Chapter 15:
She looks like she wants to see my horse, so i called it.
(Kuroma!)
When my horse appeared, athena approached it and rubbed kuroma's neck.
(Uwa~a, what a beautiful horse! It's so soft and fluffy! Kaito-sama, let's ride it!)
No, athena, my horse is just fluffy, not soft. She really looks excited.
(Kaito-sama, What's his name?) Athena
(Kuroma) me
(I see, kuroma-chan, me and kaito-sama will ride on you, so please take care of us okay?) Athena
Ne~igh!
Kuroma cries happily. He looks excited when athena told him that we will ride on it's back, so pat his head.
(Kuroma, please take care of us, okay?) Me
Kuroma cried happily again, and then he crouch to ground, I hold athena's hand and she sat sideways, then kuroma stands again. I see, so he crouch to the ground so that athena can easily ride him, but why did you stand up? You know that i'm still not sitting yet, right? I glared at him, then Athena laughs.
*Sigh*
I ride on kuroma's back, and athena is in my front sitting side ways, and then he started moving. I told him to just walk slowly like a normal horse because we are in the town and it would be dangerous if he will speed up.
While we are moving, athena keeps on looking at the stalls, buildings, and houses. She said earlier that she had already explored the town, but it looks like she's still not satisfied.
(Athena, would you like to explore the town more?) Me
(Yes! I want to... but i need to go back immediately, father told me that i should be back before lunch.) Athena
I see, they are a happy family, so it's to be expected that they always eat together. Three years ago, i also eat with my whole family, we didn't even touch our food if my mom and dad is late from their work. *Sigh* i miss those days, i wonder if i can do it again in this world, maybe i can if i found a wife and family.
(Kaito-sama, is something wrong? Your expression suddenly became gloomy.) Athena
(Ah, n-no, it's nothing.) Me
Athena looks at me with a doubtful eyes.
(Kaito-sama, you suddenly looked sad, so maybe i said something i should have not.) Athena
(No, ofcourse not.) Me
(If that's the case, then please tell me. You are always there when i'm in danger, so i want to repay you atleast as much as i can.) Athena
Athena said strongly, she doesn't look like she will stop, so i'll just answer her.
(I just missed my family, we also used to eat together everytime.) Me
(Then, where are they now?) Athena
(They are already gone.) Me
(.... I see, sorry for asking, kaito-sama.) Athena
She looks sad, she is the one who talked first about eating together with the family, so she must have been feeling guilty of it.
(You don't need to be guilty about it, i have already moved on, i'm just wondering i can do it again someday if i ever found a wife.) Me
(Then, please eat together with us! My father and brother would also be happy!)
Ehh???
(N-no, you don't really need to invite me. Also, you are a noble, are you really fine with inviting a commoner like me?)
(What are you saying kaito-sama? Just because we are a noble, doesn't mean we would not interract to other people with lower status. Here in my uncle's kingdom, everyone is equal.) Athena
Uncle? I see, so his father is the brother of the king.
(Also, if it's you, then we would be happy to invite you to eat with us, this is the least i can do to repay your kindness.) Athena
I see.
(I appreciate your kindness, but you really don't need to worry about it you know? I helped you and your father because i want to, not because i'm waiting for you to repay me.) Me
They are attacked yesterday, and earlier some idiot is hitting on her, i'm sure everyone would also help them the same as i do. But since she wants to thank me, then i'll just accept it.
(If you really insist, then please take care of me okay?) Me
(Yeah! *Smiles happily*)
After a while, we arrived in front of the gate of the Lord's mansion. The guard opened the gate when he see athena, he is also the guard from yesterday afternoon who opened the gate for me when i go out, so he just let me in.
When we entered the gate, athena get's off from kuroma, and rushed inside. Oi! Wait!... Don't leave me here!
I get down from kuroma, and told him to go back to my ring. The head maid from yesterday called out to me, so i entered the mansion.
(Ojama shimasu!) Me
The head maid leads me to the living room where we stay yesterday, and waited for athena to come back. After a while, athena came back together with arnold-san and albert-san.
(Kaito-dono, welcome to my house.) Arnold
(Kaito-dono, welcome back.) Albert
They greeted me so i stand up and greeted them back with a light bow.
(Albert-san, arnold-san, sorry for bothering you on your busy schedule.) Me
(No, it's okay, actually we are glad to have you here.) Arnold
(Athena told us that you accepted the escort request to the capital.) Albert
It will just be me and athena on this trip, so i should ask them if they are fine with it.
(Yes, the materials needed for my horse can only be found in the capital, so i will go there. Athena told me that she wants to up an escort request, so i accepted it. But...) Me
(I see, but is something wrong?) Albert
(I just want to confirm to you if you are really okay with it, it will just be me and athena, so it's only natural to worry.) Me
(We don't need to worry, i saw you fight yesterday, so i know she can be safe when she is with you.) Albert
(No, that's not what i mean.) Me
What is this old man saying? I'm talking about the other thing. Athena and arnold-san laughs, i'm glad arnold-san understand what i'm saying, but it feels uncomfortable when athena also understood it.
(Father, Kaito-dono doesn't mean it that way, he is talking about athena being alone with him.) Arnold
Oi! Can you not say that out loud in front of athena!? Athena is trying her best to hide her laughter. You are so obvious you know?
(Oh, i see, i see. If that's what you mean, then there's no problem, i know i can trust you, kaito-dono.) Albert
(Eh? That's all?)
Are you really sure? I won't do anything to your daughter, but you should worry more about her you know?
(Ofcourse. Kaito-dono, you should not underestimate the eyes of a duke. I have already seen so many kinds of people because of my work, i can easily recognize an evil person that was pretending to be good, or if a good person is pretending to be evil. Not to mention that my daughter trusts you very much.) Albert
(Kaito-sama, i didn't know much about people's true color, but i know i can trust you. My heart is telling me so.) Athena
Etto~, so what should i reply here? Please stop that, you two! This is embarrassing!
(Fufufu, you two, you should stop your flattery, can't you see that kaito-dono was embarrased? *Also Laughs*) arnold
You too! Stop laughing!
(Ah, s-sorry kaito-sama) athena
(My bad, my bad. Fufufu, anyway, i'm hungry now, so please join us at the table.) Albert
(Y-yeah, t-thankyou.)
We stand up from the sofa, and the head maid guides us to the table, there are only simple dishes, but everything looks delicious. I see, it doesn't matter if they are rich, as long as they have food, then it's good.
We discussed the date and time of the departure while eating. Athena also didn't told them what happened to my family, and why she invites me to eat. She just said that she wants to thank me for what happened earlier, her tongue slipped, albert-san and arnold was wondering what happened, but it looks like athena didn't want to tell them in about the bald man in order not to worry them, so i backed her up and said that she wants to thank me for giving her a ride.
After eating, arnold-san and albert-san excused themselves to continue their work. I also said my thanks to them and said my goodbye. Athena walks me to the gate even though i told her not to worry.
(Kuroma!)
I summoned kuroma, and i ride at his back. It's uncomfortable if people will look at me, but it can't be helped, the inn is very far.
(Athena, thankyou very much for the food, it was very delicious.) Me
(Yeah! I'm glad you liked it.) Athena
(Then, i'll be going now, i'll come back to pick you up at the next day of tomorrow.) Me
(Kaito-sama, Please take care on your way.) Athena
(Yeah! Let's go, Kuroma.)
Albert-san, and arnold-san know that my horse is fast, so we have agreed to depart two days from now. They said that the royal capital is very far, and it will take 6 days if we will use a carriage, and it will take 3 days if we use a horse. As far as i know, a horse can run for up to 50km per hour.
I don't know the full speed of my horse, but i'm sure it is very fast. So if we go to the capital on a full speed, i'm sure we can arrive there in just a few hours, but unlike me who has an experience on driving a fighter jet in the full dive VR, athena is not used to speeds, so i'm planning to travel at 100kph. With that, i'm sure athena will be okay.
We will be camping on the road during the night, so i'm searching for a place that sells a camping tent, wait. Is there even a camping tent in this world? When i go to the outer part of the town, i stopped and ask some people where i can buy a camping tent. But they don't know what is a camping tent. I ask more people and all of them doesn't know it. When i ask them what would the people do when they camp out on throad during their travles, they just say that they sleep outside with their blanket, while the poeple who are with them will keep watch and then exchange after a few hours.
*Sigh*
Then, i'll just make my own camping tent. Anyway, I'll just go back to the inn for now and rest. I still have energy, but i'm mentally tired.