Chapter 16: The First Letter (16)
Chapter 16: The First Letter (16)
The forest was silent. The path was dim, shrouded by a thick canopy of leaves. Unknown flowers, grass, and mushrooms sprouted everywhere.
There were rumors that after the Hunting Festival ended and the demonic beasts retreated into the shadows, students from the Alchemy Department would form groups and venture into the forest. Since the birthplaces of demonic beasts had high mana density, they were ideal for gathering high-quality ingredients.
It was certainly the kind of place for it. Even without that, the forest, untouched by human feet, retained its primordial state. Conversely, that meant it was still untamed.
Places, like animals, are tamed by the coming and going of people. As paths are carved and areas are partitioned, a space gradually becomes more human-friendly and familiar.
No matter how remote a place might be, if there was a village nearby, there was bound to be at least one trail. A forest is a treasure trove of resources; it was impossible for villagers not to frequent it.
However, this forest to the south of the Academy was an exception. While the Academy didn't explicitly restrict access, the students had no real reason to enter the southern woods.
First of all, there wasn't just one forest on the Academy grounds. There was a smaller one near the dormitories. It was free of demonic beasts and saw frequent foot traffic, making it perfect for strolls or camping.
If one wanted to visit a forest, there was no need to trek all the way south.
And even if one wanted to gather ingredients, this was the Academy. It was a place where many nobles were enrolled, and while commoners weren't few, many were the children of wealthy merchants.
This meant there were plenty of students willing to pay extra rather than take risks. Occasionally, students from poor commoner backgrounds like Emma would frequent the outskirts, but even they never ventured into the heart of the forest without an escort.
In other words, because this forest lacked sufficient foot traffic, there were naturally no paths. That led to one inevitable conclusion.
Various seeds were stuck all over my and Seria’s uniforms—from fluffy, down-like seeds to prickly ones that looked like they’d sting if they poked you.
People called it 'Great Nature,' but for those actually trekking through it, it was a nightmare. If you were unlucky, a sharp branch could snag and tear your uniform.
I walked on, my expression one of weary resignation. I recalled something Emma had said to me recently.
‘You act like you aren't, but in the end, you really are a noble young master, aren't you?’
Yeah, I guess she was right. Having seeds stuck to my uniform and damp soil clinging to my trousers didn't feel great. If Emma, who grew up as a herbalist’s daughter, saw me now, she’d probably burst out laughing.
She’d call me a grown man making a fuss over nothing. I didn't want Seria to think the same, so I did my best not to let it show.
Seria walked without complaint. Come to think of it, she was a swordsman who had already participated in several demonic beast subjugations since childhood. She was likely used to this sort of thing.
I couldn't afford to look pathetic in front of my junior. I called out to her, feigning nonchalance.
"Seria."
"Y-Yes... Senior."
Seria seemed a bit tense and almost bit her tongue again, but she narrowly avoided disaster. However, the shame of her slight stutter remained, and her face flushed pink.
It was a transformation hard to believe for a girl who, until moments ago, had worn a frigid expression. Actually, I was starting to get a feel for it now.
The reason she maintained that blunt expression was that she simply didn't know what other face to make.
There was no need for her to be that nervous, but for now, I could only hope things would improve as we became closer.
"Do you sense anything nearby?"
"……? No, I don't feel anything for now."
"Hmm," I hummed, falling into thought for a moment.
We had already moved quite deep into the forest. If a demonic beast were to ambush the students, it would have to be within this range at the very least.
Of course, the forest was vast. No matter how developed Seria's Qi sense was, there was a possibility a beast could slip through the gaps and attack other students.
But would a demonic beast bother doing that?
There were two pieces of prey right here, close by. If their goal was to attack students, Seria and I would be their primary targets.
Except for those called 'Named,' demonic beasts weren't particularly intelligent. They wouldn't choose to bypass appetizing prey right in front of them.
Even if they did have intelligence, the logic held. I made a request to Seria in a serious tone.
"I'm sorry, but please stay on guard for a while. And let's take a break here."
"Yes, it's not a problem, but……."
Seria trailed off, seemingly confused as to why I wanted her to stay on guard and why I had waited until we were this deep to finally rest.
Nevertheless, she followed my instructions faithfully. She looked like she wanted to hesitate and ask a question, but in the end, she kept her mouth shut.
It seemed like a choice made considering how often she’d made slips of the tongue while talking to me lately. She always tended to teeter on the line between honesty and rudeness.
She was a timid woman, in her own way. I sat down on a nearby rock. As I opened my canteen and took a drink, the skin on my face and neck, chafed by leaves, stung.
It was a rather unpleasant experience for someone who had lived in a civilized world. But I had to get used to it.
From the moment I picked up a sword, I had to be prepared to take the lives of others, not just demonic beasts. A blade, after all, was a tool meant for harm.
That was the mindset my master had practically brainwashed into me during my grueling childhood training. It would be ridiculous for a man destined for a blood-soaked life to be bothered by a mere forest.
It was then that a small sound escaped Seria’s closed lips. My eyes naturally turned toward her.
"Um, Senior?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
At my immediate response, Seria’s body gave an imperceptible flinch. It was a minute tremor that only my sharpened senses could catch. It meant that Seria had begun to consciously worry about my reaction.
It seemed she was currently building her common sense regarding human relationships through me. Then again, since I was the only person she could call a friend, it was only natural.
That was why she had been walking on eggshells around me lately. To be honest, it was a bit uncomfortable.
Who was I that she had to be so careful? But Seria was currently like a child who had just stepped out into the world.
A naive girl full of curiosity but lacking in knowledge. At least regarding human relationships, everything was likely a first for her.
So it made sense that she was cautious with every action. And frankly, she did need to be a bit more careful.
The only thing I could do as her senior was to wait with patience.
After a moment, Seria asked me tentatively.
"M-May I ask you one thing?"
"Of course. A junior asking a senior is perfectly fine."
Was that really something special enough to ask permission for? I added that thought as I wetted my dry throat with more water from the canteen.
I couldn't drink too much. I had to be prepared for any situation. I suppressed the urge to pour the water down my throat with that thought.
When I make some money later, I should replace this with a canteen enchanted with space distortion magic. But since anything with a semi-permanent magical inscription was expensive, that day seemed far off.
Seeing me drink from the canteen in silence, Seria seemed to decide it was okay to ask her question. Her attractive lips parted cautiously once more.
"Why did you team up with me?"
A direct, simple question. I glanced at Seria while closing the cap of the canteen.
Seria’s eyes seemed calm, but they were wavering slightly. That subtle trembling was the only way to read her emotions.
It was a habit of hers that even I, with my heightened senses since losing my memory, only noticed after spending several days with her.
Because people couldn't read this, they had given her the nickname 'The Rude Brat of Yurdina.'
Thinking about it now, it was quite cruel. Perhaps that was why I found myself caring about her more.
You could call it a senior’s cheap pity for a junior who, for some reason, couldn't be left alone. At some point, I found myself unable to treat her as a mere stranger.
However, I didn't bother explaining my feelings in detail. It was embarrassing, and there was no need for it.
"Just because."
Since those two words were enough, a look of bewilderment crossed Seria’s face as she waited for my answer with a tense expression.
"B-But, weren't you planning to team up with your friend?"
"At first, yeah."
At my straightforward answer, Seria’s eyes filled with even more doubt. She asked again.
"Then why……."
"I told you, just because."
I gave a small smirk and met Seria’s gaze head-on. Seria flinched.
"Celine is my friend, and you're my friend too. Do you really need a reason for friends to team up?"
To be honest, the main reason was that Seria had looked quite lonely at the time, but I didn't bring that up for the sake of her pride.
My clear explanation seemed to fluster Seria even more. She went blank for a moment, stammered, and then hung her head low to avoid my eyes.
Her small murmur reached my ears.
"F-Friend……."
It was a sound mixed with unfamiliarity and shyness, as if she were hearing the word for the first time in her life. Surely it couldn't be that extreme, but still.
Seeing her like that, I asked back.
"Don't tell me I'm the only one who thinks so? We're close enough to call each other 'friends,' aren't we?"
"T-T-That's true... But, um……."
Seria stammered in her fluster, her face turning bright red as she kept her head down. Since she was a beautiful girl, even that sight was like a picture.
It was a shame to be the only one seeing it. I thought that as I waited for her to continue.
But what Seria said next was beyond my imagination.
"……What do friends usually do together?"
I couldn't help but freeze right there.
At my bewildered look, Seria avoided my gaze, looking mortified. What do friends do together?
Well, they chat, they hang out, they eat together. There was no set pattern. But Seria looked genuinely clueless, so I had to agonize over it for a moment.
How should I answer? No matter how much I thought, a perfect answer didn't come to mind.
"Well, it's like what we're doing now. Talking together, going for walks, and saying things you can't tell others... sharing precious time like that."
"Sharing, sharing, sharing... Ah."
Seria’s eyes widened as if something had occurred to her. She asked me in a serious tone.
"Now that I think about it, I've heard that people who are close share gifts."
"Well, that happens sometimes."
It wasn't a frequent occurrence, but since it wasn't wrong, I nodded in agreement. At that, Seria’s expression became even more solemn.
"T-Then. As a price for Senior Ian being my friend, should I give you something as well?"
"……What?"
I asked back because I was so dumbfounded, but Seria seemed to take it as agreement. She muttered anxiously.
"I-I don't have anything on me right now... but once we get back to the dormitory, I can manage with the 200 Gold I tried to give you last time……."
"No, that's not it... If you do that, it becomes a business relationship, not a friendship, okay?"
Despite her appearance, she was a junior with a troublesome side. I pressed my hand to my forehead and had to explain 'friendship' to her several more times.
Seria finally seemed to accept the fact that she didn't have to give me anything. She still looked a bit puzzled, but at least she wouldn't bring it up again in front of me.
I decided to be satisfied with that. As she learned more, she would eventually realize. That there are relationships in this world that cannot be converted into monetary value.
However, it seemed Seria still had lingering questions. She asked me cautiously as I let out a long sigh.
"Um, Senior?"
"Yeah, what."
My voice was thick with fatigue as I answered. I was exhausted by Seria’s outsider tendencies, which far exceeded my expectations.
I wasn't angry. If I were, she might shrink back even more.
I just wished she would ask a sensible question.
Perhaps God Arus heard my wish, because Seria came out with a slightly more normal question.
"Since we are friends, may I ask a question that might be a bit rude?"
For the socially oblivious Seria to call a question 'rude,' I was actually getting curious.
I answered her without much thought.
"Sure, go ahead."
Once my permission was given, the last of Seria’s hesitation vanished. She asked immediately.
Her voice was plain and clear.
"Is it because of your friend?"
I froze as if I’d been struck by a sudden, unexpected blow.
My gaze, which had been tracing the ground in resignation, snapped to Seria. Her deep blue eyes were deep and calm. As they always were.
"Did you come all the way here because your friend was attacked in this forest?"
That question, like an arrow shot by a master archer, pierced straight through to my true intentions.