Chapter 021: Before Travel

As the darkness of night faded, the sun began covering the land. Its early morning warmth touched their faces as it seeped through the window.

"Chirp! Chirp! Tweet! Tweet!"

Birds sang their tunes to the pleasant morning air. It was a delightful sound to awake hearing.

"Haaaa!" Shelly stretched her sleepy arms as she got out of the bed and her body vibrated. "Yawn! Yup! That felt good."

Maou laid on the bed sleeping peacefully. You would never guess that such an innocent sleeping angel had a nightmare.

The sunlight lay beautifully on Maou's smooth face. His little horns were so beautiful.

Sitting beside Maou, Shelly lightly poked his soft cheeks and small nose.

"Maou… Wakey, Wakey" Shelly softly sang to Maou.

"Five... More… Minutes-" He answered half asleep.

Needing to do some packing before travel, Shelly let him be for now.

Gathering all of Maou's new clothes, Shelly neatly packed them into her travel bag, which she pulled from under the bed.

"Thank God! It didn't gain much weight." Shelly dropped the bag by the bed foot.

This time, when Shelly went to wake Maou, she wasn't taking "No" for an answer. Although seeing Maou sleep peacefully was adorable, it had to be done.

"Maou! Time to get up."

"No..." Maou rolled over, hugging the pillow.

"I said, get up!" Shelly began shaking Maou repeatedly.

"No! I wanna sleep." Maou covered his head with the pillow to block my words.

"I'm warning you. I'll start tickling if you don't get up." Shelly had an evil grin, flexing her fingers in preparation.

Maou pretended not to hear her and pressed the pillow further over his face.

"4... 3... 2..." Shelly counted down, hands inching closer to him, but giving Maou a chance to save himself. "1... 0..."

"Okay! Okay! I'm getting up". Maou quickly flung the pillow off his head.

He and sat on the edge of the bedside with his feet dangling.

Releasing a huge yawn, he rubbed his sleepy eyes. His face had a half-asleep look, which was beyond adorable, along with his messy bed hair.

"Come, let's go tidy ourselves." Shelly offered a hand to Maou.

"Fine…" Maou grumbled, holding her hand.

The two made their way to the bathhouse and bathed themselves before the travel with Arthur.

In this world, baths weren't a luxury one could have at any point.

Today you may have access to a bathhouse, but tomorrow or for a week you may never have access. Hence, Shelly's annoyance to have Maou and herself use the bathhouse as much as they could.

Returning to the room, they changed their clothes into something better suited for travel.

Maou lightly tugged Shelly's pant leg, his eyes big with helplessness.

"Shelly… the shoes… they're not working… help me, please."

Shelly, seeing his cry for help, crouched down to his level while softly patting him on the head.

"It's okay. I'll fix it for you, but one day I'll teach you how to do it yourself."

Shelly loosened the many knots made by Maou. With a quick work of her fingers, the laces were properly tied.

"There you go! Nice and easy."

Shelly took a short glance at Maou, and was greatly pleased with whom and what she saw.

"OMG, Maou! You look so handsome right now!" Shelly startled Maou with an unexpected hug.

"Hehehe! Stop, that tickles". Maou giggled as Shelly rubbed her cheek against his. "You're killing me."

"Take a look in the mirror and see for yourself?" Shelly turned Maou to face the slightly dusty mirror.

Maou's pitch black silky hair and bright red eyes matched perfectly with the red shorts, black button-up shirt and black shoes. He was too adorable.

"By the way, what are you wearing?" Maou asked, pulling Shelly's corset in curiosity.

"Oh, this!? It's just some brand new leather boots, white under linen, leather corset and leather leggings." Shelly happily and eagerly explained pointing to each garment of clothing. "I waited a long time to wear this outfit and it cost a few good coins too."

"I like how the… corset feels. It's smooth." Maou slid his little hands against the leather.

"Snorl! Gwurl!" Maou's stomach growled. "I'm hungry… Need food… Please."

"Trust me… I heard loud and clear. But before we can eat, let's wait for Arthur in the lobby."

"But I'll die before then." Maou started to wilt like a flower.

He truly becomes useless when he's hungry.

Shelly threw the backpack on her back and they made their way to the lobby.

"One last thing before the checkout process is done…" Chelsea informed, "May I have the key?"

"No problem… Here it is." Shelly dropped the key on the counter.

"Thank you." Chelsea stashed the key in the counter drawer.

"And with that, you're completely checked out." She politely bowed. "The 'Boar Inn' appreciates your stay."

"It was a pleasure doing business with you." Shelly politely bowed.

Arthur burst into the Inn with high energy.

"Maou-sensei! Shelly!"

Maou was plopped out on the table. His body was nearly lifeless.

"Ohaiyo!" Arthur's high energy greet was met with a starving and listless Maou.

"What's wrong, sensei?" Arthur asked, standing next to him.

"He's just hungry." Shelly walked over to the table Arthur and Maou was at.

"That's right! I have something amazing to tell you both." Arthur quickly took a seat. "Yesterday, I bought something amazing. It's this funny looking fruit."

"Funny looking fruit?" Maou asked, turning his face to Arthur.

"I forgot the name, but it has these odd green lines all over it, each with different shades," Arthur explained, gesturing the shape as best as he could. "It's shaped like a stretched out ball and it's bigger than my head."

"Ohh! You're talking about watermelon." Shelly responded. "Those were the best."

"You've had it before?!" Arthur and Maou excitedly jumped up, leaning over the table.

"I thought you bought one already? Didn't you eat it?"

"I wanted to eat it with both you and Maou-sensei." Arthur innocently said, "But please! Tell me more."

"During this hot summer is the best time to eat a watermelon." Shelly reminisced, folding her arms.

"The sweet, juicy and delicious water it gives you when you bite into the red chewy fruit flesh. It's beyond heavenly! Also, it has this soft crunch sound when you bite into it."

"Then what are we sitting here for? Let's Go!" Maou jumped to his feet with all life returned to him.

Maou and Arthur both eagerly skipped out of the Inn chanting, "Watermelon! Watermelon! Watermelon!"

Others in the tavern overheard the loud conversation among the three, and among them, the hostile attention of seven bandit men was drawn to them like wolves to baby deers. The bandit leader took keen notice of Shelly and the scent of money coming from Arthur. Shortly, they trailed the trio leaving the Inn.