Volume 1 Chapter 20 (1/2)
Chapter 1 E 20 (Restraint)
-Sixth days after he was summoned to another word- Restraint
*Zaza*
Within the forest, A sound indicating something pushed the plants can be heard.
A day and a half had pa.s.sed since Ryouma went north from Aru town and entered the forest.
There's no sight of Laura and Sara around him.
After they had finished the preparation for camping at Aru town, Ryouma alone entered the forest.
Darkness dominated the forest.
Even the blinking light of the stars and moon are being blocked by the leaves of the high trees.
”For now, nothing happen...”
Ryouma muttered such words while warming up his body under a tree after making a fire pit in front of him.
At most, he only starts to miss the face of the two sisters that he had stayed together for only about two days.
He thought, at least everyone can forgive someone for being sentimental if they had been summoned to a different world so suddenly.
He looked around while eating the dried meat he bought at the town.
Even though it's only have been one day and a half, Ryouma have realized how terrifying to walked around strayed from the highway.
Of course, there's no powerful enemy that Ryouma can't handle.
Although he moved away from the highway, it's not like he was taking that far of a detour.
Even so, he felt overwhelmed by the sheer number.
They say one can fall into a vicious circle where he was to kill a monster, due to the smell of blood of the monster he killed the other monsters would hunt him.
Although he doesn't realize it when he hunted the wild dog, at the time, he can take some rest on the highway if he felt tired; naturally, it felt different when an attack will come at him continuously without much time left for him to take some rest.
(Finally, here they come?)
The skin on his body that is currently resting in front of a fire feels the air surrounded him change.
He feels a gaze from within the dark forest.
Not a gazes that comes from a monster.
It's more like a gaze of someone that skilled in hiding.
It also not the gaze of an adventurer who pa.s.ses through the forest just like him either.
In fact, if it's them, they would immediately call out if they want to warm themselves.
And if one's companion were to perceive of such a gaze, they might mistake them as a thief and receive the first strike.
Besides, they are not a thief either.
Since he does not feel any greed from the gaze.
He has no doubt that the gaze was appraising him; however, he does not feel the gaze evaluating him for his value or money. <tln: in=”” short,=”” a=”” lady=”” gazing=”” at=”” a=”” man=”” appraising=”” him=”” for=”” how=”” rich=”” they=”” are?=”” that=”” kind=”” of=”” a=”” gaze.=””>
Ryouma put his hand on the sword handle.
No matter who they are he will retaliate immediately if he's being attacked.
Then a voice of a man resounded.
”It looks like I've surprised you. I beg your pardon. ”
Ryouma put a bit of power in his hand.
”Well well. No need to be cautious. I would like to borrow a little bit of your time, would you mind?”
Such an irritating way of speaking.
Although his voice sounds polite, there's also pressure to make him unable to say no.
”That's fine with me. ”
*Gasa... Gasa*
Sounds of tree branches being pushed can be heard the moment Ryouma said those words.
A slight agitation appears on Ryouma's face the moment he saw the face of the man that have emerged from the forest.
He has a 7:3 kind of hairstyle.
A thin oval shaped face.
With height approximately 170cm.
He has the appearance that won't make him looks suspicious even if he were to walk on an ordinary street in j.a.pan.
Although no j.a.panese salary man goes to work wearing an armor and also bringing a sword.
”Oh? What's wrong?”
The man swiftly asks Ryouma when he saw Ryouma's expression.
”No... I just feel surprised that it was not a thief...”
The man smiled at Ryouma's remark.
”No no no. Please do pardon me. May I sit here?”
Without waiting for Ryouma's answer, the man immediately sits down in the opposite direction of him.
”I don't remember allowing you to sit down?”
Although the man heard what Ryouma had said, the man did not get daunted.
On the contrary, the man starts talking selfishly instead.
”Well~. I only want to ask 2-3 question after all. ”
Ryouma urged him to continue after giving up since he felt that saying anything would be just a waste of time.
”You looks like an adventurer, but, what are you doing in this forest? are you doing some work?”
Then Ryouma answered the man's question honestly,
”At the time I was in Aru town I heard that the border was blocked. Moreover, there's information that it is unknown when the problem will be solved. Thus I decide to pa.s.s through via the forest. Well, since I was confidence with my ability, I've prepared to camp out... ”
”Hou... Is that how it is? But still, You don't seem to have much concern huh? No matter how much you are confident with your ability, but to think that you decide to cross the forest by yourself... Are you in lots of hurry or something? For example, are you being pursued by someone?”
The man's eyes narrowed.
”No. I just thought that it was better for me to get some more experience rather than waiting the blockade to be opened again. ”
”I see, I see... ”
Ryouma then asked the man in return.
”So now, for what purpose did you ask such question eagerly?”
”Ooh. I'm sorry for being slow. My name is Saitou Hideaki. I serve as the deputy leader of Ortomea Empire Nightmare chivalric order [Succubus Nights] ”
(I know it, so he's part the pursuers... but Saitou? looking at his outward appearance he looks like a j.a.panese, but...)
Ryouma keeps on acting while holding back the question that appeared on his mind.
Since it would be better for him to pretend as an adventurer when he already knows who his opponent is...
”Why a deputy leader such as you been doing inside a forest?”
”I cannot say much. In fact, I was chasing after someone. I had thought that the man might escape via the forest and run away toward another country. ”
”Hee? There's such a man huh? What did he do?”
Saitou looked at Ryouma with bitter expression then answers him,
”No I'm sorry, I can't say it... It was confidential information, see...”
This is something that Ryouma had expected. Saitou understands that he has no reason to tell Ryouma anything here.