Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: S1.5. Thousand-Li Escape -3
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"Hold on tight, Pero!"
"B-but there's nowhere to grab...!!"
"If you don't want to die, grab anything!"
"Y-yes...!!"
Grip. Pero squeezed his eyes shut and grabbed whatever was closest. In a less perilous spot, somewhere cozy where he could savor the sensation at leisure, he'd be in absolute bliss right now.
But fleeing from a massive mutant that dogged their every step with unnatural tenacity left no room for such luxuries.
-GRRRRAAAAAHHH!!
To shake off the mutant bellowing from its three heads, Elaine was fleeing using every limb at her disposal. She'd run on two legs until one of the beast's enormous tentacles came crashing down—then she'd punch the ground to veer off nearly ninety degrees.
If that burst of acceleration wasn't enough, she'd drop to all fours. Combining arm and leg power made her even faster...! Elaine thanked her knack for wielding her own body like a weapon. Even galloping like a beast for the first time, her limbs moved in perfect sync, never tangling.
Violent maneuvers on all fours meant no chance to cradle Pero securely. To survive, he had to cling for dear life.
The result? A princess sprinting on all fours with a boy desperately latched to her front.
It was anything but a pretty sight. Still, some things in life couldn't be helped. Dignity as a princess might suffer, but survival trumped it.
Elaine raised her voice, fueled by frustration.
"You said the 'Plains of Meeting' had hardly any mutants—supposedly safe!"
"... ...!!"
"Even with your face buried in my chest, I can only feel it tickling—can't hear a word, Pero-!!"
The boy Pero was equally indignant. He couldn't fathom why a colossal mutant he'd never seen before had appeared in this peaceful land, or why it was chasing them of all people.
-Roooaaar! GRRAAAAHH!!
Even the massive mutant sounded downright aggrieved by its roars alone. Was it complaining about them showing up reeking of tasty scents right in front of it? Or cursing these filthy humans for being so damn fast?
"... ..., ...!!"
"It just tickles!"
"Pfft, the bag—my bag has... emergency bait...!"
"All fours is max speed—no time to—"
BOOM!! Thud!
Elaine's body whipped into another sharp turn, and the boy once more fell under a spell of inertial silence.
"—reach!"
"...!"
"You do it, Pero!"
"...!!"
Do it now, or I'll ditch you as bait and run!
She held back those unspoken words. Her rational mind was already screaming to jettison this 46kg burden and bolt faster.
That she'd carried him for a full eight minutes of hesitation? Pure heart.
Pero tightened his legs around Elaine's waist. Then, fumbling amid the whipping g-forces to keep from flying off, he reached for the bag wedged between them...
It wasn't the bag's texture.
"Not there—lower!"
"...?"
"Bag's higher up!"
"...???"
"Pero, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"
The fourth grab hit paydirt. Pero yanked out a cloth-wrapped orb from the bag. Elaine snatched it mid-stride and launched it skyward with a picture-perfect somersault kick.
The massive mutant reacted instantly. It let out a mournful wail, wheeled about, and pursued. For caution's sake, Elaine kept fleeing another five minutes before easing off.
Thud.
Elaine collapsed onto the prairie, gasping ragged breaths. Pero was spent too. That rollercoaster-from-hell ride had left him limp and boneless in her arms.
"...It's hot—mind getting off, Pero?"
"M-my limbs... won't move. Sorry, Elaine..."
"Who isn't wiped? If I had the strength, I'd shove you off myself..."
Even grabbing his collar and tossing him felt impossible in her exhaustion. So Elaine just endured the tiny human blanket.
After a long while catching her breath, she gazed at the sky.
Sunlight fine, sky blue. If she shoved aside thoughts of the world overrun by freakish monsters and humanity on the brink... surprisingly, it was pretty nice.
Hard to put into words what, exactly. Just... nice. All of it.
"...Pft, ahahaha!"
Elaine burst laughing out of nowhere. Pero startled, looked up, confirmed it wasn't fatigue-induced delirium, then joined in.
"...Ufufu."
"Heh, hehe..."
In a world where survival reigned supreme, even "princess" lost meaning. Out here in the wilds, she was just Elaine, and the boy just Pero. Their raw exchange felt refreshingly honest.
Pressed close, they could almost feel each other's thumping hearts. About twenty centimeters apart.
A pretty swell day.
Sunset began to creep in.
Travel through the 'Plains of Meeting' was undeniably more pleasant. No gritty mouthfeel with every breath, and edible plants aplenty. Aside from that giant mutant, no other beasts crossed their path.
They'd even stumbled on blackberries and gorged. Elaine found herself thrilled by their tangy wildness, stirring odd emotions.
Imperial chefs poured heart into dishes she'd pick at and leave half-eaten. Yet here she was, delighted by plain berries. Ridiculous. Amusing.
Pero glanced around and chirped brightly.
"We could make salad tonight!"
"...Dressing?"
"Bit of ants for sourness!"
"Ants are fine... just hand it over."
While Elaine gathered kindling for a campfire, Pero bustled about foraging. A broad leaf made a perfect bowl; piled with safe greens, it became their meal.
They eyed the grass-on-grass feast, mouths watering.
"Dig in together!"
"Sure... mm."
Elaine nibbled a thin plant stem. Chewing the tender fibers released juicy sap—bitter but refreshingly crisp.
She sampled a red petal too. No real crunch or zing, but the spreading aroma was decent. Brewable as tea, even.
Her wrist tattoo clock: five days since the wasteland drop, seven left. Smooth sailing so far. No major threats, clear goal.
Back home, have the imperial chefs research stem dishes.
As Elaine pondered and played the "who-eats-the-last-leaf" standoff, Pero bolted upright.
"Pero?"
"......"
Pero stared off into the plains' distance, utterly absorbed. Tense? Focused? Pupils dilated slightly, mouth agape.
Lately, the little boy showed these odd spells now and then.
Elaine tapped his shoulder gently. He snapped out like from a dream.
"...Ah. Sorry, Elaine. Did you call me?"
"You zoned out."
"Heard a weird sound again. Like... something calling."
Elaine focused mana in her ears. Her aggressive soul color dulled non-combat uses, but her hearing dwarfed a normal person's.
Nothing. Leastways, not from Pero's direction.
Opposite way, though—footsteps. Bipedal, steady gait. Trained adult male, her guess. No hidden allies, anyway.
"Someone coming from that way, Pero."
"Oh, that side? Must've misheard..."
Elaine stroked the oddly meek boy's hair.
As dusk fell, the campfire likely drew them. She loosened her hands, awaiting the guest.
Raider? Friendly?
Strong? Weak?
Asset? Liability...?
The figure neared; firelight chased shadows from his face. Slender slit-eyes gleamed through long ash-gray hair.
A young adventurer.
Sly, serpentine features; poison-green eyes peeking from slits. Same hue as Pero's, but darker, deeper.
Well-equipped too. Sturdy leather armor, longsword and crossbow at his belt glimpsed under cloak. He raised an arm casually.
"Whew, finally some folks! Hahaha! Was starting to think the 'Plains of Meeting' had gone to seed—real relief!"
A touch flippant.
As the princess crossed her arms, his eyes flicked to her rising chest, skimmed frozen Pero, then curved into a grin. He feigned familiarity.
"Little Esperro—good to see you again. Been ages?"
"...Learo."
No love lost there. Guilt and gloom in Pero's eyes; Learo's held no mirth.
"Can't steal my intro with a fine lady watching, little Esperro... Pleased to meet you, milady. Care to let me introduce myself?"
Learo extended an arm theatrically, bowing. Decent form, but clumsy to a first princess's eye—like a peasant mimicking from afar.
One more: eyes forward even bent over. Wary of flank attacks. A survivor.
One of us, maybe, Elaine thought.
Best clarify pecking order upfront. She extended her hand languidly before him. Learo grinned eagerly, took it.
Then crushed it like cracking stone.
"Guh..."
"Payment for the rude stare."
Learo winced, brow furrowed in agony, body shrinking—yet lips curled in a smile.
"...Ha, haha. Cheap price. Never seen such fine hills and valleys before."
"Tongue pay too?"
"Mercy it is. Can't lie—mind sharing your fire tonight? I'll pay..."
"What say you, Pero?"
Elaine sought his take. Old acquaintances might yield dirt.
"...Hometown buddy... Learo..."
Elaine narrowed her eyes. Patient wait yielded nothing more. Quick calc: Fire-sharing with Learo—win or loss?
Loss. Armed stranger in camp? High risk.
But chance to unravel Pero's mysteries. Where from? How survived? Secrets? Threat to her?
If harmless... maybe trust him. Be real friends.
Yet shying from direct heart-to-heart with Pero? Her selfish weakness. Still, she greenlit sly-eyed Learo.
"Met a good soul—approve my joining? Got salt!"
First salt in five days sweetened the deal.
Learo slung an arm around Pero, whispering "hometown talk." Elaine mana'd her ears, eavesdropping.
Learo smiled poison.
"Why come back, Esperro...? Shameless. Thought you had nowhere left?"
"...Not that, Learo. I'm seeking paradise."
"Joke's lame. Paradise? Our home was it—you wrecked it. All of it."
"......"
Why no defense? Enduring barbs without retort—admitting guilt? If so... does it threaten my survival?
The old emperor's words echoed: Survive. Our blood must endure. From audience to now, relentless.
Thus, an uninvited guest joined camp.
With a tiny spark.
Distance to paradise remaining.
Approximately 250km.