Flight (5)
Since then, the image of a gentle man has vanished from sight.
Yet the place remains peaceful, and its vibrancy endures.
The patter of rain fills the air.
It reached me first through sight rather than sound.
After all, droplets seeped through the ceiling.
The guest rooms inside have grown lively because of it.
“Bring a towel here!”
“Ugh. Seriously. This is disgusting.”
She starts by setting down a bowl, then wipes everything with a rag.
A fortunate thing is that all the female staff managing us are working overtime.
“Surprisingly heavy rain.”
Someone muttered.
At last the moment has arrived.
There is no denying that today is the planned day.
CRACK—BANG—!!!
“Kyaa!!”
“What? Did thunder just strike?!”
The startled men shout in panic.
The instant the eyes lock is the opportunity.
Above all, the magic tools have temporarily stopped because of the lightning.
“This is it.”
I cannot show any sign of tension.
Maintaining a natural walk, I approach the female staff in charge of the rooms.
“What is the matter? Leaving this room is forbidden.”
“Ah. I got lost on the way. Haha. Do you know where the others are?”
“Why do you ask? Return at once.”
The weather seems to have made the management lax.
Blocking the underground entrance alone with her large frame gives a rough estimate.
Yet she is the most loyal and least greedy among them, so she is difficult to deal with.
Of course it has nothing to do with the escape plan.
“It is cold because of the rain. Is it all right if I borrow an extra robe from over there?”
“Hah. Hurry and put it on and go back. We will all suffer if you catch a cold.”
I slip into the unobtrusive black robe and lean against the entrance wall.
Goosebumps rise from the cold chill felt on my back.
“The thunder is terrifying. Will you listen to my story?”
“I cannot. Especially you. If Jane knew, I…”
CRASH—!!
The thunder peals with an earth-shaking roar, plunging the surroundings into darkness.
Suppressing laughter at the perfect situation, I take the folded paper from my pocket.
A teleportation scroll.
In truth it only works near the vicinity.
Its efficiency is poor, making the item quite hard to obtain.
Now the fantasy world feels new again.
After all, there are dragon slayers and monsters here.
It would be stranger if there were no such magic tools.
I tear the paper with solemn resolve.
WHOOSH—!!
I slowly open my tightly shut eyes.
Outside.
There is a staircase connected to the lodging visible a short distance away.
“There is a mountain nearby. It is also the place where monsters come out. That is the best option. When it rains, when thunder strikes, come then. I cannot wait long.”
I already knew.
I have read the scroll Yuus gave me several times.
Although in my imagination, I have finished quite a lot of practice.
I move my legs quickly.
I can do it.
As if fire has fallen on my instep.
As if a swarm is chasing from behind.
My breathing becomes ragged.
Has there been a time during my life when I ran like this?
It is absurd, but I feel I am alive.
The sensation now is so vivid.
I run in the black robe without pause.
I am glad I chose the dark color.
Because it does not stand out.
“Ha. Ha.”
Breathing fills up to my chin.
If I go like this, I will burst a lung.
But I must run.
A little more, and it is the place where I promised Yuus.
A little more. Just a little more. Please.
“I have to go.”
My entire body is already soaked with rain.
If I successfully escape, I will enjoy a hot bath.
So I cannot retreat any longer.
The smell of wet grass. The crackle of stepped twigs.
Droplets falling from tree leaves.
How wonderful would it have been if it was only that?
I heard a sound I should never have heard.
BUHUK?!
A green monster known to be 1.5 times larger than an ordinary person.
Despite boasting great muscles, its ugly face resembles a pig.
Like other monsters, it is known for kidnapping human males and being ferocious.
Orc.
Impossible.
How?!
I quickly hide my body behind a tree.
Did it see me?
Is it possible that this monster saw me?
BUHUK?! BUHIHIK!!
I feel the approaching footsteps and understand the situation.
I was discovered.
Without any power, I may die miserably here.
I do not want that. I must run.
“Ha. Ha.”
I protect my face with a branch blocking the way and advance forward.
The scraped elbow hurts, but so what?
Due to the sudden increase in rain strength, the way ahead is not clear.
BUHIHIK?! BUHUK!! BUHIHIK!!!
My paralyzed reason makes me run aimlessly to a point unrelated to the target.
But running like that does not last long.
Kyaa!!
Bad luck. I finally fell over a rock.
Even in the midst of the noisy rain, the green orc clearly approaches and roars.
BUHIHIK!!!
It may stab me with that club.
Perhaps it will kidnap me.
Otherwise, it will use me as food.
I stretch my arm and barely rub the swollen ankle.
Because it was twisted too hard, moving was difficult.
Finally, I face the orc that has approached.
And at that moment.
The orc that has approached in front of me slowly kneels on one knee.
The large green hand stretches toward me.
But the feeling is a little different.
So, like.
As if asking, are you okay?
Yes. Like serving a master.
I hesitate whether I should also reach out because of the unexpected orc action.
But that thought does not last long.
The neck of the orc in front is cut.
Because it flew right in front of my nose, the orc's blood splatters over my body.
What is this?
“Ah. Ah. Uu. Uu.”
I really hate it. Why am I going through this?
The one who attacked the orc is a huge scythe.
I turn my head in the direction it came from.
There is Jane.
⁕⁕⁕
I blankly look at the orc corpse next to me.
The gruesome end of the orc seems to be branded in my mind.
“Ha. Ha.”
Jane, who ran alone, is panting.
She, who looks like a wet mouse from the rain, spits out an angry voice.
“Master, are you crazy? Where am I?!”
Her twisted mouth is cold.
Jane, with the face of a betrayed woman, looks at me lying there and raises her voice.
“How dare you try to run away?!”
Jane's face is completely distorted.
I want to cry. I am the one who failed.
“If this is the case, then it is well done, isn't it?”
Why is this woman crying? Does she really think she did well?
“What is lacking?”
Her fiery red hair is soaked with rain and clinging messily to her face.
The dress she is wearing also clings tightly to her body, revealing her curves.
“Of course.”
“What?”
“You know it too. It is not my debt. Becoming an existence that fills a normal person's sexual desires in a single day.
It is not easy for normal people's minds.
“Is it because of that? You ran away.”
Crouching down, Jane asks me.
Because of her messy bangs, her expression is not clearly visible.
But the intense emotion felt amplifies my unease.
“What are you talking about?”
“I am simply asking if you do not like working.”
“What nonsense. I hate everything. I hate that work too. I hate you. I am sick of it!”
“Yes. I knew your thoughts well.”
“If you are honestly asking if I hate you, I do not know well.”
“If not for this relationship. If it had been a different meeting.
But realistically, we cannot be together. After all, the world we live in is different. In the end, I will return to the modern era.
“I apologize in advance. Master.”
“...What?”
“It will hurt a bit.”
Jane grabs my injured ankle.
Due to the swirling pain, I let out a sound.
“Uaaa. Uwaaaah!!!! Stop. Stop!!”
I did not know this small hand could be so strong.
After all, she is the one who threw that huge scythe.
“Why. Why are you doing this.”
Tears come out. There is no feeling at all in my ankle.
If it were not for the damned orc.
I would not have been in this state.
Actually, I know. If it were not for the woman in front of me.
What will happen now? The rain is coming, and moving is hard.
Above all, I am afraid of what this woman will do to me.
Will Yuus be waiting for me?
Actually, this plan has failed due to me.
I could not run away. I could not take revenge on the prince. A bitter feeling rises.
I cannot guess how I came to suffer like this.
“Master, can you stand up?”
“Are you joking right now?!”
Somehow the relaxed attitude of hers makes me angry.
I am the one who has lost with the looser look on her face than before.
And she picked up the scythe too.
“Originally, how did I come to be here?”
“Did you really think I would not know? You thought I was easy on you. Even though there will be no more opportunities, I will tell you.
“The robe. Idiot. What if you wear something like that? Of course you will be tracked.”
“Ah. This.
It is complete defeat for me.
I am sorry to Yuus, who planned the escape for me.
A beautiful girl with a pretty face smiles brightly.
The smile makes me, the hunter who finally caught the prey, lose words.
Jane, who carried me up too easily, starts to go somewhere.
From now on, I guess riding a girl is not bad at all.
“Where is this?”
“Home.”
“What?”
“It is the house I used to live in. You can relax.”
What nonsense? Because of you, I cannot relax.
Inside the building, Jane lays me on the sofa.
The wooden cabin made of wooden buildings is estimated to be a mountain lodge.
“Do not worry too much. Master. I will treat you.”
“Ha. Giving medicine and giving medicine is the same, right?”
Jane, who easily finds the bandage and holds it, mutters.
“Yes. But do not heal too quickly.”