Episode 38
Sallet turned her gaze to look around the forest, but the man wearing the crow mask was nowhere to be seen.
“Did he leave?!”
Where did he go? Did I lose him?!
She fidgeted restlessly in bewilderment.
Watching her, Ifrit let out a long sigh.
—Don’t worry. I know the direction that person went.
At Ifrit’s words, Sallet let out a sigh of relief. Yet curiosity seized her.
“That person? Why are you calling him ‘that person’?”
It was Ifrit who was flustered by Sallet’s words. He muttered, “Why is that?” and fell into thought.
—...I don’t know either. But instinctively, I fear that person.
“...Who fears whom?”
—...I fear him.
“......”
It was an incomprehensible statement. According to what she had heard, spirits didn’t even fear dragons that appeared in legends. And such a spirit feared a mere human?
“...Are you afraid of humans?”
At her reaction, Ifrit spoke as if wanting to make excuses.
—Don’t be mistaken. He is no mere human.
“...So he really isn’t human?”
She had vaguely sensed it as well.
—Yes, he is something alien. However, I don’t know what that something is either. It’s just a feeling. You saw it too, didn’t you? His... true form.
“......”
Recalling what had happened in the underground secret passage not long ago, Sallet nodded.
At that time, he had definitely been not a human, but a ‘demon.’
He was a being who had annihilated those terrible wights in an instant with overwhelming force.
‘...As I thought, he was no ordinary being.’
“......”
Feeling pressured by Sallet’s blatant stare, Ifrit changed the subject.
—Will you keep chasing him? If so, I’ll tell you the direction. It won’t be too late even if you follow now.
“...Thank you.”
—Don’t get the wrong idea. If you die, I’ll be in trouble. I’m merely upholding my contract with your father, Kalibu.
Though Ifrit spoke coldly, Sallet knew well that he didn’t mean it. He had always looked after her.
Like another father.
***
Loki sat in place, silently closing his eyes.
The sun had set and night had fallen; the dark clouds had vanished, and three moons shone beautifully with a bright light, as if nothing had ever happened.
The low chirping of insects, the scent of grass leaves wet with rain, and the tranquil atmosphere suited Loki’s taste immensely.
Opening his closed eyes, he looked at the trees.
Trees stretched high into the sky, full of green light.
The humidity had risen from the rain, and a hazy fog had set in, but the moonlight reflected in the darkness evoked a mystical atmosphere and beauty.
Loki felt a strange sensation seeing this dreamy spectacle, something nearly impossible in the world he had come from.
If the frozen land was endlessly white, the continent was a land that radiated all sorts of colorful lights.
The Celt Mountain Range, for instance, was entirely red with crimson trees, while the tree trunks in this forest were all green.
Snap!
Hearing the sound of a breaking branch, Loki, who was sitting on a moss-covered rock, slightly turned his head.
A girl who had accidentally stepped on a branch met Loki’s gaze and, startled, hid behind a tree.
“...How long are you going to follow me?”
“......”
There was no response.
He didn’t know how many times this had happened.
He had spoken to her many times, but she kept ignoring him.
Yet she didn’t go elsewhere and continued following Loki.
He couldn’t know what the girl’s goal was or why she was so fixated on him.
‘It doesn’t seem like she has any ill intent, though.’
He had even entertained the absurd thought that perhaps she wanted revenge for him hitting the top of her head when they first met, but that didn’t seem to be it either.
‘Then why is she following me like this? Simple curiosity?’
Most of those who had seen Loki’s true form feared him and kept their distance.
But this girl seemed to have become curious instead.
‘By the way, is that child alright?’
Loki had walked without rest or food.
That meant the girl following him hadn’t eaten or slept properly either.
Her firm resolve not to lose him was admirable, but no matter how he looked at it, it was reckless.
The girl was somehow enduring a march that would have caused an ordinary person to collapse several times over.
‘But even that has its limits.’
Loki decided to rest, as he had no other choice. If things continued like this, the girl would collapse, and when that happened, monsters or wild beasts would surely make a meal of her. If the girl died because of him, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
Sallet inwardly felt relieved when she saw Loki taking a rest.
She didn’t want to show it, but her body was already screaming its limits.
Sallet lowered her head and looked at her feet.
Though she was called a forest fairy, an elf, walking barefoot endlessly had left her feet covered in wounds.
Far from throbbing or stinging, she felt nothing at all, as if her feet were numb.
Sallet knew well that leaving them like this... was dangerous.
“...I need to treat them.”
Twitch?!
Startled by the voice from above, Sallet looked up in surprise.
Before she knew it, the man in the crow mask was looking down at her.
Sallet reflexively pulled her feet back and tried to run away, but her legs got tangled and she fell.
“......!”
‘...How?! I didn’t hear any sound at all!’
She was an elf sensitive to sound.
Even though she could detect the sound of stepping on grass in the forest, she hadn’t noticed a thing. She was so shocked that her mind went completely blank, and she stared blankly at Loki.
Ignoring Sallet’s reaction, Loki reached out, grabbed her foot, and examined its condition.
“Urk....”
“It’s festering.”
They were slender feet that looked like they would break with a little force. Loki marveled that she had walked through the forest with such feet.
After days of forced marching and the rain just moments ago, yellow pus was already oozing from her feet.
“...It doesn’t matter.”
Sallet struggled and pulled her foot free, then stood up.
At the girl’s cold attitude, Loki spoke.
“We’ll remain here for a few hours. Rest.”
“......”
At Loki’s words, Sallet pressed her lips tightly together and stepped back.
She kept her distance like a wild animal on guard.
Loki paid her no more mind and returned to his spot.
He glanced at Sallet, but she just kept staring at Loki with no intention of resting.
Loki wordlessly took out the camping tools from his inventory.
With exaggerated movements, he set up a tent, gathered firewood, and lit a fire with flint.
They were practically unnecessary actions, but he moved deliberately so that Sallet could feel at ease.
Only after watching him go to such lengths did she finally feel at ease and begin to move.
She searched for nearby grass leaves, selected and gathered them. Then she put them in her mouth, chewed them thoroughly, spat them out, squeezed the pus from the wound on her sole, and covered it with the chewed leaves.
“...It hurts.”
It was a treatment method elves had used since ancient times.
Though effective, pain was still pain; tears formed in her eyes as she forcibly held them back.
Having secured the herbs to the wound with a cord, Sallet climbed a tree with agile movements.
She picked some fruit from the tree, sat down, took a bite, and sat observing Loki.
‘...What a peculiar fellow.’
Still, having a companion would be more pleasant than traveling alone.
Loki rested while watching the campfire.
***
Before she knew it, the sun had risen, and Sallet woke from her sleep.
She felt like she had slept deeply for the first time in a while; her body felt light and her fatigue had melted away. Her legs also seemed a bit better, as sensation was returning to them.
“......?”
Feeling hazy, she swept back her hair and blinked at the items placed beside her.
A leather garment of red and black. A convenient travel outfit complete with a hood to cover the head.
It seemed to be made of luxurious material, smooth to the touch and excellently designed. Next to it were black boots, apparently placed there with Sallet’s feet in mind.
“What is this...?”
As she tilted her head in confusion at the suddenly appeared travel clothes and shoes while up in the tree, the summoned Ifrit stood beside her with arms crossed.
-He left them behind.
“...That human?”
Sallet turned her head and looked down.
The man in the crow mask, sitting atop the weeds, was passing the time reading a book.
Though he could have left at any time if he wished, he remained in that spot for hours, as if concerned about her.
Sallet couldn’t help but look at Loki and feel puzzled.
Why was he taking care of her like this? Even though he could shake her off whenever he wanted...
As if knowing Sallet’s thoughts, Ifrit shook his head.
-How long are you going to keep doing that?
“Doing what?”
-Following him.
Sallet turned her head away, avoiding Ifrit’s gaze.
“...I don’t know.”
-What is the reason? Simple curiosity? Or are you trying to use him?
Sallet blinked at Ifrit.
Come to think of it, why was she chasing that enigmatic man? What was the reason?
Even when she asked herself, no answer came out.
Could it be curiosity, as Ifrit had said?
Perhaps. She might be curious because he looked so different from a human.
If not that, was it to use him?
That wasn’t it. She didn’t think she could use him. The reason she had become a slave in the first place was to penetrate deep into human society, prepared to become their plaything.
And to enchant some king or noble with [Charm] to raise an army and throw humanity into chaos.
Sallet had used the divine ability [Charm] on the crow-masked man before her as well, but she knew it hadn’t worked.
The only other method was to seduce him herself, but...
“...He doesn’t seem to be interested in women, either.”
She didn’t think he would accept her seduction as a woman.
Seeing him rather take care of her when she was defenseless solidified that thought.
At that, Ifrit smirked and sneered.
-Is that so? Maybe you’re just not his type.
“...Are you saying I’m not attractive?”
When Sallet raised her eyes sharply, Ifrit shook his head.
-Who knows?
Sallet didn’t like his words. But at the thought that it might be true, her brow furrowed.
She felt strangely displeased.
“...It doesn’t matter. His taste or whatever.”
“......”
Loki smacked his lips and closed the book titled [Continental Atlas of Nations] that he had brought from the frozen land.
He had been looking for the next village or city to go to, but he couldn’t concentrate due to the voices coming from above.
‘...She must be quite bored.’
Sallet threw off the rags that slaves wore and changed into the clothes Loki had provided.
They were clean yet soft.
Made to be warm and cozy even against the biting chill.
So comfortable that she felt herself involuntarily relax.
Moreover, with the hood, she could cover her long ears if she pulled it over her head.
The boots were sturdy and durable, yet so light that she could forget she was wearing them.
“...Wow.”
Sallet let out an exclamation of admiration without realizing it and looked at the clothes.
‘What in the world is this made of?’
-Those clothes are incredible.
Ifrit exclaimed, but for a different reason than Sallet.
“...Do you know something about these clothes?”
Ifrit shook his head.
-No, I don’t. However... it feels similar to the hide of the ancient dragonkin. It possesses durability strong enough that ordinary weapons or magic couldn’t even leave a scratch. Amazing. To lend something like this so casually.
Sallet couldn’t help but be surprised, as it was the first time she had seen Ifrit praise something so excessively.
“Ah, he’s moving.”
After some time had passed, Loki stood up, packed his things, and began to move.
As he walked, she followed.
The reason?
She didn’t know. So, she would simply chase him until she did.