CH ss - 23

[Alfine : Meila’s Runaway]

After having a simple meal in the wagon, we came to the immediate vicinity of the Abyss Hole pointed on the map.

“So this is the Abyss Hole which is considered to be the origin of the Great Invasion. I have never come to the south because there are not many ruins around, but to think that it was such a big and deep hole.”

Meila was looking inside from the edge of the hole.

Perhaps interested in the inside of the hole, she was itching to go down, Meila’s legs were fluttering; I can’t help but worry though.

Since she is a sensible adult, she should be restraining herself after being told not to enter repeatedly.

However, it may be better to warn her again just in case.

“Meila Nee-san, it’s forbidden to investigate inside the hole, okay? Investigate the surroundings properly.”

Meila who was lying on the ground without minding her clothes getting dirty turned to me while puffing her cheeks.

“I know. Can’t Al trust Nee-chan that much?”

“Hmm, I can’t?”

“Hiin! It’s so cold that it’s unthinkable that it was my little brother’s words. But Onee-chan is kinda thrilled.”

For some unknown reason, Meila twisted herself and quivered her body.

Since it’s really a bother to retort to that, I let it slide lightly and decided to finish the search in the area I was in charge of quickly.

“Haah, yes, yes. Whatever. Now, stand up quickly. I want to finish it before the sun goes down.”

“Al is C-O-L-D.”

“Yes, yes, don’t move.”

I raised the writhing Meila, and cleaned the dirt stuck on her clothes.

Now that I think of it, Finn also cleaned the clothes I soiled in this way.

At that time, I thought it was natural because Finn was in charge of chores, but when I do it myself, it’s actually quite troublesome.

And yet, I had such attitude… Of course, even Finn would run out of patience.

“Al, what’s wrong? Did you perhaps think that I was a troublesome woman?”

When I was a little absentmindedly cleaning off her clothes, Meila suddenly talked to me.

“Eh? Meila Nee-san has been troublesome since the beginning; since I’m used to it now, I don’t think so though. I was just remembering the old days, you see.”

“About Finn-kun?”

As usual, Meila is sharp.

She immediately found out what I was thinking.

“Yes, I was thinking about how I did terrible things as if it was natural. It was natural that I was hated.”

“The fact that Al noticed it may be a proof that he is growing up. As your Onee-chan, I wish you would be more spoiled though~.”

“Then, act more like a big sister. Alright, it’s clean now!”

After removing the dust from Meila’s dirty clothes, I took out the map from the pouch and handed it over to her who was opening her arms, waiting to hug me.

“Meila Nee-san, wait here, okay. If there is an Abyss Walker or a monster, call me immediately. I’m going to search.”

“Al-kyuun! I think it’s okay for you to give a hot hug to your sister though—!”

“Meila Nee-san, you can’t slack off, okay. Well then, take care!”

After telling her that much, I forced my way into the forest growing in the surroundings.

After that, I searched within the scope of the search assigned to me for a while, but I couldn’t see neither monster nor Abyss Walker inside the forest.

It seems that this area has been thoroughly searched.

There are no monsters, and it seems that other adventurers have searched here many times as the grass has been trampled and crushed.

Since I got no harvest and had completed the search within the specified range, I returned to the wagon.

“Meila Nee-san?”

There was no figure of Meila who was supposed to be waiting around the wagon.

Maybe… No way, right?

Having not seen the figure of Meila, I got worried.

When I turned my gaze toward the rear of the wagon, I saw a rope extending toward the hole.

She got down!? Dammit! I didn’t think that Meila would be that reckless!

Looking at the end of the rope, I could guess where Meila was.

I hurried to the edge of the hole, looked at the end of the rope that was dropped down into the hole, and shouted,

“Meila Nee-san!! You’re here, right!? Haven’t I warned you that you can’t get down!”

The inside of the hole was too deep, so I couldn’t see Meila at the end of the rope.

Idiot, idiot, idiot!

What would happen if you disappeared!

Getting impatient, I desperately pulled up the hanging rope.

T-there is still weight!

S-she’s not gone.

Since I felt a weight at the end of the rope, I quickly pull it up.

“Iyaaa~n. Al-kyuun. You don’t need to worry, you knoow. Onee-chan is aliiive. Now that I’ve come back, gimme a kiss. Because I have made an amazing discovery~. Noo, it’s a great discovery you know. This! I might get a huge reward from the Frontier Count—!!”

By sensing the rope being pulled, Meila seemed to notice my existence; she talked to me from the inside of the hole.

“Mou! Meila Nee-san! You didn’t keep your promise with me! Why did you get inside the hole!?”

“After all, there was a hole there. Getting inside a hole is the basic of ruin investigation you know~.”

“You heard from Rebecca that you’ll disappear if you enter the hole, right!?”

“Still, as a pro in ruins investigation, I have to go~.”

Even so, it’s reckless to get down into the hole with just a rope.

Although it’s fine because she was safe, but the Adventurer’s Guild side stopped people because there might be an accident.

While thinking about such things, I pulled up the rope, and I could see Meila’s face from inside the hole.

Huu, she doesn’t seem to be injured.

I was relieved after seeing her face.

“Anyway, I’ll pull you up for now! I’ll listen to your excuse later.”

“Don’t scold meeeeeeh! Onee-chan will fall if she receives Al-kyuun scoldiiing!”

“You won’t!”

I decided to pull up Meila in a hurry.

I knew she wouldn’t obediently stay, especially because there was a mysterious giant hole near her.