Chapter 368: Backup Driver
Roy's expression remained unpleasant. Anyone mistaken for a girl would be in a bad mood, and Roy suspected Reid had done it deliberately.
With a dark expression, he approached Satella, making the silver-haired half-elf girl visibly nervous. However, Satella quickly composed herself and cautiously stepped forward, pulling a clean handkerchief from her sleeve.
This was the handkerchief Roy had casually bought for her when purchasing clothes in Lugunica's capital, the kind favored by nobles.
"Lord Roy, are you alright?"
Satella hurried over with concern in her voice.
Roy had excellent control over his emotions and wouldn't take his anger out on others. He smiled gently at Satella, "...Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine."
"You're sweating. Let me wipe it for you."
Though somewhat shy, Satella stood on her tiptoes, carefully dabbing the sweat from Roy's forehead with the handkerchief in her right hand.
The height difference between them made Satella stretch upward. Watching her earnest expression, the faint sheen of sweat on her nose, and breathing in the subtle lavender scent from her body—not overpowering but evocative of the softness beneath her clothes—Roy felt a sudden impulse.
He took the handkerchief from her hand and gently wiped her nose, chuckling, "...You're wiping my sweat, but look, you're sweating too."
"I'm used to it."
Satella rose and lowered on her toes, her fair face slightly flushed with a mix of happiness and bashfulness.
Roy took her delicate hand and led her toward the campfire, "...I know you're accustomed to hardship since childhood, and that's good. But from now on, you should learn to enjoy life too. Don't overwork yourself. Remember, you're no longer in the slums. Since I brought you out of there, I'll give you a normal life. I won't abandon you."
"I know you wouldn't abandon me, Lord Roy. Being with you makes me feel safe."
Satella spoke softly, afraid Roy might misunderstand her meaning.
Having left the filthy, broken slums and seen the vast world, Satella knew it was all because of Roy. Meeting him had allowed her to escape her monotonous, hopeless existence.
Given Satella's life experiences over the past decade, even if she left the slums, she would still carry a strong sense of crisis and tension about life. Yet, strangely, being by Roy's side made her feel none of that—she only felt that Roy was someone she could trust with everything.
"Mmm, as long as you can forget your past life, that's good. Here, let's roast something to eat. I brought some preserved cooked food, but it doesn't taste great."
Roy pulled Satella to sit by the fire, skillfully handling a bamboo rat-like animal he had hunted earlier when they entered the forest.
Satella didn't know how to do this kind of work, so she crouched beside Roy, watching intently as he cleaned the innards and fur, trying her best to learn.
"Master, stop staring and come help!"
Shaula, noticing Flugel's attention was completely absorbed by Satella, called out in dissatisfaction.
"Oh… right…"
Flugel reluctantly glanced at Satella one last time before jogging over to help Shaula tend to Reid.
...
By the fire, Reid sat shirtless, his torso wrapped in layers of bandages, crimson blood seeping through. He tore off a bamboo rat leg and took a large bite, then grabbed a flask and took a swig, laughing heartily. "...Roy, that slash of yours was brutal—almost took my life."
"You should be grateful I held back. If my sword had been just a bit to the side, your heart would've lost at least a chunk of flesh."
Roy shot Reid a glance before leisurely taking a bite of the roasted meat. Satella sat beside him, wiping his greasy hands with a damp cloth. Seeing the half-elf girl neglecting her own meal to tend to him, Roy sighed inwardly. He tore off another piece of meat and held it to Satella's lips. Blushing slightly, she parted her cherry lips, revealing pearly teeth as she accepted the bite from his hand.
Reid's gaze was ambiguous, Flugel looked irritated, while Shaula sat there in silence.
"Then I really must thank you for showing mercy. My wife is newly pregnant, and the child hasn't been born yet—I can't die here!"
Speaking of his wife, Reid's rough yet undeniably masculine features softened noticeably.
"Your wife is pregnant, yet you're still wandering around?"
By the campfire, everyone was lost in their own thoughts, with only Roy and Reid engaging in casual conversation.
Although Roy had been somewhat annoyed by Reid's earlier words, he wasn't petty enough to hold a grudge over a single remark for life.
"I've always been a wanderer at heart—I can't stay in one place for long. My wife understands this and lets me roam freely, as long as I return before the child is born. Though once the baby arrives, I suppose I'll have to settle down."
He shook his flask and offered it to Roy: "...Want a sip?"
"Sorry, I don't like using things others have used. Though if you were a girl or dressed like one, I might reconsider."
Roy shook his head, retaliating for Reid's earlier comment.
Reid laughed heartily: "...You're quite the character. Since we're heading the same way, why don't we search for the Witch together? What do you say?"
"Suit yourself. We don't have any real enmity between us, and I don't dislike you. You're welcome to tag along—just don't show any resentment if you're still bitter about me nearly killing you."
Since Reid was also seeking the Witch, Roy couldn't very well stop him from following. They were going the same direction anyway.
"I was the one who challenged you. Losing and nearly dying is my own fault—why would I resent you? If anything, I should be ashamed."
Reid declared magnanimously. Compared to later generations of Sword Saints bound by the title of 'knight', this first-generation Sword Saint was clearly more free-spirited.
"Then let's travel together. We only have Flugel as our driver—you can take turns at the reins."
Roy nodded, making practical use of the situation.
"So that's why you agreed so quickly—you just wanted a backup driver."
Reid said gloomily.
After the meal—or more accurately, after Reid had eaten his fill—
Roy didn't require much food, while Shaula and Satella, being women, ate sparingly. Flugel had no appetite, so nearly all the hunted game ended up in Reid's stomach.
The Sword Saint patted his full belly, stood up and stretched. After surveying the group, he suddenly grabbed Shaula and yanked her to her feet.
"What are you doing?!"
Shaula cried out in alarm, but with her abilities, she was no match for Reid. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free.
"You'll do nicely. Come help me with some post-meal exercise."
"No, no!! Master, save me!"
Shaula's face twisted in terror, clearly misunderstanding what 'post-meal exercise' entailed.
"Tch! What's with that look? I just want you to spar with me."
"I don't know how to use a sword!"
"That's exactly why I'm choosing you! If you could use a sword, I wouldn't bother. I need to rebuild my confidence against someone who can't fight back!!"
With that, Reid dragged Shaula, who was whimpering, to an open space nearby. Flugel was still somewhat dazed and didn't notice Shaula's pleading gaze.
Before long, Shaula's mournful cries could be heard.