CH 72

Straight ahead into the mist.

If her words were true, everyone should be there ahead.

Still, nothing could be seen.

The thick fog gradually thinned out, and the faint scenery around me began to appear.

“Ariaー! If you’re there, answer me!”

Together with the opening scenery, the strong voice could be heard even from afar.

Yuren-kun was calling my name.

As soon as I realized he was nearby, my legs ran wildly on their own.

“Yuren-kun!”

“――! That voice just now, Aria!”

“I’m here!”

“Where? Where are you――.”

The mist cleared.

And there in front of me was Yuren-kun’s figure.

My heart stirred, and I ran towards him with all my momentum.

“Aria!”

“Yuren-kun!”

He caught me as I collided with him head-on, and embraced me tightly.

Feeling his warmth, my heart beat loudly and could not be suppressed.

Embarrassingly, tears were welling up in my eyes.

“I’m glad you’re safe, really.”

“Yeah. Yuren-kun and the others too.”

I’m glad that they were all safe.

Even if you believe everything will be okay, when you actually confirm that it’s safe, your body relaxes and your strength leaves you.

When we embrace each other, we can hear each other’s heartbeats echoing.

I want to stay like this for a while.

It feels like there’s no one else in this space but the two of us, but that’s not actually the case.

“Oh come on! I’m glad you’re okay, but it’s hard to react when you’re cuddling like that right in front of me.”

With a taken aback tone, His Highness Ash’s voice brings us back to reality.

We’re in a dangerous forest, and there are knights other than us here.

We realized that we were being watched very closely as we hugged each other.

“S-Sorry, brother.”

“I’m sorry! I-I’m just really happy to see you again.”

We separate and offer excuses.

But His Highness Ash just laughs and says, “I understand.”

While I was gone, they were looking for me desperately.

“Yuren was especially worried. He seemed like he was going to go search for you alone if we left him alone.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. I was worried, you know.”

“Hahaha, I guess so. So, where have you been until now?”

“Well, actually——”

As I was about to answer His Highness Ash’s question, Nebel-san’s face appeared in my mind.

My mouth closed to speak about her, and there was a moment of silence.

“Aria?”

“…I was lost in the mist. I wandered around looking for everyone and finally found you all when the mist cleared.”

“I see. Is there anything wrong with your body?”

“No. Are you all okay?”

After that, I listened to Yuren-kun and the others explain the situation in an indifferent manner.

It might have seemed a little unnatural.

But I felt like I shouldn’t talk about it.

Because Nebel-san was a witch.

If I told them about the fact that Nebel-san was a witch, she might not be able to stay there anymore.

I didn’t want to ruin the peace that Nebel-san had because of their concern for me.

But…that wasn’t the only reason.

The reason why I didn’t talk about Nebel-san was unclear to me as well.

“Anyway, we can resume our exploration now. Maybe it’s because the fog cleared, but we can feel the presence of monsters more easily.”

His Highness Ash said as he pointed deep into the forest.

Between the trees, nothing was visible. A pathless path continued.

The lake where I met the witch was just a little to the left.

“I feel a strong presence ahead. The moment the fog clears, I can feel it, so maybe that’s what’s behind the fog too.”

“Then why did it suddenly clear up, brother?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was just a periodic occurrence. Let’s proceed cautiously and be on guard.”

“Yes.”

With His Highness Ash and Yuren-kun leading the way, we walked towards the direction of the presence.

At first, only His Highness Ash could sense it.

However, as we approached, I could feel an abnormal presence as well.

And not just one or two, but the presence of several dark entities gathered together.

After walking for a few minutes, His Highness Ash abruptly stopped.

“This will definitely not be easy from now on. Brace yourselves! It’s going to be a fight where you’ll be risking your lives!”

“Lives…”

Nebel-san’s words echoed in my mind.

If humans were to challenge this fight——they would die.

If his words hold true, then we will certainly shed a lot of blood from now on.

I’m prepared.

I have no intention of turning back now.

Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel fear..

“It’s alright. I will definitely protect Aria.”

“Yuren-kun…”

Yuren-kun’s words gently pushed my weak back.

Just by being with him and hearing his words, courage springs up in me.

That’s why——

“Excuse me! Before the battle starts, there is something I want to give to everyone.”

I handed out two types of potions to each person.

One was a potion that temporarily boosts your self-healing ability.

The other was a specially made resistance potion that doubles the concentration of an all-purpose medicine.

“Please drink it before the fight. I don’t have the ability to fight like all of you, but I can create something that can protect all of you.”

That’s what I can do.

My enemy is not the monsters.

The only thing I have to fight is… the Disease.

“Hahaha, that’s reassuring. Right, Yuren?”

“Yes. I will protect Aria. In return, can we entrust our lives to you?”

“Sure.”

That’s why I’m here.