We finished getting ready and left the house.
Sofia, Claudia, and I each carried large backpacks on our backs…
while Aisha and Snow carried small backpacks.
Each bag was packed with things we’d need for the journey,
as well as gifts and supplies to bring to the beastkin village.
Originally, we had planned to carry all the luggage ourselves…
but Aisha and Snow insisted on helping, so we let them carry a little.
Licorice?
Well… she didn’t do anything.
Yeah.
She’s always free-spirited like that.
"Well then, we’re off."
I said goodbye to Dad, Mom, and Lutecia before departing.
"Alright, do your best out there."
"Take care of yourself."
Dad and Mom sent us off with smiles.
"Ah… uuuh?"
Lutecia didn’t seem to really understand what was happening,
but she reached her small hand out toward me.
When I took her hand, my little sister gripped my hand too.
"We’re off."
"Uwaa—"
Lutecia smiled brightly.
It felt like she was telling me, Good luck, and it really lifted my spirits.
――――――――――
About half a day had passed since we left Snowlake.
We started out walking along the highway…
and without anything in particular happening, time passed and the sun began to set.
Claudia, walking at the front, came to a stop.
"Everyone. The sun is setting, so let’s make camp around here for tonight."
"Ah, please wait."
I stopped Claudia just as she was about to put her pack down.
"What’s the matter?"
"I don’t think we should camp around here."
"Huh?"
"I don’t sense any monsters here, but it’s places like this where wild animals tend to come around instead. That’s why it’s better to choose a spot with at least a little monster presence. And with a good view of the surroundings. That would be best."
Claudia froze, her eyes wide.
"What’s wrong?"
"It’s just… you know more about camping than I do, even though I’m a beastkin. That surprised me. Where did you learn all that?"
"Uh… all sorts of things happened."
I learned it back when I was a slave.
…but saying that outright might make her feel awkward, so I just smiled and brushed it off.
Anyway, we moved a little farther ahead, set up the tents, lit a campfire, put up a simple anti-monster barrier…
and finished preparing camp.
"Sofia, can I ask you to watch over the supplies with Licorice, Aisha, and Snow?"
"I don’t mind, but why me?"
"Uh…"
"I mean, no monster or animal would be reckless enough to come near Sofia. To them, it’s like a monster is already standing there. She’s basically the perfect deterrent! Ahaha… idadadadada!!!?"
"Licorice, have you ever heard the saying ‘your mouth will get you in trouble’?"
Licorice, who’d gotten carried away, was now having her temple ground into by Sofia.
That must hurt…
"W-well then, we’re off."
"Take care."
With Sofia seeing us off, I left with Claudia to fetch water from the river.
We had prepared plenty of food…
but since water is heavy, we hadn’t brought much.
So it was standard practice to collect it on-site like this.
"…Fate."
As she drew water, Claudia spoke in a small voice.
"Yes?"
"How… do you feel about the princess?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I understand she’s been taken in as your daughter. I have no intention of interfering with that. But… sometimes, I can’t help but worry. That maybe your feelings might change someday, and it would make the princess sad… It’s a very rude thought, I know."
"No… I think it’s only natural for you to worry about that."
In the end…
the gap between humans and beastkin was still vast.
Even if we thought we were getting along, sometimes it was only on the surface.
It seemed like Claudia trusted us…
but fully trusting was probably still hard for her.
That was only natural.
We’d only just met, after all.
So…
"Will you watch us?"
"Huh?"
"I’ll prove through my actions that there’s no way something like that would happen… So please, watch us closely."
"…"
"I’ll never betray her. Right now, all I can offer are words… but no matter how many times, no matter when, I’ll always be able to say that."
"…Yes."
Claudia looked at me with a somehow refreshed expression.
"Thank you."
And then she smiled warmly.
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