“Hikari came back by herself? What about the others?”
“I don’t know. When she saw us she collapsed… Well, fell asleep. She wasn’t wounded, so I think she’s fine.”
Mia says she cast Heal and Recovery anyway.
“We’re ending it here. Sora and Shun, go back.”
Says Darc, and we return to the house I made in the village.
Shun is really upset. I was too, but looking at him cooled my head.
Still, we go back faster than usual.
When we get to the house, I see Ryuryu and Fors. Ryuryu is walking around restlessly, but Fors is sitting still with his eyes closed.
“Chris, how is Hikari?”
“Still sleeping.”
I cast appraisal on her, and see her condition is 【Exhaustion・Lack of sleep】.
I tell that to everyone here, and Chris and Mia clearly look relieved.
Now the issue is that Hikari ran all the way here to the point where she became like that. It’s very apparent that she was in a hurry.
And whatever made her want to get here in a hurry, is happening to the others.
I want to think it’s okay, because they were with Siphon’s party and Argo’s, but I’m pretty shaken. Hikari’s condition plays a big part in that.
“Let’s calm down.”
Now Shun is the one telling this to me.
In the end, Fors stays with us until the sun goes down, but eventually leaves after telling us not to tell the other villagers that Hikari returned alone.
When we say that Darc and the others also know, Ryuryu goes there to tell them to keep quiet about it.
After that, we wait for Hikari to wake up, but she doesn’t even after the sun has fully set.
“Everyone, go rest. If you’re tired, you won’t be able to jump into action if that’s necessary.”
Kaina says to us when she sees we’re not leaving.
She’s right. If something happens and we’re tired, we’re going to be slow to react.
I don’t get tired when I’m walking, but I have to run when the time calls for it too, so that does make me tired.
I should also rest for a bit. Kaina is a golem, so she doesn’t get tired, and she can stay here and watch over Hikari.
We ask her to do that, and all go rest.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Sora, please wake up.”
I hear as I feel my body being shaken.
When I open my eyes, I see Kaina’s face.
“Kaina?”
“Yes. Hikari is awake. And…”
She looks troubled. What happened?
I wonder that as I get up and go to Hikari.
“Master, I’m hungry.”
She says while rubbing her belly, and I’m relieved to see the same old Hikari.
I take food out of the Item Box, and Hikari eats quickly.
Food just disappears in front of her.
“Should I call Mia and Chris?”
Asks Kaina, but I shake my head. It’s still dark outside, so we should let them rest.
Also, we’re going to decide what to do based on what Hikari says, so I want to hear her out first.
That would mean she would have to explain it twice, but I could take over and explain to the others.
But just as I’m thinking that, Mia and Chris arrive.
“You could have told us Hikari was awake.”
“Yes. We were worried too, you know?”
They say, but Hikari keeps eating.
Chris and Mia smile awkwardly, but are also relieved to see Hikari acting normally.
“So Hikari, can you tell us what happened?”
We ask, when it looks like she’s satisfied.
“Everyone’s okay, but hostage.”
According to her, Rurika and the others are in a village of giants.
Apparently they’re survivors of a battle against the fairy god, who were cursed.
Hikari was let go because she knows about Calotos and Kaina. In particular, because they want her to bring Kaina to them.
Apparently they’re keeping the others hostage so we don’t tell people who aren’t involved… People other than us, about the village.
In a way, it’s to protect people who would go to the village. They were protected by a barrier and knew about the curse, but didn’t think it would be so powerful.
But now that they know how strong the curse is, they want to keep damage to a minimum.
“They might be calling Kaina to set up the barrier again.”
But she doesn’t have the power of a miko right now.
“I think we should talk to Mister Calotos.”
I think he will be happy to know some giants survived, but he might also have a plan.
“All right. Then Kaina and I will go see him. Mia and Chris, make preparations for us to travel, and explain things to Ryuryu and Shun. And if Ryuryu wants to come along, tell her no.”
From what I can gather, Ryuryu will probably attack the giants if she sees them. It would take a lot of effort to stop her if she did.
On the other hand, otherworlders like Shun don’t seem to be affected, and since Hikari, Rurika, and Sera were fine, I assume Mia and Chris will be too.
And since we’re talking about a curse, we might need Mia’s power.
I make a Transfer magic item, and head to Altair with Kaina.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.