Reborn as A Holy Knight (Remake) Volume 4 Chapter 3 (Patreon)

Chapter 3 – Princess of the Onis

The house we were ushered into had the atmosphere of an expensive ryotei (Japanese-style restaurant) or ryokan (Japanese-style inn).

There was an earthen floor and a small wooden space that served as a corridor and waiting area. At the far end of the room, I saw a sliding door.

“Oh, yes! Alfred, here’s where you put your shoes―”

“What?”

“―you’ve already taken them off? Wait, are you familiar with the customs of the Oni tribe?”

No, it’s a habit from my previous life.

In a Japanese-style building, if there is an earthen floor and a small wooden floor, you shall naturally take off your shoes.

“Excuse me. This way, please.”

Unlike the people outside, we were led to the back of the house by a woman of the Oni tribe wearing a kimono. When the sliding door was opened, I opened my eyes wide.

“Tatami…”

“Wow, you even know what a tatami is.”

I let out an involuntary yelp when I saw the tatami mats laid out in the back room of the sliding door-cum-screen, which should be a “fusuma.”

Ada also responded, impressed with my words, but the woman who guided us was also surprised and was even gasping lightly.

“Please wait here.”

At the back of the tatami room, a blind curtain made of bamboo strips was lowered.

Ada and I had to wait in front of it.

“Hohou, even your seiza is good too.”

“Ooh, thanks.”

I naturally sat on my knees in a seiza because I thought that a person of high rank might appear, given the presence of the blind curtain.

The way Ada sat with her legs together and her back straightened was also beautiful.

“Excuse me. Please enjoy.”

Another woman appeared, placed a table in front of us, and served us tea.

“Please make yourself comfortable.”

I tried hard not to scream in surprise.

But what I was surprised this time was neither by the Japanese-style table nor by the fact that green tea was being poured into a teacup on top of it, which I looked and it smelled like green tea.

(Why… why a maid?!)

It was because the woman who served us with her blue hair tied into a ponytail was dressed in a Western-style maid’s uniform.

Her black and white monotone maid’s uniform was wide open at the shoulders and bust, exposing her pure white skin, which is rare for people in this area.

But underneath, instead of the short skirts that are standard in maid cafes, it was a long skirt.

The eyes under her partially drooping eyelids were golden, and from the short, pointed ears and the lack of horns growing from her forehead, it was evident that she was not from the Oni tribe.

After seeing her leave to the back of the room, I sipped my cup of hot tea.

The slightly astringent, bitter flavor was the very green tea I knew.

“Lady Lezieune makes her appearance.”

The maid, who had once retreated to the back of the room, reappeared and quietly announced so, and then another presence appeared from behind the bamboo curtain.

The figure, who at first glance looked taller than me, walked with rude footsteps and sat down in front of us.

The curtain did not allow us to see the figure clearly, but on the other side, I could recognize a legless chair, on which the person, whose name was probably Lezieune, sat and crossed her legs, then rested her chin on her hands as she placed her elbow on one of the armrests.

“Hey, Ada, long time no see.”

A low-pitched, husky female voice came from behind the curtain.

“Yes, it’s been a while, Lady Lezieune.”

“I heard you brought a man with you. Since when did peddlers start trading people?”

Ada was frightened by the words that were released in a hearty and grumpy manner. However, for this Ada to be so stiff, I wonder if the other party is an aristocrat or something.

“No, he’s not like that. He’s… just a friend of mine.”

“Oh, a friend, you say?”

“I brought him here to introduce him to you because I thought he would be a good fit for the job that was asked to me before, since the request was still in the guild.”

“Hmm. So that little guy over there is your friend.”

“Yes, sir. His name is Alfred――”

“You may return.”

“――huh?”

“If he looks like a wimp, then isn’t down there also a wimp? I’m sorry that you had to come all the way here, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave now.”

Oi oi. Pretty unaccommodating, aren’t we? Once my [Divine Skill] Activates…

“My name is Alfred. Please hear me out first…”

“No.”

With just one word, the conversation was blocked. I stared in front, wishing I could at least see her face, but the curtain prevented me from seeing her.

“Ada, next time, bring me “something”, not “someone.” See you.”

“Ah, Lady Lezieune…!!” But Ada’s call was in vain, as Lezieune’s figure stood up and retreated to the back.

“My apologies, but I’m afraid you’ll have to leave for today.”

After that, the maid bowed deeply. But “for today,” huh? Does this mean that at least this maid does not dislike us?

After that, she urged us to leave the tatami room, which when we approached the sliding door we were greeted by the Oni woman who had first shown us around.

“We are deeply sorry for the trouble we have caused you today. As an apology, we have prepared a place for you to stay if you want, so you can rest there.”

Lezieune herself was not in the mood, but the others seemed to be in a welcoming mood. There must be a reason for this.

“What are you going to do, Alfred? It’s still early, so we can go back to the inn.”

When Ada said this, the guide woman looked at me with drooping eyebrows, as if clinging to me.

“Well, since they already had trouble preparing, we might as well stay till the end.”

Whatever it was, I would need some information.

Perhaps sensing my intention, Ada also nodded in silence.

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