Because of Ayla, Walter wasn't able to take any sleep at all, she had kept him company and it was wonderful. And on the time he was with her, he was able to get some information about her.
Like how he had guessed it, she really is a part of this bandit group, but unlike the others, she was a new recruit that doesn't have any idea how she should work for them. Walter tried to ask why she joined them, but she didn't tell any kind of story, only saying that she joined to earn money to be able to eat - which doesn't surprise Walter considering how demi-humans are being treated in any cities.
He wanted to learn more about her, but he really couldn't understand her words well yet and she seems to be still wary of him, maybe because of how rough he had done her. But unlike when she had first met him, she doesn't try to escape anymore, perhaps she was able to sense that he really doesn't have the intentions to hurt her, the same as he said in their first encounter.
[ ... ] and right now, as Walter continues to survey the room, Ayla is keeping her eyes onto him without removing her focus, it was like Walter was the prey and she was the predator.
Walter doesn't know what she wants, but he's sure she doesn't mean any harm to it, maybe she just doesn't know what emotion she should express in this situation.
Walter continues to look through the stuff that were stored inside the room, seeing that there are many interesting things that are hidden in it that he could loot for himself - from weapons, armor, clothes, potions, and other things that you wouldn't see in a normal shop in the city, it was like the room was a treasure hold of things to be sold and looted.
[ Oh... This is... ] he murmurs to himself as he saw something that immediately interests him.
Remembering Alice's habit, he saw a particular book and it immediately caught his attention. Since they were kids, the only habit Alice has was reading books. He was the one who introduced the concept of reading books to her - when they sleep together on the same bed, he usually read her storybooks to increase her knowledge in understanding and learning how to speak the same language as he does, and mostly because of that, she was able to learn without taking much time, and in the process, reading also became her habit.
They were still kids back then and he prevented himself from doing explicit things to her, but he made sure that he would be able to in the future, like a plant he grew from being a seed to a flower to pick, giving it care and attention, that was how he raised Alice. It was in the past, but it still was one of the best memories he had made living in this world.
( It's been a while since we've been away from each other... Maybe I should get used to it from now on... )
He knows that this would not be the first time he would be put into situations like this, so he ought to train himself from being away with her from now on, and straying away from her service at night, he's thinking he should keep a girl that would keep him companion even when he's outside - and Ayla would be the best fit for it.
Turning a look on her, she was still there, hiding away herself while still staring back at him.
[ Haah... I should have taken my time... ] he sighs and whispers to himself as he stores the book he found in the large pouch-like bag that he is now wearing on his waist. Continuing to look for anything else, his eyes suddenly slightly went wide when he saw a particular set of clothing.
It was a butler's uniform. And beside it are more clothes nobles and maids usually wear, but the butler clothes, in particular, had caught most of his attention. In the first place, most of the clothes he found were too big, and the only one which was small was it.
Shifting his gaze again at the naked figure of Ayla on top of the bed, hiding in the corner, he realized what's the best thing he should do to make use of it.
~~~
[ Thank you for waiting, Walter-sama! We're ready to ride back to the city! ]
[ Un, how about the slaves? ]
[ They're safe... and... they were starving so we decided to give them rations of our food... We can wait until we get back, but Gerald and Kira insisted that we share some with them. ] as if he was blaming the other two for it, he replies nervously. But different from what he was expecting, Walter turns to look at Gerald and Kira, standing beside him and compliments them for it.
[ It's fine, we don't need to have many; we've finished the task much faster than expected, so it wouldn't be a problem. ]
[ I-Is that so...? I think so as well, but I thought I should get their opinions on it just to make sure... ] suddenly, he laughs and said to make it seemed as if it was his plan all along. But soon, that laugh slowly fades as his gaze shifted to the person on Walter's side, wearing clothes of noble butlers.
[ Walter-sama, this is...? ] he asked Walter, and Walter immediately responds, but it looked like he wasn't the one to answer.
[ She's... You can introduce yourself, Ayla. ] Walter casually turns to her and ordered her to, as if she was a servant of his.
[ I am... ] she murmurs at first, but soon, her voice slowly becomes clear.
[ My name is Ayla... ] tugging the leg part of her clothes, she answers - and to it, Walter nodded satisfyingly. He was the one who taught her to introduce herself and he was contented to see that she succeeded.
[ Walter-sama... I was sure you didn't bring any servants with you, so she is...? ] being observable, Gerald spoke. And of course, Walter nodded in agreement and he answers honestly -
[ She was one of the bandits, but from what I've understood about her so far, she's still a new recruit. I decided I will take care of her. ]
[ Is that so...? ] replying, Gerald raised a little suspicion.
Usually, all bandits would be under the jurisdictions and rules of the city, but knowing that nobles have the power to manipulate it, it wouldn't be far off for Walter to do the same - to take care of a bandit would be illegal, but he's sure that he could easily run away from it since he's a noble, especially that he's under the lord of the city himself. So after thinking for a while, he decided that he shouldn't go too far to it as to say to Walter that what's he's doing is wrong, because he's sure that he knows what he was doing in the first place.
And knowing Walter's personality, he guessed that there must be a good reason why he decided to keep this bandit for himself.
~~~
[ Here's your horse, Walter-sama. ] Zel brought Walter his horse as they all prepare to leave. And without much thought, he immediately went on it as soon as it arrives in front of him, leaving Ayla alone under his shadow.
It seems that she doesn't know what to do as she continues to look around, still wary of her surroundings. But Walter wouldn't let her alone for herself, so he immediately calls at her and lent her a hand.
She doesn't seem to know what to do and she just kept staring at him, so being impatient, Walter bent himself over and took her hand himself, then carrying her small body in front of him over the horse.
[ What are you doing? I said you'll be coming with me, right? ] Walter spoke and immediately, Ayla turned red, her slightly rose-colored cat-ears over her half-silver and half-black hair are clearly visible to Walter's eyes.
[ U-Un... ] and as a response, she nodded.