Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 97

――I came to and, I was in the sky.

Even if I try following my memories, there's no memory like engaging in such mid-air swimming.
There's waking from a sudden sense of falling and now this.
I have experienced a sense of falling while half asleep but, this is a real free fall.
I had only layed sideways on the room's bed while holding Rin-chan.
I didn't intend to sleep but, I suppose I fell asleep since I was lured in by Rin-chan who seemed to be sleeping in such a good feeling way.
I can grasp that much.
And so what came after that is unknown.
……On that note.

「Isn't this too unknown!!?」

The noise from cutting through the air was loud enough that the words I unintentionally shouted didn't reach my ears.
This buzzing in my ears is harsh, my ears hurt!
What is this, just what is happening to my body!?

「Munya, des.h.i.+～, where is this～?」
「Rin-chan!?」

I finally realized that that it can't be said that I'm alone.
It seems that I'd unconsciously put power into my body, Rin-chan came to while seeming to have trouble breathing because I'm holding her tightly.

「Still tired～」

Saying only what she said she closed her eyes.
Though it's better than falling into a panic, with this situation, if we act poorly, it really will go poorly you know?
……Setting that aside I work my head.
First off grasp the situation.
Presently I and Rin-chan are, doing a free fall within the sky of an unknown place.
As far as I can see our alt.i.tude is significant.
It's not a height of 10 meters or 20 meters or such.
The scenery spread out while looking down is clouds and, peeking through the gaps in those it's distant earth.
Spread out on that vast earth is a deep belt of forest.

「――tsu」

Becoming aware of that, my sleep addled thoughts cleared up in one shot.
This sort of height is an alt.i.tude of thousands of meters!
Is this HALO!?

「……Huh! Do I have a parachute!?」

I tried groping around my back but, there obviously wasn't such a thing.
……All right, there isn't enough time left for panicking.
I'd like lodge a complaint at this situation but, whether G.o.d or buddha I couldn't find the party to complain to.
Really, if surprisedly saying waー waー would improve this situation I'd do any amount of it though.

「……After going to a lower alt.i.tude I'll cancel out my velocity with magic to land.」

To be sure air resistance and gravity reach an equilibrium so my velocity shouldn't rise indefinitely.
My alt.i.tude is a little high but, it's incredibly high but, it's still the case that this is no different from the sense and action every time I do a jump.
……Since it's so high I'm worried whether I'm okay regarding decompression sickness or the like though.
Before that I'm not cold even in a housedress.

「……?」

It seems like I'm somehow still sleep addled.
Checking the surroundings while showing a little caution, there's a membrane built to protect me.
Regardless of however much wind comes through, fundamentally the wind cutting sound is from outside the membrane.
This is……Flame magic?

「Eclair?」

No, that might be wrong.
This isn't Eclair's crimson flame.
This radiance is……

「Alice-san, good morning!」

While I'm thinking about things, a voice called out from such an unthinkable location while falling from high alt.i.tude.

「You……from before?」

That child who breaks through common sense is, the outlaw who raised a commotion at the mansion the day before.

「Un unn, that's right.」

The form of the that girl who was enveloped by a membrane of flame in the same manner as myself, became exposed for the first time.
Her deep hood was blown by the wind so, her vibrant black hair like a j.a.panese doll flowed through the air.
A sort of might could be perceived in those eyes of the same color that makes thoughts of an imposing beast.
Strength hidden within a beautiful appearance like a created object.
The pinnacle of a yamato nades.h.i.+ko is here.
Such an appearance.

「Who might you be?」
「It might be best to do that question afterwards, look, we're going to fall you know?」

Just as stated by the girl pointing toward the lands below, there's not enough time to prepare leisurely.
The ground has already become much closer.
If I don't cancel out our velocity with magic power!

「Thunder!!」

I release magic facing the earth.
I slowly kill off our energy with the lightning's repulsive force.

「Thunder! Thunder!!」

I repeatedly release lightning.
Not just firing it, but so as to rebound the next shot off of the charged lightning in the ground.
Our velocity steadily eased away.
Yosh, let's finish this!

「――Oh ray of light, blade descended from heaven, become my sword and rend darkness! Lightning!!」

Using lightning with my full power behind it, I completely canceled out the velocity from our fall.
Measuring by eye our distance from the surface is around 10 meters so, stopping here is ideal.

「Fuu……」

This really is tiring isn't it.
Blowing out a relieved breath, the girl stopped before my eye and gave me a smile.

「As expected right!」

Flame magic is it.
Is this this child's type of magic?

「――But take care! This forest is you see……Since this is the mystical magic sealing forest.」
「――Ha?」

I suppose it wasn't like it was because she told me that but, after coming to a stop with repulsive force my magic power vanished.

「Hee!?」

Wait wait!
We're still high!!

「Hyaaaa!?」

Wis.h.i.+ng in vain, the exact reverse.
I tumbled and fell to the bottom cus.h.i.+oned by the trees's leaves.
Rolling with the remaining energy, my back was struck by a splendid tree's trunk that displayed itself from out of the earth and, I finally stopped.

「I am――Makina. I'm sorry……I still won't help out. Alice-san, take care okay.」

As I had become round like a caterpillar, she made conversation to me from the sky with a kind tone.
And so without descending into the forest, her figure vanished like a heat s.h.i.+mmer.
It's also different from the teleportation Libra used.
Just now, could it possibly be that that wasn't her real body?
Just what is……that girl.

For whatever reason that girl's flame magic protected me to the end so, nothing major happened to Rin-chan.
At most I hit her in the back when I impacted.
But it's certain that magic can't be used.

「Thunder!」

Even if I pray, even if I howl, nothing happens.
The forest that seals magic power is it……
It seems I have no choice but to straightforwardly walk through it then.
There's neither food nor water.
I don't want Rin-chan to face hards.h.i.+p.
I have to hurry and leave this forest.

「……To be sure, it was in the direction over there I think.」

I have a hint.
I was able to confirm the lay of the land from the upper air.
There's no mistake that the forest is wide but it's not to the extent that, I have no idea where to go.
I should be able to leave.

「Though, I might be looking at this forest naively……」

But even if it's naive such a thing doesn't matter.
If I can't get out there's nothing more to say.
The forest's undergrowth can't be handled like a lawn but, it wasn't to such an extent that it interfered with walking.
The greater half of the trees were tall and large so, there weren't many instances where leaves or tree branches blocked my way.
What I have to watch out for really is monsters or wild animals then.
If I could use magic I wouldn't have my back taken any time soon but since, without that I'm just a normal person, aren't I.

「……Normal person?」

I looked suspiciously at my delicate arms.
I opened and closed my hand.
Even though I can't gain anything without relying on my arm strength, was there a monster I could beat relying purely on this hand……?
……What should I do if bear-san greets me from a bush?
……I can't do anything at all can I, probably.
Meeting is fundamentally no good.
It could be called forest bathing or such but, if I enter a real forest there are wild animals and monsters and the like so I worry and it's not the place for that you know.

――Gasa.

「――!?」

A presence came at a high speed from a nearby thicket.
My heart rate leapt up.
Confirming Rin-chan sleeping on my back, I exhaled a little.
If you're coming come.
A parent protecting her child――though I'm not but, I'll teach you that that's the scariest thing common among any lifeform.
I killed my breath while looking over the swaying thicket like I'm watching over it.

「――Aah! Alice-san!! This is good nya.」

The animal that showed her face from the thicket was unexpectedly――

「Saira!!」

It was my adorable my smith with a cat ear appearance.
Saira seemed to fretfully creep out of the thicket while carrying a ruck on her back and, came over to my side.

「Why is this Saira! Really!? Saira!?」
「Hai desu nya! Nya waa, Alice-san, that tickles.」

Meeting a familiar person in a forlorn place, I unintentionally pushed into her.
I rushedly fluffed her cat ears.

「Nyafuu.」

Otto, I might have played too much.
I sat back down properly.

「But why in such a place?」

Such a place, but to begin with I don't know where this is.

「Eh? Alice-san was doing preparations for the journey so, she gave me a message so I would come to the room nya.」
「Eh? I did?」

Saira nodded strongly.
Eh?
I ate my meal and then I was sound asleep with Rin-chan and, then I was suddenly in mid-air?

「A message came in from the magic stone so, I think it was certainly Alice-san's voice……eto, way of speaking and the like.」
「Is that how it was?」
「……I get the impression that that didn't happen nya.」

She put a hand on her cheek and tilted her head and, Saira became exasperated with half closed eyes.
Fumu……
There are various points of concern but, I suppose the first item of priority is leaving the forest.

「Saira, that ruck is?」
「Ah, hai! Alice-san's equipment and, rations and the like are packed in nya!」

G.o.d-sama buddhsama Sairsama!!

「That's great, in that case I might somehow be able to fight!」

Is the Regenerate Robe functioning properly?
Maa, either way it's better than a housedress though.

「How's the, glove?」

I requested for Saira to do further experiments and maintenance but, her ears drooped when I asked that.

「……There really isn't any high rank magic in it. I made a request to Eclair though.」
「I see.」

If she was able to stock two Star Flares then it'd be something incredible wouldn't it.

「Is something inserted?」
「Flame in the right hand, I had her experimentally insert heal in the left hand nya. It seems that heal can be used.」
「That so, thank you.」
「Hai desu.」

Saira is cattishly cute isn't she.
It's the magic power sealing forest but, what about using the stock in this weapon?
Since I can't let my precious magic power be lost in an experiment or such, but I'll have to act without any preparations……

「In any case let's set out after changing.」
「Haii, I'll help you, change nya!」
「I, I can do it alone so.」
「I can't undress you as well as Ilya but, I'll do my best so!」
「……」

Is Ilya good at undressing me, is that how it is……
I can't dismiss her desperate desire to be of use can I.

「Then, I'll ask that of you.」
「Hai desu nyaa.」

Saira joyfully came to my side.

「Then, banza～i, desu nya!」
「That's wrong isn't it!!」

Just, what is she thinking of!?
Saira went 「Is that wrong? Even though I heard it properly.」 with that sort of confused face so the culprit is obvious.

「……Huh? Alice-san, are you not wearing anything, on top?」

When she set about helping me change normally, Saira noticed that.

「When I'm at home, generally.」

Since I haven't had a habit of wearing something on top you see?
Saira nodded at that.

「I understand nya, since it gives a cramped sensation.」
「That, that's right isn't it.」

To think that the day would come when I'd be conversing about the sensations from wearing a bra, you don't know what'll happen in life……

「Ano, if it's okay could I lend you, my change of clothes?」
「Saira's, change of clothes?」
「I brought a little! Eto, since this isn't our house.」

Un, since it's a forest.

「Alice-san is slender but, if it's this the size is small and, I was thinking won't it fit nya.」

Saira pulled a bra out from her ruck and offered it out.
This situation where she's offering underwear while smiling with a, here go ahead, is too surreal……
And so feelings of guilt boil up from my remaining manly heart.

「……Saira! You must not tempt boys like that you know! Since you'll be attacked!」
「I, I wouldn't do that you knoow……if I was to say between us, Alice-san is more defenseless nya.」

Since I lack the sort of experience of staying on guard against men I suppose.
……I'm troubled when they're around though.
For now, I accepted Saira's favor and acted to borrow the bra.
I accepted it while maintaining my composure while acting with a raging heart.

「Ah, this, is it what's called a tube top?」
「Fi, fixedly staring at it, makes me embarra.s.sed nyaa.」
「So, sorry.」

So for that reason, I changed.
While holding an embarra.s.sed feeling that I couldn't say anything of, I proceeded through the forest with Saira and Rin-chan.
I chose an animal path with few bushes and walked down it but, even so it was harsh endurance wise.
After walking a little the situation didn't have enough leeway to show embarra.s.sment.
I want to leave the forest even a little sooner.
I don't want to meet monsters or wild animals.
I felt as such but, having decided upon my course I'm concerned about what I've started to walk along.
It's obviously dangerous to push through bushes and, I suppose it's also impossible in terms of endurance.
But, the animal paths within this natural forest where people's hands don't often enter are also dangerous.
As the words imply, there's also proof here that something traversed this.
I wouldn't make such a dangerous choice normally.
But I can't expect a rescue and, the equipment I'm carrying is also unreliable.
I can't stop and, I can't take my time for a safe plan either.
And I suppose that in this natural environment I can only reason about what's safe from the result.
If that's the case then even if I push a little too hard, as long as I get out of this forest.

「Haa, haa……」
「Alice-san, switch over!」

Saira gave a suggestion seeing me carrying Rin-chan with ragged breath.

「It's okay, Saira's also carrying her ruck right?」
「Unya……I want Aim's level of power.」
「I as well.」

Rin-chan really isn't waking up.
As if something tired her out.
I proceeded while giving her a ride but, it really is fairly harsh.
I can't take breaks whenever and, if I give up this won't be worth talking about.
That's it I suppose, maybe I should take a break in this area.
Thinking that when I was going to call out to Saira, to the contrary Saira raised a cheer.

「Waa! Alice-san, please look at that! It's a cute cub!」
「――Eh?」

Turning my gaze, there's certainly a cub visible within a bush off of the animal trail.
Since there isn't an enemy status floating there I suppose it isn't a monster.
It might be a bear or a tiger, I felt that the unclear animal's cub seemed to fixedly stare at us with curiosity.

――This is the worst.

「Saira, Saira!」
「Ah, hai desu nya.」

Calling Saira with a small sharp voice, Saira brought her face close with bewildered eyes.

「I'll monitor the front so, could Saira please pay attention to the rear.」
「Eh? Eh?」
「If you feel that something is out of place or, sense a presence then promptly raise your voice to let me know.」
「Wha, what is it, all of a sudden.」

I once again, faced my eyes toward the cub that's been there since before.
The cub wasn't there anymore.

「……Such a small child, shouldn't be wandering around alone you know.」

Maybe my nervous aura was transmitted, Saira swallowed her breath and stiffened her face.
My pulse is unnecessarily disturbed.

「Since that much is the same whether human or animal.」
「In, in short……」

Saira nodded while anxiously looking around the area.

「……A parent protecting a child is, the most terrifying.」

Caringly resetting Rin-chan on my back again, I began carefully moving my legs together with a fearful Saira.
My throat was parched dry by terror and anxiety.
I'm begging you so don't come near.
It's not the case that I would cause harm to you all.
While half praying, the wind ran, I advanced into the stirring deep forest of lushly overgrown trees.

「Hiuu.」

A kite or the like suddenly cried out nearby, then the sound of its wings rang out.
Saira was surprised by that and let out a small scream.
Stopping once, I questioned the appearance of the surroundings.
Since the forest overflowed with the sounds of nature it wasn't the case that it was enveloped in silence but, I didn't particularly sense anything out of place disturbing that.
It's still tranquil.

「It's okay, it's okay.」
「Ha, hai desu.」

More importantly than perking Saira up I called out so that I could hear my words and, started walking once again.
For how I was straining too much, my exhaustion is fierce.
Even if I say that's why releasing my guard is unthinkable.
I clench my teeth and advance.
Seeing footprints on the animal trail, was something that happened just after that.

「……Large.」
「Ah, Alice-san……」

Was that an animal on level with a brown bear?
With that as such, that would mean its predicted body weight would be around 300 kilograms to 500 kilograms.
Even calling this another world, a normal person shouldn't be able to hold their own against a wild animal.
And furthermore the current me is below a normal person.
Even though if Ilya or Aim were here, there would be nothing to fear even if they were unarmed.
In appearance those 2 are lovely people but, they're a dragon and a dwarf so well……
They wouldn't fall behind an animal would they.

「……」

Alright, I normally wouldn't do something so stupid as to follow footsteps even though I'm not hunting but……
Thinking about the map of the land pounded into my head, there shouldn't be a mistake in the shortest direction out of the forest.
The correct answer isn't limited to turning back and going on a different path.
There's the risk of losing track of our direction if we divert ourselves to a side path by pus.h.i.+ng through bushes so that's out of the question.

「We're going, Saira.」
「……Haii! Since I believe in you!」
「Thank you.」

Saira shook her head sideways repeatedly.

「In a time of need, I'll also fight nyaa.」
「Fufu, that's rea.s.suring.」

And so once again, I walked forth.
Walking for a while while being careful of the both the surroundings and the footprints――when those footprints suddenly cut off my body got gooseb.u.mps.

「It hid its trail……tsu!」

Without time to rotate my head to confirm my surroundings, a short scream reverberated from Saira behind me――