"Herald?"
Her soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Is the town far?"
He looked up at the sky—orange dusk creeping in through the trees. "In this pace? We'll probably reach it by tomorrow morning."
"Oh…"
"We can rest whenever we're tired," he added quickly. "I've got a monster-repellent stone, a blanket or two, and there's enough room to sleep in the back of the carriage. It's not luxury, but it's safe."
"…Herald?"
He glanced over again.
She was watching him.
Eyes soft. Lips slightly parted. Head tilted just a little. That red dress made her look like a young noble's daughter traveling in secret. And that long hair framed her face so perfectly…
"Y-Yes?"
"You're a good person," she said, smiling gently.
Herald's heart slammed against his ribs. "A-Ah… ahh…"
She blinked. "Why so stiff?"
He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled nervously. "It's just… I get nervous around girls."
She tilted her head more. "Why?"
"Especially beauties like you."
She blinked once. Then again.
"…Oh."
Her cheeks colored faintly. But she didn't look away.
That small, almost confused smile remained.
They kept chatting as the wagon rolled down the dirt path, Natsuki's voice soft and lively as he told stories from "his village"—half-lies, half-made-up memories from modern Japan.
Herald found himself smiling more than he had in years.
Not just at her words, but at the way she talked—with her hands fluttering, her head tilting as she emphasized parts, her fingers occasionally brushing her hair back like a noble lady might.
He chuckled to himself. She's not even trying… yet every little thing she does makes me feel twenty again.
The sky slowly darkened, turning violet and gold.
"We should camp here," Herald said, pulling the reins and stopping beside a large tree. "It's a good, flat spot. Monsters don't usually come this far."
He hopped down from the wagon and headed to the back, pulling out two metal rods with circular tips.
He stabbed them into the dirt a few meters apart. Then, standing between them, he placed his palm forward and closed his eyes.
A faint hum echoed as blue light danced from his fingertips—streaming like gentle sparks into the metal poles.
A dome of warm, soft light shimmered around them. Protective. Comforting.
"Whoa…" Natsuki gasped, stepping closer. "What's that?"
Herald glanced at her, then smiled. "This tool? Just a simple ward structure. Keeps away low-level monsters."
"No, I mean…" she pointed. "That light. From your palm."
"Oh," he laughed. "Mana, of course. You really don't know?"
Natsuki furrowed his brows and—without thinking—put a finger to his lips.
"Mana?"
Herald's mouth went dry.
That innocent gesture, paired with her confused expression…
Too cute. Too dangerously cute.
He looked away quickly. "Mana's the basic energy here. Everyone has some. Even you. You're human, right?"
Natsuki tilted his head. "I… think?"
Herald raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
"I just… grew up in a weird place."
"Hmm. Well, if you want, I can try sensing your mana later. It might help if you plan to stay in this world long."
"Oh… okay. That sounds kinda fun."
Herald looked back at her.
Her eyes were wide, catching the last gold rays of sunset. That red dress hugged her in all the wrong—or right—places. Her hair glowed in the mana dome's light. And her lips… still touched lightly by her finger.
He swallowed hard.
"Yeah… fun."
Then suddenly, a downpour.
Heavy sheets of rain came crashing through the canopy with almost no warning.
"Ah!! Get inside the carriage!!" Herald shouted, grabbing the reins as water drenched his sleeves in seconds.
Natsuki was already soaked, her red dress clinging tightly to her small frame. She squealed softly and hurried, one hand holding her skirt, the other shielding her head as she climbed back into the wagon.
By the time Herald jumped in after her, she was shivering, her hair plastered to her skin, the dress nearly transparent in spots.
"The dress you gave me is wet…" she said softly, her voice trembling—but still gentle, innocent.
Herald stood frozen for a beat.
The way the fabric clung to her pale skin…
The way her chest rose and fell with every breath, small but curved—clearly visible beneath the soaked fabric.
Gulp.
He forced himself to move.
"I—I'll get a towel!" he stammered, rummaging through a chest. "Here!"
He turned and draped it over her head, then gently began to pat her hair dry.
Natsuki stood obediently still, not realizing that her short height brought her face just above Herald's waist level.
He knelt a bit so they were face to face as he wiped her damp bangs aside.
Her full lips were trembling lightly. Pale pink. Slightly open. Her lashes wet and heavy.
Herald's heart thudded.
He swallowed, hard.
He quickly turned away and reached into a side crate, pulling out a simple brass lantern.
He placed his palm over the crystal core, channeling his mana into it.
The light flared gently—warm and golden—and filled the wagon with a soft, cozy glow.
"Here," he said, voice low. "Sit here. I'll get you something dry to wear."
Natsuki nodded, hugging the towel close as she knelt near the lantern, letting the heat warm her bare legs and hands.
Herald turned to his stockpile of clothes, back facing her.
I shouldn't be thinking this. She's just a traveler. Just a girl I picked up in the woods. Just—
…But why does she make me feel like this?
He inhaled deeply.
And let it out slow.
"Found something," he said at last.
He held up a light cotton blouse and a long, soft skirt. Simple—but cute.
Natsuki looked up at him, eyes sparkling in the warm lantern light.
"Really? I can wear that?"
Herald nodded.
"…Thanks, Herald. You're always so nice to me."
Herald turned toward the wagon flap, pulling his coat tighter as thunder echoed beyond the shimmering mana barrier.
"I'll step out—so you can change," he said quickly, avoiding her eyes. "Just a minute."
But a small hand caught his sleeve.
"Where are you going?" Natsuki tilted her head. "It's pouring."
He blinked. "Y-You're going to change, so I—"
"It's fine," she said simply.
Still wrapped in the towel, she let the soaked red dress slide off her shoulders. It fell to the floor with a soft wet plop.
She stood in nothing but the towel—a short, thin one that barely reached mid-thigh.
Herald turned sharply, but couldn't help the split-second image burned into his mind: pale thighs, that soft curve of hip, the gentle swell beneath the towel. That slim waist and—damn,, those legs.
His heart thundered in his chest.
Then he heard the rustling of fabric as she pulled the cotton blouse on—slowly, because her hair was still damp—and slipped into the skirt, tying it clumsily at the waist.
"All done," she said with a soft smile, plopping back down near the lantern.
She leaned forward, studying it with wide, curious eyes.
"This lantern… It uses mana? Not fire?"
Herald cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. "Y-Yeah. It's fitted with a low-grade fire crystal. My mana keeps it glowing."
"Ohh…" She was utterly fascinated.
Then...
A soft, unmistakable growl from her stomach.
Natsuki froze. Her cheeks flushed pink. She looked down in embarrassment.
"Ah…"
( End Of Chapter )