Chapter 107
Chapter 107
We finally left the sewers .
Seras who had advanced first earlier, ran towards us after we got out .
[There seems to be no presence of anyone around the area . If we were to go through the forest, we could hide ourselves for the time being . ]
[…Do you think the horses are safe?]
[I think they should be alright . ]
We already anticipated that we would need to travel fast and prepared some horses to ride on .
However, they were currently unguarded and were leashed inside the forest .
I can’t help but feel like they would be stolen .
We have prepared two horses .
It seems that we could have a carriage as long as we had the money to buy one .
However, we may have to leave them before going inside the Demon Zone .
Considering that they may end up being disposed of, it would be too wasteful to buy it .
Most of all, horses were less noticeable and could easily adapt in situations .
I turned towards my back .
[Did you explain those two about our situation?]
[I briefly explained to them before you arrived earlier . ]
Seras gave a quick explanation of the information she had disclosed towards them .
It seems that there were no problems in sorting out the information that could be given .
Seras is also excellent in situations like this .
I spoke towards the two people following behind us .
[We have already prepared horses in the forest . One of them would be ridden by the both of you, Eve and Liz . ]
[Understood . I’m sorry… I guess you originally planned to use one horse for each of you?]
[No, you’re mistaken . ]
[Mhmm?]
One of those horses were really prepared for Eve even at the start .
We’ve already prepared them assuming that Eve will follow us .
[I don’t have any horse riding skills at all . That’s why, I’ll be riding behind Seras . ]
If there were two people sitting on a horse, it can’t be helped that the speed would drop .
Well, it’s still better than walking .
▽
The forest spreads outside the wall providing as a natural barrier for the royal capital .
We were walking through the forest .
We proceed with care while making sure we make as little noise as possible .
Currently, Eve was dressed in the cloak I had bought before .
Her eye-catching leopard head is covered with the hood .
The were-leopards were a rare race .
They were not someone that you could be usually seen .
In short, Eve stands out .
She needs to hide her body until we enter the Demon Zone .
[I wish she could transform her into a human form but…]
Seras’ power of altering appearance can only be used for herself…
[Could I have a sec?]
Eve spoke .
It looks like Liz is talking with Seras behind us .
They seem to be getting to know each other .
[Were there things you want to hear about?]
[Umu . ]
[And, what do you want to hear first?]
[I’m still going to tell you the whereabouts of the Witch of Taboos is . However, I still have something I want to know . ]
I remembered Eve’s words before .
“In exchange for some conditions, I would tell you the whereabouts of the witch . ”
Is she talking about that aforementioned conditions?
[I want to ask you why you want to meet the Witch of Taboos . ]
[I have a spellbook written in ancient characters that I couldn’t decipher… I’m looking for someone that could read these characters . And, I thought that the Witch of Taboos may be able to read what’s written here . ]
I heard that the Witch of Taboos is “someone who knew too much” .
Spells that were forbidden by the goddess .
Those who knows about these information .
They may have become risks for that f*cking goddess .
Therefore, the witch hid in the Demon Zone to escape from the grasps of the goddess’ hands… .
I guess that should be enough for me to think that it’s quite possible .
[You don’t intend to catch the witch, huh? It seems that she doesn’t plan to hurt her too . ]
[Well, that’s as long as she doesn’t try to harm us first . ]
I could see the night sky through the gaps between the leaves and branches .
The moon that had been shining our path became concealed behind the clouds .
The clouds began blocking the moonlight .
Thereupon, the forest increasingly enclosed in darkness .
We also didn’t use any kind of illumination .
However, Eve’s steps remained steady .
There were no hesitation in her steps .
I believed I was already used to the darkness .
However, I could see from Eve’s way of walking that she could probably “see” more than me .
[Do you have night vision?]
[To some extent, yes . ]
Great hearing .
Night vision .
Eve’s abilities would be really useful hereafter .
[Even you step into the darkness without any hesitation . Most humans are afraid of darkness . ]
[Various things happened, so I got used to the darkness . ]
[What about you, Seras Ashrain?]
[Well, I could make a light source but…]
From where we were walking, the light may be seen from the outer walls .
I want for us to slip into the darkness .
I still don’t know when the news that Eve left the royal capital would be found out .
If they were to find out, they would probably send pursuers after us .
At that time, we want to eliminate as much tracks we made as possible .
That’s why, I also couldn’t use the illumination from my leather bag .
It was at that time…
[I’m just a simple-minded woman . ]
Still looking at the front, Eve suddenly said so .
[I can’t see a couple of steps ahead like you do . I’m not good at thinking too deeply… Because of my simplicity, my field of view is quite narrow and I almost always end up with the foolish choices . That’s why I was well used by Duke Zuan . I also couldn’t see through the true nature of that proprietress . ]
[It’s not like I can see everything myself . Besides, isn’t it good enough that you could analyze yourself?]
After some pause, Eve said .
[I’m going to leave myself in your care . ]
[Hmm?]
[Hereafter, I want you to tell me what movements I must do . I’ll be doing as you ordered . ]
[You give me too much credit . ]
[I’ve thought of this after looking at your interaction with Ashrain . It would be better if I were to follow according to your instructions . ]
Eve stops walking .
[Most of all… I have no choice but to believe in you . To be honest, I don’t really know how far I could trust others . However—]
Eve looks back towards me .
[I think I could trust you . ]
[Well, I’m thankful that you said so but… why do you think so?]
[You could have taken more inhuman measures to get the information about the Witch of Taboos from me . ]
Eve turns to look back from Liz towards me .
[You could have carried me off to somewhere while I’m paralyzed and tortured the information out of me . You could also have threatened me about that child . And yet, you didn’t do it . ]
[……………… . . ]
I’m not really as smart as she thinks I am though .
After a brief silence, Eve spoke again .
[Liz would just become a burden . ]
[…………… . ]
[You should have already known about it yourself . We will be going into that Golden Demon Zone . ]
Liz is a non-combatant .
Furthermore, she’s still a child .
We might break our own bodies if we were to fight in the Demon Zone while guarding that child .
It is necessary for at least one person to defend her .
There were indeed some truth within her words .
[However, you still acknowledged that Liz may accompany us . I understand that you were sympathizing with her feelings… and that’s one of the reasons why I trust you . ]
At any rate, Liz can’t survive in the Demon Zone .
If we could get the information we want from Eve first, it’s possible that would also be the end of our duty for Liz .
If Liz were to be killed by monsters in the Demon Zone, Eve won’t have any choice but to accept it .
We were just taking her with us with the assumption that she may die .
Just so we could make Eve cooperative…
[……………]
Did Eve never thought about that?
Of course, I intend to protect Liz with all of my might .
That girl had the willpower to survive .
[I think you are a good person . ]
[There were some people who would do good deeds for their own self-interest, you know?]
[Fufu, that’s quite a strange answer…]
Eve smiled a bit .
[Even if it were just for your own self-interest, I think I could still trust you . ]
[However, didn’t you say that you couldn’t easily trust someone you’ve just met yesterday?]
[Well… I can’t really measure whether I could trust a person just by the length of time we’ve spent together… That’s what I’ve learned from the previous situation I experienced . ]
Eve suddenly look quite uneasy .
I hastened my pace a bit and peep inside her hood .
[Isn’t this situation too convenient…?]
[Back then, you said that I’m a soft-hearted person . ]
I remembered what Eve said to me in the tavern .
“You’re a softhearted person huh…”
I snorted .
[I think you’re talking about yourself instead . You’re very softhearted . ]
▽
We finally arrived at the place where the horses were leashed .
Fortunately, the horses were safe .
We quickly fastened our luggages on the horses .
Eve, who was already mounted on the horse, held out her hand towards Liz .
She placed Liz in front of her body .
I am also currently standing beside the horse .
[Please take my hand . ]
The mounted Seras held out her hand from above the horse .
I held onto her hand with my own .
[Umm, would you please firmly grasp my hand?]
[…Yeah . ]
And like that, she helped me ride the horse .
It’s because I have no experience in riding horses at all .
This is the first time I’ve ridden one .
…………… . .
So this is how it feels riding a horse, huh?
It feels kind of… weird .
Seras called out to me who was riding behind her .
[Please hold me tightly from behind so that you won’t be shaken off . ]
[Is it really alright?]
Seras looks at the front .
[It’s necessary . Besides, it’s you that’s holding me . ]
[I understand . ]
I put both of my arms around her slender waist .
And thus, I am holding her tightly below her breasts .
Squeeze…
Seras suddenly flinched .
[Am I too close?]
[…………… . ]
[Seras?]
[No, there’s no problem . ]
Hm?
[Are you alright?]
I could feel something aside from the scent I’ve been smelling from Seras .
It’s an increase in body temperature .
[Umm, you look a bit sweaty…]
[—–Let’s go . ]
Seras began making the horse walk without answering my query .
It seems that she’s relatively used to handling horses .
She doesn’t look like she’s nervous in handling the horse even though she had some time where she haven’t ridden on one .
[…………………]
Well, there must have been some thoughts in her mind, especially when you’re attached with the opposite gender like this .
It’s no wonder .
[I don’t know why you’re so nervous, but please be patient . I’ll also try to be as unconscious of it as possible . ]
[U- Understood . ]
Suddenly, Seras clapped both of her cheeks .
It seems that she’s trying to pour some motivation for herself .
Seras turned to Eve and shouted .
[Well then, let’s go . ]
[Umu . ]