Sniff, sniff.
A warm, comforting aroma tickled my nose, stirring me from sleep.
Outside the window, the setting sun scattered its soft golden light across the sky.
I slowly sat up, looking around.
A cozy bed, familiar furniture… This was definitely not the wagon.
I was in an inn.
Did Ellie move us here?
“Hmm… Teacher, you’re awake…?”
Harp’s groggy voice came from nearby. She was still lying down, her face sleepy and her hair a fluffy mess.
“Good morning, Harp.”
“Good morning to you too, Teacher…”
She rubbed her eyes and gave me a drowsy smile.
Harp was clearly not a morning person—or an evening person, in this case.
Well, technically, it’s not morning, but who’s keeping track?
“Yeah, but… what’s that? Something smells really good.”
Sniff, sniff.
My nose twitched instinctively, catching the savory scent wafting from somewhere nearby.
What is this smell? Bread?
Grrrrooowl.
The moment I registered the delicious aroma, my empty stomach growled loudly, demanding food after hours of neglect.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Ellie poked her head in.
“Oh, you’re up? Perfect timing! Dinner’s ready, so come on out!”
“Dinner?!”
“Huh…? Dinner?”
“Harp, let’s go! I’m starving!”
“O-okay! Wait for me!”
Grabbing Harp’s hand, I dashed out the door, my empty stomach driving me forward with singular purpose.
“Oh!”
Still half-asleep, Harp stumbled as I pulled her along to the inn’s courtyard.
There, Ellie was busy setting up a small table laden with a variety of dishes.
The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the warmth of soup and the savory scent of meat and vegetables, all arranged neatly on the table.
Wow.
What kind of feast was this?
“Ah, kids! You’re finally up!”
At the table, Alex was already gnawing on a massive piece of meat.
The way he tore into it like someone who hadn’t eaten in days was so ridiculous that Harp shook her head in disbelief.
“…What a foolish man,” she muttered.
“What?”
Sigh.
“Come on, you two, sit down before the food gets cold,” Ellie called with a smile.
“Yes! Harp, let’s go.”
“Okay!”
The two of us sat at the table, and soon we were chatting and enjoying the meal together.
“Harp, try this. It’s really good!”
“Okay!”
“What about feeding some to this poor old man?” Alex chimed in, looking pitiful.
“Fine. Here you go.”
“Teacher, you should try this, too,” Harp said, offering me a piece.
“Ah, thanks, Harp.”
“Say ah~!”
“Ahhh~”
“…Um, what about me?”
At one point, a playful tug-of-war erupted over a bite of food I was offering, leaving everyone laughing.
“So, at that moment, this guy here charged straight in, risking everything, and—wham!—socked the commander right in the jaw!” Alex recounted dramatically.
“Whoa!”
“…Huh.”
Even Harp seemed captivated by Alex’s vivid storytelling, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Man, Alex, you’ve really been through it all,” I said, chuckling.
“That’s life for you. Someday, when you’ve been on enough adventures, stuff like this will feel like no big deal.”
Despite his usual antics, the way he said it made me believe him—just a little.
“So, you’re saying that makes you sound old, Alex.”
“W-what? Harp, I’ll have you know this uncle is still in his twenties!”
“Oh my gosh, that’s the most shocking thing I’ve heard all year.”
“T-that’s not… Eve! Eve, what do you think? I totally look like I’m in my twenties, right? Right?”
“Uh… o-oh…”
The shocking revelation of Alex claiming to be in his twenties threw me for a loop.
Still, despite the occasional surprises, it was a warm meal shared with close companions, filled with lighthearted banter.
I loved this peaceful time.
I felt truly happy.
After that, our days settled into a steady routine.
We slept at inns, ate meals prepared by Ellie, rode the wagon while taking in the scenery, and leaned on each other for warmth when we were tired.
How many days had passed like this?
Before I knew it, Ellie announced that we were only a few hours away from the capital.
I turned to look out the window, watching the landscape unfold before my eyes.
“I wonder what the capital will be like…”
I murmured softly, more to myself than anyone else.
Both Harp and Alex were fast asleep, leaning against each other on the wagon seat.
Oddly enough, these two, who used to bicker constantly, had grown noticeably closer during this journey.
They hardly fought anymore.
Did Harp finally open up to him?
Or maybe they were just too tired to argue after the long journey.
Either way, it was good to see Harp becoming more of herself again.
“Hey, everyone, we’re almost at the capital!” Ellie called out cheerfully.
“Oh!”
Finally, after hours of travel, we arrived at the capital.
Eagerly, I stuck my head out the window to take in the view of the grand city.
“Wow…”
My first impression was simply, “This is incredible.”
The towering walls of the capital were massive, even at a glance.
No matter how far back I tilted my head, I couldn’t see the top.
Even at the entrance, there was already a long line of people waiting to get in.
The lively chatter of the crowd blended with the shouts of merchants and the clatter of wagons, creating a bustling, vibrant atmosphere.
“So this is the capital…”
“The capital’s always like this,” Ellie said with a smirk, clearly amused by my reaction.
“Just wait until you see the marketplace—it’ll be so crowded you won’t be able to move.”
“There are so many people. I wonder when we’ll get inside?”
“Hah, someone’s eager to get in, huh? Don’t worry, Eve, it won’t take long. Our turn will come soon.”
Just as Ellie said, our turn came quickly as I idly amused myself by tickling Harp’s soft, sleeping hands.
“Hmm.”
A gruff-looking guard approached the wagon.
He didn’t look friendly—his stern face gave off the impression that he wasn’t one for small talk.
Wow, so facial expressions really are science, huh?
His sharp glare swept over us, making me shrink back slightly.
It wasn’t that I was scared—he just startled me with how suddenly he frowned, like we’d already annoyed him somehow.
Really. I’m not scared.
“Purpose?”
His voice was low and deep, almost like it came from a cave.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he was intentionally trying to sound intimidating.
Ellie, unbothered, answered with a cheerful smile.
“We’re here by invitation from the Hero.”
“…Invitation from the Hero?”
The guard’s stoic expression faltered for a moment.
He looked at Ellie with surprise, then shifted his gaze to the wagon’s interior.
For some reason, his eyes landed on me.
Wait, why me?
“Uh?”
Startled, I instinctively leaned back, ducking behind Alex’s large, sleeping hand.
Only my face peeked out, cautiously watching the guard.
The guard’s face turned red for some reason, and he let out a quiet exclamation.
“Wow.”
“Ahem. Guard, sir?” Ellie prompted.
“A-ah, it’s nothing! My apologies! Please proceed immediately!”
With that, the guard quickly stepped aside, allowing us to pass through.
At Ellie’s sharp clearing of her throat, the guard snapped back to his senses, straightened up, and quickly ordered the gates to be opened.
“Be careful next time,” Ellie said with a polite smile.
“Y-yes, of course! Have a good day!”
“Thanks for your hard work~.”
Thud.
“Hm…?”
As we passed through the gates, I casually waved at the guard.
To my surprise, he clutched his chest as if he’d been struck.
What’s with him? Is he okay?
“Ellie, wasn’t that guard acting a little strange?” I asked, still puzzled.
Now that I thought about it, his blank stare while looking at me was a bit unsettling. Was he alright?
“Yeah, it’s unusual for a capital guard to react like that. Even I’ve never seen it before.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“Who knows?”
Ellie’s shrug suggested she was as clueless as I was.
Oh well, it’s probably nothing.
Maybe the guard was just having an off day.
Though his flushed face and dazed expression made me worry.
If he’s really not feeling well, I hope he goes home early.
Health is more important than work, after all.
“Looks like the inn should be around here somewhere.”
As the wagon moved through the bustling streets, I watched the cityscape change through the window.
Eventually, we turned into a quieter street, away from the busy city center.
“Ah, here we are! This is where we’ll be staying tonight,” Ellie announced.
I stuck my head out to look.
The inn had a simple yet clean exterior, with small flower pots placed by the door, giving it a cozy and welcoming vibe.
“Wow, it looks nice. It kind of reminds me of the orphanage.”
“Good eye. I picked this place on purpose. Familiar surroundings make it easier to relax. Plus, it’s away from the noisy main streets, so it’s perfect for resting.”
Ellie opened the wagon door for me.
I instinctively moved to take her hand for help, but then I stopped myself, stepping down carefully on my own.
“Tsk, this big sister’s hand is for you to hold when getting down,” Ellie teased, wagging a finger.
“…I can get down on my own,” I replied, crossing my arms with a slight pout.
“Why? Because you’re an adult now?” Ellie teased with a smirk.
“Not now—I’ve always been an adult!” I huffed, crossing my arms.
“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.”
Our conversation must’ve been noisy, as Harp stirred and rubbed her eyes, her face still sleepy and disheveled.
“Harp, you’re awake!”
“Ah, good morning, Teacher… yawn…”
“Good morning! Did you sleep well?”
Harp yawned again and nodded lazily.
“Guess we’ve arrived. Ugh, my back is killing me,” grumbled Alex, waking up as Harp shifted away from him. He scratched his head and started complaining.
“That’s because you’re old,” Harp quipped with perfect timing.
“What? Ellie, you’re not exactly ageless yourself—ah, sorry.”
“Good. I see you’ve learned. You haven’t forgotten about the soup incident, right?” Ellie replied, narrowing her eyes.
“…My apologies.”