Chapter 9 (1/2)

“As a matter of fact, that monster… the chimera, I don't knohere it dwells To be honest, itIt always appears in a different place Afterwards, we go around patrolling there Even now, a nu into the forest, but its size can't be helped If everyone were to go in, ouldn't be able to keep track of the town's safety nor notice the signal announcing its discovery”

“Of course, it would be great if you all could find a way to co that see, and looking for o around when I'm on break Captain keeps a bird that can notify me wherever I am, probably because it hates Lazool's scentIt even hates the chi”

As we approached the entrance to the forest, Eos slowed Lazool down

I said “Co his speed He's also bigger than any horse I've seen till now”

“He's a good kid He just doesn't like letting other people ride on him Still, he also knee had to save you He's sht he was friendly, but… That's besides the point This is different froht?”

“Yeah The soldier on duty should be patrolling nearby, so I thought it would be okay for s before I introduce you to hi use me, Astraea also couldn't say no to it

But she didn't kno she should greet him For Sphale, her actions were suitable so he didn't seeain– that honestly troubled her

Would it be fine to say, I'm just a witch that happened to pass by?

“But wait, I didn't exactly… happen to pass by, right?”

“What's wrong?”

“…It's nothing”

If I don't say anything, would it be okay to just say I' else is up to Eos… Thinking so, Astraea looked at her surroundings

The road didn't seeh That said, seeing as there's no place there where a horse can't go through, the search will have to be continue on horseback like this

“But the battlefield is a harsh place If the chi as a part of it was burned doas there a battle here before?”

“Yeah The first battle took place here ten days ago I heard they couldn't deal the finishi+ng blow”

“You weren't able to e saying a monster appeared on the opposite side of the fortress so I separated from the Captain and headed over there It wasn't that formidable of an opponent, but it just appeared with the worst tirets

For a strong monster to show up in the forest while another escaped and ra ago Why Eos hasn't encountered the chiht stem from unlucky circumstances, not just last time, but every time

She hopped off from Lazool and touched the scorch mark Afterwards, she examined the area around it

“…As expected, this mark is fro it then”

“You can figure it out fro that was left behind with a s, but it's sih to figure it out”

Though she hasn't touched excreht to herself, wasn't there a better metaphor I could have used for that? Based on that parallel, she would have to touch that dirt with her bare hands

I mean, it's really sic though…

It would have been better if I used a different metaphor, Astraea wiped her hand on her clothes, and cleared her throat

You can't, don't think about it This isn't the tih I myself don't know either as to what kind of place a chimera passes its time It depends too much on the individual monster So I too am unable to provide a hint we could use to find it We'll just have to steadily look for it and attack it”

“…Uh?”

“What is it?”

“You said that you've read about a chiht?”

“…”

Astraea could only retort, I coriic from a book? …That's impossible, no ht be able to… No, I've never seen an exaic book

This mouth of ood grief, she easily slipped up

Because I don't talk to others much, just now, I suddenly… It was no use even if she made excuses to herself It was no use, but the situation is still troublesoht, and before she knew it, Eos had alighted from the horse and touched her head with his hand

“…”

It lightly touched her head,sounds, and then Eos res Would it be okay if you could, for my sake, tell me eous, I'd like to know Besides, I can speak well”

“…”

Where did you learn this from? Eos didn't pursue any further

He can sense that I'rateful but it also feels so

“…Ei!”

“Woah!”

When she tried to firer, Eos let out a surprised voice but didn't entirely lose his balance I figured his training is good, but I wish he'd have staggered just a little bit — Thinking that, she felt extremely mortified She wasn't able to do that much

But I'll put that off for later

“A chimera's flame isn't just a simple flame It's toxic… Do you knohat that means?”