Chapter 9

The Dread

“You must be joking.”

“It’s the only option we’ve got. If you have a better suggestion, Luise, then do share.”

...Oh, you’re asking what we’re talking about? Let me retrace the topic for you.

There were a few things to mention in the situation that Orlev brought up. First was about the supply.

In short, there’s not enough.

Even with rationing, the supply will only last for six days, meanwhile if we take the normal route to the nearest town, the checkpoint would be reached in about twelve days. Take away the promise of three meals a day for the rescuees and feed the prisoners less, then the provisions can be stretched to maybe seven or eight days, but it’s still not enough.

Thus, Orlev’s plan is to take the convoy through some place called “Halhallart’s Dread”, the route through which would shorten the distance to roughly a week. That was when Luise made that prior comment.

“Commander, you know what they say about the place. And it’s not some baseless drifter sensation, either. People who go in there–“

“Never came back, I know,” Orlev sighed as he massaged the spot between his brows. “Considering its position, demonic beasts are bound to spawn there. The ones from the reports are often daring merchants who wanted to try new routes disregarding the warnings. They went in without taking the proper precautions. As opposed to that, we have twenty-four capable fighters and two magi with us. There will also be game to hunt there, so we might just make it without rationing the food any further.”

“Yeah, and you’re sure we won’t be the ones being hunted?”

“As I said....”

“Hey, why is it crazy to go through that Halhal place?” Latasha whispered to the girl beside her.

“My mom’s patients used talked about that place,” Farica readily answered. “It’s said that the forest is host to monstrous creatures. There’s some talk about ancient curses that desecrated the forest’s ancients and twisted them into unholy abominations.”

“Basically codshit, right? Do you believe any of it?”

“I don’t believe my opinion have any say, milady cardinal,” the brown-haired girl answered with a cold, cold smile.

“H‒Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“My, I’m perfectly fine. Though it honors me that you worry as such for someone like me, lady cardinal.”

“Why are you calling me that? I told you to call me Latasha–“

“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. After all, as someone who’s not worthy enough to be told the name of your House, who am I to call you by your given name?”

Latasha can only hold her tongue and let the wuss sulk.

“Oh, yes. What about you misses?” the big manbear, Chief Aldwan suddenly turns to us, “Part of the reason we’re telling you this was to know your judgements on this.”

Farica makes a little jump in surprise while Latasha nonchalantly answers, “Eh? Ah... rather than that, why aren’t there enough in the first place? You would’ve thought to bring more food if the mission is to rescue and bring slaves to safety.”

“Well… to tell you the truth, that wasn’t our mission,” Aldwan scratched his cheek as he answered.

“Wasn’t the mission? What do you mean?”

“In the beginning, our mission was to track and apprehend a group of rogue raiders that had been operating a few months past. But during our investigation, we had received a vital intel regarding the targets, saying that the raiders were...”

“The raiders were actually slavers,” Luise cut in, “and it was the very group that we’ve been after for months.”

“...And I guess you’re the intel,” Latasha leers at him.

“He was supposed to do reconnaissance on the raiders before the actual subjugation, not become one of them,” Chief Aldwan copies Latasha and leers at him as well.

“Hey, no harm, right? You would’ve run into a nasty hostage situation if it wasn’t for me. And come on, Tasha, you don’t honestly believe I’d do something like–”

“I still don’t understand,” Latasha ignores Luise and speaks to Aldwan, “that doesn’t explain why you’re lacking in supplies. Did you honestly not plan ahead?”

“We were supposed to use the raiders’ supply for the trip back, but they were blown up in the fight. Not to mention that now we’ve got a lot more people to feed now.”

“Blown up...”

As she says that, Latasha looks at my way. Hey, it’s not my fault... is it?

“Be that as it may, the fact is that our provisions won’t last unless we go through Halhallart’s Dread, but I want everyone’s agreement on this,” Orlev said with a finalizing tone.

In the end, everyone compromised with the route. The guild officers then go on to brief the guards while us three are tasked to convey this to the rest of the girls.

Seeing that there’s nothing I can do in this matter, I let Latasha and Farica do the job while I look around.

The soldiers I see are all wearing different apparels. Some have leather armor and guns or crossbows, others wear cuirass with swords on their hips. There’s nothing that says they’re an organized fighting force rather than a bunch of sellswords, other than how they conform to Orlev’s instructions and the uniform pin they wear, onto which an image of a white bird is carved.

I curiously walk towards a carriage at the back, but am stopped by a guard saying that it it’s “dangerous”. Behind him, I can see people in robes and tattered armors huddled together with their hands tied behind their back. Some of them had familiar faces, such as the old man who had wanted to get a taste of me last night.

Also, separated from the others, and the only man caged is the southerner. From how it seems, the guild is treating him like the slavers did.

“Know nothing about” my ass — the guild clearly knows something about him.

Looking at him again, it’s still bizarre how a man has so many wounds… umm, actually, I might have more on my body, but seeing them on someone else’s skin has a different feel to it. Like that odd shaped scar, for example.... oh, wait, it’s not a scar. It’s a... tattoo? It’s a design of a sword with a majestic crown on top, intertwining the sword in an S shape is an eerie-looking snake. The tattoo was placed at the back, under the left shoulder.

Ah–

While I’m looking at him, he had noticed my presence and glared at me, so I just quickly walk away. Involving myself with that kind of individual is a no-no.

Time to go~

“Quack.”

Hm?

Wait, is that...

...With the same round body and brown colored feathers -- It’s him alright. The guild decided to bring him along for whatever reason.

So you’re here too, ducky.

“Quack?”

As soon as he notices me, Fanny locks his sights on me and becomes petrified. Is he scared of something? How his small round eyes quiver in fear is so cute!

Hi.

“Quack...”

You know, they’re saying that we don’t have enough food."

“Quack...”

You seem to have a lot of meat on you, huh.

“...sob, sob…”

Oh, the others are having lunch. I should get back. See you around, Fanny~

My, shaking your head like that… you really don’t want to part with me, do you, cute ducky?

As planned, we depart after lunch and the convoy is on the move again. I don’t know what was told to them, but the girls seem to be coping up well with the situation, judging by the lively talk they’re having. Being rescuees, the girls are given two hooded carriages to ride in, which is something I’m really grateful of.

It’s a pity that Luise has to accompany us for safety reasons. Can’t it be a girls’-only carriage?

“Whoa, that’s....” the red-haired girl spoke out. Incidentally, she’s that girl who first spoke to us during that ‘thanksgiving incident’ earlier in the morning.

“Cool, right? It’s stupidly huge, but it’s still bloody awesome,” Latasha answered with a smug expression on her face.

Oh, that sword is...

“I got it from that guy we clobbered. The soldiers let me have it when I asked for it,” she said with a face that says – of course they wouldn’t not let me have it – while she unsheathes the sword and reveals its full length.

“It somehow suits you, Latasha,” Farica said cheerfully.

“Hey, so now you remember my name!”

“Ah…”

“Oh? That’s a good sword,” Luise broke into the conversation.

“No one asked for your opinion, rake,” Latasha quickly dismissed him.

“Come on, Tasha. Is that how you treat an old friend?”

“Eh? You two knew each other?” The red-head inquired.

“Yeah, I’m her childhood frie—“

“Acquaintance! He’s my acquaintance, Kaelyn.”

Luise only sighs at Latasha’s attitude, shakes his head with a smile and says, “Look, I may be intelligent and charming, but I also have my brawny knowledge. Let me have a look at that sword.”

“Pff, whatever. Here you go, I want to hear what kind of bugaboo crap that’ll come out of your mouth,” Latasha passes him the sword.

While Luise examines the object, Farica leans in at Latasha. “What kind of childhood friend was he?” she whispered.

“It’s ‘acquaintance’, wuss. And don’t get tricked by his pretty face. He might be good with a sword, but he’s a complete and utter lecher. Didn’t he flirt with whitey back in the cage?”

“Wait, you must’ve recognized him back then, so why didn’t you…”

“I refuse to be seen being familiar with someone who fits in so well into a slave-trading circle, thank you,” Latasha answered curtly, not even caring that the person in question is well within earshot.

“...This is wolfram,” Luise muttered with a serious look.

“E–huh?” a weird voice came out of Kaelyn, the red-head.

“I can’t believe it... these patterns in the blood grooves and the dark glint of the blade… this sword is made from wolfram!”

“Oh, wow, a sword made out of wolf turd. That’s amazing, rake,” Latasha snorted at him.

“No, Tasha, you don’t understand. This is wolfram steel. The legendary Kingsbane was made from the same material.”

“Wolfram... you mean the ones made in the Graveforge?” Kaelyn asked with gleamy eyes.

“Yes, so you know about it. But the forge was destroyed along with House Castaroth and the only people who knew the process has never been seen since. Where did you even get this?”

“I got it from one of the sellswords last night,” Latasha answered.

“Which one? I need to interrogate him!”

“That’s, uhm…” Latasha starts playing with her fingers, nervously glancing at me. “He, umm… he died.”

“Oh…” Luise said understandingly, following Latasha’s gaze on me.

...For the last time, it was an accident. It’s not like any of the guild guys got hurt from that, so all’s well that ends well, right?

“Kyaah, amazing!” Kaelyn suddenly screeched while holding the sword she somehow snatched from Luise.

“Err, hey, that’s dangerous, missus,” Luise tried to warn her, but the girl doesn’t seem to listen.

“It really is wolfram! I’ve heard so much about swords like these. They say the number of these swords that exist on the continent can be counted with one hand. They say that the alloy cut through armor like knife through butter. Isn’t that amazing?!” she turns to us girls.

“Wow, she’s a blade-head?” Latasha muttered under her breath.

“Y–Yeah, amazing,” Farica answered courteously before whispering, “Do you know what she’s talking about?”

“Knife through butter… I’m pretty sure it has something to do with cooking. Oh, speaking of which, lunch was amazing. Did you cook?” Latasha asked back.

“To call it cooking is... I only mixed it up with some of the spices we have. If only we had herbs...”

Ahh... how lively.

This is how people should be. Real, normal people. Unlike the people from down there, who are probably closer to monsters…

◊ ◊ ◊

As the evening grows dark, the forest ahead grows closer. In the end, the convoy stops at the edge of the forest to rest and to plan the route as well as countermeasures against beasts.

Looking around, I now understand why going through this place would save a lot of time. Other than the roads, it seems as if the entire forest is surrounded by steep mountains, as high as eagles soar. Looking at it like this feels like I’m observing a naturally created fortress, with mountains as walls and rivers as gutters. Putting it simply, you either go through it or go the long way around the cirque.

While the girls are preparing for dinner, I sit by myself on a riverbank and play with the water. Of course, by play, I meant manipulating it with magic – creating twirls in the flow or lifting up a ball of water.

Fufu, my control is actually pretty good. I had good teachers and thanks to that, I am now able to control all phases of matter. Hadda taught me about plasma and the atmosphere, Yammu told me about fluids, and Eretz trained me on controlling all kinds of rigid matters.

Ahh, actually, come to think of it… even though I said “all elements”, Earth is the one thing I can’t really do.

Air, Thunder, Water, and Earth. Those are the phases of matter that the three coached me about. Although it seems Fire is regarded as an “element” too here, but it didn’t feel like it was.

By the way, out of those elements, I found Air to be the easiest to control. They’re hard to learn at first, but once you understand the mechanics, they’re just like water, just with slightly different properties.

Thunder was the hardest to control and was the trickiest to learn. Thankfully, Hadda took his time to explain it to me, and it became my best element instead.

Lastly, Earth is... well, it’s not like I can’t manipulate them. I can move lumps of dirt or change them into thick mud before actually making use of them, but that’s about it. Eretz said it’s because of how tightly the bonds cling to each other. Other than Earth, I’m pretty much good in everything else...

....is what I would like to say, but considering yesterday, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I almost killed myself twice, and almost jeopardized a lot of other things that made it justified for the southerner to try and kill me.

Why did that happen, I wonder? Why is it different?

...The aether field!

I completely forgot about that!

Without the aether field, the rules that apply are different and that’s what threw my magic off last night. Theoretically, I can make the connection to the aether much easier without the convoluted process and obstructions that is the field, which means... controlling Earth is something feasible now? Should I try?

On second thought, that might be a bad idea. I mean, I almost killed Luise with Air last night. I would need to find or create a controllable environment if I want to try out my magic to its full extent, so I suppose now isn’t the time.

...Hm? There’s something there....

Don’t tell me it’s a beast?

No, that’s....

Small fluffy body the size of a small dog and big long ears just as fluffy, with fur white as snow and eyes red like my own...

Those things... I believe they’re called rabbits.

I know them from my phantom knowledge, just like I knew about many other things; luphaen, avlarks, wolves, birds, humans...

Another thing to note is that the information seems to flow in as soon as it becomes relevant, like just now, I know about rabbits as soon as I saw one of them. If I am to explain, it feels like a forgotten memory triggered with the right conditions.

However, there were some things that weren’t like that, like Fanny’s species. Latasha said that he’s an animal called scurry. Even after some time, there’s still nothing about them in my head. Names and places too, nothing about them.

Where did this knowledge come from? Why does it only cover certain stuff?

It’s like I have my own in-built compendium of the world, but things are missing from it.

Come here.

“Squeak...”

As expected of a wild animal, the rabbit is being cautious. Despite that, I lowered my hand at it invitingly.

It’s alright. Come here, you.

Come to think of it, Farica said something interesting earlier this morning, that time at the river.

‘Everything’s going to be alright.... that’s how it felt.’

It was the thought I had “sent” to her when she was crying yesterday. Also, I was able to make silence Fanny the same way. I wonder...

I scooped up water with my hands and offered it to the rarebit.

Here, little one.

Ooh… it really came!

The rabbit makes cute sqeaking noises as it drinks from my palm. If my suspicion is true, then—

“There you are, whitey.”

“Kya! A rarebit! So cute!”

Oh, hi girls.

“...This is so creepy. The sight of you with that thing is something straight out of a book,” Latasha stares at me with a look of disgust.

Err... what kind of book are you talking about?

Looking excited for some reason, Farica flounces over and sits at my side. “Can I pet the rarebit?” she said, reaching her hand out.

“Hiss!” the rabbit snarled at her. Umm… wait, can rabbits even do that?

“Eek!” Farica pulls her hand back in fright.

Hey, come on. She’s a friend.

I lightly tap the rabbit(is it even a rabbit anymore)’s head.

Taking Farica’s hand in mine, I place her palm on the rabbit’s little head.

Be friendly, okay.

“...Squeak.”

“Wow... the fur feels so nice. It’s so fluffy!”

You’re fluffy too, Farica.

“...Umm?”

Ah, sorry. My hand moved on its own. I’ll stop petting your head... in a little bit...

“Ahem! The girls wanted to eat together with everyone, so we were looking for you, whitey. We also need help with the cooking, and here you are being totally unproductive. Come on, let’s go back,” Latasha said, heartlessly ending both of our dream worlds.

“Eeeh? But I want to pet it some more...”

“Come on, wuss. The guys said they found spices the bad guys used. Use them like you said you would.”

“Okay...”

「 Turn back... 」

Huh?

I think I just heard something from the direction of the forest...

Was it my imagination?

Lifting the rabbit up, I let it curl comfortably in my arms as I walk back towards the convoy.

“Eh? Are you bringing it with us?” Farica asked eagerly.

Of course.

Latasha crosses her arm and says with a mocking tone, “What are you even planning to do with it?”

Isn’t it obvious...

I look at the cute little thing in my arms, it’s tiny nose twitching in bliss and the round puffy tail is wriggling happily.

It’s dinner time, right?

“…Squeak?”

--- --- ---

“...Open up!”

“N‒No!”

“Come on, wuss. Say ‘aah’.”

“Stop it!”

Those two seem to be having fun as always.

If only I could speak, I would’ve joined the fun, but I can’t....

...Except maybe I can?

There were some who can hear my thoughts back then, including my three friends. I thought that it was only limited to certain individuals, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. Rather, from the evidences so far, with the rabbit to top it off, I seem to be able to, at some extent, make them hear my thoughts. The “telepathy” seems to be more palpable to animals, but to sentients, it appears to be much more subtle, as was the case with Farica.

“Are you not eating, miss Whitey?” the red-haired girl approached me.

That’s not actually my name, umm... Kaelyn, was it?

Right. I should eat while it’s warm.

-chomp-

...Ah.

Oh…

This is...

...This is meat.

Real meat, not like those unspeakable things in Level Seven. This is proper meat, cooked and soaked in the rich broth, firm on the bite yet tender on the chew. This might sound weird or exaggerated, but this is the best meal I’ve ever had.

Actually, I thought that too on breakfast and lunch, but it’s really different this time.

Because there’s meat.

“...Miss?”

As the soup piped down my throat, a warm, satisfying feeling fills my stomach.

This is it. This is the meaning of life. This, among the other things we do to satisfy our hunger.

Hunger for luscious sustenance, hunger for heaping riches, hunger for carnal pleasures... If not for those, then we wouldn’t be living, would we? Most people may not realize it, but it is only they who are deprived of them that feel truly alive.

The constant struggle to survive...

To resist temptation or to make a leap of faith, to know when to follow your instincts or fight it...

I won’t forget those memories, for better or worse. Even if I want to forget, I know.

I know that I won’t be able to.

“M‒Miss Whitey?!”

“Is something wrong?”

“I‒I don’t know, she just started crying...”

“Hey, whitey, you alright? Hey, wuss! You didn’t put anything weird in, did you?”

“O–Of course not!”

It’s alright. I’m sorry, it just... started coming out.

I sniffled and tried to hold back the tears, but the steady trickling isn’t stopping. I feel a pat on my back but I couldn’t care less. Even as my vision goes blurry, I keep eating by the spoonful.

“...There, there. It’s okay. You’re okay,” someone tries to comfort me.

Don’t rub my head... -sniff-

“We’re with you, miss Whitey. Miss Latasha and miss Farica too... the girls are all with you.”

That’s not my name...

--- --- ---

After the meal, I silently excused myself from the group and they let me go, thinking that I need some time to myself. That was just embarrassing. Who would’ve thought a meal could make me tear up?

Anyway, when pondering whether to sneak a peek at the prisoners, I saw the luphaen girl standing by herself. Her fluffy ears twitch in the cold wind, and her golden hair and tail sways along with the grass beneath her feet. Her eyes linger on the forest, even though there aren’t really anything to see.

I tentatively walk towards her, somewhat sneaking for whatever reason. There’s something curious about her, but I don’t know what it is.

“…Miss fae?” she suddenly turns her face to me.

Ah.

She sensed me coming? I guess those big ears aren’t just for show.

Umm, hi.

“...The night is dark, isn’t it?” she greets me with a forlorn look as she gazes at the starless skies.

Ah, yeah, it is.

“Umm... I haven’t introduced myself, have I? I’m Aira. I’m sorry, but I don’t know what to call you.”

Me neither.

「 Turn back... 」

Huh? Did someone just...

「 Homids... not welcome... 」

「 Go away... 」

「 We’re not afraid... 」

「 Retaliate... 」

...Who?

I can’t see anything, but I can clearly hear them.

「 Kill... 」

「 Eat... 」

「 Food for the forest... 」

「 We’re ready... 」

「 Turn back... 」

「 Devour... 」

「 Go back... 」

Eat?! That sounds dangerous.

“Can you feel it too?”

Eh?

“The forest doesn’t want us.”

The forest?

They really were from the direction of the forest.

‘People who go in there—never came back’, wasn’t that how the talk earlier went?

...I have a bad feeling about this.

Do the guild people know? I saw the leader-guy earlier near the edge of the forest along with the other officers. I have to tell him, but... how?

“Something bad will happen if we enter... Somehow it feels like that,” Aira droned beside me.

…Ah, right!

I promptly take Aira’s hand and paced in Orlev’ direction.

“M—Miss?!”

Shush, just follow me.

I ignore the luphaen’s hesitant steps and drag her all the way to where Orlev is.

If I heard correctly, something is hungry. And I happen to know just how dangerous hungry creatures can be.

--- --- ---

“...Is something wrong?”

Orlev eyes us with a frown, proper given that I had dragged Aira here uninvited. With him is the usual guys—the bear chief and Luise, along with the two representatives of the kingdom’s peacekeeping force. The latter are dressed in similar attires as the drifters with the exception of blue-colored armbands, etched on them drawings of a.... unicorn? Let’s just say unicorn. They’re wearing blue armbands with white unicorns sewn on them.

Anyway, they seemed to be discussing something serious before we got here.

“Miss fae, I–I don’t think we should be here…” Aira tugs on my clothes as if she wants me to drag her back out of this circle of tense-looking people.

Instead I grab her shoulders firmly and stare meaningfully into her eyes.

Tell them.

“I’m sorry, girls, but please go back with the others,” the dark-haired rep annoyedly told us away.

Aira shrinks under the scrutiny of his gaze. “Ah, umm... sorry, we were just…”

“We’re in the middle of an important discussion. If you would please–“

“Let her speak. The magus brought her. It must be something worthwhile,” Orlev objected.

“...Her? She’s the magus? This little girl?” the other, light-haired rep stares at me with disbelieve.

“Little girl”? You don’t seem much older yourself, unicorn man.

“Little missus? Is there something you want to tell us?” Luise considerately asked me. For the first time, he actually seems like a proper gentleman, not a fake one.

I nod at his question, and then point at the direction of the forest.

“The woods? I think she’s trying to tell us something about Halhallart’s Dread,” the dark-haired rep, whom from hence on I shall name rep one, reacted first.

“What about the forest?” Luise continues his inquiry.

The question causes Aira to look at me with a face that’s asking affirmation, so I nod at her, keeping a hand on her back as a mental support.

“It’s... t‒the forest is dangerous,” she said with a small voice.

“Yes, demonic beasts are most likely to spawn. It’s well within our expectations,” rep one replied, keeping his condescending tone.

Aira’s ears droop to her side and her tail disappears under her skirt. I put more pressure on her back before she finally answers, “No, it’s not just that. Something.... something bad will happen if we go through.”

“Something bad? What do you mean?” the other rep, rep two pressured her. Are all of the actual peacekeeping force inconsiderate like them? Thank god they sent the guild instead, then.

“I‒I don’t know…” Aira answered. By now she’s visibly shaking.

“You don’t know? Now, you listen, miss…”

“Aira,” Luise helps him out.

“Miss Aira, what makes you say this?”

“Umm, a feeling…”

“A feeling, you say…”

“……”

“...And you, magus, you vouch for her?” Orlev broke the silence and effectively passes the pressure onto me.

Well, I definitely “heard” something, so... yeah!

If anything, I believe in my instincts, so I nod.

“I understand. Frankly, I don’t like going into the forest in this darkness. What do you think, Ald?” he turns to the bear chief.

“What? Commander, you’re not really considering this...” rep one said.

“I am,” he answered with austere.

“It’s just a girl’s ‘feeling’. You know full well that we don’t have the resources.”

“I’m not suggesting a different route. I just want a way to reduce the risks. What do you say, Ald?”

“Sir Lain is right. Our calculations are intended for us to journey through the forest day and night. If we were to change the plans...” said Chief Aldwan.

“I’m not asking about the damn calculations. I’m asking you. I want to know what you think.”

“...If I may be frank, commander. My instincts are telling me to turn back, that something dangerous is watching our movements from within the forest. Of course, that’s not a probable move.”

“So what do you propose?”

“We can call it a day, journey through only under the sun and have Sallis put protective barriers down at night. We’ll be short on food, but if we sort out the supplies and hunt for beasts, we should be able to make it.”

“Feelings and instincts? You can’t possibly base your judgements on this!” rep one, now identified as Sir Lain, cries out.

“...Affirmative, chief,” Commander Orlev ignored the rep and turns to his other trusty man, “Luise, tell the men to further ration the soldiers’ supply for an extra day, but leave the rescuees’ as they are. We make camp here for now and enter the forest at sunrise. Safety measures will be as we discussed.”

“Will do,” Luise responded with a gleaming smile. He does a quick gesture of raising his right hand to the side of his head, his palm fully open and facing the person before him. Then he dashes away to the camp like the wind.

“What? You must be joking!” Sir Lain insisted in the wrongness.

“Am I?” Orlev responded with eyes so severe it could probably petrify a rabbit. Aira, for one, becomes stone under the pressure.

“F–Fine. Just remember that you already failed the mission. If anything goes wrong, it’s your head on the plate, commander.”

Dragging the other rep with him, Sir Lain struts away from the scene.

Also, something came out just now. The rep said that the “mission had failed”, but what does that mean?

“Forgive him. He’s not a bad guy, just troubled with the responsibility he has,” Orlev said to me and Aira after the reps are out of earshot.

“Uh-huh, right, he’s not a bad guy, just a spoiled twat with a xenophobic stick up his arse. Remember when he called me ‘rug material’?” Chief Aldwan snarls at the air.

“...Good point.”

“Ah, no, see... that’s funny,” Luise’s voice suddenly appeared behind me, causing Aira to jump in surprise. Cute.

“Luise, I swear... I’ll chew your tongue off one of these days,” Aldwan growled at him.

“Yeah? Well I need a new welcome mat. You seem to be the right color.”

“Shush! The young ones are here.”

With a single gesture, the commander silenced the two before turning back at me and Aira. “You seem troubled miss Aira.”

“Oh... umm, it’s just... are we still going through anyway?”

“Yes, but we’ll be travelling only at day and make camp at night, which will reduce the risks of night encounters since most demonics are nocturnal.”

“Don’t worry, miss. The beasts won’t stand a chance. We have over twenty drifters, including three A-class with us,” Luise comforted us.

“Three? You’re a B, you bloody dumbfuc–du... dumbcod,” Aldwan coughs awkwardly.

“I’m taking that Paragon test next month. You can bet your fur that I’ll pass with flying colors.”

“At any rate, we thank you for your concern, miss Aira. Unless you have anything else to say, I suggest you go back and rest. We still have a long road ahead of us,” Orlev dismissed us.

“I‒I will. Thank you, sirs.”

Then, as we turn around and walk away,

“Not you, magus. I need to talk to you.”

Eh?

Me? I won’t be having a conversation with you, you know.

Her puppy eyes tell me that Aira wants to stay behind with me, but I wave her away anyway. Something the commander wants to tell me without the other girls knowing... it must be important.

“If I may say, ma’am. Despite your short-bringing, you strike me as someone with good judgement. I want to ask you a favor pertaining her ladyship…”

“Short-bringing”, you say...

And by ladyship, does he mean Latasha?

“If someone of her position was to be imperiled, it would have quite the impact on imperial relations. I’m not asking you to use your magic. In fact, I implore you not to, unless absolutely necessary. You understand, right?” I quietly nod and he continues, “She seems to trust you. I only ask you to be at her side, keep her from doing anything reckless and protect her when none of us can.”

“If it’s Tasha, I can protect her just fine,” Luise mumbled at the side.

“No, I need you to keep watch of our ‘guest.’”

“...You want me at the back? Now that’s just bad judgement on your part. You know how well I fight if it comes down to it. I can make a difference if we’re attacked by beasts, I give you my word.”

“That’s just it, Luise. If he were to break free when we’re not in a favorable situation, the convoy would be at risk. You’re the only one I can trust on putting him down.”

“...I understand.”

I’m not sure, but they’re probably talking about the southerner. If he’s that dangerous, then just leave him, will you.

“By the way, have you any luck finding out her ladyship’s intentions on going this far north?” the bear chief asked.

Luise shrugs his shoulders. “No, but she must have good reason for all this, more so if it’s something she won’t tell me about.”

“She’s not telling you? I thought you were her friend? Actually, how did you even know her ladyship, anyway? The difference between your statuses is like a princess’ and a horse’s.”

“Isn’t it a ‘princess and stable boy’? Like that romance book?”

“Your face looks like a horse’s.”

“Guys, please. And Luise, I believe I gave you an instruction to carry out?” Orlev stopped them yet again.

“Aye, willo. That’s how they say it, right?” (Luise)

“It’s wilco, fishface.” (Chief Aldwan)

“…Sometimes I feel like I’m leading a bunch of brats, not experienced drifters...” (Orlev, hopelessly massaging that bruising spot between his brows)

--- --- ---

Now that it’s all taken care of, I walk back to find the girls stuffing the two carriages with mantles and blankets, most likely given by the drifters.

It’s really pleasant to see how good the soldiers treat us. They make sure we’re kept warm and fed, and even occasionally strikes up a conversation as a way to check our emotional states, though that last one may be just them taking comfort in the lovely girls’ presence.

With myself as an exception for obvious reasons, I’ve seen them engage the girls in small talk, often with smiles on their faces. They usually ask about how we’re doing, if we need something, stuff like that. The girls are all shaken by the incident, but especially are the girls that weren’t just kidnapped. Some of them were taken away, raped, and kept captive for months. Others had their homes raided and families killed in front of them.

With such a contender, the drifters would have to be careful and proactive in initiating interactions, and that’s exactly what they’re doing and from what I’ve seen, interpersonal skill seems to be something drifters are generally good at. That Luise, in particular, is building a steady fanbase with his smile.

In an irrelevant subject, Farica is still sulking.

“I don’t understand. She asked about the rarebit. (Latasha)

“Since you told her after dinner, it might have shaken her.” (Kaelyn)

“Why is she mad at me? You and whitey were the ones who prepared the ingredients.”

It’s about that? Oh, Farica. What a gentle girl you are.

After the beddings are ready, I go ahead and lay myself down. Latasha goes off to find Farica while the rest of the girls are having a heated conversation, if I’m right, about who gets to share the carriage with us – “us” here meaning Latasha, Farica, and myself. They seem to treat that honor as some kind of... well, as some kind of honor.

Covered in the warmth of layers of blankets, I let my eyelids close as I think about what I heard earlier from the forest. To me, it sounded like a voice, though not exactly.

It... sounded like when my friends spoke to me.

So that means... they weren’t speaking “normally”, after all? Damn you, Hadda.

“...Is she asleep?”

“Looks like it.”

...I’m not, though.

At some point, the two of them had entered the carriage and settled down in their own bundles of softness that the other girls made for us.

Ah, I have an idea!

I feel like these two are perturbed because of how I acted at dinner earlier. Maybe I should jump out and surprise them. That should show them that I’m cheerful enough to be playful.

“Umm, Latasha, about her...”

“You’re worried?”

“Yeah...”

“I know. The way she cried earlier... I guess she was holding it in. Then again, there’s little way she can vent it out.”

“About that...”

Uh... on second thought, I’ll just pretend to be asleep.

"You’ve seen her dress too, right?”

“What about it?”

“It’s just that... I grew up in a clinic. I know bloodstain when I see one.”

“You mean...”

“And this morning, when I took her to bathe, I... I saw her body...”

“...What did you see?”

“......”

My body? My, you’re unexpectedly naughty, aren’t you, Farica? Fufu, she’s probably talking about the charms of my–

Erm... I can feel someone tugging on my clothes.

With a second of hesitance, she pulls on my shirt and raises it all the way to my shoulders.

…For a so-called “cardinal lady”, wouldn’t stripping a sleeping girl be a rather disgraceful thing to do?

“...Gods...”

“H–Horrible, isn’t it? It terrifies me just to imagine what she went through.”

“I’ve never.... How could anyone do something like this?”

Ah.

So they’re talking about my scars. Rather than “someone”, I’m pretty sure most of them were caused by lifers, though not quite all of them. You’d be surprised what people could do when they’re not bound by chains of morals.

“These scars.... her powers... do you think she was a battle slave?” the not-so cardinal lady surmised.

“Battle... slave?”

“I’ve read about a place in the south where they use slaves for battles. Although, with looks like that, I doubt they only used her for fights.”

“That’s horrible...”

Umm… sorry, what?

“She probably escaped at some point, only to get caught again by some terrible luck. If she’s what I think she was, it’s probably best if we be careful with her. War and slavery... they’re bad business. I don’t think someone who had been conditioned for both would be a… stable person.”

“Latasha, you.... what are you saying?”

“I’m just saying, we might need to watch ourselves in case she suddenly, you know, loses it and jumps on us.”

“By the gods’ grace... I can’t believe you said that. Did you forget how she cried earlier? She’s just a girl like us!”

“No, well… a little caution would–“

“She needs us as her comfort, not to treat her like a madman! How could you even think like that?!”

“...I’m sorry, Farica. You’re right. It was presumptuous of me.”

“I... I know. I’m sorry too... f–for shouting at you.”

“...It really makes you curious, huh? I really want to know what kind of past she had.”

No, Latasha. Believe me.

Hearing them both calm down, I let go of the tension and drift into a real sleep.

You really don’t want to know.

「 Still there? 」

「 Homids staying. 」

「 Not turning back. 」

「 Will come? 」

「 Will come in. 」

「 Will they come? 」

「 What should we do? 」

「 Tell Mother? 」

「 Tell Mother. 」

「 What do we do? 」

「 Let’s tell Mother. 」

「 Tell Mother. 」

「 Yes, let’s tell Mother. 」

「 She’ll know. 」

「 Mother always knows. 」