Chapter 23 (1/2)

A Sudden Development in the Forest

“Asagi…?”

“Mm? Ah, good morning, Daniela.”

“Uh, good…morning…”

What happened? She seemed kind of absent-minded this morning. At least she seemed to have drunk her soup.

I throw the deer onto the ground. I had already drained it of blood and dug out all of its guts, but I still had to skin and dismember it. It was a doe given the lack of antlers. A large animal, something that would make a worthy meal.

“Um, Asagi…”

“Yeah?”

It was just as I pulled had out and twirled my short sword, ready to cut into the meat, that Daniela called me. I looked back and saw that she was standing behind me and looking very uncomfortable. It was rare to see her so timid looking…

“About yesterday, I was wrong! It was a misunderstanding!”

She quickly bowed her head. That was all it took for me to understand. She was talking about what happened last night. Ah, I see now. So she figured it out. But it didn’t change the fact that I had created the reason for it.

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t know you dressed like that when you sleep.”

“I do not!”

She points a finger straight at me. It was like she meant to refute some important argument.

“That was the work of the ale I took from the kitchens to help me sleep! It became hot while I slept and so the clothes came off. I hereby declare that I do not normally sleep in that manner!”

“Oh, ohh…”