The wagon raced through the darkness. Miyako held the reins, while Fuuka sat in the passenger’s seat.
“Is this really all right, Miyako?!”
“Is-Is-Is-Is what all right?!”
“Have you ever driven one of these before?!”
“Nope!”
“What?!”
“Well, it wouldn’t have been right to make Shan Li-san drive us...!”
While her only daughter was suffering, Shan Li had tried to get in the wagon herself, but Miyako volunteered to drive instead. She had ridden her share of horses, but when it came to wagons—Well, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.
Since coming here from the world where she was a wage slave, Miyako decided she would be positive to a fault. She would rather regret doing something than regret not doing it. That’s why she decided no matter what to save Fuuka, the villainess who put in a ridiculous amount of work, and make her happy. She’d endured unreasonable abuse from her father and her younger sisters for the sake of her family, her honor, and the chance at a good marriage.
“Fuuka-chan, we should be almost there!”
Miyako sped up the wagon even more.
“My master has a peculiar taste in people,” said Umi with a yawn from inside the empty wagon.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It looks like we’ll have to walk the rest of the way,” said Fuuka.
After making it to the beginning of the mountain road, Fuuka descended from the wagon holding a lantern in one hand. The path from there onwards was too narrow for the wagon to traverse.
This trip felt completely different than their midday treks to the secluded spring. The night air was cold. Even the firm ground somehow felt chilly. The lantern only illuminated a part of the nighttime scenery.
Miyako huddled close to Fuuka.
“It’s okay... The moonlight grass grows near the stream. It’s not that far away,” said Miyako.
“Yes, that’s right. We’ve been coming here for days, and there’s only the one path... Everything should go perfectly fine!”
Miyako tightly gripped Fuuka’s hand, which was drenched in sweat and ice cold. She’s scared. But despite that, Fuuka-chan’s bravely pressing on and trying to save Shan Li’s daughter. She’s so kind-hearted.
“Is something the matter, Miyako?”
Miyako had been unconsciously staring in admiration at Fuuka’s face.
I love how she prioritizes others over herself, thought Miyako. I love how she does that without hesitation. I love that she’s way more easily embarrassed than I thought she was. And I love how she’s so, so kind.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go, Fuuka-chan. You too, Umi!”
And so, they ran through the darkness, with Fuuka holding a lantern in one hand, Miyako holding the cat-shaped Umi with one of hers, and each of their remaining hands clasped tight around the other’s.
✦ ✦ ✦
Their footsteps echoed as they walked without speaking. They heard the cries of far-off mountain birds, and the howling of wolves.
“...Was it always this far away?”
“Yeah... when we go to the hot spring, I always have so much fun talking to you that we get there before I know it.”
They spoke in hushed tones, huddling together as they walked. Occasionally there was a rustling in the nearby thickets. Each time that happened, Fuuka shrieked and stiffened up.
“I-It’s okay! If it comes to it, I’ll fend off anything for you!”
“Do you know how to use magic? Or maybe swordcraft?”
“Uh, I... Just don’t worry, anyway.”
“Nyaa, might it be that my master couldn’t even best a lone nyight bandit??”
“I don’t think there are many girls who could, Umi.”
“How boring, I’d love to see you win in a hand-to-hand fight.”
“Haha.”
Umi wagged her tail in dissatisfaction and spoke in a carefree tone unbecoming of the situation, and Fuuka inadvertently burst out laughing. Umi, together with Miyako’s forced bravado, eased her spirit.
Just then, they noticed the ground in front of them was glowing.
“That light! There’s no doubt about it. It’s exactly the same as the moonlight grass I saw in the field guide.”
“We made it!”
By the side of the stream, a little distance from the maintained path, moonlight grass grew in droves.
“If I remember correctly, I saw some other medicinal herbs growing here too!”
“Ah, Fuuka-chan, be careful!”
Miyako hurried after Fuuka as she descended a steep slope without paying attention to her surroundings. It wouldn’t be much of a fall, but it could still cause an injury if she slipped.
“I’m all right. Keep watch there, Miyako, and make sure there’s nothing dangerous around us.”
“O-Okay.”
Fuuka nimbly descended the slope, then plucked the moonlight grass with a deft hand. The delicate, omnipotent spiritual herb was said to have a greater effect on nights lit by the moon.
Fuuka looked up to the sky. She could see a full moon from between the gaps in the dense covering of branches. I’m sure that on a night like this, the moonlight grass will lend us its power and save Shan Li’s daughter.
Fuuka placed the moonlight grass into a pouch, then she gathered a few of the other medicinal herbs growing in the area which she thought might be useful. The ones whose roots she could use, she pulled out entirely. For the ones whose leaves she could use, she cut the leaves off with a small pair of scissors. This place by the stream was a treasure trove of medicines, undiscovered until now because few passed through here.
Fuuka packed more and more herbs into the pouch, in a well-practiced motion. She’d always felt her home was only a place for training, where she could never let her mind wander. The only exception was the small veranda where she kept the medicinal herbs she grew herself. The experience she gained tending to the herbs there while practicing white magic was paying off now.
“This should be enough...!”
She picked up the lantern she’d placed on the ground and made her way back up the slope. Miyako watched from above with a worried expression.
“F-Fuuka-chan, are you all right?”
“Everything’s fine. Let’s hurry back and mix these... A-Aaaah?!”
“Fuuka-chan?!?!”
Fuuka suddenly vanished from Miyako’s sight, making her scream.
Oh my God, no way, are you okay, my darling Fuuka-chan?!
“I’m... all right.”
Fuuka had lost her footing in the mud on the slope and slipped, but she managed to pull herself upright again. The magical lantern was somehow unscathed, and the flame inside, powered by magic, continued to burn. Fuuka herself didn’t appear to have any notable injuries.
“Okay, Miyako. Let’s go, quickly now!”
“Sure! I just know Shan Li-san’s daughter will be fine.”
“Of course! Who do you think I am? I’ll definitely make everything right.”
The corners of Fuuka’s mouth perked up in a smile.
“After all, I’m the daughter of Count Hamilton of the proud Hamilton family!”
Miyako couldn’t stop herself from hugging Fuuka.
“Fuuka-chan!”
“I, wait, Miyako?! Now’s not the time...”
“Yeah, I know! But, you know, I want to tell you something.”
“...Yes?”
Miyako whispered into Fuuka’s attractive ear. She whispered with care, as though she were handing over a precious treasure. “Even if you weren’t a Hamilton, no matter who you were... I think I’d still have fallen in love with you.”
“You!! I, wha-!!”
Miyako couldn’t see Fuuka’s face in the dark, but...
“L-L-Let’s hurry back, Miyako!!”
“Okay!”
But Fuuka’s ears, entrusted with this treasure, were burning a fierce red.
Watching all of that was the fluffy Undine.
“Nyaa, how hot.”
“Hold on, Umi!!” shouted Fuuka.
“Ah, I completely forgot about Umi!”
The two of them raced back down the road they’d come from, screeching with embarrassment.
They trekked back along the mountain path, hand in hand.