I open up my eyes.

[]

I can tell by the brightness of the room that its already morning.

Were in a mysterious underground space controlled by the Witch of Taboos.

If this space possesses an environmental function that emulates the night, then it should be obvious that it also has one that emulates the day huh.

[Good morning.]

Turning my head to the side, I saw Seras sitting there.

She had already changed into her normal, plain clothes.

She was currently sitting on the edge of the bed with her body a bit twisted to the side.

One of her hands was propped on the bed while her upper body was facing towards me.

It looks like she have been in that posture for quite some time now but

[Are you waiting for me to wake up?]

[Its because I never get tired of looking at you as you sleep.]

[Thats an inexpensive way to pass time.]

Lightly bantering with her, I gently touched my left shoulder.

Throb

[.]

There was still some pain left behind.

I was slightly hoping that my status correction would improve my recovery

As expected it isnt that omnipotent huh.

With the speed of my recovery, I dont think it would be possible for me to recover in just a day or two.

If this pain lingers, its going to be a pain in the neck fighting against the Human-Faced.

Besides, I still havent fulfilled my purpose of getting information about the Forbidden Curses

Theres no need for me to rush.

Making sure to protect my left shoulder, I raise up my body.

[Did you sleep well, Seras?]

Yes. Seras gently nodded.

[It looks like youre sound asleep, Touka-dono.]

[I havent had such a deep sleep ever since we entered the Demon Zone How should I say this I feel like its been a long time since Ive felt so refreshed.]

Seras brushed her hand around the area where I was sleeping.

I dont know if I should ask what she could be doing or not.

Ah, I see.

[With this, I think it would be alright for us to sleep together even in the future.]

Seras hand stopped.

I apparently hit the bingo huh.

Brushing her hair dropping down on her cheek, Seras turned away.

[Y Yes. I also think that wouldnt be a problem. I may have woken up about an hour earlier than Touka-dono, but Ive also had a good nights sleep too. Im now in my tip-top shape.]

[..]

You didnt just spend nearly an hour just looking at me as I sleep, did you?

Checking the time on my pocket watch I placed beside my pillow, I asked.

[How am I when I slept? Did I sleeptalk or snore?]

[I dont think theres any problem? On the other hand though after you invoked <Sleep> on me how was it?]

I place down my pocket watch.

[You know, Ive always been amazed at the way you sleep. I feel like you didnt even turn over when you slept.]

I dont recall hearing Seras snoring or anything like that.

She always sleeps peacefully and her breathing was regulated while she slept.

She did sleeptalk a bit, but its not that much that it bothers me.

[Im relieved if thats the case.]

Seras patted her chest.

Well

[Now then Can you call Eve and Liz in their room, and then go to that room where we ate yesterday? Ill be there as soon as I finish getting ready.]

[Certainly.]

After Seras left, I beckoned Pigimaru towards me.

He began bouncing towards me.

[Puyuu~]

[Has anything changed before we woke up?]

[Pyuu.]

A negative red.

I see. I gently brushed Pigimaru.

[Im glad youre here with us.]

[Puniii~]

Pigimaru will stop functioning once he is burdened by our ability.

But without it, he doesnt need to sleep.

That means he could watch over this room all night long.

Its like having a live surveillance camera that even comes with an alarm.

The fact that I was able to soundly sleep without any hesitation was because Pigimaru is here.

Quickly preparing myself, I then left the room with Pigimaru and Slei.

The length of our stay isnt definite.

The information about the Forbidden Curses is largely up to Erikas judgement.

It would be counterproductive for us to hurry her up if were against Erika.

So, well have to wait for her to decide herself.

The rest is just a matter of how well my wounds would heal and when would I be ready to leave.

Well, in short I have a lot of time at my disposal.

However, I dont want to spend all those times doing useless things.

After breakfast, I quickly requested towards Seras.

[You want me to teach you how to ride behind a horse, is it?]

[Didnt you say that you wanted to teach me when we got the chance just after we got out of Monroy? Well, we now have some time.]

Seras looks like she accepted as she smiled.

It was as if her smile was saying that This time has finally come.

[-Certainly. If thats what Touka-dono wants.]

[That really helps. Slei, do you mind if you help me?]

[Pakkyyuuu]

Slei, who had been frolicking with Liz, willingly agreed.

[Though I say that, are your wounds alright now?]

As if shes showing her healthiness, Slei greatly raised her forefeet.

[Pakyuukyyuunnn]

It healed a lot faster than mine

Could the speed of her healing be a special ability of her species?

Though, it could also have something to do with the preciseness of Seras first aid.

[I think if its just walking around on her second form, it doesnt look like it would be a problem.]

[Pakyuurrii ]

Slei doesnt look like shes pushing herself.

If even Seras judged it that way, I guess it really would be fine.

I guess Ill also request it towards Eve while Im at it.

[Eve.]

[Hmm?]

[I wanted to ask you to teach me later how to fight against others in melee]

Wiping away the food crumbs left on the edge of her mouth with her thumb, Eve nodded.

[You can leave it to me.]

Ive been taught some things about fighting in melee, but I havent had the chance to thoroughly learn about it.

Now would be a good time for that.

Erika, who had been enjoying her after meal tea, stands up.

[As long as you dont go into that door on the lowest floor, youre free to spend your time as you wish. Well, Im sure that youre aware that when I said as you wish, that doesnt include being uncivilized, right?]

Behind Erika, the golems are busily cleaning up our breakfast.

[Ah also, do you mind if I borrow Eve and Liz for some time? Your lesson with Eves going to be after your riding practice, right?]

[Hmm? Yeah, thats fine with me.]

With that, Eve and Liz left the room with Erika.

Whats left is for us to leave the house.

After going out, I once again felt that this space doesnt feel like were in a basement.

The winds are blowing here, and for some reason, there were even some birds flying in the distance.

The only thing that feels out of place is this gigantic tree that looks like its piercing the heavens and the earth.

[Now then, let me first]

Sending my magic energy, Slei turned into her second form.

This is her form that was closest to the image of a common horse.

Or rather, she could almost be mistaken as one.

[Hmm?]

Then, a golem came out of the house holding something.

That golem passes whatever that is to Seras.

[Thank you very much]

After Seras bewilderedly accepted it, the golem wordlessly returned.

I dont know if it could even understand any words or not though.

[Erikas being considerate huh.]

What the golem passed towards us was a harness.

[It looks quite old, but its quite solid for one I also prepared a simple handmade one, but lets use this one for now.]

While were at it, she also taught me how to easily fit in the harness.

I didnt need a harness back when I rode Slei in her third form.

At that time, Sleis body shape had changed and she was superbly holding me in place.

So, I had been particularly supported by Slei at those times.

However, I dont think Slei would always be by my side in the future.

Therefore, I should also be prepared for the instance that I would need to ride other horses.

[Youre pretty skillful, Touka-dono.]

I finally finished safely fitting in the harness towards Slei.

Then, Seras taught me how to place my feet on the stirrups.

Yeah.

Riding on a horse isnt that bad.

[Well then, please excuse me for Ill also-]

Nimbly, Seras easily sits behind me.

Thats a really magnificent jump she did there.

Taking one deep breath, Seras held out her arms from behind me and placed her white hands on my own.

[Now then, lets get started.]

[Yeah, Ill be relying on you.]

Thus, I was given a lecture from Seras about the practical skills needed in riding horses.

This is how you handle the reins.

This is a good way to calm the horses down.

Theres also this way of kicking the horse on her flank to make her run.

I was given a one-on-one lesson on how to ride horses.

Could it be because she was the Leader of the Holy Knights, a position where she stands above others?

I think shes really good at teaching.

Whether its school lessons or practical skills, she may actually be really suitable to being a teacher.

Then

[Touka-dono, theres one thing I think you should be aware of.]

Just when I felt like Im starting to get the hang of it, Seras leaned closer.

Lowering her voice, she whispered into my ear.

[Slei-dono has a tendency to anticipate your intentions and she makes her move in response to that. So, please keep in mind that other horses may be more difficult to handle than Slei-dono.]

[As I thought, thats really how it is.]

I thought my horse riding was going too well.

[Shes still a newborn foal after all, so I think she would be trying to work very hard to gain the favor of her parent, you.]

I gently brushed Sleis mane.

[You may be right]

[Pakkyyuunn]

[Its just because shes capable of turning into her really amazing third form that I almost forget about it Youre still a young baby, arent you?]

As I finished my practice and removed Sleis harness from her body

[Huh?]

Seras looked towards the house.

Looking towards where shes looking, I saw Eve and Liz walking towards us.

Following behind the two of them is Erika.

It appears that Eve and Liz changed their clothes.

[Did you receive those from her?]

Umu. Eve nodded.

[I thought you wouldnt be able to relax in your travel clothes, so Erikas just being thoughtful of them.]

In a pushy way, Erika said.

[Wouldnt the two of you feel more relaxed this way?]

Do you have any problems with this outfit?

or so it feels like shes asking so.

[Arent those too revealing?]

[Rather than saying its revealing, I wished youd say theyre more liberating though.]

Its a different series of clothes that Erika is wearing.

Its like theyre Chinese dresses with some western decorations on it, or something like that

However, I really cant say that they dont suit Eve and Liz.

[It cant be helped, you know? The clothes they were wearing were washed and are now being hung to dry, and besides, Erika only makes clothes that she likes. Or more like, Elves have a tendency to dress lightly. There are certainly some humans who told me that before but thats not any of my business as far as I could see it. Well, technically speaking, it all ends up to how we are in a spirit-related culture]

Well, I guess you could say that even Seras is lightly dressed.

Eve and Liz look down on the clothes theyre wearing.

[I dont really care that much though.]

[I also like it since, umm Theyre easy to move around with]

Staaaaaaaaaarrreeee-

Erika is staring at me.

It feels like her gaze would pierce a hole through my body.

It doesnt have much hostility but

See? What now huh!?

It feels like shes trying to force me to agree with her.

It takes a lot of effort to read her emotions because she doesnt smile at all.

Sighing, I just finished removing the last of Sleis saddle.

[It would have been different if you were forced, but I guess its alright if they themselves agreed with wearing it.]

Snap!

Erika snapped her fingers.

[I like that youre a sensible man.]

[.]

[What now?]

[Didnt you just want to make all those skimpy clothes for someone else to wear them?]

[.]

[.]

[Is that no good?]

[No, not really.]

Erika looks like shes taken aback.

[Putting that aside, Im not here to ask you what you think about these clothes. I have a gift for Eve and I want you to see it.]

Suddenly, Erika had an unpleasant expression on her face.

[I dont know if its a good thing or a bad thing that I dont have to make more of this anymore but No, I cant call this a good thing.]

Erika lazily shakes her head.

In other words

[Is that something you prepared for the Leopardkin?]

[That~ is~ right~. Or rather, you. You really could take every word apart and precisely guess it huh]

Saying so, Erika holds out a silver bangle to Eve.

There were three round holes around the bangle, and each of them had black orbs inlaid on it.

Theres a number engraved near each of the orbs, reading 1 to 3.

Eve inspects the bangle.

[Fumu? An ornament?]

[Touka.]

Fwip fwip

Calling my name, Erika beckoned me to come closer.

[Do you mind pouring your magic energy into the number 3 orb? You probably have more magic energy in you than Erika anyway]

[Understood.]

Could it be some kind of magic tool that has some sort of Enhancing effect?

[Im starting, Eve.]

[U- Umu.]

I started pouring my magic energy.

[Mhmm, Erika. It seems to me that something thin just pierced my arm from the inside of the bangle.]

[Its alright, thats not something that would harm you.]

[Ill trust you on this.]

The faint white light flowing out of my arm

They are being sucked into the black orbs one after another.

[It looks like it needs quite a lot of magic energy.]

[Considering its effect, that amount should be fairly appropriate.]

Erika looks confident.

To have this confidence

She had already seen the proof of its effect before huh.

In other words, this is not the first time that this bangle has been used.

In that case, I guess that makes me feel more relieved.

Then

[Uunnggh Ngghh!?]

Eves body suddenly got enveloped in a cream-colored light.

I could barely see something flabby-looking moving about within the light

After a short time- the light subsided.

[Eh?]

The first person who reacted was Liz.

[Big Sister?]

Seras gasped as well.

[Eve?]

[This is]

Eve stares at her hands in disbelief.

I sent a questioning look towards the Witch.

[Erika.]

[Thats right. This is a special bangle Erika made for Eidim and Paqui for the whole Speed family.]

Looking towards the transformed Eve, Erika stated the effect of the bangle.

[Its a bangle that lets the Leopardkin transform into a human form.]