“Something wrong? Don’t tell me this isn’t actually a mandragora?”
The roots of the plant Allen had just pulled free bore eerie markings, resembling a human face. According to his knowledge, that was exactly what a mandragora was supposed to look like...but could it be something else that simply looked similar? That worry lasted only a moment, until Anriette silently shook her head.
“No, that’s definitely a mandragora. No mistake about it. I was just...surprised, is all.”
“Surprised by?”
“It’s nothing. I mean, thinking about it, based on what you did earlier, this level of skill shouldn’t be surprising either.”
Whatever it was, she seemed to have reasoned it out and come to terms with it on her own. Allen, meanwhile, just tilted his head in confusion. What exactly had surprised her? Then, it hit him.
“Ah. The barrier.”
The one he had deployed earlier was a high-level form of barrier magic that completely isolated the surrounding space. Seeing him use something like that so effortlessly had probably come as a shock to Anriette, who didn’t know much about him.
And now that Allen thought about it—no, precisely because he understood that—it struck him as unexpected and refreshing. It was the kind of reaction the Anriette from his original world would never have shown. That Anriette had known all about his power. In fact, she had likely known it better than he did. So no matter what Allen did, she was never surprised by it. Seeing Anriette react with genuine surprise to something he had done was so rare that it was practically unheard of. And because of that, it seemed strangely amusing.
“To get to see a side of her I was never supposed to. If I think of it that way, maybe this situation isn’t entirely bad after all.”
“What’re you muttering about? You got what you came for, didn’t you? So hurry up and get out of here.”
“Well, that’s true...but you haven’t finished your request yet, right? Want some help? Call it a thank-you.”
“Are you stupid or something? I already repaid you for saving my life. If you turn around and repay that, then I’m the one who owes you again. Just get out of here already.”
Allen had figured she’d react like that, and sure enough, she had. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
Well then, I should probably take her advice and head back.
Still, he had at least managed to deepen their connection, if only slightly. And surely, before long, another chance would come along to deepen it even more.
Looking forward to that, Allen offered his thanks and said goodbye to Anriette before walking away from the forest.