CH 344

“Now that I think about it, that noise that sounded like an explosion stopped all of a sudden…”

I mumble as we go up the stairs.

“I’m sure Lady Kalin took care of it. Stop here.”

Says Roa, who is right in front of me, as she extends her empty hand towards me to prompt me to stop.

I can see from behind that she’s holding her spear close to her body with her other hand. That stance tells me she’s cautiously checking our surroundings.

It’s natural to feel alert. I can’t help but feel impatient…

Roa actually looks like she’s feeling a lot calmer than she was the whole way here, now that she knows her sister is safe. Of course, it’s Roa, so she doesn’t let that show on her face even a bit.

We’ve dealt with three of the reincarnated people so far. The one dressed like a nun that attacked me with tableware in the church of Araysla, the one dressed like a village girl that took Ahri’s magic eye, and although we don’t have confirmation for this one, the one causing those noises up there.

That means there are probably two left, including Gahn… I’m really bothered by how we have no idea what they even want.

I try to hide how flustered I am on the inside, and nod to Roa.

Ahri went first, and I can’t see her, but it looks like Roa can with her powers of transparency and long-distance sight. She probably told me to stop based on information she’s getting from them.

Roa can’t see the reincarnated people with her magic eye if they’re clad in purifying light, so we have to be careful as we advance, because we don’t know when they’ll attack. Then again, sending Ahri ahead when she can’t use her future sight anymore…

That’s another thing on my mind, Ahri’s eye.

I don’t think I have any way to get a good grasp on her condition from here, and for some reason she seemed evasive when it came to that skill… Why is that?

Ahri can’t use her magic eye, and isn’t in peak condition, so I actually objected to Ahri going ahead as a scout as soon as we started going up the stairs, but my objections were casually brushed aside.

Ahri said that this formation is the most effective from a safety point of view, with a strong look in her eyes.

Roa said nothing, but she looked like what she was hearing from her sister was obvious.

With Ahri and Roa looking at me like that from the back and front, I had no choice but to yield.

And just as I’m remembering this, I hear loud cheers coming from up there.

Roa and I look at each other.

“Kalin?”

“Lady Kalin. Princess Lily, Charil, and the other Hipopo brothers seem safe too. In the entrance to the castle… Ah.”

A cloud hangs over Roa’s face all of a sudden.

“Princess Lily is being targeted. I see an enemy sneaking towards her.”

Is all she says as she stares at me.

An enemy waited all this time only to reveal itself like this?

“…! Is it a trap, Roa?”

“Probably.”

“But still… We have to hurry!”

“Yes.”

Roa nods, and runs up the stairs with me behind her, struggling to follow her.