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.]
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