“Um, do you know what sort of place that is?”
“Yes, I heard it’s a place where men and women can get along well.”
“You know what ‘getting along well’ means, right?”
“Of course. Come on, let’s go.”
Saying that, Josette pulled Kent’s hand, and they entered the inn catering to couples.
“Welcome. Are you here for a short stay? Or for the night?”
“Let me see… I’d love to stay the night. But I have an early start tomorrow, so a short stay, please.”
“Understood. That’ll be three silver coins then.”
Josette efficiently finished the check-in process, and she and Kent headed to their assigned room. The small room had only one bed. From the neighboring rooms, they could hear the loud moans and creaking sounds of couples enjoying themselves.
“I came on impulse, but Kent, what should we do?”
Josette, her face flushed red, said to Kent.
“What do you mean, ‘what should we do’? We’re already here, so shall we just do it?”
“That’s right. Since we’re here. But it’s a bit concerning that there’s no bath. Do I smell?”
“Sniff, sniff. I don’t think you smell anything concerning?”
“Is that so? Then, although it’s a bit embarrassing, I’ll undress.”
Saying that, Josette began to undress, her hands reaching for her clothes.
“Oh, Kent. It’s embarrassing if I’m the only one undressing. I’ll help you.”
Now completely naked, Josette reached for Kent’s clothes and began to undress him.
“It’s been a while. Kent, come here.”
“I’m coming, Josette.”
Kent and Josette spent their allotted time, checking the warmth of each other’s skin.
“Kent, it seems our time is almost up.”
“It is. Unfortunately, we have to leave.”
Kent and Josette, naked and embracing in bed, reluctantly got out and put on their clothes.
“Time flies when you’re having fun. Next time, I’ll come to your house and stay over.”
“Would the Duke allow you to stay out?”
“It’s fine. If I say I’m staying at my older sister’s room, he should allow it.”
“Is that so?”
As they were talking, time was up, and Kent and Josette left the inn.
“Kent, this is where we part ways for today.”
“Are you alone okay?”
“Yes, I have my guards with me, so it’s fine.”
“O-Okay. See you on Monday then.”
“Yes, good night.”
With that, Josette parted with Kent and disappeared into the town.
(If she had guards with her, does that mean they saw everything just now?)
Remembering their recent actions, Kent couldn’t help but feel a little worried.
The next day, Kent decided to go out into the town alone to search for sponsors. He felt bad for putting Josette through so much, and he wanted to lessen her burden, even if only slightly.
“So, Older Brother, where are we going to try next?”
“Let me see…”
Kent had intended to go alone, but for some reason, Rachel had tagged along. They had already been rejected by several places, but they were going from shop to workshop, trying to negotiate. While Kent negotiated, Rachel, who was not a committee member, waited outside, and only Kent went inside.
“Still no luck, I guess.”
“It’s quite a difficult job, isn’t it? Shall we call it a day?”
“Yeah. It can’t be helped. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
As the sun began to set, Kent decided to stop his sponsor search for the day.
“Older Brother, you’ve had me by your side all day, so you owe me a treat.”
“You just tagged along, you know.”
“It was better than you acting alone, right? Look, I’m such a cute girl accompanying you.”
With that, Rachel beamed at Kent, trying to appeal to him.
“Alright, alright, I get it. So what do you want to eat?”
“Hmmmm. I don’t know.”
“I’ll smack you!”
“Eeeek! Older Brother is going to attack me!”
Kent chased after Rachel, who was running away. Since neither of them was serious, people around them assumed they were a couple or just playfully sparring, so no one intervened.
“Hey, hey, Older Brother, don’t you think something’s strange?”
“Hm?”
Rachel suddenly stopped and pointed to a street stall where they had bought baked sweet potatoes before. As Rachel said, there was a long line, but the people in line had a bloodshot look in their eyes, and an unpleasantly fierce atmosphere could be felt.
“Shall we go check it out?”
“Yeah. It’s intriguing, let’s go.”
Kent and Rachel went to the street stall selling baked sweet potatoes and lined up at the end. They spoke to a young woman standing in front of them.
“Excuse me, but it seems different from usual. Is something going on?”
“Apparently, the ingredient, sweet potato, has become scarce, and they can’t get any more. So these are the last ones they have. They’re selling them one per person today, but they’re almost out. You might not be able to buy one even if you wait.”
“Thank you.”
After finishing their conversation, the woman in front of them turned back towards the stall.
“Older Brother, didn’t you grow quite a lot of sweet potatoes?”
“I did. Considering the food situation of the farmers, I made sure to grow extra. But if they’re produced for our small territory and become popular in this big city, they could be consumed in large quantities and run out quickly.”
“Didn’t Al-chan grow sweet potatoes in his backyard? Maybe we can ask for some when they’re gone.”
“Catherine and I were growing them, that’s right. Well, it won’t be long, the harvest season is coming soon, so they should be available again.”
Since it was one per person, the line moved surprisingly fast. As they got closer to the stall and their turn was about to come, a rough-looking trio cut in at the very front.
“Oh, excuse us. This is where we’re supposed to be. Sell us some baked sweet potatoes.”
“Customers, everyone is in line, so please don’t cut in.”
“What? Didn’t you hear me?”
The shopkeeper desperately tried to resist, but the rough-looking trio intimidated the shopkeeper and the customers in line.
“You people, not being able to follow basic manners like that. You’re adults, it’s embarrassing!”
“What did you say? You damn old hag!”
“Eek!”
“Eek! Just like that, you old hag. You have a cute voice for an old hag, hahaha.”
“Hurry up and give it to us!”
The rough-looking trio shoved the old woman who had spoken up at the front and snatched the baked sweet potatoes after paying.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”
Kent stepped out of the line and approached the old woman, who had been pushed over and was sitting on her backside. He offered his hand.
“I’m very sorry. That was the last one. We won’t be selling baked sweet potatoes for a while as we can’t get any more ingredients.”
“N-N-No!”
When the shopkeeper said that, the people in line left with disappointed expressions.
“It’s admirable that you’re so helpful at your age. I’ll take your hand then. Okay, off I go.”
The old woman stood up, brushing the sand off her backside. Since he would be touching a stranger’s backside, Kent couldn’t help her directly and just watched.
“Older Brother, you’re so quick to help women.”
“W-What are you saying?”
“Um, are you injured?”
Rachel rushed over and asked the old woman if she was hurt.
“You two are close. Are you siblings?”
“Something like that.”
Kent replied to the old woman’s question.
“Oh dear, your arm is a bit scraped.”
“You’re bleeding! We need to dress it, or it’ll leave a scar. Older Brother, quickly get the disinfectant and a band-aid.”
“Here you go.”
The old woman examined herself and found that her arm was bleeding. As instructed by Rachel, Kent took out disinfectant and a band-aid from his terminal.
“I’ll treat it now, so please bear with it for a moment.”
“Thank you. Ouch, it stings a little.”
As Kent applied the disinfectant, the old woman winced in pain. Kent quickly applied a band-aid to the bleeding wound, finishing the treatment.
“Thank you. But that’s a rather unusual way to treat an injury. I’ve seen many things, but this is a new method.”
The old woman said, looking curiously at the band-aid that had been applied.
“Auntie, this treatment is special and only Older Brother can do it.”
“Isn’t it rude to call me ‘Auntie’?”
“I’ve never been called that before, so it’s refreshing. ‘Auntie’ is fine.”
“See? Older Brother.”
With the old woman’s permission, Rachel said to Kent with a smug look.
