Chapter 105
“Estelle!”
I shouted out loud.
My body was leaning to the side, my feet suspended in the air—I was sure I was going to fall hard.
But contrary to my expectations, Estelle didn’t fall.
“Whoa!”
When did she move?
Vermillion had caught Estelle as she fell to the ground and held her safely in his arms.
“…….”
Was she that surprised?
Estelle’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s as she stared at Vermillion.
“Why… was it impressive?”
Feeling a gaze from below, Vermillion lowered his head. Then he smiled slightly at Estelle, who was looking up at him from his arms.
“…….”
Estelle frowned, clearly annoyed by Vermillion’s words. But he didn’t seem to care at all.
Whistling lightly, he gently set Estelle back on the ground.
“Everything was good, but there was one thing I found lacking.”
Once Estelle’s feet touched the ground, Vermillion crossed his arms over his chest and spoke.
Estelle tilted her head, suddenly puzzled by what he meant.
Vermillion pointed to her feet with a finger.
“Why put all your weight on just your front feet? The moment you shift like that, you could collapse instantly. That’s something you should fix.”
“…….”
Estelle rested her right hand on her chin, remaining silent. Her gaze stayed on the ground, apparently replaying her posture just moments ago as she listened to his advice.
After a short while, Estelle turned her head toward Vermillion. She stared at him, almost glaring, and then said:
“……Thank you for the advice.”
She gave a slight bow.
“Haha! Thank me!”
Vermillion laughed heartily, almost splitting his mouth in a grin, and tapped Estelle on the shoulder. He seemed pleased to hear her gratitude.
‘What just happened?’
Unlike the two of them, I was completely confused.
Even though I had seen everything from Estelle attacking Vermillion onward, my brain couldn’t comprehend the situation.
‘Could this be the bond between those who fight?’
Even though they had been wary and had fought just moments ago… now they were exchanging advice and thanks after what wasn’t even a formal duel.
‘Wow…’
I felt a little left out, as if I were being excluded despite being there.
I awkwardly got to my feet. Then, brushing the dust off my skirt, I approached Estelle.
“So, where were you two headed?”
Vermillion looked between Estelle and me, asking cheerfully.
The bright tone of his voice made me respond instinctively.
“We were on our way to the lake.”
“Oh, really? I happen to be heading that way too.”
Vermillion’s eyes widened with excitement, as if it were a happy coincidence. His golden eyes shone with delight.
He unfolded his arms, placing one hand on his waist and gesturing to himself with the other.
“Perfect. Then I’ll take you there. How’s that? Reliable, isn’t it?”
He winked at us.
Somehow, I wanted to say “not really,” but…
‘Well, it is reassuring.’
Maybe it was because I had just seen him defeat a wolf with ease. Or maybe because I knew he was a playful dragon.
With him nearby, the forest didn’t feel scary at all.
‘If it were just Estelle and me, we might have fled from the wolf but still been reluctant to reach the lake.’
With him by our side, I could even enjoy the scenery.
“But what are we going to the lake for?”
As Estelle and I chatted quietly, pointing at birds and squirrels around us, Vermillion, who was walking beside us with his hands clasped behind his head, asked.
I looked at Estelle holding my hand and answered:
“We were going for a picnic.”
“To the lake?”
“Yes.”
Just saying the word made me feel better. Even the small lingering anxiety in my heart vanished completely. I could smile and nod freely.
Vermillion lowered the arm he had been resting on.
“So, that basket you’re carrying… is it the picnic basket?”
He pointed to the basket I was holding. Before departure, Estelle had insisted on carrying it herself, but after the recent dangerous situation, I had taken it to keep a tool handy.
“Yes.”
I lifted the basket slightly and replied.
‘Hmm… if I say we made it together just now, it might sound too sentimental, right? Probably.’
It was a shame. People close to me wouldn’t mind my little boasts, but Vermillion was someone I’d just met. It might be overwhelming to him, and surely Estelle would be embarrassed.
I suppressed my desire to brag about Estelle and answered:
“No wonder! You held onto that basket carefully even in front of a wolf. So it was the lunch basket after all.”
Huh… did I say that? I don’t quite remember, but I probably would have.
Seeing Vermillion laugh heartily, I wondered if I had really acted that way. Imagining myself clutching the picnic basket in a tense moment made me feel a little embarrassed.
But then again, isn’t a picnic meaningless without a lunch?
A picnic is just eating outside, right? Without a lunch, why even go?
“No, me? Oh… I didn’t realize. How embarrassing! Hahaha…”
I didn’t understand why he was laughing so much, but I joined in, laughing along. I couldn’t embarrass the person who saved us, after all.
And considering Vermillion had lived for hundreds of years more than me… he was far more mature. I couldn’t be rude.
Apparently, my laugh was still a bit awkward. Vermillion, about to say something, paused and changed his words:
“Really… Ah, yes! That lake does have a beautiful view! Calm, perfect for a picnic!”
He stumbled slightly but quickly returned to his confident grin.
I followed his lead, smiling gently.
“That’s right. And the lake even has a romantic legend.”
“Legend? What legend?”
Vermillion tilted his head, as if hearing about it for the first time.
“Oh, you don’t know?”
I was surprised that he had no idea.
‘Strange. If it’s called a legend, it should have been passed down for a long time. A dragon doesn’t know it?’
Well… I suppose he might not.
I didn’t know either. A romantic legend like that might have come up in a game, but I had never heard it here. Even though I’ve been in this world longer than Vermillion in terms of game time.
Fine. If he doesn’t know, I’ll tell him. The story is beautiful and bittersweet…
“The legend says… if you enter the lake, you die.”
“If you enter the lake, you die…?”
…Did I just say that?
“What? Die? Didn’t you say it was romantic?”
“Eh? No! No!”
Ah, this is a problem!
Trying to make the legend sound meaningful, I had mimicked exactly what Estelle had just said!
I frantically waved my hands at Vermillion.
“No, wait. What do you mean, die?!”
I looked at Estelle in shock.
“Estelle? Die… what do you mean?”
“Why? That’s true. It says if you enter the lake, you die.”
“D-Die? Ah, come to think of it…”
Estelle looked up at me with innocent eyes, as if asking why I was acting surprised.
I blinked repeatedly, overwhelmed, and trailed off.
“Y-Yeah… that’s… but…”
Because I…
‘I completely forgot that part.’
The moral of the legend—the warning not to enter the lake—had completely slipped my mind
