This island’s big.
I questioned this back when Elga gave me a map too, but who made this map?
Apparently there was an eccentric person in the divine beast people’s village who walked around and made it. It took a week to go around the island by the shore, and hearing that reminded me of Hokkaido.
“Why don’t we do it too?”
“It sounds interesting, but I think Snow would get bored.”
“True.”
It wouldn’t take me long to get from one side of the island to the other if I really went for it. In fact, I can go anywhere if I fly.
But I don’t do that because I have plenty of time, so I can take it easy.
Unlike before, I place more importance on the journey than the destination.
“But we’re alone today, so…”
“Yes.”
We keep walking through the forest while holding hands.
We don’t really have a destination, but we’re heading south, because we might as well go somewhere new.
“I’ve never been beyond this area, but I’m pretty sure high elves live there.”
“That’s what Elga said. I don’t think they would just attack us, but are you sure about this?”
“I’ll shield you if anything happens.”
“Yes, I’m counting on you.”
I really would use myself as a shield if an attack came all of a sudden.
Reina is also well aware of how tough my body is, so I doubt she’d hesitate to get behind me. And since I really don’t want her to get hurt, I’d rather she did that.
“Come to think of it, do high elves and their great spirits know me?”
“Suzaku and the others went around explaining things to everyone when you and Wilhelmina went nuts fighting, so they probably do.”
“Yes.”
I’m not a pro fighter or anything, but I can take an attack unless it comes out of nowhere.
My kinetic vision is better than a regular person’s, so I can react to anything I see, but I’m a bit worried about doing it while protecting her.
That said, we might as well go say hi after we came all the way out here…
“…Strange, isn’t it?”
“Hn? What is?”
We walk for a while, when Reina suddenly looks confused.
“According to the map I saw before, we should be leaving the forest soon.”
“Eh?”
Did we walk that far already? I guess it is strange.
The high elves’ village should be to the south of our home.
“…Let’s keep going a little more.”
“Yes. Let me see the map.”
I take the map out of the storage magic and check it just to be sure.
I only know where what is, but Reina has a good grasp on distances too.
“Yes, we really should be almost at the end.”
“…”
From our home, the alfar village is to the north, and the ancient dragons’ to its east.
Wil’s castle is further north, and the divine beast people’s village is to the north of our home.
The demon gods live to the north of the divine beast people’s village, and their territory borders the territory of the ancient dragons.
“From what I’ve seen, this map seems accurate.”
“So there’s a low chance that it’s only wrong here in the south?”
“Yes. But if we leave the forest, we should reach the southern lake…”
Reina turns around.
The high elves’ village isn’t that big, so maybe we missed it.
“Do you want to search around the forest a little more?”
“…No, it will get dark if we spend too long here, so let’s go back for today.”
I look up, and see the sun past its highest point.
I could fly and take us home quickly, but the weather’s nice, so I want to take it easy on the way back too.
“But let’s keep an eye out for it on the way back.”
“Yes. But we didn’t come here to greet the high elves, so let’s come back some other time, with plenty of time to do it.”
“Yes.”
And as we walk back, I feel a prickling sensation for just a second.
I turn around without thinking, but only see trees.
“…”
“Arata?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Reina calls out to me when I tilt my head.
It doesn’t look like she felt that strange feeling, so I won’t mind it either.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Apparently Graham saved a woman.”
We talk about what I heard from Gyes on the way back.
That’s what sent Sakuya into a panic.
“Apparently. Gyes didn’t know a lot about it either, but it might be someone who came with the others.”
“Then I’ll go see Graham tomorrow. What about you, Reina?”
“Well… It would be annoying if it was Cara, so…”
Reina’s expression turns bitter.
It’s even more bitter than when Merlin and Xellos arrived, so I assume they really didn’t get along.
I think it’d be good to at least be able to recognize her though.
“Then I’ll go by myself.”
“Yes please. And how about asking Graham how things are going so we can tell Sakuya?”
“Sure.”
Reina really is supporting Sakuya all the way. Not that I don’t also want to help, after all she’s done.
“I hope things go well for her.”
“She’s such a kind person. I’m sure it will be fine!”
“She already got through the biggest obstacle.”
That obstacle is called Gyes.
He’s a stubborn guy that doesn’t budge once he settles on something.
His precious little sister likes an ancient dragon, and his biggest rival no less.
It’s no wonder he was thrown for a loop, but he was willing to listen, so it makes me feel like things really might work out.
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