45 . 1 Ruiseine’s Spirit

h.e.l.lo, I am Ruiseine Nefer .

I should have been going to the vice-capital with Ernekun for an errand, but troublesome circ.u.mstances happened . In retrospect, this all started a few days before the errand even began .

“Ruiseineー You have been getting along with Erneacchi recently, ehー”

“My, my, well, well, what are you saying all of a sudden, Inea?”

“Fufufu, it’s useless to play dumb . All of us can clearly see it .

“T-that…”

My face heated up . Certainly, I had been talking a lot with him recently, but it was because Ernekun is really cute…

“It’s love, eh~”

“It’s love, huhー”

Su- such a thing…

I was just getting along with Ernekun . How did Kiri and Inea misunderstand that?

“Fufufu . When we hit the bullseye, Ruiseine will become bashful . ”

“W-what do you mean by bashful?”

“Your ears are redー”

What? What are these two trying to do to me all of a sudden?

“It can’t be helped, rightー We are Ruiseine’s friends, after all . We have to support you hereー”

“Support what?”

I couldn’t understand anything Inea was saying .

“We are going to go on an adventure with Ristia starting tomorrow . ”

“That・is・why . We won’t be able to go on Ruiseine’s errandー”

“Because of that, Ruiseine, please invite Ernea to accompany you on your errand . ”

“Eeehhh!?”

“I already got the permission from Yashursama, the shrine maiden headー”

Kiri and Inea were so forceful . I was pulled onto their overbearing conspiracy .

…

Regardless, I couldn’t go on this errand alone . It couldn’t be helped, I decided to speak out to Ernekun .  Will he be willing to go to the vice-capital with someone like me? Won’t I be troubling him?

“This is a good opportunityー”

“That’s right . Two people on a six-day round trip are bound to get intimate . ”

With Kiri and Inea pushed me from behind and giving me their troublesome suggestions, I ended up inviting Ernekun .  T-this thoroughness is nothing more than Kiri and Ineas’ scheme . It’s not a long cherish goal, or so I told myself .

And then, Ernekun surprised me by readily agreeing .  He such a good child .  I coerced him a bit by using his secret from the ruins .  Kiri and Inea are a bad influence on me . I’m not doing this of my will .

…

Thus, early in the morning of the appointed day, Ernekun and I met at the appointed Arc de Triomphe .

I asked, “Why at the Arc de Triomphe, not the temple?”

“We told the shrine maiden head-sama that you will travel together with a great female adventurerー”

“As can be expected, even if the boy is a cla.s.smate, getting permission to travel together is still doubtful . ”

As such, if Ernekun came to the temple, their lies would get revealed .

When I arrived at the Arc de Triomphe, Elnea was already their waiting for me . He greeted me with a waving hand and a precious smile . I gave him a perfect score .

However, a shocking truth got revealed afterwards that made me faint .

…

“Daddyyyyyy!”

It happened shortly after our departure .

Right when I thought a mother and daughter were resting together ahead in the shade of a tree, the daughter suddenly ran towards Ernekun while calling out that word .

Ehhhhhhh!?

What does this mean!?

“Mommyyyyyyyy!”

Afterwards, the little girl ran towards the beautiful woman who seemed to be her mother .

Eh, ehh?

What is this?

“Daddyyyyyyyyy!”

The little girl again ran up to Ernekun and hugged him tightly .

I couldn’t comprehend was is what, and for some reason screamed out .

Apparently, this also shocked Ernekun . However, he seemed to be acquainted with the woman and the little girl . Then, upon hearing who these people are, I collapsed .

For how long have I been unconsciousness?

When I woke up, I found myself lying on a bench in the rest area .

Something wrong surely must have happened .  With those thoughts, I once more confirmed my situation and ended up fainting again .

Ernekun, you idioooot .

I cried out in my heart as my consciousness slipped away .

…

“I’m sorry, but there are reasons for this . ”

When I regained my consciousness, I learned that the woman was worrying about me . Even though we were of the same s.e.x, I found her very beautiful . She then told me the circ.u.mstances, gave me her name, and also introduced the little girl .

The little girl had a cute name, Priscillchan . She was very lively and cheerful, jumping around happily with a kitten while we walked . The kitten-chan seemed to be called Nymichan . She wore a dragon costume that matched with Priscillchan’s fluffy hat . They were so cute . Priscillchan and Nymichan are watched with gentle eyes by Mistral-san who walked next to me .

Mistral-san’s beauty was truly charming . Furthermore, she was also a very kind woman . Not only did she politely expressed her apology to me for suddenly coming to travel with us, she also looked after me while I was unconscious . When I asked her, she told me she’s is seventeen years old .  Even though we are the same age, she is very composed and mature person .

I was able to feel some relief upon learning the circ.u.mstances between Ernekun and Mistral-san . Then, without my realizing it, I was already in a conversation with Mistral-san . Still, the fact that they are engaged was the truth .  Somehow, I feel like there is a gaping hole in my heart .

…

Later, a small issue arose during lunch . I was able to see Mistral-san’s strong side . Afterwards, the rest of the first day pa.s.sed with our being chased by the highway patrolmen .

I received a lesson . I shouldn’t ever anger Mistral-san no matter what .

It had been a tough day, but we somehow manage to safely get an inn . All of us sharing a single, large, room with Ernekun was a little embarra.s.sing, but that is just a trifling issue .

Thus, I believe my fate was decided that night .

We girls left Ernekun behind and entered the bath . Right away, I was surprised by Priscillchan’s ears . Appearing from underneath her fluffy hat were cute, long, drooping, ears .

I was so surprised that I screamed .

Then came more .

I took off Nymichan’s fancy costume and saw that she has a pair of round horns like those from a lovely sheep . Also, for some reason, the wings on her back can’t be removed .

“Nnmtto, Nymia is a dragon!”

Priscillchan innocently said that, but that was about to make me collapse again .

Eeeehhh, a dragon?

A real one?

While I’m fl.u.s.tered and confused, Mistral-san gives me the final blow . “Priscillchan is from the Long-Eared Tribe . Sorry for not telling you . ”

Eeehhhh!? That legendary Long-Eared Tribe?

I couldn’t believe it . I stared at Nymichan and Priscillchan .

Priscillchan, who seemed to be happy upon getting naked, ran around with her long, drooping, ears . Furthermore, Nymichan flapped the wings on her back and chased Priscillchan .

“I’ll explain everything, so let’s talk about the details in the bath . ”

Mistral-san also took off her clothes and invited me to the bathroom .

My, my, well, well, Ernekun, just what kind of acquaintances do you have?

Although I was overwhelmed, Priscillchan took my hand and pulled me into the bathroom .

Inside, Mistral-san skillfully cleaned Priscillchan . Priscillchan imitated her and lathered Nymichan with bubbles . Nymichan didn’t seem like she disliked the action and obediently allowed herself to be scrubbed .

This left a deep impression on me . None of these people are family, they aren’t even of the same race, yet they got along quite harmoniously .

I too cleansed my body before entering the bathtub . Afterwards, everyone got in together .

In the temple, we all bath together in a large bath . This one wasn’t as large, but having skin contact with others in a not-so-large bathtub felt quite comfortable .

Within the bath, Mistral-san explained about herself, Priscillchan, and Nymichan . By no means would I have thought that Mistral-san herself wasn’t from the human tribe .

My, my, well, well, Ernekun, just what kind of incredible things have you been up to? Perhaps, you’re doing something even more amazing than Yuusha Ristia .

Did we talk too long? Priscillchan said that she felt hot, and abruptly disappeared before our eyes .

What just happened? The suddenness left me astonished .

A noise then came from outside .

Who!?

I jumped out of the bathtub .