Chapter 26.4

In the village by the foothills, about 20 houses were lined up along the ridgeline.

It’s a peaceful sight with fields lined up here and there.

As the sky was dyed in yellow, small clouds began to line up.

“The dirty water is flowing from the river just above.”

Lance pointed to the middle of the mountain, placing the empty basket behind his supposed home.

“Oh Lance, a guest?”

A man who seems to be his father smiled at me, so I returned with a nod.

“Dad. This person is from the base of the Knights of Argverde. I came with him because he wanted to see this area.”

“Is that so. So you’re from the base. You don’t seem rude though.”

”

”

Lance’s father carried large baggage on his back and walked towards the road we came from.

Like Lance, he doesn’t seem to ride horses.

“Lance’s father, are you going somewhere?”

“Ahh, I’m going to deliver the vegetables to the village beyond the quicksand. I’ll get some seasonings on the way, so I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“To the village? It takes a lot of time on foot!?”

“Well…You’re right. It will take twice as long to get to the base from here.”

“T-that’s tough…”

“Really? But I’d be troubled if I don’t have any salt and sugar.”

Lance, who said it was no big deal, might be accustomed to long walks.

If only carriages were allowed here…

Isn’t it possible in terms of the route?

If there’s a famous place, I could make carriages stop there…

“If you’re going to investigate the river, I’ll show you the way.”

Lance pulled my hand while saying so.

It was so sudden that it surprised me, but the path we were walking on was so unstable I could fall anytime.

So I decided to leave it to him.

“Your hand…sure is smooth…”

“Ehh…Well, I usually only do experiments or write reports…”

Lance’s hands are rough from all the hard work he’s done.

I always confine myself indoors so I can’t say I’ve trained enough to make my hands like that.

The knights, and Lance too, have manly hands. Now I’m starting to feel embarrassed.

But Caesar seems to like my hands…!

I’m confident in that because he often kissed and caressed them.

Well, he likes my chest the most though…

Then I remembered that Lance saw the kiss mark and shook my head.

No, no, now’s not the time to think about it.

I’m investigating the water now.

We continued to climb the rugged ground.

I know I’m not physically fit, but Lance casually climbs up.

Whoever it is, the knights or this kid, they all have crazy strength…!

The river we arrived at was quite large.

“There’s a waterfall above here so I don’t know what’s going on either. Several water sources are flowing from this river.”

“Ohh…”

At first glance, it doesn’t seem that dirty.

“Have you ever tried drinking this water?”

“Nope. But my neighbour’s grandpa had an upset stomach from it. Besides that, there hasn’t been any fish in this river recently either.”

That seems to be quite specific.

I took out a container for water, test(litmus) paper, experimental drugs, etc. from the backpack I was carrying.

Lance watched with great interest.

I can’t help but be motivated by something I’ve been looking for for a long time.

I started gathering from places where mainly harmful substances are likely to accumulate, such as mud under rocks.

“You’re staying the night, right?”

“Huh… ah, it’s already evening.”

I was so absorbed in my work that I didn’t notice it had gotten dark around me.

If there was a carriage, I would be able to reach the base if I returned now, but it’s broken… As expected, I would like to refrain from returning to the base four hours from now.

“Un, I’m sorry. I planned on going back but… If it doesn’t bother you, I’d like to stay the night.”

“It’s fine. My dad isn’t home, I’d feel a little lonely tonight.”

Contrary to Lance’s appearance, his cute behaviour makes me smile.

The young man looks 16 or 17, but he may be a little younger.

Even so, I was planning for it to be a one day trip though.

I feel apologetic towards Caesar, but…

I’ve seen the uncle in the kitchen talking with the people in this village and he even goes out with them.

According to what I said yesterday he should know where I went.

On the contrary, is it safe to even go out alone?

“Hey, you had a bath?”

Investigating the river made me quite dirty. I’m covered in mud.

As a person who loves to sleep, I want to be clean before I go to bed.

“There’s no bath here. When I want to wash my body, I use a cloth to wipe myself.”

“I see…”

Certainly, it is difficult to boil a large amount of water without bath facilities.

Lance prepared a tub for me to briskly wipe my body.

It’s simply hot water that has been boiled in a pot and poured into a tub I can barely sit in.

“Haahh~…”

Still, I feel relieved that I got rid of the dirt on my body.

Is Caesar… angry?

But he knows where I went, right?

Originally, I was planning to stay here for a few days so…

While forcibly convincing myself, I wipe my body with a washcloth.

Ah~ When I get home…I’ll have to be prepared to get scolded…

“Hey, Louie-san, I’ll put a dry cloth here… ”

“Wah-!”

Suddenly, Lance opened the door and came in, so I covered my body in this unexpected situation.

I’m completely naked though…

Because of Caesar, there are kiss marks all over my body and I don’t want him to see them…!

Lance’s face was dyed bright red as he stood still without any reaction.

“Ah, ah, sorry! I’ll leave!”

“Ah, u-un…”

Seeing the rear view of Lance fluttering out, I scratched my face.

D-did he have to overreact…?

Maybe it’s because I hid my body or something…?

Let’s just put on some clothes first.

I wiped the water droplets on my body with the dry cloth that Lance brought, and I started cleaning the tub.