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A serious heroine-chan is dangerous…

The frenzy of Mitsuki, who had become a hunter, continued until the scared Lipha hid behind Ringo and began crying. 

It seems like even Mitsuki got damaged from having a child crying because of her. That’s when she finally came back to her senses. 

A while after that, everyone took distance from Mitsuki (including me), but we are talking about Mitsuki who is well-known for her poker face. 

As for the person herself…

“Sorry, I lost myself a bit there.” (Mitsuki)

She said that with a bareface, and she immediately went back to her detached attitude. 

But at the top of her head, those cat ears of hers were going ‘Aaah!! I am so embarrassed I can’t face my ears to everyone!!’ and covered themselves without moving an inch, so she might be feeling pretty down internally. 

I watch her with a lukewarm gaze from a slightly further away location as we head to the Hisame Dojo first. 

“Definitely, definitely come play, okay?! Souma-oniichan, Ringo-oneechan, and…Bear-san!!” (Lipha)

Saying this, Lipha waved at us energetically from the entrance of the dojo.

“Yeah, see ya later!” (Souma)

“…Hn.” (Ringo)

We waved energetically as well. 

Turning into a hunter and making her cry must have resonated in her, Mitsuki was naturally ignored, and her cat ears shriveled even more, but well, she reaps what she sows. 

…Right. 

Lipha was entrusted to the Hisame Dojo after she lost her home. 

We can’t bring her on our journey, and if we are going to entrust her somewhere, the dojo came out as the best candidate since there’s apparently a lot of children there. 

When we explained the situation to Asahi-san, he happily agreed. 

His face is scary, but he is not that bad of a person, so I am sure he will take good care of Lipha. 

It may be painful to lose your parents over and over in such a short span of time, but there’s little we can do from here on. 

The only thing I can do is pray that she will get used to the Hisame Dojo…no, if possible, have fun without being dyed by the dojo as much as possible. 

(This should be fine, right…?) (Souma)

On our way back to the capital. 

While I was remembering Lipha and had fallen silent, Mitsuki, who had finally had her ears recover, spoke to me. 

“What are you making a dispirited face for?” (Mitsuki)

“Eh? No, uhm…” (Souma)

Seeing me flustered, Mitsuki speaks.

“You can’t give a hand to every human in this world. You need to create a delineation and be selective somewhere. There might be a day when you will need to accept a small sacrifice in order to achieve something big. 

“But…” (Mitsuki)

“But?” (Souma)

Mitsuki lifted the corners of her mouth and showed a rare…a truly rare smile towards me who was dispirited.

“It is not like I am trying to lessen the value of your actions. That very sight of hers is your medal of honor. It is something to be proud of.” (Mitsuki)

“Mitsuki…” (Souma)

Those were unexpected words, and that’s exactly why they made me happy. 

“I see. Right…” (Souma)

There’s a limit to what I can do, and it is not like I can save every single person. 

It is different from the game days where I was the sole protagonist of this world. 

It is not like I can get involved with every event that happens in this world, and being mortified by that would just be absurd and simple arrogance. 

But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t extend a helping hand to others. 

I should learn my own limits, hold back to a degree where I won’t be crushing myself, and if with that I can still manage to extend a helping hand, it should be allowed. 

Mitsuki is teaching me this. 

I was pulled by her smile and answered her with a smile as well, and suddenly…

I could feel my hand from the opposite side of Mitsuki being pulled.

When I looked there, there was Ringo with tormented eyes to a shocking extent. 

“What’s the matter? Did something—” (Souma)

When I tried asking in worry, Ringo shook her head to the sides in a hurry for some reason. 

“N-No, that just now…w-was the Bear.” (Ringo)

“Eh? Bear?” (Souma)

I shift my gaze to the Bear that is riding on the shoulder of Ringo, and I feel like the Bear was making an ‘Eh?’ face too.

I think it definitely was Ringo judging from the position too though. Oh well. 

I return my gaze to Mitsuki. 

“…The city seems to be noisy.” (Mitsuki)

Mitsuki was looking in the direction of the city and making a serious face. 

Her cat ears were also going ‘did something happen~?’ and are tilting to the side. 

I have a feeling it is a new crisis. 

We all ran with hurried steps and a crowd had formed at the Monolith in the west gate. 

“Did something happen?” (Souma)

I got someone closeby and asked them. 

The merchant-like man explained the situation to me in an agitated manner. 

“It is a crash! A crash! The Magic Airship I was riding on crashed! Thanks to that, my valuable Teleport Stone…damn it!” 

When a Magic Airship crashes, the merchants use Teleport Stones to escape. 

So a Magic Airship somewhere had crashed, and the merchants that were riding it have teleported to the Monolith here.

The problem is the adventurers. 

I have experienced it before, but most adventurers riding the Magic Airship don’t have Teleport Stones. 

If adventurers were riding that…

Unfortunately, that worry of mine turned out to be true. 

“Y-You are an adventurer, right?! Can you please save her?!” 

A different young merchant ran to us and asked this of us.

“That girl? Was there someone who remained there when the Magic Airship crashed?” (Souma)

“T-That’s right! She is an adventurer I met at the Magic Airship, but she said she didn’t have Teleport Stones! In the ride this time around, no one had extra stones, so I told her to please use mine, but she said that it would be okay since she is an adventurer…!” 

He was so agitated here that I can’t keep up well with what he is saying, but I can tell that it is an emergency. 

I was told just recently to not get too into other people, but this and helping out are two different things. 

It should be. 

I make eye contact with Mitsuki.

She nodded lightly. 

“We might be of help. Where did the Magic Airship fall?” (Souma)

Depending on the location, we might be able to get there at once, and if it is a low level location, there might not even be the need to save them. 

The merchant made a pained expression and said this in a low volume. 

“Lizamisu… The Lizamisu Wasteland.” 

“Lizamisu Wasteland.” (Souma)

Those words not only rendered me speechless but also Mitsuki.

The level of that field is 145.

It is a dangerous field even within the south fields of the capital. 

As long as that adventurer is not over level 150, and it is not a place you can survive on your own. 

Moreover…

“It is way too far from here.” (Souma)

No matter how much we hurry, I don’t think we can make it in time. 

There’s no point there we can move close to with a Teleport Stone. No matter what fast movement method we use, even with a Magic Airship, the adventurer will most likely be dying faster than we arrive. 

No, they might already be…

“I-Is it not possible? Are you saying you can’t save her?!” 

The young merchant grabbed my shoulders and shook me, but it couldn’t be helped. 

No matter how high level you are, you can’t overcome the wall of distance. 

I directed a gaze to Mitsuki, but she silently shook her head to the sides.

In other words, that’s what it means. 

To think we would immediately get a situation where we would really not be able to make it in time. 

“I am sorry, but it is impossible.” (Souma)

I brush off the hand of the merchant while feeling bitter about it. 

“No…way…” 

He was so heated up just now, but he suddenly lost strength and fell down on his knees. 

“…I am sorry.” (Souma)

I once again lower my head. 

Even when I decided to make a delineation here, it still feels bitter. 

But the merchant who met that adventurer would most likely not be on that degree. 

He punched the ground as if venting the anger he couldn’t direct on anyone. 

“Damn it! Why?! She said that this was her first time leaving Lamurick. Even though she was looking forward to meeting her benefactor in the capital…and yet…!” 

Those words…

Why?

My heart jumped.

“What was…the name of the girl…?” (Souma)

“Eh?” 

I asked with a raspy voice. 

“What was the name of that girl?” (Souma)

I am baffled by my own imagination. 

She…she should hate Magic Airships. 

That’s why it should be impossible. 

There’s no way. 

Even though I think that, the worst thing imaginable still swirled in my mind. 

I could feel my chest contracting, and my heartbeat was going haywire here.

And then, I wait for the merchant to answer, and what came to my ears was…

(—hear me?)

Suddenly, I heard a voice. 

Even when I looked around, I couldn’t see the owner of it. 

And yet, it was a voice as if whispering into my ears.

(Souma-san, can you hear me?)

A way too nostalgic voice.

“Ina…?” (Souma)

I muttered this unconsciously. 

And then…

“Right, I remembered! It certainly was Ina. Her name was Ina Trail!” 

The one other voice reaching my ears made me feel as if everything below me was crumbling. 

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