They followed the sentry into the village.
It was larger than Maxi had anticipated, and she watched the busy street as they walked down the dirt path.
Modest wooden huts lined the road, and goats, pigs and donkeys grazed freely.
A horrible smell seemed to be coming from one of the barns.
Merchants sold their wares from stalls lined up along the excrement-strewn road, and armed workers and mercenaries built huts surrounded by piles of wood.
Riftan frowned as he pushed his way through the crowd.
“It’s busier than I thought.”
"The monster population has increased.
Not only do we have to worry about drakes, but red goblins and kobolds are also becoming a problem.
They have already caused great damage to the nearby villages.
We have become overpopulated in a matter of a few months, with all the people seeking refuge."
“Do you have enough provisions?”
"We're better off than most.
Traders often stop by on their way to Livadon.
And, here we are."
The sentry pointed to a three-story wooden building at the end of a narrow street.
“This is the inn where the knights are staying.”
“You have my gratitude.”
Riftan tossed a silver coin to the sentry.
The sentry broke into a wide smile and tilted his head.
He ran towards the inn, calling out for the innkeeper.
After delivering their horses to the stables, Riftan and Maxi entered the inn.
The lively conversations in the room instantly stopped.
Hiding behind Riftan, Maxi looked around the dimly lit lobby.
The knights were sitting on the compacted wooden tables and chairs.
As soon as they saw Maxi and Riftan, they jumped off their chairs and rushed over.
“You caught up faster than we expected, Commander!”
Hebaron smiled and patted Riftan on the shoulder.
Riftan pushed him away irritably and asked the innkeeper for a room.
Despite being completely ignored, Hebaron's smile didn't waver.
"I'm glad to see you're okay, my lady.
I knew the commander would find you, but I worried it would take a while.
Are you hurt anywhere?"
"N-No.
I'm perfectly fine.
I apologize… for worrying you."
"No, my lady, we are the ones who owe you an apology for not protecting you.
We assumed you would be okay since Gabel was with you… it could have ended very badly if the commander hadn't gone after you.
I don't know anyone better at tracking than the commander."
Maxi smiled and looked around the room.
"T-It seems...
like there are a lot of faces missing.
D-Did everyone arrive safely?"
"Yes, everyone arrived here last night.
Gabel went to buy provisions, and the others are talking to the mercenaries who are staying in the village to gather information.
You must be tired, my lady.
We can save the greetings for later.
Why don't you rest in your room?"
Hebaron quickly examined her, then clicked his tongue lightly as if he felt sorry for her.
Maxi blushed and ran a hand through her tangled hair.
She didn't need a mirror to know how terrible she must look.
Embarrassed, Maxi shrugged her shoulders and went to where Riftan was calling her at the foot of the stairs.
As soon as they entered the room at the end of the third floor, he threw his luggage on the floor.
Although Maxi desperately wanted to jump into bed, she couldn't bring herself to do so in clothes soaked in sweat and dust.
She opted to remove her damp boots and socks first.
Riftan watched her before slowly turning around.
"I asked the innkeeper to prepare a bath for you.
Try to rest afterwards."
“A-And you?”
“I should go check for more news from Livadon.”
“But we just arrived… shouldn’t you get some rest“”
He was out the door before Maxi could finish his sentence.
She blinked, mouth open.
How the hell could he reject the opportunity to sleep so readily after a sleepless night?
She thought about going after him, but sighed when she realized it was useless when he was like this.
A little later, a fat woman brought a wooden bathtub filled with water into the room.
With the door locked, Maxi took off his dirty clothes and immersed himself in the cold water.Brushing off several days worth of sweat and dirt was invigorating.
She soaped her body twice and rinsed off the suds completely.
After that, she carefully washed her tangled hair that was tangled into a dense bush.
When she finally used the clean water in the kettle to wash away the remaining traces of soap, her skin glowed as white as a newborn's.
Happy, Maxi got out of the bathtub and dried himself with a towel.
The next part was more difficult.
She rummaged through her bag with a serious expression.
Miraculously, there was a clean piece of underwear.
All his tunics and trousers, however, were hopelessly dirty.
There was no time to wash clothes during the trip, and they were all damp and dirty.
Maxi wrinkled his nose.
She was wondering if she would have to get into one of those smelly clothes after she had washed when a knock interrupted her thoughts.
Wrapping the towel tightly around herself, Maxi asked in an embarrassed tone, “W-Who is it?”
“I have been instructed to bring a change of clothes for you, my lady.”
It was the woman who had brought the bath water.
After making sure no one else was in the hallway, Maxi quickly grabbed her clothes and put them on.
The rough tunic fell to her knees, but Maxi was glad enough to have clean clothes to wear.
After fastening his belt, Maxi handed his dirty clothes back to the woman and asked for them to be washed.
"Where would you like your meal?
Shall I bring it to your room?"
Maxi considered for a moment, then shook his head.
She wanted to know what Riftan was doing, and she also wanted to make sure that none of the knights were hurt.
She borrowed a pair of slippers from the innkeeper and went down to the first floor where the knights were chatting loudly over their meals.
Ulyseon stood up as soon as he saw her.
“My lady!” he said, heading towards her.
"I heard you're back.
Thank God you're okay!"
“I-I apologize… for worrying you,” said Maxi, looking at the young man who was close to tears.
Garrow had followed Ulyseon to Maxi.
He lowered his head, his face as pale as a ghost.
"We have no excuse, my lady.
We didn't even realize you had been separated from the group...
we failed as your guards."
"Y-You two...
please stop it.
It was because...
R-Rem was scared by the goblin attack.
If anyone is to blame...
it's me for not having better control of my horse."
The young people's faces remained grim despite her efforts to comfort them.
Maxi was worried when Gabel approached from behind.
“Are you hurt anywhere, my lady?”
"I-I'm fine.
What about the knights?
Was anyone hurt?
I-If anyone needs me..."
"Everyone is perfectly fine, my lady.
Please sit down.
I will ask for something to be brought for you to eat."
He pulled out an empty chair for her and called over to one of the workers.
A few moments later, a young servant with neatly braided hair placed fresh bread, smoked goose, and a mashed turnip salad on the table.
Maxi's eyes darted around the room as she ate.
Sensing his question unasked, Gabel responded promptly.
“Sir Riftan has gone to meet with the traders to arrange sufficient provisions before we leave tomorrow.”
“D-Do we leave tomorrow?”
"The horses are too exhausted for us to leave immediately.
Furthermore, the path ahead is a desert that goes on forever.
We will have to obtain enough water and fodder for the horses, as we will not be able to obtain any more supplies along the way.
Honestly, it will be quite difficult to acquire everything we need in a single day."
Maxi nodded as he ate a large slice of meat.
When he finished eating, Riftan still hadn't returned.
She watched the knights as they discussed their itinerary, then returned to her room and threw herself on the bed.
Although the inn's bedding was nowhere near the quality of Calypse Castle's wool-stuffed silk blankets, it felt like heaven compared to the uneven floor or stone cave.
Maxi fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
The room was dark when she woke up.
Surprised, Maxi sat up, wondering how long she had been asleep.A dark shape caught his eye.
Squinting, she made out the silhouette of Riftan lying with his back to her, his long legs outstretched.
Maxi blinked until his vision adjusted to the darkness, then carefully got out of bed and walked over to see his face.
She worried that her movements would wake him, but he remained still even when she lay down facing him.
Relieved, Maxi snuggled against his broad chest.
She supposed he must have taken a shower.
He smelled like soap, and his new, clean clothes smelled faintly of hay.
She pressed her face against his warm chest and breathed in his scent.
Although he moved, he did not wake up.
After staring at her soft face, Maxi went back to sleep feeling reassured.
They prepared to leave even before the sun rose.
Maxi got up from the bed half asleep and barely managed to wash her face.
She combed her messy hair, which always looked twice as long in the morning, and arranged it into a braid.
To her delight, the clothes she had entrusted to be washed were fresh thanks to the previous day's sun.
After changing into pants, a new shirt, and boots, she carefully folded her spares inside her bag.
The knights were busy moving their luggage when she left the room with her things on her back.
She followed them and immediately spotted Riftan among the men securing saddlebags.
"R-Riftan!
When did you wake up?
I didn't notice you coming out of“"
Maxi stopped.
She was running happily when she saw that he was in the middle of a conversation with someone.
Riftan looked at her and then looked back at the man.
Riftan took out a few derhams from the leather pouch on his belt and handed them over.
"Good.
I'll take these carts."
"Thank you, sir.
I will load them with fodder for you immediately."
After quickly putting the coins in his pocket, the man dragged two large luggage carts that were tied under a tree towards them.
“Are we… going to take carts with us?” Maxi asked, eyes widening.
"We will travel through the plains from now on.
There is a small mountain on the way, but there will be no more rough trails like yesterday."
Maxi smiled brightly at his words.
She was tired of climbing mountains.
"I-I see.
So...
how much more time do we need?"
“We will reach the port within a week, and from there, we will take a ship to Livadon.”