Long-Overdue Rest

The mountain the Fire Dragon had left behind was quiet.

With its absolute ruler gone, the signs of life seemed to be returning.

They traveled toward the city of Ateil alongside the duke's carriage.

With soldiers escorting them along the way, they sat still and obedient.

In truth, the sweating and exertion had left them too drained to move. They were slumped over.

Inside the city, the bustle carried on as though the Fire Dragon incident had never happened.

They were dropped off in the market and left behind.

Apparently, this was the end of it for today.

"Come again tomorrow."

That was all the soldier relayed before the duke's carriage drove off.

They were simply exhausted.

"Here, Master."

Azu had thought ahead and bought drinks from a market stall.

A crushed fruit with plenty of juice, mixed with salt and diluted with ice water.

After all that sweating, it was a godsend.

Yohane thought as much and reached for it, only for an arm to dart in and intercept.

Elza's arm.

"I'll have one too, yes?"

"Um…"

It was unbecoming behavior for a slave. Under normal circumstances, she'd be whipped for such an act.

Azu was flustered. She seemed at a loss for what to do.

Yohane sighed.

He knew full well that Elza was doing this because she knew she wouldn't be punished.

The drink did look delicious, but he handed it to Elza first.

"Fine. Azu, sorry, but take this and buy enough for everyone."

"Understood."

He gave Azu money and sent her off to buy another round.

He also covered the cost of the first drink.

That she'd prioritized him even though she was just as tired—that made him glad.

"Orleans, go help her."

"Yes, sir."

At Yohane's word, Orleans nodded and hurried after Azu.

Alexia had been using wind magic to dry her sweat, so Elza pestered her for the same treatment.

"Ahhh, nice and cool. And delicious."

"Hard to believe she's a cleric."

"My thoughts exactly. She looks the part, but that's about it."

Then a gust of wind overlapped with Alexia's spell, sending Elza's priest robe billowing up.

"Oh! … Did you see?"

"I did."

"Not much of a reaction. As a woman, I'm hurt."

"Who do you think bought all your undergarments? It was nice for the eyes, though."

"Shall I show you Alexia-chan's too?"

With that, she lifted the hem of Alexia's clothes.

Pale thighs came into view.

Alexia swatted Elza's hands away and jabbed her in the side with an elbow.

There was clearly no force behind it.

Just some playful teasing with Yohane as the excuse.

"Honestly. What a handful."

Meanwhile, Azu and Orleans returned with the drinks.

Orleans was carrying them in both arms, and Azu had loaded herself up with as many as she could manage.

"Um, could someone take these?"

Azu's hands were completely full, and she was pleading with her eyes.

He hadn't seen that flustered expression in a while.

Somewhere around the bronze statue incident, it had largely disappeared.

It was because she'd come to trust Yohane that she no longer felt the need to be on guard for no reason.

The relationship between master and slave meant she could have been discarded at any moment, but knowing that Yohane treasured her more than his own life had been the turning point.

Enough to fill the void in Azu's heart.

Yohane was aware of Azu's affection for him.

But what kind of affection it was, he couldn't quite tell.

"Here, thanks."

"Yes!"

"Cold and good. This is exactly what I needed."

"Right?"

Azu waited until Yohane had taken a sip before drinking her own.

The sweet, tangy juice vanished in no time.

They returned the cups to the stall.

Normally you'd bring your own cup, but they'd just come back from traveling and had nothing of the sort.

It cost a little extra, but this was a necessary expense.

"Back to the inn, I guess…"

"I'm beat."

"I want a bath. But honestly, I just want to lie down first."

"I want to bathe too. I'll wash you as well, Master."

"That's alright."

"Um, I can help too."

He patted the bashful Azu on the head.

They checked into the same inn as before.

The innkeeper recognized their faces and called out.

"Welcome back. How'd the business with the lord go?"

"Hectic, but it worked out."

"Glad to hear it. Busy is best."

"True enough. A merchant with nothing to do is a sorry sight."

They took a large room at the inn and borrowed a sizable tub.

The water, they could manage on their own.

"You're really going to put me to work even here?"

"Sure am. You're a slave, after all."

"Fine, fine. Yes, I'm a slave."

With a heavy sigh, Alexia pointed her right hand at the tub and sent a stream of water into it.

The trickle matched her enthusiasm perfectly.

After a while, the tub was full, and everyone stripped to their underclothes and soaked rags to wipe themselves down.

The unpleasant crust of dried sweat dissolved away bit by bit, and the discomfort finally eased.

The cold water felt wonderful against their skin.

Ideally they'd have submerged themselves in the tub, but it was far too small.

Even Yohane alone wouldn't fit.

Azu might manage, but she seemed hesitant to get in by herself.

Getting in the tub naked and alone in the middle of the room was practically a punishment.

Anyone would feel embarrassed.

Though Elza might not care.

"I'd be a little embarrassed, even me…"

A proper bath could wait until tomorrow. They unanimously agreed, and everyone collapsed into bed immediately.

Nobody had the energy left to eat.