Chapter 32
The carriage soon set off again, as if nothing had happened.
Through the ringing in my ears from the shock, I caught Benjamin’s muttered comment.
“Hmm. Still, for a mid-small one to come all the way down to the residential area at this time of year… it really is a monster wave.”
“…Mid-small? What’s that?”
That thing hadn’t looked small at all to me, yet it was only considered mid-small. Which meant there must be medium, mid-large, and even large ones out there. How big could a “large” be?
I couldn’t even imagine.
Monsters—creatures infamous for centuries—yet the official information about them was ridiculously scarce.
If you wondered how that was possible, the answer was obvious.
Aside from the fact that the semi-closed Bastion handled everything on their own, so there was no need to know…
It’s probably that damned religious devotion again.
Lumière was the one and only existing god, the truth, and the law itself.
In a world where the Holy Kingdom and the temple held such overwhelming authority, it was hardly welcomed to spread or even listen to information about demons and the traces of their corruption.
And if things went the way I feared, you might get branded a heretic and burned at the stake.
Here in the Bastion though, monsters just feel… like part of everyday reality.
Faith be damned, this was the urgent reality of monsters charging into your own backyard.
In that sense, the true “god” here was probably—
“My lord…!”
“His Grace has returned!”
As we officially entered the territory, the gathered townspeople spotted us and began to cheer one after another.
It was… unfamiliar. Faces shouting with the expression of, “Finally, you’re here! We knew you’d come!”
Back in the capital’s restaurants, most people had looked at him like, “Why does this devil have to be so handsome, of all things.” A complicated mix of awe and distaste.
Somehow, my pounding heart settled down.
Yes. This was the Bastion.
Not bad. No—actually, it felt pretty good.
Sure, I’d been stunned speechless by the monster earlier, but it wasn’t like I hadn’t expected it.
So, what’s scarier, really—monsters or people?
As I was pondering that unanswerable question, the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Looked like we’d arrived at the mansion.
Benjamin was first to get out, then Levi followed and turned back to offer me his hand.
Well, well. No one had to teach him this one.
I smiled faintly and took his hand. Maybe it was because of the cold, but it felt even warmer than usual.
“Welcome home!”
My first impression? Absolutely overwhelming.
Not just the neatly lined-up servants, but the mansion behind them. So grand and majestic it was almost intimidating.
In short, straight out of a demon king’s castle.
I’d thought the townhouse in the capital was impressively old-fashioned, but this was on a whole other level.
Maybe the gloomy weather and fog made it seem even more so.
“My lord.”
From among the servants stepped a woman with brown hair and a calm, ordinary face. The only notable detail was the head maid’s badge on her chest.
Wolfgang, glancing around as if searching for someone, asked her,
“Is Casador stationed at the outer wall?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I’ll go join them immediately.”
Casador? And the wall, right after arriving?
If they said “the wall” here, they must mean the “Pitch-Black Wall”—named for the ominous black fog that perpetually surrounded the entrance to the Forest of Lament, where monsters dwelled.
I clicked my tongue at my fuzzy, shallow knowledge.
Tsk. In the original story, monsters weren’t treated as all that important.
At most, there’d be a line like, “In winter, Bastion once again joined the Holy Kingdom’s support forces for the annual subjugation.”
Maybe it was different later?
…Ah, damn it. I should’ve just finished the book before throwing it away.
Not that I’d have the will to read it again even if someone handed it to me.
A large hand brushed the top of my head.
“Far right room on the third floor.”
“Huh?”
“That’s your room, daughter-in-law.”
Wolfgang, now quite adept at patting my head, mounted his horse again. Then, leading the knights, he galloped off.
When it came to fighting monsters, I supposed he was always like that—at the front, the bravest of them all.
The Duke of Bastion, or the nation’s overworked head of the household, dashing off to work again the moment he got home.
For some reason, that broad back looked especially pitiful today. As soon as I tore my eyes away from it, I found myself staring right into Levi’s face.
“What, did you bite your tongue or something?”
What’s with that look?
I glanced at Benjamin for explanation, but he just gave me an awkward smile.
I was about to jab Levi in the side to ask what was going on when the head maid approached again.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Asha Manet.”
“Ah.”
So she’d been informed ahead of time. Which explained why Wolfgang mentioned my room earlier.
With Hugo absent, she was essentially in charge here. She bowed politely.
“I am Eva, head maid of House Bastion.”
“Mm. Nice to meet you, Eva.”
“I will do my utmost to ensure your stay is without discomfort.”
Hmm?
I tilted my head.
Something about that… had rubbed me the tiniest bit the wrong way.
“Let’s head inside now. You must be tired from the journey—perhaps a bath and a meal first.”
“Uh… sure…”
But there wasn’t a single flaw in her polite expression, voice, or posture.
Must’ve been my imagination. Or maybe I was just on edge from being in such an unfamiliar, dangerous place.
As I scratched my head, I suddenly remembered something.
Right—speaking of which…
“Where’s Franz?”
“…The young master is resting. He has a slight cold.”
What? Sick enough not to come greet his family after months apart?
And of course, Wolfgang just left again without even checking on him. The very picture of detached indifference.
I said, almost tearfully,
“I hope he gets better soon. Please give him my regards.”
“Eh? Ah, yes.”
For the first time, Eva’s neutral face cracked slightly, a faint hint of sourness showing. Probably thinking, You just got here, why are you acting so familiar?
But I couldn’t help feeling sympathetic. In fact, I already felt quite close to him.
Having a cold in Bastion—automatic pass in my book.
It felt so… human.
I didn’t know if magic here worked like divine power to ward off germs, but I was sure Wolfgang and Levi were the type who’d never catch a cold in their lives.
Just as I was feeling this sudden wave of affection for the still-unseen second son of the house, a chill—different from the cold outside—crept in from beside me.
Ah, right. I’d almost forgotten about our sulky boy.
Naturally, I looped my arm through Levi’s and said,
“Shall we go in? You’ll take me to my room, won’t you, Levi?”
“Ah, we can—”
“Yes.”
Eva and the servants froze where they stood, shoulders stiff with surprise.
Their faces all seemed to say, Is this really our eldest young master?
Heh. Took me some effort to get him like this, you know.
Feeling proud, I walked with Levi toward the entrance—
Clatter-clatter!
Footsteps echoed. Light, quick… sounded like a child’s.
I glanced up toward the grand staircase connected to the vast hall, but saw no one.
Maybe I’d imagined it.
Still, I was too busy marveling at the sheer scale of the place. The staircase itself was massive, steep, and high.
Yikes. One wrong step and… wait a second. My room’s on the third floor?
Was I expected to risk my life mountain-climbing every day?
Levi strode up the stairs, pulling me along. My stamina wasn’t bad, so I could keep up fine, but looking down from that height was dizzying.
I gripped Levi’s arm like a lifeline and asked,
“So, where’s your room, Levi?”
“Far left on the third floor.”
“Ah.”
Really, Wolfgang Bastion—always so petty.
Shaking my head, I looked at Levi again. Fierce on the outside, but really just a sulky kid inside.
“Then we can meet in the middle.”
“…”
“You come halfway, I’ll come halfway.”
He seemed to like that suggestion, nodding and looking a little cheerier.
So simple—it’s kind of cute.
I reached up and ruffled his hair with my free hand.
Good. His mood seemed much better.
Though honestly, I was a little jealous—his hair felt way softer than mine.
Behind us, the servants gasped softly.
To be precise, it was mostly the ones seeing us for the first time. Those who’d come from the townhouse, like Betty, just nodded as if to say, That’s how it is now.
At last, after climbing to the third floor, we walked down an absurdly long corridor.
Seriously, if you got lost here, they wouldn’t find you for a month or two.
Just as I was getting tired of admiring the corridor’s decorations, we stopped in front of a pair of huge doors with golden handles.
“Is this it?”
Eva answered by opening them herself.
Hopefully, no library popped out at me this time. I’d just gotten comfortable writing again.
Though knowing Wolfgang, I couldn’t be too sure. Even if it wasn’t a library, he might have decorated it in some weird way.
Suspicious and tense, I peeked through the slowly opening door—
“Oh?”
A princess’s room.
That was the only way to describe it.
Bright pastel tones, charming little furniture sized to fit my smaller frame, airy curtains and a canopy.
It was like something straight out of a storybook—a dream room for any little girl before she’d even formed her own tastes.
I’d once dreamed of such a room too, but never had one.
Standing there silently, I heard Betty ask gently,
“Do you not like it, my lady?”
“…I think the library was just the build-up for this moment.”
“So you do love it. I’m glad.”
Betty, who’d learned to read me by now, clapped her hands.
Servants immediately moved in, carrying my luggage.
It wasn’t much, but seeing the things from the townhouse placed here made it finally feel real—this was my room.
I couldn’t help it. I was as happy as a child.
I tugged on Levi’s arm and grinned.
“See, Levi? This is my room. Pretty, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
His soft, almost whispering “pretty” drifted past me like a breeze.
