Chapter 47

"Le, Lady Reni!? The light just now...!"

"My heart was racing. When I felt it heat up, the light came out."

"I understand. Could you please come back to the shade of the tree where I am as soon as possible?"

"Okay."

Samuel's anxious voice echoed through [Mental Sensing].

It seems we should move away from our current location, so I immediately flew over and landed next to Samuel.

"Lady Reni, once you reach the shade of the tree, please reveal your presence—"

"Okay. I'm already here."

"Yes! Then this way."

I pulled down my hood and revealed myself.

Since I did this in the shade, no one should have seen me.

Then, a red-haired knight ran to the place where I had been—

"The light should have come from here..."

The red-haired knight seemed to be searching for the source of the light.

Since I was no longer there, only a tree remained.

"Sir Pio! This armor has already stopped functioning."

"I see..."

While the red-haired knight was investigating the source of the light, three soldiers were examining the full-body armor.

Unlike before, the Living Mail was completely still, just a pile of leaden armor.

When the red-haired knight heard the soldiers' report, he turned his gaze to Samuel.

"It looked like it had been purified to me. ...Was it you?"

"I was here."

"...That's right. You told us how to eliminate the monster and explained that you didn't have that power."

"The place where the light came from is far from me. Lady Reni was here, so I couldn't leave."

Samuel said this and gave me a look.

Okay. I understand.

"Reni, I'm here."

Saying this, I stepped out from the shade.

Samuel is probably trying to hide the fact that I emitted the light. So, I went along with it. ...I think I did.

"First, shouldn't we investigate the armor a bit more? We need to be vigilant. We should consider where it came from, why it appeared in the sky, and whether there are any others. Don't we need to think about these things?"

Samuel calmly and smoothly suggested.

The red-haired knight looked between me and Samuel and nodded, "Okay."

"Let's investigate."

With that, the red-haired knight turned and headed toward the full-body armor.

Samuel, as always, skillfully ended the conversation about the light.

"Reni!! Reni!! Are you okay!?"

The danger must have passed, and Caries must have sensed it.

Caries, who had been taking shelter in front of the mansion, ran over.

Running in a dress must be difficult, but Caries, out of breath, came straight to me.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine."

Caries, who had run to me, looked worried and clasped her hands in front of her chest. To reassure her, I gently held her hands.

"Reni is strong."

"Th-That's right...!!"

" weren't you scared, Caries?"

"I'm fine!!"

Caries said this while her face turned red.

That's right. It's fine now. But—

"It's scary, isn't it?"

Since I was targeted from the moment I was born. I was attacked by a dragon when I fled, and then by the Living Mail.

What if I'm attacked by something else in the future?

I think the red-haired knight is very strong, and the people around me are trying to protect Caries. So, I want to be able to help—

"Here, take this."

I said this and reached for the [Detection Bell] attached to my waist.

Since it seemed difficult to untie the knot with cat hands, I cut the strap with my claws.

"This will ring when an enemy comes."

"Ring...? What do you mean?"

Caries, looking curious.

I took her right hand and placed the [Detection Bell] in her palm.

"It will ring when an enemy comes. I'm giving it to you."

"Wh-What? But this is Reni's, isn't it?"

"Yep. It's mine."

Caries still seemed confused but decided to look at what was in her hand.

She gently raised her right hand to her eye level—

"It's so cute..."

"The golden bell is cute, isn't it?"

I think the round silhouette is cute too.

So, I smiled, and Caries stared at me with a flushed face.

Then, she seemed to realize something and shook her head.

"No, I can't! This is something Reni was wearing. I can't take it!"

"It will ring when an enemy comes. It's convenient."

"An enemy will be detected and it will ring!?"

"Yep. Only the person wearing it will know."

"Such a powerful item, I can't take it!"

Caries, looking surprised, tried to return the [Detection Bell] to me.

Hmm. It seems the important part didn't get across.

"Caries, you'll feel less anxious."

"My... anxiety?"

"Yep. If it rings, it's dangerous. If it doesn't, you're safe."

Caries looked puzzled at my words.

That's right. The [Detection Bell] rings when an enemy is present, but conversely, if it doesn't ring, it means you're safe.

"If it rings, tell everyone immediately. If it doesn't, you can relax."

Caries, who always tries her best.

"Try to get some rest."

To reduce her anxiety as much as possible.

"I want you to take it."

"Reni... But won't it cause trouble for Reni?"

"Reni is strong."

I have plenty of other equipment!

So, I nodded, and Caries tightly gripped her right hand, placing her left hand on it as if it were precious.

"I will... take very good care of it."