Chapter 53

Beep—

“….”

“…Chomp.”

“That looks delicious.”

“Mm. It is.”

“….”

What a wicked girl.

If I had to put Joanie’s emotions into words, it’d probably be something like that.

“You said you wouldn’t eat.”

“…Well, that’s…”

“You also said you couldn’t eat it.”

“…Ugh!”

So what’s the problem if I’m not sharing?

There’s an old saying: Those who don’t work, don’t eat.

When I looked at her blankly, Joanie twisted in agony.

Hmm, I suppose that’s enough teasing.

I didn’t intend to eat alone anyway; I was just messing with her a bit.

“…It’s delicious!”

Joanie, her face filled with bliss, started chomping down on the meat.

It was quite a different sight from when she was eating Orc meat.

After all, whether it’s Rain Buffalo or Orc, they’re all the same monsters.

We had a rather pleasant meal and then left the Rain Buffalo herd, which looked at us with sorrowful eyes, and continued on our way.

“Sit firmly in the saddle and straighten your back.”

“Like this?”

“A little more… like this.”

“Wow, Kana’s giving me personal corrections…!”

“Smack!”

“Ow!”

“…Focus.”

I continued the lesson after giving the unruly student a small punishment for not paying attention.

“You’re putting too much strength into it.”

“Didn’t you just tell me to straighten my back?”

“I told you to straighten your back, not tense up.”

“…Isn’t that the same thing?”

“How is that the same?”

By the time the lesson ended, Joanie’s posture had improved significantly.

The process wasn’t exactly smooth, but as long as the results are good, that’s all that matters.

As the first graduate of Kana’s Horse-Riding School, Joanie left the following review:

“She was so kind when teaching me how to ride! Hehe, Kana’s always so considerate.”

“…It wasn’t like I was trying to be kind.”

“Feeling shy, are we?”

Poke poke.

“Stop it.”

I swatted Joanie’s fingers away as she persistently poked at my cheeks.

The issues with riding and swordsmanship are different, so of course, the way I teach would differ.

Well, if she wants to misunderstand, that’s her freedom. No need to correct her.

***

***

***

“Haaam…”

Joanie yawned widely.

After learning the correct posture from Kana, the muscle pain that had been plaguing her began to subside.

Initially, she’d thought, I should’ve just taken a carriage…, but that regret soon turned into, I’m glad I chose to ride, long ago.

It’s faster and more comfortable than a carriage….

— “If you ride a magic-engineered carriage, it’s even more comfortable.”

— “Why haven’t you bought one yet?”

— “Poor Kana, having to suffer because of her stingy leader…”

“You guys are acting all high and mighty because it’s not your money, huh? If you’re going to talk like that, at least give me the money!”

— “Excuse me??”

— “Are you encouraging real-money transactions right now?”

“…I should just stop talking.”

The reactions in the chat were exactly as she expected: taunts and jabs at her so-called “declaration of idleness” as a streamer.

They’re always the same.

Shaking her head, Joanie turned her gaze to Kana.

Despite riding for hours, Kana showed no signs of boredom. She simply swayed back and forth with the horse’s movement, without saying or doing much.

If she weren’t responding whenever Joanie spoke, she’d almost look like a doll propped up in the saddle.

‘Well, Kana is as cute as a doll.’

So it wouldn’t be surprising to mistake her for one.

Joanie indulged herself in such thoughts for a moment.

She was curious to see Kana’s reaction if she voiced them out loud but decided not to give in to the impulse.

With her hair fluttering gently in the breeze and her half-lidded pink eyes lost in thought, Kana looked like a picture-perfect scene.

Joanie felt it would be a crime to disturb such a picturesque sight.

After all, cuteness is justice.

Joanie continued to reflect on this truth as she contentedly observed Kana’s profile.

Ordinarily, she would have dismissed statements like, “I never get tired of just looking at her,” as typical cheesy talk. But watching Kana now, Joanie wondered if it might not be just an exaggeration after all.

Had she been staring for too long?

Kana, who had been blankly looking ahead, turned her gaze toward Joanie.

“…What?”

“…Huh? Did I say something?”

“You didn’t say anything, but your eyes are annoying.”

“….”

“They’re annoying.”

“…Can you please stop saying that…?”

Kana might look gentle enough that she’d never even say a curse word, but if you actually listen to what comes out of her mouth, there’s a surprisingly sharp edge to it.

Hit by this sudden verbal punch, Joanie mumbled dejectedly.

‘Still, it’s better than before.’

Compared to when she used to completely ignore me whenever I spoke, even if it stings a little, this more lively version of her is much better.

Whether or not that was her only reason for speaking, Kana soon lost interest and turned her attention back to the road ahead.

Well, she tried to.

“Oh right! Kana, can I ask you something?”

“…What is it?”

It seemed Joanie’s sudden question sparked her interest.

“Why are you going to the Holy Kingdom? Now that I think about it, I remember you saying you were heading there, but I never heard the reason why….”

Hearing the question, Kana looked at Joanie as if she were seeing something bizarre.

It was an incredibly rare expression for someone as stoic as Kana.

“Uh, heh heh….”

Joanie gave a sheepish laugh.

Even she knew it was a ridiculous question to ask at this point.

It’s been several days since they started traveling together, and she was only now asking why Kana was going to the Holy Kingdom?

If she wanted to ask, she should’ve done it earlier; if not, she shouldn’t ask at all.

Of course, the reason Joanie never considered it until now was that she was simply too excited about traveling with Kana.

Even though the timing of her question was rather awkward, it wasn’t a forbidden topic, so Kana calmly answered her curiosity.

“I got curious.”

“Curious?”

Even if it’s out of curiosity, who decides to go all the way to a country on the opposite side of the continent?

Most people wouldn’t, right?

As one question was answered, another arose. Joanie asked again.

“Since you’re going all the way to the Holy Kingdom, it must be something you can only find there, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I ask what it is?”

“No.”

“That figures~”

She’s quite straightforward. I had a feeling she’d say no.

Confronted with a firm refusal, Joanie accepted it and backed down.

Kana might not realize it, but according to Joanie’s observations, Kana’s refusals come in two categories.

There are the ones where, if you beg and plead, there’s a chance she might change her mind.

And then there are the ones where there’s absolutely no room for negotiation.

This time, it was clearly the latter.

That’s why, instead of pestering her further, Joanie decided to rack her brain on her own.

‘If she’s insistent on going to the Holy Kingdom, could it be related to the Edel Church?’

She didn’t seem particularly religious, though….

“Wait, she’s not planning to become a nun, is she?”

— “What?”

— “Your imagination is something else.”

— “The tale of how I, the strongest swordsman, became a lowly nun.”

— “If she were to join, she’d become a holy knight, not a nun.”

“Wait a minute. Kana in a nun outfit…? I wouldn’t mind that, actually.”

— “Agreed;; That’s too good to pass up.”

— “What? Are you telling me that if she joins the Edel Church, we get to see Kana in a nun’s habit?”

— “Where do I apply to become a follower…?”

— “The Edel Church would explode in membership, lmao.”

[‘ㅇㅇ’ donated 10,000 won! Thank you!]

— “Actually, people’s concept of nuns in media is way off. Real nuns wear clothes that don’t reveal their figures to avoid attracting attention, and they definitely don’t show their hair. So, if you look at the Edel Church’s outfits—”

“Oh… thanks for the explanation!”

— “Genuine ‘Lore’ right there.”

— “Wow, food prices sure are high these days.”

— “10,000 won for rice??? Korea’s economy is doomed.”

— “Thanks, that’s exactly the info I needed!”

— “Streamer’s expression, lol.”

Joanie continued chatting with her viewers, having muted her microphone.

Kana occasionally glanced at Joanie during these exchanges, but Joanie, absorbed in her conversation with the audience, didn’t notice.

And so, their horses continued to tirelessly gallop onward, making steady progress toward the Holy Kingdom.

“Let’s call it a day.”

How much time had passed?

Just as the sun dipped below the mountain ridges, Kana finally broke her long silence.

Joanie, who was starting to run out of things to talk about, welcomed Kana’s words with a smile.

“It’s been a while since we camped out. Kana, have you ever camped before—ah, right, you definitely have.”

Remembering Kana’s previous occupation, Joanie awkwardly cut herself off.

If anything, Kana must have a lot more camping experience than her.

“But… you’re planning to camp here?”

The location, the terrain—it just didn’t seem like the best spot to set up camp.

While Joanie wasn’t as experienced as Kana, she had enough camping know-how to recognize that.

“We just have to find a good spot.”

Kana replied casually and lightly tapped her horse’s side, prompting it to move at a slow, measured pace.

“Hey, I think I see a light over there.”

While scanning for a campsite, Joanie caught sight of something glimmering in the distance.

A flickering fire dancing atop neatly arranged logs.

It could’ve been a naturally occurring fire, but logs don’t stack themselves so perfectly. This was definitely made by someone.

“Hold on—”

Overcome with excitement, Joanie urged her horse forward, leaving Kana behind as she headed straight for the campfire.

“Hello~? Anyone here?”

Who knew there’d be a clearing like this in the middle of nowhere?

If the person who arrived first was okay with it, it’d be nice if they could camp together.

Reaching the small clearing with the campfire, Joanie craned her neck, looking for its owner. Sёarch* The nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Clip-clop.

“Joanie.”

“Oh, you’re here!”

“…Sigh.”

Kana, who had followed closely behind, let out a deep sigh.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Kana parted her lips as if she had a lot to say but ended up swallowing her words.

Instead, she turned her gaze toward a presence she felt not too far away.

Rustle.

“Oh, are you travelers?”

“…A nun?”

Appearing with the soft sound of twigs or leaves crunching underfoot was a young woman dressed in a nun’s habit. She seemed like an adult but still had a hint of youthful innocence.

Joanie’s gaze unintentionally wandered to a certain area of the nun’s figure, then she suddenly recalled the donation message from earlier and shook her head furiously.

“Are you feeling unwell?” the nun asked with concern.

“Ah, n-no…! There was a bug.”

“Oh, I see. Most of the insects around here are harmless, but some do carry venom, so you should be cautious. Would you like me to take a look, just in case?”

“I-I’m fine….”

‘She’s a real nun…!’

The sight of the nun, who seemed to embody kindness itself, cleansed Joanie’s darkened thoughts, making her feel purified.

“Are you camping alone out here?” Joanie asked.

“Yes. I parted ways with my companions in the previous town, so I’m by myself.”

“I-Is it okay if we camp here as well? We wouldn’t want to impose….”

“Of course, go right ahead. I don’t own this land. I was actually worried about spending the night alone, but now I feel much safer with you around.”

The nun smiled gently as she set down the items she was carrying. Dry branches and berries scattered around her feet.

“Kana, she said we can stay! We can camp here together!”

“…Sigh.”

Seeing Joanie’s cheerful wave, Kana let out another sigh.