Chapter 20 (1/2)

《Demon’s Bridge》

「He~ey, we’ve finally arrived. Let’s take a break-」

「Haa…… Haa…… . Y-You’ve……finally said it……」

「…… It’s because my 《Magic Power》 has been restrained that I have also started to feel tired……」

The large cliff in front of them was split in two, creating a chasm so deep you could not to see the bottom.

Once  we have crossed this large magic-infused rock bridge, we will have arrived in demon territory.

「So untidy-. Both of you-」

「Says the criminal!!」

「It’s because Kazuha put me in a《Bind》!!」

…… They strongly retorted…… .

Ah, Tao-san?

You were previously a criminal too, right?

A member of a household that boasted an army of thieves.

And Ruru-san?

………… FORGIVE ME!

「Well, well… It’s because everyone is hungry, that’s why they’re all irritated. I get it, really. So shall we eat? Yeah, let’s eat.」

I took the bento Tao made this morning out of the item bag.

「Haa…… Good grief…… . Getting mad at Kazuha about petty things is just foolish, right……」

「Agreed, Tao-san.」

After saying this, they both sat down across from me and we surrounded the bento.

「I made a highly nutritious bento because we were climbing a mountain. 」

Tao removed the lid and revealed『Twice Cooked Pork,』『Small imperial wrap,』 『Peking Duck,』and more tightly packed entrees within, along with numerous other meat and vegetable dishes.

「Wow~, looks delish~!!」

「Surely it is delicious, but isn’t the amount too much…」

「…… I-is that so…….」

We ate the bento while engaging in idle chatter.

「Ah~, I’m full~. I’m satiate~d」

With that, I flopped down onto the ground.

「…… Even so, what do you plan on doing?」

Asked Tao while cleaning the now empty bento.

「Un? About what~?」

「Not 『About what~』……. About Ruru-chan!」

「Ah~」

Across from me is a person who’s had her fill and is now silently sleeping.

「After seeing her like this, I can only see her as a little girl…….」

Tao said while stroking Ruru’s silver hair after cleaning up the bento and sitting next to her.

「Rightio~. But why is Ruru acting like a 《Spirit,》huh-」

「? What do you mean?」

「Huh?  Ah, it’s just that, if the magic power of a 《Spirit》is sealed, then at that time she won’t be any different than us, right?」

「…Although I don’t want to be grouped with you.」

「Hey. Now’s not the time for that… So, I thought maybe Ruru doesn’t really want to continue being a 《Spirit.》」

「Haa? What are you saying…….」

I, also, am no different.

When I was in the other world, I was attacked while I was still attending school.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on my 『bed』 and had just been woken up by an unknown obaa-san who had become my 『okaa-san.』