Chapter 221: Now, Depart for the Capital!

She released her mouth from my son and, without a word, put underpants and a shirt on me, then also put pajamas on me. And when she finished adjusting her own appearance and was about to leave through the window, I called out,

"Stevie, come again."

Lily’s face became serious for an instant and she looked awkward, yet immediately she smiled and said,

"Yes, understood. Lily cannot come, but Stevie will come,"

and left.

No, Lily-san, Stevie calls you "Big Sister Lily," you know.

—-

I greeted the morning feeling wonderful! When the weight is removed from the lower half of the body it is this refreshing, isn’t it!

The village was still in an uproar, yet because I was pretending it had nothing to do with me I was feigning ignorance. Breakfast was properly served, so I enjoyed it deliciously, and afterward there was only waiting for the carriage to depart. When I looked at the face of Lily standing beside me, her skin was smooth and firm with elasticity, and her complexion was also good. As expected, because we did what we did last night the effect is showing, ehehe.

Yet Captain Jobson did not come. Why is he delayed? I have an idea, yet it is not a matter for me to say this or that about.

After waiting a while Captain Jobson came leading the village headman and an unknown man. The headman opened his mouth.

"Good morning. Um, I am sorry to be abrupt, but there is one thing I would like to ask Prince Robin. May I?"

"Good morning. I permit the question. What is it?"

"Yes. Actually last night bandits entered the village and there was a battle with the village guard. You are aware of that, I presume?"

"I know. Because I heard that Captain Jobson went to support them."

"That is it! Those bandits came in quite large numbers, and it was a hard struggle for the guard to subjugate them, yet at that time an unidentified person lent assistance and we were greatly helped."

He stated his frank impressions.

"That is good, isn’t it?"

When I said that the headman nodded repeatedly and said,

"Being helped was good, yet we do not know who it was and are troubled because we have no way to express our thanks, and so, um, that is, ee— that is..."

The headman was finding it extremely difficult to speak. Unable to watch any longer Captain Jobson said,

"Prince Robin, there is a person saying that the unidentified person might be Prince Robin, and although I said it was not, the headman said he would like to confirm once, and that is why we have come like this. How about it, Prince Robin, were you the one who lent that assistance?"

He asked probing.

"No, it was not me. If the bandits had come to the lodging I had thought of dealing with them, yet they did not come so I simply went to sleep."

At my words the headman’s shoulders dropped with a gaku. He must have thought he had found the person.

"I offered assistance to Captain Jobson, yet because I was told I need not lay hands I stayed put here. In the first place even if I laid hands I do not think it would be of any use."

At my words the unknown man muttered "Even so there are witnesses..." Indeed, because someone had given me arrows there was no mistake that there had been witnesses. Hmm, how did that resident who gave me the arrows recognize me? I had not always been using Stealth, yet I had intended to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. It may be that among the residents there are those who possess the eyes of Detection. Because one does not know where people with such abilities are lurking, one must be careful.

"Is that so, understood."

The headman showed an air of not being convinced at all, yet because I denied it he withdrew.

"Captain Jobson, with this can we not depart? Shall we depart quickly?"

When I urged him Captain Jobson made a troubled face yet said,

"Understood. I will make arrangements at once,"

and withdrew. After a while, when it was said that preparations were complete and we headed toward the entrance, the coachman had changed. When I asked I was told he had been injured in last night’s battle with the bandits. That even the coachman was pressed into combat means it had been quite a close call. I am truly glad I lent a hand. And after the battle there was also a proper reward.

At once the carriage departed and left the village behind. Outside the village the villagers were carrying the corpses of the bandits. They were piled up and firewood was prepared around them. Burning them is probably simpler than the trouble of burying them, yet the cost of the firewood is also nothing to sneeze at, so it is hard. Will the surviving bandits confess the location of their hideout, and when one goes to the hideout will there be treasure in abundance? I would very much like to participate in that event. Because no one invites me we simply depart.

Unaware of my heart, Lily was looking at the scenery outside and humming a small tune. She must be in an extremely good mood.

After that the journey continued smoothly, and on the day before Stevie’s birthday we finally arrived at the capital of the Mainz Kingdom. When I saw the capital surrounded by high walls right in the middle of the plain I trembled with emotion. The majesty that appears in other-world novels can be seen far off. A gate was provided at one corner of the walls, a road continued toward it, and a line of carriages was heading there. Having come this far, when I think that a new life will begin inside there my chest thrills with excitement.

Now, let us begin!