Chapter 8 – Talkative Girl in the Deep Forest (3)
Her head was dizzy from the unbelievable stories pouring in in an instant. No matter how much common sense it is, it is a meaningless era, but this situation has far exceeded the concepts I knew.
But at the same time, it was also a situation that could be fully understood if you tried to understand it. That made it even more confusing.
“Of course, the elves don’t come to pick you up just because you have this mark. You have to go to the junction and show the mark to enter the land of the elves. It might be a long journey. Getting out of the island and going to the port is the way to go.”
“Yes…”
“But if you get there, you’ll be able to avoid the dragons. I guarantee that.”
“…I see.”
I still couldn’t feel it, so I could only give a dry answer. Saya looked at me like that and spoke in a slightly subdued voice.
“Sorry Lope. I couldn’t do anything other than this.”
“Yes?”
“Are you sure you’re a bit disappointed? To say something grandiose and then risk your life to go to the port.”
“It’s not like that. I just… Can’t believe it. It’s not that I doubt you, but it was too sudden.”
“I understand. But it’s all true. I’m not lying to you and no one else.”
“I know.”
And I know that you are not one to lie to anyone else.
Even so, it was still not easy to accept. Besides, there were other minor problems mixed together.
“And in fact, I wonder if I can receive this enormous power. People who will survive with me. Is it really okay for me to choose at will?”
“It’s a place made for my mother and me from the beginning. It’s okay.”
“But they are the last survivors of mankind.”
“The main talents of humanity you think have already fled. And all humans are the same to elves anyway. So, Lope. If you choose people who are really important to you, that’s enough.”
“They’re precious to me…”
If it were other people than me, I might have been able to count such people with both hands full. But unfortunately I was far from that mediocrity.
Saya tilted her head slightly as she saw me worried. He seemed to have a vague idea of what I was thinking.
“Actually, I brought it because I wanted you to evacuate with your family. If you have a younger brother, it can’t be helped, but at least you can go with your parents.”
“If you hear this kind of answer, you will feel burdened… But I have no family, so I have to buy it.”
“…Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”
“Then why don’t you think of your friends at the academy? Even if you’re not friends, people you’ve always been close to.”
“…”
Are friends
Unlike before, quite a lot of people came to mind this time. None of them could be called friendly, but paradoxically, everyone was equal. Someone I respected. A junior who was stepped on in the eye. Even the enemies who used to set the day.
Of course, she was the first person that came to mind. She had no choice but to In my entire life, which wasn’t too long, there was only one person I could call a friend.
At least so far it has been.
In the midst of such thoughts, Saya slowly raised her body. Then, holding the bread I gave her dearly in her arms, she bowed her head.
“Then I’ll go, Lope. I hope you survive with your precious people.”
“Huh? Going to go. Weren’t we going to the junction together?”
“Because I have already received so much grace from you.
“Can I go alone?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure I’ll be a stumbling block if I go with you. I want to avoid that much.”
“…”
It was a love that was really hard to handle. It was the first time I had ever been so grateful to someone, so I was at a loss. It seemed that rational thinking would be impossible in front of such an opponent.
“But is there a way to get out of the island right now? The professors took all the usable boats that day.”
“That’s…Yes. That’s right.”
“Then it’s the same as saying that you’re going to leave without any countermeasures. Isn’t it?”
“But don’t worry, I’ll find a way. Like I said, I don’t want to bother you.”
“Okay…”
I nodded my head contemptuously. If he said that, there was no reason to hold on to him anymore. It seemed to make sense to just let it go like this.
By the way, it causes trouble. It wouldn’t be easy to cause trouble to someone with the body of an elf. With its big ears, it can even hear the sound of ants moving, and it has eyes that can see even in the darkest night as if it were midday. It seemed that the long life of loneliness had severely undermined Saya’s self-esteem.
Some people have poor eyesight at night and have limited hearing, so even finding traces of intruders scares them so much.
…
Well…
“Hey, buy it.”
“Yes?”
Locked in thought, I caught Saya’s steps as she was about to leave. Then he looked around the narrow room and said.
“Why don’t we just stay here until we find a way out of the island? The academy will become more and more dangerous. It might not be safe to be on the beach anymore. And we don’t have a clear goal right now.”
“Yes, but…”
“Then you can stay for a while. Also, please protect my things inside. I’ve always thought about that while emptying this place. I wish there was at least one person who would stay here instead of me.”
“That…That’s…”
At the unexpected suggestion, Saya acted as if she didn’t know what to do with his body. Then she asked in a confident voice.
“But do you trust me that much? What if I take all your things and run away?”
“I’m full after just a bite of bread, and my body still smells like flowers even after I’ve been outside for two months. What’s the point of stealing my things? Most of them are just daily necessities. Even if I try to use them for trading, the academy guys won’t readily accept them. On the contrary, I’m glad I didn’t take it away.”
“But can I really help?”
“Of course. It will help unconditionally. I will guarantee this.”
“Still…”
Despite repeated invitations, Saya showed hesitation until the end. Contrary to what it looked like, it didn’t seem to be stubborn.
So she decided to write it in a bit cheesy but childish way.
“If you eat that bread outside, you won’t be able to eat it for a long time. It will go bad or hard soon.”
“…”
“Don’t you want to eat something else?”
At that moment, clear saliva flowed from Saya’s mouth again. This time, she hurriedly wiped her mouth with her sleeve, as if she was aware of it. But she couldn’t even hide her blushing cheeks.
“…Okay.”
In the end, the primordial curiosity overcame the elf’s stubbornness. It seems that I really liked the bread from earlier.
“Okay, then let’s do that. The room is a bit small, but it won’t be too much trouble for two people to stay. Do you have any luggage you brought?”
“No. This is all for now.”
“Then rest for a while. I’ll bring you some fine blankets from the nearby dormitory.”
I immediately got up from my seat. But this time, Saya grabbed my ankle.
“Wait, Lope. You don’t have to do that. I don’t need a blanket, so I’ll just sleep on the bare floor.”
“Did you think well on the bare floor? There’s no heating here, so the floor is really cold. It might be worse than outside. So you sleep on the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor with a blanket on.”
“What are you talking about? The floor is cold. Does it make sense for you to sleep on the floor when I’m indebted to you?”
“Because I can bear it…”
I was trying to make an excuse-like persuasion, but I soon lost my words. No matter what reasonheheard here, Saya seemed to refuse, saying it was burdensome. Even so, I don’t feel comfortable putting the elf on the floor. No matter what, it was clear that the conversation would run parallel.
My head was already tired enough to handle that long discussion. I didn’t want to worry anymore, so I came up with a simple solution.
“Then let’s just sleep in the bed for both of us. Even if it’s not for two people, there will be plenty of space.”
“Are you okay though?”
“I don’t mind as long as you’re okay. Will you do that?”
“Yes. I’d rather do that.”
Surprisingly, Saya calmly nodded his head. I was surprised by the reaction that was different from what I expected, but I was also suddenly fatigued, so I didn’t want to refute.
“Okay… Then. It’s late, so let’s continue the rest of the story tomorrow. I’ll lie down first, so come in when you’re sleepy.”
“Okay, Lope.”
“Okay…”
As soon as the tension was released, sleep came over me in an instant. Usually, I often lose sleep because of miscellaneous thoughts, but today was different. Perhaps the scent of the elves has the effect of relaxing the mind. Now I even thought about it.
Either way, I’m too sleepy now. Unlike usual, I lay down on the bed with the sword in my arms. When I glanced back, Saya was looking around the room with curious eyes. It seemed like the whole situation still felt awkward.
Of course, it was awkward for me too. There was still a strange feeling on the back of my hand that I couldn’t get used to. When I raised my hand, the three patterns danced like blue flames. Mixing, scattering, wriggling and spreading seemed to confuse their own existence.
It was a rather noisy move for self-certification of the ticket to salvation. But strangely, there was nothing exciting about it other than that it was strange. Is it because it is too sudden? It seems my heart hasn’t accepted it yet.
Even so, it wasn’t that he couldn’t accept the value of this pattern. Saya said it as if it was nothing, but it wasn’t something that could be dismissed as humility.
Perhaps, it was something that could change the game for the entire academy.
How will students who have fallen under the premise of the end come to know that there is actually a way to survive? And if I say I have that method, how will it come out? Half want to kiss my feet, half want to cut my wrists.
Maybe even try to deny the very existence of this pattern. It was questionable whether the brutes who wrote down the destruction in the reason for the fall would now be able to acknowledge the possibility of survival. The fact that if you know the taste of human flesh, you should be slaughtered is not a truth that only applies to animals. There must have been some who just wanted the world to burn.
Who will be on which side? Roman. The hater. Erica is. And, those I haven’t met yet.
…
There are too many worries. In fact, it was unclear whether or not he would be able to leave the island.
“…Sorry. Excuse me.”
At that time, the other side of the bed was lightly pressed, and someone’s presence subsided. Although they did not come back to back, the lukewarm body temperature was gradually transmitted.
The feeling of living together for the first time was more subdued than I thought. Technically speaking, I was lying in the same bed with a woman, but what I was holding onto was the cold sword body. Compared to the guys at the academy, it was an extremely foreign landscape.
Looking back, it seemed that Saya was the same. It may change as time passes, but our beginning was a dull gray color. There were some words that I prepared because I thought it would be awkward if we lay together in bed, but it didn’t seem necessary.
Still, the more I think about it, the more strange it feels. I thought that if there was a girl who would sleep with me, she would definitely be Lena. Whether her first or last woman in my life, I thought she would be her last.
Of course, I don’t know if this can be considered bedtime.
“…Lope.”
“Yes?”
Then Saya called my name in a drowsy voice. When I asked back with no expectations, Saya pushed the blanket towards me and said.
“Thank you. Everything.”
“Because it’s fine.”
I answered like that and tugged at the duvet. The first favor he received from others was a woman outside and a piece of blanket.
…An extraterrestrial woman.
It’s as if the hostess is separate.
The wandering mind eventually turned to one person. The fact that now he could definitely save him came to his heart. But I still had no idea what his reaction would be. And even how I feel after that.
Anyway, it seemed clear that I had to go to the academy tomorrow too.
It’s nice to have at least one thing you can be sure of. I hugged the sword in my arms even tighter and closed my eyes. I hope that these numerous concerns will be resolved somehow.
