Chapter 106
Trees that had been sparse now appeared frequently, and we often encountered suddenly protruding massive rocks. These were signs we were entering a new environment.
We climbed a hill that was relatively high ground.
And finally, the circulatory system came into view.
Dark clouds hung over it. While warm sunlight still shone here, in the distance, occasional downpours fell and lightning flashed.
The circulatory system's boundary was clearly divided as if a black curtain had been drawn.
Through gaps in that curtain of rain and mist, rocky cliffs and dense primeval forest occasionally revealed their inner flesh.
Due to the dynamic movement of clouds, the whole area seemed like a living organism.
We would enter the circulatory system's dangerous zone after walking about three or four more hours. The leisurely journey was ending and a full-fledged march of hardship was beginning.
I stood still and stared at Luna.
She had a face that looked like not a single raindrop had ever fallen on her crown.
Could this preciously raised young lady endure well in such a remote place?
"Are you okay getting rained on?"
"Yes."
"Wait a moment."
I took off my cloak and draped it over Luna's shoulders. We had to pierce through the rain. Though I couldn't prevent her head from getting wet, I could protect her clothes somewhat. I could just take off and dry my clothes if they got completely wet, but Luna couldn't do that.
They said rain falling in the circulatory system also contained magical power, so getting our bodies wet wasn't bad. Perhaps it might contribute to the process of becoming part of it.
She pulled the cloak tight and said, "...Thank you."
"Let's find a cave or somewhere to camp when we get to the dangerous zone."
Luna nodded.
Contrary to my concerns, she seemed somewhat expectant.
***
While Bertrand and Martha were briefly away scouting, Cecil asked, "Trisha, why have you been so down all day?"
"...It's nothing."
Though she said that, she had the face of someone suffering internally.
"What is it, is someone annoying you? Is Bertrand bothering you again?"
"No..."
"Tell me. Sis will listen to everything."
Trisha pressed her lips together tightly, pondered deeply, and then spoke, "Do you think I'm useless, Sis?"
Faint resentment mixed into Trisha's finally spoken words.
What could have happened to make her say this?
It might be related to Damian whom she had tried to bring into the group. She had introduced him as if he were something to boast about, then suddenly cut off all talk about him at some point.
"Hmm, did someone tell you you're useless?"
"No, it's not that..."
"Then?"
"I don't know..."
When Trisha hesitated to answer, Cecil dug deeper.
"Hmm, you mean you feel useless yourself?"
"Yeah... something like that."
"Is it because of that Damian kid? Did he say something?"
Trisha strongly denied it, "No!!"
"..."
Thanks to that, Cecil could be certain. It was indeed because of Damian.
Cecil thought for a moment. Trisha was still immature in interpersonal relationships. Though uncertain of what kind of environment she grew up in, her understanding of relationships was almost a blank slate.
She probably wouldn't know how to deal with men either.
"Anyway, this is about another friend. I thought we were really close, but they seem to think differently. They don't ask me for help and try to do everything alone secretly. Friends are supposed to share everything they do. They didn't even ask me to group together and secretly joined another... group."
So, she started thinking of herself as useless because he never asked her to group together?
"Trisha, even married couples don't share everything. Wouldn't he have had his reasons?"
"But...!"
"You don't need to feel so hurt. Know what's characteristic of good men? They don't try to depend on others. Maybe he's trying to handle things alone because he doesn't want precious people to see him struggling."
"I didn't say anything about men!"
Cecil lightly laughed off Trisha's words.
And remembering her relationship with Candy, she advised Trisha, "Even if you're close, relationships can break if you don't respect the other's space. If you're too much, they'll run away."
"..."
Trisha seemed to have a lot to think about and couldn't speak for a while.
Soon after, the conversation ended as group members returned from scouting.
Bertrand shared what he had discovered while scouting, sweating profusely.
"There's a dry riverbed on the path to the dangerous zone. It's an area easily crossed when it's not raining, but now, the water level has risen. If we cross before it rises more, we could shake off plunderer pursuit for a while."
No one objected to crossing before the water rose more.
They hurried to move to what had now become a river.
Though muddy water flowed and the current was somewhat rough, it wasn't uncrossable.
But when no one volunteered to go first, Cecil hitched up her skirt and stepped forward.
"Haa, I'll go."
She held her shoes and stepped into the current. Advancing several steps to the middle, it only came up to mid-thigh, not too deep.
Seeing it was fine, Trisha extended her foot but Cecil sensed something was wrong and stopped her.
"Wait, don't come!"
After crossing two-thirds, water rose to Cecil's navel though it wasn't even a deeper section. The volume had rapidly increased.
After Cecil finished crossing, the water quickly rose and began pouring like a waterfall.
The river's width also suddenly widened, forcing them to step back.
Trisha made a trumpet with her hands and shouted, "Sis!"
Due to an unexpected variable, Cecil was isolated alone across the rapid current.
"I'm fine! Absolutely don't try forcing across—find a bridge and cross around!"
"What about you!"
"I'll look for a group that can help us! Send a Stitch if anything happens!"
"It's too dangerous!"
"It's fine!"
It was worrying if she could really go alone like that—Cecil only had a few pieces of jerky for food. It was hard to understand what she planned when they didn't know how long this situation would last.
Bertrand and Martha doubted whether looking for groups in the dangerous zone was even feasible.
Just then, Trisha expressed doubt seeing Cecil's actions.
She tidied her clothes and undid three top buttons.
"Her top isn't even wet...?"
After that, Cecil headed toward the dangerous zone.
***
We made our way through a forest mixed half with rocks and trees. Fine drizzle fell like scattered flour in the circulatory system we finally set foot in.
Our first goal was finding a cave suitable for camping, and the next was securing food.
Finding a cave didn't seem difficult as massive rocks jutting from the ground were frequently visible. However, food was a problem. No animal traces were visible yet. We needed to find animals positioned high in the food chain if possible, or at least gather herbs or mushrooms if not.
While advancing, Luna stopped me.
"One of my spirits says it found a cave."
It was welcome news as the drizzle was gradually thickening. Luna's spirits even saved time.
"Good. Let's go check it out."
We had to avoid caves leading underground. There was danger of water pouring in when it rained, and a high possibility of insects and bats swarming.
I followed Luna.
The cave she guided me to was located at suitable high ground, and the rock itself was solid with no risk of collapse. The spirits had found a proper place.
We unpacked there.
"I'll chop firewood."
Setting up camp by making fire was urgent.
Linear tree wood was good for fuel since its inside stayed dry whether it snowed or rained once the bark was removed, so I just needed to find that.
Luna seemed to dislike just sitting and waiting quietly, so she moved with me.
"You can just wait quietly."
She shook her head.
"...I'll pick mushrooms in the meantime."
Since she said she would do it, I didn't particularly stop her.
We saw quite a lot of mushrooms on the way but none were edible.
Can I trust her?
We moved separately. Around when I returned with a bundle of usable Linear tree wood and finished peeling all the bark, Luna returned to the cave with an armful of mushrooms.
She held out the mushrooms before me with a satisfied face.
I checked them and couldn't continue speaking.
A rainbow of various colors. Some were apple-red while others were green-apple-green. Just looking at the colors, they were pretty and luscious. But they were all poisonous mushrooms.
Her satisfied face made me feel like I should eat them all without a word. Though her naive appearance was more endearing than annoying, this was a matter of life and death so I had to tell the truth even if it hurt.
"They're all poisonous mushrooms."
Every single one contained deadly poison.
"...!"
After wondering how to handle it since she seemed to have worked hard gathering them, I ended up throwing them outside. Though Luna didn't show it outwardly, she seemed internally shocked and didn't say anything for a while.
Why do I feel guilty? Maybe I should have eaten just one.
I washed Luna's hands in case mushroom spores remained, and lit a fire where smoke could escape well. Just then, the rain increased as if about to sweep away the whole world.
We sat side by side facing the cave entrance warming ourselves. Thanks to the rain, the cave felt more comfortable. Luna still said nothing, perhaps not over the shock.
After raising our body temperature adequately, I got up again and grabbed my wooden sword. Luna also got up to follow me.
"Even with the cloak, you'll get soaked if you go out now. Wait here. I'll go hunting and return."
Luna hesitated briefly but then agreed, perhaps remembering the poisonous mushrooms.
"...Okay."
As I was about to leave the cave, Luna suddenly called me, "Um... light is coming from your pocket... is it okay not checking now?"
"Huh?"
Checking my waist, light was indeed leaking from that leather pouch.
It was the pouch containing Cecil's Stitch.