Sho rested his chin on his arm while admiring the mountains inside the carriage.
The bits and pieces of the stone causes the vehicle to shake but he didn't mind it.
The young lady, Nerida was looking perplexed. She closed her eyes as if thinking to herself, then she let out a breath.
"Sho-kun?"
Nerida caught Sho's attention, his eyes squinted.
"I don't believe that I should be called with "Kun" I am neither a child or someone who is younger to you"
"So you know how to use Japanese honorifics after all, where did you learn it?"
"I learned it from my village, it is nothing special"
"So that means there's other transported person beside me living in this world...." She mumbled.
Sho didn't have a single idea on what she's talking about. He just thought that he's just too dumb to comprehend it.
"Sho...san?"
"What?"
"So you're okay when I call you Sho-san. Do you mind if you tell me this village of yours?"
"Are you interested?"
"Yes"
"Very well"
Sho begin by telling the geological structure of the village, described how people live everyday, the clothes they wear, the food they eat.
Sho kept talking with crossed arms, eyes closed. Nerida on the other hand, listened seriously, sometimes she would show expression such awe and amazement.
After the story finished, Nerida pondered.
"Hmmm, so the village you came from is like a village from sengoku era" And so, she talked to herself like that.
It was already evening when Rindor called out to them.
"We are arriving at the town! Knights, alert the guard that Lady Nerida is coming!"
"Yes!" The sound of horse running can be heard inside the carriage.
Sho took a glimpse outside the window.
"This is a town.... I didn't expect it to be this massive" He said.
"Hhmm? It's just a regular town though" Nerida she said. But she felt happy, having her town praised that she put a lot of work on put a smile on her face.
For Sho, the scale of this town is mind-boggling to him, after all, he spent his whole life inside a small village with few residents.
After they entered the town's gate, Sho muttered. "Then, I suppose this is where we part?"
Nerida felt a bit sad, although they met only for a short amount of time, she felt attached to Sho.
I guess I miss Japan after all. She thought.
Rindo walked up to them. Even after arriving at the town, he still didn't let his guard down as he took step with such imposing form.
"Sho, although it is not much, please accept this and find a good inn" Rindor said as he hand him a bag of gold coins.
Gold coins can keep a small family well fed for an entire week.
Sho recieved it and said nonchalantly. "Thanks but, what is this? And what is an inn?"
"EH!"
"EH!?"
Both Rindor and Nerida shouted at the same time. Sho could only look at them with an eyes saying something like "What's the deal with this weirdos"
Rindor was the first one to pick this and said. "If anything, you are the weird one here Sho. Do you not use money on your village!? And why you don't know anything about inn? Did you not leave your village ever since you are a child or something!?"
"Uwah, how did you know?" Sho nodded in shock. Such intellect, maybe he's par with the elders. He thought.
"Don't look at me as if I'm a mind reader or something!" Rindor complained.
Nerida let out a small chuckle looking at the spectacle before her.
"Hey, is this some kind of comedy duo? You guys are pretty funny" She said giggling. The knights only looked at her with deadpan eyes. Nerida didn't realize that she herself acts like this.
Rindor turn his head to Nerida.
"What should we do Lady Nerida? Leaving Sho alone is not a good idea"
"Then we should invite him to sleep in our mansion. We have spare bedroom for guest right?"
"But what about your father Lady Nerida?"
"Don't worry about Papa, just say to him that this man saved us"
"I see, so how about it Sho, do you agree with it?"
"Yes"
In reality, Sho had no idea what is happening but he decided to say yes. It's troublesome to think something that you don't understand, is what he believed.
Unlike his quiet village, this town is festive. People were smiling to each other, kids were playing with wooden swords.
The town, dyed with the orange tint of the sunset, the street lights were flickering while offering the little light that they could for the time being.
Vendors were standing on the street side, skewing, grilling and offering different kind of foods. People of all races come and go on a certain establishment, wearing armors ranging from leather to full metal, wizard with colorful robes.
For Sho, it looks beautiful.
"This town... Have a very good leader..." He muttered unintentionally.
"You think so?" Nerida said cheerfully. Her eyes were closed while projecting a pure wide smile. Looking at her, Sho felt his heart skipped for a bit, but he didn't know why did it happen.
"Hhhmm? Is something matter?" Noticing that Sho is staring at her intensely, she asked him.
"Nothing, it's just, I thought that I could look at you forever" He said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Eh...?" Nerida could only mutter that.
One, two, three, four, five... Five second of silent has passed, Sho who have his mind empty and Nerida who was thinking and interpreting on what did he mean by that.
Maybe, due to the sunset, her face seems redder than usual. She shifted her gaze and focused on the passerby near the carriage.
Sho who think nothing of it returned to his absentminded face. Nerida and Sho didn't speak to each other even after reaching the house of Nerida.
"Ooh? What happened Lady Nerida?" Rindor who was inspecting the carriage, was surprised to his master's face. She's bit red while contemplating something.
"Nothing... Just a little bit sick... I'm going to my room for a moment" She said and left quickly.
He looked at Sho, whom he suspected that has something to do with her strange behaviour but....
"He looks absent-mindedly as always, I could not picture him doing something to Lady Nerida..." Needless to say, he was wrong.
************************************************
"Master, this is the man that saved us from the wild beast, his name is Sho"
"My name is Sho, I came from the humble village of Yuusha, it is an honour to meet you Braden-Sama"
"Hou, to think that you know about something about formalities"
Braden Collaveile, the head of the Collaveile House. He's about 40 years old, although a little thin, there's no denying that he is good-looking.
"After hearing Rindor said, I am thankful for you to save my daughter, even though she is quite eccentric, she's a good child" Braden said.
It seems that Nerida is perceived as strange even in her family. Sho thought.
"How about you spend your night here Sho? We have bath as well, do you know how to use one?"
"Yes, bath is one of the few luxuries that my village have, I gratefully accept your good will Braden-sama" Sho said while bowing.
After exchanging some few words, Sho was led to his room by a servant. Inside the room, he sat on the bed.
"This is the softest thing I have ever touched" He said. He hit it a couple of times before lying on it. His body was absorbed by the bed, his eyes grew heavy.
"No, I have to take the bath first..." He said.
"Maybe after a few minutes...."