Chapter 123 (1/2)

A few days away from Monroy…

Currently, we’re becoming closer to the Demon Zone.

We may arrive in the Demon Zone by tomorrow.

[Welcome back.]

Washing clothes at a river, Seras looks up.

Just a while ago, I was shopping in the nearest village.

Currently, we’re camping lightly inside a forest.

[I’m sorry, Touka-dono. I’ve left all the resupplying up to you.]

Basically, I’m in charge of procuring supplies.

[Well, it’s because my face isn’t identified by anyone. If I just say I’m a traveler, no one would suspect anything.]

Wringing out the water out of the clothes, Seras smiles.

[Well, I’m not as good at acting as you.]

[I’m just good at removing my presence and slipping into crowds.]

Were-leopards and Dark Elves would surely stand out.

Seras certainly have that ability to change her appearance.

However, her beauty would still attract the attention of others.

Her ability to change her appearance isn’t omnipotent.

She couldn’t significantly change her appearance.

She couldn’t alter her age and gender.

She also couldn’t change the physical features of everything below her head.

She said that she focuses most of her ability on altering the shape of ears, so she could change the other aspects that much.

I gave the things I’ve bought to Seras.

[Once we enter the Demon Zone, you won’t have to use the power of altering your appearance. You should be able to sleep normally without depending on my <Sleep>.]

It seems that Seras doesn’t have any compensations left that she had to pay.

If she were to use the power of the spirits, she won’t be able to sleep for a while.

However, she could sleep if I were to use my <Sleep>.

If you were to think about cheating, this should be considered one.

However, the spirits haven’t made any complaints even now.

[Where’s Eve and Liz?]

[They’re taking care of the horses over there.]

Together with Seras, we went towards where the two of them were.

[You’ve returned, Touka.]

[Touka-sama, welcome back.]

It seems that Eve and Liz reached a point where they could pause what they’re doing.

[Pinniii~♪]

This time, Pigimaru is house sitting again.

Pigimaru is currently being held in the embrace of Liz.

It looks like they’ve become close friends,

Now then…

[How about we start eating?]

The sun is about to set and the sky is about to turn dark.

The weather has been favorable these past few days.

It was quite sunny today too.

The temperature is quite moderate and we passed our time peacefully.

We sat down in a circle.

Today’s dinner is as follows.

Broiled meat.

Some fruits.

And the main dish, stew.

We decided to use the ingredients that won’t last long today.

As for seasoning this stew, I entrusted it to Liz.

[It would be great if it’s palatable…]

I sip some of the soup.

Delicious.

[I guess I could leave food preparation to Liz from now on.]

[Ah… Thank you very much.]

[Pimumuu~♪]

Apparently, it also suits Pigimaru’s tastes.

However, it was quite a curious sight for me to see the soup being consumed in his body.

The color just disappears without mixing into his body.

Crouching down, Liz gently pets Pigimaru.

[Fufu… Thank you, Pigimaru-chan…]

[Pii~♪]

I called out to Seras who had begun cleaning up with haste.

[Seras.]

[Yes.]

[I’ll clean that up, so help Liz change her clothes.]

I bought some clothes and equipment for Liz today.

I can’t rent someone else’s because of the difference in size.

Liz has been wearing the same clothes until now.

Most of all, we will soon be entering the Demon Zone.

Liz can’t just enter into that area unprotected.

She would need armor to protect herself in case of emergency.

[Though I said that… This is the only thing that fits Liz’s physique.]

There are hardly any options I could pick when it comes to armor for children.

By the way, I simply measured Liz’s size along the way.

[It seems that some noble from somewhere has made her daughter wear this once, but it ended up being thrown away. It was supposed to be a gift for her, but she didn’t like it.]

And, he said that noble has just thrown it at the village where he passed  by at that time.

Seras is closely checking the equipment.

[It feels like it’s already a complete set of equipment. It looks like it puts heavy emphasis on its appearance, but the protection it gives itself is quite good.]

This would protect Liz’s body more than the current clothes she’s wearing.

I looked towards Liz.

[…Is that armor fine with you, Liz?]

[O- Of course! Thank you very much, Touka-sama!]

[…If you don’t like it, you don’t have to force yourself, you know?]

[T- That’s not the case at all. Rather, Touka-sama had to go out of his way just to buy this clothes for me… I’m actually quite glad.]

She’s too meek…

[Seras.]

[What is it?]

[That complete set of equipment, you could take away some of the parts based on your judgement and replace them with cloth.]

Seras giggled.

[Understood.]

For the me right now, I can’t do anything but bear a grudge towards that noble with a detestable hobby.

▽

Our journey to the Demon Zone has been fairly smooth.

It must be because we were able to travel almost out of the sight of others.

Before, Eve and Liz said that they have travelled together.

They’ve also travelled while trying to hide from the eyes of the public.

That’s why they’re already used to travelling like this.

Seras Ashrain was a fugitive.

She also has been keeping her travels hidden from the eyes of the public.

I’ve also been travelling while hiding my identity.

The point is that everyone knows how to travel away from the eyes of the public.

Eve’s ears that could keenly detect sounds.

Eve’s night vision that gives her visibility even in the dark.

These two had also played a role in our smooth travel.

[It’s a bit roundabout, but it seems we’ve finally arrived before the Demon Zone.]

Eve looked at the distant gentle hill.

If we were to follow the road and descend down from that hill, we would be able to enter the Demon Zone.