Master’s Smile

Volume 5 – Kingdom Arc

C106 – Loss of Presence

Ritter and I had arrived at the noble’s residence as instructed by Princess Neena.

Although inferior to her estate, it was still quite a splendid one.

Our guild headquarters is more impressive, though!

…Really, how did they end up with a headquarters that looks like a castle?

There were, of course, knights guarding the gate to the mansion, but to my surprise, there were ten of them.

Considering that the princess only had two gatekeepers, this was an extremely large number.

Ritter walked towards the mansion.

“Who!?…R-Ritter-sama!”

At first, the gatekeepers looked at her suspiciously as she approached, but as soon as they realized who it was, they bowed and apologized.

Ritter must have a high rank, as she was a close aide to Princess Neena.

“Here as escort.”

“Ha!! We will open the gate immediately!”

At Ritter’s words, the knights on duty immediately began to move.

Whoa… that’s amazing. I didn’t know that much about Ritter when she worked, but I’m glad to see her in action.

As the gate slowly opened, the knights saluted us… or rather, Ritter.

She didn’t even bow in reply and just walked straight away holding my hand naturally.

It may seem cold, but judging from Ritter’s actions so far, it doesn’t look like they were offended.

If that’s the case, then there’s no need for me to complain.

“Ohh! I’ve been expecting you!”

The servants of the mansion showed us to an office, where we met a good-natured and well-dressed uncle.

He was very happy and excited to see Ritter’s arrival.

“I already knew that Princess Neena would send someone to escort me, but to think that it was Ritter-dono…! This makes me no longer have anything to fear!”

I could understand why he was pleased.

I will also feel very secure if Ritter’s the one who protects me.

It is as if I suddenly have 10,000 allies.

I wonder if there was really any point in me coming here at all.

“I was so frightened of being targeted and had also mobilized a lot of my private army, but… with Ritter-dono around, they would be nothing but a hindrance! To Princess Neena, who has sent you to us, we pledge our undivided loyalty!”

“…I see.”

The uncle seemed truly moved and spun words that the princess would have been pleased hearing.

But that didn’t seem to matter to Ritter.

With a dazed look on her face, she absentmindedly fiddled with my hand.

It tickles, so I want you to stop.

“Then, I would ask Ritter-dono to stay in the room next to mine. If anything should happen to me, I will raise my voice immediately. And…, you are….”

After he finished talking to Ritter, the noble uncle then looked at me and made a gesture of wondering what to do.

…Perhaps, there’s no room available for me due to the large number of his private soldiers being mobilized…?

If that’s the case, I don’t mind going back to the headquarters and not doing this job.

Frankly, with Ritter around, there would be no need for me.

“It’s fine, Master, in my room.”

“EEEHH!?”

WHOOAAAEEEIII!?

I was also taken aback, along with the noble uncle.

I thought she was just a girl with little sense of shame as always, but I didn’t expect it to go this far….

“Master, don’t want, with me?”

Ritter looked up at me with a poker face yet also with a hint of anxiety.

It’s not that I didn’t want to. Even if a young girl and an old man like me don’t really mind the idea of sharing a room, the same can’t be said for the others here, right?

“A-Are you perhaps Ritter-dono’s partner…?”

See, we got misunderstood immediately by him.

“Mmhm.”

Why did Ritter nod while raising her thumb? It would increase the misunderstanding!!!

“Then, let us make it a room for the two of you. We will bring another bed in later….”

“No, don’t need.”

“I-I see….”

Mister, I want one! I want it!

I wanted to insist, but I couldn’t because Ritter hugged me from behind and covered my mouth.

Damn it! Assassin-san! If possible, please attack before the night is over!

⬥

…The assassins didn’t come.

My earnest wish was fruitless as no one came for the noble uncle.

The sun had already set and darkness now covered the landscape.

The noble uncle must have felt quite relieved by Ritter’s arrival as he immediately fell asleep, saying that it had been a long time since he had had a good night’s sleep.

I’d like to follow his example and go to sleep too, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to do so….

“…Not sleeping?”

Ritter tilted her head.

Well, it’s hard for me to sleep because you insisted on having one bed.

Besides, since we are escorts, I think one of us has to stay awake while the other one is resting.

“…Don’t mind.”

That’s not good.

Seeing that Ritter’s upper-half is already on the bed and completely ready to go to sleep, it’s fine if you go ahead first.

“Then, it would be useless.”

…what would?

Rather, why is Ritter so thinly dressed again?

With that thin negligee, her curves were being exposed without reserve.

In any case, it would be bad if your body gets cold, so you should change into a proper nightgown if you are going to-….

I had to stop myself from speaking at that point.

Ritter was also looking, not at me, but out the window.

“…Someone, here.”

I nodded to her words.

I had felt this presence somewhere before.

It was probably the private soldiers in combat…, no, it wasn’t a battle.

One after another, the soldier’s presence kept disappearing.

I’ll go first, so go get dressed properly, Ritter.

“Ah….”

With these words, I left the room.