Chapter 41 (1/2)

Summary of the last chapter

The elven child Souta helps is actually a girl despite looking like a boy.

Her name is Arezel.

She requests Souta to takes her along to the country of elves.

The carriage keeps its advance in the forest.

The forest is still dark, but the atmosphere becomes brighter as there's a travel companion now.

They’re riding side by side on the coachman seat.

「By the way, is it fine to leave those kidnappers as they are? 」

「You're asking that now?… Well, that’s okay. It’s all depends on their luck if they'll be attacked by monsters or not, and if they survive, they won’t bother to do bad things.」

Answers Souta while he recalls what happened before Arezel woke up.

「Somehow, I feel like I'm doing something bad …. What the heck did you do to them?」

「… I think it'd be better if you don’t ask about that. There are some things in this world that are better if you don’t know them.」

Seeing the smile on Souta’s face, Arezel nods as she trembles.

「S-Souta-san, may I know what you made with Carena?」

Arezel asks that to forcibly change the flow of conversation.

「It’s Ambrosia for Stone Fever. Because I didn't have the equipment, I decided to borrow the equipment from Carena’s shop. Somehow, I end up being helped by her.」

Hearing Ambrosia, Arezel puts her hands on her mouth from surprises.

「Ehh! Doesn’t that require a dragon’s liver? Is Souta-san, possibly, a considerably wealthy man? 」

Only a few people know the old recipe now, so Arezel's question isn't strange.

「Ahh no, it’s not like that. I don’t have enough money, but various things happened and it got arranged somehow.」

Souta tries to cover up the actual story, but it just makes the answer sounds suspicious.

「… … Just forget that.」

Arezel laughs at Souta's troubled face.

「Ufufu, to show such a face. My first impression about you is a calm, cool person, you know.」

「I’m also a human being. I sometimes feel troubled just like I did now, I also get angry sometimes. I usually try not to show my emotions too much.」

「That’s fine, I also cry and get angry. I also cry when I get yelled by my master when I try to look for materials alone.」

「… … Do you mean you were kidnapped when you tried to look for materials? 」

Says Souta while staring hard at Arezel.

「Gulp! Nooo … Ahaha, that’s… because I’m also fine this time, so everything is good right? … Ehehe.」

While averting her gaze, she’s fiddling with her hands, and cold sweat can be seen on her forehead.

「It’s good that you’re saved this time. But I’m going to tell your master.」

「N-No way. Souta-san, please help me. She got so angry before, and if she knows I was almost kidnapped this time…」

Arezel hugs her own body, shaking in fear, and her face is blue.

「This'll be a good medicine, prepare to get scolded since you made your master worried.」

He places his hand on Arezel's head.

「That’s right, I guess. I’m sure I made my master worried… I must apologize. I want to see her soon.」

Souta doesn’t say anything to Arezel who looks down while wiping her tears, and he just continues to pat her head.

A little while after she stops crying, Souta pulls back his hand.

Arezel raised her face to fit the movement of his hand.

「Have you calmed down? Let’s leave that for now and think about the problem you that’s right in front of you first.」

「Yes, it’s the immigration examination.」