Chapter 12 Make Crusades Great Again (1/2)

I felt like I'd just lost my soul.

The world faded to shades of grey, and the only color that existed was bore solely by the person before me. Her fair, caramel brown hair and emerald green eyes were the most enchanting shades of color I'd ever seen in my life!

And those fluffy brown ears standing proudly atop her head were especially alluring!

They were tall, soft-looking and just amazing!

I was almost driven mad with the desire to hug her! I wanted to touch them! Those ears, I wanted to play with them so much I couldn't stand it!

She was...perfect! Absolutely perfect!

”CAT EARS!!!!!!!!”

I couldn't help but exclaim.

But it was a pity. As soon as she realized what happened the hood was back on in an instant, almost as if she were ashamed. I had a few suspicions due to that action, and the words that old hag said earlier. I chose not to address them right now.

Priorities, me. Priorities.

I ignored the waifu candidate for a second and squatted to examine the other hooded figure.

”Alright let's remove that thing and see if you're really alright, shall we?”

I reached over.

”Don't!” The young woman shouted.

Too late, I'd already moved the cloth aside and got a look at the face beneath. Or that was the plan but it was covered in bandages

That was odd enough. But then I looked a bit more thoroughly and started noticing other things too. Like the cuts on her hands. The bruises on her arm. The tattered cloak and shirt that was more akin to a sack than an actual piece of clothing.

It only took a few seconds to take it all in.

She didn't react at first.It was only after I'd finished my scanning that she looked up.

I found myself meeting with a pair of dull, ruby-red eyes.

She clutched the side of her ribs and her entire body trembled when a wind picked up.

I attempted a kind smile. ”You'e got some pretty nice looking eyes there.” Silence. ”Well. Nevermind that.Up you go.”

The woman was hanging with her mouth open as I talked.

For some reason she seemed surprised?

I was curious about that but didn't ask. I just scooped the girl up off the ground a gave her a princess-carry.

I frowned.

I knew I was pretty strong for my age. But what the hell? She was light as a feather. And so thin that I could feel her bones. I ended up taking extra care, fearing I'd break something.

The girl resisted as I held onto her. I could feel her hands pushing at my chest. It was useless. She was so weak that the attempt was just plain sad.

Fucking bastard. What kind of prick treats a kid like this? I wanted to track him down again and drag him back for Patches to use as a chewtoy for the rest of his pathetic life.

Instead of doing that though I refocused on the waifu candidate.

”Your Master's gone, you're dressed as beggars, the air is freezing and this kid is both wet and all banged up. Do you even got a place to go?”

Servants like them normally lived in a guest house at their Masters' Estate. If they did own a home outside of that then it's unlikely they would have been able to afford maintanence given their outfits. Which was another thing, their personal items were gone now. I doubted they had much in the way of savings but they wouldn't carry it around anyway so didn't that mean whatever money they might have had tucked away was also gone?

Sure there were banks but servants weren't often paid much since all their necessities were already provided to them by their Masters. Unless they were educated, were followers of a great house, or had a high position like Head Maid or some such thing, well, their pay was a pittance.

These two did not look like valued servants. So it was safe to assume they had no home and no money to last, if any at all.

Did they have even a single silver to their name right now?

My question made her snap back to reality. Her face dropped. ”He was the only one willing to take us in. What're we going to do now?”

As expected, I was right. They had no plan. I didn't know what was up with that first thing but I was already walking away and didn't pay it much attention. ” Follow me.”

”What? Hey, don't just pick her up and leave!” She ran to catch up. ”What do you think your're doing!”

”I already said.” My voice was dead even. ” I planned on getting involved since the beginning.”

”....Yes? I don't follow.”

”I mean your Master was about to leave this kid to die, you understand that, right? And you were going to be used as a test dummy.” I cut her off. ”You've been thrown away.”

”That's...that's true...”

Her ears must've been hanging low because I saw the hood drop a few inches.

”So you probably would've both died.”

”That's also...well...”

The blunt words left her face pale. It was easy to work out but actually hearing it would make anyone anxious. They only just barely escaped, in all likelihood, miserable deaths. How could she NOT be scared?

” But I stepped in to help out because I didn't like what I saw.Which means you're only alive because of me. Which also means I'm now responsible for your lives.”

She walked along silently.

”You name?” I waited a few seconds to inquire.

”Minerva.”

”Nice, I like it. Sounded classic.”

Smart. Regal.

She stayed quiet a while longer.

The girl was panting heavily in my arms.

”...What's going to happen to us, then, Master?”

As befitting someone with that name. She was a quick-witted woman, wasn't she?

”I'm going to take care of you.”

Cat-eared waifu, GET!

Loli, GET!

***

I wasted no time and took them to the nearest Inn. The little one here was soaked with water and icy to the touch. I had to get her body temp up so I rented a room with a fireplace.

I told Minerva to go draw a bath while I laid the girl out on the bed.

She kept slipping in and out of consciousness. As soon as I saw she was awake I took out a vial from my pouch and started undoing her wrappings.

”Wait, don't!” Minerva appeared from out of the ether and raised her voice in a panic.

Just like last time she was too late.

I was already looking at the girl's full, unbandaged face.

I raised a brow, impressed. ”Wow. Precious little thing you are, aren't you? You'd be cuter with a clean face and better clothes though. Let's make sure you get both soon, 'kay?”

My voice had taken on a gentler tone. Ah, my heart just bled for the poor little thing.

She had a face as fine and charming as Dolly's and her golden strands of hair were just a few shades fairer.

She'd normally be a lovely girl if only she wasn't so gaunt. When was the last time she ate till she was full? Looked like months if not longer.

I noticed the shock on Minerva's face making it's appearance once again.

What was up with that?

I didn't ask for now. I just put the vial to the girl's lips and had her down the whole thing.

Healing potion? If this were the game version, maybe.

But this wasn't quite as effective in real life. It's not like people here had a health bar that could just be refilled. Originally this thing was supposed to be able to heal minor wounds instantly in-game.

It wasn't something used in the first game but was common in the sixth. Since the two were part of the same world, of course, I was easily able to get my hands on one.

It's just that this wasn't like it's Love Orgy counterpart and was only able to stimulate the body's natural healing process. It also had a painkiller effect.