Chapter 14 (1/2)
[PART 1]
14 Hunter
The wind carried the sound of rustling leaves over the open land
The plains Green land that extended as far as the horizon
Small fluffy clouds drifted across the beautiful, endless blue sky
…Sure is peaceful, thought Kei aaze from atop Sasuke
The scenery was gentle and relaxing Very relaxing
However, so with unease
That feeling coiled around inside hi at his heart
The calain, but Kei’s heart was still clouded
Then, in the corner of his vision he saw a s about in the bushes “…Found it,” murmured Kei
Mandel sat on his horse next to Kei, and at Kei’s words his expression showed his aain…? You’re too fast” He smiled dryly Tied to his saddle was a rabbit already drained of blood
Kei lightly kicked Sasuke’s flanks and nocked an arrow on his bow
Whistle
The rabbit perked its ears up and poked its head out of the brush at the sudden sharp sound, looking around to see what the noise was Then the arrow stabbed through it
It let out a short squeak before dying and all of its nearby friends took off at full speed
“Got it”
“The wind’s blowing, you knoell, at this distance it’s doable” Mandel put his hand to his brow and sighed at Kei’s nonchalant report, la his pride
They rode their horses forward and picked up the rabbit, laying on its back as if its feet were kicking the sky
“Sorry about that,” Kei said as he pulled the arrow froht away, Mandel pulled out a knife and cut its throat
As Kei watched the blood gushed out and spilled onto the ground, in his hands he felt the warmth of the tiny creature fade away
“…This should be good enough”
Mandel took the rabbit froe,” he said as he looked over the plains while tying the rabbit to the saddle
It was now inally, they were supposed to already be gone froe
But for so in the plains
†††
Last night, when Kei realized that soht of what to say to her as he e leader’s house
Without knocking, he opened the door and walked into the living room, “Hey, Aileen, I have—“
“Onee-chan, open wide~”
“Mood!”
“Careful Jessica, it’s going to spill”
“Aileen-sama, there is plenty more, so please eat as much as you’d like”
“Oh, thanks!”
Bennett wore a warm expression while Jessica sat on Aileen’s lap and fed her dinner and Cynthia stared at the three of the around the table—
“Ah, Kei! Welcome back!”
She had bread crumbs stuck to the corner of her mouth, and with her innocent smile Kei was at a loss for words
“Welcome back Kei-sama, would you like to eat as well? You probably haven’t eaten yet”
“Y-yeah… Thanks”
Urged on by Cynthia, Kei sat down across from Aileen Next to him, Bennet noticed the sword at his side, but looked away and didn’t say anything It looked like as long as his granddaughter was there he would rather play the grandfather than the calculating village leader
…I guess he can’t say anything about it in this situation anyway For now, I’ll just accept her offer, Kei thought to hih
“Here you go I hope you like it,” she said as she setable soup with biscuits and pickled pork that armed up by the fire
“Kei, Cynthia’s soup is a!”
It was a sirance filled his nose
Even so, he still had absolutely no appetite
Kei cra to and without savoring the flavor He was s like, it would be rude to not eat, but rather, he needed to eat while he could
Cynthia quickly cleaned up the dishes and then left to take Jessica over to Cronen’s house Now the only ones left in the room were Kei, Aileen, and Bennett
“Village leader, of the goods froiven this sword and the silvers In exchange, your village can have everything else”
“Ho… Well now” Hearing Kei’s offer Bennett looked surprised and then stroked his beard while he ood deal…” But rather than happiness, his eyes held suspicion Why would Kei give ure out the motive behind it
“The village has done a lot to help us out This is the least we can do,” without exaggerating too h his fake smile ‘The truth, it’s cheap in comparison to our lives,’ sounded worse
“…You’re too generous” He nodded, perhaps he was persuaded by Kei’s show of good will
Aileen interrupted, “Wait a sec Kei, don’t you think only taking the sword and coins is too generous? Stuff like ars like arrows or everyday items?”
“…”
He had already secretly taken so the retrieval, but she was right about the everyday items
With a troubled expression Kei looked at Bennett, who see lady has her head on straight, doesn’t she, Kei-dono?”
“…Yeah”
“Although I do understand your feelings How about we just say it’s part of your profits?”
“…Thanks” Kei lowered his head sincerely It was only natural to be e with a cocky look that he would only be taking the sword and money
Kei’s expression caused Aileen to burst out laughing, and even Bennett shter
A peaceful quietness fell over thehter died down
Aileen rested her chin on the table and muttered, “From here on… what should we do?”
“Actually, about that,” Kei spoke up, as if he’d been waiting for it to coo to Urvan”
“…Wai-, Urvan exists!?” Aileen accidentally yelled, but when she looked at Bennett she quietly gasped and clasped her hands over her mouth
Other than raising an eyebrow a little, Bennett didn’t show much of a response
The word exists e for the people of this world
“Village leader I’m sorry, but would we be able to see the map?”
“Yes, of course”
Kei took the map that Bennett pulled out and showed it to Aileen He explained Tahfu, Urvan, Kitene, and other geographical points as well as the ame’s map
Fixated on the htfully “I see…”
“Inand head toward Urvan What do you think, Aileen?”
He’d successfully grabbed her attention
If he kept pushi+ng her and didn’t tell her the real reason, they et out of here soon But, his expectations were betrayed
“…Sorry, Kei But the truth is, well,” she looked apologetic, “—I can’t really use any of th”
Kei stiffened
With that, they concluded they would stay in the village for another day or two
She wasn’t in pain and her mind had cleared up completely, but perhaps due to the after-effects of the poison, she felt heavy and tired easily since her strength hadn’t returned to her Thanks to this, they were forced to stay longer
“If possible, I’d like to rest a little longer If ent like this, then I’d just be pulling you down, Kei…”
“So that’s how it is…”
In the bedroo on the bed with a downcast expression
They were left alone in the dimly lit room Kei was unsure of what to do
Aileen even had to steady herself by using the wall as she weakly shuffled her way fro room to the bedrooht now, her physical strength orse than that of a norht even win out in terth
Originally, I planned for both of us to ride Sasuke, but if we had to fight someone then it would be problematic if Aileen couldn’t o and hide soht
Leaving was too much of a risk in her current state
Of course, it would be better to leave before the bandits counter-attacked the village, but her rest was also necessary
Leaving toathered his thoughts “—That’s how it is” He raised his head and shtly “Well, let’s just see how it is after one or two days Staying in bed for alht even be a side effect of the potions Just rest up and you’ll be better in no time”
“Y-yeah” Aileen blinked in surprise at his suddenly positive attitude “…Well, I guess you’re right! I’ll rest and get better soon! With that, I’ to bed, Kei!” She smiled and slid the covers up to her face
—For now, he’d leave the matter of the bandits aside
That’s what he decided
They ht up in the attack, but there was no point in worrying Aileen If she did worry then it may slow her recovery, too
Therefore, he wouldn’t ood intentions, he knew that the decision was actually for his own selfish reasons
…Well she should just focus on getting better I don’t knoill happen from here on out anyway
He patted Aileen’s head and then stood up
“I’ll be heading back to Cronen’s house… Good night”
“Okay, good night”
Kei blew out the candle and placed his hand on the door knob before spinning around He suddenly re
“Oh yeah, Aileen I forgot to ask since the old woic You have soht?”
“Huh…? Before we came here I had plenty to use, at least But can we really use ic?”
“Let ed and stared at Aileen “Once you get better you should try it When you say plenty, how many is that? How many times could you use 『Manifest』?”
“『Manifest』, huh… That uses quite a few… With all the catalysts and my mana, it should be around twice”
“…I see Well, I guess that’s how it is”
In other words, they could use『Track』two ti what Kei had, three times
Though ould be better off preserving the catalysts…
Even if he tried to『Track』the bandits that got away, it was highly unlikely that he would guess which equipathered Aileen’s catalysts were easier to obtain then Kei’s e you could find in a se It would be better to hold onto theamble them away
“Why did you suddenly want to ask about catalysts anyway?” Aileen tilted her head
Kei gave a half sh we said ere going to Urvan I was just thinking of things to prepare and it came across my mind”
“…Oh, okay” Persuaded, Aileen looked up and yawned before she fell onto her side “Good night… Kei”
“…Good night Aileen”
Kei closed the door
[PART 2]