"Well, it's nice to walk in the forest. I've been traveling through ruins and deserts lately, so it's been a while since I've seen trees growing thick."
Walking a little behind me, Silas chattered on about things I hadn't heard.
Silas pauses for a moment, then looks back and speaks up.
"Are you sure you're okay, Yuffie? We're moving at a pretty fast pace..."
He was squatting a little farther away, watching something, and when Yuffie noticed his voice, she hurriedly stood up and raised one hand.
"Don't worry! I'm used to it!"
"Well, that's a good sign. Yuffie has a talent for magic, and I'm looking forward to her future. Don't you think so, Gil?"
"Yeah."
I spit it out bluntly.
Damn it, how did this happen? Why the hell did I have to take Silas and lead him through the forest?
◇ ◇ ◇
"What, the forest...?"
Silas nodded with a smile on his face.
"Yes, as you know, I'm here as a monster hunter ... I mean, I'm here on business. I can't just sit here and talk about magic with Yuffie forever. In fact, I've come to this village in pursuit of a certain race of ... well, it's only fair to say that since you're helping me ... vampires."
Silas admitted it clearly with his mouth.
He was after all aiming for the vampire or Kuro.
But why are you telling me about it all of a sudden?
So you've got something definitive?
--No, no.
No, it's because the investigation is going nowhere and they're waiting for my reaction.
Normally, People wouldn't think of vampires and humans hanging out together. But he's playing on the small chance that something might be going on.
What are you in such a hurry for? Has your plan failed?
Let's just leave it at that...
"Do vampires really exist?"
"There are a lot of strange things in the world, and as strange as it may seem, they do exist. So I was wondering if you could show me around the forest a bit. I've already searched the village, all that's left is the forest."
"What kind of a knight would use a child to find a vampire like that?"
"Haha, that hurts my ears. Of course, I'll take care of it. I heard that the people in the village avoid the forest. I guess there's something that only the people who live there can understand. That's why they won't show me around the forest. Yuffie-chan told me that Gil-kun would know every inch of the forest."
Yuffie again...
Damn, she's probably doing this out of the goodness of her heart to get Silas and me together, which makes her even worse...
It's a bit annoying, but I don't want to go through the trouble of rejecting her.
I'll show you the forest and show you that there's nothing there.
It's a bit of a detour, but it's better for him than having Kuro kill him if he tries to search the area around the house.
"--Huh. Oh well... I'm sure there's nothing in this forest."
"It's okay, it's fine. The vampire hunt is just a pretext, but the truth is that I want to heal my body after a long mission by taking a forest bath."
Silas smiles.
I'm not sure...
Well, if that's the case...
"It's settled. Well, let's go together as soon as possible, shall we?"
--But as expected, Yuffie came along with me.
Well, it doesn't really matter that Yuffie is one more person.
It's good that Silas is listening to us. I can't imagine what it would be like if it was just me and him...
"Yuffie, it's good that you care about the flowers, but don't go far away from us."
"I know~"
It's already been two hours since I showed him the forest.
I wish he'd just give up and go home...
"--Well, I guess we're almost at the waterfall."
I wade through the grass and head towards the sound of water.
For now, let's just show them the waterfall and be done with it. I want to go home for the day.
"Nice, waterfall. These places are good for mana accumulation, so it's comfortable. Gil, you can feel it, can't you?"
"Well, maybe a little."
"Let's take a break."
Silas sat down on a nearby rock.
Yuffie was still some distance away, looking happily at the grass and flowers.
"--Gil, you can use magic, can't you? That's amazing for someone so young. Did you learn it from someone?"
"No, I could use it when I found out. I even had a book.."
"Well, you've been in a good environment. I went to a magic school to learn magic.I come from a family of sorcerers, a well-known family. My parents said I didn't have to be a sorcerer....because I was the worst of the bunch."
"That's..."
I see. You come from a fairly well-known family of magicians.
That part hasn't changed, even from the past.
There are even people who say that it is blood rather than effort that determines one's ability as a magician.
"There was a famous magician. He's a magician that every child dreams of being. Maybe you've heard of him. --His name is Guilford Reeves."
"That's..."
Oh, that's me!
I was so surprised that it showed on my face, and I opened my mouth wide.
I don't want to be admired by this old man!
Well, maybe he's like a legendary creature and there are a lot of anecdotes about him that have been passed down, but come on!
I covered my face in embarrassment.
Every child dreams of being. What, Has it turned into a novel or a play, by any chance?
Oh, Is that a face I know? --Yes, your name is also Guilford, and your parents may have taken it from him.
Satisfied on his own, Silas continued his story.
"The most powerful sorcerer who was even said to be perfect.It is said that he risked his life to seal away a demon god. --Of course, I like that heroic side of him, but that's not what attracted me to him. I heard that he didn't originally come from a family of magicians. Even so, his hard work has propelled him through the world of magicians. I felt like that's what I was missing. After that, I worked hard and now I'm serving the king as a monster hunter."
I almost turned my face away from Silas as he spoke so earnestly, feeling too embarrassed.
But if I turned away now, he would suspect me of something.
I did my best to reply, "I see..."
"That's why I'm so proud of this profession I've achieved through my own efforts. I can't go home empty-handed."
Silas's face suddenly became stern.
"Gill..., From whom did you learn your magic? Does that magic book really belong to your father?"
"Yes, it did. I can't prove it, because my father is dead."
"...I'm sorry, that was a rude question. But I'm curious. A village without a magician...., a woman and a child in the forest who don't want to make many connections... a boy who can use magic. At first glance, it seems like a normal environment that could exist anywhere in this day and age, but the number of magic books and the wards on your house...."
I guess he noticed my wardNo wonder they were able to get so close to my house without me detecting them...
"I can't help but feel that there is someone else who is even more skilled at magic than you. I followed a vampire to this village, where I found a boy who could use magic and a disproportionate amount of traces of magic. --I don't think they're unrelated."
Damn...what to do.
No matter what excuse I use here, I don't think I can convince him.
Do I pretend that Kuro can use magic? ...No, that'll make him look like a fool when we meet.
I'll just pretend that I was experimenting with my self-taught magic.
"Kyaah!!"
"?!"
A moment later, a girl's cry echoed through the forest.
"What was that... Yuffie... Yuffie's not here! No way."
Silas and I looked at each other.
A bad feeling came over me at once.
No, but there is no such thing as a dangerous creature in this forest at this time of year...
"Something's wrong...! --Damn it, we're going to have to scrap the plan. Minera, Karen!"
Silas called out their names loudly, and two women jumped out from between the trees in the forest.
What the ...?
They're magicians, too!
"Me and Gil-kun will search for the voice. You two stay alert and watch your surroundings. If we don't know what's causing the screams, there's a chance it's more than one thing...!"
"I understand!"
"Copy that."
"If you encounter any vampires, please contact me----."
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