We Departed From Ractos
As I watched Mr. Ekenhart and the guards talk, I noticed that Leo was nodding her head behind me for some reason…
Could it be that while I could barely hear them, Leo was able to hear the conversation just fine?
And it seemed like she was agreeing with Mr. Ekenhart’s explanation…
Did she really understand? Or was she just pretending to?
“…Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, let’s go back to the mansion.”
At the end, Mr. Ekenhart told the guards to prepare a horse for him at the western gate, and then he returned to us.
After he covered his face, that is.
…While Liza stuttered when she talked, she was trying her best to be polite.
And so after we saw the guards go on their way, we also headed to the western gate.
“The horse has been prepared, Your Grace!”
“…Why do you need a horse? You could just ride on Leo…”
Once we arrived at the west gate, a guard brought the horse to Mr. Ekenhart.
It seemed a little unnecessary… Leo could carry two to three adults just fine.
And so Leo and I looked at Mr. Ekenhart questioningly.
“But you and Liza are going to ride on Leo, are you not? And it might be bothersome for me to hold onto you while you have to make sure that Liza does not fall off.”
“Ah, I suppose that is true.”
Now that he mentioned it, it did make sense.
This would be Liza’s first time riding on Leo while she is running, and it might be difficult to keep my balance if Mr. Ekenhart was there as well.
However, Leo seemed disappointed, as if she was saying that it would be perfectly fine. Liza had a puzzled expression.
“Now, let’s go to the mansion.”
Mr. Ekenhart got onto his horse, and I picked up Liza and got onto Leo’s back.
Then Leo started to run and follow the horse that was up ahead, but… There was less rocking than usual?
“Thanks, Leo. For being considerate.”
Leo was trying to run without shaking too much, so that Liza wouldn’t lose her balance.
I thanked her, and Leo barked as she came up to the side of the horse.
I didn’t know she could do that… And even when running so carefully, she was able to keep up with the horse. It was very impressive.
Perhaps Liza had never experienced such speed before, as she let out an amazed gasp and watched the scenery flow around her.
While we weren’t even going that fast, it was something new for her.
“Haha. Is it fun, Liza?”
“Yes…! I’ve never…rode on anything so fast!”
As Leo rode next to Mr. Ekenhart’s horse, Liza became excited.
Even if she wasn’t living in the slums, she was not really the age to be riding horses.
Mr. Ekenhart turned to look at us and then smiled…or so it looked.
As his face was still covered, maybe it just seemed that way…
While riding on Leo, I heard a faint, familiar sound.
As I wondered about it, Liza looked down as if embarrassed.
She had been so excited just a moment ago. Could it be that…
“Liza. Are you hungry?”
She answered in a quiet voice.
So that sound was her stomach after all.
Considering that we were on a running Leo, it must have been pretty loud for me to be able to hear it.
I suppose she hadn’t eaten since we found her, and so it was no surprise that she was hungry.
And while she was now used to being around us, she was still quite reserved, so she didn’t want to say anything.
When I looked into the distance, I saw that the sun was starting to set, and it was getting dark… It was already evening then.
Now that I thought about it, I was quite hungry as well.
“Once we arrive at the place I am staying at, I will have something prepared for you. Can you wait a little longer?”
“…Yes! …But I am thirsty…”
“Hmm, Leo? Mr. Ekenhart!”
I thought that once we arrived at the mansion, I could ask Ms. Helena or Sebastian to have something prepared.
And while Liza nodded in agreement, she was now saying that she was thirsty.
Well, waiting a little longer to eat was one thing, but being dehydrated was rough.
As I wondered what to do, Leo barked one and then slowed down.
I asked her what was wrong while also shouting out to Mr. Ekenhart.
As she had stopped so suddenly, there was quite a distance between us.
“…What is it, Mr. Takumi?”
“Uh, Leo just stopped and… Also, Liza says that she is thirsty…”
Mr. Ekenhart came rushing back to us on his horse.
I explained the situation to him as I took Liza down from Leo’s back. Then Leo growled and barked.
In the next instant, a sphere of water appeared in front of Leo and then dropped down to the ground.
“Leo…are you saying that Liza should drink that water?”
Since Liza said that she was thirsty, Leo wanted to give her some water.
“But I heard that water made with magic wasn’t pure, and it’s possible that there are substances in it that you should not drink…”
“Wuff-wuff! Wuff. Wuff-wuff!”
“Huh? This water is fine? Hmm, I don’t know about that…”
“…I have never seen a Silver Fenrir use magic before… Mr. Takumi. Is Leo saying that the water is drinkable?”
“Uh, yes. She says that it’s fine to drink it. But I was told that you shouldn’t drink water that was gathered with magic…”