(Attendances… plz…)
….
The ride back to the Roswaal mansion was quiet.
The only sounds were the rhythmic wooden creak of the carriage wheels rolling over the dirt road and the heavy breathing of the ground dragon pulling them.
Ram held the reins at the front, her eyes fixed on the road. Beside her Gojo sat comfortably. In his lap lay a small black puppy, sleeping soundly or unconscious for that matter.
Ram didn't know that this harmless-looking ball of fur was actually the terrifying giant wolf, named Garm, that had tried to eat her just before in the forest.
In the back of the carriage, slumped against the other supplies, was the purple-haired girl, Meili. She was also sleeping aka unconscious.
Gojo looked to the side passing trees, a small smile playing on his lips. He let out a long, relaxed sigh.
"So… we are pretty late, huh?" Gojo said, breaking the silence.
Ram didn't look at his side. Her voice was flat. "That we are. But it could not be helped. Are you sure that leaving the village just like that was safe for them? What if other Mabeasts come?"
Gojo lifted a hand and swirled his finger in the air, a gesture that meant nothing but looked important. "I took care of the Mabeasts that were there. And I think those were the only ones that came. Not to mention, I already deployed somewhat of a barrier there. So, no need to worry. Roswaal or Emilia or whoever does maintenance on them can just go in their leisure time to fix that stone."
Ram tightened her grip on the reins. "So, what about the girl? Are we going to hand her over to the guards or…"
"Nah," Gojo interrupted, his tone breezy. "It is a personal matter. No need to involve other people in that."
Ram frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. "You cannot be serious. She was controlling those Mabeasts. And that giant Mabeast too. We cannot just n…"
"And once again," Gojo interrupted her, leaning forward slightly, "nothing happened. I took care of all that. I already dealt with that giant beast and those oversized dogs too. And once yet again, a personal matter. She will be living with me for some time. It is just a misunderstanding that I have to set straight. So, all in all, it is like nothing ever happened. Hahahaha Aren't I awesome?"
Ram felt a vein pulse in her forehead. "I will be reporting all of this to Master Roswaal. It is not your place to decide what is or…"
"And I could not care less, once again," Gojo said, leaning back somewhat and petting the sleeping puppy. "I think that man will see it my way when I explain it. And as I said… it is somewhat of a personal matter."
Ram fell silent. Speaking to this man was like trying to talk to a brick wall. It would have been good if that wall didn't talk back but for her luck this one did talk back.
He was a headache. He didn't consider the rules, he didn't know basic manners, and to her, he didn't report back to her master, he was just a brute with too much power.
He didn't respect her, and most importantly, he didn't respect her master. She couldn't understand why her master would keep him, offer him a place in Emilia's camp, or even let him stay in the mansion.
She really, really didn't like him. She didn't like how he spoke to her. She didn't like how he spoke about her Master Roswaal.
She sneered, her voice dripping with cold venom. "I do not like you one bit."
Gojo looked at the back of her head with a grin. "Really? Don't lie to yourself. How could one even dislike a charismatic face such as myself? Not to mention me saving you like a prince. How many times? Hmmm… well, if we consider all of it, like against all those Mabeasts, then I saved you hundreds of times. You know, saying you don't like your savior at all… that almost hurts, Ram."
Ram didn't reply. She just snapped the reins, making the ground dragon run a little faster. Yes, she absolutely did not like him.
…
They should have returned before the sun went down. Even if they had been slow with the shopping, they should have been back hours ago. But now, it was deep into the night.
At the mansion, the atmosphere was somewhat tense. Rem, Emilia, and Subaru were worried.
Though Subaru wasn't worried about them exactly, he was worried about Emilia, as she was worried about them.
For him, it was simple, there shouldn't be anything to worry about with Gojo's cheats in his mind.
He even tried to tell Rem and Emilia that there was nothing to worry about, but they just said, "How do you know?" and well, he couldn't exactly say that he had cheats that he got from some wish or god before coming here.
Finally, the sound of wheels reached them. The carriage rolled out of the darkness and stopped in front of the mansion.
Before Ram could even hop down, the greeting party was there.
"Sister!" Rem said out loud, running to the side of the carriage. Her face was full of relief. "What happened? Why are you so late? I was so worried. As you were lonely with that man. I thought something happened."
Gojo hopped out of the carriage first. He stretched his arms high. With a flick of his finger, he used Blue. The bags of vegetables, supplies, and all that Ram had bought floated out of the carriage and hovered in the air behind him like a train of luggage.
Gojo noticed that Rem didn't even realize that "that man" she was talking about was standing right beside her.
"You do know that 'that man' is right here, right?" he said.
Rem didn't reply. She simply ignored him, as if he didn't exist.
Gojo just smiled and whispered to himself, "These two sisters… I swear, they're like an upgraded version of Utahime."
Ram stepped down, looking tired. "We had a slight problem in the village related to Mabeasts."
Emilia and Subaru had just come out as well, and then instantly having heard Ram's.
"What?!" Emilia gasped, her violet eyes going wide. She stepped forward, looking frantic. "How? Mabeasts shouldn't be able to enter the village! The barrier… Is anyone hurt? Are you guys hurt? And what happened?"
Subaru jumped up from the steps. "Yeah! You guys had us worried sick! I was about to grab a sword and come running!" He looked at Gojo. "You better not have been goofing off while Ram did all the work!"
Gojo waved his hand dismissively. "It's already resolved. The stone that keeps the village safe was malfunctioning somehow. Well, nothing to worry about too much. I handled it. The Mabeasts were quite literally too weak. And the village is safe too, for that matter."
Subaru looked at him, annoyed by his relaxed attitude. "You are talking like that isn't a big matter. Huh? Monsters attacking a village is a huge deal!"
"Well, it is not for me if that matter is resolved already," Gojo said with a shrug.
Before Subaru could shout back, a slow, singing voice drifted from the mansion entrance.
"Welllll, I was about to just go find you myself, as you were quuuuite late without any message at all."
Roswaal L. Mathers stepped into the light. He was wearing his usual eccentric outfit and clown makeup. His yellow and blue eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at them.
"But whaaaaat issss it that am I hearinggggg?" Roswaal continued. "The magic stone shouldn't stop functioning. It shouldn't happen unless someone was messing with it."
Ram bowed her head deeply. "I apologize, Master Roswaal. I told him to let me report to you first, but he didn't listen and went alone into the forest."
Roswaal smiled, a strange, unreadable expression. "What are you saying, Ram? Why would I be angry? Seeing that you both are unharmed and all, I assume that all things are taken care of." He looked at the white-haired man. "Did you fix the magic stone, Gojo?"
Gojo scratched the back of his head. "Oh, no. I thought you would do it. So I didn't mess with it… even if I wanted to try something. But oh well, some other time I guess. Though you don't have to worry about it as of now. You can go there at your leisure and fix it."
Emilia looked shocked. "What are you saying? If the magic stone is broken or is not functioning, we have to replace it immediately! Otherwise, any Mabeast can enter and exit the village and hurt the innocent villagers!"
"Yesss," Roswaal agreed, his tone turning a bit sharper. "Gojo, you shouldn't take these things lightly… unless you somehow took care of it all, I assume?"
Gojo grinned. "Wow, I think you know me better now, man. Well, one thing led to another, and that another thing led to another, and I took care of all the Mabeasts that were there in the forest or whatever came at me." He paused, looking proud.
"Though, assuming they all weren't the only ones in the forest, I deployed my own barrier. So it should keep the village safe with no problem."
Roswaal raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "A barrier? I thought you were a beginner in magic. I didn't know you were already proficient in barrier magic this soon to confidently say that it will keep the Mabeasts away."
Gojo just laughed. "Well, I learn fast. But meh, it isn't that special of a barrier. Just a little trick I picked up. But it should be enough for a while. So just go and fix it in the morning when you have time."
While they were talking, everyone had been looking at Gojo. But now, as he moved, the line of floating luggage shifted. Behind the sacks of vegetables and other supplied, two other things were floating too.
Floating peacefully in mid-air was a small purple-haired girl, fast asleep. And next to her, floating on its back with its paws in the air, was the black puppy.
"Uhh… Gojo?" Subaru pointed a shaking finger. "Is that… a kid? And a dog? Why are you floating a kid like a bag of groceries?"
Rem's eyes caught something. "Is that a child?"
Roswaal's eyes too darted to the floating figures. "Though I wouldn't like to overwhelm you when you just returned… why is there a puppy and a child mixed in with those supplies? Are you trying to hide them in between the supplies?"
Gojo turned around, acting like he had just noticed them. "Hahaha, well you see… didn't I just say that one thing led to another?"
"You said that part already!" Subaru yelled.
"And that another thing led to another," Gojo continued, ignoring him, "and that another, another thing led to another. And these two were hurt. So I came here because Emilia can use healing magic and…"
"They will be staying here for a while. I hope that won't be a problem… will it, man?"
The scene went silent. Ram looked at Roswaal, waiting for him to refuse. And she also has to report what happened and all.
Emilia, however, gasped. "Hurt? Oh no! We need to get them inside right now!" She looked at Roswaal. "Roswaal, please! We can't leave an injured child outside!"
Roswaal looked at Emilia, then at Gojo. He smiled, his painted lips curling up.
"If Emilia-sama wishesss it, then who am I to refuuuuuse?" Roswaal said, spreading his arms. "And if our gueeeest insists, then we must show hospitality. Bring them in."
Gojo grinned, snapping his fingers. The floating luggage, along with the girl and the puppy, began to drift toward the mansion door.
"Thanks, man," Gojo said as he walked past him. " knew you'd understand."
"Please," Roswaal said to Gojo's back, his voice low. "It is my pleasure."
"Hahaha. Good!" Gojo called back.
Subaru watched him go, then turned to Ram. "Are you okay?"
Ram sighed, a long, deep sound of exhaustion. "You have no idea, Barusu. You have absolutely no idea."
….
A/N: So, How was it?!
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