It seems Kanata and Rose have begun their survival in the cave.
“Rose, sorry, but could you give me a few strands of your hair?”
“M-my hair? What are you using it for?”
“A charm.”
A charm with hair woven into it is a ritual for lovers! B-but Kanata and I just met!
“…Um, well. That’s… a bit too soon, or rather. Ah! It’s not that I absolutely don’t want to… ”
“Please. It’s a convenient length.”
Convenient length?
Kanata pointed to the cave entrance with his thumb and said, “I’m thinking of gathering firewood now to prepare for the night. I don’t want any mutant creatures getting into the cave while I’m gone. I want to use your hair stretched across the entrance as a sensor.”
…Ah, so that’s what it’s for. …You should have said so earlier. You made me nervous!
“Okay. For safety, a little hair is a small price to pay.”
“Thanks. Then I’ll borrow a little.”
Kanata plucked the tips of my shoulder-length hair and cut off a small amount with his knife.
It’s the first time a man has touched my hair. Ugh, my face might be getting a little red…
Kanata tied my hair together and stretched a few strands across the cave entrance.
“There we go. Now, shall we go?”
I wish I could guard the cave, but I can’t, so this hair barrier is necessary.
“If I can make it back alive… I’ll learn swordsmanship. I need to become stronger!”
“That statement is incorrect.”
“Why? Well, I might not have a talent for swords, but you’re the one who said that if I decide something’s impossible, I won’t even be able to do what I can! Or are you saying you can tell I can’t do it without even trying!”
“That’s not what’s wrong. It’s the ‘if I can make it back alive’ part. Not ‘if I can make it back,’ but ‘we will both return alive.'”
“Yes, that’s right. …We will definitely return alive.”
“Yeah. But if we make it back alive…”
Kanata didn’t finish his sentence and started walking.
I understand. If we return safely… we’ll go back to being enemies.
Kanata gathered firewood near a marsh in the forest and bundled it with vines to carry on his back.
“This should be enough firewood. The problem is… water.”
Kanata stood a little ways from the water’s edge, observing the marsh.
The marsh looked stagnant, and the water’s color was far from clean.
“This water doesn’t look drinkable, does it…”
As I approached the water’s edge to try and scoop some up,
“Don’t go near the water!”
He reprimanded me in a stern voice. He didn’t need to get that angry!
“I appreciate you protecting me, but what’s wrong with— Gyaaa!”
Before I could finish speaking, a giant fish, like a catfish, leaped out of the water!
While I stood there frozen, Kanata’s quick draw cut off the catfish’s head in a flash.
“This is why you don’t go near the water. Understand?”
I could only nod vigorously.
Kanata quickly filled two metal canteens with water and moved away from the marsh.
“Can you drink that water?”
“Even after boiling, it probably won’t be potable. We’ll have to make do with our current supply until it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Then why did you get water?”
“If we filter it with gauze, it might be usable for wiping our bodies.”
Come to think of it, I haven’t washed myself since taking a shower at the base. I’ve broken out in a lot of sweat, including cold sweats.
I-I hope I don’t smell… I know this is an emergency situation, but I can’t help but worry about it.
“You’ll want to wipe yourself down, but please bear with it today. I’ll test it first to check for any abnormalities with the medical app.”
He installed the latest medical app. It must have been quite expensive.
Kanata said he was a commoner, but could he actually be from a noble family? C-can I ask him?
“Kanata, are you rich or from a noble family?”
“I told you I’m a complete commoner. My parents’ parents were from the Hachioki clan, so perhaps I should say they were from a line of rebels.”
Can’t he just say they were his grandparents? Wait, wasn’t the Hachioki family from Terukyo…
“The Hachioki clan is one of the three prominent families, aren’t they? In Terukyo, they’re a prestigious lineage second only to the Mikado family!”
The three prominent families of Terukyo were supposed to be equivalent to families like the Vanguard or Night Raid families in the empire.
“They were banished from Terukyo as rebels, so they’re no longer prestigious. I’ll give you a word of caution: former prestigious families are the most troublesome. They’ll do anything to regain their lost status. Not everyone is like that, but it’s true that many are. Keep that in mind.”
Commander Roogetsu didn’t seem like that though. Is she an exception?
Kanata didn’t say everyone was like that either.
Wait? But if that logic holds true…
“By that logic, wouldn’t you also be a troublesome person?”
“I would. I have no interest in the status or wealth the Hachioki clan possessed, but I’ll stop at nothing to eliminate anyone who stands in my way.”
Kanata’s face, as he said that, looked like that of a completely different person compared to when he was protecting me. It was terrifying.
These eyes… I feel like they resemble those of “Beluga” Origa-san.
“Where are you going, Kanata? What are you aiming for?”
“The same place as Rose. I’m still looking for a destination. Let’s talk more when we get back to base.”
Kanata started walking, carrying the firewood on his back, and I hurriedly followed him.
So, he’s on a journey to find his destination. Is that why he saved me?
Back at the cave, Kanata dug a hole in the ground and began to tear apart the parachute he had brought with his knife.
“What are you doing?”
“We need more than just a sleeping place for our survival.”
Saying that, he took the thick branches he had gathered on the way back from the marsh, assembled them into a frame, and covered it with the processed parachute fabric.
“A tent? But our sleeping place is in the cave.”
“Time for a quiz. Why did I dig a hole in the center?”
…!!
“…A t-toilet… right?”
“Correct! Congratulations to the winner, Rose, you’ve won an invitation to our Witch’s Forest Survival Tour.”
…Can I decline this invitation? The survival tour has already started, so I guess not.
“…Um, I’m sorry to ask this right after you made it, but I’d like to use it right away…”
Having a makeshift toilet makes me suddenly… embarrassed!
“But there’s a problem.”
“W-what is it?”
“I have good hearing.”
Oh my! H-he can hear me! No way!
“Then, stand far away! I’ll call you when I’m done!”
“It might be too late if something happens, but is that okay?”
It’s not okay! What should I do?
“I think being killed while using the toilet is a pretty terrible way to die, don’t you? You might come back as a vengeful spirit or a ghost tied to this spot.”
I think so too! Um… that’s it!
“Then, while I’m using the toilet, sing at the top of your lungs! You won’t be able to hear me then, right?”
“I’m not very good at karaoke. And a cappella at that.”
“It’s okay if you’re bad! Just sing! Loudly!”
“My singing might attract mutant creatures…”
“Just do it! Sing! Now, go!”
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot♪”
Kanata started singing with a resigned look on his face, and I hurriedly rushed to the toilet.
I quickly finished and came out of the toilet. I was too embarrassed to hear it clearly, but wasn’t the song Kanata was singing a beautiful one?
“What is that song called?”
“I think it was ‘Auld Lang Syne’.”
“I’ve never heard of it, but where is it from?”
“…My homeland.”
Huh? Isn’t that strange? The lyrics he sang were in the common language.
“Huh? Kanata, aren’t you from Izuruha Nations?”
“…Ah, where I’m from, the lyrics are different. That was the original version.”
“What are the lyrics in Izuruha Nations? Sing it for me!”
“I told you I’m not good at singing…”
“Just once! Please!”
“Fine, just once. Ho-ta-ru no hi-ka-ri, ma-do no yu-ki~♪”
“I’ve never heard that one either. It’s a nice song, but is it relatively unknown?”
“There are nameless soldiers who are good soldiers, aren’t there? The sun is starting to set. Let’s make our beds inside.”
Kanata said dismissively as if trying to cover something up and went into the cave.
I understand he’s not good at singing, but he didn’t need to get so defensive.
Kanata’s singing is quite beautiful and skillful, so why does he say he’s not good at it?
Kanata used the remaining parachute fabric to make our sleeping area.
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave some fabric to cover ourselves?”
“I’d like to, but preventing heat loss from the ground is more important. We can raise the temperature inside the cave with a bonfire, but to avoid losing body heat to the cold ground, we have to make the bedding thicker.”
“Did you learn that kind of knowledge in the army?”
“Half of it.”
“What about the other half?”
“Manga.”
Manga!? Is knowledge learned from manga reliable…?
Seeing my skeptical expression, Kanata grumbled with displeasure.
“Don’t underestimate manga. They teach you life lessons just as much as philosophy books. Especially about the extraordinary.”
“Really?”
“You owe your life to manga, Rose. In dangerous areas, don’t carelessly approach the water’s edge. I learned that from manga.”
Is that so? Sabina said manga wasn’t something for princesses to read, but…
Kanata took an oil lighter from his pocket and lit the finely split firewood.
“There. For dinner, please make do with two cans of corned beef and dried fruit.”
When Kanata is making do, there’s no way I can complain.
“Okay. I’m sorry. I took the food that should have been yours.”
“Don’t worry about it. The Asura Unit knew me as a gentleman.”
“…Thanks. If you have a lighter, aren’t you going to smoke? You can smoke without worrying about me.”
“I don’t smoke. Many of my superiors were heavy smokers. I keep this for them, as a courtesy.”
Oh, for goodness sake! I thought you were kind of cool, but that’s one point deducted!
“Once you’ve eaten, you can lie down. Minimize energy consumption.”
“What will you do, Kanata?”
“I’ll set up alarms at the entrance. Using the empty cans of corned beef.”
“Did you learn that from manga too?”
“Yes, I learned it from manga, Princess.”
After we finished eating, Kanata took the empty corned beef cans that I had finished with and began setting up the alarms at the entrance.
I think I’ll read some manga when I get back.
Sabina, who said manga wasn’t for princesses… she’s not here anymore.
Memories of Sabina’s angry face, dismayed face, and smiling face… various memories flashed through my mind… making me sad.
Today, I’ll spend my time watching recorded programs. Most of them seem to be from BS channels.
