Chapter 77 - Night Sky
I decided not to return to the orphanage that day and stay at the Ghost Mansion instead.
Beatrix and Beowulf had already moved in, each securing a room of their own.
"Has Lyudmila moved in yet?"
"Only half-moved."
"Half?"
"Because Beatrix and Beowulf weren't here. I only came to take a bath in the evening and stayed at the orphanage at night. Being alone is scary."
It seemed she hadn't used her bed yet.
"Well, you can sleep at the Ghost Mansion from now on, right?"
"Being alone on the second floor at night is scary, you know."
"What will you do when Beowulf can't stay over?"
"You can just stay in my room."
The lonely mage chimed in. Come to think of it, this would be the first time Beatrix slept alone since coming to the orphanage.
"Then let me stay too. I haven't been able to buy a bed yet."
"That's fine."
By the way, the room assignments were already complete.
There were four bedrooms each on the second and third floors.
The group that made noise doing push-ups and such took the second floor, while those who lived quietly took the third. There were three noisy ones. I wondered what would happen to the remaining room, but Lyudmila volunteered for it. However, it came with a condition. She said she wanted the room in the back.
"But why did Lyudmila choose the second floor?"
"Yeah. The view is better from the third floor."
"Because the backyard is close."
In the Ghost Mansion, the stairs are at the north end, and the first-floor landing has an entrance to the backyard.
"So that's why you chose the back room."
"Yeah. I can go straight to the field that way."
My room currently has no furnishings at all. However, thanks to Adolf-san giving me some well-paying jobs lately, I've become a bit of a 'small-time wealthy' person. I'm free this month anyway. It's the perfect time for shopping. I might as well buy curtains, a carpet, a bed, a table, a sofa, and a chest.
"Hey, shall we take a bath right away?"
"Not a bad idea. Lyudmila, could you heat the bath for us?"
"Sure. I'll make the big one today."
There are two bathtubs: a large stone one that can fit about five people at once, and a small wooden one for one person. The water is heated by stoking firewood from the backyard, then buckets of tap water are added to adjust it to a suitable temperature.
Usually, Lyudmila heats it with magic fire instead of firewood, so there are no firewood costs. Thanks to living in town, we have unlimited use of the water supply. Of course, we have to pay a poll tax of one gold coin per year, but for now, it seems we'll manage.
"Speaking of which, what are we going to do about the bath from now on?"
"What do you mean? It'll be the same as the orphanage. Lyudmila heats it, goes in first, and then everyone else follows, right?"
"But you know, sometimes we're late, or there might be times when Lyudmila can't heat the bath."
"If Lyudmila has a cold and can't do it, I'll do it. Firewood is a waste of money, after all. If someone is late..."
The two of us looked at Lyudmila, who smilingly pulled several palm-sized pieces of parchment out of her storage bag.
They were labeled 'Bath Heating Priority Voucher' and had Lyudmila's signature on them.
"I'll set the times for heating the bath. But if someone wants to go in at a different time, I'll have them give me something in exchange for this."
"So, an exchange for tribute. You're quite the operator, aren't you?"
Beatrix, who is always business-minded, was impressed.
"Can we give you anything?"
"You can help me with the field work."
"Just once?"
"Maybe three times."
In short, one has to negotiate with Lyudmila.
"So, we should give you something or help you in advance to get a priority voucher, right?"
"Yeah."
We had the water heated immediately. After Lyudmila finished, I went in with Beatrix.
"Phew. As I thought, a bathtub where you can stretch your legs is the best."
"Truly. It feels great."
The two of us rested our heads on the edge, lying on our backs and letting our bodies float. At the mountain fortress, it was a one-person tub, so we had to crouch. Since we were able to bathe every day on the battlefield, it might be considered a luxury, but I can't help but compare.
"You don't have soap, do you?"
"Now that you mention it, I hadn't bought any. I always bought small ones at the public bath."
"I bought some with the Class of 175's funds."
"I'll count on you for next time too."
"Yes, yes."
Steam rose from the bathtub.
Droplets fell from the ceiling, creating ripples in the water.
After the bath, the three of us went up to the rooftop.
It was our first time going up at night.
In Nakanohara, there aren't many buildings with three or more stories. Looking down, the town lights were beautiful.
Looking at the northern sky, I could see the North Star and a constellation shaped like seven ladles. (T/N: The Big Dipper).
There seem to be various legends associated with those stars, but we've taken to calling them the 'Star of the Class of 175.' That's because there are eight when you include the North Star. We haven't decided who will be the North Star. It should be whoever is at the center of things at that particular time.
The three of us gazed at the Star of the Class of 175.
"It's a rental, but we've finally gotten a house where we can all live together."
Beatrix was being unusually sentimental.
"I suppose. Even if it is a rental."
"Hey, Jeanne. Do you think we can make it happen? Finding work. Everyone earning money. Realizing each person's dream. Earning even more money. And then..."
We've agreed not to speak of what comes after that.
"I don't know. But I think it's better than not thinking anything at all."
"Some of us will probably end up getting married and things like that."
"True. If that happens, I want them to prioritize their family. The rest of us can just keep working hard."
"Yeah."
She didn't have her usual energy. Perhaps she's feeling discouraged because she was powerless against the Fenrir.
"It'll be okay. The Headmistress said that if you don't believe, nothing will come true."
It was Lyudmila. She was smiling.
"That's right, Lyudmila. Exactly."
I patted her head.
"Even if I get married, I'll keep working hard with everyone."
"That's right. Lyudmila, you're—wait! You're planning on getting married?"
It was a shocking statement.
"Lyudmila. Is there a boy you like?"
Beatrix was also surprised.
If she were to marry, the partner would be a girl. No, which would it be?
"The Headmistress told me to look in a mirror."
Lyudmila was gazing at the night sky.
"A mirror?"
What about a mirror?
"If I reflect myself in a mirror, I see the 'me' on the other side, right? The 'me' on the other side surely has the heart of a man."
Even so, you can't go to the other side.
"She said it's not guaranteed that someone like me is the only one in the world. So, surely, somewhere out there, there's a person from the 'other side.'"
I see. This girl has her own worries.
"Are you going to look for them?"
When Beatrix asked, she replied, "I don't know."
"For now, I'm fine like this."
When I hugged her without saying a word, she smiled without saying a word.
"We need to prepare for Paul-san to take us to the forbidden area."
I asked after the three of us had quietly gazed at the night sky for a while.
Since it wasn't an officially sanctioned monster extermination, we would be acting separately from Beowulf and Will. In their place, Bonnie, who aspires to be a hunter, would be joining us.
"Right. Let's prepare thoroughly and go have a look at this 'bear' or whatever it is."
Her motivation had returned. That's how it should be.
"Is Lyudmila coming too?"
She nodded with a "Yeah." It seemed she would finish sowing the seeds in the field by tomorrow. She would have her comrades who were waiting for graduation take over the watering in exchange for bath priority vouchers.
"Then, after talking to Paul-san tomorrow and making various preparations, the four of us will go hunt the bear."
I'll have the Oracle see me.
I'll change the out-of-season Green Marble gear to autumn specifications.
I want to get the room furnishings ready too.
I have to do one more round of rat extermination this week.
There are so many things to do.
"First, we have to earn."
It's just as Beatrix says.
"He said if we defeat one bear, it'll be a profit of two gold coins, right?"
Paul-san had mentioned that before.
"Then the goal is one per person."
"No, that's impossible."
Including Paul-san and Robinson-san, we'd have to defeat six in total. That's a bit of a stretch.
"It'll be okay."
Lyudmila, you're saying that without any basis at all, aren't you?
"Nothing will come true if you don't believe. Right, Lyudmila?"
Lyudmila giggled.
"Shall we head back soon?"
It was getting chilly. It's not good to get a chill after a bath. We'll catch a cold.
"Yeah. By the way, where are you sleeping?"
"In your bed, obviously."
"No way, I'm sleeping with Lyudmila."
"Ehh! Then where am I supposed to sleep?"
Beatrix's room only had one bed. She hadn't had time to buy anything else.
"There's a dust cloth spread on the floor, though."
"I hate that. Let's all three sleep in the bed."
"It's too narrow. Impossible, impossible. Someone will definitely fall out in the middle of the night."
"Then I'll take the middle."
"The middle is for me, the owner of the room!"
"Shall we decide by drawing straws?"
"No."
In the end, we decided to tie ourselves to the bed with rope and sleep all three together.
If we bag a bear, let's bring the fur home instead of selling it.
Protagonist's earned extermination rewards: 13 gold coins, 11 silver coins (over four months)
End of Chapter 3