"..."
I know that I joined the others for breakfast on my own accord, but as I sat with them; I couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret. I can feel the weight of several pairs of eyes focused directly on me, and their constant, unblinking stares are making me incredibly uncomfortable.
And as if the tension from the knights was not already enough to deal with— Elianna decided to join the circle as well, and she chose a spot to sit exactly across from me!
’Ugh, I honestly thought she would prefer the privacy of her carriage for her meals... Who could have guessed she would choose to sit out here in the dirt with everyone else?’
I grumbled in my head, doing my best to hide the small frown forming on my face.
"What a truly rare occasion this is! You almost always prefer to eat on your own in private, so I am very glad you decided to join us for breakfast today, Saintess!"
But then, out of nowhere, Kael suddenly said that with a bright and cheerful tone.
"Huh?"
I was genuinely surprised to hear those words. But I immediately worked to compose my expression. If what Kael said was true, then this sudden change in her behavior could only mean one thing;
’She clearly hasn’t let her guard down yet and is going out of her way to keep a close eye on me.’
I thought that as I glanced at Elianna.
"It really is such a great pleasure to be able to join the Saintess for a meal like this."
Then I said those words shortly afterward, making sure to offer her a polite and perfectly practiced smile.
"..."
I noticed Elianna’s brows furrow slightly for a brief moment. She probably found it hard to believe how politely I was acting now compared to our very first meeting back in the city library.
"Please pay no mind to me; all of you should go ahead and enjoy your meal."
She said that simply, and at her command... we all finally began to eat.
Nothing particularly out of the ordinary happened for a while. Kael reached over and handed me my portion of the food, likely thinking I would be too embarrassed to reach in and grab my own. To be honest, I was actually quite thankful that he did that for me.
I took the meat he was offering and started eating, planning to finish as fast as possible so I could escape this awkward situation.
However, as we were right in the middle of eating—
"I heard that you were heading toward the City of Zore as well. Would you mind telling us why you are going there?"
Elianna spoke up completely out of the blue, asking me that.
"..."
I just stared back at her for a few silent seconds, then opening my mouth—
"I heard that it is a place filled with many dangerous monsters, and I also heard the rumors about a new dungeon appearing there recently. I plan to go to the City of Zore so that I can train myself and find a way to get much stronger."
I went ahead and stated my answer, looking at her straight in the eyes without flinching.
"Haha, your sheer resolution and your thirst for getting stronger is really quite admirable! I knew I was going to like you from the very moment I first saw you."
Kael butted into the conversation and stated that loudly, giving me a solid, friendly pat on the back.
Elianna just continued eating her food after hearing my answer, not saying another word to me for the rest of the meal.
And just like that— we actually managed to finish our breakfast in relative peace.
*****
After we finished eating our breakfast, everyone immediately started packing up their belongings. I finished my own tasks first because I only have a few items on me, so after I secured my belongings on top of Bong— I went over to help the others with their equipment.
I figured that since I would be travelling with them for a week or so, it would be best to maintain a good relationship with them to ensure my journey remains peaceful.
Kael thanked me for the extra help, and the coachman did the same— the other knights did not say anything out loud, but they did nod their heads toward me as a small sign of thanks.
Elianna, meanwhile, was already back inside the carriage. She retreated inside the moment she finished eating and had not come back out since.
Anyway...
We finished packing up every last bit of gear, and so without any delay— we departed.
... ... ...
’I can’t believe that I’m now travelling with the saintess along with five knights of the church.’
I left the city of Nash in a hurry to avoid the saintess, but it seems like fate told me to go fuck myself and this shit happened.
’Still, if I look at it objectively, this situation is not quite as bad as it initially looks.’
Elianna clearly has a bit of suspicion that I might be a vampire, but I had already proven to her once before that I wasn’t. Unless she can find a way to prove otherwise, she really cannot do anything harmful to me.
It also seems like she does not have another convenient way to test if I am a vampire or not. If she did, then she would have surely already tried it by now, just like she did back in the library with that blood method of hers.
Additionally, every time we stop to rest, Kael told me that he was more than willing to guide me through my swordsmanship training.
If his guidance were not actually efficient or helpful, then I would have declined his offer in a heartbeat.
So in short, right now— I am in a classic high-risk, high-reward situation.
Anyway...
We had been travelling for more than half a day now. We had stopped earlier for a short break, but our plan was to keep travelling from now until the moon finally rises.
The sun was currently preparing to fall below the horizon.
We had made it out of the forest ages ago. Along the way, we encountered some monsters and hostile wild animals— but Kael and the other knights took care of them in a flash.
I asked them if I could be the one to dismember the monsters and animals they killed, telling them that I was trying to collect their parts so I could sell them once we reached the city.
They did not seem to care about the it at all, so Kael gave me the go-ahead to do it.
But secretly— I was actually drinking the blood of every single creature that they hunted down.
’It really feels like I am being carried by a group of pros in a game.’
I thought as I felt myself getting stronger without doing anything.
And just like that, before we even knew it... the sun hid away and the darkness of night arrived.
******
"Phew, I’m all done on my side."
I whispered that under my breath as I finished setting up my tent and started a small fire.
We are currently in the middle of nowhere, setting up our camp for the night.
Looking over toward the others, I could see that they were finished with their preparations as well.
I tended to Bong’s needs first, feeding him and giving him a few gentle pats on the head as he lied down on the grass and started resting.
After that... I had nothing else left to do.
And so—
"I guess it’s about time for me to start training again."
I decided on that.
"Haha, as expected of you."
Then suddenly, I heard a voice speaking from right beside me. My head turned instinctively toward the sound, and there; Kael was sitting beside me, looking at me with a wide grin.
"Please try to refrain from appearing right next to me without making a single sound; it is honestly giving me the chills."
I told him bluntly.
"Ehh, it really doesn’t look like you’re that scared, though."
Kael playfully replied to my complaint.
"Anyway, you are about to start training again, right?"
Then he followed up with that question.
"That’s right."
I simply told him. Kael nodded his head as his eyes shone with a strange light. He grabbed me firmly by the shoulders, and when he opened his mouth—
"Then, how would you feel about sparring with the other knights?"
He suggested that to me with an excited look on his face.
"Huh...?"
I just couldn’t help but be completely surprised by the wild things he says to me from time to time.
Like... where does he keeps pulling this shit?