Chapter 9

"Phew... I feel alive again."

I scoop up some hot water with both hands and splash it on my face. I am currently soaking in a hot spring owned by the elves.

The hot spring is surrounded by rocks, and the only sound that echoes around is the water flowing between the rocks.

Thanks to the tall trees surrounding the area, I can relax alone without worrying about anyone's gaze.

"Still, it's quite a strange turn of events."

Just a few days ago, I was standing before an evil god, and now I am being taken care of in an elf village.

It’s something I never imagined when I was spending time with Alicia in the Ilkut Kingdom.

"I wonder if Alicia is doing alright?"

I recall her expression when we parted ways.

Alicia is a kind girl. She wouldn’t want anyone to be a sacrifice in her place. She must be feeling down.

"If only I could let her know I’m safe..."

First, I need to reach a human village or town...

"First, I need to figure out how to get out of this forest."

I rack my brain over the problem.

Laughter can be heard all around, and orbs of light float in the air.

The light produced by the light spirits gently illuminates the surroundings, making the floating elves look very ethereal.

I sip the honey wine in my cup while watching the scene.

"It’s delicious."

The wine, made from flowers, is refreshing and easy to drink, with a refined honey flavor spreading in my mouth.

It seems to be a secret stash of the elves, as I have never tasted such wine in the city.

Just being able to drink this cup is worth being here.

"Elto, why is the guest of honor standing in the corner?"

There stands Serena.

Unlike her earlier outfit for forest activities, she is now wearing a thin white dress, sandals, and flower decorations. Her cheeks are flushed from the hot spring, and a pleasant scent wafts over.

She seems to be in high spirits, holding a cup of honey wine like me.

"Everyone looks so happy, so I was just watching."

As I glance away from Serena and look over, she continues.

"That’s true. We’ve suffered so much at the hands of the Bloody Ogres. Now that the worry is gone, we can celebrate."

Serena says this and sits down next to me. As I look at her, our eyes meet.

"Hey, can you tell me about yourself?"

"About me?"

"Well, thinking about it, we only know each other’s names, right?"

We were too busy to have a proper conversation before.

"That’s true. It’s a long story, but do you mind?"

"Of course not. We have plenty of time."

Feeling good from the wine, I spent the rest of the time chatting with Serena.

★

"Elto, why..."

In the darkness, Alicia murmured. Her tears had dried up, no longer flowing.

Several days had passed since the sacrificial ritual.

Initially, the ritual site was in chaos, but the murmurs subsided when it was announced that Elto had disappeared into the teleportation magic circle that summoned the evil god.

Most people praised Elto’s actions, shedding tears at his self-sacrifice.

But deep down, everyone must have thought:

‘At least Alicia won’t be the sacrifice.’

"Such a thing... I’m not happy about it. I can’t bear the thought of Elto being gone..."

Memories of the time spent with Elto flood Alicia’s mind, and a sense of loss overwhelms her.

"It’s because I showed my weakness... that’s why Elto..."

She recalls the night before the ritual. Alicia had called Elto.

The next day, she would have to offer herself to the evil god. She wanted to confess her feelings before that.

But when she saw Elto, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

They had been childhood friends since birth. If she confessed, it might bind him for life. This thought made her words falter.

Instead, she uttered the weak words, "I don’t want to die."

She had been chosen as a sacrifice by the kingdom and had been strong, but in front of Elto, she was just a young girl. Her true feelings slipped out.

Elto gently patted her back when he heard her words.

"If I hadn’t cried, Elto might not have thought of being a substitute."

She looks at the magic circle he was sucked into.

"No, I’m sure he intended to do this from the beginning. Elto is kind."

Alicia gives a faint smile. Then, as she touches the magic circle...

"Ah!"

The magic circle glows brighter.

"Is it still connected? No... because this light should disappear when the sacrifice dies."

The evil god’s magic circle appears once a year in the castle’s ritual site. It won’t settle until someone passes through it, and it loses its light when the sacrifice dies. Alicia had been informed of this beforehand.

"Could Elto still be alive?"

It’s a wishful thought. The magic circle might be malfunctioning for some reason, or the legend might be incorrect. But...

The magic circle only glows brighter, giving no answer. Even if Alicia steps onto it, it won’t activate, as it is designed to transport only one sacrifice.

"If he really is alive..."

A light of determination appears in Alicia’s eyes, different from the despair she felt moments ago.

"I want to see Elto."

The girl voices her wish.

"I need to tell him. Because this feeling... it has always been with me..."

Alicia places her hand on her chest, feeling her heart beat intensely.