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Paula’s Resolve – Part 02

Ravine Serpents were said to inhabit deep ravines and appeared in remote mountainous regions. Its body was wrapped in electric currents, its skin composed of a highly conductive substance. Hikaru speculated that it possessed the ability to store or generate electricity within its body. However, it was also possible that its unique traits and abilities manifested through magical phenomena.

Due to these characteristics, engaging the Ravine Serpent in close combat while wearing metallic equipment was risky, as it released electric shocks. Furthermore, its skill in camouflage made it challenging to locate, and considering its habitat in remote areas, it was designated as a Rank A monster.

Hikaru looked over his shoulder. “Lavia, are you good?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine.”

Lavia was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. Despite being an adventurer for some time now, her stamina was still lacking.

“It’s been about two hours since we left Brinkra’s house. Let’s take a short break.”

“S-Sorry…”

“No need to apologize. I brought you along because I believed you were needed.”

The pair had reached a stream after traversing the forest. They settled on a comfortable rock by the rocky riverbed, surrounded by the refreshing sound of flowing water.

“Phew…”

Lavia retrieved a water bottle and started drinking. Hikaru cautioned her not to gulp it down too quickly to avoid stomachache.

Hmm… Maybe I should make some adjustments to her Soul Board.

Completing kill quests near Pond had increased Lavia’s Soul Rank. Hikaru could use her available points to unlock Vitality and allocate some points to Stamina.

“Lavia, should we enhance your Stamina?” Hikaru asked.

“Umm…” Lavia wore a slightly apologetic expression. “Would you do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“I wanted you to use my points freely, but now you’re using it for me.”

“Don’t worry about it. Most girls your age don’t do adventurer work.”

Hikaru opened Lavia’s Soul Board and put a point on her Stamina.

【Soul Board】Lavia
Age: 14 | Rank: 20 | 2

【Vitality】
【Stamina】1

【Magical Power】
【Mana Capacity】11
【Mana Principle】2
【Elemental Affinity】
【Fire】5

【Agility】
【Stealth】
【Life Cloaking】0
【Mana Cloaking】0
【Imperceptibility】3

【Willpower】
【Faith】
【Holy】3

With this adjustment, she should feel more at ease.

“Oh, my body feels lighter. The Soul Board is really something else,” Lavia remarked with a mix of admiration and astonishment—20% admiration and 80% astonishment, to be precise.

With increased Stamina, Lavia was able to walk briskly, and in fact, Hikaru found himself struggling to keep up. They exceeded their planned itinerary by a significant margin, and by dusk, they arrived in the area where the Ravine Serpent was said to appear.

“Let’s set up camp around here.”

They found a flat spot up the slope and decided to make it their camping site. The area below the slope was surprisingly damp, and mist had already started to roll in.

With Stealth, they didn’t have to worry about being attacked even while sleeping. Therefore, their priority was to find a comfortable spot to rest.

Starting a fire and cooking a simple meal had become routine for them. They swiftly prepared a warm soup and crafted sandwiches with bacon and cheese between slices of bread.

I never would have imagined living like this back in Japan, Hikaru thought.

Sitting around a campfire in the untouched depths of a forest, holding a bowl of soup—it was an experience unimaginable in Japan. Hikaru was well aware of the deep and unsettling darkness of the night.

Slurping her soup, holding the bowl with both hands, Lavia said, “Hikaru, I feel like a burden to you.”

“We’ve already talked about that.”

“…”

“Lavia.”

Hikaru beckoned Lavia. She promptly stood up, as though she had been waiting for that, and moved closer to Hikaru, sitting right beside him. She nuzzled up against him like a cat, resting her head on his shoulder.

So cute, Hikaru thought.

The otherworldly beauty that Lavia possessed when they first met seemed to stem from her fragility. The current Lavia, who ventured outside daily and even went camping, bore small scars and a sun-kissed complexion. She had grown healthier and gained some weight.

They refrained from using Paula’s Healing magic for minor wounds to enhance her body’s natural healing abilities and immunity against bacteria.

“True. Things have escalated way further than anticipated,” Hikaru admitted, as there was no one else around but Lavia.

Lavia regarded herself as a burden, believing that their current actions were all for her sake. While Hikaru’s initial objective was to find a way to lift Lavia’s wanted status, the situation had changed.

Becoming entangled in a nation’s politics, confronting the strongest swordsman of the kingdom, and strategizing for an advantage—these were not actions befitting a teenage boy.

“I think that by wearing the mask, I assume the character Silver Face. It enables me to speak audaciously and act boldly.”

The silver mask in Hikaru’s hand shimmered in the campfire’s light.

“I do feel like I’m being rash, but this is necessary.”

“Is it really?”

“Through sheer coincidence, my life was saved, and I came to this world. With Roland gone, the only thing left for me was my connection with you.”

He had no money. He quelled his hunger by drinking water. He was, however, able to come up with a plan to make money relatively quickly.

“The main reason I decided to live in this world was to repay the debt I owe you.”

“I…”

“I mean it. I saved you to repay my debt, and…” His voice lowered from embarrassment. “And to form a bond with you.”

“…Hmm.”

Lavia seemed to share the same embarrassment; her face flushed bright red.

“I wanted to live with you. Here, in this foreign world.”

Lavia was there at the start, and she would be there in the end.

“The fate of this kingdom is tied to your life, so I have to do something. You’re not a burden. I want to make it possible for you to walk the streets without wearing a mask, to visit the bookstore and buy books whenever you want, and to be able to buy spicy hotdogs. I want to work hard to make that happen.”

“Did Jillarte leave a mark on you?”

She’s sharp, Hikaru thought.

“She did. A significant mark,” he admitted.

“What about Paula?”

“Huh? Paula?” Hikaru said with a straight face, unable to comprehend why she brought the name up.

“Paula is my first friend. So, I want you to open up to her too.”

“I see. Well, I think I’m open… More like, I trust her.”

“But you don’t trust her from the bottom of your heart.”

“Yeah.” Hikaru nodded.

He had saved Paula’s life multiple times, but it was just something he did on his own. While she had been making efforts with her Healing magic, to put it bluntly, it was hardly significant. His relationship with her wasn’t like the one he had with Lavia, where they shared a secret—the truth behind Count Morgstadt’s murder.

“I see,” Lavia muttered.

“Sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I’m the one who should be sorry for saying weird things.”

Lavia wanted Paula and Hikaru to get along better. Perhaps Lavia sensed that Paula was distressed.

Trust, however, wasn’t something that could be built overnight, and Hikaru didn’t think that he and Paula would develop a relationship where they would share secrets—because he saw Paula as just an ordinary girl.

“All right, let’s—”

Just as Hikaru was about to suggest going to sleep, his Mana Detection picked up something.

“There’s something out there.”

“What?!”

Hikaru stood up and kicked up sand, extinguishing the fire. Darkness instantly enveloped their surroundings. The scent of smoke filled the air. He wondered if whatever was out there was drawn by the smell.

It was coming from the direction where the white smoke had drifted to. Now about ninety meters away, it moved smoothly along the slope, almost like it was slithering.

“It’s a snake.”