Chapter 58

Summary of the previous chapter:

We were going to visit the leader's house.

4

Five days have passed since I asked Shiran about our future plans.

Despite the casualties caused by the ghouls, the cremation of the fallen soldiers was completed by yesterday. Shiran informed me that the troops would rest for the day and depart for the fort tomorrow.

The numerous corpses of the monsters were being handled smoothly thanks to Lily's tireless efforts, day and night. Lily reported this to me this morning when we met. I will omit the details of what happened at that time. ...It seems Lily, who is busy trying to finish the work by the deadline, unconsciously seeks to make up for it, as she can only spare time in the morning.

The daily morning "battles" are becoming precarious, as the intensity of the attacks increases while the defenses weaken. In short, I, too, feel a bit lonely deep down. To avoid being swept away, a strong sense of self-control is required.

Nevertheless, the work is progressing smoothly. All that remains is to prepare for the departure.

I only took a quick glance, but it seemed to be going well.

What surprised me a little was the existence of "automobiles" in this world.

"They are different from the 'iron boxes that rush through' in your world, Kyouhei-dono."

It looks like a simple open carriage.

However, there is no horse pulling the carriage.

By utilizing magic stones, this vehicle moves using the magic in the air as its power source.

It doesn't go very fast, with a maximum speed comparable to a person running. It is usually operated at a walking pace.

Especially in the forest, the land is rich in magic.

By accumulating magic not only during the day while moving but also during the night when it cannot move, it is possible to operate continuously during the day.

"Magic technology in another world is amazing."

"It's eco-friendly. I only know from memory, but it's like a solar car. The inability to drive at night is a safety issue, so that's a bit different."

"I think your world is more amazing. There's a technology to get magic from the sun, as Kihiko-dono said."

"...It's a bit different, but in general, that understanding is fine, I guess."

If asked to explain the difference, I would be at a loss, so I mumbled.

By the way, there are horses in this world, but they seem to be afraid to enter the forest.

To traverse the forest, specially trained warhorses are required, and the faster the movement, the more difficult it is to deal with monster attacks.

Therefore, for the transportation of supplies to the fort built in the forest and for non-urgent travel outside the forest, this type of vehicle, which is less troublesome than horses, is used.

This time, the vehicle will be used to transport soldiers who have difficulty moving due to the aftereffects of injuries. One of them will be lent to us.

This is because there are people like Rose and Gerbera who don't want to be seen on the way. I decided to take advantage of their kindness.

After hearing the detailed plans for tomorrow's departure from Shiran, I went to see Rose.

I would take a different route from Lily, who has the last work to do.

With a knight accompanying us, we kept physical contact to a minimum, gave a tight hug to her slender body, and waved goodbye.

Left alone, I knocked on the door.

"Rose, it's me."

The hard sound echoed in the corridor.

...It seemed to reflect the slight tension that had arisen in my heart.

"Good morning, Master."

The one who greeted me was not a blank mannequin but a tall woman with gray hair, wearing a mask that covered her face, borrowed from Lily.

Although it was an unfamiliar outfit, this was Rose's current appearance.

On the day of the Cheria Fort attack, before pursuing the slope, I met up with Rose. At that time, she was already in this outfit.

The mask that covers her face is a new one, with a hole only in the right eye.

From the fact that one eye can be seen through the hole, it is clear that her face is not a blank, expressionless one.

It seems that Rose has been secretly changing her body.

I understood that her reason for hiding it from me until now was her craftsman's pride, wanting to show it only when she was satisfied with it.

When we encountered the monsters that attacked Cheria Fort, Rose's facial parts were damaged, and since they were still in the process of being created, I had not yet seen her face under the mask.

Still, it was easy to imagine that the craftsmanship of her face under the mask was so exquisite that it was almost indistinguishable from a human's, just by looking at the area around her eyes.

When I first met up with Rose, I was quite surprised.

After all, the one with Kato-san was a girl with a masked face... but through the connection that binds me and my vassals, I could tell it was definitely Rose.

The current Rose is still a doll from the neck down, with the arms extending from the cuffs and the legs extending from the hem of the skirt, the joints of the parts exposed.

The skin color is that of an inorganic mannequin, and it cannot yet be called human-like.

However, it is a fact that she has become much more feminine than before.

In a sense, it is the cuteness of a doll in the form of a girl.

The femininity coexisting with the inorganic nature exudes a unique and delicate charm.

Indeed, the "cute doll" she mentioned before was this.

With her gray hair grown long and braided into a thick braid, wearing a one-piece dress, and with a mask that hides all her facial features, the only thing that remains unchanged from before is the devoted gaze from under the mask.

...Is that why?

I felt a small sense of confusion in dealing with the current her.

The girl in front of me is Rose.

My precious Rose. That hasn't changed at all.

However, there is something mixed in with that recognition. There is something I had overlooked before.

I think it is the awareness that Rose is a girl.

...If I told someone about this, they would probably think, "What are you talking about now?" and be exasperated.

In the days I spent with Rose, she, who could not speak, began to converse, and her appearance changed from a simple wooden doll to a mannequin-like one.

In the process, I learned that her mind was feminine, and I also noticed a girl-like quality in her relationship with Kato-san.

However, this time, something decisive was different about her transformation.

It was the first time I realized the fact that "Rose is of the opposite sex," which I should have known in my head.

This is the reason for the confusion I feel in my conversation with Rose.

Of course, there is nothing to be confused about just because she is of the opposite sex.

She is still an important companion to me.

...That should be the case, but the emotions in my heart cannot be resolved by such logic.

There is nothing I can do. It is a rather troublesome state.

While feeling perplexed inside at the uncomfortable situation, I crossed the threshold of the door opened by Rose and entered the room.

Inside the room, there was a girl.

"Good morning. You look energetic, Kato-san."

"Good morning, senpai. Thanks to you, I'm completely fine now."

Kato-san was sitting on the tatami in the center of the room, her legs crossed.

She had been sitting next to Rose, who was working, and practicing to sense the flow of magic while she was making magical tools. This was her immediate goal to be able to use magic.

"Gosh, shu, shu, sama!"

"Good morning, Asarina. You look energetic too."

Asarina, who had been quiet outside, stretched out from the back of my hand and chirped, and Kato-san greeted her with a pat.

While glancing at them, I crossed the room and sat at the table by the window. Kato-san stood up and sat on the bed, and when Rose followed behind me, I gestured for her to sit across from me.

Rose's one eye under the mask looked at me. When I nodded, she sat down after a moment of hesitation.

Seeing this, Kato-san's lips curved into a small smile.

"..."

During this time, I observed her casually, but she didn't seem to be forcing herself.

—Kato-san has severe androphobia.

When we were about to head to the transferer and the knight we found in the forest before heading to the fort with Lily and the others, she was not feeling well.

After that, she acted together with the remaining Rose and Gerbera, but I heard that she collapsed during the evacuation to the forest with the allied knights after I took the two of them to pursue the monster Belta that attacked the fort.

Until we parted ways, she seemed to be fine, but it was probably to avoid worrying us, and she was being strong.

It seems that the strain caught up with her, and she was bedridden for a few days after that.

In my case, it seems that the fact that I protected her in the mountain cabin has been imprinted, and during our journey through the forest, she has never shown me fear or rejection.

However, after hearing that she collapsed due to the presence of men, I worry and become cautious.

Therefore, it was a relief to be able to talk to her face-to-face like this.

"..."

I suddenly became aware of how I felt.

In the past, I might not have been able to honestly acknowledge the relief in my heart.

The changes in my heart since coming to Cheria Fort seem to have had a positive effect on my relationship with Kato-san.

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Kato-san turned her gaze to me.

"Huh? Come to think of it, is Kay not here today?"

"Yeah. Kay is busy preparing for tomorrow's departure."

Until yesterday, Kay had been with me when I came here.

It was because I had something to do with her.

During these five days, there was nothing I could do for the fort's aftermath.

However, if I were to seriously think about the future, I couldn't just spend my time idly.

We were going to step into the human world.

Even if we had allies and a clear direction, the situation would not allow for complacency until we secured a safe life.

However, I felt hesitant to practice sword skills when everyone was working hard.

Given these circumstances, I practiced manipulating magic quietly in this room, which Rose had borrowed as a workspace, while learning about the common sense of this world from Kay, who had relatively more free time.

Today, Kay is also busy preparing for tomorrow's departure.

When Kato-san heard this, she let out a small sigh.

"I see. ...That's a shame."

When Kato-san collapsed this time, the only women nearby were Shiran and Kay.

They helped her at that time, and since Kay took