---

Last night, I couldn’t get a decent night’s sleep due to Lindy crawling into my bed and Luna constantly trying to cling to me. I could ignore the rustling sounds, but the presence of the squirming bodies was too much for my sensitive senses.

In the end, every couple of hours, I had to push Lindy off the bed with my foot, and as I tried to disentangle myself from Luna’s arms, I could only manage a fitful sleep.

Of course, my training as an assassin and my strong body as a Sword Master were enough to get some rest on that little sleep, but it was really more about the feeling. Wanting to sleep soundly is a perfectly natural desire for a human.

Eventually, I woke up an hour earlier than the two of them and took a leisurely stroll around the area. As I casually circled the city, I spotted the royal soldiers already stationed outside the Count’s mansion, moving with a sense of urgency.

Lindy and Luna were both aided by the Emperor’s might.

Not wanting to acknowledge the soldiers, I simply enjoyed the morning breeze for a bit before heading back to my room, where I found Lindy and Luna cuddling together on my bed.

I briefly worried that perverted Lindy might have taken advantage of young Luna and thought I should separate them, but looking at their cozy state, they truly looked like good friends, so I decided to leave them be. After all, thinking back on my past friends, such closeness is common among girls.

Since they would probably bicker again as soon as they woke up, I hoped they could at least present a friendly image while they slept.

Of course, it’s a bit sad to realize I have to feel relieved Lindy hasn’t done anything inappropriate, but what can you do about her personality?

I still vividly remember the first time I met her. The way she used my curiosity to get me to touch her ear, her insistence on letting me touch her behind just once while promising to keep it a secret.

“Ugh….”

As I sat at my desk reading a novel, time must have passed since I heard a groan from the bed, signaling someone waking up.

Turning my head, it seemed that the first to wake was Lindy. They say the older you get, the less sleep you need—true to her elf heritage, she had risen before Luna. Although, to be fair, I still have no idea what Lindy’s true age is. No matter how many times I ask, she just shrieks without answering, making it impossible to tell.

“Ugh….”

Perhaps it was Lindy’s rustling that prompted Luna to wake up with a slight delay. Their eyes met, only inches apart, thanks to them hugging so closely, but neither seemed to process the situation, just blinking at each other in confusion.

“Ah….”

A short voice slipped from someone’s lips.

“Ah!”

Without even thinking about it, they both pushed each other away and fell off the bed. However, due to the confined space, Luna bumped her head against the wall, and Lindy fell off the bed, landing right on her behind.

BANG!

The sound of their crash echoed heavily. Luna rolled on the bed, clutching her back, while Lindy lay sprawled on the floor, rubbing her bottom. What a hilarious morning mishap.

“Wh-where did the upperclassman go, and why is that lady here….”

“I thought her butt looked smaller….”

…I definitely should have separated Lindy from Luna. I can’t believe she was rubbing her butt while thinking it was my hand!

At least Luna didn’t seem to care, and Lindy, thinking it was me and not having any lustful intentions towards Luna, was a great relief.

Wait a minute. If she thought it was me and was rubbing her butt, does that make it worse for me?

“Ah, but I’m still growing!”

“Who are you calling an old lady!”

They looked so friendly while sleeping, but as soon as they woke up, they started yelling at each other. Yet, considering they spoke at the same time, maybe they really are good friends? They’ve known each other long enough to have a love-hate relationship.

I wish I could turn back time for just one hour and save the image of them hugging together with some magical device. Of course, those kinds of devices are expensive luxuries that I can’t afford, so that’s a shame.

“Wah! Upperclassman! My purity has been tainted!”

As soon as Luna saw me sitting at my desk, she jumped off the bed and clung to me, pretending to cry as she pleaded.

But as an assassin, acting is a basic skill. Luna was just putting on an exaggerated performance to get my attention. There’s no way she could fool me, the master of deception!

Even if Luna is young, it’s not a good idea to spoil her with excessive pampering. So, I needed to be strict here.

“Luna? No matter what, calling her an old lady was too much. You need to apologize to Lindy.”

“But….”

“Now!”

Lindy is sensitive about her age, and calling her an old lady was definitely disrespectful. Luna had really crossed the line this time.

Sure, being an elf, she looks like a young lady, but she’s much older than us. The fact is, the truth hurts more than words. Even if she wanted to argue, she couldn’t.

Given that they’ve known each other for quite some time, Luna likely said it as a joke. But the closer you are, the more careful you should be, especially before it becomes a case where both wouldn’t want to apologize like I do.

“…I’m sorry.”

Fortunately, Luna didn’t dig her heels in or act spoiled. She meekly approached Lindy and quietly apologized.

“Ugh, yeah….”

Even Lindy seemed a bit awkward receiving an apology from Luna. So, I pushed it a step further.

“Lindy, you should apologize to Luna for groping her too.”

“But….”

“Shh!”

“…I’m sorry.”

Using the secret weapon I learned from Selian, Lindy also apologized to Luna. Seeing them apologize to each other was truly pleasant.

“Great! Now, shall we discuss breakfast and our next plan? To celebrate your reconciliation, I’ll cook breakfast for you two.”

I figured that if I gave a bit of pocket money to the innkeeper, they’d let me use the kitchen. It’s a little annoying to cook in the morning, but if it’s for them, it’s worth it.

“Wow! Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I tasted your cooking! I’m in!”

Seeing Luna’s excitement made me even more motivated.

“Eh, Elysia might be tired too. Is it really necessary? We could just eat out….”

“Come on, don’t make it a burden. I’ve been awake for a long time now, unlike you two.”

“No, but still… I rarely eat breakfast, so I think I’ll just cook enough for you two!”

“But last time we had breakfast together….”

“Diet! I’m on a diet!”

Lindy quickly interrupted my sentence, her urgency suggesting that it was like she was terrified of not wanting to eat what I cooked. But that couldn’t be true. If my cooking were bad, Luna wouldn’t be drooling like that.

But do elves go on diets too? Imagining a fat elf seems pretty far-fetched.

*

“Take your time eating; there’s still plenty left.”

I handed Luna the stew I had set aside, as she called for another bowl. As usual, I found myself in a situation where I couldn’t eat my own cooking. But just watching her enjoy it was satisfying enough; it validates the saying that you get full just by watching someone eat.

Considering Luna’s age, it makes sense for her to eat like that since she’s still growing.

“…I always feel this way, but it’s really impressive. Elysia, both the cook and the little one eating.”

Lindy expressed her admiration for my exceptional cooking skills and Luna’s appetite in the morning.

Since discussing the schedule is something only Lindy and I need to do, I took the opportunity to converse while Luna ate.

“We’re going to have to be careful, even if it’s Elysia.”

At Lindy’s warning to be cautious, I eagerly awaited her next words.

“There’s been a trace of demonic presence not far from here. Judging from the signs, there are at least three or more. Even if Elysia is skilled, if the owner of the traces turns out to be high-ranking demons, hiding won’t be easy, but if discovered and confronted, it could be dangerous, so be cautious.”

In any case, unless they’re high-ranking demons, it won’t be a major issue. It’s not like they’re common. In fact, thinking I could take on several demons at once excited me.

Of course, I might actually find out that instead of high-ranking, it’s just low or mid-ranking ones wandering around.

“Got it. Mark the location on the map later. So… Lindy, what about you? Are you planning to come along?”

“No. The reason I came here in the first place was to check on the informant responsible for this area, who has been showing signs of wanting to bail. Once that’s done, I’ll have to head back. No matter how much they’re rolling along without me, it’s not good to leave for too long.”

True to her busy nature, Lindy is only here for a day, which is quite lackluster. If I’d known, I would’ve made a lunchbox for her to take back with her while she enjoyed breakfast.

“That was delicious!”

Just as we wrapped up our conversation, Luna seemed to finish her meal, setting her bowl down, scrubbed clean.

“Now that Luna’s done, shall we get ready to leave? I’ll clean up here and head on up, so you two go ahead.”

After sending the two up first, I took the empty pot and dishes into the kitchen.

“Huh?”

However, upon entering the kitchen, I was startled to find the innkeeper sprawled out on the floor.

“Excuse me?”

The innkeeper bragged about being a veteran adventurer who had returned home after retiring. Since adventurers often have grudges, I wondered if an assassin had come in unaware, but checking his pulse, I thankfully found he was just asleep.

Even if I was only going to see him today, I couldn’t leave him on the cold floor, so I hoisted him up and arranged a few chairs from the shop to lay him on.

Just how tired must he have been to collapse in the kitchen? He himself claimed to have been in a labyrinth for a week without sleep, even chewing through monster corpses to survive, only to pass out while doing inn work. All of that must have been a tall tale, this old man.

He even spilled the stew dish I had presented him as thanks for letting me use the kitchen.

“What a waste… If I had known, I should’ve eaten it or given Luna another serving.”

For a moment, I wondered if the innkeeper fainted because my cooking was so delicious. But fainting over food seemed too ridiculous. I chuckled softly at my overly fanciful thought and instead tidied the kitchen instead for him.

With that, I’m pretty sure I’ve paid back the favor of borrowing the kitchen.

 

---