A entered an ordinary house in the northwest district of the city — the same kind as the surrounding houses — and came back out a short while later carrying a mantle and a large leather bag. Both appeared to be made by sewing together several pelts from pigs, sheep, or similarly sized animals.

"Here. I’ll lend them to you."

"Are you sure?"

Both items should be quite expensive. Even in modern Japan, fur coats are pricey and most people can’t own several. In medieval Europe, no one would have multiple either.

Or maybe because they raise large numbers of sheep and pigs for meat, the hides are plentiful and cheap?

No, but parchment is expensive. Damn. I have no idea about prices here.

"I’m the captain of Montvant’s defense force now, so I won’t be traveling for a while. Besides..."

A, wearing armor that was slightly more fantastical than real European plate armor still existing in modern Europe, pulled a beautiful red mantle — the kind fantasy knights and kings wear, hanging down the back — around to the front of her body with her right hand.

"I have this."

With a proud smile, she handed me a brown, stiff mantle that looked exactly like something a medieval traveler would wear. If I put this on, I’d probably look like someone who forgot to smile after a nuclear war.

Hm?

A then unhooked a single knife from her waist and handed it to me as well.

It might seem unreliable as a weapon for a knight in full armor, but in medieval Europe, this small knife was probably what actually killed the most opponents.

Swords, spears, and arrows get deflected by armor and rarely deliver fatal blows. The most effective attacks against knights were stabbing into the gaps in their armor. A short knife is the easiest tool for that.

There’s no such thing as "I have a sword so I don’t need a knife." This should be an important item for A.

"Here."

"Um. I don’t need a weapon."

I can’t accept something important, and I’m probably stronger with punches than with a knife anyway.

Besides, if monsters attack, I’ll just run.

And if combat is unavoidable, I can escape into the sky with Wind Pressure Masturbation.

I also have the battle suit Dura-san gave me. Besides breathing and absorbing piss in space, it probably has other useful functions.

"I know. You might not use it as a weapon, but if you catch a chicken or rabbit along the way, you’ll need to butcher it, right?"

Ah, I see. So this knife is a cooking tool.

It would be convenient to have, but a modern Japanese person who only ate pre-cooked meat has no skill in butchering fresh game. Even if I had the skill, the blood and guts would be too scary for me.

"In that case, it’s fine. My traveling companion is an experienced merchant."

"Oh. I see."

A hooked the knife back on her waist.

"Thank you so much. Really, thank you for everything."

"Don’t worry about it. We’re comrades in the same group. When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? That’s sudden... I’ll ask my wife if we have any extra jerky. Wait here."

Just how nice is this person? She’s even willing to give me food.

"Ah, we have plenty of food. Thank you."

"I see. Don’t hold back, okay?"

"It’s not holding back, we really do. Just like the wine yesterday, food and drinks are easy to obtain in large amounts."

"I see. You also have the prize money from the status test."

Well, I used that money to free the slave beastmen, so I’m still broke and my dick is peeking out from under my robe...

"So, you’re not coming back to Montvant?"

"No, I’ll come back once."

"Good. I’m relieved it’s not a final farewell. See you again."

"Yes."

A held out her fist, so I did the same.

Clash.

"Come back safely."

"I will."

Travel in the Middle Ages is dangerous.

People die from illness, bandit attacks, running out of money and starving, natural disasters, getting lost, and countless other causes.

Because it was an era where most people lived and died without ever leaving their home village or town, people treated travelers with great hospitality and hated to see them go.

A truly cared about me from the bottom of her heart and lent me valuable items even though there was no guarantee of them being returned.

Even though winter is coming and food stockpiles will be precarious, she was ready to share jerky with me.

She’s too good...

In the Middle Ages, even some nobles lived lives similar to commoners, so even as a knight, A probably isn’t that wealthy. In fact, the house in front of me looks no different from the neighboring ones.

A might be my greatest benefactor. If I hadn’t met her first when I arrived in Montvant, I might have been chased away as a suspicious naked person. Instead of the wine Rafilia-san made, someday I need to repay her with something I obtain in this world.

I’m truly nothing but grateful...

So I wish her safety.

"A-san, your job protecting the city is dangerous too, but (if you ever suffer near-fatal injuries, I’d want to help, but I’d feel resistant to fucking your ass to insert elixir) I pray for your safety."

"Thank you."

"Let’s meet again at the crossroads of history and destiny. The day the black obsidian flower blooms is near..."

"Eh?"

I left those cool parting words and started walking.

Those words originally came from the demon Garugara while pretending to be human.

If I spread them among the Montvant defense force and citizens, it might help stop the demons’ schemes somewhere.

『Hey, are you done talking?』

『Eh?』

Lucia’s voice suddenly echoed in my head. Just like when Dura-san spoke to me earlier.

『Get me an apple.』

『Eh? An apple?』

Yesterday when I went out, A bought me an apple and I used it as a souvenir.

Since Rafilia-san’s skill can duplicate them infinitely, we all ate them yesterday and this morning.

If I cut an apple in half, the original half should still be in the kitchen.

It should keep duplicating until the original part rots, so why does she need an apple?

『Can’t you ask Rafilia-san to cut one?』

『The llama ate it.』

『Eh? The llama?』

The llama is the lisping young capybara girl. At first Lucia named her "Baka" (idiot), which was too mean, so I renamed her Llama. Incidentally, "llama" is also used as a metaphor for idiot.

『I thought it was hanging where she couldn’t reach.』

From a modern person’s perspective, the visual is slightly shocking, but half-cut apples are stuck on nails protruding from the wall. The apples hang on the wall like wall clocks.

『That’s...』

『Did the llama really eat it?』

『...』

Something feels off.

『Come on. Tell the truth.』

『Pika wanted to eat it, so I gave it to her.』

『I see...』

That’s fine, but why blame the llama?

Do you... dislike the llama...?

You’re the one who named her Baka in the first place...

『Hey Lucia, you love the capybara girls, so why are you so harsh on the llama...』

『That’s... mumble mumble』

Suspicious... But I want to believe it’s just my imagination.

『Alright, I’ll get the apple...』

『Yeah. Please.』

...Now I’m in trouble.

A is right there. She’s walking east back to work. I can catch up immediately.

But I just said my cool parting line and left.

And now I’m going to turn back and ask her to buy me an apple?

The difficulty level is high...

Can’t be helped. I chased after A and caught up at the next intersection.

"U-Um...!"

"What’s wrong? Is this the crossroads of history and destiny...?"

"An apple... Could you buy me one?"

"Eh?"

"No, um... When you brought the wine bottle to the church, I said I’d give something in return, so... just one apple."

"Understood."

It was embarrassing to ask right after we parted, but I got A to buy me an apple.

On the way back to the church, I pondered a question with no easy answer.

If that incredibly kind A ever suffered severe injuries, what would I do?

Could I fuck her ass?

No way. But I also can’t just let her die.

In that case, I’d have someone else suck me off and only give A the elixir.

The perfect person would be A’s wife. She would probably cooperate to save her beloved husband.

But could I say to A’s wife, "If you want to save A, suck my cock, and when semen comes out, feed it to A mouth-to-mouth"?

Is it okay to make a married woman give me a blowjob for the sake of saving a life?

Someday, when I face this dilemma, will I be able to make a married woman suck me off without hesitation...?

And I couldn’t continue thinking about this proposition.

Because when I returned to the church, a terrifyingly fierce battle was about to begin.

About 30 minutes later, I witnessed Lucia’s defeat...