See you, Enfi.”
With an ‘Understood’, Nfirea left the group behind.
“Although waiting here’s fine… maybe I should make drinks.”
“Great idea~su! I’m thirsty~”
“…Lupu-nee, aren’t you a maid? That means you know how to make delicious drinks, right?”
“Welp, I’m the maid of Ainz-sama, and the other Supreme Beings, soooo... I don’t want to work for anyone else ~su. I just want to laze around su~. Let’s not talk about work and all that other stuff.”
“Is that so… well, that’s a shame.”
Although Unlai and Lupusregina’s conversation seemed quite normal, Enri could still feel a chill run through her.
As they walked and talked, they reached the goblins’ house.
This was a place with a wide courtyard where you could raise and let wolves run around, capable of housing almost twenty people. It was a large building where they could train with and maintain their weapons.
The goblins opened the door, and led the way for Enri and Lupusregina.
“Fueeee- I didn’t know there was a place like this~”
“Hmmm? Lupusregina-san, you’re not coming in?”
“Yup yup~ Can’t go in without an invitation. Well, it’s just a matter of etiquette, it’s not like I can’t really go in. I guess the only other one with such a weird legend is flatchest-san~”
“Flatchest-san…?”
“That’s right, En-chan. It’s the name of a tragic beauty. Well, it wasn’t as though that person couldn’t really go in. Legends, myths folklore —Weeeeeeell, let’s not talk about that any more~
We’re here to listen to what this goblin has to say, right?”
“Ah, yes. Then, drinks… ehm, how about herbal juice and fruit juice? There’s black grass tea and Hyueri water…”
Agu and Lupusregina looked completely baffled by Unlai’s question, so Enri helped explain for them.
“Hyueri are citrus fruits, you cut them open and infuse them into water and it tastes clear and good.
Black grass tea is a little bitter.”
“I’ll have a Hyueri water, then.”
“Hyueri juice for me too~”
“Got it. How about Ane-san?”
“I think I’ll have the Hyueri water too. And… how about washing hands? Even if our noses are used to it…”
“Ah, that should be all right. Oi, kid— I mean, Agu, you come over here too. Gotta clean yourself up. And bro, sorry about this, but you mind putting away our dirty weapons?”
“Is it alright?”
“Of course it is. Not like he can do anything. Our rules here are very simple.”
“If that’s the case… let’s go.”
Kaijali left the room with three sets of weapons.
“Agu, come over here quickly.”
“Why do I have to wash? Will it make me pretty?”
Enri noticed that Agu’s hands were very dirty; there weren’t clean by any definition of the word.
“Your opinion is irrelevant. This is the owner of the house telling you to wash up. Or are you saying you’re going to defy the owner in his own house?”
Agu puffed up his cheeks, and plodded over slowly to Enri’s side.
Enri poured the water from the large tank into the pails. After preparing four sets, she stuck her hands into the unexpectedly cold water and started to wash up. The green on her hands melted away like snow in the sun. By the time she was done, she brought her hands in front of her face. The stench was gone.
Enri looked around herself. Gokoh and Unlai were washing their hands too, and the water was dyed red by the barghest’s blood.
Next, she looked to Agu, but what she saw left her dumbfounded.
Even a child would know better than to wash up like this. He stuck his arms into the water, waggled them around a little, and that was that. He didn’t even dry himself off.
Although Enri had already washed off the plant-scent on her hands, Agu still reeked of torn leaves.
For forest goblins, a scent like this was a form of self-defense against magical beasts with keen sense of smell. As such, they might have never developed the habit of washing themselves thoroughly.
Even so—
“You do it like this.”
Agu made an annoyed face as Enri tried to teach him. However, he thought of his own position and what the other goblins had said earlier and grudgingly, he started to thoroughly clean himself.
“That’s right, you’re doing great…”
“Hey, after this, use this to wipe your body. Make sure you get all the blood off.”
Agu didn’t look happy about it, but he still cleaned himself with the damp towel.
“So we just dump the dirty water outside?”
“Yeah, just like that. Ane-san, go have a seat. We’ll take care of the rest.”
With that, Enri headed to the nearby table. It was surrounded by chairs since so many goblins lived here. As she chose a place to sit, she suddenly realized how tired she was. Her arms and legs were like logs, and her head was heavy.
Although part of the reason had been gathering herbs, what had really worn her out was the battle against the barghest.
All I did was watch… Enfi and the goblins were fighting, but they can still be this active… looks like I’m never going to be a warrior… or rather, Enfi’s gotten really strong…
Even though she knew that her childhood friend could use magic, she hadn’t expected that magic to be so powerful.
He’s amazing…
As she thought of her suddenly-different childhood friend, Enri’s heart swelled with an emotion she couldn’t put into words. It seemed to be surprise, but then again it seemed like something else entirely.
A clear sound brought Enri back to her senses, and her eyes fell on the ceramic cups on the table.
They were filled with a transparent fluid that gave off a citrus smell, and Enri decided to help herself to a cup.
The cool, sweet and sour taste washed over her entire body, and she felt like she was filled with energy. Agu had sat down beside her at some point, and he gulped his down in one shot and immediately asked for another.
Yet, Lupusregina didn’t touch hers.
Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lupusregina-san eat or drink.
“…Hm? Something wrong? You’ve been sneaking glances my way recently. Are you in love with me? Ahhhhh, how troubling~ my, how shocking, to think that En-chan is a lesbian~su. Looks like I need to let everyone know~su”
“What— no! No! It’s not like that!”
“Wahahahaha~ Just kidding. I know En-chan likes men.”
While thinking about how to reply, Enri’s eyes narrowed into a straight line.
“Although, it’s kind of slow… hm? Looks like they’ve arrived.”
Enri turned to the door, but she had the feeling there was nobody outside.