Chapter 27

Thank you very much for the 5th place in the daily high fantasy ranking!

"Hmm, that girl looks so happy..."

A girl was sitting on a branch of a towering tree, watching as Reta and the others packed up and left. She looked to be around fifteen years old. She was a petite, beautiful girl with brown skin and long silver-blonde hair. Her figure was slim with little curve, but her legs were long, and she had a good build. She would undoubtedly grow up to be a slender beauty, giving off that impression.

"That brat ran away from me and is hanging out with some old man... What terrible taste."

Her combat attire, which clung to her skin in black, exposed parts of her body, making it quite provocative. The sight of a beautiful girl, who was in the awkward stage between childhood and adulthood, emphasizing her body lines and showing her skin, was enough to make even a man without such preferences swallow his saliva.

"I thought she suddenly disappeared a week ago, so I was looking for her, but as they said, she did run away."

Creak.

The girl's small hand crushed the thick branch. If anyone had seen it, they would have been surprised by the strength in her slender fingers.

"I don't care that she betrayed them. They were never really friends or family anyway."

But, the girl took a large knife from the air and forcefully stabbed it into the tree trunk.

"I won't forgive her for betraying me. I absolutely, absolutely won't forgive her."

Her tone was cute and sulky, but her eyes burned with hatred.

"Ah, I want to go see her quickly, but I have some work to finish first."

The girl had her priorities set. However, she wasn't free to act as she pleased. She was dissatisfied with this and had decided to rebel someday. She knew, though, that the time wasn't right yet.

"I'll finish the work quickly and then go kill her."

The girl winked at Mina, who was holding hands with the man and looking happy, then kicked off the branch and leaped. While a normal person would have fallen straight to the ground, the girl nimbly kicked the trees and grabbed branches, moving like a small animal.

"Wait for me, Mina. I'll change that happy face of yours to one of despair right after this."

The girl—Mina's sister—smiled and moved through the forest nimbly.

*

"..."

Mina felt someone's gaze and shuddered. She looked around quickly, but only Reta and the others were there.

(…Huh? But I just felt someone's eyes on me…)

It wasn't just being watched; it was the feeling of being glared at with hostility. She knew this feeling well from the past, so she was sure of it.

(But, everyone, Reta, they don't look at me like that.)

Instead, they looked at her with warm, gentle eyes. His eyes were warm and comforting. Mina loved being petted by him.

(I have a bad feeling, maybe.)

Usually, she was sensitive to gazes because she was shy around people. Reta was an exception, but Mina didn't like being the center of attention. She had been taught to hide her presence to avoid being seen, so she had a habit of trying to escape from gazes.

Because of this, Mina could sense someone's hostile gaze, but she couldn't tell who was looking at her.

(Maybe... No, that's not it. It's different. It's definitely different.)

She desperately tried to deny the thought that flashed through her mind.

(But, I have a bad feeling.)

"What's wrong?"

"Eh? Why?"

"Why? You looked worried, but maybe I'm just imagining things?"

Mina wanted to hug Reta. He had been kind to her since they met, and he always noticed things without her having to say anything. He had noticed her change this time as well.

"Nothing's wrong. Reta is just overthinking things."

"Is that so? Well, if it's just my imagination, that's fine."

Instead of apologizing for lying, the girl squeezed his hand as hard as she could. He looked at her and smiled, then squeezed her hand back with his large hand.

(God... Please. Please let me stay with Reta.)

Please don't let the day come when we have to part.

The girl prayed with all her heart, not wanting to be separated from Reta.