Yerna gazed down at her finger that once wore a flower ring, looking dazed.
As she stared, memories of wandering the night forest with Luke and the fireflies naturally came to mind.
‘Huh, they were really beautiful.’
Even though the world was enveloped in dull darkness, Luke remained a bright light.
Yes, much like the fireflies.
“Oh, this is quite a beautiful lake.”
Luke exclaimed in admiration as he looked at the lake.
Indeed, the scenery here is certainly pleasant.
“Isn’t it? I used to come here often.”
There were days when, for some reason, she felt an unbearable gloom.
On those days, when bad memories kept resurfacing and her heart was filled with sadness, she would come to this lake to find peace.
There was no particular reason for it.
In a place as quiet as this, at least she could be sad all alone.
She didn’t want to spread her gloom to others.
This emptiness, she believed, no one else could fill.
She thought it was a wound that she alone must stand up from.
However, even working tirelessly without a day off, donating most of her earnings to the orphanage, the dead would not return, and what had happened would not vanish.
Even if she wanted to forget, she couldn’t.
She felt that even a slim chance of being able to forget would be unjust.
She felt that she didn’t even have the right to forget.
Thus, this sticky emotion inevitably seeped out.
The facade she put on before others would eventually become unpleasant at some point.
But here by the lake, there was no need to act.
She could take off her mask without worry.
Of course, the wide-open scenery was wonderful.
As she was gazing at the distant moon, her gaze dropped down and met Luke’s.
Luke smiled slightly at her and, like her from earlier, looked up at the moon and said,
“Heh, are you regretting protecting me so much?”
At Luke’s words, Yerna’s expression momentarily stiffened.
Oh my, that Luke would misunderstand just because he saw her bad expression.
Yerna hurriedly gestured and spoke to Luke.
“…U-um, no way! I-I was just….”
“It’s just a joke; I know how special you think of me. I’m always thankful.”
“…Really.”
Luke scratched his chin and gave an awkward smile.
Whoosh-
The wind blew past the branches, making a whispering sound.
The moonlight reflected on the lakeshore became distorted.
Finally, the soft wind lifted Luke’s platinum blonde hair slightly.
As fireflies approached him, surrounding him with light, Luke, who was looking at the scattered moonlight on the surface of the water, spoke.
“It’s only been half a year since I opened my eyes in this forest.”
“Right, it’s already been half a year.”
Yerna and Luke began to chat about what they had been through during that time.
Curiously gazing at a car for the first time, losing herself upon seeing Yerna’s house.
Bathing in muddy water.
Going to the World Tree alone for a tour and getting examined at the hospital.
Meeting another child who had a circle engraved on their heart and starting to attend school.
Cooking for the first time and enjoying it.
Having to borrow Mary’s dorm after a mix-up at a restaurant.
Visiting a museum, talking with a monster researcher, and getting invited to the lab.
Transforming into a dragon in the forest, with everyone struggling to turn back.
Winning many victories during a sports day due to Luke’s efforts, but ultimately having it all go to waste as it wasn’t included in his record.
Taking an exam at the magic tower and fundamentally proving a tough problem.
Even just recounting the major events made their stories vibrant and time seemed to fly as they chatted.
“Really, there have been all sorts of things.”
“Yes, indeed.”
Luke chuckled.
“Thank you, Yerna. The reason I could come this far is all thanks to you.”
“Why speak as if you’ve seen everything in the world? You’re still so young.”
“Hahaha, is that so?”
At that moment, Luke’s laughter was much brighter than usual.
Perhaps, that expression and their conversation would be something he could never forget.
It’s a curious thing; it isn’t even a particularly intense memory.
Even so, the next time they visit the lakeshore, this memory would surely resurface.
He felt that he might no longer have to be sad alone by the lakeside.
In that moment.
“Yerna, I have something urgent to report!”
——
“Child’s footprints?”
Yerna asked with a puzzled expression after hearing Daphne’s report.
“Could it have been a mistake, perhaps goblin footprints?”
“No, Sorbi and I confirmed it.”
Saying this, Daphne handed over a photo.
Taking it, Yerna’s expression momentarily stiffened.
It was unmistakably a child’s footprint captured so clearly that it couldn’t be mistaken.
Still, there was room for doubt.
It could possibly be a rare special specimen with a foot structure similar to that of a human.
If that were so, it would be a relief…
“Did you follow the traces?”
“Yes, I chased right after them, but… at some point, the traces suddenly disappeared.”
“…Disappeared at some point….”
Yerna touched her eyes.
She had a thought that came to her immediately.
“Could it be that they were caught by an airborne monster?”
At Yerna’s words, Daphne nodded.
“It seems likely.”
“…”
What in the world could have led such a child to become lost in such a deep and dangerous forest?
Actually, the important issue now is not how the child came into the forest alone, but rather the child’s safety.
The only fortunate thing is that there were no signs of “hunting.”
Bloodstains, flesh, or signs of impact.
If that’s the case, it means that fortunately the child might still be alive…
“Understood. For now, send personnel to investigate the habitats of flying monsters and if you find any traces, let me know immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
Hoping that it was just a misunderstanding, both Yerna and Daphne sighed heavily.
——–
“Luke! Do you know where we’re going for the field trip this time?”
“Well, where are you so excited about?”
“Don’t be surprised! It’s Beriton!”
“Beriton?”
Luke had heard of Beriton before.
A distant country where the ‘real’ World Tree existed.
It is said that most of the land is forest, and most of the elves living in modern times reside in that country.
Literally, it is the land of elves.
“By the way, didn’t Yerna say she was from this area?”
“I’m so excited! I wonder what Beriton’s World Tree looks like!”
Being the hometown of elves, it piqued his interest.
What kind of life do elves have during this era?
Even though artificial World Trees cultivated by humans have not changed since the World Tree of 5000 years ago, it seems they would be somewhat similar everywhere.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s less interesting.
Luke quickly responded.
“Sounds good. When are we going?”
“Next Monday! It’s scheduled for 4 nights and 5 days! Luke, you’re coming too, right?”
“Of course, I’ll definitely go.”
“Great! I’ll make sure to let them know!”
“Thanks. Mary, you’re doing great.”
“Yeah! I’ll hang up! See you Monday! I’ll text you the items you need!”
“Okay, okay.”
As he hung up, a large red-haired figure looking at Luke opened his mouth.
“You going to Beriton for school?”
Without a doubt, it was Dayton.
Luke shrugged at Dayton and said,
“You heard? Well, that’s what they said.”
“Wow, these days, the school is going abroad. Seems like it’s different at a prestigious academy. How long will you be there?”
“4 nights and 5 days; apparently it’ll be a week.”
“A week? Wow, that’s more of a trip than a field trip.”
Dayton seemed to ponder something for a moment before speaking.
“So how will you get there? Are you taking a plane?”
“Probably, yes.”
– Not taking a train?
Py reacted disappointingly.
While he did want to ride a Warp Train someday, unfortunately, there wasn’t one going to Beriton.
Long distances severely drop the cost-effectiveness of warp magic.
In the first place, it seems that Warp Trains don’t actually perform true warps.
Then Dayton smiled and said,
“Do you know this, Luke?”
Luke perked up slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“When you get on a plane, you have to take off your shoes. Did you know that?”
“Why would you take off your shoes to get on a vehicle?”
“Yeah, nowadays planes are designed to be almost like indoors for long flights. So it’s polite to take off your shoes before boarding. Just like when you enter a house, right?”
“Oh. Is that true?”
Luke thought that made some sense.
Dayton didn’t seem like the type to lie for no reason.
“Yeah, it’s true. I had an embarrassing experience the first time I rode a plane because I didn’t know.”
“I see, thanks for letting me know, Dayton. You’re really kind.”
“Haha, no problem.”
Expressing gratitude to Dayton like that, Luke hummed a tune as he headed toward the walking path.
As he watched Luke’s back, Dayton chuckled softly.
“A field trip, huh? Sounds nice.”
After taking care of Diana and making money, he had been busy and mentally drained, without even thinking about going anywhere.
Having just barely graduated from the academy, he hadn’t even been on a field trip, let alone a vacation.
‘I want to travel abroad too.’
If possible, with Yerna.
…Should he try to charm her?
This seems like a good idea.
