Chapter 17

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"That idiot had more stamina than us... That's why she went to the forest as if it were a stroll."

"I'll bring her back before it becomes a problem."

"Is something wrong?"

Because we were making a commotion at the entrance, the prince even came outside.

(No, I can't make this any bigger.)

"Ah, Your Highness. Don't worry... It's just that Zahha went out on her own."

"Was she not supposed to go outside?"

"No, it's fine as long as she stays in the village. So, Magilka, I'll go bring Zahha back."

I left the prince in Magilka's care and headed towards the forest, but for some reason, she followed me.

"Wait, it's dangerous for you to go into the forest alone."

"Magilka... I understand, let's go together."

With that, we hurriedly set off into the forest, the four of us.

(Huh? Four people?)

I glanced back and counted the number of people following us in my head.

(Magilka, Tüte, and the prince... the prince!!!)

Realizing the gravity of the situation, I hastily turned around to look.

"Lord Reiforce! Why are you here?"

"Well, I didn't really understand what was going on, but it seemed dangerous to let the girls go into the forest alone, so I followed."

(No, no, no, you're the biggest problem! If something happens, it won't be a laughing matter!)

"So, Your Highness... where are the attendants?"

"Oh, I intended to return quickly, so I left them in the room."

(Not good... He has no sense of danger. It's understandable, the prince doesn't know about the possibility of monsters appearing...)

While regretting not telling him sooner, I couldn't do anything about it now. The priority was to get the prince back to the village.

"Hey? Is that Zahha over there? Did she go to check out the evening primroses?"

The prince, having spotted something in the distance, kept moving deeper into the forest. The path was well-trodden between the trees, and there was even a makeshift fence, suggesting it led to where the evening primroses grew.

"Ah, Your Highness, please wait."

Magilka hurried after the prince.

(We just need to find Zahha and get back quickly. Nothing will happen, no, no, it's fine because this path is paved and safe.)

I followed the two of them with Tüte.

It was already dusk, and the forest was dim and eerie. The middle of the quiet, dim forest was somewhat unsettling. It was my first time in the forest, and the tension and fear of the possibility of monsters made me increasingly uneasy.

(Ah, I want to go home... Why isn't there a light? It would be great if someone had developed a flashlight...)

While grumbling, we continued deeper into the forest. However, we couldn't find Zahha. The prince, thinking she had gone to see the evening primroses, kept moving forward.

The paved path made it easy to follow, and there was no danger. After a few minutes of tense walking, I started to relax.

(Nothing is happening... I was tense for nothing. That story must have been a mistake...)

Relieved, I quickened my pace to catch up with the prince and Magilka when something suddenly burst out of the bushes.

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

Startled, I clung to Tüte, wrapping my arms around her back in a bear hug.

"Y-You... Y-Your H-Highness... I-I... c-can't... b-breathe..."

Hearing Tüte's strained voice, I came to my senses and turned to see a wild rabbit looking up at us with a puzzled expression, twitching its nose.

The wild rabbit stayed for a moment before darting back into the bushes, leaving me half-crying and clinging to Tüte, and her with a blue face from being squeezed.

Then, looking cautiously ahead, I saw the prince and Magilka watching us with amused expressions.

"Ah, no, this is... um..."

My face flushed as I tried to come up with an excuse, but I inadvertently tightened my grip.

"It's embarrassing, but let go, Tüte's face is turning blue."

Magilka's exasperated voice made me realize I was still clinging to Tüte. I loosened my grip, and her head drooped lifelessly.

"Aaaa, I'm sorry, Tüte! Hold on!"

Shaking her body, Tüte's head bobbed like a rag doll.

"I-I'm... f-fine... p-please... s-stop... s-shaking..."

Relieved that Tüte could still speak, I stopped shaking her.

"Ugh, what a shock..."

"Goaaaaaaaah!"

Just as I was relaxing again, a huge creature burst out of the bushes with a terrifying roar.

"G-Gyaaaaaaaah!"

My weak mental state almost made me scream like a girl, but I managed to hold back out of pride and instead fled like a rabbit to the opposite bushes.

I heard a voice behind me, "Zahha! What are you doing?" but I couldn't process it.

Thud!

I collided with something in front of me and stopped. The cold, rough sensation confused me for a moment, and I stood there, dazed.

I heard the sound of everyone running towards me, but I didn't know how to face them, so I kept my head down.

Then, the log-like object in front of me started to move.

"Get back! Lady Mary!"

Suddenly, Zahha, who had appeared from behind, ran towards me and was blown away.

"Huh?"

The log I had collided with bent, and the force knocked Zahha, who had run to my side, sideways. Zahha hit a large tree and crouched, while the end of the log I had been standing next to lifted up.

It was a snake's head.

But it was much larger than any snake I had ever seen.

Yes, I had encountered a monster in this world.

Thank you for reading this far.