Ch.8989. In the Piercing Wind (2)

The feeling of being fully armed after a long time wasn’t particularly pleasant.

‘…My luck is just terrible.’

Last time, they had me hunting monsters while climbing steep mountains under the scorching summer sun.

This time, it’s winter when the sun has lost its power and biting cold is creeping in.

I’m tasked with dealing with unwelcome visitors to the territory.

I roughly tousled my hair as irritation bubbled up inside me.

One might think such a trivial action means nothing.

But at least it helped me hold back the curses that were about to escape my mouth.

I was about to open the door to go see Sione, who would have finished arming herself and would be waiting for me.

“Ah, right.”

I almost forgot.

I put on shooting gloves that allowed for easy movement.

A servant can’t go around arrogantly with hands stuffed in pockets.

And in this cold weather, exposing bare hands would only make them stiff.

Besides, my newly acquired bow has strong tension, and if I were to repeatedly pull the string with my bare fingers, it would undoubtedly accumulate considerable strain.

With gloves on, I picked up my bow again and opened the door.

Creeeeak…

As soon as I stepped outside, the chill permeating the corridor enveloped me.

“Hoo…”

…I didn’t expect to face such severe cold here too.

The weight of the armor pressing down on my body felt unusually heavy today.

* * *

“Have you finished your preparations?”

“More or less?”

Sione nodded.

Then, she turned around in place to show off her attire.

Instead of her usual comfortable casual clothes, she too was properly armed.

The overall setup was no different from mine.

She was dressed exactly like an archer in the same leather armor.

The only difference was that her leather armor was made of superior material compared to mine.

And the beautiful engravings on the metal plates attached here and there made it obvious that her armor was expensive.

Until we climbed the Beltrin Mountains, Sione and I had worn armor of the same quality.

It seems that Ainel or Siabel prepared new armor for her since Sione would be participating in this monster subjugation.

“Isn’t this enough?”

“The weather is colder than expected. Would you consider wearing more thin layers underneath?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already layered up as much as possible without hindering movement.”

Sione pointed to one side of the room.

“The quivers are filled with arrows, including your share, so take one.”

“Thank you.”

As Sione said, I slung a quiver over my back.

She scurried over to the side of her bed and looked at me with sparkling eyes.

With that look suggesting she had something left to say, I tilted my head and asked.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

At that, as if she had been waiting for my question,

Sione slipped her hand into the neatly arranged bedding and said.

“Hmm. I thought it might be quite cold outside, so I prepared something. Could you lower your head for a moment?”

At her words, I quietly lowered my head.

After staring at the floor for a while, Sione ran over to me and placed her hand on top of my head.

Then I felt something warm and soft coming down to cover my ears.

“What’s this…?”

“It’s a fur hat. I thought your ears might get cold while we’re outside… so I prepared one for you too, matching mine… What do you think, is it okay?”

I chuckled at her childlike eagerness for praise.

Adjusting the fur hat she had put on me, I expressed my gratitude.

“It’s nice. Thanks to you, my ears won’t get cold.”

Sione beamed a bright smile at my words and then pulled her own hat down firmly.

After strapping a sword to her waist and gathering her bow, Sione and I, now fully armed, left her room.

It was midday with the sun high in the sky, but the day was not particularly warm. The sunlight was gentle, but its power was not what it used to be, and a chilly breeze replaced the diminished warmth.

I frowned slightly and thought.

‘…At least that’s fortunate.’

It’s fortunate that only a gentle breeze brushes past my cheeks.

If strong winds were howling enough to rattle the windows, we would have been in for a tough time.

It was then.

Sione, who had been quietly moving her feet beside me, spoke in a deliberately serious tone.

“…Do you think I can do well?”

If she’s asking whether she can do well.

The current Sione should be able to handle it just fine.

Sione and I didn’t trudge all the way here from the Beltrin Mountains to subjugate the Orcs roaming the western part of the territory.

“Of course. We’re just going to hunt some Kobolds and wolves.”

As the daughter of a Count, she was fulfilling her duty to protect the family’s territory while also.

We were simply going to clear out the remaining Kobolds and wolves positioned in the northern part of the territory to build up Sione’s lacking practical experience.

Kobolds are just monsters with slightly better physical abilities than goblins, but otherwise unremarkable.

And we’ve already hunted plenty of wolves in the Beltrin Mountains, so we should be able to catch them without much trouble.

And to prevent Sione from getting involved in any major accidents.

“Besides, I’m by your side, Lady Sione.”

None other than myself, who didn’t hesitate to don armor even in this cold weather to protect my master.

If she’s so worried, it would be better to assign a reliable knight rather than a male servant like me to her side.

‘Both Ainel and Siabel…’

I wonder why they insist on keeping me by Sione’s side.

Unintentionally, I ended up following Sione to hunt monsters while treading on frozen ground in the middle of winter.

Given the situation, I intended to use this opportunity to make sure Sione properly adapts to combat as an archer.

Sione, who had been mulling over my words, slowly nodded.

“Yes… that’s right. With you by my side, what was I so worried about?”

Seeing her face muscles relax from a stiff, expressionless state to an extremely gentle expression as she looked at me.

Fortunately, Sione seemed to have set aside some of her worries thanks to my words.

“By the way, it’s a bit concerning. Last summer we had Demonkin appearing, and this winter, Orcs settled in the mountains are coming down to the territory like this.”

My master sighed softly as she tidied her bangs.

Haah…

A small breath rose in front of her mouth.

The breath rose up to the sky and eventually dispersed, but Sione’s concerns and worries remained knotted, gradually swelling in size.

“I hope the search party heading to the mountains brings back good news.”

I could only nod quietly at my master’s whisper.

If a few more troubles arise here, I might have to flee in the night, regardless of the County.

* * *

The carriage carrying Sione and me moved forward without hindrance.

After passing through the mansion and the center of the territory, and then the residential area where houses were packed tightly together, the carriage finally passed through the walls and went outside.

Unlike the safe world inside the walls, the wide-open land seemed perfect for wild animals and small monsters to roam around.

Even in winter, the uncultivated land was overgrown with bushes, and thick trees behind them were perfect for hiding.

So, in other words.

‘No wonder they haven’t caught them all yet, even though soldiers were deployed a while ago.’

It was ideal for Kobolds with their small stature and brown fur to hide.

And perfect for stealthy wolves to prowl around as if they owned the place.

As I was looking at the surroundings through the window, the carriage soon stopped.

Judging by the various women’s voices coming from outside the carriage, it seems we’re right in front of the gathering point for soldiers who have been out here to subjugate these troublemakers.

“We’ve arrived!”

At the coachman’s booming voice, I got out of the carriage first.

The ground was uneven.

Knowing that a misstep while getting out of the carriage would lead to an ungraceful tumble, I extended my hand to Sione.

“The ground is rough. Please take my hand.”

If I say take it, just take it.

Sione hesitated for a moment, considering whether to take my hand or not.

Eventually, she gently placed her hand on mine.

But what good is holding my hand.

Whoosh!

Even if the ground is rough, she jumps out so hastily.

“Ugh!?”

As expected.

I pulled on Sione’s hand as her feet got tangled, and wrapped my arm around her waist.

Thanks to that, she avoided the fate of becoming an unfortunate lady sprawled on the cold earth.

“That’s why I said the ground was rough.”

“Uuu…”

When I spoke with a hint of amusement in my voice, Sione hung her head low.

Seems she also thought her behavior just now was quite embarrassing.

As I waited for her to compose herself and stand up on her own,

A familiar voice came from up ahead.

“You two look quite close?”

The female knight Siabel Sianella, wearing armor instead of her elegant formal attire, was grinning at Sione and me.