Ch. 56 - Now, Off to the Hot Spring Trip! 1
And so, the next day.
"Wow, ahh..."
Peeking out of the carriage window, Charlotte exclaimed in admiration.
Outside stretched a vast, open grassland.
The fresh green of early summer shimmered under the sunlight, swaying as if dancing. The mountains lay far in the distance, and the wind rushing past was gentle.
Charlotte was transfixed by the ordinary scenery.
Seeing her reaction, which was even better than he had expected, Allen let out a small chuckle.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, but is it really something worth staring at so intently?"
"Y-Yes. The Kingdom of Neals is full of mountains, so… this is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful open plain."
Charlotte smiled brightly before letting out a deep sigh.
"When I fled to this country, I slipped into a wagon... but I didn't have time to enjoy the scenery back then."
"I, I see..."
It seemed Allen had picked the wrong topic to bring up.
Flustered, he quickly tried to steer the conversation in a better direction.
"Well, in any case, this region is quite rural. It seems Charlotte wanted posters haven’t even made it out here. You can relax and enjoy yourself."
"Yes. Being able to go out without a disguise feels like a dream."
Charlotte, with her golden hair left uncovered, laughed freely.
Seeing her like that, Allen felt a wave of relief and followed her lead, peering out the window.
A pleasant breeze brushed against his cheek, and the fresh air was invigorating.
"Well... it's not a bad view."
"Hehe. Right?"
The two exchanged small smiles and fell into a comfortable silence, gazing at the scenery.
Only the sounds of the wind and hooves overlapped, coloring the peaceful time.
This place is called the Yunoha region. It is about a three-hour carriage ride northeast from the mansion where Allen live.
Starting today, they would be spending three days and two nights on a hot spring trip.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of Allen’s lips.
(The townspeople really pulled a clever move. I never expected them to gift us a trip.)
The other day, in order to protect Charlotte's outing, Allen took control of a place called the Meard district. It was a place where many thug adventurers were hanging out all day and night, and it seemed to be a source of trouble for the townspeople.
However, with Allen's help, most of the people in the district were forced to reform.
Now they seem to be devoting themselves to the work of honest adventurers, and were actively involved in things like picking up trash in the district. The fact that Allen continued to keep an eye on them had likely played a role in their change of heart.
As a result, Allen contributed to maintaining peace in the town. To commemorate his achievements, the mutual aid society to which the town's shops belonged gave him a cash gift.
In other words, the trip was free.
Even the shy Charlotte wouldn't have any complaints if it was free.
Yet, despite that, she furrowed her brows with a troubled expression.