A Surprise After the Snowy Night

This guy had been following her since morning for no clear reason.

Calling her “Master” every other sentence.

Honestly, Arlen was in a mood where she really wanted to stab this guy to death with one spear.

Unfortunately, he had fighting energy, so she couldn’t beat him.

The more she thought about it, the more her head hurt.

Before she realized it, they were already close to the edge of the forest.

If things went as expected, they would reach the nearest city—Leicester City—by the next morning.

“How many times do I have to say it.

My name is Ken, not ‘boy.’

And also.

Master, what’s your name anyway.”

Ken complained while staring at the girl’s braided hair.

Ken knew he had annoyed Arlen all day.

If it were a normal person, they would have beaten him up long ago.

What he didn’t understand was why Arlen hadn’t done so.

In any case, he had already decided that Arlen was his master.

“My name is Arlen.

And stop following me.”

Arlen roared.

“But Master, I want to—”

Ken completely ignored her.

“I’LL FIGHT YOU TO THE DEATH.”

Arlen shouted violently.

Her eyes emitted a crimson glow.

Ken was very clever and carried a longsword.

Every time Arlen raised her spear, Ken blocked it skillfully.

Because Arlen was injured, her thrusts weren’t very fast.

“Damn it… damn it… wah… wah…”

Exhausted both physically and mentally by Ken’s shameless tactics, unable to drive him away and unable to beat him, Arlen finally gave up and sat down on the ground, crying.

“Eh… Master, don’t cry.

I was wrong…”

Ken slowly walked over and sat down beside Arlen.

Ken saw Arlen hugging her spear, knees pulled to her chest, face buried in her thighs.

Her body trembled slightly, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Her sobs were choked, clearly being held back.

“Master.”

Ken asked in confusion.

Arlen didn’t answer.

She simply lifted her face and glared fiercely at Ken.

Her eyes were filled with glistening tears.

At that moment, Ken suddenly felt that the girl looked like a little rabbit.

White hair.

Crimson eyes.

She was honestly kind of cute.

Ken raised his hand and gently patted Arlen’s head.

Arlen froze for a moment.

Feeling the gentle touch on her head, her heart seemed to melt like butter in the heat.

“Waaah… waaah…”

Arlen burst into loud sobs.

In the Demon Castle, she had suffered far too much.

Because she didn’t want Lilith or Luna to notice, she had always bottled everything up inside.

Over time, it was like a balloon filling beyond its limit.

And now it finally burst.

Ken seemed to understand.

He continued gently stroking Arlen’s head while listening to her cries.

After a long time, Arlen slowly stood up.

Leaning on her spear, she walked forward step by step.

Ken followed behind her, no longer making a fuss like before.

Night fell.

Arlen found a rocky cave.

Inside, she spread branches she had gathered from around, then laid down dry grass.

Finally, she used a fire crystal core from her pouch to start a fire.

Outside, snow began to fall gently.

Ken didn’t want to disturb her.

He simply sat at the cave entrance, watching the drifting snow.

Thinking of his father, he couldn’t help feeling a bit sorrowful.

Arlen decided that if she left him outside, he would probably freeze to death quickly.

So she chose to let him in.

“Hey.

You outside there.

You… come in.”

Arlen shouted in a deliberately indifferent tone.

Her eyes, however, secretly watched the boy’s reaction.

To put it simply.

She was a tsundere.

“Eh… okay, okay.”

Ken agreed without hesitation.

Outside, the snowstorm intensified as the wind carried flakes everywhere.

Pure white crystals took on countless shapes.

Arlen blocked the cave entrance with snow to keep out the cold.

She also left a small hole for ventilation and to observe outside.

Arlen sat leisurely near the entrance, gazing at the snowy scenery through the small opening.

Ken, perhaps because of thoughts of his father, quickly fell asleep leaning against the wall.

Arlen looked at Ken’s thin clothing and couldn’t help worrying.

She removed her robe and reconnected it using the cords attached to it.

Before long, the robe turned into a blanket.

Clumsily, she covered Ken with the blanket.

She pretended not to care as she stared outside at the snow.

But not long after, exhaustion overtook her and she fell asleep as well.

“Huu… huu… huu…”

Steady breathing filled the cave.

Perhaps because someone was beside her, she slept very peacefully.

In the past, every night had filled her with fear.

Fear of encountering Lilith.

Fear of encountering Luna.

Fear of encountering beasts or bandits.

But now, she felt at ease.

Ken glanced at Arlen and saw that she was asleep.

Quietly, he pulled the blanket over her as well.

In the middle of winter, wearing only a shirt was far too reckless.

What puzzled him was the collar around her neck.

Although Arlen slept soundly, Ken could not.

After all, there was a girl beside him.

How could he just fall asleep instantly.

Moreover, after awakening fighting energy, his physical condition far exceeded that of ordinary people.

Going without sleep for a day or two wasn’t a problem at all.

Holding his head, feeling slightly bored, he dug a hole and quietly slipped outside.

Then he filled it back up with snow.

“Let’s give her a surprise.”

Ken muttered to himself.

The next day, Arlen woke up and looked around.

Oh no.

I overslept, Arlen thought.

“Boy.

Boy.”

Arlen shouted.

There was no one else in the small opening.

Had he run away because of what happened yesterday.

She stabbed the snow pile hard with her spear.

The moment it opened, she was stunned by the scene before her.

“What are you doing.”

Arlen asked in shock.

Ken was roasting a huge wild boar.

It was absurdly large.

The boar was more than twice Ken’s size.

Since there was no grill, Ken had skewered it on a wooden pole and was rotating it over the fire.

Arlen’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Ken, however, didn’t seem to care at all.

“Master.

It’s almost ready.

Come eat.”

Ken shouted cheerfully.

Before long.

“Delicious.”

Ken.

I didn’t know you were actually useful.

Arlen exclaimed.

Inside the boar were deodorizing fruits that made the meat slightly sweet and sour.

On the outside, it was seasoned with dragon-tongue grass commonly found in the forest.

Because dragon-tongue grass had a salty taste, it was widely used as a seasoning across the continent.

As a result, the whole boar became incredibly tasty.

For Arlen, who hadn’t eaten properly for days, it was nothing short of a blessing from heaven.

“That’s only natural.

I’m way better than a pampered young lady like you.”

Ken said unconsciously.

“Ah… maybe.”

Arlen replied gloomily.

The collar around Arlen’s neck reminded her.

She wasn’t even a commoner.

She was just a s*ave.

A runaway s*ave.

Ken noticed the change in Arlen’s expression and didn’t continue the topic.

After eating, Ken took out several leaves.

They were oil leaves, a type of leaf that could hold greasy food.

He cut several pieces of pork, wrapped them up, and put them into a bag woven from hemp grass.

These were things he had prepared the night before.

Arlen watched Ken’s busy movements with confusion.

“We can eat them on the road.”

Ken explained.

Once everything was ready, they extinguished the campfire.

Ken patted his shoulder.

“Get on.

You’re injured.

I’ll carry you.

It’ll be faster.”

“I don’t need you—waa.”

Arlen cried out.

Ken scooped her up in one motion and carried her on his back.

“Don’t be so stubborn.

It’s for your own good.”

Ken said.

“……”

Arlen chose silence.

To Ken, Arlen wasn’t heavy at all.

To be honest, even with shoes on, she barely reached about 160 centimeters.

Her proportions were well balanced, carrying a somewhat sickly beauty.

For Ken, who had fighting energy, she felt as light as a baby.

Sometime in the afternoon, two new faces arrived at Leicester City.

One was Ken.

The other was Arlen.

“We’re here.”

“We’re here.”

Arlen and Ken shouted together.

They had arrived at Leicester City.

A town where beastmen and humans lived together.

One of the northernmost cities of the Empire.

The bustling crowds on the streets moved Arlen deeply.

Ken, on the other hand, looked like a country bumpkin, glancing around in every direction.

It seemed there was some grand event happening.

The streets were filled with stalls selling fireworks and all kinds of snacks.

Every house was decorated with red and green ornaments.

Arlen thought carefully.

Suddenly, she remembered.

If it looked like this, and it was winter, then it could only be the annual Ice and Snow Festival.

“Master.

What are they doing.”

Ken asked in confusion.

“The Ice and Snow Festival.

Doesn’t your village celebrate it.”

“Never.”

Ken replied.

“Um, Ken.

Can you put me down.”

Arlen asked, noticing the strange looks from passersby.

Ken understood immediately and looked at Arlen.

“Okay.”

“Let’s find an inn.

We’ll come out and have fun tonight.”

Arlen suggested.

“Ah… okay.”

Ken replied.

The two of them began searching for an inn.

……………………

Rolling on the ground begging for monthly tickets.

Bookmarks too.

Sorry everyone.

Low output and all that lately because things have been very busy.

I can only apologize here.

If you like it, please bookmark it.

It might turn into a weekly update series.