novelzi Chapter 112
Chapter 112
The Northern Mountains
“Meg, we’re here.”
“Nnyu...?”
I must have fallen asleep. When I came to, I was in human Gil-san’s arms. I rubbed my eyes and looked around. Were we in a forest? No, no, that’s not right. Gil-san had said we’d arrived.
“The... nowthern mountains...?”
I felt a shiver run down my spine. Maybe Meg was feeling agitated, uneasy. I felt it. I rubbed my arms, as if to hug myself. It’s okay, Meg. We’re not alone.@@@@
“Are you okay?”
“...Okii.”
See? There’s someone right beside me, protecting me. Someone I can rely on. So it’s okay, Meg. As I was reassuring her, rubbing my arms, I calmed down a little. I’d calmed myself down, but Meg’s inside me too. Hmm, it’s hard to explain, but I could tell that this unease wasn’t mine.
“Well then, let’s head deep into the forest. We have no choice but to go on foot from here.”
“That’s right. I’m sure they’ve already sensed our presence, but if we wander around in our beast forms, we might make them wary. And this is my second time here in a short period of time, so I need to be especially careful.”
That’s right. Nika-san had been going back and forth. And Juma-kun had been on a dragon-slaying rampage here... It’s a miracle he’s okay! Because I could feel a tingling sensation, like magic power, in the air.
“Can you feel it, Meg? High Elf magic power, it’s incredibly dense here. Malicious magic, imbued with the will to eliminate any intruders without hesitation.”
According to Gil-san, anyone who specialized in magic would be able to feel it. And those who didn’t, wouldn’t. Those who used magic to enhance their physical abilities, like Juma-kun and Nika-san, wouldn’t feel it. But they should still be able to sense it if they paid attention, Gil-san had added with a grimace. Ah, so Juma-kun had probably been engrossed in hunting dragons, completely oblivious... And Nika-san’s so wary. Well, that’s Juma-kun for you.
“Well, conversely, if you were carelessly hunting monsters like Juma, they’d probably leave you alone.”
This area was also known as a good hunting ground, so there were always a certain number of people hunting here. They probably wouldn’t bother eliminating every single one of them. I guess that’s a good thing? But we’re different, we’re aware of this malicious magic, and we’re walking around, not hunting. Yeah, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were wary.
“Let’s try to find that place where the space is distorted as quickly as possible.”
“That’s my specialty. But the area is vast... I’ll do my best.”
“I’m okii, but, can you cawwy me, Gil-shan...?”
We have to keep moving. I’m sorry, Meg. But we have to go. I’m here with you this time, so please... be patient for a bit longer.
I apologized to Meg in my heart as Gil-san picked me up. “Haa,” I felt myself calming down. I hoped his comforting embrace would reach Meg too.
“Sowwy...”
“It’s nothing.”
He patted my head. I had to admire Gil-san’s paternal skills.
“Ugh... I also, I also want to be asked for a hug someday...!”
“That’s right. Now, let’s hurry, Zahariash-sama.”
The Demon King and Kron-san were the same as always. Well, maybe I should be grateful, it lightened the mood.
But I couldn’t joke around anymore. As we approached the entrance, my whole body started to tremble. Even though I was okay. It felt like... Meg was terrified, and I was standing there, close by, understanding her fear, but unable to do anything. That’s what was happening inside me. And my body was trembling.
But the only reason I wasn’t crying was because of Gil-san. He must have felt me trembling, and yet, he continued to stroke my back, his touch warm and comforting. His embrace tightened. His heartbeat was strong and steady. It was all incredibly reassuring.
And then, after we’d walked for a while... I saw it.
“Ah...”
“What is it?”
“Nothing... just go a wittle further...”
I answered the Demon King, who’d been the first to react to my voice. And then, when it was right before me—
【Welcome home! Our family! Do you want a bath? Dinner?】
I was dumbfounded.