Chapter 44
Sophia twisted her body this way and that, trailing off at the end of her words.
Why has she been acting like that since earlier? Could it be a side effect of the treatment?
I was told that Luan had summoned her urgently to Sophia’s house using a scroll and that she was a very skilled mage.
“You… you’re so beautiful…”
“Eh…?”
“Ugh, pl-please don’t look directly at my face. It’s too dazzling…!”
Sophia shouted, covering her eyes with both hands.
Wow. Sophia, you’re being a bit dramatic too.
“You’re still quite popular, Zoe.”
Luan, who had stepped away for a moment with the mage, was now leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, smiling.
Ah… seeing that corner of her mouth curl up like that, she must have heard everything. She came without making a sound… what a fuss.
“Hmph! Well, anywhere I go, my beauty shines, after all.”
“Yes, I completely agree.”
I didn’t expect her to admit it so readily at this moment. I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected answer, and my mouth unconsciously opened slightly.
“Oh, no. Why do you admit it so easily? That’s a lie, right?”
“Why would I lie?”
“Well, you’re just teasing me like usual, aren’t you?”
“I’m only stating the facts.”
What’s gotten into her? I’m vulnerable in these kind of embarrassing situations.
Of course, this body is an absolute beauty!
“Uh, um… Has the mage left?”
“Yes, he just left.”
“By scroll again?”
“No, he rode back on his horse. Ascelon really dislikes using scrolls to move.”
“Ehh? Why on earth?!”
The pale mage with the deep navy hair and monocle was named Ascelon.
Even though I was perfectly fine, Luan had forcibly made me receive treatment from Ascelon.
Still, why does he dislike it? It’s such a convenient item that can cover long distances in one go.
Before possessing this body, I often wished I had teleportation powers on the hellish commutes in the subway… but now I have it, and I’m full.
“Well, scrolls are convenient, but some people get dizzy using them. Ascelon is particularly sensitive.”
I immediately understood.
Considering his appearance—dark circles under his eyes, pale and almost colorless skin, so thin you could see his ribs—it made sense.
Still, he had a kind of handsome, fragile look—a sickly but charming young man vibe.
“…Ascelon is quite frail. It’s all because he doesn’t exercise. No muscle at all, just so skinny, tsk.”
“Haha, frail… yes, that’s true. But Ascelon is exceptional at healing magic.”
Luan answered with a full smile.
Phew, almost thought she was a flower and got tricked.
“But about the scroll travel… can you go anywhere with it? For example… to my house?”
Ah, I’d love to go straight there with a scroll.
I’m too tired right now; riding Ruby would make me 100% nauseous…
I waited for Luan’s answer with desperate eyes.
“Oh, Zoe, I’m sorry I can’t meet your expectations. To move, you need to inscribe a magical formula with coordinates on the scroll.”
“Luan can’t do that…?”
“I’m not a mage, and only skilled mages can do it. The scroll I used earlier was one I hurriedly obtained through someone I know.”
Luan explained with an embarrassed expression.
I see… convenient but hard to come by.
“I see. Well, can’t be helped…” I replied with a downcast expression.
Hearing our conversation, Sophia timidly spoke up.
“Um… if it’s okay with you and Luan, how about spending the night at my house today?”
“At your house…?”
“Yes! I wanted to serve you dinner anyway, and I also wanted to talk more with Zoe…”
Dinner at Sophia’s? Oh, the cookies she made yesterday were so good… but wouldn’t it be inconvenient for Luan?
“Well, since you’re both busy… maybe it’s not possible?”
“Oh, no. There’s no reason it can’t….”
I trailed off, glancing at Luan.
After thinking for a moment, Luan answered.
“Let’s do that. Zoe must be tired anyway.”
“Then, please wait a moment! I need to tidy up the guest room first!”
“Huh? It’s fine, Sophia. No need to clean just for us…!”
Sophia shouted happily and ran out of the room.
Whew, she was so worked up earlier. Ascelon really is skilled… full of energy.
“Luan, are you sure it’s okay? Won’t it be inconvenient?”
“It’s just one night. I can sleep on the sofa. And tonight, it’s better for Zoe to stay by Sophia’s side.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Sophia was kidnapped and barely escaped. She may seem fine on the outside, but being alone must be scary.”
Ah… that makes sense.
Lunatis had stepped away briefly to safely return the animals sleeping in the dungeon to their owners, and Sophia’s father was staying in another territory.
“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that… Luan is really thoughtful in these matters…”
“Haha, well… I’ve had a similar experience.”
“Eh? Then Luan also… um, was… kidnapped…?”
“Yes, I was kidnapped when I was young.”
Carefully choosing his words so as not to trigger trauma over a sensitive topic, Luan responded gracefully.
“No one dares kidnap royalty…!”
“Royalty?”
“Ah, no. Anyway… someone kidnapped a child. Really Gerald-like.”
‘Really Gerald-like’ was a euphemism, like saying “what a jerk.”
Luan understood it perfectly and laughed.
“Haha, Gerald… yes, really Gerald-like.”
“I’m glad you’re safe, Luan. Oh, was it the Chevalier Knights from the North who saved you then?”
“No, a girl saved me.”
“A girl? How old were you then?”
“I was about six, so she must have been around the same age.”
“A six-year-old child saved another child?!”
“Yes. My memory is blurry due to the trauma, but I clearly remember that the girl had extraordinary power.”
Luan, apparently the main character of the main story in the Animal Park game… and a girl saved him…
Hmm… usually a story like this means the girl would be the main female protagonist.
I put on my detective hat again.
At first, I thought this game was just a healing game about raising animals, but it seems the main story is progressing properly with protagonists.
So, what role do I have in this game…?
I’m the player, but there’s no separate main quest for me… strange.
“Now that I think about it… you do resemble her a little.”
“…What?”
“The girl and you, Zoe. Especially in terms of having power beyond human limits.”
Hmm, yeah. I had considered that.
As the player of this game, it makes sense that I could be a protagonist with strong power.
“Eh, if I were that girl, I’d have recognized Luan immediately.”
“A lot of time has passed, after all.”
“But I…”
I really am not Zoe Blanche.
I’m just the player in the game, and if I had that past, the system would have told me in the tutorial, or some main quest would have appeared when meeting Luan.
I shook my head and said:
“Anyway, that’s not me.”
“Of course. I searched the North thoroughly for that girl afterward, but I couldn’t find her at all. As if she disappeared without a trace from this world.”
Luan muttered in a low voice, his gaze somehow wistful.
…Could that girl be Luan’s first love?
