After washing up and coming out of the bathroom, Nameless was just getting off the bed with a deep sigh.
“Did you wake up?”
“…Yes.”
Nameless replied in a groggy voice, as if still half-asleep.
Hmm, that raspy voice sounds pleasant too.
As I dried my hair with a towel and looked at Nameless, I noticed dark circles under his eyes, indicating he hadn’t slept well.
I made a concerned face and suggested he sleep more.
“The sun hasn’t risen yet, so if you’re tired, go ahead and sleep more.”
“…I think I’m okay like this.”
Nameless shook his head with a firm expression.
Hmm, he doesn’t look okay at all, though…
But since he claims to be okay, it’s rude to keep insisting.
Nevertheless, my concern remained unchanged. With a somewhat dissatisfied expression, I nodded, and Nameless gave a small smile and shook his head.
“I’m really fine.”
“…I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Yes, I know.”
But why does he have that annoying grin and keep answering by himself while chuckling?
Sigh, he really seems to be half-asleep…
I shook my head as I let out a sigh.
He still looks tired, but since he insists he’s fully awake, I guess we can start moving.
It was a bit early because he went to bed earlier than usual, but that wasn’t a problem.
I grabbed my wooden sword.
“Nameless, if you’re not planning to sleep more, let’s slowly go practice some sword swinging.”
“Yes, I’ll wash up quickly.”
“Alright.”
Nameless nodded briefly and headed straight into the bathroom.
While waiting, I thought I should do something and started looking around the inn room when I noticed my messy bed.
Hmm, I usually don’t have a problem with sleeping, though… I glanced at the bathroom where Nameless was.
Wouldn’t Nameless get fed up and start cleaning it up?
Hmm, if I leave it, sure, I’d be comfortable, but…
I shook my head.
Last time I thought that, it ended up being a disaster.
But if I let that happen, I’d have to listen to a scolding disguised as a monologue from Nameless.
Her nagging is quite piercing to both the ears and the heart.
It can’t be helped…
With a deep sigh, I took out the blanket and began to shake it off, lamenting my situation as a master.
I am the master after all…
As I shook the blanket for a while, Nameless emerged from the bathroom, looking all cleaned up.
“Master?”
Since I had just been thinking about Nameless’s nagging, I felt the need to explain myself, so I held the blanket up high for Nameless to see.
“I’m organizing it myself!”
Nameless looked a bit bewildered but nodded.
“…? Yes, good job.”
Somehow, this situation feels more painful than any scolding.
Feeling embarrassed showing this side of me, I blushed and threw the blanket into the corner of the bed with all my might.
“…Let’s go.”
“Yes, Master.”
…
“Ugh, huff, huff….”
“Is that all you’ve got?”
Usually, I wouldn’t push this hard, but for some reason, memories of what happened at the inn kept resurfacing, and I felt like messing with Nameless, so I ramped up the intensity of our sparring by a few notches.
And that’s how it turned out.
Nameless sprawled on the floor, panting in frustration.
“Did I make a mistake…?”
Hmm, there’s no way. It’s just me blowing off some steam.
But if I said that to Nameless, I’d really get a lecture, so I didn’t say anything.
…
After finishing our usual training, we returned to the inn.
Nameless opened the door but then stepped back, gripping his wooden sword with a frown.
“Master, there’s someone here.”
Unlike the nervously tense Nameless, I waved my hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry too much; it’s just, um, a guest? Something like that.”
I’m not sure why they’re in our inn room, but it must be the one scheduled to visit.
Nameless sheathed his sword, his eyes wide in surprise.
“…Really? Is there someone who would come looking for you, Master?”
What?
“What do you mean?”
“…Nothing.”
I glared at Nameless, and suddenly felt a sigh escape me, so I opened the door.
Surely Nameless doesn’t have any friends, so I felt like if I engaged in a conversation, I’d be the one at a disadvantage.
…Not that I have no friends either.
With pursed lips, I welcomed the visitor to our room.
A guest had arrived at our inn room.
Hmm, an uninvited guest?
Technically, it wouldn’t be uninvited since I had mentioned they could come first…
Glancing over, I saw the guest who had come to the inn.
Sigh, upon further thought, it does seem like an uninvited guest.
The one who came to see us was Lili.
Sitting on the bed, Lili stood up with a bright smile and posed dramatically.
“Harang! The cute and lovely Lili is here!”
Lili made a V-sign with her hands, cheekily winking with one eye.
Nameless and I both placed our hands on our foreheads and let out deep sighs at the same time.
“Whoa! Are you two serious? Lili is a super busy demon, you know! Did you call for me, Harang?!”
I moved to the bathroom while Nameless started organizing our luggage, and we each commenced our tasks as usual.
“Hey?!”
…
Lili puffed up her cheeks, complaining.
“This is just too much!”
“Sorry about that.”
Is it right for her to just barge into our inn room like this? I wondered, but since we hadn’t set a definite meeting place, I nodded.
And thinking about it, we wouldn’t have been able to meet up with a succubus like Lili in a crowded place anyway.
Hmm, I feel a little bad about bothering her.
I gave a sheepish smile, and Lili let out a small sigh.
Feeling awkward just standing there, it seemed like it was time to get down to business.
Nameless also seemed displeased with Lili being here, puffing his lips.
I slowly began to explain what happened back in the slums to Lili.
…
“Oh! You already started? I thought you would take quite some time to begin!”
Lili chirped excitedly, clapping her hands and buzzing around the inn.
I narrowed my eyes and watched Lili.
…Is this the right time?
She seems in a good mood, so maybe now is the right time to ask.
“So, about that…”
“Four?”
Lili replied with a bright smile, and a twinge of guilt hit me, but what can you do?
Nameless and I were busy, so we asked Lili if she could take care of the people in the slums.
The response was dramatic.
“Whoa! Me? Why?”
Lili flailed her arms in rejection, clearly not wanting to do it.
“I don’t know what you think of me, but I’m busy too!”
“You’re the only one we can ask, aren’t you?”
“No! I just told you, I’m busy!”
Lili turned her head away, huffing and snorting.
I sighed as I watched this and prepared my secret weapon.
Sigh, I didn’t want to resort to this.
I slowly approached Lili, pouting my lips and widening my eyes, looking up at her.
The key is to droop my lip further and tug at the hem of Lili’s sleeve.
“Could you please just consider it?”
When I made this face while asking someone like Nameless, they usually agreed, so wouldn’t Lili have to comply?
Lili watched my expression, squinting her eyes shut, and finally nodded.
I smirked at her reaction.
It worked.
“Ugh, fine! I’ll do it!”
“Master…?”
Nameless had a displeased expression, and I felt worried about the future, but I made a point to ignore it.
We could always discuss the details regarding the slum residents later.
Having completed one task, I immediately moved on to the next.
“So, did you bring the sword?”
“Oh! Right! That’s why I came here?! Just a moment-!”
Lili clapped her hands, muttered some unintelligible words and reached out into the space beyond.
Is that magic?
I watched in awe as Lili strained to pull out a sword from midair.
“Help me out!”
“Ha….”
Nameless sighed and walked over to Lili, grasping the half-pulled sword and yanking it out with a single pull.
Once the sword was fully pulled out, Lili took a moment to catch her breath, then crossed her arms and puffed with a ‘Hmph!’
“How about it? It was super difficult to get!”
Strangely, I felt irritated by her demeanor.
But seeing the sword, I instantly understood Lili’s attitude.
Even I, who don’t know much about swords, could tell that its balance was excellent.
And it had proportions that made it look as if it was custom-made for Nameless.
“Does it look okay?”
As I marveled at the sword, I wondered how Nameless felt holding it, but…
“…”
Nameless didn’t respond, turning the sword this way and that, inspecting it.
His eyes gleamed like a kid who just got a gift.
I felt an odd satisfaction watching him, but Lili crinkled her brow and stuck out her tongue, making a ‘yuck’ sound.
Nameless examined the sword for a long while, lightly swinging it before suddenly tilting his head in confusion.
“Master.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Have you ever shown me this sword before?”
That can’t be. I’ve never seen a sword like that in my life.
I shook my head.
“Of course not, I’m seeing it for the first time too.”
“…”
Nameless gazed intently at the sword in his hand for a long time.
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