The Line in the Sand
Village life was peaceful and leisurely. The scenery was nice, and with just the right amount of eating and resting, it felt perfect. I'd thought church life wasn't bad as long as there were no tense moments, but here there wasn't even that worry, so my mind was all the more at ease. This is healing right here. ..I hoped days like this would go on forever.
"Whoa, look at all those fruits up there!"
Even these little chores like picking tree fruits overflowed with leisure. I'd brought Ludia out with me since she was face-down on the table. Through the broad leaves of the massive tree, red fruits dangled invitingly.
"Ugh. (Then..!)"
Whoosh! I swung the branch in my hand, and with a thin whistle of wind, a sword strike flew out, slamming into the fruits. They rained down with soft thuds.
"We could gather a ton like this, right?"
"(Can we just eat these raw?!)"
"Of course!"
Ludia swept the fruits into the big sack she'd prepared, then picked one up and crunched into it. She chewed happily. Crunch. Seeing her enjoy it made my mouth water, so I tried one too. Sweet-tart juice dribbled down, accompanied by a fragrant aroma. "(Oh! It's just like an apple!)"
"It is an apple."
"...."
Me and my assumptions again. I'd figured this otherworld would have something different, but nope. And what apple tree grows this big? People could get confused. Feeling awkward under Ludia's gaze, I kept swinging away diligently.
"Good work, Huu. But can we carry all this?"
"Ugh. (Of course. I'm a strength build.)"
Only after stuffing the sack until it nearly burst did we finish. We leaned against the bulging bag, enjoying the forest breeze as it cooled our sweat.
"...Hey, Huu."
"(What is it, bitch.)"
"Amelia... she doesn't seem to have reported us."
"(The blonde bitch??)"
"Not certain, but... I heard something."
Unexpected words came from Ludia's mouth. About the disappearance of the two saintess candidates and the recruitment of a new one.
"(So the blonde bitch went home?)"
"I don't know. Maybe?"
"(Hmph... that one's so scheming. Can't trust her even if I wanted to.)"
"But... she did heal us, right?"
"......"
Amelia's actions remained an unsolved mystery. Why heal us and leave? And she'd clearly seen our weaknesses—why no move yet? Was she after something bigger? But we had no value for that.
"(Who knows. Maybe the church is secretly hunting us right now!)"
"Eek... that's kinda scary.."
Ludia frowned and inched toward me. Then she naturally rested her head on my shoulder. Her soft hair slid gently down my body.
"...I-I'm scared, that's all."
"(Daytime, bitch!)"
"...Heh. Who told you to bring it up?"
"...."
"And forests can be dangerous even in daylight."
"(..Hah! You've gotten bold, bitch!)"
A chuckle escaped me. She'd once freaked out at eye contact alone, trembling. Now she approached on her own, even a bit confidently.
"(Don't worry! No matter who comes, I'll protect you for sure, bitch!)"
Was I drunk on her warmth? My brazen bluff echoed in my head without feeling off. It felt like my inner voice conveyed just right. ...Minus the "bitch," of course. Not my fault.
....Tap.
Ludia went quiet, maybe at my awkward words. But soon a warm hand covered mine, answering instead. Her cheeks flushed, faint cracks lining them.
"(At it again?! No sense of timing! Krahaha!!)"
"..Heh heh.. Can't you just pretend not to notice?"
We stayed like that, blankly staring at the sky.
"....H-Hungry."
"(Huh? Didn't you eat three fruits earlier?)"
"Picking them burned it all off."
"....."
"Ahem! Seeing that smoke made me crave roasted meat suddenly."
"....?"
At the end of Ludia's pointing finger, black smoke billowed faintly. Last time we roasted that deer whole, delicious smells and smoke had billowed out. Was the village grilling meat today? I hadn't heard.
"...Huh?"
Before the smoke reached the sky's end, another plume rose from below.
"Huh... weird? They don't grill two at once."
"...."
Before Ludia finished, another. And another.
"(...Bitch, that looks like..)"
"...No way..."
**
The acrid stench of charred remains thickened as we neared the village. Our steps quickened. Tears welled in Ludia's wide eyes, spilling over.
"Ha....! No way!!"
We sprinted until stopping at the village entrance.
"....."
Hundreds of footprints in the mud. Collapsed, charred wooden barricades. Houses more than half-burned. People with weeping or despairing faces.
The earlier foreboding was real.
"Ludia!"
"Mom-!!"
Ludia's mother burst from the murmuring crowd, hugging her tear-streaked daughter and stroking her hair.
"Thank goodness! You're safe!"
"Mom! What happened?! Why this huge fire.."
"It's okay now. As long as you're safe."
"Mom..."
She repeated the same, tears flowing, holding Ludia tight. Soon the village chief approached from behind.
"...Ludia, looks like we can't avoid this talk..."
"..Huh?"
His eyes looked deeply sorrowful.
**
Ludia's house near the barricade was completely burned. We sat in a relatively clean clearing to hear the story.
"What??? Th-the lord's men?"
"""......"""
The lord's soldiers had come. First demanding more tribute for absurd reasons, then ransacking and burning when refused. What they'd sought instead of money was...
"I'm sorry, Ludia..."
"......"
Ludia. Silent after hearing, she just bowed her head deeply.
"No, Chief! Why should our Ludia be sold off?!"
Her mother cried out in her stead.
"But what choice do we have?! Our food stores burned, and Keltun, your husband, our sons and daughters who resisted—they're all captured!"
"Right! What crime did those kids commit?!"
"Some already left our village that way! They're probably fine! Why make a fuss?!"
"You don't even want to save Keltun and your husband, do you?!!"
Villagers piled on, as if waiting. They'd welcomed us warmly before, but now, stripped of much, no kindness remained. Eyes held aimless rage, voices unjust grief.
"Ridiculous! Ludia, leave this place. Don't worry about us."
Her mother, furious, tried pulling Ludia up with a choked voice.
"W-Wait! If she leaves, what about us?!"
But the chief grabbed her wrist desperately, and she raised her voice undaunted.
"Find another home! We were leaving anyway!"
"Easy for you to say! Half our people and food are gone to the lord! Don't be unreasonable!"
"Let go! All Keltun and my husband did for you all these years! Now you want Ludia too?!!"
The chief flinched and released at her shout. Onlookers began pointing accusingly.
"Ludia's mom! Stop being stubborn!"
"As the lord's concubine, she'll at least eat well!"
"It's not just for her—why so selfish?!"
"It'd be easier for Ludia and us!"
"Fine! We'll drag her if we must!!"
"..???"
Whoa, hold up. What?
Shff.
Apple stuck in my throat? Or disbelief? Before anger surged, I stood.
"""....?!!"""
"G-Gah!"
"........"
Approaching movements halted. Eyes met mine.
"Grroooo....."
They looked terrified—shaking, hesitating, shielding eyes. Just standing and staring. Who knew being treated this way would feel good?
"(Bitch! Get up! We're leaving!)"
"....Huh?"
I grabbed slumped Ludia's shoulder, pulling her up.
"(Gonna go to the lord and bring everyone back!)"
"How...."
Her voice wilted like grass. She'd been so cheery with apples earlier. Seeing her now churned a storm in my gut.
"(In the way this body does best!)"
"B-But that's..."
"(First! Deliver this one message to them! Snap out of it!)"
".....?"
Having somewhat restored her, scraaape. I dragged my foot across the ground. One long line.
"......"
Then silently stared at the villagers, meeting each gaze. Willing them: cross this line, touch her mom, and no mercy.
...Talking might just spew curses. Better have gentle Ludia relay it.
"Um... my companion wants me to pass on a message...."
Sorry to make sad her do this, but best way. I'd loom intimidatingly so they wouldn't dismiss her.
"....Don't cross this line until I return. If even one does, I'll kill you all."
"""Hiiiik!!!!"""
"....He said."
"....??"
Fierce words poured from Ludia's mouth. Sharp as could be—not the slumped girl from before. Villagers glanced between us, startling.
"Right, Huu?"
Ludia looked at me, half-relieved now.
"....."
Er... seems her spirits lifted. ...Good enough.