Side Story – Overnight (2)

Side Story – Overnight (2)

“Wow! How long has it been since I’ve seen a bed!”

As soon as they entered the accommodation and secured a room, Anne immediately jumped onto the bed.

Frankly, it was embarrassing to call it a bed, as it lacked cushioning and was not soft, and the blankets were rough and scratchy.

Naturally, it was not up to the standards of a lady from a prestigious noble family, raised so preciously.

However, for Anne and the other friends, there were no complaints whatsoever.

After all, for a whole month, they barely had a day without sleeping outdoors, let alone seeing a bed.

Anyone might have complained and grumbled in such a situation, but none of the companions harbored any complaints about it.

This was all their choice.

As members of the hero party to defeat the Demon King, they could endure such minor inconveniences.

However, even if there were no complaints, there was certainly joy to be expressed.

Therefore, the fact that they could lie down under a proper roof after a long time was enough to make them happy.

“Anne?

No matter what, you should wash up before getting on the bed.”

“Right!

Come to think of it, they said they’d prepare warm water too!”

Not only that, but thanks to giving the innkeepers a generous amount of gold, they were readily provided with warm meals and hot water for bathing.

Although it was quite expensive for accommodation, considering it was a remote area where finding inhabited villages was difficult, it was still a blessing to be grateful for, rather than considering it a rip-off.

Besides, it’s not like the group was lacking money.

In fact, considering their respective statuses, they had more than enough money.

“Let’s unpack our luggage and eat first.

Since we’ve arrived in a village after a long time, we need to replenish our supplies and organize what we need.”

Of course, even if they had plenty of money, it would be absurd to rent a single room for each person.

And it would also be absurd for the entire group to stay in one room.

In the first place, in a village on the outskirts like this, an inn wouldn’t have large rooms like the magnificent luxury inns in the capital.

They decided to share rooms, three people per room.

Elysia’s roommates were Anne and Celian.

Well, Elysia didn’t say anything, and her friends decided it for her.

Although she vaguely heard talk about whose turn it was, it wasn’t something Elysia needed to pay much attention to.

***

“Here, have some warm milk.”

When she finished bathing and returned while waiting for her turn, Celian, who was waiting in the room, handed her a cup.

It was a cup of milk that she had started drinking every night before sleeping.

Since she hadn’t had milk for a long time due to their long adventure, Elysia gratefully accepted the cup from Celian.

When she drank the milk, heated to feel slightly hot, she tended to fall into a deeper sleep than usual, perhaps because her body felt warm.

Well… although Celian had added a little herbal powder to the milk for the exhausted Elysia.

Of course, if Elysia, who had been rigorously trained as an assassin since childhood, would have resistance to various poisons, as well as sedatives and other drugs.

However, the herbal powder Celian added to the milk had no distinct taste, and its effect was merely to slightly relax the body.

It was not a sedative, but purely an herb.

Although it had no value as a spice and its effects were minor, it was a rare herb, so it was quite expensive.

However, as mentioned before, the price was not a burden for Celian at all.

Even if it were 10 times more expensive than the current price, she would be willing to bear such an expense for Elysia.

Therefore, Elysia felt no particular strangeness and simply enjoyed the warm and nutty milk with a happy expression.

Yes. All of this was to relieve Elysia’s fatigue.

“Haaam….

Maybe it’s because I can finally rest comfortably after so long?

I’m already sleepy…”

Elysia, who had been sipping the steaming milk while blowing on it, yawned widely as soon as she finished the cup.

The house that blocked the wind, the plentiful food, the bath that submerged her body up to her neck, and a cup of warm milk were enough to make Elysia feel languid.

“There are days like this.

You should go to sleep first.”

Celian, considerate of Elysia, turned off all the lights except for one candle on the table.

“But Anne hasn’t come back yet….

And we haven’t decided who will use which bed.”

Although they had decided to share rooms, three people per room, the inn was so small that there was a severe shortage of beds.

There were only two beds in one room, so naturally, two out of the three would have to share a bed uncomfortably.

“Ah, why are you worrying about such things?

Anne and I will sleep in separate beds, so Elysia, don’t worry and sleep soundly.”

“Haaam….

I wouldn’t normally do this, but I’m really sleepy today.

Please indulge me just for today.

Tell Anne I’m sorry when she gets back…”

Elysia placed the empty cup on the table and then flopped onto the bed.

Perhaps due to sleepiness, her voice was very slurred.

“Well….

It doesn’t really matter which bed is which anyway.”

“Yes, yes….

Or, the two of you can decide, and one of you can come to my bed…”

As soon as she lay down, Elysia, whose mind was becoming hazy as if she were about to drift off to dreamland, replied vaguely without even understanding what Celian was saying.

Although she had claimed one bed first, she meant that one of them could simply push her aside and sleep there.

However, for Celian, who received this statement, it was quite significant.

“Yes.

Then, if you happen to feel a little commotion in your sleep….

It’s nothing, so don’t worry and sleep soundly.

Understood?”

“Yes, yes…”

With a short reply, Elysia immediately set off on her journey to dreamland.

***

Rustle. Rustle.

In the darkness of the room, even darker than the moon hidden by clouds in the night sky, the two people slowly threw off their blankets and got up.

“Quietly…”

The two moved cautiously, as if Elysia, who was snoring soundly, might wake up.

Of course, both of them knew that she wouldn’t wake up from this, but it never hurt to be careful.

Contrary to what Elysia had said in her sleep earlier, Celian and Anne had generously yielded one bed entirely to Elysia.

There was no disagreement on this matter.

There was only the wish of the two that Elysia would sleep soundly.

Celian and Anne, who had gotten up from one bed, slowly moved towards the other bed where Elysia was lying.

Elysia was sleeping so soundly that she didn’t react or even stir as her blanket was being pulled off.