Suimei who left the caravan to chase after Lefille was walking in the forest as he track the traces of the girl’s magic presence. He couldn’t catch up immediately probably because Lefille left rather swiftly in order to not trouble the caravan. It wasn’t strange for the girl who left according to Galeo’s wishes without any complains to act this way.
As he strolled in the forest in search of Lefille, Suimei looked up at the forest canopy obscuring his view of the cloudy sky and thought:
This place is completely untamed. Wild beasts or monsters from a fantasy world will probably show up...
Suimei stopped for a moment to rest and leaned against the tree before him. He drank about a mouthful of water from his canteen, and sighed. It was a given that there were monsters here. The forest of this different world was obviously much more dangerous than the world he came from.
I actually entered a place like this by my own will, ara…
He probably felt that it was strange, or that this was a foolish action. But even if Suimei asked himself that, he couldn’t get an answer anyway as his doubt started to expand in his mind. At this moment, right before he moistened his throat with water again, Suimei asked nonchalantly.
“— I am sorry for making you so tense, but please spare me from your blade.”
“——!?”
These words were directed at the killing intent behind him that was filled with nervousness.
Suimei’s calm voice echoed in the serene forest. Shortly after, the noise of grass being trampled could be heard, and a certain familiar voice that was filled with bafflement entered his ears.
“... Suimei-kun? Why are you here?”
“Well, as you can see, I came here for you.”
Looking back, the figure of Lefille with the tip of her sword drooping down was right behind her. Because Suimei had a weak sense of presence, Lefille thought he was a beast that was stalking her, and was planning to cleave him along with the tree he was leaning on in half.
“You chased after me…? That’s too reckless, it is dangerous to stay with me alright? Why did you do that?”
“Well, it’s because leaving you alone is too dangerous. I am very concerned.”
“D-Don’t worry. I can manage on my own. You are just butting into my affairs unnecessarily.”
“You can deal with the danger by yourself?”
“Yes.”
That’s how proud and headstrong Lefille was. Suimei made an accusation with a sarcastic smile:
“Pardon me for being blunt, but do you have enough food and water?”
“Ugh… Well, that…”
“Is that so?”
Lefille was dumbstruck as she averted her gaze awkwardly. As the girl before Suimei was being force to admit her defeat, Lefille thought of a retort and turned back to her usual serious expression.
“But you are not carrying any luggage too right? Someone who didn’t even prepare his own provision is not qualified—”
“Are you still going to say that after seeing this?”
As if he was trying to break her serious expression, Suimei said casually as he took out a luggage bag from the briefcase he was carrying, even though it was much larger than the briefcase.
“... To tell me off…”
“What was that about being qualified? Are you saying the amount of provision I prepared is not qualified?”
Before Suimei who seemed rather arrogant, Lefille was shocked.
The amount was definitely up to standard. Suimei’s student briefcase made use of magic to expand its capacity. Even the combination of Kabbalah and Alchemy could only increase the capacity to that of a 150 litre foreign made luggage bag.
“... What is this weird magic item?”
“Calling it weird, how mean… Anyway, you can’t say I am an unnecessary busybody now, right?”
“That might be so… Suimei-kun, do you really think it is fine to stay with me?”
“What can I do if I say I am regretting it very much?”
“Erm… I am sorry.”
“Not at all. If I will regret it immediately, I wouldn’t have come. Don’t worry about it.”
Facing Lefille who was lowering her head with a gloomy expression, Suimei answered as if he was joking. That’s right, he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t worried about how Lefille felt, it was impossible for him to regret this.
Even though he said that, Lefille still couldn’t accept the way Suimei cut off his retreat path without anything to gain.
“But I am being targeted by the Mazoku you know?”
“True.”
“If that is so…”