2. "Hunting together in the forest. And the danger that came with it"
One week has passed since I started living in his house.
Every day as usual I was given a room under a roof to live in, delicious meals to eat, and a warm bed to sleep in.
He never did anything to hurt me. He never wanted anything from me, and never told me to do anything.
If anything, all he wanted was to occasionally have a talk with me.
He never fully listens to what I have to say. He must be absent minded.
That's why I just ramble on about whatever comes to my mind.
He said he doesn't mind that, it's okay that I'm just with him.
But... every day he gives me food and let's me sleep in a bed. Usually, neither of those are free of charge.
Even if I don't really trust him, I still feel guilty for being a freeloader with nothing to do.
That's why I...
...say, can I go outside to hunt?
Yes, hunting. I was considering that I could use a bow and hunt some animals near the mountain.
I saw just the right bow and arrows lying around the house. ...even though I haven't used one in quite a while.
No. I'm perfectly healthy now.
Also, I might be just a half-elf, but all elves are skilled archers by nature.
...I learned a lot from my mother.
That's why I could bring down a lot of spoils.
What do you think?
...no. It's just that I feel embarrassed to live here without doing anything in return. There's a great dept I have to repay for your help.
And... to be honest, I'm kinda getting bored.
You're also busy working during daytime... so how about I go hunting during that time. What do you think?
The spoils will be good for food, and we can also smoke and store them. Then we could even sell them for money.
Under one condition? What is it?
...you want to come with me?
I guess... that should be okay.
Yes. Understood. Good... then let's head out right away.
It's been a while since I was surrounded by nature.
It felt strange somehow. Until he found me, I've spent so much time in the forest...
...no, I better stop thinking about the dark past.
I should do my job.
...yes, let's give this spot a try.
Please be as quiet as possible, and avoid any unnecessary movements. Or else the prey will run away...
Let's see. Maybe around here...
... there.
You see? The grass is trampled down only here. These are animal foot prints. This was... a rabbit. If we follow this trail, it will lead us to its nest.
...eh? N, no, this is nothing. Anyone could do this.
N, now let's go!
...we found it.
It's a rabbit. Quite a big one too. This one alone seems like plenty for dinner tonight...
Quiet.
Taking aim...
...shoot!
We go it!
Phew... It's really been a while, so I was worried a bit... but looks like my arms are still what they used to be.
That's a relief...
...uhm. Please, you don't have to praise me that much.
This is nothing special at all.
...p, please stop it.
Geez...
Anyway, let's go get it.
And now let's try to get one more. If you smoke those you can't eat yourself, you can give them a nice flavor...
...eh?
Kyaa!
Wh, what was that....! It hurts...
...kh! A, a monster...!? In a place like this ...!
Did it sniff the blood...!?
...kyaa!
Do... don't look down on me!
I take after my mother!
My mother was... the most skilled archer who ever lived...!
Haaah!
Phew... I took it down, somehow...
Kh... ah...!
You... you're wounded...!
Did the monster get you...!?
...don't tell me... did you push me away... and took the hit for me...?!
Ah... hang in there!
Please, hang in there!
* * *
...somehow I was able to drag him to the house and treat his wounds...
But he lost a lot of blood... his face was pale blue...
He still hasn't come to yet... he looks like in deep pain...
...hey.
Why did you protect me...?
I mean... I still haven't trusted you...
I still was worried that you would back stab me some day...
So why did you take the hit for me?
...I'm a child nobody wants.
I'm...
...his body is so cold.
The blanket is not enough...
In that case...
...yes, his body feels ice cold.
But I... will warm him up.
So... please.
Don't die...
...mh.
I must have fallen asleep...
...ah!
That's right, the wound...!
Ah...
...you're awake?!
But the wound! Are you okay?!
...thank goodness...
...that's a relief.
If... if you had died... I wouldn't know what to do...
I... I...
I am really... grateful.
...fufu. Your body is still pretty cold.
...eh?
Ah... Of course, ever since you've brought me here... this is the first time I've laughed.
How long has it been since I laughed...?
...but I am really glad...
Um...
I want to speak frankly.
I... all this time I did not believe you...
Because... I was always told that I'm a child nobody wants. That's why I believed that some day you would also abandon me...
But... you protected me. Even though with a wrong move, you could have died...
Can... can I... trust you?
Ah...
...yes...♪
...um.
"Manon".
That is my name.
From now on... please call me so.
...yes.
Thank you very much.
Uh...
...I'm really late for saying it, but...
Thank you for having me.
* * *
Ever since then, I've nursed him back to health in one week.
Our roles have completely reversed from how it used to be. But, and that might be rude to say, I've felt that now I could repay my debt to him, so I was very eager with my care.
He looked so bored lying in his bed, so I always kept him company and talked to him.
And then... I told him my story.
My name is Manon.
My father is a human, and my mother is an elf.
The two were deeply in love with each other, and the result of their love was me, I told him.
Of course, there was no chance we could ever live in human or elf settlements, that's why we built a house deep in the forest, where we lived as a family.
Even with their racial differences, mother and father never had any fights at all, and so they raised me too as their beloved daughter.
Until a little while ago, our every day life was filled with happiness.
But then one day, a fire broke out in the forest where we lived.
Maybe it happened because of the storm the day before. A massive thunderbolt came down the forest, setting it on fire and all the trees nearby.
Eventually, the flames reached our home.
I barely managed to escape.
But Father stayed behind to rescue Mother...
They never came back out.
I've lost my parents and my home, so I moved from place to place.
I've lived oin the street with what little money I've had, but the moment anyone noticed that I'm a half-elf, the humans bared their fangs.
That said, even if I had tried to live in the forest again, the elves living there would've expelled me with their magic.
Even if I had found a forest without any elves, the water there would not be clean. Even finding prey every day would've been impossible.
Still, for half a year I did my best to survive.
But at long last I've reached my very limits, and finally collapsed...
...and then you found me.
As I talked to him, even though his injury must have hurt... I had to give him a gentle hug.
He petted my head.
I quietly accepted it...
...in silence, I shed my tears.
I shouldn't do this.
I must nurse him back to health.
But instead, I'm the one being healed.
...he really is a kind person.