My Maid is Cute Chapter 53 : Preparing for the Journey (Patreon)

*Preparing for the Journey*

It was decided that they should eat first, so Rebecca and Rieserago entered a small restaurant they discovered while walking down the street.

It was past noon and already approaching evening, but surprisingly, about half the seats were occupied. Guided by a welcoming staff member, the two of them sat down at a small table.

"Umm..."

She was hungry, but she wanted to avoid anything too heavy. While Rebecca thought about this with the menu in hand, Rieserago, paying no mind, called over a nearby waiter. Pointing at the menu, she spoke.

"I’ll take every dish listed here."

"Huh!?"

Rebecca was startled. The waiter also looked surprised, but he quickly bowed and returned to the kitchen.

"R-Riesie! By 'all,' you don't mean... I can't eat that much!!"

Rebecca called out in a panic, but Rieserago answered with a yawn.

"No problem. I will eat it."

There was no falsehood in those words.

When the food was lined up on the table, Rieserago ate with terrifying speed, as if inhaling it. Not just Rebecca, but the surrounding customers and staff watched in stunned silence as the meal vanished.

"What is the matter, Rebecca? Are you not eating?"

Prompted by her words, Rebecca hurriedly picked up her spoon. She chose some soup and bread from the many dishes and took a bite. Her expression immediately softened.

"It's delicious..."

Seeing Rebecca eating little by little, Rieserago gave a small laugh and continued her meal.

"Come to think of it, you eat human food, don't you, Riesie?"

When Rebecca asked in a whisper while eating, Rieserago swallowed a large chunk of meat before replying.

"Yeah. I actually quite like eating. I wouldn't die if I didn't eat, and I could survive without it, though. Basically, I can eat anything. If I felt like it, I could even eat the 'energy' floating around here."

"I-Is that so..."

Not quite understanding, Rebecca gave a vague reply.

Eventually, after finishing all the dishes, Rieserago and Rebecca ordered after-meal drinks.

"...So? Where do you want to go?"

"Umm..."

Rebecca's destination was, of course, the Caldwell estate, the place where Wendy was. Just as she was about to say that, Rebecca realized something and gasped.

"...That's right."

"Hm? What is it?"

Rieserago looked at Rebecca curiously. Ignoring her gaze, Rebecca crossed her arms and fell into thought.

Even if she returned to the Caldwell estate, Wendy might not be there. After all, Wendy was already seventeen. At that age, there was a high possibility she had enrolled in the Magic Academy and was living in the student dormitories.

"Hmm..."

Should she aim for the Magic Academy? But even if she visited Wendy suddenly, she might not be able to enter the academy as an outsider. And in the first place, would Wendy even accept her in this form...?

The more she thought about it, the more her head began to hurt. As if to shake off her gloomy feelings, Rebecca downed her juice in one go. Then, she spoke to Rieserago.

"—For now, to the Caldwell estate."

Deciding to return there first, Rebecca spread out the map from earlier.

"We go to the port here and get on a ship. Then we go to this town, and from there we take a carriage..."

Looking at the map and listening to Rebecca's explanation, Rieserago made a sour face.

"That is quite far, isn't it?"

"It really is..."

"Hmm... which means, until we reach the destination... four days? No, about five days?"

Being told that again, it really felt far. Rebecca sighed and folded the map.

"Ah."

Rebecca suddenly raised her voice and leaned toward Rieserago.

"Come to think of it, you had wings in your original form, right? Can't you fly?"

When she asked, recalling the large wings on Rieserago's back, Rieserago grimaced.

"I can do it, but... I am not keen on it. That form is quite large and stands out, so if humans find me, things will get quite complicated."

"Ugh."

"If I reverted to that form in the middle of a town like this, I'd cause trouble for the humans of this land."

"Ugh, uuuugh."

Rebecca slumped onto the table.

Rieserago lightly patted Rebecca's head.

"Cheer up. Let's make progress little by little."

"...Okay."

***

leaving the restaurant, Rebecca kicked her legs back and forth within Rieserago's arms.

"Riesie, I can walk now!"

"Hm? Is that so?"

Rieserago lowered Rebecca to the ground. Rebecca stomped her feet a little on the ground, then called out to Rieserago.

"Then let's depart immediately! How do we get to the port..."

"Wait a moment."

Rieserago grabbed Rebecca, who looked ready to run off at any moment, by the scruff of her neck.

"Let's stop for today."

"Eh, wait? Why!?"

She wanted to go home as soon as possible. When Rebecca retorted sullenly, Rieserago let out an exasperated voice.

"Look closely. It is already evening."

"Huh?"

When Rebecca looked up, just as Rieserago said, the sky was being dyed in the colors of dusk.

"It's true..."

"Traveling at night is dangerous. Let's take an inn for today and rest."

"...Okay."

When Rebecca dropped her shoulders and nodded obediently, Rieserago lightly patted her back.

"Don't be so depressed. That's right, let's go buy some clothes now."

"Clothes?"

"Yes. Neither you nor I have any clothes other than what we are wearing right now. Besides, if we are going on a journey, there are various things we need. We're going to buy them now."

At those words, Rebecca nodded, albeit with some hesitation.

When they entered a nearby clothing store, a woman who appeared to be a clerk bowed her head to welcome them.

"Welcome."

Rieserago pushed Rebecca forward toward the clerk.

"We are going on a trip starting now. I want you to choose clothes that fit this child. Also, pick something appropriate for me. I will pay whatever amount."

At Rieserago's words, the clerk's face lit up with joy, and she bowed again.

"Understood."

From there, a considerable amount of time was spent choosing Rebecca's clothes. Rebecca was fed up as the clerk made her try on outfit after outfit. Rieserago watched silently at first, but halfway through, she started chiming in with the clerk, saying "not this" or "not that," leading to the purchase of many garments. In the end, Rieserago tried to buy a child's party dress that seemed absolutely unnecessary, so Rebecca had to desperately stop her.

"What are you doing! Honestly..."

"Why not? It suits you so well."

"There's no way I'll have an opportunity to wear such a cute dress!!"

As Rebecca and Rieserago argued, the clerk watched them with a heartwarming smile and spoke up.

"What a kind mother you have. You two get along so well."

At those words, Rebecca and Rieserago both opened their eyes wide in shock. Then, turning their faces toward the clerk,

"That's wrong!!"

"We are not parent and child!!"

They shouted back loudly at the same time.

The clerk looked surprised, glancing back and forth between Rebecca and Rieserago curiously. Rebecca realized what she had done and hurriedly heaped on more words.

"Ah, umm, not parent and child... right, sisters! We're sisters!! Just a bit of an age gap!! Right, Big Sis!!"

Rebecca emphasized the words "Big Sis" and looked at Rieserago. Although bewildered, Rieserago hurriedly nodded.

"Y-Yes! That is right! My sister!! You are my... little sister!"

The moment she declared that, Rieserago...

"...!"

For some reason, her eyes wavered as if she were shaken, and she gave a small gasp. Seeing her state, Rebecca tilted her head in puzzlement.

Meanwhile, the clerk nodded in understanding and smiled.

"Is that so? A trip between sisters, then."

"Y-Yes. That's right. Ahaha."

Rebecca laughed to smooth things over.

Rieserago stared blankly at Rebecca. And then,

"...Little sister."

She muttered softly, as if brooding over something. However, it did not reach the ears of Rebecca or the clerk.

***

By the time they finished buying necessities other than clothes and secured an inn, it was already late at night.

"I'm glad there was a room available."

"Yes, indeed."

When Rebecca entered the room at the inn with Rieserago, she dove onto the bed.

"Aah, I'm tired..."

"Are you going to sleep already?"

"Hmm~, I'll stay up a little longer..."

Rebecca shifted around, turning her gaze from the room's window to the view of the town.

"It's small, but it's a nice town, isn't it...? Everyone was very kind, too..."

In the darkness of the night, small lights were twinkling. It was a beautiful night view. Thinking that she wanted to come here with the Young Lady someday, she was gazing at the nightscape when Rieserago called out to her.

"—Rebecca."

"Hm?"

When Rebecca turned her face toward her, Rieserago was looking straight at her with a serious expression.

"...What is it? Riesie."

Rieserago opened her mouth for a moment, then closed it immediately. She continued to stare at Rebecca in silence.

"Riesie? What's wrong?"

When Rebecca called out wonderingly, Rieserago finally opened her mouth again.

"Regarding your body, there is one more thing I must tell you—"

***

Starting next time, the "Isekai Journey with Riesie" arc begins.

Can she return to the Caldwell house? And when will the reunion with the Young Lady take place?

...I don't think it will be that long. Probably.

Please wait patiently.