After reuniting with my friends, the moon had already set and the sun was rising. It turned out to be a night spent entirely awake. Of course, I was a little tired, but it wasn’t as though I couldn’t handle staying up for one night.
Kororek. A small sound came from my stomach.
“Hahaha… So this is what happens after just skipping one dinner last night. How about you all? And you, Saint?”
Yesterday, I had left home in a hurry, skipping dinner because I intended to deal with the Lower Demon, only to get captured and end up staying up all night without eating anything. Of course, there would still be my share of the food from yesterday sitting untouched on the table by now. It will be cold by now after being neglected all night, but that’s not a big deal.
However, it’s not just me; Selian, Yuli, Anne, and Mariel have joined the group as well, making it four extra mouths to feed. They’ve gone hungry because of me, and I can’t fill my stomach alone while leaving them aside. I presumed my friends might be hungry too, so I asked them.
“Clearly… I am a bit hungry. If there’s a restaurant that opens in the morning, should we all go there for breakfast? Do you know any good places?”
“There is one I know of, but there’s no need to go out and buy food. I’ll prepare breakfast, so please wait just a bit. After meeting after a long time, it wouldn’t be proper to have you all eat out.”
Of course, eating out isn’t bad, but I’m fully aware that any place open this early is likely just a cheap establishment catering to adventurers. I can’t possibly treat friends I haven’t seen in three years to such a place. Over the past three years, my swordsmanship isn’t the only thing that’s improved—I’ve gotten better at cooking too. It wouldn’t be bad to showcase my cooking skills after a long while.
“Ah, no! We’re fine! You look tired, so we’ll just eat something simple. If it comes down to it, we can skip a meal. Right, Anne?”
“I’m not hungry!”
But Yuli and Anne fiercely rejected my offer to cook for them, claiming they were concerned about me. Even though Anne made clear sounds of hunger from her own stomach, she insisted she wasn’t hungry.
“How about you, Saint?”
“Divine Lady Serena of compassion, grant your humble servant’s humble wishes…”
Huh?
For some reason, Mariel was earnestly praying to Goddess Serena with her hands clasped tightly. Maybe she has a habit of praying every morning.
Still, there was one last person whose opinion I hadn’t heard.
“Selie, what would you like to do? Would you prefer eating out or should I cook for you?”
“My answer is already determined. Cooking by El… hm, I’m already looking forward to it.”
Selian was the only one who understood my desire to cook for everyone. The vote was one to one if we excluded Anne and Mariel, who passed. I was pondering which side to support when…
“Hey, Selie, your hand is shaking? And you’re sweating cold sweat…”
Selian’s complexion suddenly turned worse. She looked as if she were seriously ill.
“What? Oh, why are my hands…?”
Even Selian, the one experiencing it, seemed surprised at the sudden change in her condition. Given her level as a Sword Master, she should have a body far stronger than an average person. Seeing her visibly unwell indicated that something serious was wrong.
“Saint!”
Fortunately, with Mariel’s superior divine magic skills in this situation, anything could be resolved. Whether it’s an obscure disease or an unknown powerful poison, she could handle it.
“So may the grace of Serena…”
“Saint! Finish your prayer later and check on Selie now!”
Interrupting Mariel’s prayer, I shook her shoulder to hurry her up. She finally snapped out of her praying trance.
“Goodness, she looks like she’s going to faint. Are you okay? Bear with it a little longer. I’ll cast divine magic on you soon…”
Mariel clasped her hands in prayer once more, and an intense holy light enveloped Selian.
“With this powerful healing spell, she’ll be fine soon.”
“Phew. Thank you, how are you, Selie? Are you… huh?”
Even as I asked if she was okay, I realized immediately that she wasn’t upon turning to see her. Selian continued to tremble as if she were in great pain.
“I’m sure I’m fine…”
The fact that Mariel’s holy magic didn’t help indicated this was no ordinary occurrence. Perhaps she was cursed by a powerful Demon or a cunning Archmage.
For help with magic, I immediately headed towards Presia’s room to ask for her assistance.
However, before I could leave the room, someone opened the door.
“Breakfast is all prepared. I know you all have many stories to share after so long, but eat something while talking. Alicia, you skipped dinner last night too, right?”
Lindy had come to the room to urge us to eat, concerned about me skipping meals. But the current issue isn’t breakfast.
“No, rather, Selie…”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“What?! After seeing Selie’s condition, how can you say such things… huh?”
I was baffled by Lindy’s casual response. I pointed to Selian to explain the urgent situation. However, upon checking Selian again, I realized something changed.
Instead of looking ill, Selian had a very calm expression, completely opposite of her previous state. Her formerly shaking body was now still.
“It seems the saint’s holy magic just took a bit of time to react. I didn’t feel anything earlier, but my body is fine now.”
“Still, we should be cautious…”
“Hold on, El.”
Yuli intervened and stopped me, then whispered something into Selian’s ear.
“El… cooking… eat…”
Though the conversation was quiet and I couldn’t hear what was said, Selian’s hand, which had just calmed down, started trembling again.
“Hmm, there’s no need to worry too much. So then, let’s go eat the breakfast the elf prepared.”
“But Selie… Hmm?”
Did Selian deliberately play with us? Her condition, which seemed unstable just now, was stable again.
“She’s not ill, so there’s no need to worry. Perhaps her body remembers something her mind doesn’t.”
“Hurry up, let’s go eat! I’m starving!”
It seems I alone didn’t fully understand the situation. Everyone else seemed aware of what was happening to Selian. When I tried to ask for further explanation, Ann grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.
But wasn’t Ann the one who lied about her full stomach earlier?
*
“So, it looks like I have to leave for a bit.”
After breakfast, as our comrades and I were conversing with the old friends and Mariel, Lindy suddenly interjected.
She had just transferred the representative role in the information union and planned to journey with us, but now she mentioned leaving early.
“Why? Isn’t the handover process already concluded?”
“Yes, that’s done, but I felt I lacked power after yesterday’s fight.”
“I didn’t see the fight as I was tied up in the shack, but I find it hard to believe you, Lindy, had difficulties.”
“Well, I was lucky to get through yesterday, but I can’t count on being lucky next time. Regretting it later would be foolish.”
“But do you really need to leave your position to train so intensely? We don’t know if that’ll significantly improve your skills. Of course, this isn’t about underestimating you.”
Certainly, training can improve one’s capabilities; however, it seemed Lindy aimed for a much higher level. Reaching that standard isn’t something you can achieve through simple training.
“The fact is, my current power isn’t my full strength because there are reasons I cannot handle the spirits.”
Now that I think of it, I’ve never seen Lindy handle spirits. Given her impressive archery skills, it was something I hadn’t paid attention to.
Elves are not only natural-born rangers but also gifted spirit masters. If Lindy avoided using spirits due to undisclosed reasons, that made sense. She wasn’t the type to hide her power unnecessarily.
“So, I’ll visit the Elf’s Forest. I’m not sure if going there will resolve my issue, but it’s worth trying.”
“If that’s your choice, I can’t help but accept it, but do you need to move separately? Can’t we all go together? Oh! Is it because outsiders can’t access the Elf’s Forest?”
“It’s more complex than that… While you, being a hero, would likely not have trouble entering, I am going alone partly because I don’t know how long this might take, or even if it will work.”
“Hmm, that’s something we can deal with when the time comes. Any other problems?”
“Perhaps I might be making a wasted trip…”
“Come on, why worry about such things between us? Not only me, but everyone would agree a little effort like this is no big deal.”
Of course, our newer friends and Mariel may hesitate since they don’t know Lindy as well, but knowing their kind nature, they will likely support her.
“Our bond… Yes! For Alicia’s sake, I’ll do my best to remove any constraints!”
Seeing Lindy smile brightly with appreciation at my trust in her made me feel a little guilty. The things I told her are not lies—I truly hope Lindy succeeds.
It’s just that I kept a part of my thoughts to myself.
The Elf’s Forest, a place inevitably bound to spark curiosity. Passing up such a rare opportunity is absurd.
