Yor's Maiden looked very ordinary. After a glance, Kaito didn't pay her any more attention.
Even her Maiden and Kaito's Fire Keeper didn't recognize each other. They just stared wide-eyed at each other...
Oh no, the Fire Keeper wore a blindfold, so after looking at each other, they didn't speak, sitting stiffly like social phobics.
Yor, on the other hand, kept venting to Kaito about her experiences, talking about encountering dangerous monsters and such, and repeatedly thanked Kaito for his help and care.
She promised to pay him back as soon as she earned enough points.
"Haha, okay. Let's eat something."
Well...
Yor was terrible at cooking. It wasn't quite dark cuisine, but it definitely wouldn't taste good.
Kaito didn't ask the Fire Keeper to help; instead, he made a simple congee himself. It turned out pretty well.
"Oh, this is quite good!"
Yor, who had expected it to be bland, brightened up.
"Of course. I may not cook often, but I've got skills!"
Kaito smiled as they ate breakfast together, also sharing some with Yor's Maiden and the Fire Keeper.
After breakfast, they set off together for the harbor town.
They walked all the way, seeing the silhouette of the harbor town around noon, and finally arrived at the town in the afternoon.
It wasn't big, similar to a small village in reality, but the difference was the thick city walls, clearly meant for defense against enemies.
Upon entering the town and being identified as Tarnished, they didn't get much reaction.
There had been too many Tarnished appearing lately like Kaito.
However, to prevent them from causing trouble in town, the soldiers gave Kaito and the others a warning.
Since Kaito had no money, he certainly couldn't stay at an inn in town.
In any world, gold was a hard currency.
With his [God · Morax] ability, Kaito could naturally create Mora with ease.
And Mora were gold coins.
Of course, they didn't contain any elemental power; they were simply gold coins created from nothing by Kaito using his ability.
After observing the currency used in this world, he imitated it and artificially aged it.
Just like that, they had money~
"What? Only two rooms?"
"Alright, I understand."
The inn in town... wasn't great.
They went to the best inn, which wasn't large and was combined with a tavern.
Business was usually slow, and there were no good rooms.
They were basically simple single rooms; the large room Kaito wanted didn't exist.
The two slightly larger ones were all that remained; the single rooms were all occupied.
Either by people from this town with no housing, or by people from other villages staying temporarily.
Kaito looked at Yor, then at the Fire Keeper and the Maiden.
Helpless, he could only take the two rooms. After going in, he couldn't help but click his tongue at the shabbiness.
Aside from an extra window, a few potted plants, and some simple paintings on the wall, there was only a table, chairs, and a slightly larger bed.
The other room was the same; the single rooms were even more basic, purely for a night's sleep.
Well, don't be fooled by some idealized medieval games; the real medieval era was much more backward, filthy, and chaotic.
Even outside the streets, there was littering, even feces and urine.
Damn!
"How about this: Yor, you share a room with me, and the Fire Keeper can share with your Maiden?"
Originally, Kaito wanted to share a room with the Fire Keeper.
But...
Seeing Yor, he felt like sharing a room with her.
"Wha-Whaaat!?"
Yor panicked at Kaito's arrangement, her face turning bright red.
She had never had such intimate contact with a man!
Sleeping in the same large bed? How could she possibly do that!!
"I don't have a choice, there aren't any other rooms, right?"
"Th-This... I could sleep on the floor?"
"That would be such a hassle. Sleeping outdoors is one thing, but doing it indoors is another."
Kaito rejected Yor's suggestion.
With this woman, boldly pursuing was the way to go!
"My Lord... I can sleep on the floor. You just need to rest well in the bed."
It wasn't a problem for the Fire Keeper to share a room with the Maiden, but she preferred to stay with Kaito.
Especially since Kaito and Yor were competitors on the path to becoming Lord.
Even if they were very good friends now, there would ultimately be a winner in the end.
Thus, as Kaito's Maiden, the Fire Keeper felt obliged to keep him away from Yor as much as possible.
Apart from being wary of Yor, she also wanted to create distance between Kaito and Yor, even turning them into strangers.
That way...
On the path to becoming Lord, Kaito wouldn't hold back...!!
In fact, Yor's Maiden thought the same and disagreed with Kaito's arrangement.
"Ah..."
Kaito gave the Fire Keeper a helpless glare.
He understood her intentions and was even a bit pleased.
She was solely focused on him and cared about him.
But he also wanted to get closer to Yor!
"L-Let's do it this way! I'll share a room with my Maiden, Kaito-san, you share one with your Maiden..."
"...Alright, let's arrange it like this for tonight."
Kaito paused, and seeing that Yor was truly embarrassed, reluctantly agreed to her suggestion.
He had to consider her feelings after all.
Anyway, these things couldn't be rushed. There was still plenty of time; he could take it slow!
After eating a not-so-delicious dinner at the tavern downstairs, night fell.
Although this was a town, it wasn't very prosperous or lively. Since people needed lamps or torches to go out at night, there were hardly any entertainment options. Everyone stayed home and went to bed early.
Kaito did the same. After going to his room and lying down, the Fire Keeper simply intended to lie on the floor beside him.
"Hey, don't sleep on the floor. Come up and sleep with me."
"My Lord..."
"It's okay, come on. Is that an order?"
Hearing this, the Fire Keeper was silent for a moment. Seeing that Kaito was determined she not sleep on the floor, she walked to the other side of the bed and sat down.
Kaito didn't lie down, so she didn't either.
After Kaito lay down, she also deliberately left more space for him, only taking up a small spot for herself.
That would be enough...
!!!
"M-My Lord, what are you...!"