“Good grief, this princess…only this time.”
After a sigh, Shin tossed a branch to the bonfire with his free arm.
It was easy to pull away if he intended to. However, the unhappy speech he listened to was making his intention fade away.
A family was something very important to Shin. Though before the death game, his parents were in good health, and his relationships with his elder brother and younger sister were also good. It was noisy fun, and the place where he should have returned. As he thought to himself, he couldn’t help but to feel something in Rionne’s circumstances.
The serene expression of Rionne relieving her burden, Shin would like to see it a little longer. Speaking furthermore, there was none of the monitoring that Rionne spoke of. It meant that Rionne was constantly monitored.
‘You probably have time to relax now’, Shin thought.
“Shin, you’re warm.”
“Is it cold?”
“I don’t mean that.”
‘I know’, he muttered in his mind, and threw another branch on the fire.
*Pop* sounds and the noise of branches split open were heard. Shin was not that thickheaded to be mistaken on the meaning of this situation.
Was this the original Rionne? Shin couldn’t arrive to a conclusion. Where was her usual spirited mood?
“Sleep soon, we will keep on running tomorrow. Don’t reserve the fatigue.”
“Muu, it can’t be helped. Or I have to wait for the next opportunity?”
“Vacate such thinking until we pull completely through the ‘Flood’.”
Shin, who took out a mantle, wrapped up Rionne, and warned her for formality’s sake.
Rionne probably would understand that. Somehow, she took a rest well.
The transition to Sacred Place, the defeat against monsters, and the impatience due to the ‘Flood’. When such various factors were put together, the manner until now was expressed, Shin thought.
The deep darkness of the moonless night.
Groups of monsters from behind.
What can be relied upon by fellow travellers, was only a small bonfire.
Regardless of the strength of capabilities, it was no wonder that a feeling to seek one who can be relied upon was sought, Shin thought.
Speaking of why he understood it, it was because Shin had experienced similar things.
Shin and Rionne, Schnee and Tiera, Yuzuha and Kagerou were heading toward Balmel.
A great army of monsters exceeding 1000, approaching moment by moment.
In order to fight against the looming threat, everyone would meet at Balmel.