Volume 5 Chapter 9 Two Refugees
Al had been hiding for a while, watching the situation, but it seemed very unlikely that the two were dangerous people like bandits. They probably just fled from the Tempest Kingdom. Al wanted to cook a meal for Orson at the kitchen here, so he hesitated a bit but decided to speak up.
"Hello."
The two women jumped in surprise at Al's voice and quickly stood up from their chairs. The one in armor, called Joanna, stood protectively in front of the girl, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword. Al stepped out from his hiding place, keeping his distance, and raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
"It's okay, I'm not a bandit. I'm an adventurer named Al."
Joanna continued to stare at Al. He wondered if it was a mistake to speak to them, but he smiled lightly and waited patiently.
"Joanna... she doesn't seem like a bad person."
The girl, who had been hiding behind Joanna, whispered softly. Joanna glanced at the girl and nodded slightly.
"I'm sorry. I'm a knight serving the Baron Quenner family from the Tempest Kingdom... no, that's not right, um, I'm Joanna. Well... I got caught up in a rebellion... no, a fight, and I escaped with the princess... no, the young lady. Could it be the lord of the facility here?"
Joanna's explanation was quite awkward, but Al decided not to comment on it. He felt a sense of danger that asking about the situation might get him involved in some trouble. He wanted to avoid getting caught up in conflicts between nobles.
"This is a hot spring owned by Clarence Village at the foot of the mountain. My friend got trapped deep inside a cave during the earthquake. I just rescued him. He's been weak from not eating anything decent for a while. Can I use the kitchen to make him some food?"
"Oh, I see. Of course, that's fine..."
Given Orson's condition, he probably can't handle solid food right away. Al entered the kitchen instead of the two women and started preparing a soup using the herbs he had on hand, moving skillfully. As the pot began to boil, a delicious smell filled the air.
"I'm sorry, but could we get some food too?"
The two had been whispering for a while, but Joanna was the one who spoke up. Al was a bit surprised by her unexpected words, thinking that someone of high status might demand food forcefully.
"Sure. Do you want some meat too?"
"Is that okay?"
"I'll let my friend drink this first, so please wait a moment."
Feeling pleased to see the two of them happy, Al went back to the cave, where the entrance had fallen in. He gave Orson the soup to drink first. Orson's dizziness seemed to lessen a little. Though he was still unsteady, he was starting to feel more awake. Al used a soft 'Light' spell and decided to let Orson rest in bed for a while. By tomorrow morning, he hoped Orson would feel better.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it."
While sipping the soup, Orson said sincerely.
"Did Cody ask you? She must be running low on materials for work by now, right?"
"Yeah, she said to do it as soon as possible. But I can't believe this is happening. It's such an unbelievable story. And ancient ruins, too. Ah, I shouldn't have said that."
"Yeah, that's true."
Orson smiled wryly. Al told Orson about the two people he met at the outdoor kitchen.
"Al, you're a good person. From what I've heard, I think we'll be okay, but don't let your guard down too much. War can make people crazy."
Al nodded. From Orson's condition, it seemed like the danger to his life was over for now. However, it would take some time for him to walk on his own.
"Sorry, but I can't move for a while... At this rate, going down the mountain will be tough."
"Hmm, but we need food. I can use the 'Carrier' spell to carry you, Orson, so it might be better to go to the village."
This place used to be a hot spring where they could relax and heal. They could go to the village to buy food, but there was a risk of meeting barbarians or magic beasts. They needed to deliver the Alunite to Cody, the dismantler, quickly. So, they agreed to discuss it again in the morning.
"For now, just get some rest. I'll introduce you to the two of them at the right time, but I think you should prioritize your recovery."
Orson nodded. Al closed the curtain of Orson's sleeping area and left the cave.
* * *
"Here you go."
While preparing, the girls swallowed hard several times, trying to hold back. It seemed they hadn't eaten anything decent for a while.
"Thank you. I give thanks to God and to Mr. Al..."
Al made a simple dinner of soup and roasted deer meat, served with hard black bread. After saying a prayer, they began to eat. At first, they were hesitant but soon enjoyed the meal. The girl had claimed she wasn't hungry, but she was probably just worried about Joanna, who had cooked.
"We're out of bread, but there's still a little meat left. Do you want some?"
Al smiled lightly at the girl, who was staring at her empty plate. She opened her eyes wide with happiness, thought for a moment, but then bit her lip and shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have anything to give you in return..."
Suddenly, the girl started to cry. She wiped her tears with her sleeve.
"Oh, I'm so, so sorry..."
She looked down. Al, remaining silent, took out the leftover meat, sliced it thinly with a knife, sprinkled a little salt on it, and began to roast it over the fire. There seemed to be plenty of deer around here. Even if they ate it all, they could easily get more.
"When you're hungry, it makes you feel weak. Please, have some more."
He put some pieces of roasted meat on a wooden plate and placed it in front of them. He didn't want to interfere, but he couldn't leave them by themselves. If they went to the fortress, they might be safe as refugees, but without money, they might not be treated well. He couldn't just leave her. Al decided to help her.
"Um, I have a little sister. She's about your age... I can't just think of this as someone else's problem. I can't do much, but would you be willing to share your story with me?"
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