Flow of faint mana.

A flow so faint that, normally, I wouldn’t have even noticed its presence. But with focused attention now, I could feel it.

'So, this is what it’s like.'

I finally understood what Artisha meant when she said that living beings unconsciously release mana.

Sensing the flow of mana, I slowly opened my eyes.

Nod.

Daeun nodded in response to my signal.

"Kana, you know your big sister really, really likes you, right?"

A phrase I couldn’t understand, considering I’d only just started learning Arkish.

But things were different now.

Artisha had taught me the way demons communicate.

I read the meaning embedded in the mana Daeun was releasing.

“...‘I’m an expert who doesn’t know how to wield a sword properly’?”

“No! That’s completely wrong!”

Daeun let out a loud shout.

“How on earth does ‘I really, really like you’ turn into ‘I’m a lousy expert’?!”

“Well, I think it’s possible.”

“No, it’s not! That’s way off!”

“But I can’t understand, so what can I do?”

“Could you just say you don’t get it, then…?”

“I don’t want to; it hurts my pride.”

“...Ugh! You’re so annoying I can’t stand it!”

Squeeeze—

"…Ugh."

My cheek stretched under Daeun’s grip, enough to make me wonder, ‘Can my cheek even stretch this much?’

"Come on, be honest. You’re only hearing what you want to hear, aren’t you? How else would you understand words like ‘chocolate,’ ‘meat,’ and ‘kid’ but miss everything else?"

"Ugh?”

"...What are you saying? I don’t understand.”

“Ugh…”

If she wants me to understand, she should let go of my cheek.

It didn’t hurt, but seeing my cheek stretched like a rice cake felt strangely unsettling.

I shot a fierce glare at her, and Daeun finally let go.

I didn’t need a mirror to know my cheek was flushed red.

I rubbed the faintly warm cheek, grumbling.

“Is this my fault?”

After understanding Daeun’s words, we ran various experiments.

Could I understand it if Daeun or Selene spoke in Arkish, or if Selene could understand me in return?

The success rate was less than half... roughly 30%, maybe even less.

In absolute terms, that’s not a high success rate, but considering it was a skill I’d just acquired, I thought it was a decent outcome.

That’s how I saw it.

"You can’t be perfect from the start."

"...Kana, of all people, shouldn’t be saying that!”

"...Why?”

"Are you really asking that? You’re the one who kept calling me a lousy expert…!”

Daeun cried out, her voice brimming with indignation, and she reached out for me again.

I’d been caught off guard before, but this time was different.

I shook my head, dodging her grip.

"It’s only natural to focus on things you care about more than on things you don’t…."

Artisha, who had been silently watching us squabble, chimed in.

"When people talk, don’t you find that uninteresting things just slip by your ears…?”

“Hmm... I guess that’s true?”

“That’s just how it is… I’m actually impressed you succeeded even once… With practice, you’ll probably get better at understanding other things, too….”

“See, even Artisha says so.”

It wasn’t because I was bad at it.

"Feeling smug, are we?”

Failing to catch me, Daeun clicked her tongue and withdrew her hand.

Seeing her look annoyed but reluctant to make another attempt was somewhat amusing.

She shouldn’t have neglected her training.

That reminded me I also needed to practice to further develop my newly acquired ability.

"We’re heading out right after a quick meal.”

I postponed that thought for later.

We already had plans for today.

“In that much of a rush?”

“Understood.”

“Alright…”

There was only one dissenting opinion.

And it wasn’t a complete objection, just a mild disagreement.

“We don’t know how long it’ll take, so we should leave as early as possible.”

If we arrived late and night fell, it would be a hassle.

Even though darkness no longer affected me like it once did, there was still something unsettling about it.

“Kana, are you afraid of the dark? You might seem mature, but you still have a cute side.”

“Yeah. It reminds me of the time I lived in the back alleys, so I don’t like it.”

“...Sorry.”

“It’s a joke.”

The mood suddenly turned somber.

Even though I said it was a joke, Daeun’s expression remained downcast.

...It really was just a joke.

I tried to lift the mood I’d unwittingly thrown into a pit, but my efforts repeatedly backfired.

If only it had just failed—no, it actually made things worse.

With every word, Daeun’s gaze became more understanding, as if she saw right through me, so I eventually gave up on explaining.

With my lacking social skills and conversational ability, I realized I couldn’t pull the atmosphere out of the gutter.

So instead of trying to lighten the mood, I simply changed the subject.

“Anyway, we’re leaving soon, Artisha.”

“Hmm?”

“Lead the way, please.”

“I was planning to go with you anyway… I wanted to see that guy go down….”

Despite her languid tone, Artisha accepted immediately, her combative spirit showing through.

“I’ll help, too.”

Hearing through Daeun’s translation, Selene cheerfully offered her assistance.

Since the apprentice saintess was willing to help, I had no reason to refuse, so I gladly accepted her support.

Me, Artisha, Selene, and a few demons who would assist us.

The party to hunt down Krumo’s Shadow was almost complete.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how much help Artisha and the demons would be, but seeing her confidence, I figured it was safe to trust her.

“Then right after we eat—”

“Wait, I’m staying here?”

“…Huh?”

Daeun interrupted me.

“Me, me?”

“Is there anyone else here with that name?”

“Well, no, but… That’s not the point, is it?!”

Daeun stood up, practically kicking back her chair.

“Selene and Artisha are coming, so why am I the only one left behind?!”

“Because you’re weak.”

“...”

The complaint she was about to hurl stopped short.

Perhaps unable to deny her weakness, she opened her mouth again after gathering her thoughts.

“B-but what about Raxia? It’s just as dangerous there, and yet you let me come…”

“We’re not going to Raxia to fight—”

“Still! It’s dangerous all the same.”

“Hmm… I see. …So you don’t like it?”

“N-no… it’s not that I don’t want to come with you, it’s just… why can’t I this time?”

Is being left behind that upsetting?

Daeun, usually terrified at the mere thought of fighting, was stubbornly insisting on coming.

No matter what I said, she remained unmoved.

“Why are you being so stubborn?”

“…Didn’t you just insist on something a moment ago, too?”

“That’s different.”

I said that because I knew I could handle it.

Plus, combat ability is directly related to survival.

“It’s not different at all.”

Daeun shook her head.

“Kana, you’re saying this because you’re worried about me, right? You’re afraid I might get hurt fighting Krumo’s Shadow.”

“…Yes.”

“I feel the same way. My sister’s going into danger—how can I just sit back and do nothing?”

“…”

Daeun’s words conveyed the same concern I felt.

Her insistence on following me to dangerous places was honestly a bit frustrating.

As I wondered if she might have another motive, I felt the mana behind her words flow into me.

It carried her genuine concern, just as she’d said.

“I understand what you mean.”

“Then—”

But I couldn’t just accept her words at face value.

“Even so, no means no.”

I’m confident in my ability to hunt down enemies, but not in my ability to protect others.

Protecting was Dad’s specialty.

“…Fine. So I just have to wait.”

Selene, unable to watch any longer, finally persuaded Daeun, who reluctantly gave up her stubbornness.

But although she accepted it, Daeun’s face was still filled with discontent.

…I had no intention of changing my decision, but I did feel a bit sorry.

I’d made her feel excluded, and on top of that, I’d jumped to conclusions and misunderstood her intentions.

Even though I hadn’t said it aloud, it gnawed at me that I’d thought such things, even for a moment.

“…When I return.”

“Hm?”

“I’ll grant you a favor after the hunt.”

Daeun, looking puzzled, spoke up.

“Uh… isn’t it usually called a ‘wish’ at times like this?”

“That’s too grand.”

“Then… does that mean you’ll let me hug and cuddle you all day?”

“…Is that what you want?”

I nodded reluctantly.

Should I call it modest, or maybe simply honest?

“If that’s what you want.”

“Yay! You promised, so you have to keep it, okay?”

“I understand.”

Daeun didn’t know what I’d been thinking.

I hadn’t lied, but it still left a slightly guilty feeling.

“I’ll come back safely.”

“…Huh?”

“When the hunt’s over… yeah, let’s have a meal together.”

“W-wait, Kana…?”

“Don’t worry. You know my skills. I’ll finish it up quickly and return.”

"...You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?! You’re deliberately setting a flag, aren’t you?!”

“What’s a flag?”

“Ugh…”

I told her not to worry, but Daeun’s face only seemed more anxious than before.

Why is she acting like that?

I don’t get it.