CH 18

Chapter Title: Serena’s confession….?

「Spirits of light…. Please.」

A shining white spirit appeared on Serena’s palm. When the spirit heard Serena’s words, it created a ball of light in the air and the size of it was like a ball.

「So this is the spirit of the light power…. That’s a handy.」

Serena has a contract with low level spirits of wind, fire and water and intermediate spirit of light.

In terms of cost, would it be 1 for each low spirit and 2 for each intermediate spirit?

It seems that the spirits of light and darkness are more powerful than the spirits of the four attributes.

「Well, let’s get down then.」

Serena begins to descend the stairs, the light was floating in the air.

I followed her into the Valley of the Wind.

「The wind is getting stronger…」

Serena held back her hair and skirt with her hands.

「Yeah, that’s about as far as we go, huh.」

We have descended quite a distance, but I looked down and still couldn’t see the bottom.

I think that the spirits around here do have some strength…

「W, we can go down a little further if you want to.」

Serena blushed and glanced at me.

「It would be nice if we could go down a little deeper, but wouldn’t it be difficult?」

I frowned at her hesitant expression.

「It’s not difficult. It’s just that you have to ask a wind spirit for their blessings so that they can reduce the effects of the wind and then we can still go further.」

「That’s great. Could you do it for me?」

Serena at my request….

「Kohon. 1 It can’t be helped if Elt asks me……」

For some reason she hugged me.

「What’s wrong, Serena?」

Serena’s breast are pressed against my chest. At close range, Serena was bright red up to her ears.

「T, the only way to get the blessing from the wind spirits is to stick close to me. I’m embarrassed too, so you’ll have to put up with it.」

I could hear Serena’s heart beating. I could tell that she was overwhelmed by her own embarrassed and was still cooperating with me.

「I’m sorry, but you have to.」

If I were to get upset here, Serena would be even more embarrassed.

I tried to keep my composure and got close to Serena.

I heard the sound of the wind crashing. A strong wind was blowing outside of Kago, and the dust around us made it difficult to see clearly.

But thanks to Serena’s wind blessing, we were able to proceed without getting caught up in it.

「Serena, are you okay?」

She was currently walking down the stairs with her hand on my shoulder.

「Y, yes. I’m fine.」

Her face was red and hot, and she wouldn’t make eye contact with me. She looks completely out of it…….

I guess she knows her own limits.

I walked down the stairs, believing in her words that she was still fine.

「Hey Elt. Can I ask you something?」

Serena asked me in a serious voice.

「What is it?」

「Elt is seeking the power of the spirits so he can get out of the forest, right?」

「Well, yes. The other reason is that I wanted to have fighting power, but that would be the main reason.」

「The Lost Forest is a natural maze that is impenetrable to humans. Even with the power of the spirits, the threat of monsters still exists, and if you’re on your own, you won’t be able to rest well and you’ll be putting yourself in danger.」 2

Serena’s dark green eyes flickered.

「But you’re still leaving, Elt?　If you stay in our village, your life will be the same as before, you know?」

It was a very tempting proposition.

I spent these few weeks with Serena, Phil and the other elves. I felt warmer than I had ever felt in my life.

They smiled at me, not dismissing me as a human or an incapacitated person, but smiling at me.

I wondered how happy I would be if I could live here like this.

「I can’t do that. I have to get out of the forest.」

「Why do you want to leave?」

I hear a sad voice. I feel like I’m getting closer to Serena.

「I was sacrificed in place of my childhood friend. As a result, there will be no need for a sacrifice, but the people in my country don’t know that. So unless someone tells them, there will be an another sacrifice next year.」 3

As long as there is a possibility that the sacrifice will be Alicia’s, I have to return.

「Is this childhood friend your girlfriend?」

I froze for a moment at the unexpected question, but…….

「No, we don’t have that kind of relationship. It’s just that Alicia was the only person who was kind to me when I was stuck in the city. I have Alicia to thank for that. If it wasn’t for her, I would have been more lonely in my life.」

「Hmm, I see……」

She sounded like she was in a bad mood. I felt Serena’s pace quicken, and I rushed to catch up with her.

「I… I’m going to miss you, Elt.」

Serena took a step ahead of me and turned around to tell me so.

She smiled a somewhat fragile and lonely smile, different from the past.

The ball of light reflected a beautiful image, and the micro-spirits gathered around Serena as if to create a fantastic scene.

「I…. Elt. I….. about you――」

She has a serious expression and a nervous voice. I try to understand what Serena is trying to say…….

『Don’t you dare make out in my territory!!』 4

Serena was about to open her mouth when she heard someone shouting.

The next thing I knew, we were on our feet at the bottom of the valley.