Chapter 138 - Our Love

Our hunt last for another three hours and...

< Agility stat up! AGI +5 > ×3

< Dexterity stat up! DEX +2 >

I managed to get Stat Points from Tear Antelope and Brown Scorpion. I will say that Tear Antelope meat was so delicious. It's the most delicious monster meat I ate so far.

Now, back to the hunt that I ended. 

Why? We've only been hunting for three hours. It's just a half time of the hunt we do this morning. Why stopped?

Truthfully, it's ended because I...

"I'm tired..." I made a complaint as I lay down on the ground. Ruciel's thighs were my pillow. 

Chasing eight Tear Antelope made my legs numb. I also wouldn't be exaggerating if I said that the legs become jelly right now. I can't stand properly with them.

Now, we've been resting for half an hour but my condition hasn't improved.

The kids?

After they drank the water and took a short break, they decided to take a patrol. Kimi who became the leader said that they did it to protect me and Ruciel.

They were so excited so I permit them. And now, thanks to Heat Perception, I know that they are fighting a monster. Maybe another Brown Scorpion.

This savanna is filled with those.

Yes, the kids tried their best and that made me happy. If they continued to have that attitude, they would become strong in no time.

I wanted to help them but I was exhausted. 

Luckily, the chewy, fragrant, and warm lap pillows I used healed my body and mind quickly.

Maybe, I can join their fight in a few minutes.

When I thought about those things, Ruciel opened her mouth. "Of course, you're tired, you keep playing ay around with that Antelope monster." 

The girl looked down. Her golden, fascinating eyes were locked into my eyes. 

She continued, "more than that, why do you have to chase the monster to hunt it down? You know I can kill them with my arrows, right?"

"..."

I, the one who put my head on the girl's lap couldn't say anything after hearing that statement. The fact that she is capable of doing something like that is something I don't know.

"...you should have told me your full ability from the beginning. If I had known, yes, I wouldn't have chased the monster."

"It's your fault for never asking," said the girl before she turned her back.

"Is this my fault?" I asked in a slightly loud tone. My fox ears made some strong twitch.

"Exactly, all the plans that never work and the wrong things that happen in my life are your faults." The girl nodded then put on a satisfied expression.

"I think you're exaggerating it, Ruciel."

"I'm not overstating it, you do clearly remember that your father gave me misery. Then, you, who was his daughter made me a Slave. At first, you didn't do anything to me but lately, you've always been toying my body."

My face became sour because of her words.

"Can we stop talking about that matter and the jerk? Didn't you promise to forgive me? To this day, I'm still waiting for the conditions I have to complete so that I will get your forgiveness."

"As for the Slave issue, I believe that you know, being a Slave is a punishment for your crimes. The kingdom is a suspect in this case."

"As for playing with your body. Didn't I say that it was skinship? I just want to get closer to you."

"..."

The girl didn't give anything in return. She cut off our eye contact. Then, she moved her head to look into the distance.

Silence enveloped us for some time. All I heard was a gentle gust of wind and soft fighting sound in the distance.

"Why me?" She asked so suddenly in a soft voice.

"What do you mean by that question?"

"You said you loved me. So, why do you love me? What kind of aspects do you find from me to love?"

"..."

Okay, that's a question I didn't expect. Now, it's my turn to shut my lips.

I honestly said, after thinking about it carefully, I didn't know the reason why I loved Ruciel.

At first, at a moment I saw her, I wanted to be close to her, I wanted to be her friend. After all, the girl reminds me of Cerene.

I said it again, I want to get to know Ruciel more closely.

I want to do things with her just like I do a lot of things with Cerene.

So... Then, why do I say that I love her? Since when did I start to have feelings like that to her?

Why does the intention to make friends turn into a desire to have a romantic relationship?

...

I dug up my memory once again. 

And yes, I found that I started using love as an expression after I had nightmares. 

A nightmare where I killed Cerene.

The nightmare made me comprehend that in fact and from the beginning, I loved Cerene. 

The kid version of me didn't realize that sweet feeling as love but as a friendship.

My eyes moved to see the Fallen Elf girl's face.

Yes, although there were some differences, she had Cerene's face. She reminded me of that girl and this is the thing that seduced me.

So... 

"...your beautiful face," I answered.

"You love me because of my face?"

I nodded. "Yes, your face reminds me of someone."

"Is that someone precious to you?"

"You're right, she's the one who shows me the light."

"She gave me happiness, she healed my soul when it was wounded, she gave me hope along with the purpose of life, and she was the reason why I'm here." 

"So it's... Where's that girl now?"

"...she's dead," I said, closing my eyes. A moment later, I looked into Ruciel's eyes. "She died to protect me. We promised to do a lot of things together as we grew up. And yes, when she dies, we won't be able to do all those things."

"But one day, you come. I can't do all those things with Cerene but with you, all those this can come true." 

Ruciel narrowed her eyes. She looked at me for quite some time before finally sighing.

"So, I was a substitute for that girl," she said. The tone she used told me that she was disappointed.

"Huh? Not! Of course, no!"

"How can you say no after you tell me all of that!?" She said a little loud. Her eyes became sharp and her long ears made a strong jolt.

For the first time, in a short period, she showed different types of expressions. This is a bit rare because she always puts up a poker face.

"You need to know, you are you, Cerene is Cerene. I love you not because I think of you as Cerene's substitute, I love who you really are."

"Yes, I will not deny that I want to make all our dreams come true by using you as an intermediate."

"All of my and Cerene's dreams that I have realized with you will be a story. The story of my happy life, which, I will tell to Cerene when we meet again on the other side."

"..."

The girl didn't move her mouth, she moved her arms to squeeze my face. This thing she did was so unusual that it made me freeze instead of angry.

When my consciousness back, I asked, "What happened to you? Did you know you're being weird right now?"

"I'm not acting strange!" She made a declaration with a strong jolted ear. Then, without holding back, she used her other hand to squeeze my face.

Yes, she can't lie to me.

Why did she become so weird?

I sought the answer to that question but I couldn't find it.

"Tell me about yourself, Ruciel?"

"I have no reason to do so."

"I love you and I want to know you more closely. If you keep insisting on being quiet, our relationship will never change. We will continue to be Slaves and Masters. More than that, I will continue to see Cerene's shadow on you."

The girl pulled my cheek strongly before she withdraw her hands. 

Her golden eyes were locked on me. The muscles on her beautiful face moved to form a thinking expression.

"I'm waiting," I told her. At the same time, I told her to tell me her story immediately.

The girl dropped her shoulder. Then, she moved her mouth.

"... I was born in the Vytaris Grand Forest. My family... You could say it's quite complicated so I'm not going to tell you. My dream was to be an adventurer. I want to explore unknown places, I want to find legendary Magic Weapons or Magic Equipment, and I... I think that's enough."

"Huh!? That's it?"

"For now? Yes..."

"Oh come on, Ruciel! I want to know more about you."

"It can wait," she said before turning her head to look at the east.

I followed her line of sight and I saw Kimi running towards us as fast as she can. Seeing that, I got up and left Ruciel's thigh.

Kimi ran out of breath as she stood in front of us. 

"Something's wrong?" I asked while examining my little sister's body. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found out that she was fine.

"Big sis! A Flugel suddenly fell near us!" She explained after catching her breath. "The woman is injured, we need to help her!"

Well, that's unusual. 

Flugel fell from the sky.

That episode made me wonder, what story the Flugel woman had.

"Alright, let me see this wounded woman."

"You can go first, I'll catch up with you after my legs can move again," said Ruciel, who was straightening her leg.

"You can use Potion," I gave her advice. "I would go straight to the village if the woman's condition was so bad. Come after me as soon as possible, Ruciel."

"I understand and don't worry."

I nodded at her then I walked to follow Kimi's steps.