The carriage rolled on for half a day before we finally reached our destination.
The settlement on the western side was small-scale, but it had been established by House Lavender and the noble families under its banner.
Though small, there were plenty of people around.
There were itinerant merchants hawking their wares, and what appeared to be adventurers in the process of dismantling monster carcasses.
"...I'll take it home."
"Then, if it's alright with you two, we'll have you stay here overnight. Shall we begin the worm subjugation starting tomorrow?"
Urla murmured something under her breath, and then her female attendant added the clarification.
It felt like Urla had said something rather outrageous, but a firm instinct told me it would be best not to press the matter.
Rest and Yuri were escorted to an inn that had been built in the frontier development village.
The newly constructed little inn was a spartan and modest place through and through. Normally, it was no sort of place where a noble would stay.
"Well then, please make yourselves comfortable."
"...See you."
Urla and her attendant guided Rest and Yuri to the inn, then departed somewhere.
Rest and Yuri were left standing in front of the inn.
"...Well then, shall we head in?"
"Yeah. This is a first for us — staying overnight, just the two of us."
"...Don't say that."
I had been going out of my way not to think about it, so why did he have to point it out?
Yuri and I had shared a room before... but there had always been other people around. We had never been alone together like this.
No… calm down, this is an inn. There's no way there's only one room. I just need to book separate rooms, and that'd be the end of it…
Rest took a light deep breath and passed through the inn's gate.
"Welcome. You'd be the Count of Clover, yeah? The young lady told me about you — I've got a room all set."
Upon stepping inside, a man who appeared to be the innkeeper called out cheerfully.
"Right then, let me show you to your room. Follow me."
And just like that, they were led to the room.
They were shown into a twin-bedded single room.
"This is…"
"Well then, make yourselves comfortable."
"Hold on a second… this is the only room?"
Twin beds or not, it was still a single room.
There was no way… he wasn't suggesting that Yuri and I stay here together, was he?
"Yeah, it's a room for two, so there's no problem, right? Sorry, but… all the other rooms are full."
"Wha—!"
"For your information… this frontier development village still doesn't have many inns, so I don't think you'd be able to book a room anywhere else either. I'll have dinner sent up to the room later… well then, see you around."
The innkeeper said all this in a leisurely tone, then left Rest and Yuri behind in the room and departed.
"Staying over with Rest, huh… fufufu, I wonder why. My heart's beating kind of fast."
"Ngh…"
Yuri sat down on the bed, smiling bashfully.
It was probably just my imagination… but still, why?
Strangely, Yuri seemed more alluring than usual.
(Wait… don't get swept up in the atmosphere. Calm down — there's no way Yuri is doing this on purpose…!)
Rest pressed his mouth to his canteen to steady his nerves.
"Heave-ho."
"Pfft!"
And then he spat out his water.
Yuri had suddenly started stripping off her clothes.
She pulled off her jacket, revealing her chest barely covered by her undergarments.
For all her free-spirited, boyish personality, her bust was strikingly, unmistakably feminine.
"What the— glfmm…?!"
"What's wrong, Rest! Pull yourself together!"
"Don't come any closer dressed like— wait, why are you even undressing?!"
"You ask me why… we're staying here tonight, aren't we? I was simply going to change into sleepwear…?"
"Don't do that in front of me! You're a girl — at least show a little modesty!"
Rest's voice rose involuntarily… but Yuri just tilted her head with a bewildered expression.
"There's no need to worry. I wouldn't undress in front of anyone else. But… you're my friend, Rest, so it shouldn't matter if you see, right?"
"Friend or not… I'm still a guy, you know?"
"Indeed, you're a guy."
Yuri nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I don't think you'd desire a woman's body like mine, Rest. And even if you did, I wouldn't mind in the slightest. If it's you, Rest, I believe I could forgive anything you did to me."
"Whaaaaaat!?"
"By the way… I also got permission from Viola and Primula, you know? Want to try touching them?"
"Guhahh…!"
Yuri stood right in front of Rest and proceeded to softly squeeze her own chest.
Before such a shocking sight… Rest was utterly devastated as if he'd taken a blow to the face.
—————————— I also post other works.
Please check them out if you're interested!
I'm a mob priest, but I realized this world is an otome game, so I'm going to raise the heroine.
I just did what my little sister told me in battle and ended up becoming king. The princess I forcibly made my wife is super pissed at me, but what should I do?
I was summoned to another world and abandoned, and nobody knows I'm a dark god… probably.
I also post follow-up episodes in my limited-status notebook.
Feel free to take a look if you're interested!