Clumsy Maid (4)
Two hours earlier.
"Hmm~♪"
With Arnold's permission, Eily wandered alone through the forest.
"Oh? This flower's color is so vibrant and pretty!"
She was heading deeper into the woods, gathering beautiful flowers for her mother.
"Sniff sniff, mmm~ it smells nice too? I should pick this one."
"Hehe~ she'll definitely love it!"
Imagining her mother's face upon seeing the bouquet she'd gathered herself, Eily bubbled with excitement.
"Let's see, is there anything even better~♪"
And so, venturing further into the forest, she collected every appealing flower she spotted.
She'd started empty-handed, but before long, her hands were full of various blooms.
"Oh, a rose! Roses growing out here."
Then she spotted a flower that truly captivated her—a seductive, beautiful rose glowing deep red.
"One of these should be fine, right?"
Mesmerized, Eily approached the rosebush, carefully inspecting each bloom.
"This one's the prettiest!"
She selected a particularly rich-colored rose with a subtle allure.
"Nngh, careful not to get pricked by the thorns… easy does it~"
She plucked it with utmost caution to avoid the spines.
"Ahh, got it!"
"Though I got a little poked… ow…."
Eily had obtained the rose she'd set her heart on, though it wasn't without cost.
Her clumsy hands weren't the most deft, so she'd taken a few scrapes in the process.
"But I got a pretty one!"
Still, she beamed with pure, satisfied joy.
"Hehe, it's so beautiful…"
Especially because there was someone special she planned to give it to.
"Hehehe, Young Master—"
Staring at the rose she'd picked, she pictured one person's face.
The noble who was so generous and kind to her. Imagining his smile, her cheeks flushed rose-red.
"I have to give this to Young Master!"
"H-he'll like it, right? Hehe…"
She caressed her bashfully heated cheeks, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Of course, out here in the deep forest with no one around, it hardly mattered.
"Roses symbolize love, right?"
"I-if that's true…—"
"Nngh…?! No, no…! What was I just imagining?!"
To shake off the embarrassment, Eily shook her head vigorously, trying to calm her overly giddy mood.
"Okay! Just one more, then straight to Young Master!"
Admiring her ample haul, she brimmed with determination.
"Can't keep him waiting too long, so better find it quick."
Having nearly hit her goal, Eily set off energetically for that final bloom.
…
…
However.
How long had she roamed the forest?
"Huh? That's weird. There were so many before…."
Despite searching for quite some time, she hadn't found a single pretty flower—only ordinary grass everywhere.
"Ah, there! Hmm~ this white one… and it's Mom's favorite color too."
At last, after much wandering, she spotted the final flower to pick.
"Gotta grab it quick and head back. Time's gotten away from me…."
But as she approached to pluck it—
"Awooooooo—!!!"
A massive howl pierced the sky.
"Eek?!"
Eily whipped around at the wolfish cry from behind, her eyes widening in horror.
"H-hiiik…!"
What she saw was a monster drooling hungrily, saliva dripping like it hadn't eaten in days, fixated on its prey.
"Grrrr—"
"D-Dire Wolf…!"
Recognizing the name she'd heard before, Eily's face paled in terror.
"Awoo, grrr!"
As if responding to her words, the Dire Wolf howled and charged.
"Eily~? Where are you!"
To find her, he'd entered the forest where she'd vanished.
But even deep inside, no sign of her.
"Hmm…"
Maybe she'd gone back to the mansion first. Or perhaps their paths had crossed, and she'd already exited while he missed her.
All sorts of possibilities swirled in his mind.
"No, let's search a bit more."
But knowing Eily wasn't the type, he pressed on.
Regardless of personality, as her superior, she wouldn't leave without reporting.
He hadn't gone far—just stayed near the practice spot—yet she hadn't found him. She was either still lost in this vast forest or their paths had simply diverged.
"Eily! You there?!"
Yet no clues whatsoever. It felt like searching for a needle in a desert.
"Haah, no luck."
Even deep in, no Eily. Time for another approach.
"Wish there was something…."
Magic's aid.
He opened the grimoire he'd brought, scanning for something useful.
Flipping pages rapidly, skimming the spells.
"……."
But by the end, nothing fit.
No spells for this?
"…! This."
Fortunately, in the later sections, one caught his eye.
"Tracking—"
A spell to divine a person's direction from their traces.
"Got it."
This could help find Eily.
"Ugh, but…"
The catch: it required a clue about her first.
"Can't use it now."
First hurdle.
Needed any trace of her.
But nothing.
"Eily… please left something…."
Resigned to blind searching again, he delved even deeper, losing track of his path.
"…!"
Then, something odd: crushed flowers scattered on the ground.
Her words echoed.
"This—"
Flowers for her mother. Various types, snapped deliberately.
"Perfect."
Like puzzle pieces clicking, he cast the spell on the bouquet.
"Tracking."
Focusing, he chanted.
"…?!"
Like navigation, white smoke trails appeared, pointing a path.
"Good, let's go."
Follow it, and he'd find her.
Full speed ahead.
"Haa… haa…!!"
The frail maid raced desperately through the forest.
"Grrr, arf arf!"
Chased by the ferocious monster hot on her heels—like a rabbit fleeing a predator.
"Please, please…!!"
Eily poured every ounce of strength into escaping for her life.
Probably the most desperately she'd ever run.
"Nngh…!!"
Her heart ached, lungs screamed, but she didn't stop.
Bitter metallic taste in her throat, yet she swallowed and pushed on.
Because stopping meant horror behind.
"Raaargh!"
The Dire Wolf howled savagely, pursuing fiercely.
But oddly…
For a hunter, it bounded lightly. Maintaining distance, like herding rather than seriously catching.
"No…! Stay away!"
Even at full human sprint, beasts ruled the wild. A specialized hunter like Dire Wolf should easily overtake an ordinary person.
"Grr!"
Yet it held back deliberately.
Thud—
"Eh…?!"
And proving it—
"Waaah—!!"
Lost in panic, Eily tripped on a root, losing balance.
Thud—
Thud—!!
She tumbled painfully across the dirt.
"Ugh…?"
Momentum carried her over a cliff several meters down.
"Ah—!! Aaaah…!"
Finally, battered and broken, Eily crashed pitifully.
"I-it hurts… M-Mom…!"
Tears welled from pain and despair, yet she tried crawling away.
"Grrrr…!"
But—
"Wha…!"
The Dire Wolf appeared right before her.
"Grrrrr…"
Had it circled around in that instant?
"Raa!"
"N-no…?!"
No—the one chasing her overlooked from the cliff.
Not vanishing—doubled. Two monsters.
"Grr…"
"Gr…"
"Raaang!"
More emerged from the brush, one after another.
"N-no way…!"
Pack hunters. One drives prey, others encircle the weakened target.
Efficient, minimal effort for the kill.
"U… ugh…."
Thus, Eily was cornered.
Body too mangled to move, defenseless against the onslaught.
"A… aa…."
Sobbing in despair, tears streamed endlessly.
"Sorry, Mom."
"Sorry, Julie…"
Family faces flashed like a montage.
"If I hadn't gone for flowers…"
Regretting shirking duty for greed,
"I'm the worst maid…."
"Sorry, Young Master…."
Self-recrimination, then his face last.
"…Lord."
Praying silently, eyes closing—that moment—
Whoosh—!!!
A miracle.
"Yelp—!"
"Kweeeek!"
Huge flames roared past Eily, like purgatorial fire scourging evil.
"Eh…?"
"What're you sorry for?"
Good thing he wasn't late.
Almost irreversible.
"Eily."
"Y-Young Master…!!"
Close call, but success.
"No need to ask if you're okay."
She looked badly hurt.
"Grrrr…!"
"Yap yap—!!"
Her survival confirmed—now the wolf pack.
"Hoo…"
Steadying breath, eyes on the monsters.
Honestly, heart pounding with tension.
So soon after practice, straight to real combat? First monster hunt.
Taking lives.
"……."
Could he?
Refuse, and both died.
"Come on."
He must.
"Raaang!"
Fierce beast lunged with fangs and claws at blinding speed.
"…?!"
Instant gap close.
Fleeting moment, but time dilated.
"Fire—"
Whoosh!
As attack flew, time slowed.
"Yelp—"
"Gr, grrr!"
"I see the movements."
Instinct reacted to speed, dodging threats, flowing into counter.
"Wind Spear."
Fwsh fwsh—
"Kyaak…!"
Movements a normal person couldn't track—Arnold evaded effortlessly.
Not just magic—physical talent too.
Dozens ahead… yet no fear.
Rather—
"Fire… Breath!"
Whoosh—!
Cataclysmic flames from fingertips ravaged the area, scorching like wildfire.
"Keeeaang—?!"
Nearby Dire Wolves incinerated by proximity,
"Raaaah!"
Survivors charged.
"Ice Age."
Countered with ice magic.
"Kek—"
"…—!"
Leaping monsters froze mid-air, shattering on impact like dropped glass.
Clang—
"Lightning Bolt—"
Storm clouds gathered, darkening, then azure thunder crashed with thunderous boom.
Boom—!
Kaboom—!
Ears rang; destructive lightning devastated.
Area scorched, shockwaves shook the woods.
"“Kyaaaaang—!”"
"“Kaaak—”"
Pack annihilated, lives snuffed like candle flames.
"………."
Lightning Bolt ended the chaos—silence fell.
Magic swept them all.
"Young Master…?"
Brief quiet broken by frail voice.
Eily gazed up, awe and worry mingled.
"Does it hurt a lot? Hold on."
Approaching, gripped her dirtied hand.
"……."
Another grimoire spell: healing.
Revive the dying with a word. Immense power.
"Heal—"
Chanted.
Her wounds vanished as if never there.
"Wh… wow…."
Pain gone instantly, she marveled at her body.
"Better now?"
Gently stroking her hair, asking softly.
"Nngh…!"
"…?"
Like an arrow loosed from a drawn bow, she flung herself at him.
"U… huuuk…."
Clinging desperately, burrowing like a joey into a pouch.
"Y-Young Master… ahh, Young Master…!"
Sobbing wrenchingly, calling him amid terror's release.
"I'm sorry…… really… hik…! So sorry…!"
"Thank you… I lived thanks to you…!"
Worse than a bereaved mother. For her shattered heart,
"…Glad you're safe."
He held her silently, gazing at the sky.