53 Episode 52: Those who wait ahead (1/2)
”I see, Your Majesty is also worried”
We were visiting the Knights on that leg after we left the office after our visit with Father.
Although I was going to change the day if I was busy, the Knights of Sprout immediately responded to my visit. Now he's facing the Knights Commander in the reception room.
The Cavaliers loosened their cheeks delightfully when we talked about our situation. It didn't start now that Father was worried.
”But what His Majesty says and especially what you say. Plus now we should avoid doing things that show a lot of magic power. I don't like flying magic equipment, but it stands out, so I think it would be a good idea to behave carefully as a royalty.”
”... I know that.”
”I know I'm in a hurry. It must be a long wait for Princess Anisphere. But please also take your Majesty's feelings.”
”I know. Isn't that why you're here to talk to me?”
I say with just a little lip pointy. Honestly, it's easy to ignore what you're saying and fly away. I also understand why I shouldn't do that, so I won't.
Then the chief of the knights began to laugh as he shook his shoulders.
”... His Majesty is also a bad person. If it's about the escort, we just had a good story, didn't we?
”? Just the right story?
”The other day, Stampede sent additional personnel from the Kingsguard Knights to conduct a regular survey of the Black Forest. I've been waiting on His Majesty's instructions to get ready, but I'm leaving soon. Would you like to accompany us, if I may?
... Oh, I see. Is that what this is about? That's what you were gonna do from the start!
If you'd told me that from the beginning, I'd follow you honestly, Father...
”... both the Knights Commander and Father are bad people”
”Well? What do you mean? I will accompany you on that assignment.”
”Huh? The Knights leader himself?
”Yep.... because I think I should vacate the mansion a little bit.”
Says the Knights leader with a bitter smile. Uh, maybe it's about Navre. I wonder if it feels better to keep your distance.
For once, I'm asking Gakun to see how it goes... but I'm anxious. I'm endlessly anxious. I hope nothing happens.
”When is the departure?
”We plan to be there in two days. If Princess Anisphere is ready by then.”
”It's me and Uffi who are going to accompany you, and then I'm going to take Raini as a samurai”
”Okay. See you in two days.”
In the end, I kind of feel like I've been put on well.... Your father isn't being honest either.
And two days after the promise. I was escorting the Kingsguard Knights to the Black Forest to investigate the Black Forest. If you can fly with Airdra, you can hope for a day trip, but a carriage takes a lot of time.
Ask Ilia to be away, me and Yufi, Raini go on the road to the Black Forest as they rock by the carriage.
”... bored”
”Please be patient”
The carriage journey is boring. The speed at which the scenery changes is slow, and nothing can kill time.
As far as I'm concerned, he wants to go quickly and enter the Black Forest.
”But I can't believe you live in a black forest...”
”That did surprise me. There are many demons out there, and if you're out of the woods, what can you still live in the woods?
When it comes to the subject of spiritual contractors, Raini also leans his neck strangely. The Black Forest is still a neighborhood that I don't think I can live in when I live in it.
Maybe that's why I live there to avoid people, but how the hell do I live? There is no question exhausted.
”Raini, is the blood okay?
”Because Ilia gave me quite a bit before I left.... Speaking of greed, it would be ideal if you had it even before you went into the woods...”
”Now, nobody's watching, so suck it. Here.”
”Dear Anis, don't be so easy to say...”
”Even Uffi isn't used to traveling, so I'm better at it.”
”... you can't deny it when they say that.”
Uffi has no choice, sighs as he says. There's no way I'm going to starve Raini, and I'm going to expose my wrist and give it to Raini.
Raini lowers his head with a forehead and then crawls his lips into my wrist, poking his fangs out. The tingling and pain spreads. As it is, Raini licks the blood out of her obsession. She's kind of cute like a dog that's going to squirt.
”Speaking of which, I've been wondering, does the taste of blood vary from person to person?
”Of course not. Rather than taste, maybe it's a difference in magic.”
”The difference in magic?
”Yes. Master Anis... sounds like water. Don't you think it tastes good? It's easy to drink because there's a lot of it.”
It doesn't taste, hey. I know you have a lot of magic, but does Raini feel like water to you?
”Should I have no flavor?
”Mm-hmm... I don't really want to talk about that for a second. It makes me feel weird that people taste different... and only Ilia, Anis, and Uphilia have ever received blood.”
”What does Ilia taste like?
”Taste is far from expression, or the strength of habit when it comes to how it differs”
”The strength of habit?
”Yes, Master Anis is the best place to put it in terms of ease of familiarity with your body. Ilia has a habit compared to Anis, but that's not it.”
”So what about Yufi?
”You're full of awesome habits. You get drunk... that's not a bad idea.”
”Drunk, is it?
Yuffi tilts her neck in wonder. Is it not so much the taste of blood as the difference in the sense of magic you take in? Then it's kind of interesting that I'm not as habitual as water and, conversely, that Uffi is full of habits.
I'd also like some time to find out about vampires when things settle down. I wonder if that's the role of the researchers who traveled with Al.... but it only leaves a little lump in my chest.
”... and you can finally meet with the Spirit Contractor.”
”Right.”
That way you might find out about the mysterious Spirit Contract.
Me or Yufi? It will be a big cut to determine which one will be king and its course.
I can't believe I don't think of anything like that. I accidentally look at Yufi's face.
Then Yufi turns her gaze to me, too, and her gaze just fits.
That was kind of crazy, and we laughed at each other from either side.
I'm sure he'll be fine. Whatever happens, we will.
The long felt carriage journey also comes to an end, and the Knights, who reached the town closest to the Black Forest, join the knights who were staying and seem busy replenishing supplies and meeting.
I'll get dressed and ready to go into the woods, too. Yuffi goes under the Knights captain, making sure he's dressed up for the same outfit and ready.
The knight captain who noticed us squeezes his expression and turns back to us.
”We'll start an investigation based here. Are you sure Miss Raini would like to keep it here?
”Because the Knights Commander is the only one who knows what's going on with Raini. We're going back as soon as we can, but thank you Raini.”
Raini refrained beside the Knights Commander and had a slightly disturbing look on his face, but grinned to reassure him immediately.
She said it would be okay for a while because she drank blood even before she left, but if it became a black forest on a boulder, it was possible that Uffi and I would find ourselves in an unexpected situation. In that regard, I am grateful that the Knights Commander protects me.
”Please be careful”
”And the Knight Commander.”
”I'm coming.”
”Dear Anis, Dear Uphilia! I look forward to your return!
Waving back at Raini, me and Uffi head to the Black Forest under the gaze of the Knights Commander.
”Previously on Stampede.”
”Because that was still in front of us. It's not the same again.”
”You have the Spirit Stone you kept from His Majesty, don't you?
”I'm fine. I've got it in my nose so I don't drop it.”
A spiritual stone that I say is necessary to meet with a spiritual contractor I have deposited from my father. There are measures to be taken that cannot be dropped on boulders.
I saw the entrance to the woods while I was talking to Uffi. Deep greens produce darkness that even blocks the light of day as we go to the back.
”Let's go, Uffi”
”Yes, Master Anis”
Step into the woods and the deep forest air will spread all over your lungs. I can hear life breathing. It is the voice of the beast, and the whispering of the trees.
I guess I could have said it would be comfortable if it were still near the entrance where the light of day would plug in, but I can't say that either if it gets darker as I go into the back.
”... that's creepy”
”Right. Same as always.”
”Has Lady Anis ever been here?
”Go find the Spirit Stone. If you go to the back, you'll find quality spiritual stones.”
Proceed to the back of the woods as you continue your conversation with Uffi. As the darkness deepens, the passage of time becomes known only by physical sensation.
Go ahead and take a break from Uffi and Vertigo to avoid consuming health. As we moved on to the Oz, we began to feel signs of demons as well. There have also been several times when I have been lurking and doing things.
”... but I guess it's because it's after stampede. I still don't feel much.”
”That's more than anything...”
”Don't be alarmed, though.”
Proceed with the steps to make sure carefully and slowly. Still no response to the Spirit Stone.
Just go to the back, go to the back. If you feel hungry, finish an unsavory meal with portable food and put Yufi to bed first where he saw the colour of fatigue because he was unfamiliar with the woods and his turn to watch.
”Excuse me, let me say good night first.”
”Yeah. Slow down, but rest.”
It would be a harsh environment for the Duke's Lady at the root, but was it still fatigue? Uffi falls asleep quickly.
I can hear the woodland stirring. While concentrating on the signs of approaching, I will continue to wait until Uffi wakes up.
How long the hell has it been? Uffi opened his eyes, especially since the demon never came by.
”... good morning”
”Morning. Are you rested?
”Yes, Mr. Anis is next.”
”Yeah, let me get some sleep.”
Hand the water to Uffi, who still seems to be sleeping just a little bit, to drink it. Drink water to the point of dampening your throat before Uffi shows me the impromptu bunk.
It's not like I don't feel tired to say how familiar I am. If you lay still and close your eyes, your drowsiness will soon strike you.