151 -) I Missed You
Year 1452, month 08, day 15
Two days after the auction, we were called to the auction hall by a staff member. I met the owner of the auction hall, Afrasiab Bulan, again. We caught up about the last two days, then I took my payment before leaving.
I had a little more than 1,000 gold coins when I first arrived in the capital. I sold items I brought with me for around 2,000 gold coins, and I got 252,600 gold coins. The total amount I am leaving with is 255,600 gold coins.
I asked Afrasiab to exchange 50,000 of these gold coins for 500 platinum coins. So I currently have 500 platinum coins bagged in a medium-sized pouch, 82 bags of coins containing 2,500 gold coins each, and another medium-sized pouch containing 600 gold coins.
I had 110 inventory slots, and 20 of them were already filled with items. So I had 90 inventory slots empty. Each slot could hold 30kg, so I asked them to put 2,500 gold coins in each bag.
Each gold coin is around 10 grams, and each platinum coin is around 12 grams. Therefore, the bag is around 25kg, just gold coins, and there is the bag’s weight on it. So I stuffed all the pouches and bags in my inventory. There remained just 6 empty slots.
Since we finished what we wanted to do in the capital long ago, we departed immediately. We planned to use the same route as before, so we took a carriage at the exit gate of the outer city.
We were on our way toward the checkpoint outside the city to use the Warp. However, something was bothering me since we left the auction hall this morning. I was always suspicious that some problem might occur as we are involved with a massive amount of coins, so I was putting my guards up.
So I was sure that someone was keeping watch over us. It would be much harder normally, but thanks to my sense stat, I noticed a vague feeling like a certain group of people following us.
If it were to be at the outskirts, I would just find and slaughter them. That would be easy even if they were to have tier 4 jobs. However, this is the city. Despite all that, I wasn’t worried at all. There is no way they will be able to follow us after we are teleported.
The carriage came to a stop, and I got out. After walking a few minutes and reaching the guard spot, we moved to an empty area so I could use the Warp. Before I could activate it, I felt the pursuers who were keeping watch as far away as possible frantically start to get close.
I uncontrollably smirked since they could not do anything, even though they could catch up. I activated the Warp, then gestured for Sarya to get in. She nodded and stepped in. When she disappeared, it was my turn to move in. Before getting in, I turned toward where I felt the pursuers, smirked mockingly, then got inside.
“Oh!” When I stepped out from the Warp gate, Sarya turned to me from looking around and said, “You got us to your house.”
I designated our target location as the small hut beside my home. She entered the gate before me, so she must be trying to figure out where we are transported.
“Yes.” I nodded to her question. “I mostly use here to go somewhere…” However, as soon as I said that, I noticed something around and turned toward the home.
“Huh?” Sarya looked puzzled as she noticed my gaze. “Is there a problem?”
“...” I did not say anything to her at first, but just scratched my cheek awkwardly before asking, “Umm… Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“Tok, tok, tok!” Someone knocked on the front door three times.
Woya was placing the vegetables and fruits she bought from the shop in the kitchen. Wyn’s voice could be heard as she was cleaning the house, giving instructions as she was teaching Elaris how to do house chores.
Since the other two were busy with something, Woya decided to answer the door herself. She was wondering who it might be, but she was expectant for someone to come. Even the knocking on the door was so familiar, or she was just being lovesick.
The girls felt awkward when they came home yesterday and could not find their master, as he had not returned from his trip yet. They had no idea when he would come back, so they just dedicated themselves to training and house chores to keep their mind busy.
This morning too, Woya and Wyn practiced their sword while Elaris tried to refine her dagger and shooting skills. After the warming, Woya and Wyn sparred while Elaris watched to learn from them. When the training was finished, Wyn and Elaris started to clean while Woya went shopping for dinner.
Woya walked with fast steps and put her right hand on the doorknob, then turned it as her chest was beating fast. When the door was open, there were two figures in front of it, one male and one female. However, for some reason, Woya did not even notice the female at first.
“... M-master!” She exclaimed in ecstasy. Her mouth was nearly reaching her ears. Anyone could tell that she was extremely happy.
“I am home,” Han said with a soft smile. He could not help but smile when she was making a face like that.
“... Welcome home, Master.” Her smile turned more gentle, and she welcomed me with a bow. “Umm…” However, when she raised her head again, she squirmed as if wanting to say something.
“Hmm?” Han tilted his head and asked, “What is it?”
“I-it is… I-I missed you, Master,” she hardly said as her face turned crimson.
“... Hahaha!” Han could not react immediately as he was caught off guard; then he laughed out loud before saying, “I am glad. I missed you too…” While Han said that, there were rushed footsteps, so he stretched his sentence and looked toward the ones who came and added, “I missed you all.”
This time, Wyn and Elaris were the ones who were caught off guard. They already looked excited, then their face turned both shy and happy. They could only greet him in return, “Welcome home, Master,” and “Welcome home, big brother Han.”
“Yeah, I am home,” Han said with a satisfied smile on his face.
“... This is a good sight to see. Huhuhu.” There were a few seconds of silence after that, but it was Sarya who broke the silence. “You did not even notice I was also here. You must have really missed him. Huhuhu.” She said teasingly with a soft laugh.
“Oh! I-I am so sorry, Madam Sarya! You are welcome as well. Please forgive me.” Woya replied with a flustered voice. She must have indeed not noticed her until now. They had also known each other for a while, so it might look rude. So she hastily tried to apologize.
“No, no.” She shook her head. “I saw something interesting, so it is fine.”
“T-thank you.” Woya bowed toward her again with a relieved expression.
“Welcome, Madam Sarya.” Wyn also greeted her with a light bow as she looked like she had collected herself while Woya and Sarya were discussing. Elaris also bowed toward Sarya as if she were imitating her mother. Han saw this and thought that it was cute and smiled.
“Yes.” She nodded toward Wyn, then Elaris, with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Alright.” Han clapped his hands and said, “Let’s go inside. It is not good to wait and speak in front of the door like that.”
They went inside, led by Han, and sat down in the living room. Han took the head chair as always and straightened his posture as if getting used to it again after a long time. Wyn and Woya took the chairs on the right, while Sarya and Elaris sat on his left.
“How was it?” Han asked, “Did you relieve your longing with your parents? I am sure they would be happy when they see you are doing well.”
“We are so glad that you let us visit our home again, Master.” Wyn bowed.
“I was so happy to be able to see both my family and friends again. Thank you, Master.” Woya also bowed happily.
Han nodded with a smile, then asked, “How were your mother and father? Are they coping well?”
“Yes, Master.” Wyn nodded before explaining, “They were quite worried, but a lot of time had passed already. So they just got used to it.”
“They were quite happy when they saw us, though. They were no longer worried, even when it was our time to leave.” Woya interjected, then said dejectedly, “Though they were quite worried when they learned we were still slaves.”
“It can’t be helped.” Han shook his head.
“Yes.” Wyn nodded. “They understood that we are not suffering, so there is no need for them to worry about us.”
“That’s good, then,” Han smiled.
Han decided to talk with Silas Vane before opening the topic of Lupinkel, so he decided to push it out for now. Instead, they talked about what he and Sarya experienced in the capital and what the capital was like. Of course, they omitted the parts about the times they shared privately.
The girls eagerly listened and asked questions. It was about the capital of the country they are living in, after all. Elaris was especially curious; maybe she is still young. Despite their happy chatter, there were subtle changes on Woya and Wyn's faces from time to time. Unlike them, Elaris was always smiling innocently.
The chat took a few hours, and the sun had already turned. So they decided that it was time to start preparing dinner. Han said that Sarya was a guest today for dinner and left for his room to arrange his inventory.
The girls obediently answered that they would prepare accordingly, but there was a hint of cautiousness on their faces since it is not common for their master to invite someone for dinner. They thought that it may be because she is a woman, but that made it look more like a problem for them.
Although they started to be wary of Sarya for some reason, they happily accompanied her. Sarya also enjoyed spending time with them and even helped them prepare dinner. While working together, the environment turned friendly again in no time.
When the dinner was ready, they sat down in the same setting, and the girls started to distribute the food, starting with Han. The dinner was lively as there were many things to talk about and so much to catch up on.
After the dinner, the girls brought some fruit, and they continued to chat while eating it. They also served some drinks to Han and Sarya. That caused Sarya to act less refined, and she looked a bit intimate with Han from time to time, which made the girls flinch while unable to raise any issue.
Fortunately for the girls, Sarya decided to leave before it got too late. They sent her off courteously, then tidied the leftovers. When they retired to bed, the girls could finally extinguish the flame that had been growing within them for a week.