The forest at night still showed a completely different face than during the day.
The moonlight, which had illuminated the night lane for me to the forest entrance, as soon as I entered the forest, I would be blocked by tree branches and leaves.
Darkness surrounds us.
The lamp lights are sucked beyond that darkness unreliably.
One leaf stirring, one bug ringing.
I don't feel anything during the day. I hear those sounds, at night, accompanied by a completely different emotion.
Terror.
Darkness brings with it man's first emotions.
People work countless imaginations beyond it just because their vision is blocked.
Would you have gone into the woods and walked a long way already?
Fita grumbled at the fact that the first destination, Mogatsukibana, was just a few moments away.
"... Scary"
Morgen, who was leading the way, looks back.
"You're scared. I was scared last year too."
That's what I say, give me your hand.
"Last year's third graders held hands for me. And then I got a little less scared."
"Yeah."
Fita honestly holds that hand.
"Well, the guy walked really fast, and he couldn't tell me he was scared."
Almarks laughs at Morgen's words.
"Is Zap okay?
Asked by Wendy, Zap nods silently.
Zap is a boy, so it may be hard to say that Wendy is scared to ask.
Almark caught a glimpse of Zap's expression, but so far it looks okay.
Rest assured, I look back at Radmar following me a little behind.
"Radmar, are you okay?"
Silent, lamp lights shake.
The lack of a response would be a sign that it's okay.
If you're tired, don't hesitate to tell me.
That's right. Speak up, and look back.
"... because Radmar is always like that"
After walking for a while I said blush so Zap wouldn't hear me behind him.
"Everyone hates to put it together. After all, we pushed him."
"Yes."
Wendy nods.
"Even in the classroom, oh yeah?
"Yeah."
Zap nods.
"We didn't like it either. I can't even tell you to go."
It would mean that troublemakers were pushed by two adults.
Almark thought.
People would not gather around very much in that way of Radmar in this college, which would be treated as if it were royal or civilian.
Whatever you don't like, you can't do anything for me on the college side.
Royalty, nobility, civilians.
I crossed that kind of thing, myself as one person.
We have to do something with that power.
I'm sure that means being a magician.
"You didn't say you didn't like it with Radmar."
That's what Wendy says and smiles at Zap.
"You two are so sweet."
"Nothing. That's not it."
That's what I said. I look down like Zap lit up.
Your face will look red, not all because of the lamp lights.
Almark turned around.
The lamp light is shaking.
I feel a little distance away from Radmar.
"Morgen."
Almark speaks to Morgen, who seems to be at the forefront and happily talking to Fita about the charm of the flying fish pavilion.
"Let's slow down a bit"
"Yeah. Fine."
Morgen nods wonderfully.
"Sorry, was it fast?"
As Morgen asks sideways, Fita shakes her head.
"Yeah, not at all"
Almark waits for Radmar to come near him, prompting Morgen to start walking.
"Radmar is"
Zap says in a small voice.
"No magic, no study, no exercise, not at all. But I'm always prestigious just because I'm royal. We all know Radmar is royal, so we won't say anything."
"You are."
Wendy nods calmly.
"It's tough for everyone, too. And Radmar is in trouble."
"And Radmar?
Zap looks up at Wendy.
"Yeah. Radmar's in trouble, too. We all have our own problems."
"I wonder if so"
Zap looks uninterrupted.
Almark was feeling hooked in his heart as he listened to Wendy and Zap converse.
No exercise, either?
You said you couldn't even exercise?
"Zap, I'm sorry. Can't Radmar exercise?"
"Yeah. No, you can't. I don't have any strength at all. I guess I've hardly even been to the woods."
To Zap's words, Almark looks back with his face up.
The distance from Radmar, who was supposed to be chasing me, was away again.
This could be harder than I thought.
Almark went back the way he came and approached Radmar.
Radmar was breathing on his shoulders.
Was it because of tiredness that the lamp lights were shaking earlier?
"Radmar, are you tired?"
Radmar shakes his shoulder, not responding.
"We haven't even reached the first collection site yet. We're not gonna make it at this pace."
says Almark.
"How many times have you been in the woods?"
Radmar does not reply.
"If you don't want to answer, you don't have to answer with your mouth. Tell me with your fingers."
Radmar slowly stands three fingers.
After more than half of his sophomore year, it's only the third time he's come to the woods today. What kind of college life have you had?
Almark can sigh for a long time.
I'll hold the lamp.
Almark forcefully takes up Radmar's lamp.
When Radmar tried to say something back with a rugged face, a big moth danced attracted to the lamp lights.
"Ugh, wow. A poison moth."
Radmar waves in surprise.
"Stop, don't come"
"I'm fine. This moth has no poison."
Almark reaches out his left hand and grips the moth.
"Moths do nothing. But if it stops, they'll stop by as much as they want."
That said, when I slap my hand and pay for the carcass, I also take Radmar's backpack.
"I'll take this, too. Morgen!"
"Yeah."
The Morgens stopped a little further to watch what happened.
Morgen waves the lamp on his right hand and says:
"I'll slow you down."
"Right. The six of us are one team. Walk at Radmar's Walkable Pace"
To Almark's words, Radmar toothed with his pride injured face.