Thick clouds and humid air blocked the morning sun. Although mornings without sunshine make people feel lonely, there are no fewer people walking in the market than on sunny days. When the three Tanzanies and Fufu arrived at the inn, it started to rain. The early morning rain caused people to cover their goods and flee for shelter. The three Tanzanies and Fufu rushed into the inn to avoid getting wet from the rain.
"Waiter," U-ri called out. "Please bring us some hot milk." He looked out the door. "The rain will be heavier. I hope Abrafo and others will not be caught by this rain."
Michio looked towards the door to see how heavy the rain was, but he saw the same young woman standing by the front door of the inn soaked in rain.
"Guys, that girl followed us here," Michio said.
Yul, U-ri and Fufu looked towards the door and saw the young woman standing outside the inn.
"Why hasn't she left yet?" U-ri said.
Yul said, since you are also a lady, please go and ask her to go home."
Fufu looked at the young woman and then at Yul, and said, "To be honest, I'm not good at this kind of negotiation."
U-ri looked at Yul and said, "You go, because you exchanged your most precious possession for her freedom."
Yul sighed and walked to the door of the inn. He stood there looking at the young woman who was soaked by the rain, and said, "Go home, don't follow us."
Nayao looked up at Yul and said with trembling lips, "You bought me. I am yours. Master, I will cook, clean, sew, and serve you."
Yul said, "I don't need it. Go home."
Nayao said, "Master, I don't have a home to return to. Please let me stay with you."
Yul began to observe this stubborn young woman and found that her face became pale, her lips began to turn purple, and her voice trembled every time she spoke. Yul felt sorry for the young woman, sighed, and said, "Come in."
Yul walked Nayo to his room and then walked to his bedside. He opened Hajime's bag, grabbed a set of Hajime's clothes, and handed it to Nayao. "Although these are men's clothes, they should fit you. Tomorrow, change back into your clothes when they are dry," Yul said. "After you get dressed, you can come down and have lunch with us."
Nayao took the clothes and smiled at Yul. "Thank you master," she said with a smile. "Master, I will wipe the floor after I change my clothes."
Yul said, "You don't need to call me master. You can call me Yul."
Nayao said, "But... you bought me, so you are my master."
Yul said, "I have given you your contract. I help you without needing anything in return. Besides, I am capable of taking care of myself, so I don't need a maid." He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
U-ri, who was sitting at the table, glanced at the front door and noticed that it was already raining heavily. He put down the bowl and said, "If it continues to rain like this, I don't believe Abrafo, and the others will be able to come back soon." He looked up at the stairwell and found that Yul had already walked halfway down the stair. "Let's not wait for them, let's eat first." He turned around to attract the waiter's attention and started ordering.
When U-ri finished ordering the food, Yul was already sitting at the table and Nayao walked over to the table and stood next to Yul.
"Child, sit down," said U-ri. "It's very uncomfortable to eat while standing."
Nayao said, "I... I am a servant and cannot sit at the same table as my master."
Michio looked up at the young woman and asked, "Who said that?"
Nayao looked down at her feet timidly, biting her lip nervously.
Fufu looked at the frightening young woman and she stood up. She grabbed Nayao's hand and made her sit on her stool. "From now on, every time you say the word 'servant,' I will slap you," she said, she walked to the seat next to Michio and sat down. "I hate this word the most."
Nayao said, "But."
Fufu looked at Nayao with an intimidating expression.
Nayao looked at the people at the table innocently and said timidly, "Then... then, what should I call you?"
Yul said, "This is U-ri. The person sitting next to you is Michio." He pointed at Fufu. "She is Fufu."
Fufu said, "Or you can call me sister or captain."
Yul said, "I am Yul. We also have two friends named Abrafo and Bong." He looked at Nayao. "What about you? What should we call you?"
Nayao said nervously, "My name is Nayao. I am seventeen years old... I used to... used to work in a garment factory with my mother and brother. My mother and brother died in a fire in the factory. After the death of my mother and brother, my sister-in-law kicked me out of the house, so I ended up selling myself as a maid to pay for my mother and brother's funeral expenses. You already know the rest of the story."
Fufu angrily slapped her hands on the table, shocking Nayao. "What an unreasonable person," Fufu said angrily. "Don't worry, from now on, if anyone look down on you, this elder sister." Fufu lightly tapped her left chest twice with her right hand. "I will protect you. Since you are homeless, come back to Maka City with me. You are about the same age as Ya, and you two will be very good companions."
Nayao bit her lower lip and said, "I can't follow you."
Fufu was surprised when she heard Nayao's answer and asked, "Why not?"
Nayao said shyly, "Boss Yul bought me, and I am his, so...so I must follow Boss Yul."
The three Tanzanies and Fufu looked at Nayao and said in unison, "Huh?"
Nayoa looked at the three Tanzanies and Fufu and smile shyly.
That night, Yul sat at the table with a gold hairpin in his hand, recalling the night when he and Hajime stayed up late to make hairpins. Yul smiled, but he was worried and missed Hajime dearly. It seems that since Hajime was taken away by Kaizen, he has not had a good night's sleep, maybe because he is used to Hajime sleeping next to him.
"Hajime..." Yul whispered, continuing to stare at the hairpin. When he heard two knocks on the door, he went to open the door and found U-ri. "U-ri?"
U-ri walked into the room and found Nayao not inside. "Where is Nayao?" U-ri asked, walking to the table and sat down.
Yul walked to the table and sat across from U-ri. "She's with Fufu," Yul said. He looked at U-ri. "So, do you think she'll sleep here?"
U-ri said, "I've eaten more salt than you eaten rice. I can see that the lady likes you very much." He poured himself a cup of water. "To be honest, Nayao is not bad. Although she is timid with a very stubborn personality, but very loyal. She will be a good wife. I know it will be very difficult for her to understand your situation, but."
Yul said, "You know we can't take her with us."
U-ri said, "I know that's why I'm here to talk to you about what you're going to do with her." He took a sip of water. "I'm thinking, let her go back with Fufu. When we return to Tanzang, you can bring her back. Your grandfather Qadan had two wives. I believe that after this journey, many misters will offer their daughters as your wives." He sighed. "His Highness said that when you come back to Tanzang, His Highness will marry one of his princesses to you."
Yul said, "One Hajime is good enough."
"I'm just giving you my opinion, it's entirely up to you whether you accept the idea or not," U-ri said. He put the cup on the table. "What should you do if she continues refusing to leave."
Yul said, "She refuses to leave for now, so let her stay. When we leave for Kinigan Island, we'll leave her some money."
U-ri looked at Yul, smiled and said, "I think it will be easier said than done then."
Yul said, "I have already talked with Fufu, and Fufu is willing to take her back to Maka City."
U-ri said, "I think Fufu wouldn't refuse if you made the request." He looked at the table and saw the gold hairpin. "Missing Hajime?" He looked at Yul.
"Mm..." Yul looked at U-ri and said, "I'm worried about him. It's been a month now and there's no news from him. I was thinking that after three months in Eternal Library, if there is still no news from Hajime, I will go back to the temple."
U-ri said, "I think it's a reasonable decision. I'm worried too. I can't help but keep thinking that maybe the reason we haven't heard from Hajime is because they don't want us to know about Meiji. I'm worried if Meiji was born with some kind of divine power, they might refuse to let Hajime and Meiji leave the temple."
Yul sighed and said, "I had the same thought, so I have to return to the temple in three months to confirm whether Hajime and Meiji are okay."
U-ri said, "I believe everyone will agree with this decision." He smiled at Yul. "It would be too difficult to walk on foot without our mage." He stretched his arms and stood up. "Well, I have to go to bed."
After U-ri left the room, Yul blew out the oil lamp and lay on the bed. He pulled the blanket to his chest, looked at the ceiling, and sighed. "Hajime..." He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes.