02

“Even so, I don’t want it to hurt, so I’ll resist a little. —Abbreviated chant: ‘Clock Stop (Clock Lock)’.”

“Oh? A magician? I’ve never heard of that spell, but at this distance, I could cut your head off the instant the magic manifests—”

“No, that won’t work. After all, you’re not holding a sword.”

“What nonsense are you—”

The woman remained in a proper forward stance. From daily training, she hadn’t moved an inch.

And yet, the sword she had drawn from its sheath was no longer in her hand.

“Your sword’s over there, by the base of the great tree. See?”

Startled, but careful not to expose an opening, the woman glanced sideways to confirm where her sword was.

“…I see. I underestimated you. You are a capable magician. It’s unusual to see a magician carrying a sword, but… even without it, I can subdue you with my bare hands. I won’t allow even the slightest opening next time.”

Her fighting spirit surged.

This was bad. He regretted having poured oil on the fire.

“O-Okay, okay, I get it. I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like the Tas Village I knew is gone! Fine, fine. I wanted to see some familiar faces, but I’ll leave right away!”

As if declaring surrender, he spread his left hand to show he had no intention of resisting.

The woman reacted to a word he had said.

“…Why do you know about ‘Tas Village’?”

“Huh? Well, I’ve been holed up in the forest, but I was taken care of by Tas Village for a long time, so of course I know it. It’s just… it seems Tas Village is already—”

The woman lowered her stance, murmuring while resting a hand on her chin,

“You know of Tas Village… and you were living in the forest…?”

“I hadn’t expected this situation, so I didn’t ask your name earlier, but… if you don’t mind, may I ask it now?”

“Oh, right. Even if the village took care of me, there’d still be people I’ve never met. I’m Ains—Ains Silvetas. Ah, Silvetas isn’t a family name.”

The man—Ains—added with a wry smile,

“I’m good enough at magic to at least call myself a sorcerer.”

“…Forest… Tas Village… sorcerer… Ains…”

The woman muttered as if delirious.

She thought for a moment, then froze, as if she’d reached a conclusion.

“Um, are you all right? Are you feeling unwell or something?”

Ains lightly tapped her shoulder, concerned.

“H-Hye! I-I-I’m fine!”

She snapped back to her senses and straightened up.

“Well, you don’t really look fine… but anyway, I’m glad you came to. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Ains tried to depart as if fleeing.

“W-Wait, please! Ains-sama, just a moment to talk!”

“No, I don’t have any acquaintances here anyway, and… honestly, this is kind of scary.”

The sudden change in her demeanor—from when she’d been brandishing a sword—made Ains uneasy.

“I’m not scary at all. P-Please, just once! Think of it as being deceived! Come with us to meet our captain.”

“Usually people don’t want to be deceived. Still, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, so if there’s food…”

At that, the woman’s eyes lit up.

“Absolutely! We’ll provide five meals—breakfast, lunch, dinner, plus snacks!”

“Come, quickly! Before you change your mind!” she urged, beckoning him along.

“That’s a bit much. By the way, what’s your name? If you’re taking me somewhere, at least tell me your name.”

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Sophia, of the Silver Snow Knights, Autonomous City of the Ains Domain, Santia Kingdom.”

“Uh, Sophia-san is fine?”

“Ains-sama, you may call me Sophia without honorifics.”

Sophia retrieved her sword from where it lay near the base of the great tree and returned it to its sheath.

“Then let’s go, Sophia. I’ll come along—thinking I’ve been deceived. My breakfast is waiting just ahead.”

Ains followed Sophia’s lead.