Eating in Secret
When I returned to the Heart Familymansion with Roxy-sama, everyone was already busily preparing dinner.Since this was the case, I tried to be useful and asked the maids ifthere was anything I could help with, except they refused me andsaid, "No, it's fine." Then they pointed at my muddy clothesand told me to go take a bath.
Indeed, I had worked hard to harvestthe grapes until dusk so both my clothes and I were covered in dirt.A young maid named Maya guided me to a bathroom designated foremployees. The small bath could only fit one person and wasoverflowing with hot water. There was a unique scent different tofresh water.
"This, could it be?"
"Fufu, it's a hot spring. In theHeart Family territory, there are several places with hot springswhich have been connected to flow all the way to the mansion. This isone of the pleasures of being a servant of the Heart Family.
"That's wonderful. So this is therumoured hot spring…"
It was my first time seeing a hotspring. I scooped up a handful of the endlessly flowing water.
"Even though it's transparent, itseems muddy somehow."
"That's right. It's good for theskin. Even your mud-covered body will become all shiny and clean. Putyour clothes into this bag. I'll leave your change of clotheshere."
"Thank you."
Having told me various things, she thenleft the bath and I changed out of my outfit. Hm? I noticed that thedoor was slightly ajar. There stood Maya, even though she should havealready left. She was peeking covertly while smiling a little.
"What?!"
"Would you like me to wash yourback?"
"It, it's fine! I can do itmyself!"
Seeing my stiff expression when Ireplied, she closed the door in a bored manner. That was a surprise…I wondered if she was caring about me. Well, it was good that theemployees felt cheerful enough to joke around like this. It was thesame atmosphere in the Heart Family's residence back at thecapital.
After washing off the mud from my body,I stepped into the bathtub. Sighhhhh… So revitalising. The warmththat enveloped me felt very comfortable. Like this, I wished I couldbe a child of this household. Although that was impossible.
I finished bathing and thought to helpwith dinner preparations, yet everything was already done. As aservant of the Heart Family, this was bad. When I stopped one of themaids to ask if there was anything I could assist with, they repliedthat there was nothing in particular that needed help. Either way, itseemed as though I was being treated as one of Roxy-sama's guests.In the end, I was finally called.
"Roxy-sama called for you. Please goto the large room down this way."
"Understood."
With my footsteps echoing, I walkedover and opened the door. Inside, many dishes were lined up on a longtable placed in the centre of the room. Roxy-sama was the only onesitting down. The maids stood in the corner of the room, ready toserve. I see… So that was what this was about.
Without hesitating, I joined the lineof maids. Despite having been treated as a guest, I was stillRoxy-sama's servant. Waiting on my master was my duty. Fufufufu,let me show off the techniques that I had been taught at the capitalcity. Whether it was wine or soup… come! The time had finally cometo show my true worth as a servant. Just as I thought this,
"Fate, come and sit here. Not there,here."
"Eh?!"
Roxy-sama pointed to the vacant seat onher right. Eh, was it alright…? I looked at the maids all lined up.Then, everyone simultaneously pointed to the empty seat! It felt likethey were telling me to hurry up and go already.
Resignedly, I sat down on Roxy-sama'sright side. Somehow, I felt uneasy. At the residence in the RoyalCapital, it was not like this since I ate with the rest of theservants. It was my first time eating in such a spacious place whilemaids watched me. The basic manners that I had learnt were only fromthe serving side. I had never thought… that it would end up likethis.
As my thoughts ran in circles in myhead, Roxy-sama called out from next to me in a cheerful voice.
"Don't worry about manners. Justeat however you like."
"Is that alright?!"
"Yes, Fate eats a lot so if youworried about manners, it would take a lot of time."
I was actually quite hungry. Thenfirstly, I picked up the bread right in front of me and brought it tomy mouth. The buttery fragrance spread all over, it was delicious! AsI continued eating bread with gusto, the awaiting maid poured somewine into my glass. I wondered if I was eating in such a way that itlooked like I would choke. I downed the wine in one gulp.
"Whew, it's delicious."
"I'm glad to hear you say that,although Fate has yet to eat anything else besides bread."
"Ah, right."
I ate the sautéed river fishrecommended by Roxy-sama. …Delicious! It was a heavenly meal,however, there was something I was concerned about.
"Roxy-sama, um… What aboutAisha-sama?"
At this, she sighed.
"It's always like this. Whenever Ireturn home, she would greet me merrily, however… as a result, shewould fall asleep in the evening."
As I listened to her, Roxy-sama noticedthat I had stopped eating.
"It's not something that Fate needsto worry about. It's alright, she'll be fine when tomorrow comes.It's always this way."
Roxy-sama spoke with a smile, yet Icould tell that her real feelings were different. Right now, if Itouched her hand, I would be able to hear her inner thoughts from theMind-reading skill. I wanted to know. However, I considered what Icould do even if I knew, and withdrew my hand,
"Now then, I'll make Fate eat upmother's portion as well. Come on, come on!"
"As can be expected, all of this is abit…"
"Come on!"
It seemed like she found it interestingwhen I ate and dishes were brought out one after another. Still, mystomach reached its limit halfway and groaned, giving up. It wasprobably the first time I had eaten so much since being born.
Like this, the fun meal with Roxy-samawas over and I was guided to an assigned room.
"It's great that you came, Ihaven't seen Roxy-sama look this happy in a long time."
On the way, Maya said this to me.
Her father had suddenly died in Galliaand her mother was suffering from a severe illness. Moreover, she wasbusy with duties at the capital. The maids had mentioned how worriedabout Roxy-sama they were during her visit home this time. Being ableto see the current situation, they were relieved that Roxy-samaseemed well.
"Please rest well."
"Yes, good night."
I bowed my head to Maya and quietlyclosed the door. The day of a Heart Family servant had passed withoutany incidents. Well then, a different period of time started now. Igrabbed the black sword, Greed, that Maya had brought over earlier.
"Hey, you've got quite a happy facethere. Make a cowardly expression. That way, Kobolt will come."
"I've heard that even though it'sa higher ranked monster than the Goblin, it's not incrediblystrong. With my current status, I don't think there will be aproblem."
"Your pride will trip you up likethis. So, have you looked up where Kobolt would appear?"
"Yeah, I've researched itcarefully."
Throughout the day, I had casuallyasked about Kobolt while harvesting the grapes. It was said to be adangerous monster that destroyed farmland and attacked people.Everyone knew this well. Each year, it would show up in a valleynorth from here and then head down towards us.
Yesterday, someone went to scout thesituation and had seen several Kobolts. When I had commented on howdangerous that seemed to be, I was told that it was alright becausethe winds blew from north to south, and the Kobolts would not detectthem as they were downwind.
For many years, they had suffereddamages from Kobolt. Speaking only of Kobolt, it was possible thatthey were better informed than the warriors. With Greed in my hand, Iwaited for midnight to come.
"It's time."
"Yeah, let's go."
Quietly, I left the residence of thesleeping Heart Family. Today was another perfect hunting night withthe moon clearly visible. I moved northward, climbing a narrowmountain path.
"Hey, Greed. I met a strange Galliangirl today. Her eyes looked like how mine did when I was the state ofstarvation."
"Hmm, is that so… Then, what didshe say her name was?"
"I don't know. My Appraisal skilldidn't work. Do you know why and what it means?"
"It means she has something special.I can't answer if you don't know her name. Did she not sayanything else?"
"She said until then, see you."
"Hm, then you'll definitely meether again. It's fine to forget about it until that time comes."
"What's with that?"
Greed remained silent, something he wasskilled at. It felt like he surely knew something. However, Greedwould not tell me like this so I had no choice but to give up.
With no other options, I concentratedon moving forward. Occasionally, I heard sounds coming from thebushes. It was probably a rabbit, fox, or some wild animal. If it wasa monster, it would certainly have pounced me.
"This is the valley where Koboltsenter."
"Finally, a different monster todefeat. It's become monotonous killing nothing apart from Goblins."
"I'm only assessing the situationtoday."
Even in the shade of dimly lit treeswhere the moonlight could not reach, I could see clearly because ofmy Night Vision skill. No matter where they came from, I would notmiss them. After a while, two Kobolts came down the valley, moving inthe shadows of the trees. They had the face of a dog and long, bluefur. A dog walking on two legs… Not cute. As they approached, Iused the <Appraisal> skill. Were they both the same?
Kobolt Junior Lv25
HP: 880
Strength: 890
MP: 350
Spirit: 400
Agility: 780
Skill: Strength enhancement (medium)
Changing Greed's form into the BlackBow, I aimed at one of the Kobolts. The sound of a slight breezecould be heard, then the magic arrow pierced Kobolt's forehead. Onedown.
<Gluttony skill has been activated>
<Status update: HP +880, Strength+890, MP +350, Spirit +400, Agility +780>
<Strength enhancement (medium) skillhas been added>
With its companion suddenly killed, itseemed like the remaining Kobolt wanted to retaliate and its eyesdarted around restlessly. Although I would not give it a chance. Icontinued by shooting another arrow. As though it had been sucked in,the arrow hit right on the forehead again. Kobolt fell to the ground,its movements ceasing.
<Gluttony skill has been activated>
<Status update: HP +880, Strength+890, MP +350, Spirit +400, Agility +780>
That was unsatisfyingly quick. Eventhough I waited for a while longer afterwards, no other Koboltsshowed up. Only two of them… It was not enough.
"Isn't this the time when theyenter the Heart Family territory? There's too few of them."
"It's likely that they are wary.Every year, the Holy Knights of the Heart Family drove them away.From that, they may be using underlings to investigate the situationto look for the right timing."
"Ahh, is that so."
If the companions they had sent asscouts did not return, then the rest of the Kobolts would not come.Next time I hunted them, I had to ensure that the Kobolts came inmobs.
My Gluttony skill was hardly satisfied,however, I had no choice but to endure it. I went back with anunsettling feeling of hunger.
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