Chapter 45

Three days after visiting Ranhart, I found myself in a dilapidated shack deep in the mountains, my second hiding place.

"Wow, this bed is as hard as the ground."

"Exaggerating. This is normal for commoners."

Evan is looking at the bed, which is hardly worthy of the name, with a thin futon laid out, with great interest, but it’s not much different from the environment I slept in in my previous life.

He originally said he was a noble, and Evan is still a renowned knight, so he might not have slept in such an environment before.

Incidentally, Yana started cleaning the dusty shack as soon as we arrived. The shack, though shabby, is spacious enough to ensure privacy, which made me feel relieved.

"Still, it's more dilapidated than I thought."

Although it's not far from the capital, we chose a place where nobles would never come, and it turned out to be more desolate than I imagined.

Still, no one would think a noble lady would be in such a place. It’s more like no one would think anyone would be here at all.

This time, I absolutely cannot fail, so this kind of environment is fine.

"Are you two okay? Haniwa seems to be in a good mood."

Surrounded by nature, Haniwa seems to be lively, probably because of the dirt. She’s hopping around and looks very cute today.

"I'm fine. My home is like this."

"I also sleep outdoors during expeditions, so I'm fine."

"I'm glad. Thank you so much."

The rest is just to spend time here as we did last time.

It's perfect for practicing magic, and there are no monsters in this mountain, but apparently, various magical herbs grow here.

The thought of a slow life surrounded by nature, picking magical herbs and mountain vegetables, makes my heart leap.

"…I hope this time, the disappearance goes smoothly."

I lowered my gaze to the notebook I had been writing in on the way here and murmured. I wrote down as much information about the novel as I could remember, so I wouldn't forget.

—Grace is the villain in the novel, and she nearly dies when another country invades, which is a typical "serves you right" scenario.

I had vowed to avoid it and tried not to think about it, but it involved her beautiful face being cut and a sword being thrust into her stomach.

The most striking memory is how she was more concerned about the face wound than the sword in her stomach. It's amazing she survived until Charlotte came to save her.

"Absolutely painful, and I don't want to die like that…"

I clenched my hands, determined to have Charlotte, who has blossomed with the power of the saint, save my life no matter what.

◇◇◇

"Since the weather is nice today, shall we go pick some mountain vegetables? Evan, will you come with me?"

"Sure."

"Thank you. Haniwa, please guard Yana."

"Pu po!"

On the third day of our mountain life, I was as lively as Haniwa.

"Even though you're a countess, you have the toughness to live in the mountains, don't you?"

"I think so too."

I took Evan and went for a walk in the mountains again today.

I found some mushrooms that smell good and taste delicious when cooked, and I got excited. I decided to use them for lunch today.

"The air is delicious, and the best part is that it doesn't cost any money."

The dilapidated shack we lived in was practically free to rent, and we cooked mountain vegetables and mysterious meat or fish that Evan caught, so we were living a self-sufficient life.

Of course, I am happy and grateful for the comfortable life of a countess, but I realized that I really prefer this kind of life.

I felt the most joy and a sense of achievement in not spending money and saving.

Thinking that this would be my life until I die, I pulled up some wild herbs I found at my feet to make a dish and threw them into the basket I was carrying.

"I feel like eating meat tonight, so I'll go hunt something."

"Was there no other way to say that?"

Evan seems to be enjoying this life unexpectedly and is actively gathering food. I was told to call out if anything happened, and I continued my walk, splitting off from him.

"Hmm hmm~♪ Oh, there too!"

I found some herbs that can be used as spices growing densely and headed towards them, feeling excited. I thought it was the best slow life in the mountains and walked quickly.

"Kyaaaaa!?"

Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet gave way, and my body slid down the slope at high speed. It might have been a landslide caused by the light rain that fell last night.

I rolled down, covered in mud, and cold sweat wouldn't stop. It felt like a third-rate comedy manga, and I couldn't help but think of it as something that happened to someone else.

I saw a large, thick tree a little ahead and realized I would crash into it.

"W-wait, h-how do I—!?"

I was thinking, with my mind not working, that I should use earth magic to create a cushion, when I felt my waist being firmly grabbed and pulled, and my body lifted into the air. It seemed I was caught just in time.

"I thought I was going to die... Thank you, Ev—"

I said my thanks with genuine relief but immediately felt something was wrong. Because Evan had gone in the opposite direction just a moment ago.

In other words, the person who caught me and held me, covered in mud, was definitely not Evan.

At the same time, a familiar scent wafted, and I held my breath.

"...You really exceed my expectations easily."

I looked up at the unmistakable voice and met the gaze of Lord Zain, who was smiling in exasperation, and froze.