Chapter 10: Encounter with the Unknown
“Can you stand?”
Though the voice was filled with concern, I couldn’t muster any strength in my legs. I hadn’t eaten anything for an entire day, and on top of that, I had injured my left hand and vomited after consuming a poisonous fruit.
“Just a moment.”
I placed my hands on my knees and slowly pushed myself up. I managed to stand, but things were looking grim…
“Whoa…”
Dizziness struck, and I instinctively clung to Yuzuki-san, who was right in front of me.
“Are you okay? …Do you think you can walk?”
Yuzuki-san felt comforting in my embrace, but her genuine worry sparked a twinge of guilt within me.
“Here, I’ll lend you my shoulder. Let’s do our best, okay?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Seeing Yuzuki-san’s awkward smile motivated me to push through. I grasped her shoulder and began to walk slowly, but then—
“Stop.”
The voice that suddenly came from behind froze me in place.
“Don’t make any sudden movements. Turn around slowly.”
The voice, which had come from a direction I hadn’t sensed at all, heightened my wariness. The tense atmosphere crackled around us. I exchanged glances with Yuzuki-san, and we nodded subtly. At least we were dealing with someone who could communicate; we likely wouldn’t be ambushed like beasts.
As I turned around cautiously, I found a strikingly handsome figure with dark skin and two horns protruding from his forehead, standing there with his palms facing us.
“What are you doing in a place like this?”
The moment I laid eyes on someone who looked so different from a human, my body stiffened. Those two horns on his forehead matched the characteristics of the Demon Tribe I had heard about! According to the Princess, the Demon King was leading the Demon Tribe and monsters to invade, right? I had to answer carefully; my life could be at stake.
“Actually, I was set up by my companions and was teleported into this forest without any equipment.”
“Huh?”
I raised both hands to show I was unarmed, as if to provide proof to the skeptical figure. Yuzuki-san also spread her robe to reveal her empty pockets.
“Really… you have nothing on you…”
Seeing the handsome figure lower his hands in confusion, I felt a wave of relief wash over me; for now, the immediate danger had passed.
“To enter the Forest of Enchantment without anything… do you want to die?”
“The Forest of Enchantment…?”
What a sinister name for a forest. Wait, is this the forest we’re in? Seriously?
“What? You entered without even knowing that?”
“Well, it’s not like I wanted to come here…”
“Ah, you mentioned being teleported…”
The handsome figure stroked his chin, deep in thought. He had been staring at us intently, but suddenly his expression shifted as if he noticed something.
“Is that guy over there alright?”
Feeling a bit embarrassed about relying on a girl for support, I managed a wry smile.
“Ha ha… I’m just a bit weak right now…”
“Is that so…? There aren’t any monsters around here that carry paralysis poison, but…”
Just as he cast a suspicious glance my way, my stomach let out a loud growl—grrrrroooowl!
“……”
A long silence followed, with no one daring to speak. Just when I began to feel the awkwardness weighing heavily on us, the handsome figure’s shoulders started to shake.
“Pfft, ha ha ha!”
It seemed he was laughing.
“…Don’t laugh at me.”
Being laughed at for my misfortune wasn’t exactly pleasant. However, I hesitated to provoke this Demon Tribe member, so my voice came out as a mere whisper.
“Ha ha ha! Sorry about that. But this is truly a masterpiece.”
It appeared he had heard me. Thankfully, he didn’t seem offended; my life was on the line here, after all.
“As an apology, I’ll invite you to my home. You must be hungry, right?”
“Eh?”
Yuzuki-san exclaimed, clearly taken aback by his unexpected offer.
“Is that really okay? We’re complete strangers, after all…”
“Hah! Kids shouldn’t be so considerate of adults.”
We exchanged glances, surprised by being treated like children. Well, we were indeed high school students, but I never expected to be so openly regarded as a kid. Just after being summoned, I was treated like a hero… or rather, a mere errand boy. I definitely wanted to discuss how I was being treated.
“Ha ha… well then, I’ll gladly accept your offer…”
I wanted to say, “Thank you for your hospitality,” but the words got stuck in my throat.
“Mizumoto-kun!?”
From somewhere distant, I heard Yuzuki-san calling my name. Perhaps due to the sudden relaxation of tension, my consciousness faded away at that moment.
“…Ah, you’re awake?”
“Huh?”
When I opened my eyes, Yuzuki-san’s face was right in front of me.
“Where is this…?”
It seemed I was lying on a bed made of rough fabric. I was in some sort of room, but was there really a house in the middle of the forest? The walls appeared to be made of dirt.
“This is Mr. Welter’s house… the guy with the horns we met earlier.”
“I see. Sorry for passing out like that.”
“No, it’s fine. It seems like you’ve had it the worst, Mizumoto-kun… I need to do my best too.”
The way she said that made it sound like she wanted to endure hardships alongside me.
Grrrroooowl~~
As I mentally scolded myself, my stomach growled again.
“Ah ha ha!”
“…”
I had been desperately trying to ignore the delicious aroma wafting through the air, but my stomach clearly couldn’t overlook it.
“They said to take you to the dining room once you woke up, so shall we go?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Despite my embarrassment, the certainty of getting a meal gave me the strength to walk, albeit a bit unsteadily, without needing her support.