But her ears are more amazing than her eyes, especially when she’s focusing on it.
It actually feels more of a sensor when she does so.
It seems to be one of the traits of a were-leopard.
At that time when the second team had been approaching…
I had her check out the second team while hidden in the dark.
After that, she put her ears against the ground and listened for footsteps.
The number of people that she had estimated based on the number of lights carried and the number of footsteps she heard.
There was a gap between the two.
She had inferred that there were around 30 people from the number of lights she sees.
Though, she estimated there were approximately 45 people based from the footsteps.
There’s a measurement error of about 15 people.
These measurement errors must have been a detached force.
En route, Eve reported that there were some footsteps that separated from the main group.
It seems the detached force finally left their main unit.
After giving instructions to Seras, I entered the forest together with Eve.
I asked Seras to earn me some time…
From that unit who carried lights.
If it’s that girl, I can rely on her.
However, I don’t really expect her to do it perfectly.
Excessive hopes on someone could end up just pressuring them instead.
She someone who’d always do her best.
Therefore, I will never complain about any kind of results that happen.
That’s what it means for me to “entrust” something to them.
That’s what I’m trying to convey to her.
I separated from Seras and went through the forest…
Towards the direction where the detached force went into.
Along the way, I brought along Eve and Liz with me.
Eve is fully concentrated on her hearing.
[There were about 14… no, 15 people that were heading here through the forest… I’m sure of it from this distance…]
Eve whispered into my ear.
It seems that she had grasped the number of people just based on sound.
I may have acquired quite a bargain without my knowledge.
[I understand. Go back and hide together with Liz.]
[Are you alright facing all of them alone, Touka?]
[You know you can’t leave that girl alone, right?]
[Don’t worry. There would be no problem.]
Currently, the moon is hidden behind the clouds.
It’s really dark inside the forest.
It’s quite a good stage for me.
I tap a finger in my temple.
[I may not be as good as you, but I’m quite receptive when it comes to using this. In that certain place, I spent a couple of days standing beside death. Thanks to that, I’m also quite sensitive to their presence.]
I put my hands on my robe.
[Besides, I’m not alone.]
Pigimaru squeaks out a small reply.
After Eve and Liz went back, I also hid behind the shadows of the bushes.
The detached force were finally approaching.
Because the moon is hidden behind the clouds, the darkness in the forest deepened.
And that was the moment I was waiting for.
Perhaps, they turned back after seeing that.
It seems that they diligently returned back.
[If they didn’t come back, my plan would have been incomplete.]
The sketch that I’ve imagined is finally approaching its completion.