Chapter 169
I open up my eyes .
[———————–]
I can tell by the brightness of the room that it’s already morning .
We’re in a mysterious underground s.p.a.ce controlled by the Witch of Taboos .
If this s.p.a.ce possesses an environmental function that emulates the night, then it should be obvious that it also has one that emulates the day huh .
[Good morning . ]
Turning my head to the side, I saw Seras sitting there .
She had already changed into her normal, plain clothes .
She was currently sitting on the edge of the bed with her body a bit twisted to the side .
One of her hands was propped on the bed while her upper body was facing towards me .
It looks like she have been in that posture for quite some time now but—–
[Are you waiting for me to wake up?]
[It’s because I never get tired of looking at you as you sleep . ]
[……That’s an inexpensive way to pa.s.s time . ]
Lightly bantering with her, I gently touched my left shoulder .
Throb
[…………… . ]
There was still some pain left behind .
I was slightly hoping that my status correction would improve my recovery……
As expected it isn’t that omnipotent huh .
With the speed of my recovery, I don’t think it would be possible for me to recover in just a day or two .
If this pain lingers, it’s going to be a pain in the neck fighting against the Human-Faced .
Besides, I still haven’t fulfilled my purpose of getting information about the Forbidden Curses……
There’s no need for me to rush .
Making sure to protect my left shoulder, I raise up my body .
[Did you sleep well, Seras?]
“Yes . ” Seras gently nodded .
[It looks like you’re sound asleep, Touka-dono . ]
[I haven’t had such a deep sleep ever since we entered the Demon Zone…… How should I say this… I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve felt so refreshed . ]
Seras brushed her hand around the area where I was sleeping .
I don’t know if I should ask what she could be doing or not .
……Ah, I see .
[With this, I think it would be alright for us to sleep together even in the future . ]
Seras’ hand stopped .
I apparently hit the bingo huh .
Brushing her hair dropping down on her cheek, Seras turned away .
[Y—– Yes . I also think that wouldn’t be a problem . I may have woken up about an hour earlier than Touka-dono, but I’ve also had a good night’s sleep too . I’m now in my tip-top shape . ]
[…………… . . ]
You didn’t just spend nearly an hour just looking at me as I sleep, did you?
Checking the time on my pocket watch I placed beside my pillow, I asked .
[How am I when I slept? Did I sleeptalk or snore?]
[I don’t think there’s any problem? On the other hand though…… after you invoked on me…… how was it?]
I place down my pocket watch .
[You know, I’ve always been amazed at the way you sleep . I feel like you didn’t even turn over when you slept . ]
I don’t recall hearing Seras snoring or anything like that .
She always sleeps peacefully and her breathing was regulated while she slept .
She did sleeptalk a bit, but it’s not that much that it bothers me .
[I’m relieved if that’s the case . ]
Seras patted her chest .
Well…
[Now then…… Can you call Eve and Liz in their room, and then go to that room where we ate yesterday? I’ll be there as soon as I finish getting ready . ]
[Certainly . ]
After Seras left, I beckoned Pigimaru towards me .
He began bouncing towards me .
[Puyuu~]
[Has anything changed before we woke up?]
[Pyuu . ]
A negative red .
“I see . ” I gently brushed Pigimaru .
[I’m glad you’re here with us . ]
[Puniii~♪]
Pigimaru will stop functioning once he is burdened by our ability .
But without it, he doesn’t need to sleep .
That means he could watch over this room all night long .
It’s like having a live surveillance camera that even comes with an alarm .
The fact that I was able to soundly sleep without any hesitation was because Pigimaru is here .
Quickly preparing myself, I then left the room with Pigimaru and Slei .
▽
The length of our stay isn’t definite .
The information about the Forbidden Curses is largely up to Erika’s judgement .
It would be counterproductive for us to hurry her up if we’re against Erika .
So, we’ll have to wait for her to decide herself .
The rest is just a matter of how well my wounds would heal and when would I be ready to leave .
Well, in short—— I have a lot of time at my disposal .
However, I don’t want to spend all those times doing useless things .
After breakfast, I quickly requested towards Seras .
[You want me to teach you how to ride behind a horse, is it?]
[Didn’t you say that you wanted to teach me when we got the chance just after we got out of Monroy? Well, we now have some time . ]
Seras looks like she accepted as she smiled .
It was as if her smile was saying that “This time has finally come . ”
[——-Certainly . If that’s what Touka-dono wants . ]
[That really helps . Slei, do you mind if you help me?]
[Pakkyyuuu♪]
Slei, who had been frolicking with Liz, willingly agreed .
[Though I say that, are your wounds alright now?]
As if she’s showing her healthiness, Slei greatly raised her forefeet .
[Pakyuukyyuunnn♪]
It healed a lot faster than mine……
Could the speed of her healing be a special ability of her species?
Though, it could also have something to do with the preciseness of Seras’ first aid .
[I think if it’s just walking around on her second form, it doesn’t look like it would be a problem . ]
[Pakyuurrii ♪]
Slei doesn’t look like she’s pushing herself .
If even Seras judged it that way, I guess it really would be fine .
I guess I’ll also request it towards Eve while I’m at it .
[Eve . ]
[Hmm?]
[I wanted to ask you to teach me later how to fight against others in melee…]
Wiping away the food crumbs left on the edge of her mouth with her thumb, Eve nodded .
[You can leave it to me . ]
I’ve been taught some things about fighting in melee, but I haven’t had the chance to thoroughly learn about it .
Now would be a good time for that .
Erika, who had been enjoying her after meal tea, stands up .
[As long as you don’t go into that door on the lowest floor, you’re free to spend your time as you wish . Well, I’m sure that you’re aware…… that when I said “as you wish”, that doesn’t include being uncivilized, right?]
Behind Erika, the golems are busily cleaning up our breakfast .
[Ah…… also, do you mind if I borrow Eve and Liz for some time? Your lesson with Eve’s going to be after your riding practice, right?]
[Hmm? Yeah, that’s fine with me . ]
With that, Eve and Liz left the room with Erika .
What’s left is for us to leave the house .
After going out, I once again felt that this s.p.a.ce doesn’t feel like we’re in a bas.e.m.e.nt .
The winds are blowing here, and for some reason, there were even some birds flying in the distance .
The only thing that feels out of place is this gigantic tree that looks like it’s piercing the heavens and the earth .
[Now then, let me first—–]
Sending my magic energy, Slei turned into her second form .
This is her form that was closest to the image of a common horse .
Or rather, she could almost be mistaken as one .
[……Hmm?]
Then, a golem came out of the house holding something .
That golem pa.s.ses whatever that is to Seras .
[Thank you very much……]
After Seras bewilderedly accepted it, the golem wordlessly returned .
……I don’t know if it could even understand any words or not though .
[Erika’s being considerate huh . ]
What the golem pa.s.sed towards us was a harness .
[It looks quite old, but it’s quite solid for one…… I also prepared a simple handmade one, but let’s use this one for now . ]
While we’re at it, she also taught me how to easily fit in the harness .
I didn’t need a harness back when I rode Slei in her third form .
At that time, Slei’s body shape had changed and she was superbly holding me in place .
So, I had been particularly supported by Slei at those times .
However, I don’t think Slei would always be by my side in the future .
Therefore, I should also be prepared for the instance that I would need to ride other horses .
[You’re pretty skillful, Touka-dono . ]
I finally finished safely fitting in the harness towards Slei .
Then, Seras taught me how to place my feet on the stirrups .
……Yeah .
Riding on a horse isn’t that bad .
[Well then, please excuse me for I’ll also—-]
Nimbly, Seras easily sits behind me .
That’s a really magnificent jump she did there .
Taking one deep breath, Seras held out her arms from behind me and placed her white hands on my own .
[Now then, let’s get started . ]
[Yeah, I’ll be relying on you . ]
Thus, I was given a lecture from Seras about the practical skills needed in riding horses .
“This is how you handle the reins . ”
“This is a good way to calm the horses down . ”
“There’s also this way of kicking the horse on her flank to make her run . ”
I was given a one-on-one lesson on how to ride horses .
Could it be because she was the Leader of the Holy Knights, a position where she stands above others?
I think she’s really good at teaching .
……Whether it’s school lessons or practical skills, she may actually be really suitable to being a teacher .
Then…
[Touka-dono, there’s one thing I think you should be aware of . ]
Just when I felt like I’m starting to get the hang of it, Seras leaned closer .
Lowering her voice, she whispered into my ear .
[Slei-dono has a tendency to antic.i.p.ate your intentions and she makes her move in response to that . So, please keep in mind that other horses may be more difficult to handle than Slei-dono . ]
[As I thought, that’s really how it is . ]
I thought my horse riding was going too well .
[She’s still a newborn foal after all, so…… I think she would be trying to work very hard to gain the favor of her parent, you . ]
I gently brushed Slei’s mane .
[You may be right……]
[Pakkyyuunn♪]
[It’s just because she’s capable of turning into her really amazing third form that I almost forget about it…… You’re still a young baby, aren’t you……?]
▽
As I finished my practice and removed Slei’s harness from her body…
[Huh?]
Seras looked towards the house .
Looking towards where she’s looking, I saw Eve and Liz walking towards us .
Following behind the two of them is Erika .
It appears that Eve and Liz changed their clothes .
[……Did you receive those from her?]
“Umu . ” Eve nodded .
[I thought you wouldn’t be able to relax in your travel clothes, so Erika’s just being thoughtful of them . ]
In a pushy way, Erika said .
[Wouldn’t the two of you feel more relaxed this way?]
“Do you have any problems with this outfit?”
…or so it feels like she’s asking so .
[……Aren’t those too revealing?]
[Rather than saying it’s revealing, I wished you’d say they’re more liberating though . ]
It’s a different series of clothes that Erika is wearing .
It’s like they’re Chinese dresses with some western decorations on it, or something like that…
However, I really can’t say that they don’t suit Eve and Liz .
[It can’t be helped, you know? The clothes they were wearing were washed and are now being hung to dry, and besides, Erika only makes clothes that she likes . Or more like, Elves have a tendency to dress lightly . There are certainly some humans who told me that before…… but that’s not any of my business as far as I could see it . Well, technically speaking, it all ends up to how we are in a spirit-related culture……]
……Well, I guess you could say that even Seras is lightly dressed .
Eve and Liz look down on the clothes they’re wearing .
[I don’t really care that much though . ]
[I also like it since, umm… They’re easy to move around with……]
Staaaaaaaaaarrreeee—-
Erika is staring at me .
It feels like her gaze would pierce a hole through my body .
It doesn’t have much hostility but…
“See? What now huh!?”
…It feels like she’s trying to force me to agree with her .
It takes a lot of effort to read her emotions because she doesn’t smile at all .
Sighing, I just finished removing the last of Slei’s saddle .
[It would have been different if you were forced, but I guess it’s alright if they themselves agreed with wearing it . ]
Snap!
Erika snapped her fingers .
[I like that you’re a sensible man . ]
[……………… . ]
[What now?]
[Didn’t you just want to make all those skimpy clothes for someone else to wear them?]
[……………… . ]
[……………… . ]
[Is that no good?]
[No, not really . ]
Erika looks like she’s taken aback .
[—–Putting that aside, I’m not here to ask you what you think about these clothes . I have a gift for Eve and I want you to see it . ]
Suddenly, Erika had an unpleasant expression on her face .
[I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that I don’t have to make more of this anymore but…… No, I can’t call this a good thing . ]
Erika lazily shakes her head .
In other words…
[Is that something you prepared for the Leopardkin?]
[That~ is~ right~ . Or rather, you . You really could take every word apart and precisely guess it huh……]
Saying so, Erika holds out a silver bangle to Eve .
There were three round holes around the bangle, and each of them had black orbs inlaid on it .
There’s a number engraved near each of the orbs, reading 1 to 3 .
Eve inspects the bangle .
[Fumu? An ornament?]
[Touka . ]
Fwip fwip
Calling my name, Erika beckoned me to come closer .
[Do you mind pouring your magic energy into the “number 3” orb? You probably have more magic energy in you than Erika anyway…]
[……Understood . ]
Could it be some kind of magic tool that has some sort of Enhancing effect?
[I’m starting, Eve . ]
[U- Umu . ]
I started pouring my magic energy .
[……Mhmm, Erika . It seems to me that something thin just pierced my arm from the inside of the bangle . ]
[It’s alright, that’s not something that would harm you . ]
[……I’ll trust you on this . ]
The faint white light flowing out of my arm……
They are being sucked into the black orbs one after another .
[It looks like it needs quite a lot of magic energy . ]
[Considering its effect, that amount should be fairly appropriate . ]
Erika looks confident .
To have this confidence……
She had already seen the proof of its effect before huh .
In other words, this is not the first time that this bangle has been used .
In that case, I guess that makes me feel more relieved .
Then…
[Uunnggh… Ngghh!?]
Eve’s body suddenly got enveloped in a cream-colored light .
I could barely see something flabby-looking moving about within the light……
After a short time—- the light subsided .
[Eh?]
The first person who reacted was Liz .
[Big Sister?]
Seras gasped as well .
[Eve?]
[This is……]
Eve stares at her hands in disbelief .
I sent a questioning look towards the Witch .
[Erika . ]
[That’s right . This is a special bangle Erika made for Eidim and Paqui…… for the whole Speed family . ]
Looking towards the transformed Eve, Erika stated the effect of the bangle .
[It’s a bangle that lets the Leopardkin transform into a human form . ]