The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Hard Road (3)

It was just yesterday that Sione had snapped at me to get out.

Today we had to busy ourselves preparing for tomorrow's journey to the Feiosha Marquisate.

After finishing our early morning jog, I began asking her about it.

I needed to know what was going on to help.

After needlessly chasing me away yesterday and then avoiding conversation as much as possible, I had a mountain of questions.

"Could you tell me about what's happening tomorrow?"

"Did I not tell you anything yesterday...?"

"We only talked about your fiancé before you chased me from your room, then you avoided talking to me all day."

"Ahem."

See, she must feel guilty about something to clear her throat like that.

I really wish she wouldn't keep me in suspense and would just tell me quickly.

This wasn't just anything—we were leaving the Sianella County's territory to head for the Feiosha Marquisate.

For both this body's previous owner and me who had fallen into this dungeon world before its destruction, this would be the first time leaving the safety of the territory.

I was full of anticipation, worry, and curiosity.

"As I said, we're departing for the Feiosha Marquisate tomorrow. From here in the kingdom's western outskirts to the central south where the marquis house is located will take quite some time. There's much to prepare."

"Perhaps we could use teleport magic?"

"Unfortunately, the Sianella County lacks sufficient personnel to maintain and activate teleport magic circles. We'll have to travel by carriage."

"...I see."

So the Sianella County was located in the kingdom's western region.

And this hidden fiancé of Sione's was waiting for us in the south.

I suppressed a sigh that was about to escape in front of my master.

"How long do you think it will take to travel from here to the Feiosha Marquisate?"

"Probably about two weeks by carriage. It'll take a bit longer if we stop at villages along the way to buy supplies and rest for a day at each stop."

"...That's long."

"It can't be helped, so just accept it."

"Weren't you struggling with this yourself yesterday, Lady Sione?"

"I've... already resigned myself..."

"...I see."

So Sione had already given up...

Her small, pitiful smile looked so sad.

But even if Sione had stopped denying reality,

That wasn't reason enough for me to stop denying it.

'It's not like they've carved highways through the forests.'

Since this world wasn't that developed.

It meant we'd have to travel for two weeks straight by carriage on bumpy roads.

I could already imagine my backside being destroyed from the carriage's jolting.

How nice it would have been if the Sianella County was renowned for magic rather than swordsmanship.

Then instead of a carriage, we could have used teleport magic and finished this dangerous journey in the blink of an eye.

I remembered traveling by carriage inside the dungeon.

'That was truly hell.'

It was in a scenario dungeon where completing it meant correcting the world's history and preventing its destruction.

We had to travel by carriage for three straight days to find the dungeon boss who was hiding somewhere.

The carriage wheels hit stones constantly, making it unbearably uncomfortable.

And the monsters that appeared at random to target the horses and Hunters nearly drove me insane.

Since then, just the mention of carriages makes me sick.

"Your expression isn't good."

"It's nothing. Please don't worry about it."

"Hmm, alright."

After those words, Sione stood blankly for a moment.

Shake shake shake shake.

Suddenly she began rapidly shaking her head side to side.

"Has she gone crazy...?"

The sudden action made me blurt out in Korean rather than the continent's common tongue.

"'Micheonna?' What does that mean?"

"I didn't say anything... perhaps you misheard?"

"Really? Then never mind. Ah, by the way, having short hair makes it easier to shake off sweat. I like it."

Sione said this while amusingly shaking her head back and forth to get rid of sweat.

Usually I might have found it cute, but since she was flicking sweat at me, it wasn't particularly endearing.

"Lady Sione."

"What?"

"...It might not be good to shake your head like that when with others."

"...Ah."

For a noble's child, it was rather embarrassing behavior to show others.

Sione finally stopped her innocent smiling and hung her head.

She brushed off her hair with her hands for a moment before raising her head again.

Judging by her slightly flushed cheeks, she must have been quite embarrassed.

"L-let's hurry back!"

I silently followed behind her as she hurried along without meeting my eyes.

After walking in silence for a while, Sione finally stopped and glanced back.

"You should go see the head attendant before returning."

"The head attendant?"

"Yes."

"Don't you mean the head servant?"

Sione shook her head.

"From now on you'll be my personal attendant, so shouldn't you wear attendant's clothes rather than servant's?"

"...Personal attendant? I must have heard wrong."

"You heard correctly, so stop asking further."

"But for someone of my status to be your attendant..."

...It's too privileged a position for a slave.

Not just quiet cleaning and menial tasks, but the proud position of standing alongside one's assigned noble as an advisor.

Generally not something an uneducated slave would do.

"I already discussed it with Mother yesterday, so do as you're told."

"..."

To think she'd arranged such a position for me, even discussing it with the head of house yesterday.

I wasn't sure whether to be grateful or amazed.

After making an ambiguous expression, I finally smiled.

"Understood."

"Good, and from now on... I'm counting on you, Ray."

"I'll work hard to live up to your trust."

"Ahem."

After clearing her throat, Sione headed back toward her cozy room.

Unlike before, she didn't run—she walked leisurely while quietly humming.

I continued following behind her.

Before long, Sione stopped humming and looked at me questioningly.

"...Why are you following me instead of going to the head attendant?"

"Isn't it too early?"

"Ah."

Sione's pupils began to tremble.

"I'll visit him when the head attendant is awake."

"Ah, alright."

Sione turned quickly with reddened cheeks.

Patter patter patter.

She fled to her room with awkward movements.

Regardless.

Let's slowly head to her room.

As expected, I could see Sione had hidden under her blankets.

She's not a chrysalis—what is this, really.

***

I checked my new clothes again.

The attendant's uniform was definitely better quality, more comfortable and lighter to wear, and unlike the somewhat baggy servant's clothes, the design was more refined, closer to a sophisticated suit.

And the most distinctive feature:

House Sianella's initials written in the continent's common alphabet above the breast pocket.

Though it might seem trivial, it gave me a sense of belonging to the Sianella County.

Meanwhile, I felt Sione's gaze as she ate an apple for a snack.

"Would you like me to cut another?"

"...One is enough. By the way, the attendant's uniform suits you well."

"Thank you."

As I gave a slight bow, she pushed back her chair and stood up.

Popping the last piece of apple into her mouth, she wiped her hands with a handkerchief and said:

"Let's go to the training grounds."

"Isn't it earlier than usual?"

"Mother said she'd assign Lady Diolia as our guard, so I want to talk with her a bit. Also, even with Lady Diolia as guard, there's always a 'just in case,' so shouldn't I pick out some armor and weapons to protect myself?"

"I'll follow."

I recalled Diolia sparring with Siabel.

With that level of skill, we should be able to pass safely even if we encounter bandits or ordinary monsters.

It felt like some of my fear of unknown dangers lifted.

Ray and Sione headed straight for the training grounds.

At this hour, if nothing was wrong, this would be when Diolia practiced her sword forms alone to warm up.

We should be able to find her at the training grounds.

And sure enough.

"There she is."

As soon as we entered the training grounds, we saw Diolia warming up with clean sword movements.

When Diolia was almost finished warming up, Sione approached and called out to her.

"Lady Diolia."

"Ah, Lady Sione. Welcome."

Diolia greeted Sione with a gentle smile.

From what little I heard of their initial conversation, it seemed to be nothing special besides asking after each other and discussing tomorrow's matters.

Seeing the atmosphere, there seemed no place for me to join in or comment, so I withdrew my attention from their conversation.

Instead of forcing myself into their talk, I chose to observe the soldiers and knights training in the grounds.

As expected, while there were some men among the common soldiers, there wasn't a single man among the knights.

Because men in this world couldn't accept mana and had been left behind.

Unable to strengthen their bodies through mana and reach the level of infusing their swords with mana to perform various techniques, becoming a knight was an impossible dream.

It couldn't be helped.

As I stared aimlessly at the training grounds, Sione tugged at my clothes.

"What are you staring at so blankly? Hurry and follow."

"Yes, my lady."

I followed her to the front of a storehouse.

Diolia, who had arrived at the storehouse first, opened the door.

"Unlike Lady Siabel and Lord Sion, you don't have your own weapon yet, Lady Sione. Please choose one here."

"Thank you."

"These are the Sianella County's assets to begin with, so please choose without hesitation."

As Sione entered the storehouse, Diolia's gaze naturally turned to me.

"Judging by your clothes, it seems you've become Lady Sione's attendant. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Diolia's gaze went to the Sianella initials on my breast pocket.

"Remember that from now on, everything you do carries the Sianella name."

"...I will keep that in mind."

Her words carried the same pressure as before, so.

I quickly bowed my head.

"Though you're an attendant, I know well your skill with the bow. Go in with Lady Sione and prepare some basic armaments."

"Would that be alright?"

"Of course. Though it shouldn't happen, if danger arises when my eyes can't reach Lady Sione, naturally you must protect her."

"...You state the obvious."

"Hehe. Now go on in."

At those words, I passed by Diolia and entered the storehouse.

Though it seemed a bit dusty, that wasn't a problem.

I approached Sione, who was examining bows.

"Have you chosen one?"

"No, not yet. There are many types, making it quite difficult to decide."

"Would you like my help?"

"Thank you, but I'll just accept the thought. You should choose your own weapon too."

"Understood."

Sione resumed concentrating on choosing her bow.

Examining them carefully, even testing the draw.

Leaving her to her admirable effort, I began choosing my own bow.

The items that could be called bows here could be divided into crossbows and bare bows.

First, crossbows were rejected.

I began checking the bare bows.

How nice it would be to have a modern compound bow. But there was no way such a thing would exist here.

I'd have to be satisfied with literally bare bows without any attachments.

Besides, there were only wooden bows anyway.

There were only flat bows with flat limbs and recurve bows with limb tips that curved forward.

Among these, I chose a usable one from the recurve bows I was more experienced with.

"This is probably the most usable one."

The others either had strings too loose with weak draw weight, or draw weights too heavy for my current body.

This one was just right for me now.

Before, hunting monsters with bows you couldn't buy even with money was routine...

Now I have to carefully consider choosing such a crude bow.

What nonsense.

I let out a small sigh and checked the blade section.

"I need a backup weapon besides the bow..."

I began choosing a sword I could use in close combat.

Can't exactly beat enemies with the bow when they get close.

Such backup weapons are essential for archers.

I found one blade.

Blade length about 50cm. Handle 20cm.

The roughly 70cm sword fit perfectly in my hand.

Drawing it to check the blade, its condition wasn't bad either, so this would do for a backup weapon.

After roughly choosing my weapons, I looked for Sione.

She must have chosen her bow, as she was standing by the displayed armor.

I gathered my sword and went to her.

"Are you looking at armor?"

"Yes, though I'm not sure which would be good."

"For archers, leather armor with steel plating on the chest is most comfortable and suitable for movement. These over here should be most appropriate."

"You're knowledgeable about armor as well as bows."

"Since I was meant to be sold as a male knight, I received education about armor for knightly appearance, not just weapons."

"...I see."

As she quietly examined the armor while speaking, her gaze turned to the sword in my hand.

"What's that sword?"

"A backup weapon. Can't exactly hit enemies with a bow when they get close."

"Hmm, can you use a sword?"

"I can use it well enough that it's not too shabby compared to the bow. Would you like me to show you?"

It wasn't just "not too shabby"—I was quite skilled.

Among 700 million Hunters, it was almost impossible to rank in the top 150 being proficient in only one weapon.

Everyone had proficiency in backup weapons besides their main weapon, and for me, that backup weapon was the sword.

"If possible, I'd like to see."

"Then... excuse me."

Shing.

The cold blade of the curved single-edged sword emerged from its scabbard.

Looking at the blade calmed my mind.

I slowly regained my feel while handling and rotating the sword grip.

Soon I could freely spin the single-edged sword in my hand.

'It's been a while.'

In the dungeon, I used to play like this spinning my sword when bored.

It looked quite flashy, and since I'd done it often as a pastime, I became skilled enough that it seemed quite impressive.

Swish! Shing...

The sword that had been dancing freely in my hand suddenly returned to its scabbard.

Sione alternately stared at the sword and me with slightly parted lips.

"...I hope that sword won't be pointed at me."

"Don't worry."

What is she saying when she asked to see it herself?

Amused by her reaction, I slightly raised the corner of my mouth.

"On the contrary, I'll always protect you with this sword."

"...Huh?"

"I'll always be by your side to protect you, Lady Sione."

"Uh, uhh..."

"...Your complexion doesn't look good—are you alright?"

"Th-that... Lady Diolia! I need your help!"

And like in the storehouse earlier, Sione continued avoiding eye contact with me for the rest of the day, even after returning to her room.

First yesterday, and now today as well. What's gotten into her?

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