As Aleph and Ciel switched watching, I also went to sleep until morning.
It seems the fatigue as accumulated after all.
Weāll be on top of the horse again, huhā¦ I secretly used water magic on my aching butt to help it recover. Since the pain has subsided a little, I think I can ride again without any problem.
I went outside the tent, cooked food for the two waiting outside, ate it, and then rode the horse.
Aleph didnāt bring up the matter yesterday and was interacting with us normally. Although his curious gaze is more annoying than yesterday, Cielās unquestioning attitude is a small change.
Iām really concerned about it, but I donāt feel like minding it.
Whether itās touching me from time to time, or enclosing his arms just to properly hold the reins, it doesnāt bother me at all, I absolutely donāt mind it at all okay?!
I almost bit my tongue when I was speaking while riding the horse yesterday, was the reason I used so I didnāt open my mouth much along the way, so I didnāt spend my time painfully by only listening to CIel and Aleph exchange words Ā sometimes.
Since Aleph often notices when we need to take a small break, even someone inexperienced in riding a horse like me can keep up with them.
Dy also sometimes came out on a whim and repelled monsters with magic, and apart from Aleph glaring at him peaceful times passed.
We will also be digesting our schedule today as if nothingās going on, then prepare for camping.
Todayās meal will be the wild bird that was hunted during the day. Ciel hunted the prey with the bow, Aleph processed the meat by baking it with a covered pan. The taste was very popular.
Especially Aleph, he repeatedly said "delicious!", making me wonder just how terrible the food they ate during their camping.
If we also have other seasonings other than salt and herbs, I couldāve made more delicious food.
Now then, the night to keep watch has once again come.
Today too, Aleph is stumped on how to make me take a rest, and Ciel immediately dove into the tent.
Should I dive into the tent together with the unsociable Ciel, or should I keep watch with the somewhat awkward Aleph?
Whichever I choose, it feels uncomfortable. What to do?
[Rei, can we talk for a bit?]
Aleph asked me, and after a brief hesitation I sat down beside the fire that was enough for a few people.
Aleph exhaled as if relieved after I sat down. After a while, he started talking.
[I told you that I wanted to cherish your feelings, but I ended up forcing you to do something you didnāt like. Iām really sorry.]
Aleph clenched his fists and repented. His shaded outline illuminated by the fires is sorrowful.
[ā¦.. Itās nothing, itās fine already. I think it was Dyās fault, and that, it would be good if it doesnāt happen again.]
Since he honestly told me heās sorry, I accepted his apology. In the first place, I was just shocked and not angry.
[Reiā¦. Are you willing to forgive me? ā¦ Thank you.]
The swordsmanās eyes looking at me are a little moist. Even though he seems to be hiding his fingers but they look like theyāre trembling slightly, and I realize that āAh, so this guy truly likes meā.
Heās a nice guy who is gentlemanly, amiable, and honest. Just why did he fall for someone like me?
[You are very attractive. Although I swore to never ignore your will, if you keep scattering your charm defenseless around me, I might end up doing foolish things again. If I did, you can just bite my tongue. That, or you can hit my crotch with your knee*. Even if Iām the one whoās hurting you, itās still unforgivable.] (TN: Thatās pure dedication right there.)
[No, thatās definitely going to hurt, wonāt it?! Ā Itās fine, thereās no need to go that far. I said that it was Dyās fault so you donāt have to feel responsible.]
Aleph is too serious, Iāll be troubled if he thinks too much.
[Iām sorry my strength wasnāt wasnāt enough. No matter what, we must meet with the Pope, and Ā remove the bangle for sure.]
[Thatās right, thatās for the best.]
[What, are you planning to chase me away?]
Once again, Dy came out. Since he appears without warning, he always ends up hearing our conversations.
[Devil Kingā¦]
[Uwaah, how scary. You donāt have to glare at me like that, werenāt you able to make a good memory because of me?]
Dy exaggeratingly trembled while embracing his own shoulders. Heās not the least bit scared.
As an evidence, his mouth seems to be quivering as if heās holding his laughter and his eyes are shining.
[Dy, if you keep on doing things like that, I will seriously hate you.]
[A mad Rei is also adorable.]
Since I figured it wonāt work no matter what I say, I decided Ā to ignore the devil.
[The Pope must be an exceptional person, is he a person we can meet just because we want to?]
[If itās an adventurer, that is. But I have a way. I canāt guarantee it, but he might meet with us.]
[Doing such a thing is futile.]
[You be quiet.]
Aleph is treating Dy as an enemy. His bloodlust is overflowing.
Because I didnāt react, he teased Aleph as my substitute, and then Dy took the great timing to disappear when heās(Aleph) about to snap from irritation.
Since the target of his fury has disappeared, Aleph started trembling because of a different reason. That devil really has such a terrible personality.
After eating a light meal during the day, the village came to our sight. As the area expands, bungalow houses are standing.
There is no inn so once we gave the village chief some coins, he took us to an unused house. It looked worn-out.
Thereāre two rooms with beds.
Although itās just a simple bed made of wood covered with straw and sheets, itās much more comfortable than the tent where the feeling of the ground is directly transmitted.
{Hey, Rei, donāt share a room with someone.}
While I was carrying the sheets I borrowed, Dy talked to me.
āHaa? Why should I take orders from you?ā Or so I replied inside my head.
{Are you sure thatās okay? Iām going to eat your magic power tonight, you know? Even though I proposed it out of my concern for you.}
Dy is going to eat my magic powerā¦ Will he be doing those erotic things he did to me like he did the first time we met?
I turned pale instead of blushing.
{I donāt particularly care, though? Playing around with Swordsman-kun is fun, and I also want to see how the Elf boy will react.}
Got it, Iāll take a separate room.
After eating the black bread shared by the villagers and the roasted white wolf that was todayās prey, I enter my room.
[Rei, the Demon King might come out again, isnāt it better to stay beside us?]
[Itās alright, that guyās my guardian after all. He wouldnāt seriously do something I dislikeā¦ probably.]
[Is that soā¦ if something happens in the middle of the night then call out in a very loud voice. Iāll immediately come.]
[Yup, Iāll do that. Goodnight Aleph, Ciel.]
[Just please take a rest so as to not inconvenience us. Youāre already as weak as you can be.]
Not wanting to reply towards Cielās usual sharp words, I firmly endured and turned my back.
I donāt want to waste my energy on useless things when I know that an event thatās going to require my physical strength is waiting for me.