Chapter 77
"...You woke up."
Irene was lying down with her body pressed close.
It was a position as if embracing from above.
After confirming that my consciousness had returned, she raised her body sprawled on the bed.
Behind a sigh of relief remained a faint smile.
"I'm glad. I was worried because you wouldn't wake up for so long."
The fox whispered in a low voice.
The atmosphere had changed somehow.
Her characteristic prickliness wasn't visible at all.
As I was blankly raising question marks, the girl who had turned her back held out something.
It was a glass cup with a warm feeling.
"It's tea brewed with snow herbs. They say it's good for recovering strength, so drink it."
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Though bewildered, I accepted the teacup held out before me.
A lukewarm heat dyed my fingertips.
While I quietly swallowed the tea, the fox stood by watching.
Her black pupils blinked intently.
"......"
A strangely burdensome gaze.
Trying hard to shake off the awkwardness, I swallowed the contents of the cup without leaving any.
The hazy sleepiness seemed to clear a bit.
With my consciousness becoming clearer, I asked Irene a question.
It was an inquiry to grasp the situation.
"...So, how much time has passed since I lost consciousness?"
"Exactly two days."
"It was longer than I thought. Did anything unusual happen while I couldn't move?"
"Nothing special. We just continued sailing."
The fox laid out the details of what happened at that time.
From the point of pulling me out of the sea, to Unknown who left without regret despite encountering us midway, to moving my unconscious self to the guest room.
It didn't deviate much from what I had predicted.
'That's a relief.'
I smiled with belated reassurance.
As I was tidying my disheveled hair, suddenly the girl sitting beside me gently asked.
She seemed not to understand.
"That person you called Unknown. Why did he leave us alone?"
It felt somewhat anticlimactic for how sharply they had been confronting each other.
It was understandable for Irene to be curious.
Instead of answering, I only gave an ambiguous smile.
"Well~ I'm not sure either."
"Unknown said to ask you. He said there was a reason he couldn't kill you carelessly."
"Hmm."
It seems Unknown left unnecessary words.
I briefly touched my chin while reminiscing.
It was a story from the time when I was actively overturning the underworld.
As it was content entangled with dirty matters, it wasn't a story I particularly wanted others to hear.
I evaded as always.
"It's a secret."
"...As expected?"
Irene nodded her head.
Her reaction was strange.
Normally she would have passed over it without much interest, but today she had an especially bitter look in her eyes.
As if feeling disappointed.
"If you say so, then it must be. I think you have a reason for keeping it secret."
Contrary to her words of understanding, she had a strangely sullen expression.
Did the existence of Unknown leave such an impression on her?
I didn't know she would be this interested.
Feeling awkward, I smiled and gently changed the subject.
"By the way... Miss Irene?"
"Yes?"
"About earlier on the bed. It seems we woke up entangled with each other, I wanted to ask how we ended up like that."
"Ah... about that."
The girl hesitated for a moment, then soon explained in a nonchalant voice.
Her tail swayed slightly.
"I was keeping watch by the bedside. Since I didn't know when you'd regain consciousness. I tried to hold off sleeping until dawn, but it seems I ended up falling asleep like that."
"You mean you nursed me for two whole days?"
"Nursing is... It wasn't anything that grand. I just stayed up nights by your side, that's all."
"That's enough. It's sufficiently touching."
My hand unconsciously reached out to stroke the fox's head.
Disheveled crimson hair.
A fond warmth dyed my palm.
As I savored the soft sensation, I then conveyed my gratitude.
"Thank you."
"I'm glad... that I was able to help."
The fox held a faint smile.
Seeing her drooping ears perk up, it seemed her true feelings were revealed.
I could only tilt my head in confusion.
'What is this?'
She had been strangely favorable since earlier.
Should I say docile?
It felt unfamiliar somehow.
Even her characteristic cold atmosphere had become hazy.
Though I wondered about it, I soon brushed it off.
'I don't know what change of heart she had, but.'
It was nice to see her smiling like this.
I had been worried because she always had an expressionless face, but perhaps she was finally starting to relax a bit.
Such a positive change was always welcome.
Rustle rustle-.
I quietly stroked the fox.
As we spent a moment like that, suddenly something occurred to me.
"...Ah, come to think of it. What happened to the others?"
"The others?"
"I mean the people who were captured as illegal slaves. I remember they were all trapped on the lowest floor."
"If you mean those people, I freed them. They should all be staying in the second floor guest rooms."
"I see."
It seemed even the wrap-up had been done well.
I got up from my seat.
I was thinking of going to check directly.
Though I had roughly looked over them at the time, I needed to accurately grasp the numbers for easier handling later.
There might be newly sick or injured people too.
"I'll go take a look around for a bit."
"I'll go with you."
Irene sticking close beside me.
We lightly put on outer clothes, then moved our steps outside the guest room.
***
We went around the interior thoroughly like that.
A size several times that of a regular passenger ship. Because of that, it took quite a while to check everything.
It felt closer to a fortress than a ship.
Probably even looking at the whole continent, those capable of such money-wasting could be counted on one hand.
I could freshly feel the capability of the person called the Businessman.
'I received a nice gift.'
This ship is mine from now on.
It means I can do with it as I please.
Since it's a vessel with such overwhelming basic performance, it seemed I could operate it usefully with just a bit of modification.
I reset the destination.
It was a port under Astro's jurisdiction.
'I should contact them in advance.'
We needed someone to safely move the ship on our behalf.
There was still a school trip schedule remaining.
Since I had already been absent for two days, I was planning to return to the lodgings by tomorrow.
Flutter-!
I sent off a crow made of shadow.
Black wings flapping.
It was a telegram sent in simplified form.
Flying like this, it should arrive at headquarters around tomorrow morning.
When Lena who checks the contents appears opening a portal, we would switch roles, and return to the trip destination.
We could move in an instant with Lena's help when returning too.
'Perfect.'
Even the return plan was perfect.
Some students might find it strange if I disappeared for three days and suddenly reappeared, but I could silence them with my position as head assistant anyway.
I obtained that authority to use at times like this in the first place.
The professor in charge of supervising the school trip is Selena, isn't it?
Our master would take her disciple's side, so small noises wouldn't be any problem.
"Huhu."
A satisfied smile.
I shook off distracting thoughts and started moving my steps again.
The ship's interior was maintaining a pleasant state.
'Not bad.'
It was Unknown's handiwork.
The forces remaining on the ship. He had dealt with them without leaving even a small bloodstain.
It seemed he had thrown the soldiers' corpses into the sea.
As expected of the Monarch's right hand, it was a clean aftermath.
'Has he improved his skills somewhat?'
As I was chewing over such a monologue, the fox walking beside me spoke up.
It was also a question about Unknown.
"Unknown... that person seemed afraid of you."
"Well, I suppose so."
"It was the same even after you lost consciousness. He was sweating and couldn't bring himself to approach."
"That's a shame. I should have seen that stiff expression of his crumble."
"Why is he so afraid of you?"
"I wonder."
It couldn't be helped.
Two years ago.
The war that occurred in the underworld.
Those who encountered me then would inevitably hold similar fear.
It was even more so because it was a time when my personality was quite terrible.
"...Let's just say various things happened."
Another vague, evasive answer.
Irene seemed to have expected this response, as she only quietly nodded her head.
We walked in silence for a moment.
***
Only after a full half day had passed were we able to look around the entire ship.
As expected, no particular problems were visible.
All functions were operating normally.
-Thank you for saving us...!
The freed slaves also seemed to be doing well.
The people who had been exhausted from harsh life in iron bars sent enthusiastic cheers at the appearance of their saviors.
They were all shedding tears and conveying thanks.
-Sob, sob... I thought I'd never be able to return home again.
-If it weren't for you two, what would have happened to us...
-It's like a dream! I thought we were going to be sold to a foreign country like this!
-Big brother! Big sister! Thank you so much!
I don't know how many times we received words of gratitude.
Being thanked for doing good. It was certainly a good thing, but having so much attention focused was burdensome.
I slipped away quietly.
After spending such a hectic day like that.
"......"
We were only able to return to the guest room when night fell.
The clock hands pointing to dawn already.
"It's later than I thought."
"There were a lot of places to look around. We were also held up by people in the middle."
"We should prepare for bed. Since we have schedule again from tomorrow, it would be good to get some sleep early."
"Okay. Got it."
Since it was late, we quickly finished showering and changing clothes.
The two of us getting into bed like that.
As there was only one double-sized bed prepared, we had no choice but to lie down side by side.
Of course, the problem could be solved if one person went to another guest room, but.
"Don't go."
"Pardon?"
"It's fine... just stay with me."
Irene grasped my sleeve.
Eyes looking up intently.
Perhaps because of what happened a few days ago, the girl seemed anxious about being left alone.
A faint trembling remained at her fingertips.
"Alright."
I nodded my head.
It was rare for Irene to ask for something first like this.
It wasn't particularly difficult content either.
'It should be fine.'
We were staying in the same room anyway, so I thought this much would be okay.
Irene didn't seem to be conscious of that aspect either.
We covered ourselves with the blanket while maintaining an appropriate distance.
As we were quietly waiting for sleep to come, the girl beside me suddenly spoke up.
"...Are you awake?"
"Still, yes."
"Sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to talk."
"It seems you can't sleep."
"Well... that's right."
"That's fine. Is there perhaps a topic you want?"
"Yes. There were some things I wanted to ask."
We exchanged a few words.
Though we had had quite a few conversations until now, we had never talked while lying on the same bed like this, so it could be called a fresh experience.
Voices rang out across the precarious distance.
"When you were facing the Hunting Dog. You imitated the Master's voice, didn't you."
"I did."
"You already knew, right? About my past."
"So I was found out after all."
"It was strange. The fact that you knew a story I had never once shared."
"I didn't intend to deceive you from the start. I just didn't bring it up because you seemed to be in pain from that time."
"Yeah... it was a painful memory."
The fox faintly recited.
In the words scattering into darkness were questions that remained unresolved.
Her black pupils glanced sideways at me.
Had I aroused suspicion after all?
For someone who shouldn't even know of the master's existence to put on an act mentioning words he had said, it was understandable for the girl to be bewildered.
I held a troubled smile on my lips.
"I'm sorry. It must have been a wound you didn't want exposed."
"It's okay if it's you."
"I'm grateful you said that."
"The story about Master. If I ask how you knew, will you say it's a secret this time too...?"
"I'd like to."
There was no other way to explain.
I couldn't bring up the story of the original work.
It would also be strange to make up that I simply found out the personal conversations between the two through investigation.
The most appropriate choice was to keep silent.
"......"
The fox made a complicated expression.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
The girl who had been biting her lip for a moment soon muttered.
It was a strangely subdued atmosphere.
"You... seem to have too many secrets."
"That's a hurtful thing to say. I consider myself quite a transparent person, but......"
"Liar."
Words of denial heard from right beside me.
Reacting to that, when I turned my head, I saw the fox's face that had already come far past the appropriate distance.
I could feel her lukewarm breath on my cheek.
The gap had narrowed to where our noses could almost touch.
"Miss Irene?"
I raised question marks at the narrowed distance.
Meanwhile,
The girl raised her upper body that had been lying down.
The movement that slowly stretched out became entangled with each other, and before I knew it, the fox was sitting straddling my body.
She was on top of my waist.
"What's this suddenly...?"
The sudden impulsive action bewildered me.
Her characteristic body scent wafting subtly.
As we were both in light sleepwear, each other's curves could be clearly felt through the thin cloth.
As I was frozen for a moment, delicate fingertips touched my chest.
"You."
My heart dyed with a faint warmth.
The fox's fingers then began to undo the buttons of my shirt one by one.
Surely this isn't.
"Miss Irene."
I realized something was wrong.
Though I belatedly called the girl's name, by then my shirt was already completely undone.
Bare skin was revealed between the wide open front.
Irene blankly looked down at it.
"Just what are you..."
A voice hazily dyeing.
Desire, excitement, thirst.
It wasn't those things.
The emotion dwelling in her trembling pupils was none other than shock, or sympathy.
The girl clenched her fists and muttered.
"...Just what are you hiding."
Transparent pupils.
Beyond them was reflected a body covered in scars.
Starting from traces of knife cuts, to stab wounds, stains left by burns, even strange surgical marks.
It was a complete mess to the point where no normal skin could be seen.
"......"
I involuntarily closed my mouth.
On my expression that had grown coldly stiff, only expressionless indifference without a trace of smile remained.
I chewed on a monologue circling with chilliness.
'Ah.'
As expected.
I was found out.