Chapter Fifty Four: Encounter

“Leila — wait!!”

But Leila turned her back on me and ran away, head lowered.

What is going on, Leila? I came all the way to the sacred land for you.

Going back to a day now. We left the town gate and headed for the capital with our loot. Our journey back was surprisingly quick — we were home in minutes thanks to how fast Duddul flew.

It was afternoon and people could see us flying, but I wanted to “ride in style,” as they say. Not many people in this world can fly. Being given this ability made me want to show off, even if only a little. And besides…………

“I can’t wait to fly!!” Meila excitedly shouted after we left the town. I had no choice but to fly.

“The wind is so strong…… everything looks so tiny!! So this is how it feels to fly!!??” She couldn’t keep still. She shifted her weight and wriggled when she saw something exciting.

We flew through the clouds to avoid being noticed. The clouds were more like smoke than vapor. Meila stretched out a hand as if she could grab them. She would have known that was pointless if she came from my world. But this girl didn’t know anything about science.

I turned a blind eye because she was so thrilled, until we got home. Our new neighborhood was quiet as usual. We didn’t have to worry about being seen when we landed — that wouldn’t have been the case if commoners were around.

I noticed a single manor standing out. Taking the sacred land as our twelve o’clock, the manor was at eight. My guess was that it belonged to a noblewoman. The whole building was painted purple and a strong barrier, like glass, covered it. It was the first time I’d seen a barrier reflect the sun.

I wondered why it was secluded from the other manors. It was much larger than the others I’d seen — could she be of very high rank? But that would place her close to the king, wouldn’t it?

Mysteries upon mysteries. I wonder when I’ll begin to grasp all the things in this world.

We landed safely in the backyard of our house. There weren’t any people in front of the house, which I liked — it made me feel like a wanted man.

“Aaah~! Home sweet home! I kinda missed this place. Did you?” Meila dropped the wings on my room’s floor as we entered through the backdoor.

Sorry, but it’s not our house. We’ll be in trouble if the owners return while we’re here. We should have checked if anyone was inside before entering. What if there were people in the other rooms?

“I missed it too. But compared to Taht’s house, this place feels…… lonely……”

“I know, right? But once we bring back Leila, it’ll feel much better!”

She smiled earnestly. That smile was reassuring. I felt relieved to know I wasn’t the only one who wanted Leila back. Her cousin needed her too — maybe even more than I did.

We ate before leaving Taht’s house. I jumped onto the bed and stretched. I’d been sleeping on a cushion for so long that lying in a big bed felt glorious.

“Haaah……… I want to sleep.” I wasn’t very sleepy, but I needed to clear my head to plan my next “sacred land infiltration.”

“Say………..”

I had my face buried in the bed when Meila spoke softly.

“Why do you care about Leila so much?”

“Why……? That’s a funny question. The funniest I’ve ever had………….. Leila means everything to me in this world. She’s irreplaceable. To tell you the truth, I don’t know how my life would have turned out if it hadn’t been for her. She came to my aid when everyone else turned their backs on me. She stayed by my side even when we couldn’t stand close to each other. No one showed me that much kindness, not even in my previous world……… what I’m trying to say is that Leila saved me from myself. It’s all thanks to her that I have friends like you guys. I would have turned to the dark side if it weren’t for her. So yeah…… she’s my hero……. Hehe.”

I stayed exactly like that after answering. I didn’t turn to face the seat she was on.

“.……. I see…………… then, if it were me……. would you try to rescue me as well if something like that ever happens to me?”

“Hmm? What are you saying? No one will save a useless person like you. I mean, no one will take you away to begin with. You are so funny!”

Having Leila taken is one thing. But Meila being taken as well…… I don’t want to imagine that.

“Y-you are right. I’m useless…… no one wants me………..”

Huh? This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. She should have yelled at me for that joke. Why does she sound so sad?

I had to fix things before they got worse……….

“Meila……………………..”

I sat up and looked toward the door. She had opened it with a sad look. When I felt guilty for what I’d said, she smiled at me and said,

“Oh yeah……….. I’m going to take a nap as well. Don’t do anything to me while I sleep, okay?” She closed the door immediately after that.

Meila…………………..?

I’d lost the chance to play it off as a joke.

“What did I do………?”

Even though I hadn’t been sleepy before, a sudden overwhelming tiredness swept over me.

I woke later in the day and found Meila alone in the huge living room.

“Hey! Did you rest well?”

“.………..”

Haha…….. I’m being ignored.

“Man, what a bummer. There’s no TV in this living room. This world sucks……………..” Still no reaction.

“That’s right! Do you want to hear about my world? I haven’t told you about it yet, right? I bet you’re super interested since you didn’t even know it existed!”

“.………………. If you’re trying to make me forget what you said earlier then don’t waste your time. I already know that I’m useless……”

“Wait, Meila. That’s not what I meant. I only said that as a joke. Really!”

She looked away. Her ears closed up on their own like a morning glory flower.

Would she get angrier if I teased her ears now? No — I shouldn’t take that chance.

Then an idea hit me.

“I bet you’re hungry, right? I’ll cook something delicious for you. Just sit tight.”

I rushed to the kitchen and searched our food supplies.

The Meila who’s always bouncing around was sad because of something I said. I had to make it up to her somehow — and I knew just what would make her smile.

“TA-DAA!” An hour later, I presented my specialty made from whatever I found. I didn’t even know what to call it.

All I knew was I mixed in a lot of fish and vegetables. I also made something like a cake for dessert.

“D-don’t go assuming things on your own! It’s not like I have time to waste being angry at you……….”

Look who’s talking.

“But since I’ve gotten hungry…………..” she picked up a spoon with an annoyed expression.

I’d really struck a nerve, hadn’t I?

“Hmm……… it’s disgushting……” she said with her mouth full.

I sat on the sofa opposite her and watched as she finished everything.

Ingredients in this world carry a degree of magic. I’m sure even an amateur could make something tasty with them.

“Haa~!” she lay back on the cushion, satisfied.

When our eyes met, she looked away and went, “Hmph!”

Well, I’d tried to make amends.

I served myself after she finished eating. Since evening was near, I made enough for dinner. The cookers in the house run on magic. The same kind of stones I used to make fire in the mountains were abundant in the kitchen.

After I finished, I decided it was time to go. The pendant Taht gave me is supposed to reveal Leila’s whereabouts, so this time I was almost certain I’d find her. All I needed was to borrow Meila’s ability for a while. That way I wouldn’t worry about being caught by the guards.

“Meila……….” I crossed to where she lay and looked at her with a fervent expression.

I quickly jumped on top of her and pinned her shoulders as gently as I could.

She was so surprised her ears perked up.

“Wh-what are you doing!” she tried to sit up, but my hands kept her down.

“Meila……. you’re so cute.”

‘Haaa!?’

She flushed bright red, embarrassed.

I kept my weight on her and stared into her eyes. She looked away, ears twitching.

Her brown ears were adorable. The color suited her perfectly. I didn’t understand why she felt insecure about her brown hair. Was it an inferiority complex about Leila?

“How cute……..”

“Stop~ I…… I don’t like it.”

I guessed that was enough for now.

“This pendant — how do I use it?”

“.…………!!??”

What? Had I said something weird? She seemed to think what I was doing was inappropriate.

“Tell me….. please~?” I begged.

Still avoiding my gaze: “You think of who you want to find and it glows, pointing in the direction they are. Now get off me.”

I see…

The necklace was already around my neck, so I closed my eyes and thought of Leila. This was it. With this I could finally track her. Woooow…… I felt it glow?

It didn’t. When I opened my eyes it was its normal blue.

“It didn’t glow…………. Meila…..”

“Of course it wouldn’t. I only said something random. Besides……. you don’t have any magic at all.”

So she’d been teasing me. Still, I had the feeling the process wasn’t far off.

I removed the pendant from my neck and raised Meila’s head. I slipped it onto her as she stared, surprised.

“Who do you think you are, playing with my body like this!?”

“Your body?”

Oh, right. In a normal situation I’d be shy and excited to be on top of a girl. But now I just needed her help. And since she was mad at me, I had to be roundabout.

“Oh! It’s glowing!”

Just seconds after I put it on her, the pendant lit in blue and pointed at me.

“Why is it pointing at me? I know you’re thinking of me right now since I’m doing these things to you, but think of Leila instead.”

“I’m not thinking about you! Now get off me! SLAP!” she slapped me furiously.

“Sorry. I didn’t know you hated thinking about me that much. I guess I’m just a stranger to you after all. That’s alright. That’s how I’ve been treated since I got here. And here I thought you were my friend. I guess………….”

I wasn’t serious. She was angry at me now, but once I made her feel guilty too, things would even out.

The pendant on her neck glowed brighter and the stone floated, pointing at me.

She must really be thinking about me right now, right?

“O-Okay. I’ll try. But I’m only doing this for Leila, you hear?”

“Yes I know.”

She covered her eyes with both hands, embarrassed. I waited two minutes without change.

“I can’t think about her if you stay on top of me!!” she yelled.

“S-sorry!”

I should have known I was making her uncomfortable.

I crawled off and stood in the corridor leading to our rooms, watching.

She sat up, and after a minute, the pendant pointed east — the sacred land.

“Pour some of your magic inside!”

“You don’t have to tell me!!”

I was sure the pendant would return to normal when I touched it. Better that she put enough magic in it to guide me to Leila.

“Okay I’m done!!”

You didn’t have to shout.

I moved to the cushion and took the pendant. It kept glowing in my hand. It felt like a force tugging it toward the sacred land; the stone shifted in my palm.

“Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver!”

I jumped on her and hugged her.

“No!! get away from me!!”

We returned to our earlier positions, me pinning her to the cushion.

This time I was serious.

“Meila……… you’re so cute……”

Her face flushed again and she turned away.

“I……… don’t want to hear that from you…….”

“No, I’m serious. Your ears are so fluffy. So soft……”

I rubbed her right ear.

“No~!” Her voice weakened.

Then I used my other hand on the left ear.

“Stop…….. Please! Uhn~!” Uhn? Was that a moan?

How sensitive are her ears?

Her breathing changed — shallower, a little heavier.

It was time to push further.

Her tail usually stuck out from her short shirt. If I touched it while her back was on the cushion, I’d have to slip my hand between her thighs to pull it out.

I don’t have to describe how short the shirt was — if I did, I’d get a clear view of what was below.

I had to resist!!

“Meila………….” I left the tail alone and continued with her ears.

Her hands went weak; she couldn’t fight back. Whenever she turned her head aside, I brought it back to face me.

Her eyes remained shut the whole time. That gave me a chance to use my trump card.

“SMOOCH!!” I pressed my lips to hers.

I closed my eyes before doing it so I couldn’t see whether my barrier reacted.

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

I opened my eyes. My dark barrier glowed — though not as dark as before.

My eardrums rang from her screams.

After a few minutes she calmed.

“You should get used to this by now……..”

I wanted to know if I’d succeeded, but it was impossible to tell.

To check whether I’d obtained her abilities, I’d first need to deceive someone or see if my appearance had changed.

She always looks brown haired to me, so I couldn’t tell.

It was now or never.

I left her and went to my room. I grabbed my sword and slipped out the backdoor where Duddul rested. The pendant still pointed east even when I faced west. It had to be right.

I mounted Duddul and flew straight up into the clouds.

The plan: fly so high no one would spot us. From there, once we reached the sacred land, I’d follow the pendant’s guidance.

A few minutes later we arrived at the sacred land. Even that high, the king’s palace tip reached our level.

It was all gold. Everything about it glittered — vast, majestic, perfect for a fantasy kingdom.

On the way, I passed the black dungeon. I couldn’t see the top. One thing was certain: it was enormous.

The top of the sacred land wasn’t my goal. High-ranking nobles are said to live on levels below the king.

The pendant shone and pointed to buildings in the third row.

The row closest to the king had fewer houses, but they were larger. As you moved down, the buildings got less grand.

We moved so fast that I had Duddul slam through the barrier where the pendant pointed.

A sudden chill washed over me as we entered.

It was the first time I’d felt anything like that — like four monsters were approaching at high speed.

What’s going on? I can’t use magic, so how are they sensing me? Is it…… Duddul?

“Duddul, go back!”

I jumped off and flew straight down.

He tried to follow, but I ordered him back.

I descended faster.

The chill persisted after Duddul left the barrier. They wouldn’t just back down because the magic source was gone. I’d come this far; I’d see it through.

All the houses in the sacred land were spaced apart. There were no alleys, nowhere to hide.

From above I could see inside some houses. I aimed for an almost empty one and landed, hiding in thick flowers.

“I just heard something back there!” a voice called from inside the house.

Bad-ump! Bad-ump!

“Mistress, it seems there’s an intruder in the sacred land. The guards have gathered behind that manor not far from here.”

That was near where we came in. Good thing I moved away.

From my flower hideout I could see two women’s feet. One sounded like the mistress; the other the maid. They’d come out after hearing the noise I’d made while hiding.

It seemed I’d entered from the back. I’d chosen this house because its walls hid the whole manor.

The two women retreated inside soon after. They said things like, “We have nothing to worry about; the guards are here,” and left. “It’s strange. The magic I sensed disappeared soon after I felt it.”

“Same here.” “And me……”

“Maybe they ran when they felt our presence? I think whatever it was triggered the barrier and fled.”

“But who? We’re so high in the sky — no ordinary person could fly that far. It must have been a magical bird.”

Behind the wall, the guards discussed the situation. I recognized the elf’s voice from the fight the other day. Aside from him there was a woman and two others; one of those had a hoarse voice. He must be the same elf I’d met.

Bad-ump! Bad-ump!

If they found me it would be bad. I couldn’t beat a single one last time — there’s no way I could take on four.

I froze like a statue under the flowers, not moving a muscle. Heat rose in me and sweat dripped down my body.

“It’s been a while since we all followed the same signal. How about a drink?” the elf flirted with the woman.

“I have things to do. It isn’t easy being a guard.” she answered sharply.

“Aww that hurts. You should act more lady-like when turning down a man.”

The others left to avoid the awkwardness. The two stayed, flirting.

The woman only acted cold when others were present.

Just go back to your posts already!!

I waited without moving for ten minutes. Only after they left did I breathe.

Sigh……… that was heart pounding.

I waited a bit longer to be sure they were gone, then slipped out of the house. The space between houses looked huge up close — at least two hundred meters apart.

I needed to act composed or I’d give myself away. There were several people on the streets, all bustling; they must be servants of the nobles.

I thought of moving forward when the pendant suddenly glowed and pointed to 8 o’clock, behind me — adjacent to the house I’d just left.

‘Please leave me alone..’ That voice! It can’t be! It’s Leila!!

I was about to rush toward the voice when an angry girl yelled at her.

“What, you think you’re something special just because the master likes you? Well you’re not! You’re of low birth. You shouldn’t even be allowed to work in the sacred land. Only nobles should serve other nobles.”

So that’s what’s happening. Leila and this girl work in the same household. The other girl sounded noble too, but if a noble serves another noble, they must be very low rank — like the nobles from our house.

She spouted nonsense whenever she opened her mouth. Leila answered calmly, patiently.

The girl left. Leila, near tears, shouted, “Leave me alone! It’s not like I’m working here because I want to!”

Leila………

Oh………?

Hiding behind the wall, Leila walked up to my side when she reached the wall’s end.

“.……..!!??” She was shocked to see me.

She wore a light blue maid uniform. The dress reached her feet. She looked beautiful with her short silver hair; the dress fit her perfectly.

“It’s you……….”

“Leila. It’s been a while.” Her eyes were watery. She was nearly in tears from the confrontation.

She stared at me and softly asked, “Why are you…….?”

“Why I’m here? I came to get you, obviously! You won’t believe how happy I am to see you! I came to get you out of here! Meila and I are waiting for you!”

“Oh……….” She didn’t react as I expected.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“About that………” She shifted into a smile as if to hide something.

“I’m quite happy with my life here. So you don’t need to worry about me.” She smiled gently, eyes closed.

Even with the smile, I could see the sadness under it.

“Don’t give me that crap! I just heard you talking to that girl! What do you mean happy!? Are you crazy!? Do you have any idea how hard I searched for you!? Now come with me and let’s get out of here!”

I lost my head and ranted. My words tumbled out. She stayed silent and listened. There’s no way she could refuse if the kiss with Meila had worked and I’d acquired her abilities.

Tears streamed down her cheeks when I finished.

“Thank you for caring about me……………… Please forget about me……” She turned and ran back the way she’d come.

“Leila!!”

By the time I reached the opposite side of the wall, she was sprinting. Many people stared. Some were close by.

“What’s he doing?” “Who is he?” “He doesn’t look like he works here.” “Someone call the guards!”

They murmured amongst themselves.

“Leila!!!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs as she ran away toward the house left of the one I’d hidden in.

I couldn’t reach her. Too many eyes were on me. The guards would come any second.

Leila……….. why? The deception didn’t work…….

My legs buckled and I fell to the ground. I don’t want you to be like this.

Tears I couldn’t control streamed down.

“Why do you have to go through all this…………. Leila!!!!!??

That’s when something shot up from the ground at incredible speed. I jumped the second I felt it.

Thorns — thick, cruel thorns — erupted from the earth.

“So the intruder was you after all!! How did you get in here, how was I not able to sense you!!??”

It was the elf.