It was true that, officially, Leander and the others were slaves.
But to Qiao Xing, they were his precious family.
There was no way he could let them sleep outside while he alone rested in a warm bed.
"Um, we're fine sleeping outside. Sleeping outdoors is normal for us…"
"No. I don't want that. If it comes to that, I'd rather sleep outside together with everyone."
Elias tried to be considerate of Qiao Xing as they were turned away again and again, but doing that would mean treating them completely as slaves and Qiao Xing absolutely refused to accept that.
"Um… if you don't mind paying more, there's an inn at the end of the street. There is… a place that allows beastmen servants to stay inside."
When they stepped outside and ready to look elsewhere, Elias spoke up, clearly having trouble saying it.
When asked why he hadn't mentioned it sooner, he explained that slaves sleeping outside was considered normal and he had hesitated to make Qiao Xing spend extra money on them.
Even so, he finally spoke up because he couldn't bear the thought of Qiao Xing sleeping outdoors and because he wanted to respond to how desperately Qiao Xing was searching for a place for them.
He really was a good kid.
After thanking Elias, Qiao Xing headed toward the inn he had recommended.
"It's a big inn, isn't it?"
"This is an inn where nobles also stay, so even beastmen who are servants can stay together with them."
I see.
It seemed that the way he had been searching for an inn was wrong from the start.
Only nobles and wealthy merchants were allowed to own slaves in the first place.
Important people who could not do anything without attendants would naturally need inns where they could stay together with their servants.
There was no way he would find such a place by looking among cheap town inns meant for ordinary people who did not own slaves.
After successfully securing a place to stay for the night and being guided to their room, he understood immediately why nobles would stay there.
The room was spacious and luxurious.
It was several times larger than the room Qiong Xing had lived in when he was living alone in China.
The decorations placed here and there were obviously expensive just by looking at them.
There were multiple rooms: a living room, a study, a bedroom, a toilet, and a bath, as well as a separate room right next door meant for servants.
For someone who had lived as a commoner his whole life, Qiong Xing found it difficult to relax.
It seemed Elias and the others felt the same way, as they refused to leave Qiong Xing's side even after arriving in the room.
Unexpectedly, Leander seemed completely fine.
He was walking around the room and looking at everything with curiosity.
So, Qiong Xing asked if he really was fine.
"What do you mean? It's an unfamiliar place, so I need to check whether it's safe. Especially where we sleep. That's the place where people are the most careless. You wouldn't like it if someone watched you either while you are sleeping would you?"
"Huh? …What?"
Watched me while I'm sleeping? What was he talking about?
Crack!
A loud sound rang out.
Before Qiong Xing could process it, Elias marched forward and punched Leander, which sending him flying.
"You bastard! Don't look at him with those filthy eyes!"
After shouting that, Elias immediately returned to Qiong Xing's side and hugged him tightly.
What? What was going on?
What had gotten into Elias?
Despite his appearance, it seemed he was actually short tempered.
The young boy who had likely never seen an angry Elias before looked shocked and clung tightly to Qiong Xing's leg.
Elias hugged Qiong Xing firmly, but his strength was carefully controlled, so it didn't hurt.
Still, Qiong Xing was confused and didn't understand Elias's feelings at all.
"This person is my mate! Don't touch him!"
Mate?
My mate?
Don't touch?
There was too much information at once.
Or maybe not too much.
Could it be that this was Elias's true nature?
"Don't mess with me! Qiong Xing is my mate!"
Oh.
He was already back on his feet.
He thought Leander had been punched with considerable force, but Leander was already back on his feet and trying to pull Elias away from Qiong Xing.
As expected of a beastman.
Elias looked slim, but the strength in the arms holding Qiong Xing was no weaker than Leander's.
"Alright, alright, let's calm down for now, both of you. This child is scared too… oh, speaking of that, I forgot to ask your name. What is your name?"
"…Cari, Caribert."
"Caribert… then I'll call you Cari. I'm Qiong Xing."
"Qi… Qiong.. Qiong Xing."
Cari smiled brightly as he repeated the name.
When Qiong Xing gently patted his head and praised him, saying he did well, Elias immediately pulled Cari away.
"Elias?"
Why?
When Qiong Xing looked up at him, Elias seemed to realize that he was acting childish and awkwardly looked away.
"That brat and you, both of you stay away from Qiong Xing! Especially you!"
"I don't want to."
This was like children fighting over a toy…
Both of them clearly looked older than Qiong Xing right now.
Ah, Cari's neck is going to get squeezed.
Leander, please let go of him.
Cari was dangling in the air, being held by the back of his neck and swinging back and forth.
It was pitiful, but Qiong Xing couldn't help thinking it was a little cute.
"Alright, hurry up and let go and explain yourselves, or I'll put both of you in separate rooms."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
The two of them apologized while kneeling and bowing deeply.
Cari stared at them with a blank and confused expression, he was clearly shocked by how suddenly they had changed.
Qiong Xing found himself oddly impressed, thinking that even in this world, people knew how to do a deep bow like that.