By the time the carriage reached Nifa Inn, it was already past 7:00 and dark outside.
Erika had said she was a classmate and would take care of them, but the twins hadn’t let go of the hem of my clothes.
I gently stroked the heads of the two who were trembling slightly with worried expressions, and I looked at Erika with a troubled face.
I had thought Erika would be more suitable, so I was a little surprised by their actions.
But Erika must have thought differently from me; she smiled wryly and said, "I suppose so..." while watching the twins’ faces.
It must be something only women can understand. I couldn’t tell...
So when the carriage stopped, I asked Erika to take care of the twins, went inside the inn first, changed my clothes, and swapped my boots.
The boots were thrown into the magic bag to be replaced, and the clothes were also stuffed in because they were stained with the thieves’ blood.
Then I hurried into the tavern to call Nimi.
Because I came in so hastily, the adventurers asked if something had happened, but since I was rushing I said "I’ll explain later" and rushed to the kitchen.
When I explained the situation to Nimi, who showed a surprised expression, she stopped her hands from cooking, nodded seriously, and headed outside toward the carriage.
At that time Pafa was also listening, and she followed Nimi.
When I bowed my head to the two helpers and said "Sorry," they exchanged glances and laughed.
"That’s what a teacher should be."
"Right~"
I smiled wryly at their words and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand.
After that, I finished the dishes that were halfway done by Nimi and went to the quiet floor to explain to the adventurers.
One of the adventurers asked me seriously.
"Teacher, does that mean there’s a possibility that remnants of the thieves are hiding in the capital?"
"I think all of the ones in the twins’ house were there... but it’s better to be cautious. The patrol soldiers are already moving, so even if they’re there, it’ll be a matter of time."
"Thieves target women, so maybe I should escort the female adventurers back today..."
"We’re not weak!!"
"Idiot! How many victims do you think that would cause!? Just quietly get escorted back!"
A woman adventurer with slightly flushed cheeks turned away in dissatisfaction at the male adventurer’s serious tone.
...You two, are you maybe getting along well?
After a while I went around the tavern and Erika and Melaine-san came in and started helping.
Melaine-san moved quietly and quickly with no wasted movements, so I was mesmerized.
Erika went back and forth between the kitchen and the floor, and when she did she told me about the twins.
"Nimi-san, Pafa-san, and Mother are also watching. So please don’t make that worried face."
"But..."
"It’s fine. You said you were the worst and you were saved thanks to you, right?"
"...I see. Erika, shouldn’t you stay nearby too?"
When I said that, Erika smiled wryly and shook her head at me, then handed me a plate.
She hadn’t told me anything, but she gave me the plate after seeing the contents of the frying pan, so it seemed she had been helping Nimi a lot.
"No, I’m worried, but I’ll stop. When it’s like this, I shouldn’t show it to close people..."
"Hmm... then maybe I should sleep over somewhere else."
"Haa, you’re fine. Both of them are getting anxious without you, you know?"
"Hmm?"
At my considerate words, Erika made a dumbfounded expression and let out a small sigh.
No, if Erika was bad, even the teacher like me wouldn’t want to be seen like this now...
Erika, holding a plate with food in one hand, waved one hand with a wry smile and said,
"The ones who helped you are different. Also, since Raide-san is the one who saved us, you’d feel safer if he stayed nearby. Now, shouldn’t we start limiting orders?"
When I checked the time at her sudden question, it was already past 22:00.
When I smiled wryly and nodded, Erika also nodded with a smile and headed to the floor.
Even though I had been thinking about a lot, time had passed quite quickly.
Since the closing time today was 23:00, only drinks would be ordered from now on.
Previously I had allowed food orders until the last minute, but after consulting with Nimi about the cleaning, we decided this.
There were surprisingly no objections from the adventurers, and they accepted it cheerfully, so I was grateful.
After the kitchen was cleaned and I went to the floor, there was no one at all, and I tilted my head.
It was only 23:00, and usually some adventurers would still be there...
While folding my arms and wondering why, Melaine-san approached and explained.
The adventurers had heard the story about the thieves from me and cut off drinking earlier than usual to go home.
When they left, they said they would go home after checking the surroundings, and Melaine-san told me with a serious expression.
"We maids and the butler have also been informed. As a state of alert, it’s perfect, isn’t it?"
"When it’s like this, it’s better to be cautious."
"...There’s something I’ve been wondering about. May I ask?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"How long are you going to keep speaking to us with such respect? There’s no one around to see. Please stop."
"No, but..."
"Please stop."
Melaine-san came in close to me, almost pressing her pear-sized breasts against me, and looked up.
Although Melaine-san didn’t show emotions, she had slightly furrowed her brows unusually.
The pressure was too strong...
I let out a small sigh and smiled wryly in the atmosphere I couldn’t refuse.
"Understood. Is this okay?"
"Yes. Also, please use first names."
"...Got it, Melaine."
When I said that, Melaine smiled really unusually and bowed, then went back to cleaning.
By the way, Erika, who had been watching my and Melaine-san’s situation from a slightly distance, was laughing happily with "kusu kusu."
...If you were watching, you could have helped. You’re Erika’s maid, aren’t you?
Erika must have noticed my gaze because she smiled and tilted her head while making silent mouth movements of "give up."
When I saw that, I smiled wryly and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand, then looked around the floor where almost all the cleaning was done.
The power of real maids is amazing; it should have taken more time than this.
After sending the two helpers home and returning to the inn, their houses were close—only three houses away—so it didn’t take long.
I had told them to send them off because of the thieves.
It was around 23:15 when I entered the residence space.
When I looked for Nimi with my eyes, she was sitting on the sofa with the twins sitting on both sides and being hugged tightly.
When Nimi saw me enter, she smiled with relief.
Pafa, who had just come out of the bath, also spotted me and smiled softly while pattering over to hug me.
I took a nice cloth from the magic bag and wiped Pafa’s wet hair while asking in a small voice.
"Elycia?"
"She said she’d go home today. She’ll come again tomorrow."
"I see. Pafa, thanks for everything. I’m saved."
"No, it’s fine~"
I kissed Pafa’s forehead, which was smiling softly while looking up, then wiped her hair and let go. I quietly approached Nimi.
When I saw the twins’ condition, they were clinging strongly to Nimi, pressing their faces against her chest and trembling slightly.
Today’s events were the terrifying experience from earlier, so of course their hearts wouldn’t calm down right away.
I stood behind Nimi on the sofa and gently stroked the twins’ heads. They trembled again and looked up with an anxious face.
I smiled gently and looked up at Scon and Micon with the gentlest voice possible and said,
"Please be at ease—there’s no one here who will harm you. The surroundings are also being patrolled by soldiers, and if anything happens I’ll protect you. So please be at ease."
"...Yeah."
"Thank you..."
I confirmed that the twins’ trembling had stopped and let out a small sigh of relief.
The twins buried their faces in Nimi’s chest again, and Nimi was smiling while gently stroking their backs. It was obvious from the atmosphere.
I felt this enveloping, comforting atmosphere and thought Nimi was amazing.
Now then, I couldn’t let Nimi participate like this...
Even if they were sleeping, a bed only slightly larger than a single would be cramped, and they might fall off.
I happened to see the table in the dining room and whispered the idea I had come up with to Nimi.
Nimi nodded happily and agreed, so I immediately got to work.
With this plan, it would be fine even with four people including Pafa sleeping, and I could sleep on the sofa if needed.
I was basically a person who could sleep anywhere... Now, let’s do it quickly.
I muttered that to myself and headed toward the dining table.
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