Chapter 5

I was born in a remote village.

I lived with the few villagers, and I remember it being peaceful and fun, despite everything.

However, when I was ten, my parents were killed by monsters.

At the time, I cried. But it wasn't that unusual.

Encouraged by those around me, I eventually recovered. However, the villagers started to treat me with extra care.

...It didn't feel good. I wanted them to treat me normally.

I started feeling uncomfortable and eventually left the village.

Thanks to the border area, taxes were low, and my hardworking parents had saved quite a bit.

Using the inheritance they left me, I enrolled in a knight academy.

I was twelve at the time and graduated at fifteen.

And then I joined the knight order.

--- Lei listened to me without looking away.

About how in my first year, I tried to help a colleague who was being attacked by a superior.

How I was framed for all the crimes and labeled as a sex offender.

And how for the next four years, I was worked like a horse by those around me.

Finally, I was left here as a decoy.

By the time I finished talking, I realized I was crying.

Of course, it was painful to remember. But the biggest reason was that someone had finally listened to me.

No one had ever listened to me, even for a moment.

Being heard until the end made me happy.

"...Sorry, I showed you a pathetic side on our first meeting."

"It's not pathetic at all. At least, that's what I think. Telling someone about your past takes courage—so I've heard."

Lei took a skewer of meat roasted over the fire, thought for a few seconds, and then put it back.

She then met my gaze directly.

"I'm sure."

"Huh?"

"I want you."

Across the fire, she said this.

Standing up from the log she was sitting on, she walked around the fire and stood next to me.

"I think you understand, but if you go back, there won't be a place for you with Theo. So, I want to be that place for you."

"Wha—"

"I can't do housework. So, I want you to do it. I'll pay you 1 million G per month. My house is quite large, but it will be easier than what Theo has been doing. If you want days off, let's discuss it. I'll give them to you."

"Wait, wait! We just met today! You're going to trust someone like me with housework...? What if I'm a bad person?"

When I said this, Lei looked puzzled.

Her face, which usually seems expressionless, reveals various emotions upon closer inspection.

But now isn't the time for such discoveries.

"That's impossible. I can tell when people are lying. It's a special skill. Theo told me the truth. And I could feel your pain."

So—

Lei continued.

"I'm not saying there's no sympathy. But I also need you, and there are benefits for me too."

"..."

"Theo is free now. You're free to refuse. There are many choices in life. If you choose me, I'll be the happiest."

Lei said this and extended her hand to me.

I was confused.

Even if she knew I wasn't a bad person, could she really extend her hand like this?

Maybe she was trying to trick me for some use.

—No, what's the point of that.

Tricking someone who has nothing to lose won't gain her anything.

If anything, I might have something to gain.

As Lei said, I have nowhere to go.

"Really... you need me?"

"Mm. Being both an adventurer and taking care of the house is tough. But if Theo takes care of the house, I think my life will be much richer. So, I need you."

I decided it was okay even if I was being tricked.

Even if it was a lie, even if it was just words, she said she needed me.

I, who had never been needed by anyone, was trying to hold back the tears that were about to overflow.

"...Alright. I'll entrust my life to you."

"Mm."

And so, I took her outstretched hand.

♦

After that, we ate until we were full and took a nap, waking up early in the morning.

Despite being outdoors, I felt like I had a good night's sleep, thanks to the comfort I felt.

"...Huh."

I was the first to wake up.

Lei was still sleeping soundly nearby, and the sound of my movements didn't seem to wake her.

She must be a deep sleeper.

"Should I prepare breakfast?"

There was still a lot of dragon meat left.

Eating a large piece of meat for breakfast might be a bit heavy, but it's better than not eating at all.

I rebuilt the fire and roasted the meat as I did yesterday.

"Mm..."

After a while, Lei showed signs of waking up.

She must have heard the crackling of the fire.

"Good morning, it's already morning."

"Mm... Good morning."

Lei, still half-asleep, sat on the log opposite me.

"I'm not a morning person."

"Looks like it. Can you eat?"

"...I'm hungry."

"Even after eating so much yesterday..."

At last night's dinner, Lei had finished another large piece of meat.

Even though she hadn't eaten for a week, her appetite was truly remarkable.

Still, to be hungry again so soon, her stomach must be quite strong.

"Start with the cooked pieces. I'll keep roasting more."

"Mm. Thanks."

We continued eating for a while.

While confirming that Lei was eating, I also put a few pieces in my stomach.

What surprised me was that the taste of the dragon meat hadn't deteriorated at all.

It wasn't summer, but it should have gone bad by now.

"...Didn't you say you need to bring back the dragon's scales, claws, and fangs?"

"Mm, yes. They're materials for weapons."

"Then what about the meat... It's a waste to discard it."

"There's no need. I didn't know dragon meat would be this delicious, so I intended to discard it at first. But now I've changed my mind."

After finishing her meal, Lei stood up and approached the dragon's corpse.

She opened a bag attached to her waist and brought it close to the corpse.

Surprisingly, the corpse was instantly sucked into the bag.

I wonder how much capacity that magic bag has.

"This bag is custom-made. The passage of time inside is slowed, so the freshness doesn't deteriorate easily. I'll take it home and use it as food."

"What an incredible item... But if that's the case, it's a relief. I had a dish in mind that I wanted to make with this meat."

"Mm, what are you going to make?"

Lei's eyes sparkled as she returned to me.

She seems quite interested in food.

"Let's see... Hamburgers, ginger pork, a steak, or curry. It would also be good in beef stew."

It might be difficult to replace the bland chicken, but for other meats, dragon should work.

Moreover, it might even be better than the original.

With this, the possibilities are endless.

"Let's go back now. I want curry today."

"Talking about food again... Alright, we'll have curry today."

"Mm. Once that's decided, we need to head to the adventurer's guild to report. If the report is late, the knight order might come, and that would be troublesome."

"...Yeah."

The news of the dragon must have already reached the kingdom.

The knight order is likely to send a large group this afternoon to slay the dragon.

If we return before then, it won't become a big issue.

"Let's go back. To our home."

"...Yeah."

The word "our" made me inexplicably happy.

I extinguished the fire as part of the cleanup and followed Lei back to the kingdom.