Chapter 39: The guesthouse in Lazune
Chapter 39: The guesthouse in Lazune
The calm after the storm came. After reuniting with their companions, the newly formed couple was finally free from the problems they had. In fact, now...
"Why are you two holding hands, Boss?" one of those adventurers asked, and Samira didn't know what to do or say. She looked at her hand and hadn't even noticed what had happened. She was truly confused. "How did I not feel this?" she wondered.
"Give me your sword," Samira ignored her subordinate. And he handed her a sword. "Much better, I feel less defenseless," she commented, and they looked at that. "I would protect you," Strax commented with a smile, and Samira's face turned completely red.
The four men looked at the situation and couldn't help but sigh deeply, especially Jason, who saw that and simply gave up on any thoughts. He just thought, "Young master... having several women isn't good for you..." Was he worried? Of course, after all, Strax is a huge target. Having several people by his side means one thing for the Vorah... Weakness.
Regardless of how strong Strax may be, in Jason's mind, that's just weakness. People like Strax should avoid this kind of weakness to grow and become strong. Jason had seen countless cases of men who died for their women. Damn, this is just for one woman and Strax now has two? It's a pity that Jason doesn't know what kind of person Strax is... After all, he is stronger the more women he has.
"What happened to those idiots?" When they resumed walking, Strax questioned about the hunters. "We killed six of them, and they killed all of ours. We wanted to kill more, but the Young Master disappeared, and Samira followed shortly after, leaving our field of vision. When we realized, you two had disappeared," Jason commented, something that Strax quickly noticed.
"Only the two of us were isolated? Why? I mean, it was good, of course, but isn't it strange that only she and I were separated?" His thoughts always seeking a reason for everything again left him confused. He had always been the kind of person who likes an explanation for what happens, but this time he only had one conclusion. "Destiny in... like when I felt it was her..." He thought.
"And their bodies?" Strax questioned. "We left them well exposed, so they can be found by their leader," Jason replied. Strax thought and really understood their plan. "Sending a message, huh, it's a good idea, Jason," Jason felt confident when Strax quickly understood his plan. "It will work out," he said.
"Even if they find someone alive, it will serve as an example for their comrades. You did well, Knight," Samira said, wondering if there was another way to deal with this situation, but she concluded that Jason was quite clever doing it this way. "And the tracks?" She asked. "Completely erased, Boss," one of them replied. "Hmm, good."
"We'll reach Lazune if we walk for another two hours," Jason said. "Really? Then we'll have to pick up the pace to get there; more than half the day has already passed," Strax said. Indeed, it was already past noon. Fortunately, the snowstorm disappeared only with the death of the Bear, and the path would be much faster and smoother.
Strax had already observed something in Jason that seemed to bother him.
"You may be a knight, but you're my escort. Don't blame yourself for losing me; the circumstances led to that," Strax said, as if saying "I forgive you" to Jason, who had his burden taken off his shoulders. Unfortunately, despite being a knight, Jason is an honest man. Accepting and almost losing his young master means that he was a failure.
Even if Strax is fine, it doesn't mean that his guilt can be easily taken off his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," he said, bowing slightly to Strax. "Tsk, stop that, I didn't allow you to bow," he said with a smile. 'You never change in...', Strax thought, remembering the old Strax and Jason seven years ago. "I'll do my best," Jason said with a smile.
'He really cares about me in... I thought this idiot only cared about his women,' Jason thought, lightly laughing. 'I'll do my best!' He made a determined face
as they continued to walk in the valley that still had remnants of snow.
'It seems he cheered up, I just hope he doesn't overdo it... This guy is kind of weird,' Strax thought as he returned to holding Samira's hands... "Let go," she ordered, but Strax ignored. "My reward for protecting you," he said with a smile that she... couldn't ignore. 'Damn handsome bastard!
Damn it!'
They didn't take long to return to the initial route they would follow towards the port city of Lazune. Unfortunately, it ended up taking much longer than expected, and the sun was already about to set over the distant horizon. The sky was already golden and pink, and the small group at least had time to observe the landscape. Finally, in the distance, they located the port city of Lazune.
The salty sea air mixed with the lively sounds of commerce.
As they entered the bustling streets of the city, merchants shouted their offers of spices, children ran through the narrow streets, and the tempting smell of freshly prepared food hung in the air, almost screaming for them to taste a bit of those rare fish.
"Let's find an inn to rest," Strax suggested, casting a cold glance at the boys who were almost eating the food with their eyes. "We all need a little rest, or would you prefer to go back to the snow?" Strax asked with an intimidating smile. "No!" They all answered quickly. Samira couldn't help but laugh amusedly at that.
Samira nodded with a wave. "We need a good night's rest, I'm exhausted." She stretched as she yawned, the tired expression on her face revealing everything they needed to know. 'I need a hot bath and a cozy bed.'
After some searching and asking around with some citizens, they finally spotted a modest inn, with a swinging sign creaking in the wind, "The Traveler's Rest."
"This seems like an adequate place," Jason observed, assessing the inn with a critical eye. "I'll check if they have rooms available for all of us, wait here." Strax and Samira agreed, and they waited outside. It didn't take long, but Jason came back with a somewhat... complicated expression, I guess we can put it that way.
"So... do you want the good news or the bad news?" Jason questioned, clearly feeling... awkward.
"Just spit it out, man," Strax said, and he squared up. "We are five, right? But... they only have two rooms available that would meet our requirements." He explained. "That's fine, we have a place to stay, and what's the bad news? The price?" Strax asked, but Jason's face...
"One of the rooms has three beds... but the other... is a double bed."
Upon hearing this, a broad mischievous grin spread across Strax's face. It was a satisfied expression, accompanied by a touch of malice, after all, it was another opportunity given by fate directly into his hands. "Well, that's interesting," he murmured, looking at Samira with a playful gleam in his eyes.
Samira, on the other hand, couldn't help but release an ironic smile. The unexpected always had a way of making things more interesting.
"So, who's going to take the double room?" she asked, her smile suggesting she already had an idea in mind, of course! 'You're going to sleep with a man, you idiot!' She thought clearly looking at Strax, she wanted revenge but... her shot backfired.
"I prefer to sleep alone in a bed," one of the guild members said, as did the other two. "Yes, we prefer not to share the bed, we're too big," they commented.
Slowly... Samira's mischievous smile broke like a mirror... after all... she didn't want to spend another night with Strax, if not... she would probably never be the same woman as before, and she would just be a lovestruck little girl.
Strax looked at Samira with a playful gleam in his eyes. "I think we both can take the double room, right?" he suggested, his voice loaded with mischief, which everyone felt, but did he care? Of course not!
Samira accepted defeat with a slightly hurt nod, although a spark of curiosity burned beneath the surface. What could happen by sharing a room with Strax? She wondered, as the warmth of anticipation began to spread through her body, remembering the night in the cave...
"Well, what are we waiting for? I need a hot bath!" Strax said excitedly, completely changing the mood of the place.
'Damn it... I'm going to be caught in this sly man's tricks again...' She muttered, already foreseeing what could happen, after all... Samira wasn't foolish, and despite feelings blossoming lightly, she was almost given in to the arms of that man, it was only a matter of time until she gave up denying and just accepted the warmth of his body. She was fighting a truly lost war.
[The Mission Has Been Updated] Strax read with a mischievous smile.