Yuria, Lucy, and I waited quietly inside the carriage.
It wasn't strange for us to remain idle in the carriage. When monsters or bandits appeared, it was the knights and soldiers who were responsible for dealing with them. We had brought them precisely for such situations, and their primary duty was to protect us.
From the escort knights' perspective, it was better for us to stay put.
We were acting normally; it was Kyle's eagerness to engage in combat himself that was unusual.
Since Kyle is always the first to rush into battle, there must be knights and soldiers who admire him as a model nobleman.
It all depends on the person. To some, Kyle might be an idol. To others, he might be an eyesore.
"The Plum Knights won't follow Kyle. They're already too accustomed to me."
Not all knights relish combat. Some, aware of its dangers, actively avoid it.
"After all, battles are rare occurrences."
During wartime, battles would be frequent, but these are peaceful times. In such times, knights rarely see actual combat perhaps only once or twice a month. The rest of their time is spent training.
"What's truly needed in peacetime is abundance."
I can provide them with abundance. The Plum Knights have long been accustomed to the goods I supply. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say they've become utterly dependent on cigarettes.
"Thank goodness I don't smoke. Seriously."
When I turned twenty, I almost started smoking. I'd been captivated by a movie actor who smoked with such effortless cool.
I saw an article online saying smoking causes erectile dysfunction.
Smoking! The root of impotence!
I never even glanced at a cigarette again.
Back then, masturbation was my greatest pleasure. Erectile dysfunction? The mere thought of it was terrifying.
If I'd awakened as a Hunter back then, things might have been different. Hunters with exceptional physiques are largely unaffected by smoking.
Now I don't smoke because it gives you bad breath.
The thought of my breath smelling like cigarettes when kissing a girl makes me want to puke.
"Y-Young Master Kyle..."
Lucy, Kyle's exclusive maid, fidgeted anxiously. She seemed deeply worried about him.
I hesitated, wondering what to say to Lucy, but decided to keep my mouth shut. After all, Kyle would undoubtedly return soon, acting as if nothing had happened.
And as expected, three minutes later, Kyle returned to the carriage.
However, he wasn't alone.
I glanced at the man and woman following behind Kyle. Their attire was lavish, clearly not the clothes of commoners or merchants. They must be nobles.
"...Who are these people?"
Kyle answered my question first, flashing his usual affable smile.
"They were traveling ahead of us when their carriage was destroyed by a monster attack. Since their destination is in the same direction as ours, I offered them a ride. Sung Yujin, you don't mind, do you?"
The carriage we're riding in is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two more people, so it's no problem. Besides, we'll reach our destination around noon tomorrow, so it's not like we'll be traveling together for long.
"It's fine. But you don't seem like ordinary people..."
I glanced at them.
The man and woman, with their pale skin and platinum-blonde hair, looked remarkably alike they could easily pass for siblings. The man had sharp features, but dark circles under his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I am Veint Huitris, heir to Count Huitris. We were recently attacked by a horde of ogres and trolls, but thanks to Young Master Kyle's assistance, we were able to quickly resolve the situation."
Count Huitres' estate was our destination. The Huge Snow Mountain, our true goal, loomed directly above the County of Huitres.
Though adjacent, the mountain did not belong to the county; Count Huitres had relinquished his claim to it long ago. The Hutris Family lacked the resources to fully control the monster-infested mountain.
Baint was a polite young man, yet he seemed somewhat subdued.
"I am Sung Yujin Prucus. I'm relieved to see you weren't seriously injured. And the lady beside you?"
"This is my sister, Bella Huitres."
Bella Huitres was a strikingly beautiful adult woman with platinum blonde hair and porcelain skin. She exuded an air of decadent allure rather than simple innocence.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Sung Yujin. I'm Bella. Our carriage was wrecked, and we were in quite a predicament until Young Master Kyle offered his assistance. We're deeply grateful."
I discreetly stole glances at her voluptuous figure. While everything about her was impressive, her breasts were particularly striking, easily a G-cup.
"...Ah."
Hearing her name triggered a belated realization.
Bella Huitres.
A villain from the original story.
A high-ranking member of the Demon Society "Pantheon," the true antagonist of the original work, and a witch who had made a pact with the Plague Demon. Pantheon's goal was to summon the Demon King to the continent and seize control of it.
With Count Huitres now bedridden due to old age, Bella was effectively the true head of the Hutris Family. Veint Huitres was merely a puppet figurehead.
"...So you're members of the Hutris Family. Since we're heading to Huge Snow Mountain, we'll be passing through the city where Count Huitres resides this evening."
"We're deeply grateful for your assistance. On the honor of House Huitres, we will never forget this debt," Baint declared resolutely.
I merely nodded. I held no particular expectations. The Hutris Family wasn't known for its exceptional power. More importantly, Bella Huitres was essentially Kyle's enemy.
To think I'd encounter her here of all places.
According to our original plan, we weren't supposed to stop in the city where the Hutris Family resided. Our destination was Huge Snow Mountain, so we would only pass near the city.
"Come, let's go inside."
I said with a smile, "Now that we've met, we can't afford to be careless. Just because Count Huitres' family is weaker than Count Prucus' doesn't mean we should make them enemies. Besides, if Bella Huitres becomes our enemy, she'll be more than just a nuisance."
Shortly after we were all inside, the carriage set off again.
"You're traveling to Huge Snow Mountain? What a wonderful choice! Just gazing at it brings such peace. And in summer, the coolness is divine! Our family used to visit often when my father was in better health."
"Really?!" Bella exclaimed, chattering excitedly with Lucy about the mountain's merits, why adventurers flock there, and the villages nearby.
This woman is putting on quite the act. If I hadn't known the original story, I would have been completely fooled too.
Bella was originally a ruthless and heartless character a witch who casually murdered people and spread plagues through villages.
Should I kill her now while I have the chance? Dealing with the plague later would be such a hassle.
Plagues were terrifying.
Even in modern times, the emergence of the novel coronavirus had caused utter chaos. In this world, plagues were more than just natural disasters; they were existential threats.
"By the way, Lord Veint, where were you returning from in your territory?"
"Ah, I attended a ball hosted by Viscount Holhood. On the way back, we were attacked by monsters, which is how I ended up in this state."
"That's... unfortunate. Are your escort knights alright?"
"Yes, several were injured, but none were killed. We owe our survival to Lord Prucus and his companions."
Viscount Holhood. A noble family with no ties to ours. In this world, where nobles are abundant, simply being of noble birth doesn't guarantee an invitation to every banquet.
"Young Master Kyle, I have a question. May I ask?" Bella inquired.
"Of course. If I can answer, I will," Kyle replied kindly.
"This woman... she doesn't seem like an ordinary maid. Does she perhaps hold some important secret?"
"Ah... Yuria is my younger brother's exclusive maid. She's a distant relative of Baron Hasent, our family's chief butler."
"I see." Bella smiled enigmatically and nodded to Yuria. Why did she specifically ask Kyle about Yuria?
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yuria. I'm Bella Huitres. I was quite surprised to see you don't look like an ordinary maid."
"...I am Yuria Grace, Young Master Sung Yujin Prucus's exclusive maid. I'm merely a servant, so there's no need to concern yourself with me."
"I'm very interested in you, Yuria. You're truly fascinating."
"Compared to Lady Bella, I am of humble status. Please direct your attention elsewhere."
Yuria simply smiled gently, as she always did, and remained silent.
"I've met many people in my life, Yuria. You possess a grace and dignity that surpasses even most noble ladies. I want to be your friend."
"You flatter me," I replied.
What's going on?
I frowned slightly.
I couldn't understand why Bella was showing such intense interest in Yuria.
Could it be...?
Is Bella a lesbian?
No. That can't be right.
It didn't feel like that.
"Yuria, do you have any foods you dislike? I can't stand sour things."
"I don't have any particular preferences," Yuria replied without a hint of annoyance. I thought Yuria was amazing. To answer such pointless questions so politely...
Bella's attention on Yuria persisted for quite some time.
Why is that witch so interested in Yuria?
I couldn't figure it out.
She wouldn't act like this without a reason. I need to be careful.
Evening.
The carriage came to a halt.
With nightfall approaching, we decided to camp by the roadside. Traveling at night in this world is dangerous, as monsters become more active after dark.
Dinner was prepared by the servants, who had arrived in a separate, lower-quality carriage. It was cramped and uncomfortable, as it also carried luggage.
Heh heh. They're smoking after all.
After finishing their meal, the Plum Knights gathered in a tight circle to smoke. They were introducing the Hutris Family knights to tobacco a most commendable sight. I watched them with satisfaction.
"That's how you promote cigarettes. If they become more popular, they'll sell like wildfire."
The more famous cigarettes become, the fatter my wallet grows.
"Next month, we'll start using the Korea Merchant Guild in earnest... It won't be long before cigarettes spread throughout the entire kingdom!"
What worries me is that the Magi Tower has already started copying rolled cigarettes.
"Fortunately, the Magi Tower is still in the testing phase. Even the cigarettes they sold as samples were crude compared to modern ones."
We can't underestimate the Magi Tower. Those mages will undoubtedly improve the quality of their cigarettes through various experiments. I need to establish a firm foothold before they start selling cigarettes in earnest.
"When people think of cigarettes, they should think of me and the Korea Merchant Guild, not the Magi Tower."
If things reached that point, I wouldn't even fear the Magi Tower selling tobacco.
I watched the knights smoking for a while before entering my tent, which I would share with Yuria.
Kyle must be using his own tent, I thought.
Kyle, being rather rigid about male-female relationships, would never share a tent with Lucy. This was for the best, preventing any unnecessary rumors.
I have no choice because of my heart condition. Heh heh heh.
Having a heart condition meant I needed the care of an exclusive maid. It was the perfect excuse.
Shall we enjoy another delightful night together?
As I entered the tent, I saw Yuria sitting on the bed. Her smile wasn't her usual pure, innocent one; it carried a seductive allure that stirred a man's heart.
I was about to take off my clothes and climb into bed when I heard Bella's voice.
"Young Master Sung Yujin, are you still awake?"
My body froze. I pulled up my half-lowered pants and replied, "Yes, I'm still awake. Miss Huetris, what brings you to my tent at this late hour?"
Could it be...? I wondered. Has she come to seduce me with those... assets? If she uses them, I won't be able to resist.
Hope swelled in my chest.
"I'd like to speak with Yuria alone for a moment. Would that be alright?"
The hope vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Of course. Her unusual interest in Yuria had been obvious since we were in the carriage earlier today.