Master’s Smile

C118 – Chaotic Capital

“Master, wipe me?”

I told you that’s a no-go.

I certainly did it right when you had a high fever, because you couldn’t wipe yourself, but now it’s just a slight fever, right? Do it yourself.

“Booo.”

Ritter’s expressionless cheeks puffed out in anger from my sharp warning.

…Yeah, I couldn’t tell if she was angry at all.

It had been several days since Ritter had dueled Theldorff, the strongest knight in the kingdom.

In other words, several days had passed since she had been resting with a high fever.

During this time, Ritter’s symptoms should have already recovered considerably.

Although it was caused by demonic power, a power that would kill an ordinary person who tried to use it even once, Ritter was a member of a dark guild and she was also once a member of the imperial-…., well, I’ll digress.

Anyway, Ritter is a very capable girl, so she can recover from using some of her demonic power by only sleeping for a few days.

And what’s troubling me right now is Ritter’s spoiled state and my explanation to the others in Yelquchira.

Although I would still welcome Ritter if she wanted me to feed her or stay with her until she fell asleep,

Wiping her body is a bit too much, don’t you think?

I guess it’s because Ritter sees me not as a man but as her father figure that she can make such a request.

It makes me happy that she trusts me, but touching the skin of a girl of her age is a bit….

Ritter too, if she couldn’t do it herself, she could just ask someone of the same gender…, like Princess Neena or a maid or anyone else instead, yet she didn’t.

And as for my explanation to the Yelquchira members….

Because it would worry them if I didn’t make contact all the time, I sometimes would go back to the guild when Ritter went to sleep….

When I explained about our current situation, all they responded was that they wanted me to come back.

…I wonder how much they don’t trust me.

I was a little saddened, but I still want to complete the request to escort Princess Neena and get everyone’s approval no matter what!

Also, it might just be my imagination that everyone’s eyes went cold for a moment when I told them that Ritter had a high fever and I had to take care of her, so it might take a little while longer before we returned.

There was also Vampir saying “Aah! Perhaps I do have a little fever as well! What a hardship!” while stealing a glance at me a couple of times.

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I only smiled wryly and returned to Princess Neena’s estate.

And so, my days went by as such.

“Master, sweet fruit, want to eat.”

I recalled a few days ago when Ritter, who was in bed, came to me and begged me for some fruits.

Since she had already recovered a lot, she could probably do that herself.

Though, I couldn’t refuse her request.

After all, it’s nice to be depended on, and in addition to that, Ritter is cute….

I chuckled and tried to pick up a piece of fruit that I had placed beside her….

…Ah, there’s none left.

“…….”

Ritter’s face sank dejectedly.

She begged quite a lot to feed her the fruits, so no wonder it was consumed quickly.

Can’t be helped, should I buy some more?

“…Really?”

Her mood instantly lightened up. So cuuute.

Yes, we have to be nice to sick people, so I’m going to buy a lot of delicious fruits for you.

“…Nhnn, I’ll wait.”

Ritter’s glittering eyes were so cute that it made me smile again.

Now then, I should go buy a lot since she seems to be expecting it very much.

I left her room and walked down the hallway of the estate.

I passed several maids and knights and greeted them, when the owner of the estate also appeared in front of me.

“Hmm? Going somewhere?”

Was she on her way back from sword training?

I nodded at Princess Neena, who was wiping the sweat off her face.

Yes, Ritter wanted some fruits.

“I see, that’s kind of you….but, I guess that’s a given for the two of you who have “that good” of a relationship, right?”

Princess Neena teased with a grin.

…I already explained it before, right? I was just wiping off her sweat.

“Fufufu, I know. I just wanted to tease you a bit because of how kind you are.”

Eeeh…I don’t think I’m that kind, though.

…Anyway, I’m going to the city.

“Aah, I’m looking forward to the souvenirs.”

…Alright.

I left the estate, seeing the princess off with a smiling face.

◆

“Thanks for your patronage!!”

I bought all the sweet fruits that Ritter likes at the fruit shop.

Some of them were rare, so I bought them out of curiosity. These ones were for Princess Neena as a souvenir.

…Alright, I guess these are enough.

I held the paper bag in my arms and decided to return to Princess Neena’s estate.

“KYAAAAAAAAA!!!”

Just then, a deafening scream rang out.

W-What’s going on!?

My body shook from the surprise, and I fearfully looked in the direction of the scream.

The people who had already moved their gazes ahead of me were all staring at the same spot.

There, in the supposedly safe royal capital, stood creatures that should never have existed.

“M-MONSTEEEERS!!!”

A man suddenly shouted, and with that, everyone began to run for their lives.

Yet I stood there, stunned.

M-Monsters? That’s strange…, they shouldn’t be able to come in due to the high amount of knights in the royal capital to begin with….

I thought it was a little bit strange, but then I saw something I recognized among the monsters that were strutting around the city.

T-That’s a chimera….

It was the same kind of monster that had attacked us earlier when we were returning to Princess Neena’s estate from the royal castle.

…Could this possibly be related to the battle for the throne?

Other than the chimera, various other monsters and animal-like creatures could also be seen walking around, destroying stalls and buildings.

Hmmm, what should I do? I don’t think I can do anything with my own strength….

“Exterminate the monsters! Protect the people!!”

『UWOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!』

As I was worrying what to do, I heard such gallant shouts.

When I turned around to see what was going on, I found that the kingdom knights, fully equipped with armor covering their bodies, were attacking the chimera and the other monsters that were rampaging in the royal capital.

Oooh!! As expected of Evans Kingdom’s elites. They were evenly matched against those powerful monsters.

“Master-dono!”

Ah, Theldorff was here too.

The stern looking knight commander had also rushed to the scene of this abnormal situation.

He managed to easily slay two monsters as he made his way towards me.

…He’s truly strong. Ritter, to think you were able to defeat this man….

In any case, I wonder if Theldorff, the leader of the Royal Knights, knows any details of this situation?

“…This is most likely Prince Lintz’s doing. More precisely, Wissen’s, the prince’s aide.”

Hohou, so Prince Lintz’s name is even mentioned here too.

And Wissen, huh…? He’s that fishy-looking guy, right?

“Aah, he’s an alchemist who can create monsters and other evil creatures without a care in the world. We were going to lock him up sooner or later, but I guess it’s too late…!”

I see. My image of alchemists was crumbling down in tatters.

So those guys unexpectedly do some rather dark things, huh?

…Though, creating such beings might be pretty inexcusable no matter the place.

As I was thinking this, Theldorff looked at me with strong eyes.

“Neena’s faction and my knights will hold them back somehow. Master-dono, I will leave the princess to you!”

I finally noticed what Theldorff had said.

That’s right! If Prince Lintz had brought this upon the capital, then there must be monsters incited at her place as well!

And at that place, Ritter is lying in bed, still recovering from her fever…..

“Good luck, onii-chan!”

It was Theldorff’s daughter, Mil-chan, who appeared out of his shadow and cheered for me.

I nodded in gratitude for her adorable support.

I’m going back to the estate just as Theldorff said! I’ll leave the rest to you!

“Aah!”

“Oooh!”

I turned my back and started running, my cheeks relaxed from Theldorff’s gallant reply and Mil-chan’s cute response.