Mbkp oyp vbl qkapv vkxl kd bkp zkql bl’e cswtbv psxlvbkdt zkjl vbkp. Fkdnl bl oyp osajkdt yp y zkhl-kd osajla dso yde bl eked’v byhl vs osaau ycswv xlyzp, bl vbswtbv kv oswze cl sjyu vs przwatl y zkvvzl.
“Who is your favourite, Reiru-san?”
“I’m a fan of the princess… Who is your favorite, Milvance-san?”
“Well… by the way, Reiru-san, did you get a new haircut? Your outfit is nice too.”
“Ah, yes. A few things happened yesterday—”
“It is nice, isn’t it? I chose all of it.”
The little girl interjected.
“Wow…” Milvance was amazed. “Miss, you did a great job. Until yesterday, he seemed to only attract women who wanted to be defiled by a degenerate, dangerous-smelling man. But now, he looks like he would attract proper women who set their eyes on the future and are starting to think of marriage. Now all he needs is a good night’s sleep and proper nutrition, and he’ll be perfect.”
Reiru was baffled by the scrutiny. Although she said in a roundabout way, he could tell that his appearance up until yesterday had been very unsightly.
It was true that I hadn’t paid much attention to my appearance, but did I look like such a boorish man? If that’s the case… I don’t know how the innkeeper could hire me.
“B-by the way, Milvance-san. Did you find an escort?”
The first encounter between Reiru and Milvance was on the day Reiru left the orphanage.
He was given a ride by kind people in passing carriages and carts, and by the afternoon he was able to reach a slightly larger town.
When Reiru was walking along the main road, thinking about whether to find a cheap inn there for the night, or to go further and sleep out in the open if he didn’t reach the next town, he bumped into something head-on and fell on his butt.
There was a woman in front of him who had also fallen, and he hurriedly stood up and reached out to her.
“I’m sorry, I probably bumped into you because I was lost in thought.”
The woman took Reiru’s hand and easily stood up. Reiru was surprised by the fluidity of her movement, and surprised again when he looked at her properly.
“I was also careless. Please excuse me.”
She had magnificent white fur and pointed ears with big, big green eyes. It was the first time he had ever seen a female beastman so close up, and Reiru was flustered.
The beastman was well-dressed, albeit in traveling clothes, and she was alone. It was dangerous for a rich-looking woman to walk alone, no matter how rural the town. When he offered to take her to the inn, the beastman told him that she was about to set out. It was said to be an urgent matter.
“Where are you planning to go, Reiru-san?”
“Well, I’m thinking of going to Paffamzia.”
Paffamzia was known as a large port city. Reiru wanted to see the sea.
“What a coincidence! My destination is also Paffamzia, would you like to join me?”
“Um, but…”
“Now, now, now, let’s hurry! There are only a limited number of high-speed teleporting service offices in the countryside! If we don’t leave now, we’ll not make it in time for the final activation.”
“No, high-speed teleporting is extremely expensive.”
“I’ve asked you to join me unreasonably, so I’ll pay the fees!”
“Don’t worry about it! If it’s about money, Gi…I mean, my family is rich, so this much is nothing to me!”
Thus, the journey that would have taken days of walking was drastically shortened thanks to a few minutes of procedure and a few seconds of teleportation magic.
And so Reiru entered the provincial town of Paffamzia and was fortunate enough to be hired by an innkeeper, where he currently resides.
Milvance asked Reiru if he could continue to act as her attendant, but he refused, thinking that if she was rich, it would be better to hire a proper escort.
Milvance sighed.
“Unfortunately, I can’t find a skilled escort.”
“You are alone today as well, aren’t you? But it’s dangerous for a woman to walk alone. And, Milvance-san, you are beautiful…”
Even among commoners, rich and well-dressed women wouldn’t go out alone. Milvance was a beastman and looked beautiful, so she stood out even more.
“Well, you’re skilled. It would be solved right now if you would become my escort, Reiru-san.”
“Hey! If you’re trying to poach Reiru, I won’t stay quiet!”
“Oh my, I apologize.”
Milvance smiled complacently at the little girl who raised her voice in protest.
“Miss, it’s a joke. How am I supposed to protect her from anyone if I’m her escort?”
“I agree. Reiru should gain some weight and do some muscle training.”
The fact that she was easily convinced was a bit disheartening. Reiru had mixed feelings.
“With that stone, Reiru-san’s skill won’t be an issue.”
“Eh? What did you say?”
Her mumbled words did not reach Reiru’s ears.
“Wait, you’re kidding, right!?”
“That is… eh, real one?”
The sound of Reiru’s question was drowned out by the surrounding chatter. Something seemed to be happening on the other side of the building where they were waiting for the actors to come out.
“What’s all the fuss about? Even though Yuumu-sama and the others haven’t come out yet.”
“Miss, it’s dangerous, a huge crowd is barging in. Let’s get some distance and see what it’s all about.”
Holding back the little girl from running off in the direction of the commotion, Reiru urged Milvance and moved to a less crowded area.
The people who had been waiting for actors to come out moved further and further back, and the commotion soon became something that could not be distinguished from cheers or screams. He was curious about what had happened, but he couldn’t ensure the safety of the little girl and Milvance if they were mobbed by that crowd.
“Reiru, why don’t we go over there and check it out for a bit?”
“Saying it cutely won’t help. Miss, you are small so you might get crushed to death by people pushing you.”
“You’re exaggerating! Reiru is mean!”
“I am fine with it. Miss’s safety is the most important thing to me. If anything happens to Miss, I would regret it for the rest of my life. And your father also seems scary.”
“Uwah~ Reiru is coming off as a sly, nice guy.”
“What is that?”
“I didn’t know you were a sweet talker, Reiru-san.”
“Eh!? What do you mean by that!?”
The three of them were having such a conversation when they suddenly realized that the crowd of people in front of them was noisily changing shape.
“Eh, what?”
Before they knew it, it was quiet enough to pick up the little girl’s murmur.
The people were neatly divided into two groups, as if a single path had been created in front of them.
A man was walking towards them on that path.
He was tall with black hair. He had blue eyes. The man came close enough for Reiru to see his features and he stopped in front of Reiru.