Chapter 43.2: Yufia Queensroad <3>

…

…

…

After dwelling in sadness for a while, a deep fear overtook me.

The forest I was in showed no sign of human presence, and the sun was already beginning to set.

Moreover, my body still had no strength; even if I attempted to use magic to break the ropes binding my limbs, I couldn’t cast a single spell, and I was completely immobilized.

In addition, since my parents were on a business trip to the royal capital, there was no one at home.

In other words, no one would notice my disappearance, and I couldn’t expect anyone to come searching for me.

No one—even I—knew where I was. In such circumstances, there was no chance of anyone coming to help.

───At this rate, no one will come to help.

As time passed, that fear grew more tangible.

In this unknown forest, I might be attacked by monsters or bears while still immobilized, or even worse, starve to death without being found.

The fear and panic threatened to crush me.

“(I’m scared… It’s unbearable… Someone, please help me…)”

I wondered how many hours had passed since I woke up.

Just as dusk had fully set in, the one I clung to in my despair was…

“(Help me, Shion…)”

──That’s when it happened.

I heard footsteps rustling as they pushed through the undergrowth and crushed the leaves beneath them, coming from afar.

“(…!)”

There shouldn’t be anyone who knew I was missing or that I was here. So, it definitely wasn’t someone looking for me.

In a forest that had shown no sign of human presence until just moments ago, there wouldn’t be anyone gathering plants at dusk.

If that were the case, it could only be a monster, a beast, or maybe bandits.

Either way, if I were discovered, my life would be in grave danger.

Desperately, I held my breath, trying not to be discovered.

“(Please… don’t come this way…)”

But despite my plea, the footsteps gradually drew nearer.

Then, the source of the footsteps stopped right behind me.

“(…!)”

My body stiffened, and I tightly closed my eyes, bracing myself.

Right then.

“You sure seem to be enjoying a delightful forest bath, but it’s getting dark, so let’s head back.”

“…!!”

The voice that reached me was the one I had most desperately wanted to hear in this world.

To my confusion, the person standing behind me continued, “I’m going to cut the rope with a knife, so just stay still.”

With a creaking sound, a cool, flat object—like metal—brushed against my wrists several times, and then the bindings around them were cut loose, freeing my hands.

Next, the rope binding my legs was severed, and finally the cloth tied around my mouth was untied.

Then, the person circled to stand in front of me and met my eyes.

” You okay, Yufia?”

Hearing my name called out, he, despite his cool tone, was drenched in sweat, with droplets running down from his bangs.

Yet when I saw his gentle, unchanged face, all the intense anxiety and fear I had melted away, replaced by feelings of relief and joy, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

“(Why… are you… here…?)”

Unable to collect my emotions, I managed to choke out his name in a trembling voice.

“Sh…ion…”

Then he clearly frowned and shrank his shoulders.

“Hey, no way… Do you normally start crying just by seeing someone’s face? I’m shocked…”

“N–no… I…”

“I know. I’m just joking.”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve as he laughed, he helped me sit up, leaning me against a nearby tree.

“…Huh? What’s this?”

Glancing at the ground, Shion noticed the memo sheet that had been lying there.

“Ah… that…”

He picked it up and scanned the message on it.

“Haha, it says you don’t have the ‘right’ to be friends with someone. I don’t get it.”

“…”

He laughed cheerfully, as if watching a cute little prank by a child.

It was strange.

With just that one remark from him, the dark shadow that had covered my heart moments ago vanished, leaving my chest feeling clear.

Even the intense malice that had been directed at me now seemed insignificant compared to his kindness.

Then, he crumpled the memo in his hand and slipped it into his jacket pocket, and from the other pocket, he pulled out a small vial.

“It’s an energy recovery potion. Think you can drink it?”

When he asked, I nodded and tried to take the vial, but I could barely lift my arm, lacking strength.

Seeing that, he said, “You’re still pretty affected by the medicine… Is it okay if I help you drink it?”

“Y–yeah…”

I felt a little embarrassed, but I allowed myself to lean on him.

“Alright, try your best to drink it without spilling too much.”

Saying that, he gently placed his left hand on my chin and helped me drink the potion with his right hand.

I still vividly remember how his gentle touch on my face and his earnest expression, right there before me, nearly sent me into a mild panic.

After taking his time to have me drink one vial of the potion, he spoke again.

“Honestly, I’d like to let you rest a bit more, but it’s almost dark. I need to get off the mountain before night falls completely—do you think you can walk?”

When he asked, I steadied myself against a tree with one hand and mustered strength in both legs.

Thanks to the potion he had given me, I recovered significantly compared to before, and I was able to stand on my own.

However, I wasn’t fully recovered yet, and when I nearly staggered and fell, Shion supported me.

“I’m sorry, Shion… I’m still not there yet…”

“Don’t worry about it. It can’t be helped… but if you can’t walk, then, well…”

He looked a bit troubled, but soon he spoke decisively.

“…Sorry, but I have no choice—I’ll have to carry you on my back, Yufia. I know you might not like it, but please bear with it.”

“…Huh!? You mean you’re going to carry me on your back, Shion…!?”

“Well, yeah… I’m drenched in sweat and probably gross, but your safety is the priority. I know you might not like it, but brace yourself.”

“N–no, it’s not gross at all… I don’t mind your sweat one bit… but carrying me on your back all the way to town is a huge burden…”

“I’m telling you, getting down the mountain immediately is our top priority. Besides, Yufia, you seem light—it’ll be easy. Don’t underestimate a guy… Now, hold on tight.”

With that, he hunched his back and lowered himself in front of me.

“(…)”

The thought of clinging to him from behind made me so nervous that I hesitated.

“…What’s wrong? Are you against it?”

“N–no, I don’t mind… um, then… please.”

“Alright.”

I gathered my courage and wrapped both my arms around his chest.

Then he slid his arms around the back of my knees, hoisted my body onto his back, and slowly stood up.

“Alright, hold on tight so you don’t fall.”

“Y–yeah…”

Just as he said, I clung tightly to Shion’s back.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Then Shion calmly started walking.

“…—~~~~!”

However, being pressed closely against Shion’s body and the scent of his shampoo wafting from his hair, which brushed right beside my face, overwhelmed my senses, sending me into a mild panic.

…

…

“…Shion, are you really okay? Am I not too heavy?”

“I’m fine. You’re almost too light. Maybe you don’t even have any guts?”

“I-I do!”

Though my heart was still racing, as my panic began to subside, I asked Shion something I had long wanted to know.

“Hey, Shion…”

“Huh?”

“How did you know where I was?”

“Because I heard it.”

“Huh? You heard it from… who?”

“Obviously, it was the one who left you there.”

“Huh, what!? How did you even hear that? And more importantly, how did you know I was taken by that person?”

“Ah, that was just a coincidence. I was waiting in the classroom for you—Yufia, you were way too slow—and then a student who had come to pick up a forgotten item passed by. Something seemed off, so I asked them about you. They acted as if they knew everything, and though they tried to play dumb at first, they eventually told me exactly where you were.”

“…”

I realized I was utterly speechless.

In other words, he had pinpointed my location from absolutely no clue.

Moreover, he managed to directly confront the culprit he had intuitively identified and get them to spill everything—a truly astounding method.

“…Amazing, Shion.”

“I told you—it was just a coincidence.”

“No, Shion, you’re amazing.”

Truly, Shion is an amazing person.

How can he accomplish such incredible feats so effortlessly?
Why does he go to such desperate lengths, sweating profusely, to help someone like me?
Why can he brighten my heart with just one word?
Why does he carry me on his back without a trace of reluctance?
Why is he so kind?

───Why is he such an amazing person?

“Shion.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I have a dream.”

“Oh, what kind of dream?”

“Well… it’s still a secret.”

“…I see.”

He smiled warmly.

…I still can’t tell him, because if I did, I’d just end up leaning on him.

I want to be with him forever.
I want to be just as wonderful as he is.
He will, without a doubt, become the strongest magician someday.
So I too will become a great magician, so that I can stand by his side.
I’ll become a magician who can support the strongest magician—someone who can be by his side without anyone complaining.

Until the day I can proudly say, “I want to be by your side forever,” I can’t confess it to him.

That’s why I will definitely become a magician worthy of being by the strongest magician’s side.

───That is my dream.