She Becomes The Hero In Another World 29 She Intends To Learn Magic

Robin slept the whole night, even to the point where she slept through dinner. Prince Christian, knowing her situation, explained things and managed to acquire a pardon from the dinner summons. While King Zephron was disappointed he could not speak with hero Robin, he also understood that what Hero Robin needed more than anything at that time was a good long rest. Thus he gladly gave the orders not to disturb the Hero that night for any reason.

Of course, several maids within the castle felt disappointed. They were curious about the Hero, and wondered what he looked like underneath that mask. But, orders were orders. Two soldiers standing guard in front of the guest room doors were enough to deter the maids from their intended mischief.

Robin awoke to find herself completely refreshed the following morning, when sunlight streamed through her window. The first thing that she saw was the red canopy over her bed.

"An unfamiliar ceiling~" She joked. It was already the fourth day since she had arrived there. If she were to be surprised at this point, then she would be the joke, instead.

Robin became aware of a slight weight upon her face. She brought a hand up to examine the area around her eyes, and was surprised when she felt something there. But then she realized that is was her mask.

'I was so tired that I forgot to even take this off?' She wondered. But then again, if she wanted to retain her personal ident.i.ty, it was probably better this way. In case a maid suddenly intruded, or someone burst through the doors....

Then she sat up.

'Come to think of it, how come no one has come to wake me yet?'

She didn't recall hearing anyone call her for dinner. Of course, she may have simply slept through the summons completely, but she was usually good at responding to noise, even if she was tired. Otherwise, how else could she rouse herself from sleep after staying up all night reading novels?

Her stomach growled. "I need food." She decided and got up off the bed.

Robin ran her fingers through her hair, and noticed that it was starting to feel greasy.

"But first, I need a bath." She muttered decisively.

Although she was able to ignore it for the past three days by using her emergency feminine products, It was now the fourth day since she arrived. Being in the King's castle, Robin felt that she needed to pay attention to her appearance: without a proper bath, she would be unpresentable.

Luckily, the rooms she was given also had a personal bathroom with a high ceiling. The bathtub itself was rather large, the size of an outdoor swimming pool. Currently, the pool was empty, however.

Robin looked around for a faucet. There wasn't one.

"Where do I get the hot water from?" Robin wondered.

*Poof* "h.e.l.lo there, guest!" A small figure came into sight. "I am your a.s.signed bathroom a.s.sistant fairy follower, Kransu! Just say what you need and I'll get it for you."

"A...fairy?" Robin replied, suddenly remembering. 'That's right! This is a land of swords and magic! How could there not be fairies in a place like this!?' her eyes took on an admiring glint.

"You're a fairy? Wait, you said your were my bathroom a.s.sistant?" She asked to confirm.

"Yup! Sometimes we are called 'Baff' service for short!" The fairy giggled, her tiny hand making a 'v' sign. 'They probably learned that from a previous Hero.' Robin noted.

"So, as my...'Baff' a.s.sistant, what do you usually do?" She asked, curiously.

"I am in charge of providing the hot and cold water, towels, soap, and a change of clothes. As an added service, I'll even perform a 'clean' spell on your clothes. Ah, but don't worry about me seeing anything. Our Baff company has a strict policy of personal secrecy. So the area around the bath is completely shrouded in mist for your personal privacy for the duration of your time here."

"Ah." Robin nodded. "Good, I would like to take a bath then, Kransu."

"Do you have any personal preference to scent for the soap?" Kransu asked.

"Not really...something not too strong and slightly fruity-smelling is good." Robin replied.

"Okay then! to your left is the area for you to get undressed. I will fill the tub for you."

------------------------

While Robin was enjoying her personal bath, Prince Christian was having trouble using his fork with his cramping right hand. Writing punishments were no joke. Even if the first few hundred lines were fine, the ones after that were part of an ever increasing physical torture. Combining that with Prince Christian's personal mental anguish had driven the lesson home to him.

King Zephron observed his muddled actions at the table. He would let Christian suffer for a while longer before he would remove the written punishment. After all, it would do hardly any good for his son to leave unable to wield a sword properly in two days.

Zephron was also somewhat busy, trying to figure out how what he would give them for the trip. Of course, any aid he gave them in the form of items or money would all be pa.s.sed to Keith this time. Christian was a bit too rash to trust currently-even though he heard that the Hero also planned to knock some common sense into him.

Gerard was somewhat intimidated by the number of forks and spoons next to his plate. But he somehow managed to cope by watching and copying Keith, who was also eating next to him. As Keith was definitely part of the Hero's party now, he had permission to sit and eat breakfast with Prince Christian and the King. The Queen, though, had not risen for breakfast, having little appet.i.te in the mornings, lately.

Currently, the food being served was the unconventional hash browns with eggs. It was without the hollandaise sauce due to lack of information from the Hero. However, Pons.h.i.+eu had included some cheese sauce as a temporary subst.i.tute, as he felt it would go nicely with the hash browns.

"Where is Hero Robin? Shouldn't he be joining us?" Prince Christian finally asked, breaking the awkward silence at the table.

"I have had confirmation that the Hero has awoken." Keith said. "However, he is currently preparing himself, and it may take a while."

"Oh..." Christian flinched as his hand twinged in pain again.

King Zephron didn't say anything. He just continued eating his food.

--------------------

Robin, refreshed after finally having a bath, once more placed her mask upon her face and left her rooms, retracing her steps towards the kitchen. Since they had cut their tour short that day, she had no idea where the dining room was. Therefore, she thought that, if anyone would know, it'd be Pons.h.i.+eu.

Upon her arrival at the Prince's kitchen, Pons.h.i.+eu was most surprised, but he quickly pointed out the way to the dining room. When he turned back to cook more food, he then remembered that the door he had sent her through was for the chefs, and not for the important guests. Pons.h.i.+eu turned back around to point her to the guest entrance, but she was already gone.

"Oh dear..." Pons.h.i.+eu felt conflicted over whether to run after his new teacher or not. His decision was made when the cheese he was melting overflowed and dripped down into the fire, hissing as it burned.

"Ah! The cheese!" All thoughts of other things fled from Pons.h.i.+eu's head.

------------------------

Upon entering the dining room, at first, no one noticed Robin. This was in part due to the fact that she emerged from the chef's entrance. However, when she approached the table, the rest of those eating noticed her.

"Hero Robin? I didn't hear the court cryer announce your presence." The King frowned.

"That's because he probably doesn't know that I'm here." Robin chuckled. "I entered through the kitchen, since I lost my way a bit."

"Do sit down and try some of this new dish. 'Hash browns' I think it was?" The king invited. Robin gratefully agreed. Her stomach had been complaining for the past half hour, and all she wanted right at the moment was to eat something. While she was eating King Zephron began to speak.

"That chef Pons.h.i.+eu of yours is getting better and better every day." King Zephron noted to Christian. "Although his appearance is somewhat strange, his food is top notch. Where did he ever get the idea for those melting potatoes yesterday?"

"That would be a recipe he acquired from Robin." Keith mentioned. Robin waved her hand in acknowledgement as she was still intent upon eating her food.

"Hero Robin?" King Zephron was surprised. "Ah, I suppose that does make some sense. These dishes have pleased me very much. Furthermore, I haven't rewarded you yet for saving Kelly Village from that small herd of Orcs. Tell me, what would you like as a reward?"

At this, her fork paused as she thought about it for a moment. Then she placed the fork down, and looked at King Zephron, an expectant glint in her eyes.

"If it's all the same to you, King Zephron," Robin said. "I'd like to learn magic."