste.
It's actually the name of a girl I bought meat from before but let's not mention that.
She had a set of top of the line huge chests. If I wasn't injured I would've tried courting her.
The name comes with a prayer that your chest will grow that big, so don't think badly of me.
I thought the conversation was over, but Celia seems to still have something to say.
"What will I be to you?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"How will Aegir-sama be ruling me? A mistress? A slave?"
She wants to know where she stands, she's serious about the weird things.
'Mistress' is interesting but Celia needs to grow a little.
Her height didn't even reach my chest, so it'll be impossible to even enjoy her attending to me at night.
That said, unlike Carla and Mireille she doesn't give of the feeling of a 'companion'.
"You'll be my follower. You will do as I say, and be of use to me. In return I'll be looking after you"
"Follower.... very well. I'll do my best"
She spoke politely.
That seems to be the image of 'follower' in Celia's mind.
"Then I'll give you your orders right away"
Celia stood straight.
"Go fetch water from the well! Wash yourself with that! Don't forget your hair!"
It's going to be winter soon and a bath would be a little painful but she's too filthy.
I'll ask for hot water in the morning and thoroughly wash her then.
Celia's clean silver hair will be really beautiful.
I was thankful for the fact that I met Celia.
Because of Celia doing the food and washing water preparations I could fully concentrate on healing my injury.
As a result of that, on the 10th day since I came to this place – the 6th day after I met Celia – my wound was almost completely closed.
"Celia. I can concentrate on healing my wound thanks to you"
"Since I can be useful to Aegir-sama then it's natural. Rather than that, I'm sorry that I don't know enough it's troubling you"
Due to her living in the city she seems to have the knowledge pertaining to that, but because she lived as a slave she's a bit lacking in common sense.
In the first day, since she can't be walking around in bloodied clothes I told her to "buy some new clothes", and gave her my clothes and some money, but since she thought she can't be wearing her master's clothes she went shopping stark naked, causing quite an uproar.
A rumor that I made a little girl my sex slave started drifting about and I was kicked out of the inn.
The next inn was well equipped and had good rooms, so result-wise all went well.
"I thank you anyway. This is the last day we'll be staying in this town, too. Have you got everything ready to depart?"
We're finally departing for the Olga federation tomorrow.
Entering the Olga Federation, which unlike the comparatively stable winter climate of the Central Plains, is intensely cold, requires a bit of preparation.
"I have bought clothes and blankets for Aegir-sama. I'll definitely show you I can carry them all"
She's all fired about it.
"Well now, let's go to the bar to get livened up"
"I'll go with you"
This Hard-Boiled Pavilion consists of an inn in the second floor and a restaurant-cum-bar on the first.
Because of Gordonia being a prosperous city, the variety and flavor of the drinks were good.
I had some hard distilled liquor, while Celia was sipping on some honeyed weak booze.
In contrast to her unchanging expression, she's not good with her drinks.
When she had a taste of the same drink I had, she toppled over sideways and spat out, still with a firm expression.
I looked at the reddish-faced Celia while talking about dumb things with the barmaster.
"You sure got strange tastes, going to the federation this time of the year"
"That's 'cause I want to see Olga Federation in winter"
"If you still wanna go anyway then you should go along the North Teljes. The coldness thereabouts is still tolerable. You can use a ship too, so you can go quickly"
I see, using a ship is one way.
But I wanted to see the Federation's northern parts, too.
"Though I want to see the north too if I can"
The barmaster's face turned serious.
"You gotta be outta your mind, going north in winter. There are large empty spaces between towns and snowstorms happen a lot. Get rolled up in one of those and people or even animals get frozen alive like some ice sculpture"
It's an icy hell out there, he says.
The barmaster seems to be from the north of the Federation, he came to Gordonia when he was younger.
The Federation had a feudal system firmly in place so the peasantry couldn't easily abandon their hometowns and move somewhere else.
So he had no choice but to cross the border and come to the Central Plains, built this inn all on his own and raised a family.
At first I felt respect for him but when I heard his wife was turning 17 this year it turned cold.
By the way, his name is 'Andrei', a moustached dandy giant of a man who's turning 40 this year.
He married 3 years ago with 'Natalie' who came from the Federation like he did, it was love at first sight and he proposed on the spot.
Natalie is definitely a beauty but her height doesn't even reach my chest, and her T&A is like a child.
Even if you put her side by side with the 13 year old Celia they'd be about the same height, and Celia would win in the T&A department.
She's like this now so what was she like 3 years ago I wonder….
"I'm not badmouthing you. You got little missy here so I'm saying you should go by the river where it's safe. That, and"
Take this, he says while handing me two fluffy fur coats.
At first glance, they're hooded longcoats long enough to reach my feet if I wore them, but they had a twofold structure and the inside was stuffed with feathers.
So obviously, they were heavy. The coats are hard to use in daily life but they're indispensable for going to the Olga Federation in winter, and everyone in the north of the Federation must have one.
"These are the ones I once used. I won't be going north anymore"
The barmaster had a distant look and took a gulp of his own drink.
I didn't miss the fact that there were two coats.
His distant look had a little bit of grief in it.
He was good-looking like that, even for a man like me. One of the waitress women saw and watched red-faced in fascination.
But her feelings won't reach him.
Because she had a captivating set of splendid breasts and plump body.
"If little missy here catches frostbite it'd be sad, you see, and of course I'm going to be charging you"
"Yeah, it looks like it's going to be a hard trip, so thanks"
We drank for a while, and as the night grew late and the other customers left the barmaster said "I'm closing up for tonight. Go back once you're done drinking", and went inside.
Seems like Natalie wants a child sometime soon.
I'm sure the actual spot looked like a scene where a pitiful young girl was being raped by a bandit.
"Aegir-sama. We should go back soon, as well"
"Yeah, you're right", I said as I stood up from my seat. Just then a voice called from my side.
"Sorry for the late hour"
Two men, they were unarmed but they had a good appearance and no gaps in their movements.
Celia put her hand around her waist and gripped her knife.
"We're nobody suspicious"
"We just want to talk to you"
"I do think urgent business at night is quite suspicious, though"
"We apologize on that count, but we thought we couldn't meet with you unless we do so now"
Seems like they knew we will be leaving town tomorrow.
Plus 1.5 times suspiciousness.
"Make it quick, please'
But I'll be alright with just listening, I guess.
Just let them talk on their own.
I looked and signaled at Celia to make her stand down.
"We're from the mercenary group [Wings of Daybreak]"
"And we would like to buy your … Aegir-dono's strength at a high price"
Suspiciousness level went over the limit.
I never remembered naming myself to any mercenary groups.
"Right now, mercenary bands are gathering in Gordonia. They're reinforcing themselves for exterminating bandits in the surrounding areas and to strengthen themselves against the Olga Federation"
"Our group is also contracted by the Kingdom and is now augmenting our members"
I see, so they mean to say they caught wind of me from Triea and came to enlist me.
However …. they added.
"The army's enough for bandit subjugation, and relations with the Olga Federation is good"
What's with that? I totally don't get what they mean.
"We can't tell you the name but we sympathize with a certain noble and are moving according to their intentions"
"Using the official stance of gathering personnel, we're preparing for a certain thing"
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"We decided to skip the official stance with highly valued people like you"
"Of course, we can't speak regarding the true reason here. We'll tell you if you decide to come with us"
"You know that we're leaving the country tomorrow, don't you?"
They have a reliable information gathering ability.
Which is why it's even more of a problem.
"Of course we do. It would be best for us if you participated right away, but the Wings of Daybreak is only recently established and we need time to take on a proper form"
"We wanted to tell Aegir-dono how highly we value you"
"So you're saying I can join you whenever I like after my trip is over?"
If they let me in with such selfish talk then they're all the more suspicious.
"If you wait until the time passed then it'll be meaningless. We're setting up in the capital's suburb so we'd like you to come join us as soon as you can"
The men stood up as if to say they had nothing more to say.
I took Celia along and went back towards our room.
Right then one of the men said to me.
"You're an excellent warrior, so this is a good chance for you to rise to higher places!"
My objective is to get hold of my own country and to get Lucy.
Of course I need to gain some political, instead of physical, power somewhere.
Should I take this chance, I wonder.
"Is it still worrying you?"
Celia rolled on the bed and called to me.
We had separate beds but there's little distance between us.
"I will follow you anywhere you want to go"
I pat Celia's head and she bashfully curled herself.
"You want me to service you? I'm still not fully grown up yet but I'm still a woman, rather than nothing…"
She seems to notice that I wanted women.
She tried crawling onto my bed but I flicked her forehead, sending her back to her own.
No matter what I can't get in that mood with Celia.
When I saw her change clothes, her body that only had nipples attached, without any curves, would not have any effect even if I embraced her.
I have to stop thinking about what the suspicious men said, too.
It's not going to be funny if I worried about this and that and ended up as an ice statue in the Federation.
I'll probably find my answer along the way.
I took my hand of Celia who started snoring somewhere along the way and closed my eyes.
The next day, we departed from the Hardboiled Pavilion.
The barmaster saw us off behind us.
"If you return alive and well come here again. Bring the little missy too. You gotta bring her before she's all grown up ya hear!"
I'll tell Celia not to leave my side if we ever come here again.
I put a fur coat on Schwarz who looked like he wants to say "even me?", but happy that he's with a woman again after so long.
Two people and a horse started walking toward north.