Natsuki flopped down on the bed, sinking her face into a pillow.

"Natsuki... are you worried about what the priests said?"

"Yes."

Her response was emotionless.

"I can... listen to your troubles, I guess..."

"Really?!"

She sat up brightly, and tapped her knees.

"Then come and sit on my lap, and let's talk."

I sat on her lap, and she embraced me from behind, resting her chin on my shoulder so the cool sensation of her horns lightly grazed against the side of my head, and the bumpy texture of her side-braid pressed ticklishly against my neck. I was surrounded by her warmth, fluffier than a sheep's wool and softer than a cat's belly.

"The clerk said that the red direwolf was IC4. Do you know what that means, Yuki?"

"I don't think so..."

"IC1 and IC2 are about where a normal person would get ranked in the Adventurer's Guild. The average adventurer is IC4 or IC5. We stood no chance against that IC4-level direwolf, which means that as we are right now, we can't really make it as adventurers, can we?"

"That's... correct..."

"So, once we get to Wetzlar, we may have to consider quitting adventuring and finding some normal work. But then we wouldn't be able to travel the world together, like we promised..."

Adventuring is, in the first place, something for powerful people to do. You won't get hurt if you walk on the roads that the God-Emperor is said to have lain across this land five hundred years ago. Only the people who want the thrill of danger, and are simultaneously strong enough to ward off danger, have the capability to become adventurers.

Perhaps we had overestimated our strength, or perhaps we had underestimated the world outside our hometown.

"But, Yuki, that's all stuff that we can't do much about one way or another. If we're weak, that's the end of it. There is, though, one problem that we can do something about..."

"About the Saint thing? If we can't become adventurers, then it'd be better to become the Saint?"

"Well, and I'm also thinking about these disasters... if it's the Saint's fault that that disasters are occurring, then wouldn't that make it a duty to become the Saint if it's demanded of me? That's what I'm worried about..."

She sighed, and fell silent.

I understand where she's coming from. It's not wrong to be selfish every now and then. But if that selfishness results in many people getting hurt, you have to rethink your priorities and reconsider your responsibilities. If she could stop the disasters by become the Saint and performing the ritual of cleaning or whatever, wouldn't that mean that the current state of affairs is her fault?

But, even if that logic is perfectly correct, I cannot agree to it. As I said, if Natsuki becomes the Saint, we would be separated. Staying together with Natsuki is a priority I hold dearer than what people have to say about disasters or the like. That's why I'm going to play a card that might be a bit cowardly. It might be morally wrong. But I'll play it nonetheless.

"I understand... but... I said... I said that..."

"Hm?"

Ah, this is so embarrassing! I need to push it out in one breath, and then I can feel embarrassed afterwards.

I shut my eyes, and pushed out the words.

"I said that I wouldn't let anyone take you away! And I won't change my mind! No matter what!"

Silence.

I carefully opened my eyes, and rotated my head to face her.

She was smiling.

"Well, that settles it then, doesn't it? If that's how you feel, then I can't just leave you alone, can I? But you know, if you insist that much, then I won't let anyone take you away either, okay?"

"Yeah... even if we can't travel the world, we can still be together."

She rubbed her cheek against mine, like a kitten. No, that's the wrong way around. In this situation, I'd be the kitten, right?

Well, either way, even if the disasters and whatnot are Natsuki's fault, they're now also my fault for insisting so foolishly that she not become the Saint. I wish I could do more. I'll get stronger. I'll get stronger, and one day I'll cut this damned Gordian knot altogether.

"Sorry for not giving much advice..."

"That's wrong, Yuki. You made me remember what's most important to me."

"Most important?"

She poked my other cheek.

"You."

My cheek flushed red.

"Ah, look at that. You're blushing."

"Natsuki... d-don't make fun of me like that..."

"I'm not making fun of you. If you can turn red like this, it means you care for me a lot too, doesn't it? That's a good thing."

Halfway between believing and disbelieving her words, I continued to sit there, trapped in her embrace. Like a kitten.