introduction
Two weeks have passed since I left the wall of Darju State. Everything was new for both of them.
Everything was given within the walls.
However, once he stepped outside the walls, things happened that he couldn't even imagine.
I was nervous at first, but since we were together, things worked out.
The journey that started out as a simple yearning gradually turned into a survival journey in which he became conscious of what was necessary to survive.
Forgetting his aristocratic status, he negotiated with private houses he found along the way to secure lodging.
They also started fighting wild animals, fishing, and camping out in the wild.
until you can do things you once called barbaric and thought you could never do.
It didn't take long.
However, along the way, the two felt a strange feeling.
as if I knew in advance the path I should take.
Although they were just walking without thinking, both Haru and Leila continued walking in the same direction.
After passing through a vast plain, we came to a huge river. There were several castles lined up on the other side of the river.
"There are many castles! I wonder if they belong to the nobles who live outside the walls of Darju State?"
Leila exclaimed.
"I want to take a bath soon.
I haven't taken a bath at all since I borrowed hot water from a farmer who was passing by about a week ago.
The smell of sweat bothers me…”
"But there's something strange about it, Layla. I won't know until I look a little closer…"
As the two approached the castle, they noticed its lack of energy.
"As expected…"
Haru muttered.
"This is an ancient castle group… This is an area where the ancestors of the now deceased aristocrats built many castles here in all their vanity."
Layla was a little disappointed.
"…What…is there no one here?"
"…I don't know that yet. There are about 20 castles in the distance."
“Would you like to take a look at each one?”
"Well… there might be someone."
“Will it be okay if it becomes a home for thieves?”
"It's okay, Layla. We're getting a lot stronger."
Hal and Leila looked around at several castles, but all of them were in complete ruins, with no sign of people.
"There's no one here."
Layla said to herself.
"Would you like to take a break…"
Haru sat next to Layla on the crumbling rock wall next to the gate of the old castle.
In the distance, similar old castles are lined up.
"It's a lonely place…"
“Our ancestors used to live here.”
"Why was Darju State confined within the wall?"
"Now…"
"The clouds… are moving slowly."
"I feel like I'm going to get sleepy."
When the two of them were looking at multiple castles beyond the wilderness, one of the castles flashed brightly for a moment.
"Huh? What is that?"
“Did you see Layla too?”
"It's glowing, right?"
"There's a small castle in that direction…"
"Let's just go!"
"Geez…zee…what is it?"
"Was it this far?"
"Isn't the castle getting far away?"
"It can't be like that…"
“It was that castle, right?”
“I feel something strange”
"Hey… Leila…"
“What is it?”
"We've been heading straight the whole time, haven't we?"
"That's right."
"Then, aren't the positions of the castles on the left and right strange?"
"Huh?"
Layla looked around from side to side.
“Now that I think about it…I could see three castles in front of my line of sight, and
I should have been chasing after one of them.
Now that I've noticed it, I wonder why other castles seem to be completely divided into left and right sides.''
“…Is it a mirage?”
"…It's possible."
"What should we do?"
"…"
"…"
"…Trust your intuition. Let's keep going straight."
“I think so too.”
“What really struck me was the direction we’re going in.”
“That’s right.”
The two looked at each other and continued on the same path they had just come.
The more I walked, the more the castle in front of me seemed to get further away, but after a while, the scenery changed completely.
"This is…"
"We've arrived!"
At one point, I thought my view was blocked by dust, but after it cleared, a not-so-large old castle appeared in front of me.
"Maybe there's someone here."
"Yes. Let's look for it."
"I hope you find them! They're so cute, girls♡"
"Huh?"
Haru and Leila were surprised and turned towards the voice. Then, a woman was standing there.
“When?”
“Who are you?”
Haru and Leila hurriedly asked the woman.
"Hello~. Hello! Hehehehe. I'm so happy~. It's been a while since I met someone other than Sieg. Moreover, I have such a cute little girl in my hands. I'm a happy person~"
“Who are you!”
Layla raised her voice a little.
"Wow. Sexy girl, you're scary. I'm Hildegarda.
Sieg's caretaker. I heard it from Micheline. A girl named Haru and a girl named Layla are coming”
Hearing those words, the two looked relieved.
"I came to see Siegfrieda"
Haru bowed his head.
"Hmph. Me too."
Layla said with a huff while crossing her arms.
Hildegarda is rubbing her chin and grinning.
"I see, I see. You've come here often. Well then, I'd like you to draw your sword right away."
"Eh?"
"What is it?"
At that moment, Hildegarda held a sword in her hand. There is something like an aura surrounding Hildegarda.
"Why?"
"Why?"
Haru and Leila were upset.
A strong wind blew around Hildegarda.
“Hey…you need a certain level of ability to meet Sieg.
If you hit me with a sword, I'll let you meet Sieg.''
"Oh, that's it!"
Haru was dismayed.
“I’m exhausted!”
Layla's patience has run out.
"It's okay. It'll take the two of us. I won't put you in any danger. If you're just a young lady, I'll just ask you to go home ♡"
Leila and Haru readied their swords.
"Ah. Then I'll go. I won't hold back."
Settlement
"Funfunfunfun~"
"Haa, haa"
"Zee, ze"
Haru and Layla only lost their physical strength, and both of them showed signs of fatigue on their faces.
Hildegarda continued to make light counterattacks while avoiding the attacks of the two of them.
Layla thrust into Hildegarda.
Gakin!
Hildegarda easily blocked it with the belly of her sword and deflected Layla's sword.
“Kya!”
"Leila!"
The moment Hal turned towards Layla, Hildegarda's sword was thrust into Hal's chest.
"Yes. This is the 53rd time."
"Damn…"
"…Are you still doing it?"
Layla, who was knocked off her knees on the sand, gritted her teeth.
"What is this? How long will it last!"
Hildegarda looked at Layla with a smile.
“That’s up to you guys. I told you, right?
He said if you hit me with a sword, he'd let you meet Sieg.
But I'm happy because I met kids like you after a long time.
So I won't force you back.
That's right…If you want to go home in despair, then go ahead.''
Layla was speechless.
Haru said with a grim expression on his face.
"I won't give up…"
"Haru…"
Layla stood up.
“I’ll hang out with you a little longer.”
Leila looked at Hal and then looked at Hildegarda.
"Hey! It's strategy time!"
Hildegarda smiled when she heard those words.
"Please, please."
Leila began whispering in Haru's ear.
