However.
Even if that were the case, it certainly wasn't something they needed to worry about right now.
"Don't think too much about it; at least for now, it has nothing to do with you."
"If you actually ran into an entity of that level, you'd probably be dead in the time it takes them to blow a breath of air."
Gojo Satoru's words were sharp and hit close to home. In a single sentence, he managed to leave Subaru Natsuki looking utterly dejected.
It was true; right now, he was no different from an ordinary person. What could he possibly do?
"What a pair of weirdos."
Listening to the two of them mutter cryptic nonsense, Felt was completely lost. Seeing that they had no intention of explaining, she didn't bother thinking too hard about it. She sat down by the campfire Rem had started and began eating the dry rations they had traded for earlier.
Subaru volunteered for the night watch. In truth, it didn't really matter if he stood guard or not. If anything were to happen, Gojo was confident he would sense it instantly.
Inside the carriage, the three girls huddled together under blankets. Gojo, meanwhile, spread a blanket on the grass beneath the tree, finding it quite comfortable by the warmth of the nearby fire. Subaru sat beside him, occasionally poking at the embers, fulfilling his duty as a sentry with earnest dedication.
The night passed in silence, without any unexpected incidents.
The next morning, Rem took the reins of the dragon carriage once more. Along with the other early-rising merchants, they continued their journey toward the mansion. It wasn't until late afternoon that they finally ventured deep into the Cremaldy Lost Forest and arrived at the secluded estate.
"We have arrived."
Rem, driving the carriage, alerted everyone inside.
Through the carriage glass, Gojo and the others could clearly see a magnificent manor appearing ahead. The residence in the Royal Capital had been luxurious enough, but that was the Capital, where land was worth its weight in gold. Even the long-standing Mathers family couldn't be too extravagant there.
But in a remote place like this? As long as you had the money, you could build a manor as sprawling as you desired.
A mere glimpse was enough to tell them this was only a fraction of the whole. The portion of the estate visible to them looked like a giant beast slumbering within the forest.
The main building was a Gothic structure dominated by pale white and deep purple tones. The central tower soared high, its roof bristling with spires. Neatly arranged rectangular arched windows lined the walls, showcasing the solemn grandeur of a noble's seat.
The courtyard leading up to the mansion was even more impressive. In the center was a main road paved with marble tiles, wide enough for several dragon carriages to pass side-by-side. On either side were vast stretches of emerald lawn, subdivided into various sections planted with meticulously manicured shrubs and bushes. Vibrant, beautiful flowers were interspersed throughout, creating a scene that was both harmonious and elegant.
As the carriage moved forward, they approached a fountain situated closer to the mansion. A finely carved stone sculpture stood in the center of the fountain, with transparent jets of water splashing and sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight.
This carefully tended manor felt less like a luxury item meant to flaunt noble wealth and more like a work of art.
"This is even more extravagant and grand than the manor in the Capital," Subaru muttered to himself as he watched the scenery outside.
"This must have cost a fortune in Holy Gold coins..." Felt's focus remained as practical as ever.
Gojo wasn't as easily awed as the other two. To be fair, the Gojo clan back home had centuries of heritage and their financial power was equally impressive, if not greater. Unfortunately, now that he had transmigrated to another world, that wealth likely had nothing to do with him anymore.
The dragon carriage soon passed the fountain and finally came to a stop at the steps before the mansion. On the steps, a petite figure had been waiting for some time.
"Lady Emilia, esteemed guests."
"I am Ram, a maid of this household. Lord Roswaal has been expecting you for some time. Please, come with me."
The speaker was a cute girl of similar height and identical features to Rem, wearing the same outfit. The only discernible difference was their hair color. Rem's was blue, while Ram's was pink.
Aside from that...
"Guest, could you please refrain from looking at Ram's older sister with such lewd eyes?"
Rem silently moved in front of Gojo, blocking his view of Ram. Gojo, who actually didn't have any impure thoughts, confirmed one thing very clearly: as the younger sister, Rem's figure was slightly more curvaceous than Ram's.
"Guest, could you please refrain from looking at Ram's younger sister with such lewd eyes?"
The pink-haired Ram also stepped forward. The two sisters stood together, saying nearly identical words. Their cute faces and maid uniforms were quite a sight to behold.
"A pair of twin maids, huh?" Subaru stared at the sisters, muttering in a voice only he could hear. "Truly a sight you can only see in another world."
"Well, though I don't have the 'lewd' thoughts you're talking about... I've made up my mind. When I see the Margrave later, I'll have to have a good talk with him."
"Asking to have you two come work for me. A pair of beautiful twin maids running a sweets shop... the thought alone is quite nice."
"Thank you for your hard work, Rem, taking care of a guest with such strange delusions."
"It was nothing, Sister. I have already learned the guest's weakness."
The two sisters spoke in sync, which didn't feel rude but was rather amusing.
"Don't waste time here. Don't forget why we came," Felt reminded him crossly. Seeing Gojo chatting and laughing with the sisters made her feel like he had lost sight of what was important. To her, a maid was worth very little compared to Holy Gold. Even if Lugnica currently banned slave trading, if you had enough money, you could easily arrange things. When that time came, never mind twin maids who could make sweets—even high-born girls wouldn't be out of the question. Everything had a price. If you were lucky, you might even find the daughter of a fallen noble.
"Don't worry, don't worry."
"I haven't forgotten our plan!" Gojo promised faithfully.
Led by the two sisters, the group stepped inside the luxurious manor. Looking at it from the outside was one thing, but once they entered the interior, they realized that what they had seen before was nothing in comparison.