Immediately after the Spatial Transfer (Teleport), continuing from the end of Chapter One.
Caught in the Spatial Transfer (Teleport) Magic, Elena and I were flung to an unfamiliar place.
Dry wind. Fine sand clinging to everything. The dazzling morning sun, unblocked by clouds, illuminated a vast ruined city veiled in sand haze, and upon seeing it, Elena murmured the name of the ruins.
“…Lace Veil?”
“Y-yes… I’ve only read about it in books, so it’s my first time seeing it in person, but if this is the Searth Continent and a desert city ruin, I can’t think of anything else.”
Elena tells me about the ancient ruins she learned about in books.
It’s from an unknown era, at least before the Cruz people, the indigenous people of this continent, formed a nation. It’s uncertain what race lived there.
This city, with its architectural style different from that of the Cruz people living in the west of the continent or the long-lived Forest Elves, is made entirely of sandstone. Yet, except for the exterior, it hasn’t weathered and retains complex shapes, allowing us to imagine life back then.
The most distinctive feature of these city ruins is their vastness. They are about the size of a small country, taking a month just to cross, and no one knows the full extent of the city.
With so much remaining and Utility Magic making water available even in the desert, it wouldn’t be strange if people lived here. However, the reason it remains a ruin without inhabitants is that it’s a nest for countless Monsters living in the desert.
Lizards and snakes with rock-like skin, giant beetle-type Monsters, crazed Spirits and Undead, and even dragons are said to dwell deep within.
“No one lives here?”
“Probably…”
The paleness of Elena’s face in the morning sun isn’t just from the fatigue of the attack.
If this is indeed Lace Veil, it’s a distance that would require crossing at least four other countries from Claydale in the southeast of the continent. If Elena’s state of being missing continued for too long, it could play into the Evil Race’s plan to capture her alive, disrupting the internal balance.
Elena regrets not being able to die in a way that everyone would understand.
If I had understood Elena’s intentions at that time and killed her instead of Gostola, the Aristocratic Faction, though not in the best position, would have supported the Crown Prince.
But I wanted Elena to struggle and live until the very last moment.
“Let’s go home, Elena. We can die anytime. The Kingdom of Claydale isn’t such a weak country that it will fall apart in a few months.”
“Aria…”
At my words, Elena raises her face, which had been downcast, and her blue eyes reflect me.
I want her to live. It’s my selfishness. But I won’t give up. I will definitely take Elena back before the country falls into chaos.
Perhaps sensing my determination, the usual strength returns to her eyes.
“…I understand, Aria. But promise me one thing… If I ever find myself in a situation where I absolutely cannot return… kill me, and return alone to tell them.”
“Elena…”
She is strong. I gently reach out to the brilliance of the strength hidden within her fragile appearance, and Elena’s hands envelop mine as if in prayer.
“Please…”
“…I understand.”
We huddle together for a while, then slowly separate, looking at each other as if facing forward, and quietly nod.
“Let’s decide on a plan.”
First, we need to reach a place where people live. It would be great if there was a Magic Tool for long-distance communication, but the chances are slim. Elena believes that such communication Magic Tools, capable of long-distance calls between countries, are only available in the Calfaan Empire.
“Find a settlement. Then find a way to get to the Calfaan Empire. We’ll figure out the details after finding a settlement.”
“That’s fine with me. And since we’ll be working together from now on, will you treat me as a comrade?”
Elena’s expression, now positive about the goal of returning together, seems somewhat cheerful. Despite the situation, her inherent brightness, which makes her strong, is coming to the surface.
“Understood. Elena, sleep.”
“…Eh?”
Elena, who thought she would be assigned tasks, looks bewildered. But this is also a proper “Adventurer” job.
“You haven’t slept either, have you, Elena? Besides, it’s cool now, but the temperature will rise quickly as the sun gets higher. We’ll move in the evening.”
According to that woman’s “knowledge,” the temperature difference between day and night in the desert is extreme. I don’t know if that applies to this world, but at least the temperature I feel on my skin is gradually starting to rise.
“We’ll go back to the Forest to find a place to rest. Drink water frequently.”
“Y-yes.”
I hand Elena the roasted nuts I took out from 【Shadow Storage】 as she hurriedly chases after me back to the Forest.
“【Water】”
Perhaps because the air is dry, there are few visible Mana Particles of Water, and the amount of water obtained with Utility Magic is small. But Elena, who has Water affinity, sees that and produces water for me as well.
Even though it’s called a Forest, it’s more like a scrub forest with rocky areas because it’s close to the desert. The trees are straight and thin with few leaves, so I find a rocky area that might provide shade and give Elena my coat from 【Shadow Storage】.
“We’ll take turns napping. I’ll wake you in about an hour, so until then…”
“You should rest first, Aria.”
Elena, interrupting my words, pushes back the coat I handed her and glares at me with a slightly scary face.
“You have dark circles under your eyes. Have you not slept for days? I’m still fine, so you should sleep first.”
“…Understood.”
I’m still okay if I’m just awake, but it’s true that my HP is quite low. Besides, I reconsidered, thinking that Elena wouldn’t back down, so I decided to take her up on her offer.
“Then, I’ll give you this too. It’s mine, so it’s not as good as those frilly things, right?”
Elena is currently wearing a thin nightgown with a spare coat over it, and the short boots I used at the academy. Such attire would be problematic for future actions, so I take out the academy uniform from 【Shadow Storage】 and hand it to her.
The academy uniform is quite sturdy compared to the dresses and one-pieces worn by nobles. It’s designed to be worn for long periods, and it also has a slight temperature control function.
If I let Elena, a Princess, wear something I wore, her aides might get angry, but needs must.
Elena receives the uniform I offer with a slightly suspicious attitude, then suddenly makes a strange face.
“Your Shadow Storage… was it? It has quite a capacity, with clothes and even food.”
“Does it?”
When I first activated 【Shadow Storage】, it only had the capacity of a single bag. But as my Mana Control level increased, and Dark Magic reached level 4, allowing me to create subspace storage bags, and I got used to using it repeatedly, the capacity had expanded to about the size of a wardrobe, like a storage bag.
The inside of 【Shadow Storage】 is sterile, so food becomes like it’s in jars, and the smell of clothes disappears, making them less likely to deteriorate, so I keep most of my everyday items inside.
Now that my Mana Control is level 5, I might be able to put a little more in.
“Well then, I’ll rest first. Wake me up immediately if anything happens.”
Leaning against a rock and curling up with my knees drawn to my chest, I quietly let my consciousness sink into the darkness while listening to Elena’s voice.
“Good night… Aria.”
＊＊＊
Watching Aria fall asleep in an instant, a faint smile appears on Elena’s lips.
The sleeping face of the strong, beautiful girl, whom everyone sighs at when they see her, looks more childish than one could imagine.
Upon closer inspection, Aria not only hasn’t slept for days, but also has unhealed wounds on her arms and cheeks, and her glossy hair and skin are stained with blood and mud.
“…【Purify (Clean)】…”
Elena whispers the Magic to purify Aria’s dirt. But seeing it like this, I realize once again that Aria was better at using 【Purify (Clean)】.
It is said that illnesses are caused by the impurities in the atmosphere or by the mischief of Spirits. But according to Aria, invisible small creatures are the source of the impurities, and purifying them can keep the body healthy.
“A mysterious child…”
Stroking Aria’s now clean pink hair with her fingers, Elena uses 【Cure】 to erase the remaining wounds on her.
How fierce must the battle have been? Elena’s tears almost spill as she heals the wounds on Aria’s body, thinking about how she fought Grave, who was said to be the strongest in the Shadow Unit, and then rushed to her aid.
From now on, we have to cooperate. However, when it comes to Purify (Clean) and Cure, Aria-san, who is knowledgeable about the human body, is unmatched, and there is a huge gap in combat ability like a wall.
I want to become stronger. Elena earnestly wishes so. At least to be able to protect herself. So that Aria-san won’t get hurt anymore.
As Aria-san healed my wounds, the sunlight started to get stronger as she said.
Elena quietly stood up, thinking of finishing changing before the shadows got too short.
Among the daughters of high-ranking nobles, some leave everything from start to finish to their maids. Elena, as a princess, lived that kind of life until she was four years old, but being abandoned by her mother changed her awareness, and after meeting Aria-san at the age of seven, she practiced to be able to do the bare minimum for herself.
Taking off the thin nightgown and picking up the uniform borrowed from Aria-san, she remembered that Aria-san had worn this and her cheeks flushed slightly.
As a princess, Elena doesn’t share things with others. Even clothes, chairs, and cups for drinking tea are made exclusively for her.
Even when eating outside the palace, Elena’s maids bring their own cutlery and dishes. But from now on, she will even have to eat unclean meals, but Elena didn’t feel much aversion to it.
After entering the academy, Elena was surprised that the daughters of middle-ranking nobles naturally shared things with their friends, and she even envied it.
Elena has no friends. There are ladies who exchange words with her, but it is only the relationship between a princess and her subjects. Her cousin, Clara-san, used to be a friend and like a sister, but now there is a rift that is difficult to repair.
The only one with whom she has a relationship close to equal is Aria-san, but she is a comrade of the same kind, and there is a dividing line between the two of them, princess and guard.
But… borrowing and lending personal belongings with her like this stirred Elena’s heart like ripples, as if they were “friends.”
She always watched Aria-san, so she knows how to wear it. While her heart was pounding as she put her sleeves through for the first time, she finished changing, but perhaps due to the difference in height, the sleeves were too long and the hem of the skirt was dragging.
She couldn’t wear it as beautifully as Aria-san, and while feeling slightly dejected, Elena’s lips curved into a smile at the experience of sharing something with Aria-san for the first time.
“…………”
I was really scared. Even though I was prepared to die, I never thought I wanted to die. The pressure as a princess, the resolve to carry the country on my back, I was able to do it because Aria-san was by my side, watching her struggle to live.
I want to go home with Aria-san. Wishing to become stronger for that purpose, Elena gently sat down next to her sleeping form and rested her head on her shoulder for a little while.
I wonder if I was able to express the subtle relationship between the two of them a little?
The two of them are 15-16 years old in appearance and mentally mature, but inside they are 12-13 year old girls.
Next time, what will Nero-san do as he heads to his master Serejula-san’s hermitage?