***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 233 Chain***
Arbyagel- the village of Kreisharana.
A bonfire lights up in the darkness of the night after the sun set.
Men and women, dressed up for the occasion, made merry and drink today.
In front of the large bonfire――a special seat with a cloth spread and a light roof, sitting in the center were two people with cloaks draped over their shoulders.
They were a beautiful silver-haired girl and a red-haired servant.
Sitting next to the two of them was the chief of the Kreisharana tribe――Alkierence Sharana.
And Lira Sharana, the Miko of the Holy Spirit.
"fufu, Coming here all of a sudden and even brought down a Suiko. I'm sure it will be fine since it’s Krische-sama, but it would be safer if you came from the northeast you know."
"That will a bit of a detour so. Besides, it would be a good souvenir... Gururun ate one of them though..."
At that question, Lila looked at the spot next to her――A Suiko who was yawning with satisfaction.
The magic beast, which was supposed to be ferocious, was as calm as a cat, just like before.
Lira looked at it with admiration.
Next to Krische――Bery also looks around, looking a little uneasy.
Alkierence wearing a breastplate and trousers that bulge on the thighs.
Kreisharana’s battle costume wearing fur.
Even in his old age, his well-toned abdominal muscles were proudly exposed, and when he took off his fur, only his chest armor was left on top――even that seemed like a lot of exposure, but the party seemed to be free, and there were half-naked men all over the place.
Some even danced in underwear like a loincloth.
And the women.
Lira was the same as always――her ample breasts held in place by a wrapping cloth, and wearing a loincloth.
She must have stopped growing early.
She looked the same as when they saw her a few years ago.
The only difference was that her hair was a little longer and her pigtails hang loosely in front of her and to her chest.
As usual, the exposure was a lot, and the only thing that covered her healthy tanned skin was just underwear.
Moreover, if you were to consider, it was frightening to see that what Lira was wearing was already quite a thick clothing.
She was probably unmarried.
The area of the fabric worn by the young women was even smaller, and it was a thin cloth that fluttered like a dancer or something.
She had previously heard at a banquet in the royal capital that couples were formed through these festivals in Kreisharana, but the difference in culture was surprising.
While looking at the scene, Bery took a sip of a drink that is similar to juice, just like Krische.
"...Bery-sama, if you like, I could bring you something a little stronger"
"Oh, no. This is enough."
She shook her head, smiling wryly as her red hair swayed.
Like Lila, she had a childish face that hasn't changed since she was fourteen, and a gentle smile on her face.
"I see... most of the alcohol in the plains was quite strong, so I thought it's not enough."
"Hehe, you don't have to be that careful. Neither I nor Krische-sama are big drinkers, rather I'm light drinker."
“Y-yes...”
Lira nodded shyly.
Since before, she could see that Lira was trying to take care of herself, as if she was feeling uneasy about something.
"...I don't usually sit like this even during banquets, so I just feels a bit uneasy."
"I'm sorry. She's always been a girl who can't stay still."
"No, Chief. I understand the feeling..."
Bery said as she giggled like a little girl.
“I'm also someone who feels more at ease when I'm working, so to be honest, I feel nervous when I'm sitting still like this.”
She smiled at Lira, and Lira nodded shyly.
‘Thank you’, she said, apologetically.
Then she noticed Krische staring at Bery and tilted her head.
She was about to call out when she heard the voice from right in front of her.
"Krische-sama, Bery-sama, I'm sorry for being late in greeting you."
The person who appeared was Vinthril.
He was accompanied by a beautiful black-haired woman, and next to her was a boy and a girl who were smaller than Krische.
Although the boy looked nervous, his posture was correct, and the younger girl was shyly hiding half of herself behind Vinthril.
“Vinthril-san, it’s been a while.”
"Yeah, it's been five years... since we met in the royal capital."
Vinthril introduced the three of them as his wife and children, and Krische and the others also greet them.
The boy looks at the two of them, quickly blushing and looking away――then stiffened at the sight of the Suiko.
Feeling someone's gaze on her, Gururun turned to the boy and stared at him, and the boy stiffened even more.
Krische and Bery noticed this and look behind them, saying that ‘Gururun can’t eat it’, and twirling a piece of meat on the plate.
The boy's body stiffened even more at those words.
Vinthril chuckled at that and patted his son on the head.
"The two of you are the same, and the Suiko seems to be doing well."
"She’s a bit of glutton can't be a bit of a glutton. If Krische don't play with her sometimes, she'll just eat and sleep, in the same place all day long..."
Krische looked at the boy and smiled.
“Krische heard that Vinthril had a child, but there are so many more. Also It’s increased by one.”
"She was born three years ago. As you can see, she’s a bit shy..."
The young girl is a complete contrast to her older brother――as she hugged Vinthril, she looked at the Suikp curiously.
Bery looked at her with a smile on her face, and when she stood up, she stroked Gururun's forehead and beckoned her. The girl was a little hesitant, but then headed in that direction.
Although she was at the Suiko’s huge body, she timidly touched it.
Her brother looked surprised again.
Vinthril thanked Bery with a wry smile, pat the boy on the back saying he can touch it, and looked Krische.
“I heard that you had an audience with Yagernaus-sama today but…”
"Yes. Krische have some business with Regalave-san so"
Vinthril’s wife looked surprised at the unfamiliar name "Regalave," but she didn't say anything.
A hero of the kingdom who challenged the Holy Spirit alone and was allowed Their true name (Mana).
There was no one in Kreisharana who didn’t know about it and she had heard about it from her husband.
However, she was still surprised when she looked at the girl in front of her.
“business?”
"Yes. Krische have something Krische would like to ask Regalave-san personally, so Krische come here."
Krische said and looked behind her――at Berry.
Vinthril tilted his head, and Lira also asked about the discomfort she had been feeling from earlier.
“…Is there something with Bery-sama?”
She lowered her eyes at those words and nodded.
Lira and Vinthril looked at each other, looked sideways at Bery who was happily displaying green tigers, and Alkierence said,
"It's about Krische-sama, who has been allowed the Holy Spiri’s True Name (Mana). As long as it's not a fight, we'd cooperate. Let's fly the griffin tomorrow morning."
"...Thank you. But――"
"There's no need to worry. It's our honor to carry the one the Holy Spirit consider as friends――Vinthril."
“Yes, I will tell Verves as well.”
Krische thought for a moment and thanks him again.
“Krische will ride Gururun and flies below, so Krische want Berry to ride on Griffin. As low as possible――”
――Then they heard the Suiko’s growling cry.
It sounds different than usual.
A boy's voice shouted ‘Bery-sama’ echoed from behind, and Krische stood up in a panic.
“Bery!”
Berry was there, crouching her body and collapsing in front of the Suiko.
Even though it was called the tribe chief's house, it didn’t mean it was a mansion.
It's a little larger than the others, with a living room with a hearth and two other rooms.
In Lira's room――A red-haired servant lies on the bedding made of layers of cloth, wearing white underwear.
Krische shattered the magic crystal in her hands, turns it into magical power, and places her hands on her body.
Similar to what they saw in the battle with the Holy Spirit, Krische didn't need magic crystals to use magic.
A complicated formula appears around Bery――they were little surprised by that, but they calmly carried her into Lira's room to avoid her commotion for the time being.
"...Bery's body had been hurting for about three months now."
Krische said quietly.
Lila looked at Bery who was asleep.
When she looked closely, Bery seemed to be a little more slender than when she saw her the last time.
"She collapsed like this a while ago. When Krische looked into it, Krische found that various parts of her body had been disintegrated."
"……disintegrated?"
"...It's like when what we ate is broken down into magical power. In an instant, just a little bit..."
Her eyes are lowered, her long silver eyelashes fluttering.
"It reorganizes quickly, but――because of it, she sometimes... while sleeping or cooking."
‘Krische think it's because of Regalave-san's blood’, she said.
“Krische knew that Bery's magical power was changing little by little. However, Bery also kept saying that it only felt a little strange... so Krische was completely convinced that there was no problem. ...Krische, made the same mistake as before."
“...Krische-sama”
Lira gently hugged her.
"...Krische've tried various things, but it seems like it's hurting more and more often, and the pain is getting stronger... Krische thought maybe Regalave-san could figure something out, and..."
“...Yes”
‘I understand the situation’, Lira said, caressing Krische’s trembling body.
She knew very well how much this girl loved the woman that was asleep right now.
"We'll fly the Griffin first thing tomorrow morning. I'm sure Yagernaus-sama will have some answers."
Krische nodded, and Bery, who had been unconscious, opened her eyes slightly.
“Bary...”
Berry looked at the ceiling, looked at Krische and tried to sit up, her eyebrows furrowing momentarily――Krische held her down in panic.
"It's still no good, Ber should lie down..."
"...I'm sorry. It looks like I've collapsed again."
"Bery, you don't have to apologize. It's not Bery's fault..."
Bery stroked Krische’s tear-stained cheek and smiled.
Then she looked at Lira.
"...My apologize for the inconvenience. Here is――"
"This is my room. Please don't worry about it and rest here. Compared to the ones in the kingdom, the bedding is not something I can be proud of but..."
"No, it's more than enough. Thank you."
She smiled faintly.
The somehow fleeting and beautiful smile――illuminated by the moonlight, it was very similar to that of her sick mother in her deathbed, and Lila shook her head to shake off those thoughts.
“Tomorrow morning, we will head to Yagernaus-sama.…Of course, only if Bery’s body has calmed down.”
Bery nodded.
She kept smiling――but there was sweat beading her forehead.
Lira stood up, her face looking pale in the moonlight.
"...I'm going to get some painkillers from the pharmacist. I hope it will make you feel a little better."
Bery looked hesitation for a moment, then she replied, ‘Thank you’.
She was in pain after all.
Lira quickly walked out through door and ran outside.
Bery saw her off, then turn to Krische and stroke her cheek again.
Her jewel-like purple eyes were filled with water.
"I've been doing well so far, but...fufu, I ended up spoiled my trip with Krische-sama.."
‘Please don't make that face’, Bery said and laughed.
"I'm fine. I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt, but it just hurts a little."
"...Bery won't collapse if it just hurts a little. Krische can tell it hurts a lot."
Bery seems troubled, and reaches her hand on Cliché's neck, pulling her closer.
As if knowing what she wanted, Krische pressed her lips to hers, and Bery smiled mischievously.
"With this, the pain has eased."
Krische didn't say anything and just lies down and sleeps with her.
Then, she placed her hand on Bery’s exposed abdomen, poured magical power into it, and probed the state inside.
It was like being pierced by countless spears and swords and then restored in an instant, if she was to make an example.
Even though the wound healed quickly, the pain remained and blood overflowed.
Even if Bery is a particularly excellent magic possessor, if they didn’t do anything, she will probably die from just bleeding.
Krische and Kreschenta channel magical power, converting it into blood, and accelerating the natural healing of Bery's body――and that's how she survived.
However, in the end it was treating the symptoms after all.
If a vital organ like the heart were to suddenly decompose, that alone could have caused death.
They were not in a situation where we can take an optimistic view, thinking that it would be okay this time, or it would be okay next time.
Still, Bery smiled.
As usual, she tried to pretend that there was no problem.
Just to reassure Krische.
"...I kind of understand what Selene means when she said Bery is sneaky and a coward."
“My”
"Bery is, a very bad servant."
Bery chuckled happily, and Krische cups her cheeks with both hands and kisses Bery.
Then she looked into her eyes, so close that their noses were touching.
"But, even if Bery tell Krische not to worry, Krische will still worry. Even if Bery says Bery is fine, Krische won't leave Bery side until Krische know if Bery is truly okay."
She looked lovingly into Berr=y's eyes.
"...No matter how cunning and cowardly Bery is, Krische will always be fair and square to Berry."
――Krische haven't forgotten the promise.
Krische says challengingly and kisses her back as if to force her.
Bery narrowed her big eyes kindly and chuckled.
"Fufu, it’s embarrassing."
She traced the girl's lips with her thumb and looked straight back at her.
"...But more than that I'm much much happier."
Then she leaned her head close, presses her forehead against hers, and closed her eyes.
"I love you...now and forever."
There is no hesitation in the smiling face.
There was no wavering in her whispered words.
