episode_0097

Today is the third day since I left Rizerka.

I told my friends that I was going on a trip a few days before departure, so I didn’t have any regrets.

It is true that there are some parts of it that are less disappointing since you can always go back as long as you arrive in a big city anyway.

The place I chose as my first stopover was a city named ‘Zerdia’.

It is the territorial capital of the Zeldia region, a territory neighboring Rizerka, and is located within a reasonable distance of four days from Rizerka.

The Zerdia region, like the Rizerka region, is a county territory, and like other county territories, its area is only one-third of the marquis’ territory.

Therefore, the distance between Rizerca and Gerdia is shorter than the distance from Franca to Rizerca, and the time required to travel is less.

The journey was literally smooth.

Although it was not paved, people on horseback and carriages passed by on well-maintained roads from time to time, and fortified campsites and inns located here and there ensured safety even at night.

Occasionally, a deserted road appeared, but thanks to the mini-map and map window, I was able to identify the enemy’s movements in advance and avoid them or deal with them with a preemptive attack.

Yesterday, because we were camping on a mountain path, we had to take turns to stand watch, but since there were only four people, it was less of a burden.

I originally tried to decide the order of wake-up calls by drawing lots, but the three people gave me the first turn and decided their own turn, so I was able to sleep soundly without waking up in the middle of the night.

They are really grateful and lovely people who always care about me.

“It’s really relaxing. The warm sunlight and the gentle breeze make me fall asleep easily. Hmm…”

Laura, who was on watch for the third time yesterday, yawned frequently and looked dazed.

Even though she is normally fine even after staying up all night for two days, it seems like she can’t stand the weather that makes people drowsy.

“Me too. Even if it’s like this, I feel like I’ll fall asleep right away if I close my eyes.”

Iris, who was on watch for the second time after me, did not yawn, but looked into space with a blank expression like Laura.

Looking at the two people’s condition, it seems like we need to think about ways to replace the night watch.

And since we have a lot of time anyway, it would be a good idea to give the two of them time to take a nap.

“Shall we take a break? Erica, what do you think?”

“I think it’s good too. It’s almost time to feed the horses.”

Erica, who was lucky enough to be chosen last, looked at me with clearer eyes than anyone else.

Anyway, as expected, Erica thinks about horses first.

It’s natural, but I want to take that position quickly.

But suddenly, Zehart, this cocky guy was shaking his head up and down and making a heehee-hee sound, and it seemed like he was peering into my thoughts and laughing at me.

I’m so ashamed of myself for being jealous not of people but of horses.

“Oh, and if possible, a place with flowing water would be a good idea. I have to give them water too.”

“Okay, Erica. Just wait a moment.”

I opened the map window and looked for a place that met the conditions Erica had requested, and I happened to find a vacant lot nearby and a valley flowing next to it.

Here, I think we can set up a tent and provide a comfortable space for Laura and Iris to sleep, and Erica can comfortably take care of the horses.

“Let’s go a little further from here and take a rest next to the valley.”

I led my group to the location confirmed in the map window.

Now, my skills have improved to the point where I can confidently take the lead on a horse, and the proof of this is that my riding skill has increased from 1 to 3.

At first, I was confident and even a little ostentatious, but I changed my attitude to a more humble one after seeing Erica do a light handstand on a fast horse.

The world is truly wide and there are many great people.

In the valley I had designated, the water that had been frozen all winter had half thawed and was flowing with a rippling sound.

A little snow remained on the rocks around, as if they were wearing hats, and new shoots sprouted on the dried trees.

Although there were still many traces of winter remaining, spring was clearly on the horizon.

In Arcadia, the New Year is celebrated in early spring rather than the cold winter, so January is spring.

That is why it is said that welcoming the New Year is very important and is received meaningfully.

It was quite different from my experience of welcoming the New Year in the middle of cold winter all my life, and I thought there was something better about it.

Would you like to see the sunrise in this world too? I’ll have to ask someone later.

“Guys, it’s right here. I’ll set up the tent, so please wait a moment.”

I tied Zehart’s reins to a suitable wooden pole and took out the smallest magic tent I had from my bag, one that could easily fit two people, and unfolded it.

It was really convenient because there was a magic tent that was set up and taken down automatically just by using a magic trick, rather than a tent that had to be set up by hand.

As Laura and Iris left their horses with Erica, the magic tent was fully spread out to welcome the two people, who were yawning continuously.

I laid out a warm blanket in the tent and set up a magical heater.

Thanks to this, there was no need to worry about someone suffocating or catching fire.

Magic was truly omnipotent.

“Then the two of us are resting.”

“Yes, Rebecca. Thank you for your consideration.”

Laura gave me a light kiss and went into the tent, and Iris, like Laura, thanked me and left a kiss, then lay down next to Laura, hugged her tightly, and closed her eyes.

I watched the lovely and cute figure for a while and then went to Erica’s side, who was taking care of the horses diligently as always.

“Erica, aren’t you sleepy?”

“Yes, the fresh air in the valley made my mind clearer. How are you, Rebecca?”

“I don’t really want to sleep either. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Hmm… Then feed the horses carrots.”

I took the basket of fresh carrots Erica gave me and held it out to Zehart, who was grazing the grass nearby with his head down.

Then, not only Zehart but even Dracus who was next to him showed great interest.

To prevent them from fighting, I held carrots in both hands and fed them to them at the same time.

The carrots disappeared in an instant, and I quickly handed out more carrots one by one to the fussy guys who asked for more.

It’s good to eat well, but it’s a bit scary because it’s too much.

The guys who ate three carrots each stuck out their snouts asking for more, but I hurried away for the sake of Schneider Jr. and Shari, who couldn’t even touch the carrots yet.

Fortunately, the guys didn’t have any complaints and went back to tearing up the grass on the floor.

I breathed a sigh of relief and handed out carrots one by one to Schneider Jr. and Shari, who were just now showing interest in the carrots.

These guys had a milder personality than the previous two guys, so they calmly accepted the carrots and ate them.

The current order of horses is that Zehart is the leader, Dracus is his right-hand man, and the other two are unable to show their strength to them.

Erica said it was a natural phenomenon and proof that Zehart was an excellent horse, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling of worry.

Even though they are dumb animals, they are the ones I brought into my family, so I don’t want anyone to get hurt or be unhappy.

While I was concentrating on feeding carrots, Erica, who had finished what she was doing, came over to me and patted Schneider Jr. and Shari’s heads in turn.

“I think the horses have started to like Rebecca more recently.”

“Really? I’m not sure.”

“Can’t you feel the trust in the eyes looking at Rebecca? She is always kind to the horses and controls Zehart, the leader of the children, well, so the horses trust and follow Rebecca.”

“I’m glad that’s the case.”

I stroked Zehart’s head and neck, feeling proud.

Then he raised his head, rubbed against my body, and licked my face with his tongue.

It wasn’t a very pleasant experience, but it was because Zehart liked me, so I had to endure it.

“It smells a bit more than I thought. I have to go and wash my face.”

Frowning at the stickiness I felt on my cheeks, I went to the valley and washed the saliva off my face with clean water.

The water was still as cold as ice, so I couldn’t wake up and felt dizzy.

And then I made eye contact with something looking at me from the water.

What is this? person? no. Is it a fish? But why a human face…

I was mesmerized by a strange creature that was neither a person nor a fish, and I splashed down the rapidly deepening valley.

I had no idea that I should be wary of that thing that appeared as a red dot on the mini-map.

The water, which was knee-high at first, quickly rose to my chest, and soon I was completely submerged.

And then I made eye contact once again with the bizarre face-faced fish with the pale human face and body of an eel.

The guy laughed and wrapped his long body around my neck and started strangling me.

I felt like I was going to die like this, but it was difficult to muster the will to resist.

Meanwhile, the water was as cold as ice, so I couldn’t even understand what was going on.

As I was losing consciousness, someone stabbed the mermaid fish in the neck with a sharp object, and while it was struggling in pain, it grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and dragged me to the surface.

“Rebecca! Rebecca! Come to your senses!”

“Cluck, cough! Wow! Heo, heo! ”

I coughed violently and spit out cold water from my mouth.

I couldn’t think straight because I felt freezing pain throughout my body.

I don’t know what’s going on right now.

“Rebecca! First, you have to take off all your clothes.”

“M, what, what…?”

“Stay still! I will do it for you.”

Erica couldn’t come to her senses and began to take off my clothes as I was floundering on the ground, shaking like crazy from the cold.

I don’t know why they go to the lengths to tear my clothes off.

In the meantime, I suddenly saw Laura and Iris, and they talked loudly with Erica, and then took off my clothes and wiped my body for her.

And then I was carried into a warm tent by someone.

I was still shaking so hard that I couldn’t come to my senses, but as my body temperature gradually rose, the shaking subsided, and only after a while did I finally have time to look around.

I was naked and Erica, who had also taken off all her clothes, was holding me.

Laura and Iris each came out and hugged Erica from behind to share her body heat.

“Erica? Guys?”

As soon as I could barely speak out, Erica quickly raised her head and looked at me.

She touched my face and body, checked my temperature, and felt relieved.

“Rebecca, I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Yes. Thanks to you guys. And it feels so good when you hug me so tightly?”

“Ah…”

Erica buried her face in my chest, her pale cheeks turning red.

It was truly ironic that I was embarrassed and yet covered my eyes with my ample breasts.

“Don’t worry. Because I have no intention of eating you.”

I ran my fingers through Erica’s wet hair and planted a series of kisses on her cold forehead.

“Rebecca, if it weren’t for Erica, it would have been really dangerous. Please punish those of us who were sleeping without knowing that Rebecca was in danger.”

“What I want to give you is not punishment, but this.”

I stood up with Erica’s help, and instead of punishing myself, I gave Laura and Iris, who were kneeling in front of me, a deep kiss.

I had no intention of blaming either of them, and I thought this incident was entirely my fault.

More than that, it’s truly pathetic that I was almost killed by a creature I created.

I don’t think I’ll even look at fish dishes for a while.

“Who would have thought that there would be a mermaid living in a valley like that? It was my fault for neglecting my guard. I think I learned a really big lesson today.”

“I killed that, so you can rest assured now.”

“Erica, thank you for saving my life. If it weren’t for you, I would have died. But why did you ask me to take off my clothes?”

“Wet clothes lose body heat very quickly. So, you need to take off your clothes as quickly as possible and use all possible methods to raise your body temperature. I was fortunate to have someone to help me now.”

“I see. Erica, you know a lot, right?”

I tried to stroke Erica’s wet hair, but instead played with her cheek.

It’s so cute that I want to bite it as it chatters away words for me with its cute mouth.

“No. Laura knows much more about survival than I do.”

“But thanks to you, we were able to avoid the immediate crisis. Thank you so much.”

“I’m so glad I didn’t lose my new family member.”

“Did you just say you’re a new family?”

“Ah, yes. Do you hate it?”

“No! i love it! I’m so glad you accepted me as family! Hahaha!”

I hugged Erica and smiled like an idiot, feeling happy.

Actually, I felt sorry because I felt like I was alienating Erica when I showed affection to Laura and Iris, but Erica actually thought well of me, so I felt moved.

“Rebecca, Erica is going to suffocate. You should think about your breast size.”

“Achacha, I’m sorry. I’m so happy so stop…”

I quickly let go of Erica after Iris pointed it out, and she looked ecstatic.

Erica looked at me intently, and this time she buried her face in my chest and moved her head left and right.

ah! What is this feeling that is blooming hotly in my heart right now?

Is it really maternal love? Are you saying that I, who am still a man in spirit, feel maternal love? Oh, no way.

“Erica, I really owe you a lot. Thank you sincerely.”

Laura held Erica’s hand tightly and even lowered her head.

Then Erica seemed at a loss and bowed her head.

I found that scene very funny, but I held it in so as not to spoil the serious atmosphere.

“That’s right. If it weren’t for you… If you weren’t by Rebecca’s side… I love you!”

Iris spoke in tears and confessed her love to Erica before me, hugging her and crying.

Don’t you usually have to hug me and cry in situations like this?

Anyway, as Erica patted Iris, her eyes were filled with very complex emotions.

“Rebecca, what Iris said doesn’t really mean that we’re dating, right?”

“Puhup! Oh, sorry. That’s just something friends say.”

After hearing my answer, Erica covered her face with both hands and looked embarrassed, and I thought it was so cute that I hugged her for a while and enjoyed her warm body temperature and pleasant scent.