Chapter 8

I decided to search the dilapidated ship for anything useful while we waited for Reisha to return.

"Is something wrong?"

Maria asked.

"There's hardly anything useful here..."

The map is nothing but ashes, and the only thing that might be useful is the compass.

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

There was hardly any decent cargo to begin with, and there's nothing that could be used as a weapon. If I had to say, there's plenty of wood that could be used for a bonfire, but there's plenty of that in the forest too.

"The worst part is that we have no water or food."

Well, it's not impossible to produce water with magic, but there's no way to get food.

"Do you even know where we are?"

"Yeah, I think we were heading toward Walter, but we zigzagged to escape the sky pirates, so I have no idea where we are now."

"Your Highness, can't you fly? Can't you fly to check our location?"

"I can fly, but my magic is completely drained. I used all of it to create a defensive barrier during the crash... or rather, the emergency landing. That's why we only ended up like this."

Otherwise, landing at that height and speed would have been fatal.

"You don't have to sugarcoat it; that was a crash."

No, it was a landing.

"It's getting dark, and I want to set out early. Where did Reisha go?"

When we were being chased by the sky pirates, it was mid-afternoon. It's not time for the sun to set yet, but if it gets dark, we won't be able to move, so I want to set out early.

"Who knows? I can't read her mind... By the way, Your Highness?"

"What is it?"

"Your magic is drained, right?"

"Yeah..."

It will take time to recover.

"Reisha took the sword too."

"Yeah."

So, we're left here with no weapons and no magic.

"Maria is a healer, small in stature, and not very strong. Naturally, she's weak. I'm drained of magic and have no weapons."

"If a monster appears, I'll have to use Maria as a decoy and run."

"Why me!? You said you'd protect me!"

I don't remember that. Maybe it was due to the shock of the crash?

"Protect the royal family."

"Men protect women! Reisha! Come back!"

Maria shouted loudly. Then, the nearby grass rustled.

"Oh, she's back!"

Maria said happily, but I wasn't so sure. The grass that was moving was only about waist-high, and it didn't seem like a person could come out of it.

"Reisha...? Huh?"

Maria, who had a happy look on her face, froze. Because what came out of the grass was a hideous goblin, not Reisha.

"Reisha...?"

Maria seemed to be in denial, tilting her head.

"Where's Reisha? There's not even a hint of beauty here."

"Gee, maybe it's the embodiment of the sewers' true nature..."

That's harsh.

"It's clearly a goblin."

"Y-Your Highness, please!"

Maria hid behind me.

"Hmm, can I win?"

Goblins aren't that strong. But I don't have magic or a sword, so I'm not sure if I can win. After all, as a prince, I've never fought a monster.

"You can do it! If the worst happens, I can heal you! Don't be afraid of getting hurt, just charge! Use your size advantage! You're a boy, right!"

Well, I'm about twice the size of a goblin, so I think I can manage. But this thing is disrespectful...

I crouched down, ready to charge. The goblin looked at us and grinned hideously.

"Ah!"

As a terrified voice came from behind, the goblin charged.

"Alright! Wait, stupid grape! Let go!"

As I was about to charge the goblin, Maria, out of fear, grabbed my clothes.

"I'm sorry!"

Maria apologized and let go of my clothes. Suddenly, my body lurched forward.

"Ah! Your Highness!"

It's your fault! Remember this!

I looked up with my hands on the ground, and the goblin was right in front of me.

Damn it! In this situation, I'll give it a prince's headbutt!

I was about to headbutt when the goblin's hideous face suddenly disappeared. More accurately, the goblin fell, and its head flew into the air. Behind the goblin stood a beautiful woman with flowing golden hair.

"Reisha!"

Maria exclaimed happily.

"Hmph! No one can defeat the beautiful Reisha."

Reisha posed with her sword, splattering blood.

"You're really getting off on this, aren't you...?"

"Why are you saying that when I saved you?"

If you hadn't taken the sword, this wouldn't have happened.

"Ah! Your Highness! Are you okay!?"

Maria hurriedly looked at my face.

"You told me to charge, so why did you grab my clothes?"

"I-I'm sorry! Heal!"

Maria apologized and cast a healing spell on me.

"Phew... Never mind. Reisha, where were you?"

I stood up and asked Reisha.

"I was scouting the area."

"How was it?"

"It's a forest."

You can see that...

"Any monsters?"

"I took out a few goblins and saw some wolves."

Don't just leave us here.

"Was there any path?"

"No. Where are we?"

I don't know!

"Any clues? Should we move or wait for my magic to recover?"

We should move. We can still recover magic while moving, and no rescue will come if we just sit here. We should move.

I agree.

"Maria, which way do you want to go?"

I pointed in the direction of the wrecked airship and the opposite direction.

"Hmm, that way?"

Maria pointed toward the airship.

"Then, let's go this way."

"Agreed."

Reisha and I started walking in the opposite direction of where Maria pointed.

"Why!?"

That's not it...

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