Chapter 18 : Sasuga Urien-sama!

"Sorry for making you wait!" I turned around as I heard the voice of Yumil shouting from behind.

"It's okay. Did you get what you want?" I smiled.

"Yes! Can I put this flower in your pocket?" she offered a lavender rose to me. Wow, she must have really thought about it and know me very well. Purple is my favorite!

"Of course, you can!" I nodded. She walks near me and puts the flower in the breast pocket of my coat. Man, she chose the flower nicely. There aren't any thorns in it.

From there, we walked toward the bakery of Yumil's choosing. Fortunately, we didn't get into trouble like back in the flower shop. I think it is mainly because the owner of the bakery didn't recognize Yumil.

After buying her mother's favorite bread, the two of us walked into the slum. What can I say? The slum… looks like a slum. Nothing more, nothing less. I followed Yumil from behind without making a sound. She is lost in her own world. Hmm… she must have really missed her mother, huh?

"Mother," I muttered. I haven't seen my mother from my previous life for over 5 years, eh? I grabbed my head as I suddenly got a headache. "Argh!" Why am I seeing a silver-haired woman when I thought about my mother?! I cannot see her facial expression because her face was blurred. But… why am I having a feeling that she looks like she is proud of me? That woman is not my previous life mother nor the waste of oxygen mother from this life. So, who is she?

"Are you okay, Lord Urien?" Yumil immediately turned around when she heard my groan. She even forgot that she does not need to add 'Lord' for today.

"I am fine, Yumil. Just some random headache," I replied.

"Should we turn back, Lord Urien?" she asked worriedly.

"I said I am fine, Yumil. You had been looking forward to visiting your mother and I don't want to ruin that. Moreover, didn't I tell you to call me just Urien for today?" I pat her head. Wait… is she purring right now? What are you? A cat?

The two of us walk toward the hut which looks like it would fall down at any moment. The hut is collecting dust and it is strange that nobody tried to live in the house after it became empty.

"This is the place I used to live together with my mother," she solemnly told me about this hut. She then led me to the back of the hut. There are dust and cobweb everywhere, but I didn't mind it. My eyes landed on the slab of wood stabbed to the ground.

"This is…" I asked.

"Yes, the grave I made for my mother. I am sorry for letting you see such an awful-looking grave, Mas- Urien. I was 8 when I made this tomb," Yumil said while caressing the tomb gently.

"Nonsense! This grave is pretty well made. I can see how much sweat you dropped and how much care you put in while making this grave. I should be the one saying thank you for letting me meet your mother," I smile gently. As someone who could not stay with his mother till her last breath and died before her, the way she treated her mother's grave earned a respect from me.

"It is nice to meet you, madam. My name is Urien, Urien Gregorios. You can say that I am the employer of your daughter. She is doing well. Mind you, she is the second-best maid in my territory. Just like I had promised my teacher that I will protect my people, you can rest assured as I will not let any harm befall upon her. I swear this upon my sword," I kneeled without minding the dirt on the ground and caress the tomb.

After that, I stand up and walk outside the hut. I am sure Yumil will want to talk with her mother alone. I didn't need to wait for too long as Yumil walks out of the hut not long after I came out.

"Say, Yumil. Do you want to carry this grave back to the territory? I can make a place for her near our family's tombs," I offered.

"I thank you for your proposal, but I don't think we deserve that kind of treatment," she refused, huh? As expected of Yumil. She always belittles herself.

"Don't worry, Yumil. I insist. How about this? You have time to think before we go back to our territory. You will be able to visit your mother whenever you want if we take her back," I told her and the two of us walked out of the slum.

It was total silence on our way back and I tried something to break the silence. "Do you know, Yumil? I can certainly say that we will be picking up a stray on our way back," I said.

"Why would you think that?" she tilts her head.

"From experiences," I replied. Yes, from experiences. From the experiences of reading countless Isekai Light Novels. Well, it is just the novels. Real-life and novels are different. So, I am just bullshitting to break the silence.

"I shall keep my eyes open then," she nodded and starts looking around the surrounding.

*15 minutes later*

"How did this happen?" I thought as I look at the scene in front of me.

In front of me is the sight of a little girl with many cuts and bruises lying on the ground with giant claymore by her side. The girl has violet hair, and I cannot tell her eyes color because her eyes are closed.

I reached out to touch the claymore but before my hand could reach it, the claymore shrunk and appear on the wrist of the girl as a bracelet. Hmm… interesting.

I can say that the girl is not ordinary to own such a weapon. This weapon of hers reminds me of my <White Pride>. So, she must be strong. But to become such a state, something or someone powerful must be after her. So, the logical thought of a normal person is to leave her here like this to get away from the troubles.

But who am I? Like a certain milk-loving home landing dude once said, I can do whatever I want. Why should I scare of simple nobodies?

"Yumil, we are taking her with us," I told the girl standing beside me.

"As expected of Lord Urien. To be able to predict that we will be picking up someone, your wisdom has no bounds," she muttered. I can't quite hear what she said but I will take the praise.

Just like that, the two of us returned to the inn we are staying in while carrying the little girl. People from the street gave us odd looks but who am I to care about them?

"Luna, we are back!" I shouted as I walked into the room. Strangely, Uncle Li and paled Eugeo are also in the room.

"What happened to Eugeo? He looks pale," I asked.

"Oh, it was nothing, Master. We went hunting (read: exterminating) some wild animals (read: spies) and it was the first time for Eugeo to hunt (read: kill) something (read: humans)," Luna replied. Well, that made sense! He was just a simple woodcutter back in his village after all. Although I think he and Kirito hunt some wilds during their travel to Zakkaria. Well, I might be wrong about that.

"I see. And can you heal this girl? I picked her up from the slum," I pointed at the girl lying on my bed.

"As you wish, Master," Luna proceeds to heal the girl and I am sitting together with Uncle Li while drinking and sometimes listening to his life stories.

"Well, I will go and book another room for the girl," I stand up after hearing Uncle Li's story.

"You don't need to, Master. You can sleep together with me," Luna interjected.

"There isn't much room on the bed, Luna," I stated.

"But who will look over the girl if you leave her alone?" Luna retorted. Well, what she said is also true.

"How about I book for another double bedroom?" I asked.

"This is the last double bedroom, Master," Luna informed me.

"Fine! You win! Just don't try to pat me in my sleep," I deadpan at her.

"I can't keep such promise, Master," Luna grins evilly. Why did I shiver at her grin?

Just like that, days passed, and it is time for us to travel to Zestina's mansion. The girl I and Yumil picked up still hasn't woken yet. How did she survive without any food for three days?!

"I will be taking the coachman, Luna, and Eugeo. Can you guard the girl for me?" I asked Uncle Li. Yumil is just a maid so, she doesn't know any offensive spells yet. I intended to make Cecilia teach Yumil a spell or two to protect herself.

"Rest assured, Urien," Uncle Li nodded at my request.

"Take care of her, alright, Yumil?" I requested Yumil.

"I will do my best, Lord Urien!" Urgh… her smile is too dazzling.

It took about a day to reach the mansion of the Zestina family. This time, unlike the Oak family, the butler did not belittle me and announced my arrival.

"Lord Gregorios has arrived!"

I can see many eyes turns toward me. Did I do something wrong?

"Urien!!! You are here!" I saw a blur and… "OOF," the air inside my lung is pushed out from the impact.

"Yubel, act like a proper high standing noble," I chided her. What kind of noble girls would launch themselves at another gender?

"You are the one to talk," I heard the voice I don't want to hear the most.

With a strained smile, I turned around to greet the most annoying girl I had ever met.

"Shut up, bratty princess," I deadpan at her, making all the noise around go silent. What? Did I do something wrong?