The Road to the Auction

The Triwright Auction's venue was being changed starting from this session, it seemed. As the event drew closer, the gathering location would appear on the ticket itself.

Auctions with high-value items made tempting targets.

I'd heard that at the last one, a featured item had been stolen.

This system was probably a countermeasure.

The gathering point this time was to the north of the kingdom, past the border.

Empty plains stretched on for a while before giving way to a rugged mountain range. Beyond those mountains lay a danger zone teeming with powerful monsters.

I'd even heard there were dragons.

The ticket said to assemble at the foot of the mountains.

The Hill of Lament was also to the north, but far from here.

"Look, it's snowing."

Snow began to fall while we were on the move, and Azu pointed at the sky.

When I looked up, a flake landed right on my face.

Azu let out a quiet laugh at that.

Bundled up in her winter gear, she looked every bit the young girl she was.

"Snow already. Could be a rough winter this year."

"Winters here really are cold…"

Alexia had a blanket draped over her head.

The Empire sat south of the kingdom, so its winters were mild by comparison.

So it seemed to be very cold for her.

"What, can't you do something about it with magic?"

"It's not that simple. What I'm using on the mules is barely more than a placebo. Anything stronger would drain too much mana."

"Come on, Alexia-chan. Cuddle up and you'll be warmer."

"Ugh, just this once…"

Elza sat down next to Alexia and pressed close.

That seemed to help. Color returned to Alexia's face.

She normally pushed away any physical contact, but apparently the cold won out.

"Aren't you cold, Azu?"

"I am, but I'm used to it."

"Right, you lived somewhere cold."

"Yes. You could say it's close to this area. Though I wouldn't want to go back."

She looked up at the sky.

Her breath turned to white wisps and faded away.

It was hard to read what she was feeling from her expression.

"Don't worry. I've got no business there, either."

Azu nodded, then grabbed two blankets and came to the driver's seat where I was sitting.

I took one and draped it over my legs from the knees down.

Azu sat beside me and spread the other across her lap.

"How long until we get there?"

"At this pace, less than three days. Though given the specified time, we don't have much room."

I pulled out the map and cross-referenced it with the location printed on the ticket.

It was a relief that the venue was near the kingdom.

A distant location would've been a nightmare in travel alone.

Then again, anyone with a ticket to this auction probably wouldn't blink at the distance.

Getting hold of a ticket was effort enough. Nobody would sell theirs once the location was revealed.

As the sun began to set, I stopped the wagon and we made camp.

Elza and Alexia handled the tent while Azu and I built a fire pit and grilled some dried meat.

Azu's efficiency had improved tremendously with experience.

We sandwiched the meat with pickled greens in bread, then added soup and honey-soaked apple slices on the side.

We also snacked on some nuts for extra nutrition.

The insulated tent was pleasantly warm inside.

Just being out of the cold wind made a big difference. The wagon couldn't fully block it.

"If we're staying put, I can manage something."

Alexia chanted a spell.

It combined wind and fire magic to produce a warm breeze.

The temperature turned comfortable.

We'd set up a small tent for the mules too. Alexia cast the same spell inside it, so they shouldn't feel the cold either.

We wiped ourselves down with damp towels to clean up.

I wanted to get a proper bath in before we reached the auction site.

Elza was saying her prayers to the Creator King before bed.

Devout as ever.

Between the fatigue and the early start tomorrow, we turned in without delay.

The warm air helped me drift off easily.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

Some time later, I woke up.

The lights were out and the tent was pitch black.

The magic seemed to have weakened. It was a bit cold.

I could hear steady breathing around me.

It seemed the cold had pulled me out of sleep.

I tried to go back to sleep, but having woken at an odd hour, I couldn't manage it.

Then I heard someone leaving the tent.

So I wasn't the only one awake.

I sat up and got to my feet.

Moving carefully so as not to disturb anyone, I made my way outside.

Elza was out there, wrapped in her winter gear.

"You'll freeze."

"Oh, Master."

She smiled when I called out to her.

That smile could pass for a saint's.

"I just came out for some fresh air. I'll head back in soon."

"If that's all."

"Hehe. But let's chat for a bit."

She sat down on a nearby rock and beckoned me over.

I had no reason to refuse, so I accepted.

Even with winter gear, staying outside got cold fast.

Elza pulled out a blanket and we huddled together under it.

"See? Nice and warm."

Her body ran warm. Pressed close like this, I couldn't really feel the cold.

"I've been grateful for how peaceful things have been, you know."

"That so? Well, I try to keep the working conditions decent."

"Being with Azu-chan and Alexia-chan is fun, too. I hope we can keep going like this."

"Then we'll keep going. As long as you all pull your weight, I've got no complaints."

"Then I'll keep doing my best."

When you spend a long time together, feelings beyond the master-servant relationship naturally develop. Especially with a beauty like Elza.

After a brief silence, Elza spoke.

"What if—"

A pause.

"Hypothetically."

"What?"

"If something happened to us, would you reach out to save us? Like you did back then?"

"Back then" probably meant when I'd said they were more precious to me than my own life.

A man doesn't go back on his word.

And I had no intention of letting go.

"Of course. That's what a master does."

"Only as our master?"

Elza said that and took my hand under the blanket.

She watched me quietly.

"What else is there."

My heart beat a little faster.

"That's a shame."

She let go of my hand and stood up.

"Shall we get some sleep? Early start tomorrow."

"Yeah."

We headed back to the tent.

The other two were still sound asleep.

It took me a little while to fall asleep.