Breakfast, Bath, and Panties. Not necessarily in that order!

01

Man, what a creepy silence...

I don't know why the hell I blurted out that last name. It was the first thing that came to mind. But really, what's the big deal? Sure, the guy might have a bit of a reputation, but it can't be so bad that even his surname is cursed. Unless...

Oh no.

Shit!!

"Eh, ye-yes, sir! But I promise I have nothing to do with that Kazuma! I'm not a sexual harasser, nor do I steal anyone's panties!! I swear!!!"

Stephane pondered for a few seconds, gently stroking his beard, and then...

"Hahaha, you're quite a character, young man," Stephane laughed, clearly entertained by my flustered response.

"Yeah, that Kazuma guy is pretty notorious for his nuisances. He stirred up quite a commotion in one of the towns where I have a shop, Axel. His group caused quite an uproar there."

He paused, his gaze becoming slightly more serious.

"However, from what I've been told, the problem is far more severe than simple theft. He's wanted for terrorism and conspiracy against the kingdom...."

A bad feeling overwhelmed me.

"Re-really, sir? I swear I have nothing to do with him or these crazy accusations! It's just a terrifying coincidence!" I exclaimed, even more alarmed.

"Don't worry, my friend! If you're not involved, there's no need to fret. Just... don't go around flaunting your last name, okay? Not everyone is as understanding as we are. By the way, it's a pleasure to meet you, Vitor!"

"Anyway, I've spent too much of your time. I'll head to the front of the carriage to keep the coachman from napping on the job, hehe!"

With that, he exited through the door, the carriage still in motion, his smile appearing somewhat forced.

Thinking about it, Kazuma was accused of terrorism in the Light Novel too, but why was that again...?

Eh.....

...

I forgot.

Whatever the reason was, I remember he got away with it. Could the basis for the accusation in this world be the same? This probably isn't a good time to ask.

I just waved goodbye to Stephane, leaving only me and the two sisters in the carriage. I noticed they had been staring at me since I mentioned the last name; the younger one seemed scared, while the older one looked at me like I was a pile of garbage. That definitely wasn't a good thing...

"You perverted bum," the older sister blurted out, dryly.

"What? Where did that come from?" I reacted. "I already told you I have nothing to do with that guy."

"I think you have everything to do with 'that guy.' It would explain the situation we found you in. How long until you try to steal our panties?"

"HEH? He's going to steal our panties?!" The younger one got alarmed, moving away from me.

"Please, try. It would be a pleasure to kill you very slowly, cutting you piece by piece." threatened the older sister.

It seemed like Stephane had left just in time to dodge a bullet.

02

Damn it, Kazuma, you really are the greatest enemy of the female gender in this world.

In the midst of all that drama, I discovered that the name of the grumpy sister was Melissa, and the younger one was Anne. I spent ages explaining and begging those two not to throw me out of the carriage. What a disgrace... and I'm not even guilty of anything!

After an unpleasant eternity of accusatory exchanges and desperate pleas for my innocence, we finally reached our stop. The road ran close to the river, its waters reflecting the golden light of the rising sun. Even the tumultuous start seemed to dissolve into the promise of a new morning.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Stephane was already opening the door from the outside with a brisk motion. "Finally," he exclaimed, his tone full of enthusiasm, resonating in the fresh morning air. "Time to stretch your legs, wash your face, and fill your stomach, folks!"

Anne was the first to get out of the carriage, her face lit up with excitement and curiosity. I dragged myself out, my muscles still sore from everything I had gone through in the past few days.

My gaze was caught by the landscape before us: dawn painted the sky in vibrant colors while the morning mist hovered over the damp ground. The river shimmered in the light's glow. It was a peaceful scene, offering me a rare moment of tranquility.

During this moment of contemplation, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder, the touch making me shudder...

I could feel Melissa's steady breath (way too close...) on my neck, looking at me from behind with a mix of contempt and resignation (WAY TOO CLOSE!!!).

"Don't think I bought your bullshit," she began, her voice as steady as it was heavy: "I'm tolerating you because of my sister's kind heart and my father's generosity, but be warned: any funny business and I won't hesi- HEY, ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS, YOU BASTARD?!"

Before I could answer, I received a shove that threw me out of the carriage and almost made me faceplant into the ground.

"Hey! It's not my fault; you practically glued yourself to me from behind."

"IDIOT!! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!!!" She said, furious, her face blushing as she unsheathed her sword.

What a terrible woman. It took almost an entire minute that felt like hours for her sister and father to pull her off me.

03

Although I tried to help unload what we would be using from the carriage, Stephane laughed and pushed me towards the river with a set of clean clothes, a towel, and soap in hand. "The first thing you need to do is take a bath, kid! You're stinking up the place!" he said, his voice full of humor. I couldn't argue with that, so I headed to the river, despite the prospect of stepping into the chilly morning water.

After a shockingly cold bath, I returned, now more presentable and refreshed. The group had already started a fire and was preparing breakfast: sausages and dried meat grilling on the fire, accompanied by pieces of fresh bread and fruit. I hesitated momentarily before joining them, still feeling awkward about receiving so much help. I was about to step away to eat alone when Stephane gently nudged me forward, "Relax, kid. We're not judging you on what you eat!" he said, laughing. I gave a half-hearted smile, but sat down, thanking him with a nod.

The food was delicious, a perfect blend of flavors, very different from stale bread and moldy cheese. As I indulged in the breakfast, Anne started a conversation. She seemed more relaxed now, asking curious questions about the city I came from and laughing at my responses, mostly lies (internally, I felt awful). Melissa still seemed to be eyeing me angrily, her face still somewhat flushed, but at least she wasn't making any more threats.

An uncomfortable silence descended upon us once again, abruptly breaking the laid-back atmosphere, when the coachman, a man with a stern expression and time-etched wrinkles, questioned my supposed connection with Kazuma. All eyes turned to me, and the atmosphere became charged; The morning breeze suddenly turned cold, and the crackle of the fire seemed much louder. That guy gave me the creeps; maybe his black attire resembled Death's.

Even after repeating for the umpteenth time that it was just an unfortunate coincidence, I could see that suspicion still lingered in their eyes, not only his. However, they seemed willing to give me the benefit of the doubt, at least for now. Despite everything I had been through, these people were quite welcoming. Now I was just hoping to reach my destination quickly and avoid causing them more trouble.