Volume 7 - CH 6

A corner of the forest surrounded by human rattles was as warm as in front of a fireplace.

The six people who added the duo in question to their party are sitting in a circle.

“Fuwaa, it’s warm…”

“I’m getting sleepy”

“It’s convenient when you’re here.”

The women are speaking in weak voices.

Amiyu and Mabel, who should have said it wasn’t cold, looked happy as they were actually cold.

“… mysterious magic”

Said the woman of the duo.

The hood of her overcoat is still on, but her black hair, black eyes and surprisingly white skin, and her smart features can be seen from here. She looks about seventeen or eighteen, but I can’t guess her actual age.

The woman whispered while holding the cup of plain water she had made earlier with both hands.

“No fire, no sunlight, but warm. What is this?”

“This is also light. It’s emitted from the spells floating around. It’s mixed with fire and sunlight, but you can’t see it.”

“How do you know it’s there if you can’t see it?”

“Good question.”

It was a question worth answering.

“Long ago, someone wondered if there were colors outside the rainbow that we could not see. So he put a lump of snow on the outside of the red part of the rainbow and found that it melted slightly faster than it would have if he had put it on the other side. The light outside this red, which carries heat, is infrared. Another way to look at it is through the snake’s third eye.”

“…You can’t put anything in the sky, and people don’t have snake eyes.”

“That depends on the ingenuity.”

“………….you”

The woman asks with some hesitation.

“And you weren’t able to …… do that from the beginning?”

“…… what?　The first time?”

I responded with a dumbfounded voice to the question that was difficult to interpret.

“No… normally, it’s something I learned and mastered.”

“… Then… no, it’s nothing.”

After saying that, the woman fell silent.

I’m still not sure.

I glanced at the man, but he seemed unwilling to engage in conversation, keeping his face down and maintaining silence.

He is a large man and looks about four or five years older than the woman, but I still don’t know his actual age.

I wonder what kind of relationship they have.

They do not look like a couple. They probably came from the same place, but I don’t think they are related.

If I had to guess, I would say that they are —- master and servant.

The woman with the bow has a refined demeanor for an adventurer, while the man, a martial artist, is a man of few words and seems rugged.

There was something about the difference in their positions.

“So, but …… I’m glad you’re okay. You weren’t hurt.”

Ifa said fearfully with an affectionate smile, but the duo remained silent. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, but Amiyu didn’t care and spoke to them.

“Where did you guys pull that Frost Wraith from, anyway? Does this forest even have them?”

“……There is a cave that is a dungeon far in the back of this forest.”

The man opened his mouth, as if he had seen that the woman was not going to answer.

The man’s voice was low, matching his appearance.

“There are relatively tough monsters living there. We encountered them there and were chased.”

He spoke in a manner that conveyed only the barest of facts.

Amiyu threw up her legs and said, as if she had lost her temper,

“Well, that was a disaster. A request?　Or are you after materials or dungeon drops?”

“…. the latter.”

“Yes, We were chasing an almiraj for a commission, but we couldn’t find it at all. We got ourselves into a lot of trouble.”

“…..”

“So what are you going to do?　We were going to keep going a little longer, but since we’re here, why don’t we go back to Keltz together?　You guys look worn out, and we can’t be sure you won’t run into some thieves on the way. If you get robbed of your cargo, ……”

“Don’t underestimate us.”

At that moment, the woman interrupted Amiyu with a glare.

“We will not back down to human thieves.”

“…… Oh, yeah.”

Amiyu stood up.

“Then I guess this is where we say goodbye. Let’s go, everyone.”

“Amiyu, are you leaving already, ……?”

“Yes.”

Amiyu snorts and says.

“Adventurers don’t go in too deep, there’s no reason to get involved with a couple of guys who dive into a dungeon without doing their homework and don’t even know how to say thank you.”

“I understand.”　 

Mabel stood up after some hesitation. Ifa then raises her hips as if it can’t be helped.

“Look, Seika. Put away the spell.”

“… Oh, that’s right.”

Certainly, Amiyu has a point.

There is no reason for me to be actively involved.

When I was about to stand up thinking that, —-

“Wait.”

The woman said those words.

The woman was somewhat reluctant to speak, but she did so in a few words.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry if I offended you. ……”

Then she turns to me and adds, in a small voice,

“And thank you for helping me.”

“….”

Amiyu, who had a pouty face, sat down silently.

Seeing this, Ifa and Mabel looked at each other and sat down again.

In the silence, I opened my mouth.

“It seems that Amiyu was still going to continue, but to be honest, I’m just getting tired of hunting almiraj. I want to go back to town soon. If you still have business with us, please make it quick.”

“I have a favor to ask of you, …….”

The woman looked straight at me and said,

“I need you to help our friends.”