Chapter 49

While Zirconia was interrogating the bandits.

The courtyard of the Nelson estate was bustling with large carriages hastily gathered and the second legion's guards and attendants preparing for departure.

The guards and attendants were already in the final stages of checking their luggage, and it would only be a few more minutes before they could set off.

Amidst this chaos, Ichirou sat on a stone bench in the corner of the courtyard, seemingly oblivious to the commotion around him, and gazed at the ground with a dark expression.

Isaac stood beside Ichirou, occasionally glancing at him with concern while dealing with the guards reporting the completion of the departure preparations.

(…Was my thinking too naive? Should I have just left everyone except the residents of Grisear Village alone?)

Accepting the fact that Grisear Village had been attacked by bandits, Ichirou reflected on his actions so far and fell into self-loathing.

Judging from the timing of the attack, the bandits must have followed the carriage carrying Valeria and the others to Grisear Village.

According to the guards, there were no casualties among the residents of Grisear Village, but it could have been a disaster if things had gone wrong.

Ichirou regretted sending Valeria and the others back to Grisear Village first, but more than that, he regretted going to Isteria with Valeria and the others.

There was no need for Ichirou to come to Isteria just to explain the support. If Isteria wanted Ichirou's help, they could have come to him. After Isaac and Haber recognized Ichirou as Graciel, it would have been possible.

Of course, it would have taken a considerable amount of time for Nelson and Zirconia to believe Isaac and Haber's story and for Ichirou to meet with them and implement the support, compared to Ichirou going to Isteria directly.

As a result, the famine in the territory would have worsened due to the delay in Ichirou's support. However, if the safety of Grisear Village was the top priority, that would not have been Ichirou's concern.

In some cases, he could have refused all support outside of Grisear Village and only taught the villagers how to use leaf mold and make fertilizer.

(But what if I had rejected the plea for help for this country? Nelson and the others wouldn't have just left the village alone, and if the news of the village spread... No, if I had ordered Isaac and the others not to talk about it...)

What should I have done? When I was told that a large number of people would die of starvation due to the famine, and the situation was that bad, was I foolish to accept the plea?

Even if the surrounding villages and towns were overflowing with starving people, should I have continued to protect only the residents of Grisear Village and ignored the tragic situation around them?

In fact, to save Grisear Village, it would have been enough to provide food aid to the villagers.

But because I got carried away and brought a water wheel and fertilizer, Isaac caught wind of my existence.

If Isaac hadn't found out, Ichirou and Valeria wouldn't have gone to Isteria, and the bandits wouldn't have attacked the village, targeting the carriage's cargo.

"Kazura-sama, the preparations for departure are complete..."

While Ichirou was thinking about this, Isaac, who had received reports from all the guards that they were ready to depart, approached him hesitantly.

"Ah... Yes."

Looking up at Isaac, who was giving him a worried look, Ichirou was surprised to find himself starting to blame Isaac for finding him.

Isaac certainly didn't have any ill intentions when he asked Ichirou for help to save the territory.

In fact, Isaac was a serious person who apologized for being impolite to Ichirou, who was pretending to be Graciel, and even tried to commit suicide.

It was impossible to blame Isaac, who risked his life to save the territory.

"Kazura-sama, the responsibility for the bandit attack on Grisear Village lies with me. I... I should have let you stay in Grisear Village in peace..."

Just as Ichirou thought this, Isaac, seeing Ichirou's dark expression, began to blame himself as he was about to head to the carriage.

Seeing Ichirou's dark expression, Isaac must have been thinking the same thing and feeling responsible.

"Isaac, it's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself."

"...Yes."

Despite his dark expression, Isaac nodded at Ichirou, who tried to soften his expression and deny his responsibility.

Although he was not convinced, he nodded to avoid delaying the departure.

"Then, shall we go? Will you ride on Rata, Isaac?"

"Yes, I will lead the troops on Rata. If you need anything, I will have Haber stand near the carriage you are riding in, so please let me know."

Isaac then looked at the carriage that had been prepared for Ichirou.

Ichirou followed his gaze and saw a particularly grand carriage waiting, more impressive than the surrounding carriages.

The carriage door was open, and the luxurious interior was visible.

The floor was covered with a fine carpet, and there were even a table and a sofa, making it look like a small room on wheels.

Beside the carriage, Haber was already waiting and talking to a girl.

"Hmm? Isn't that the girl from Haber's house...?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes, the girl talking to Haber is the one who took care of us when we stayed at Haber's house the other day. I think Haber brought her along out of consideration."

Impressed by Haber's thoughtfulness, Ichirou said this, thinking that he had prepared a familiar face to take care of him.

"I see, I was wondering why he brought such a young attendant. So that's what it was. Haber is a man who can think on his feet and pay attention to the details. I should learn from him."

Seeing Ichirou's impressed expression, Isaac praised Haber's actions, feeling relieved that his subordinate was reliable.

"Um, should I get on the carriage now..."

As the surrounding carriages were getting ready to depart, Marie, looking flustered, spoke to Haber.

Most of the guards were already on Rata, and their attendants were starting to board the carriages with their masters' luggage.

If she didn't get on the carriage soon, she might not be able to secure enough space in the crowded carriage.

This was an urgent march, so all the guards would accompany Ichirou as cavalry.

The attendants accompanying them also had to ride in the carriages to maintain the same marching speed as the cavalry.

"No, just wait here a little longer."

Ignoring Marie's flustered state, Haber watched Ichirou and Isaac talking in the corner of his vision, waiting for Ichirou to come over.

If his prediction was correct, if he kept Marie waiting here until Ichirou arrived, she wouldn't have to ride in the crowded carriage with the other attendants.

As he waited, trying to calm Marie's insistence on moving to the carriage, Ichirou walked over to Haber after parting ways with Isaac.

"Haber, is the carriage ready?"

"Yes, everything is ready. Marie, get in that carriage quickly. We're leaving soon."

"Huh!? Ah, yes!"

"Hmm? That carriage... Marie, wait a moment."

Following Haber's instructions, Marie hurried toward the carriage Haber pointed to, but Ichirou stopped her.

The carriage Haber pointed to seemed quite crowded with the guards' luggage and attendants.

Although there were seats, a long journey would be physically demanding for a young girl like Marie.

"Haber, I would like Marie to ride in my carriage as a caretaker during the journey."

"As you wish. Marie, ride in the same carriage as Kazura-sama. Be respectful."

"...Huh?"

Ignoring Marie's stunned reaction, Haber bowed to Ichirou and walked to his Rata, which was tied up in the corner of the courtyard.

"I'm sorry for the trouble. Please take care of me until we reach Grisear Village."

Smiling at the stunned Marie, Ichirou got into the carriage and closed the door.

"Are you okay? If you feel uncomfortable, I can stop the carriage."

"A, I'm fine. Thank you..."

A few minutes after leaving the Nelson estate, Ichirou was rubbing Marie's back in the swaying carriage.

Marie had motion sickness.

"Wait a moment. I'll get some medicine."

"Wh-What? I can't accept medicine from Kazura-sama..."

"It's fine, it's fine."

Calming Marie, who was flustered by the offer of medicine, Ichirou opened a Boston bag and took out a small bottle of essential oils from a pouch.

(Lavender and peppermint... and something citrusy, right?)

Relying on his knowledge of essential oils from his life in Japan, Ichirou took out bottles of lavender, peppermint, and grapefruit essential oils from the pouch, and a handkerchief from the bag, and soaked one drop of each in the handkerchief.

The handkerchief with the essential oils wouldn't spread the scent as quickly as the aromatherapy pot he used for Isaac yesterday.

Unless you brought your face close to the handkerchief, you wouldn't notice the scent much in the carriage.

"Try smelling this. It should make you feel better."

Ichirou smelled the handkerchief himself to confirm the scent and then handed it to Marie, who was pale and sweating.

"Thank you... I'm sorry for the trouble..."

Marie took the handkerchief from Ichirou, thanked him, and brought it to her nose.

After smelling it for a while, she moved it away from her face and looked at it with a surprised expression.

"I don't feel sick anymore..."

"That's good. Until we reach Grisear Village, try smelling it from time to time. It should prevent you from getting sick."

The effectiveness of the essential oil handkerchief Ichirou gave to Marie was based on his own experience in Japan.

When he had motion sickness, smelling a blend of these essential oils helped him feel better immediately.

It was quite useful because of its immediate effect.

Seeing Marie's improved complexion, Ichirou felt a bit lighter himself.

"...Ah, I see. Haber, you're quite resourceful."

"Huh?"

"No, I was just impressed that Haber is not only capable but also thoughtful."

If Ichirou had been alone in the carriage, he would have probably continued to think negatively and become even more depressed.

But with Marie, who he had only met a few times and was young, he couldn't keep a dark expression and be lost in thought.

Ichirou was impressed that Haber had anticipated this and deliberately kept Marie waiting by the carriage, considering Ichirou's personality.

Well, to be honest, that was probably Ichirou overthinking it.

"Ah... Yes! Thank you!"

When Ichirou said this to the surprised Marie, she smiled as if she had been praised.