Episode 117

“They say this dungeon is a D-rank dungeon.”

“D-D-rank!? W-Will we be okay?”

I was surprised—the dungeon was a higher rank than I had expected.

Basically, it’s safe to assume an adventurer’s rank roughly matches a dungeon’s rank.

If you want to fight monsters in an E-rank dungeon, you need to be an adventurer of roughly E rank.

And among the adventurers I know, Ivas and the others are E-rank.

They said they might reach D-rank soon, but the idea that we’d need the same level as those who actually fight left me nothing but uneasy.

However, Alicia shook her head as if to dismiss my worries.

“D-rank dungeons aren’t that high. I can handle that level.”

“… R-really?”

So does that mean Alicia could easily overpower Ivas and the others?

I imagined that sight and trembled a little.

It’s not that I can’t fight, but the thought that someone so delicate-looking might beat Ivas senseless was a little frightening.

“Yeah. Also, Father was worried and said he’d give me a few guards to escort me.”

“Y-yeah, that’s true.”

If it’s Lord Goral, he’d surely do at least that.

As I breathed a sigh of relief, Alicia lowered her eyes apologetically.

“Am I… making you worry?”

…Maybe my reaction had been exaggerated.

Guilt welled up at the thought that I had made Alicia worry because of me.

“Well, maybe a little…”

“I’m… sorry. But I’m fine.”

“…Ah, right.”

“Besides, I haven’t really been able to show Faik my better side, so this time I want him to see me as a noble.”

“Alicia…”

When Alicia said that, looking a little embarrassed, I shook my head.

“I’ve already seen plenty of Alicia’s good qualities… so don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

If her efforts backfired and she got hurt, that would be a problem.

When I said that, Alicia blushed and smiled happily.

“Yeah… I’ll do my best.”

We were exchanging smiles when it happened.

With a jolt, the carriage shook violently.

“Wah!”

Alicia let out a short cry and stumbled slightly.

“Are you okay!?”

I reflexively reached out and grabbed her shoulder so she wouldn’t fall.

I tightened my grip as if to hold her slender, small frame.

“Y-yeah… but what happened?”

I turned my gaze outside from Alicia, whose cheeks were slightly flushed.

Looking out the window, the road seemed a bit rough.

It was as I was thinking that.

The horses neighed, and then the carriage came to a halt.

We were surprised by the sudden stop, but aside from the earlier jolt, there didn’t seem to be any accident.

Once the shaking subsided, Refy immediately approached the cover that connects to the driver’s seat.

Not only Refy but the other soldiers did the same.

One of the soldiers pressed a magic stone to his ear and seemed to be listening to something.

If I recall correctly, that’s a magical device for remote communication.

It might not reach extremely far, but it should allow communication at carriage-to-carriage distances.

They’re probably communicating with the other escorts who accompanied us.

As I observed, Refy—who had exchanged a few words with the driver at the coachman’s platform—returned to us.

“It seems a monster suddenly appeared ahead, and they’re dealing with it now. Once they’ve finished and confirmed it’s safe, we’ll depart, so please wait a little.”

“…I see, so that’s what’s going on.”

Because the escort carriages run to protect us, in emergencies like this they’re the ones who take action.

I heard that Capri and the others who normally guard us are among them.

If it’s them, there shouldn’t be a problem.

That said, knowing they’re facing wild monsters does make me somewhat anxious.

There are no guarantees in battle.

I just hope no one gets hurt.

As I thought that, my hand unconsciously tightened and warmth returned.

Just as I wondered what was happening, Alicia—her face flushed bright red—looked up at me and caught my eye.

That’s when I realized: I’d been holding her in an embrace the whole time.

“Faik… I’m, I’m okay now, okay?”

“Huh? Ah, ah… sorry.”

I removed my hand from her shoulder, which had grown warmer than when I first touched it.

We’d had more chances to touch each other and had gotten used to it, but sudden moments like this still made me a bit embarrassed.

Besides, when Alicia showed that happy, embarrassed expression, I felt very embarrassed myself.

“Thanks, Faik.”

“No, it wasn’t a big deal. Sorry for holding on for so long.”

When I said that, Alicia gave a small shake of her head.

“It wasn’t… unpleasant.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah… it made me happy.”

“If that’s the case… then that’s good.”

I returned a wry smile to Alicia, who said that with a smile.

As we stared at each other, a strange sensation came over us.

A kind of indescribable calm filled the space between us, and I thought we’d linger in it for a while—when it happened.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Refy.

…Oh, right—Refy and the guards were with us here.

I hurriedly turned my gaze to Refy; she put a hand to her chin with a serious expression.

“It might have been better if we weren’t here, perhaps.”

At Refy’s words, the soldiers nodded as if in thought.