Ch.113113. Return

“You bastard, come here and explain yourself.”

A warning-like phrase written under something that looked like a black scribble.

I was told Deia had sent a letter, and when I checked, there was just one blunt line written like a threat.

“What’s this? Did I do something wrong?”

Findenai, sitting next to me, slightly turned her head to skim the letter’s contents and asked with confusion.

She had already crossed the line so far that it wasn’t even visible anymore, so there was no point in scolding her for peeking at someone else’s letter.

“Hmm.”

To be honest, if I had even the slightest clue, I would have just shrugged it off, but I had no idea why Deia had sent such a letter.

It was strange that I couldn’t even make a guess, but anyway, I had originally planned to return to Norsweden right before the semester started.

“It’s probably nothing important.”

If it were truly urgent, she wouldn’t have sent a letter like this.

Since Deia’s bad moods were nothing new, it probably wasn’t a big issue. Maybe Darius had done something strange again.

“Ow, it itches.”

“……”

In the rattling carriage, Findenai fiddles with the bandages wrapped around her body, wearing a rather displeased expression.

She grumbles that her back itches, but it’s not like she can unwrap the bandages.

She was currently recovering from injuries sustained during the battle with Dina.

“It’s damn itchy. Master, scratch my back for me.”

Findenai turns her back to me. Irritation visibly rises in my facial muscles, but since Illuania was driving the carriage, I couldn’t pass the task to her.

“Owen, you do it.”

“Yes, sir!”

Owen, who had been silently pressing the keys of the melodica I bought him, approaches, but…

“Don’t touch me.”

Findenai growls and glares at him. Owen jumps in surprise and trembles, silently begging me to save him.

“What are you doing?”

When I ask her why she’s suddenly acting that way toward Owen, Findenai folds her arms without even looking at me.

“I haven’t lived comfortably enough to entrust my back to a kid I’ve only known for a short time.”

“……”

“Ah, forget it. If you don’t want to, don’t scratch.”

Findenai turns away sharply and pulls out tobacco from her pocket. She doesn’t light it, just holds it in her mouth, but I could tell she wasn’t being irritable for no reason.

“Sigh, turn around.”

After gesturing to Owen to just sit down, I tell Findenai to turn around, and she promptly does so.

I guess I’m fated to scratch Findenai’s back. I hold a book with one hand and reach out to her back with the other.

Swoosh.

“Scratching over clothes just makes it itchier.”

Findenai partially removes her upper clothing. Since she was showing her back, I couldn’t see the front, but it was suggestive enough.

“As a woman, you should… never mind.”

What could I expect from Findenai?

She wasn’t a woman but a beast.

Her small, white back was covered with countless scars.

Suddenly, I thought I understood why she didn’t want to show her back to that boy.

“East, east.”

I move my hand according to her directions. The more I did this, the worse I felt, but anyway.

“More to the east.”

“…That’s your armpit. You can reach it yourself.”

“Is it? I’m just too lazy to move my hand.”

Findenai responds indifferently and puts her clothes back on. Owen’s face had turned red as he kept glancing in our direction; it must have been quite a stimulating scene for a teenage boy.

Though neither Findenai nor I had any reaction to it.

“No-Norsweden is my first time. I heard there’s a lot of snow.”

Perhaps because of this, Owen tries to change the subject to hide his reddened face.

I respond with a bitter smile.

“You’ll probably have a hard time seeing snow at this time of year.”

This summer has been quite severe, so Norsweden’s snow would have surely melted.

There might still be some snow at the peak of the Norsweden mountains. That place was managed by the mountain clan rather than natural climate.

“I see.”

I continued speaking to comfort the dejected Owen.

“We still have time anyway. If you keep traveling with me, we’ll go together this winter too, and then you can see Norsweden’s snow festivals and such.”

“Snow festival! That’s another first for me!”

“Yes, when the time comes, I’ll ask you to perform.”

“Yes! I’ll work hard!”

Owen clenches his fists and returns to practicing on his melodica with concentration.

Perhaps because he was small for his age, it felt like I was traveling with a child.

“You’re quite kind to him?”

Findenai leans her shoulder slightly against mine. It felt like such contact had been increasing lately, but I just ignored it and answered.

“Then you should act according to your position too.”

“Could you handle it?”

I consider that for a moment.

What if Findenai acted like a normal maid, taking care of me, showing proper respect, and being attentive?

“…That would be disgusting.”

When I answer honestly, Findenai stares at me blankly before bursting into laughter.

“Right? Right! Ah, it’s been a while since I laughed. I’m telling you, the master cracks me up sometimes.”

Giggling, Findenai seems to be in a good mood and glances at Owen.

“Kid, play something for us. Something lively.”

“Ca-can I?”

“Sure, I’m in a good mood.”

Findenai, who had previously banned Owen’s playing because she didn’t want to hear it, gave her permission.

The boy immediately connected the hose to his melodica and put it in his mouth.

And for a while, cheerful music suitable for a journey filled the air.

* * *

Late at night when we arrived in Norsweden, as we were passing through the still-awake downtown area where some festival seemed to be happening, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Illuania was resting, Findenai was injured, and Owen was too young and unfamiliar with the place.

The problem was that, by process of elimination, I was the one holding the reins.

Numerous street vendors lined the streets, making the city feel unfamiliar.

And there was Aria Rius, with her mouth stuffed full of Norsweden skewers.

“Mmph mmph!”

She tries to say something with her cheeks puffed out, but the food in her mouth prevents her from pronouncing properly.

Some might find it cute, but my expression immediately soured.

Neigh!

I pull the reins to stop the carriage. I could hear Findenai shouting from inside asking if we had arrived, but I hurriedly got off the carriage and approached Aria.

“Gulp! Pro-Professor?”

Aria hastily swallowed her food and looked flustered. She seemed to sense that my expression was not normal.

“What have you been doing?”

And her intuition was correct. I was enveloped in an extremely unpleasant sensation.

“Um, well… I’ve been training to get stronger. Since there are many techniques I can’t use with my current body…”

“Not that. You did something else. Your body is now filled with an unusual energy.”

Aria’s eyes droop. She taps the end of the skewer she’s holding with her finger, as if caught red-handed.

“Um… I prepared a gift for you, Professor.”

“A gift?”

“I’ll give it to you later! You’ll definitely like it!”

After saying that, she flutters away, turning her body to escape. Her speed was faster than the carriage, befitting a regressor.

If she bumps into someone at that speed, that person would probably end up with broken bones and a trip to the hospital.

“What? What’s going on?”

Findenai asks, leaning her upper body out of the carriage window. I answered that it was nothing, but voices recognizing Findenai erupted from the street vendors.

“Boss?”

“It’s the boss! The boss is here!”

“Wow! It’s been a while, boss!”

The members of the junkyard gang rush toward Findenai. I wondered what they were doing, but it seemed they had set up simple food stalls or were running errands.

“These idiots.”

Findenai reaches out to tousle their hair, playfully receiving their greetings.

“Boss! Try my chicken skewers! I’ve found my calling!”

“It tastes even better with our stall’s beer!”

“Alright, you fools.”

Eventually, Findenai was led out of the carriage by the members. Since we couldn’t keep blocking the road with the carriage, I was about to move it to the mansion when…

“Finally, you’re here!”

A voice cutting sharply through the noisy night.

Even in midsummer, Norsweden’s dawn chill was still fierce compared to other regions, so a woman in a black robe with a hood was standing there.

“Deia.”

Even though it hadn’t been that long since we last met, it felt surprisingly good to see her. Perhaps it was because of our family relationship.

When I looked at Deia and Darius, I felt something touching my heart—something I had never experienced but had longed for.

So, suppressing my slightly elevated emotions, I was about to ask where Darius was, but…

She bit her lip tightly.

As if holding something back, she folded her arms and beckoned to me.

“Come here.”

It was like the posture of a scolding teacher, and I wondered why she was acting that way. Thinking about it, even though I had dismissed it lightly, the content of the letter also had a scolding tone.

‘She did ask me to explain something.’

Illuania, who had been inside the carriage, comes out and takes the reins in my place.

“I’ll drive the carriage to the mansion.”

“Thank you. Owen is sleeping, so if you ask for a room for him, they’ll provide one.”

Findenai was already laughing and catching up with the junkyard members.

Aria had run away and was nowhere to be seen.

Just Deia and I were left alone in the night market street. Before I could say anything, she approached and grabbed my clothes, pulling me.

“I wonder when my damn brothers will stop making me worry.”

As Deia grumbles about having a headache, I can’t help but retort:

“Don’t compare me to Darius.”

That was crossing the line, no matter what.