Chapter 251 Concubine, let’s forget it
February 15th.
morning.
There were dark clouds and a gloomy look. It is estimated that it will rain soon.
Su Ming's sequelae have improved to some extent.
No smoke.
He casually went to the house to pull out a root of grass and hold it in his mouth.
Inside the house, Noelia was packing her luggage...actually it was just clothes. That cheongsam was bought by Su Ming when he went out for a stroll. It didn't quite fit the size, but it was indeed something that could be worn normally. At most it should be tighter.
"Master, I'm fine."
"Then let's go."
There are many questions.
But it was obvious that Noelia didn't know how she did it. If she was asked to repeat it, she would try her best to hold it in until she was no worse than constipated. Nothing is triggered.
Su Ming has always been carrying the magic stone he snatched from the city lord's mansion.
Didn't notice it before.
After thinking about it, the sage had time to pack his luggage and then he saw...the stone was cracked. It was originally an ordinary cobblestone, but now it is no different from coal.
Just a guess.
Noelia, maybe you can use the magic stone.
February 15th.
noon.
According to the division of the country shown on the map, Parthia and Oroshizuku border. And not far from Oro Shizuku there is a mountain range. Similar to the Himalayan Mountains that separate the Southern League and Northern League. If Oroshizuku and Parthia have minor frictions under the alliance treaty, the Northern and Southern Alliance completely falls into the category of not having an extradition treaty or even raising taxes to restrict transactions. Beyond that is the sea. The map does not clearly indicate where the sea is.
February 15th.
Night.
Su Ming entered the town in disguise.
There are wanted posters everywhere.
【Extreme Dangerous Persons Su. Timirasu, Tia Noelia】
[If you see a suspicious person, please report it immediately. Anyone with valuable clues will be rewarded with a reward of 10,000 gold tickets. Those who lead to the direct capture of the target will be rewarded with 10 million gold tickets】
[Those who directly capture the target will receive a reward of 250 million and 500 gold tickets. Regardless of life or death. 】
【……】
There are direct seals from the Parthian and Oroshizuku palaces on the bottom.
"This guy is really awesome."
"Who says it's not the case? People on the other side of the border used to have a very miserable life, but now they are inexplicably not arguing. Instead, they are cooperating."
"No way, I heard... these are two alien species. Neither of them are human."
"Ah? Isn't that thing a lie?"
"I don't know. Anyway, I heard from businessmen who came back from the royal capital that the battle that day was ridiculously large...all the troops and explorers stationed in the royal capital were dispatched. As a result, they didn't even touch the corners of their clothes."
"..."
"Let's go, just take a look at the 250 million. It turns out that we are not enough for the monsters. I hope someone catches it soon. People are so scared that no one wants to come out, and business is not easy to do."< br>
"..."
Su Ming stood in the crowd, staring at the wanted poster.
Two hundred and fifty million golden tickets? It looked like he was really anxious.
February 20th.
Night.
Su Ming never met anyone who came after him again.
On the contrary, I often see people dressed as explorers forming teams in the streets and alleys, talking about him and Noelia.
But it was impossible for anyone to recognize him.
He tied Noelia's hair into braids with his own hands, deliberately making both braids close to her ears. In other words, the hair that should be on the back shoulders is concentrated on both sides of the face. The eyes are okay, there are blue eyes and green eyes in this world. Just lie when asked.
As long as Noelia doesn't get out of control, no one will think there's something wrong with her eyes.
As for appearance.
Draw a scar on Noelia's cheek and slightly modify the details... No one will see her as a harmless innocent girl anymore.
I've been traveling like crazy these past few days.
This will be the town closest to the mountains. It was getting late, so I just found a hotel to rest.
"Master."
"Huh?"
"You have to put on my makeup again every time. In fact, you can just sleep like this."
"I can read minds."
"?"
Noelia was stunned for a moment, then looked away and whispered softly.
"Sometimes I can't tell whether Master did it on purpose or just thought..."
"You don't have to hear it to know it. I can see you covering your face."
After all, she is a girl. Even if she doesn't care much about her appearance, it is a bit abstract to be painted with scars all over her.
As a killer, he is not qualified enough.
"Master is lying."
"Obviously just thinking about it...Noelia's original face is indeed cuter."
"Cute, want*."
"..."
"Traitor. Of course what I am thinking is a cover-up. How can the idea of being a teacher be seen through so easily?"
His face has long been lost.
Now Su Ming no longer cares about what she heard. What can be done? That's it, it's just cute*. What's wrong with this?
February 22nd.
morning.
Su Ming was fully prepared.
I asked someone to help me make a sleeping bag, which is like a cotton-padded jacket for cold weather. There are already insulated kettles in this world, so bring one with you. The lighter is still a third full of oil. The only worry is whether crossing the mountains is considered a plateau area, and whether there is a lack of oxygen to start a fire.
So Su Ming chose the portion size between taste and quantity, and brought more unpalatable dry food.
“It’s not a good time to go there recently.”
"I can only take you to the intersection, and then be careful."
The Northern and Southern Alliance seem to be preparing for war recently. What I heard from hearsay...Su Ming always felt like it was in the Spring and Autumn Period of the Snow Country or something, where the two sides had to talk about the fight in advance, and then face-to-face duel with samurai.
There is no such thing as a blitzkrieg. What we want is an honest and head-on confrontation.
After bidding farewell to the caravan, we could only walk on our legs.
It's almost spring before it gets cold. The foot of the mountain is covered with snow, and the mountains further ahead are probably even colder.
February 22nd.
Night.
"Noelia, remember."
"In a place like this where there are cliffs everywhere, you must choose an area with wide terrain and no cliffs around it."
"Otherwise, if you take a nap, you may sleep forever."
"..."
Nowadays, Su Ming no longer needs to carry a fun knife with him to trigger bonuses.
Simply turning on the lowest level floating state is fine. It is very gentle and not affected by the cold wind outside.
February 22nd.
late at night.
It seemed that Noelia couldn't stand the cold anymore.
Su Ming had no choice but to get up and set up a tent on the spot. An insulated kettle is completely useless in this environment.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Master."
"..."
In-depth communication, lips and teeth mingling.
"It's not cold anymore."
"Master, it's so warm..."
There was a time when Zeng Yao also liked to be by her side. She argued that she was not jealous because she often saw Xia Ye sitting on her lap, but because her body was warm in winter and cool in summer. It's the same as a constant temperature air conditioner.
But tell the truth.
No matter how you put it, Yao weighs more than 100 pounds. Regardless of the constant temperature air conditioner or jealousy, she has to sit on her lap for a long time, which makes her really numb.
"...Master."
"?"
"Air conditioning, what is it?"
"You can think of it as a tool that blows hot air in winter and cold air in summer. It can make the temperature of the whole room as cold as you want, or as hot as you want."
"..."
Noelia had wrapped herself in her sleeping bag again and could no longer get close to Su Ming.
A little silence.
"Master...can I go to your hometown to see you?"
"..."
Going to the snow country or the winter market?
"Ah, I, I forgot...Master must be the same as me. Something sad happened in my hometown."
"I will take you there if I have the chance. There are many things besides air conditioning."
"Any more?"
“Do you know what’s in the sky?”
"The moon...the clouds, and the birds."
"In my hometown, people can go there."
Su Ming pointed above, "The moon."
"Aren't you afraid? So high."
"You can't fall down when you reach the moon. It's different from where we were. Even you can fly."
"...Master is so amazing."
"Why am I so good again? I have never been up there, I just said someone can get up there."
"Master can definitely go up if he wants. Master... is very strong. Like a god, he can do anything."
"Noelia, do you want to curl up?"
"Huh? No."
"Do you really not want to?"
"...No."
"Really not at all?"
"...a little bit."
"Do you know what this is called?"
"..."
"Psychological suggestion."
"Master, I really want to curl up."
February 25th.
This was definitely my happiest time. Despite the harsh environment, it was just Master and me.
Stroll through the endless white.
My eyes accidentally got sick. Master said it was snow blindness. He told me to close my eyes and rest while he carried me on his back.
The sleeping bag is a product of the master's hometown. I haven't seen it before.
It's really warm in there.
But it’s better for me to lie on Master’s back and hug him tightly. Master asked me to close my eyes, so I did.
"..."
I quietly pulled down the cloth covering my face a little and put it directly against Master's neck.
"Noelia."
ah.
I was discovered immediately, and I had no choice but to pull him up obediently.
Sometimes I really feel like Master is like a parent, taking good care of me.
But it’s different from mom and dad.
Master must be tired, right?
You don’t have to carry me behind your back.
It’s okay if I hold Master’s arm and go. It’s impossible for Master to let me step into a trap on purpose.
"You stepped on my foot."
"..."
"Noelia, this is not funny."
The master is a weirdo.
Standing on a high place, suddenly shouting very loudly.
He said this is one of the ways people in his hometown relieve stress. I shouted too.
"Noelia, are you... a natural born trap?"
What's a clip?
I ignored it and shouted out the thoughts I heard first.
"..."
"You shouted out so happily, but I feel guilty."
Why do we feel guilty?
I have always said that I am willing to be a flannel cloth for the sake of Master. Just a little louder. Master is so weird.
He also said that there is no sense of accomplishment in lying to fools.
I'm not stupid.
I know who is good to me and who is not good to me. It doesn't matter if that's a bad word.
February 28th.
noon.
Master and I finally saw the village again.
"People from the south? This currency..."
Golden tickets are not very common here. After finding someone who is willing to exchange, there is not much money left after the conversion.
Master said that if you are a newbie, you should be honest for a while.
February 28th.
Night.
Master found out whose family had a large amount of Bei Union General Cash. We went straight to get it. Didn't kill anyone.
March 5th.
Night.
Master and I transferred to a carriage and came to the more prosperous big towns in the Northern League.
Master said he would stay here next time.
I don't have any opinion. It doesn't matter whether I sleep in a forest with a lot of rush, in a carriage, at a fellow villager's house, or in a hotel now. While Master was out doing what he wanted to do, I took out the neatly folded cheongsam from my bag.
Is it normal clothes that can be worn out?
I have that kind of normality. This one...
"Crack——"
I tried to slit the hem of my skirt with a dagger. If you feel that visual inspection is not good enough, just put it on and try it first. Split almost to the hips.
The chest bag is tight and tight.
I gestured again, and cut it open enough to allow half of it to come out and breathe.
At this time, I looked in the mirror again and saw that it was not much different from what Master gave me at the beginning.
March 5th.
late at night.
"Noelia? You..."
Master came back and seemed a little surprised when he saw how I was dressed now.
How to answer?
Use the answer I had already thought of.
"Nothing else can be given to Master."
"But...this, I don't want to be normal. What I want...is what Master likes."
I would be embarrassed too.
Ever since Master said that I am more than just a disciple, my heartbeat has been speeding up unconsciously.
But this is something I have planned for a long time.
"Noelia... I just want to show it to Master."
It's been a few days since I've been like that.
Master always does everything on his own, and I also know that staying where I am is the best help to Master.
What I want to do now is to soothe Master's fatigue.
It's also true.
Clothing like cheongsam... No matter how normal it is, I can never regard it as normal if I have a figure like this. But in other words, in front of Master, I will not consider whether the clothes are wearable or not. I only need to consider whether the clothes are what Master likes.
I squatted in front of Master and carefully started what I had to do.
"..."
When Master could no longer hold himself back and helped me up, I said the next sentence.
"Master, this time...can I come?"
"?"
"..."
A horse spins.
Although I really don't know if it can be done, I am willing to try.
"Stop, stop, stop! Stop..."
Huh?
Why doesn't Master look comfortable at all, but is in pain?
"Noelia, Thomas spin...that was a joke."
"Wait a minute, you don't have a bandage? Just a cheongsam?"
Um.
There is nothing inside.
Because I know that Master will be happy when he sees the mark of my cafeteria.
March 9th.
Master and I have been in town for four days.
Master said he wanted to open a grocery store. In order to collect magic stones and create a legitimate identity... he secretly collects the information he wants. More importantly, life can really become calmer.
I think I will stay here with Master for a long time.
My strength has improved, but it is far from what Master described. I can't do magic. If only I could understand what I am...
March 15th.
Master has decided to open the shop officially. There are many businesses, from customizing clothes to collecting gold and silver jewelry, to selling some tools tinkered by the master. For example, an iron tool made of several circles of small elastic wires. Master said that it is a more convenient ear scoop. But no one bought it.
"Hey, let me tell you, if you are so beautiful, as soon as you stop at the door, there will be many people buying it. This thing is quite easy to use and cheap."
I communicated with the female shopkeeper who sells porcelain next door. I discussed her idea with Master.
"The waitress?"
"Okay, give it a try. If it doesn't work, it's okay. Don't worry, gold will always shine. We don't make money from this."
"..."
Business is booming.
March 17th.
The master was often not in the store during the day, and was always searching for the information he wanted. And I changed from a ‘look-at-shop lady’ to a ‘boss lady’.
But these are all misunderstandings by outsiders. I am not Master's wife...Master's wife is no longer here. Same as my parents.
"Ah, then you didn't even sign a marriage contract with him and you just slept with him?"
"..."
"This is not okay, men are like this. Once they get it, they will definitely throw you away when they get tired of playing with it."
"..."
Master is not.
There were countless opportunities to throw me away, but none came.
"Do you like him?"
"..."
However, my chat with the female shop owner gave me another chance to understand what ‘like’ is.
"It's very simple. If you like him, you don't want to give him to others."
"For example... I am interested in your master. I plan to let him become the boss of my store and sever all relations with you."
"?"
"Don't look at me with such a scary look, I'm just giving you an example. You see, this is love. I definitely don't want to not know what my man is doing outside and who he meets every day. What if there is a very beautiful woman? …”
"Okay, I already understand that you really care about him. Look, your face is pale."
"Then let me ask again, how does he usually treat you."
"..."
"I always feel like you subconsciously put in a good word for him? We went to bed without confirming any relationship. But from my observation, you seem to like you. Almost... Just try to mention marriage to him. After having children It can firmly bind men. In this era, the only thing that rich people like them care about is reputation.”
I didn't lie.
Master will really be able to take care of me rationally even when he has a lot of thoughts in bed...
"Okay, okay~ All men in the world are beasts. What's more, facing someone like you, it's impossible to be rational."
"I see, you have been completely eaten by him. There is no residue left from the inside out."
"..."
"But you should really think about what I just said."
"Since he lost his original wife, he must be very lonely to need you. How should I put it... A man like your boss who is not very discerning probably only has weaknesses at this stage. Other times He is a good man who plays tricks on people and doesn’t show any real feelings at all.”
"..."
I was stunned.
Have you forgotten all this time?
Although Master, like me, has lost an important person. But unlike me, my parents cannot be resurrected. But the wife... is not a replacement, but a new person who becomes that identity.
I might be able to heal Master.
March 17th.
Night.
"Phew...so tired."
"What the hell is the Explorers Guild? Now it doesn't just sound like a mercenary, it always sounds like a small United Nations. It also has voting rights."
"After searching for a long time, I searched hard for this thing. When I asked, no one knew how it was made."
Is that a weapon inlaid with magic stones?
Master pulled out the stone and asked me to hold it and try it to see if there was any reaction. But nothing happened.
"Okay. Is the bath water ready? I'll take a bath first."
I smelled the smell of Master's clothes.
There is only the smell of sweat and no other odor. I'm very happy that Master is only interested in me, but even if I smell someone's perfume, I won't say anything. As long as I know that Master will not abandon me, I will be fine. Well...as long as you don't choose someone else for the time being in front of me, I won't cry.
"Ha..."
Heat gradually filled my cheeks.
I know that I will never be able to compare with Master's wife in my life. I won't compare either.
So...
"Huh? Noelia? Haven't you already taken a shower?"
"I, I will rub Master's back."
"..."
I lifted my feet and got into the bathtub, which was big enough for two people.
"Master."
I mustered up the courage to speak.
"Huh?"
"I...can I be...that."
"That?"
"Your...is, my concubine."
"What?"
"I can't replace your wife, but...is this okay? Noelia will always be with you."
"..."
"When you think of those sad things again, just think of Noelia...can you?"
I said it all at once.
The knuckles of the hand holding the towel turned white from straining too much.
"...They are really not dead, they are alive and well."
"Master, I know everything. You are a gentle and nostalgic person. The female shopkeeper next door told me."
"..."
"You keep living in the past. You will always be sad. I think... I can at least help you a little. Can you?"
I stared into Master's eyes.
"Forget it. A concubine or something is too feudal."
"..."
Rejected?
The female shopkeeper said that being rejected proves that Master actually doesn't like me that much. Will be...thrown away after getting tired of playing with it.
"Hey. Noelia, why don't you marry me?"
"?"
"Contract to marry."
"..."
"No matter what, it's weird that I don't even have a real wife here, but I have a concubine by my side. How about it? Do you want to marry me?"
"..."
I stared at Master blankly.
How could it be?
How dare I replace the wife in Master's mind? Just me...
"It is indeed impossible to replace, but I never said I would replace anyone with you. You are you."
"So, are you willing?"
"..."
I can't breathe.
Because the female shopkeeper also said that there will always be a moment when masters and apprentices part ways.
But couples are different. As long as the engagement is not broken off, they will spend a lifetime together.
I don't know how I spent tonight, completely in a daze.
March 18th.
morning.
After Master left, the female shopkeeper came over to ask me how I was doing.
"..."
"Ah, do I want to marry you directly?"
"He seems to be a good man. I guess he had planned this for a long time, and he said it straight away when you said it."
"..."
"What? Are you talking about wanting to be a concubine? Oh my god...how supportive are you? How much do you like him?"
"..."
I didn't listen to most of what the female shopkeeper said.
Just one paragraph.
"Does that need to be said? I must like you to marry you. Congratulations on your love."
It’s not just now that I know that Master ‘likes’ me.
But I didn’t know at all how precious ‘like’ is.
Now I know.
Like is something that can make me... equal to Master's wife.
"Hey, Miss Tia's face is so red. Are you sick?"
I have no idea.
Suddenly he became flustered and had no intention of introducing products to customers. I even forgot to give the old woman money.
Then I thought about what Master would want me to do after he came back.
"..."
So say!
Everything I do, everything I think.
It’s all because he likes me, likes me enough to marry me, and is the most important person in Master’s heart. I am very important to Master. Master likes me very much...very much.
Always compliment me on how cute I am.
Huh?
Master...why did you come back so early today? ! Will you touch my hair? Still will...
"Miss Tia?!"
"Noelia?"
"..."
So embarrassing.
Thinking about all kinds of things. I couldn't look directly into Master's eyes, I couldn't stand still... I felt so overwhelmed.
Master.
He said he wanted to marry me. It is not to replace the wife who has passed away in my heart. He also said that Noelia is the lovely Noelle and no one else. It’s me who wants to marry.
what to do?
Just seeing Master makes me want to close my legs and I can't help but curl up. It's over. Master knew that he would definitely laugh at me and embarrass me in front of Master.
(End of chapter)