Escapism

You are amazing. If you want, why not break off your engagement with Mai and have me look after you?

I refuse, Raund-sama.

Hahaha, I got rejected. Ah, Kuroinu-sama was a [Man] huh. Hahaha, please get along well with Mai.

Haah

Oh, he knows about it? Guess the heir was told after all.

By the way, the mock fight was entirely in Meats favor as she spent the full thing avoiding Raunds attacks, ending it by tapping her wooden knife on his neck.

If I had to place Raunds strength in an adventurer ranking, Id say hes upper-mid C-Rank? He wasnt a match against Meat, whod practiced with the A-Rank Misha.

B-but elder brother can use magic as well though!

Is that so?

Meat glanced at me. Yeah, Meats also able to, but theres no need to bother saying it.

I shook my head slightly. Meat responded with a small nod.

Youve communicated something?

Oh, Mai-sama? Even though theyre your fiance, theyre my party member. Weve known enough for so long that theres no way we couldnt do something like that. Please dont feel envious, yeah?

I was just thinking that I envied how long youve known each other.

Yeah, its been around a year.

Eh, isnt that short?

Weve been together around 99% of the time since Ive come to this world, so Id never think of that as short. Meats memories from before she became my slave are all fuzzy, so she feels to same.

Its only been a year, but its been a rich one.

I wonder if I should become an adventurer too, then?

Have fun with rabbi hunting. Please give it your all, Ill be rooting for you.

With me saying that, Maidence looked frustrated. Good, I chose the correct answer.

Now then, you should have a good idea about their ability at this point. Any complains, Jitter-sama?

Id be putting elder brother down if I still did. I acknowledge him!

Good, now theres no more obstacles for the fake betrothal!

Now that theres no problem can I head back?

Yeah, sorry about that. You can return, have a good rest.

On the way back to my room, I informed a maid that I wouldnt be needing breakfast in the morning.

*

And so I decided to secretly slip out in the middle of the night and return to the dungeon.

Stuuupid! The longer I stayed there the more troubles Id have to deal with, so now that Ive settled it all, staying in the lords manor would only be a bad move!

Just in case, I left behind a later stating: [As promised, I will lend Meat Kuroinus name for a one-month period. If you wish to borrow the person themself, inform Golen Village as soon as you can that you wish to borrow them].

Okay then, Im tired but I can do it maybe. Lets go, Meat.

Yeah, Goshujin-sama.

Seeing that the sun had gone down completely, I took Meat and left the mansion.

Uuu, so tired. But I have to endure!

It wasnt perfectly dark outside due to the shops lights and the other various night time lighting such as street lights and the various taverns. Come to think of it, this is the first time Ive walked around Sia after dark I wonder if its darker in the side streets?

We reached the gate before long.

Its closed, we were too late. Crap, we cant get out. Should we climb over the wall? No, there might be a magical defense function that stops that. We cant go about this haphazardly. What should we do

Oi, what are you doing here?

Just as I was figuring out what to do, a guard suddenly spoke to me. Night patrol I guess? How eager you are with your duty.

Oh, Guard-san. I was wanting to get out of the gate.

The hours for passing through the gate are over. Come back tomorrow.

Theres no way I can?

No way at allis what I want to say, but I have an obligation to explain. If you have the lords permission or are a noble yourself, you can pass after following some procedures.

It looks like this guard really is serious about his duty. Good guard.

I thought about showing him my invitation from the lord, but itd be troublesome if he went to the lords mansion to verify its authenticity. I decided to use Meats status as a noble. Itll stay on their records, but theyll come to Golen Village eventually after seeing Im gone so its not like anything will change.

You were a noble? My apologies.

No, thank you for your efforts this late.

Receiving the nobles (Meats) words of gratitude, the guard saluted. The procedures were worked on in the meanwhile.

Its a good think that I can write simple things with the gloves golem.

Like that, we finished the procedures and went outside through a staff entrance.

Well, we also have the lords permission to come back.

Now then.

It was pitch black outside the gate nooo idea where anything is. Should I have a golem bring me back automatically?

I used [Create Golem] to make a palanquin. The type of palanquin thatd belong in the Edo period. Then I made two clay golems to carry it.

For some reason, golems are able to see in the dark rather well. Theyll have an easy time heading back by following the map.

*

So thats why you came back?

Yeah?

Thats so coooooool, but its like you gave them the cold shoulder, is that alright?

What, Rokuko, wasnt it already decided that Id do that?

Hearing Rokukos reasonable question, I answered obediently.

I knew that!!

Yeah, I cant keep up interacting with nobles at all. Im wiped. Which is why I demand a break. Particularly right now, I just got back and Im super tired, let me get to sleep please?

The ride back on that palanquin was unexpectedly rough, I couldnt rest on it at all.

I, umm, I got a bit mad, but Im better now. You rushed back home, and even came to see me first.

Ah, she got mad after all.

Im going to go sleep for two or three days, so Ill leave it to you. Do your best at filling in for me.

Dont just leave it to me. Ill absolutely be interrogating you, you know? Ill definitely wake you up when I come to do it!

Alright. But at least let me sleep and dont wake me up

There are times where you want to escape reality.

This moment right now was one of those times.