That simple attire accentuate her beauty and created a friendly atmosphere.
Upon nearing Saito the girl laughed forcibly. She obviously tried hard to make him comfortable. And her accompanying smile didn't radiated beauty but kindness.
“Thank goodness. Because you slept for two weeks… I was worried that you might not awaken.”
“Did I sleep for that long?” Although he was surprised that he slept for two weeks, the girl’s beauty was even more shocking.
It looked as if she was covered with light since her long golden hair on all sides of her like a waving golden sea reflecting sunshine rays falling from the window, and the light dancing on her face.
It was like a computer animation showing the face with a perfect outline and silhouette. Beautiful but it made one nervous at the same time. Such a beautiful person without any noticeable flaws.
And pointed ears peeped through crevices of her golden hair.
Ears like that are quite unusual, he thought while trying to move, eliciting an incomparably acute pain through his side. Until now he had never felt such debilitating pain. But that pain made him feel ‘alive’. I am not dead, I feel alive, thought Saito while trembling.
Relief filled Saito the same way wilted flowers absorbed water. He was safe for now and was he swept with a torrent of emotions.
“I see… I'm alive…”
Gradually he was moved to tears. I am alive,. With a thought like that, even the aching wounds on his body felt near and dear.
Teary-eyed Saito muttered. “Ah, if it hurts it means I am alive.”
Seeing that…
“W-well… are the bandages too tight?” Blinking her clear, big, green eyes, the girl reached for Saito.
After confirming his well being, the girl's beauty felt more real and made Saito’s heart tremble.
Aaah, the touch of such a beautiful person felt like a his desire hitting him in the gut.
Saito immediately retracted. He felt like a simpleton .
The girl opened her eyes wide as she noticed that an ear was peeping from the crevice of her hair and hurriedly covered it with both hands. In an instant her cheeks were flushed pink.
“S-sorry.”
“Eh?”
“But don’t worry. I won’t do any harm.”
Saito stared blankly at her. It seemed that Saito’s retreat was mistaken for fright. An unexpected misunderstanding. Saito lost his nerve only because of her beauty, not because of fright.
“No no! That, I am not afraid. But because of your b-b-bb…”
“Bb?”
“Beauty, well…”
Saying that Saito colored up. He was not used to saying ‘You are beautiful’ to a girl.
She made a surprised face.
“Beauty?”
“Y-yes.”
“You think so even after you saw my ears?” She removed her hands from her ears.
“Yes.”
Suspicious, Saito nodded. Certainly, pointed ears were unusual. However, in Halkeginia with its orcs, dragons, water spirits, there lived many strange beings. At this point, pointed ears did not surprise him as much. Well, I guess there are people who would not think so.
“…really, you are not shocked? Not scared?” She watched Saito with a doubtful face.
“Really, I am not shocked nor scared. Why would I be afraid? Why do you need to ask? Besides, there are a lot more scary things. Like dragons and trolls.”
The girl was relieved, “It’s unusual for a human to not be afraid of an elf.”
“Elf?”
Saito had heard the name. He delved to the bottom of his memory and recalled it. Well it was certainly mentioned in some talks. This was the name of those who live in the ‘east’. According to the rumors they were vicious, and live on bad terms with humans in a holy land.
He did think them to be terrible, but the girl in front of him was far from that.
“Yes, elf. And I am ‘mixed’ one at that…” This the girl muttered with a touch of self-hatred. Thereupon, a shadow covered her porcelain features and melancholy took over her face.
Confused for a moment… Saito had second thoughts.
Hey Saito, it's not time to appreciate the pretty girl.
Isn't there anything else for you to worry about?
How did I survive?
What happened to the war?
Louise?
Siesta?
Everyone?
However, there was something else to do before that. He’d ask later.
Saito said while pointing at the bandages around his body,“Did you help me?”
“Yes,” the girl nodded.
“I see… Thank you. Honestly, thank you.” Saito thanked her many times. Even so, it wasn't enough to express his gratitude.
The girl smiled shyly.
Somehow, she seemed to be embarrassed and dodged Saito’s words. Despite her beauty, she seemed to lose her composure easily.
Though this girl's behavior was naturally cute, Saito endured. Now wasn’t the time to get love-struck. There were a lot of things that he wanted to hear first.
But... something was amiss.
Wasn’t it a little strange?
She helped me?
Hey hey, wasn’t he battling against an army of 70,000?
From the look of it, the girl wore village clothes. So how was she able to help him in the middle of the large army?
Gradually, suspicion built in Saito’s mind.
Then, her beauty, and the atmosphere surrounding her…
What if this elf woman was an enemy?
She tried to make me feel relieved to draw out some information…
When you think about it, this beautiful girl in front of me could really be an enemy’s trap. In movies and anime, the spies were usually beautiful women.
Moreover, after coming to this world and meeting Louise, Saito realized one the truth.
What looks cute may not be so from the inside.
Such was the truth. And from the evidence that his body obtained – it was unshakable truth.
With such a truth, he became more suspicious of the girl.
“Fufufu…”
“What's wrong?”
Saito, cleared his throat, and asked in an calm voice.
“I really want to express my gratitude for helping me, however, there’s one thing I want to know.”
“Please.”
“Where did you find me?”
“You were lying in the forest so I brought you here.”
Lying in the forest?
Didn’t I fall, surrounded by a large army?
What forest?
Saito narrowed his eyes and watched the girl suspiciously.
Due to this, the atmosphere started to feel awkward…
“W-well, I’ll bring you food.”
Saying that, the girl tried to leave. Saito gripped her arm.
“Where have you put my sword?”
“Aah, that sword is yours? I do not know but he was making noise. I thought that it was better to not wake you up, so I placed him in the room on the other side….
Saito puckered up his eyebrows. He recalled words from an old detective drama. The beauty of a rose has thorns. And in the end, the beautiful woman was a criminal.Damn, and said aloud,
“There must be a reason for Derf to be so loud.”
“Even if you say that, there must be a reason…”
She said in an embarrassed voice. Then, seeing Saito clasping her hand, the girl shamefully bit her lip.
“W-well… please, that, hand…”
The girl struggled to shake off Saito's hand. However, Saito didn't let go. Frowning in pain, he drew the girl's slender form to himself. The blush on girl's cheeks increased even more.