The Witch, Who Once Was Called A Saint

"I knew as a person, I wondered if you lacked gratitude"

To the young man who said so, Astreia dropped her shoulders greatly.

"You didn't want to respect people's opinions?

"I'm sorry about that."

…… Don't come if you want to apologize. "

Why did you come, and to Astreia, the young man lowered his eyes with regret.

"No, I would have liked to have come sooner if it was true"

"... you know, talking, listening?

"But it's a fort I've just taken up, and it's hard to offer my superiors a vacation... because I finally got a holiday"

"Fort Superior...... are you a soldier!?"

Probably a fort means the city of the fort, the closest city from here.

Although this is an area that can be described as a de countryside compared to the capital, it can be along the border once and for all, and quite a few cities exist. Although there is only one city, and most of the rest is a village.

But among other things, a question arose in Astreia's head.

(The military man had such a loose air!?)

It may be the air of peaceful times, but I feel very different from the military men in Astreia's memory.

And I think at the same time.

How could I have helped this young man?

It's visible that even if I rewind my time, I'll help again, but then I want to ask myself why I went through that place.

At the very least, if this young man were to listen to me - I wouldn't have thought of that if he hadn't shown up in front of me again.

"Speaking of which, you didn't name it yet. I'm Ios..."

"I didn't ask!!"

The young man who was forced to interrupt the words. Ios opened his eyes, but immediately laughed bitterly.

"So, here's the thank you."

The cage, which I offered Astreia in a slightly playful manner, showed bread, cheese and raw ham-like things. Even if you guess from the cloth laid in the cage, it seems fancy. Astraia, however, distorted her expression.

"I don't want it"

Astreia, who doesn't need a meal to sustain her life, has barely spoken of anything since entering the woods. Not that I can't eat, but I don't need to.

So my appetite wasn't stimulated when I was told I was grateful. There's only one thought, I just want you to go home.

But for Ios, the reaction seemed to be within the expected range.

He took out the following, looking neither greatly surprised nor offended. It was taken away. It was a cylinder made of stone.

Ios opened the lid before Astraia, who invested in the root of the eyebrow.

Then the area fluttered and there was a gentle smell.

"Don't you hate bean soup?

……

Words to deny could not be uttered to Astreia.

I'm about to have a throat, it smells like that.

But if you eat here, it could facilitate a young man's long stay.

But the abrupt noise dominated the scene about the grinding Astraia.

It was the sound of a giant belly bug beeping.

Of course that's not from Ios.

Astraia's, it's a belly bug.

……

……

After the belly worm stopped ringing, only the chirping of the little bird dominated the scene.

(Or wait! My stomach rings!?)

The two had been tucked away like sculptures for a while, but slowly Ios picked up a slightly longer wooden spoon from the cage.

And I offered it to Astreia along with the cylinder.

"Go ahead."

……

I just claimed I'm not hungry here, etc., how can you believe me? No, there's no way you can believe me.

Then I wonder if I could get stuck with this delicious smell... that kind of thought made me head over.

No matter, the smell of deliciousness that I never smell first in this forest still tickles my nostrils.

No, but eating still means being involved, something to avoid. But if I didn't eat, Ios wouldn't go home either...... once again the belly worm has urged me to make a quick decision when I'm putting my thoughts around it that way.

"... eat"

"For once, I'm going to bring a lot, so don't hesitate to eat it"

Astraia first included a bite of soup, wondering who might be reluctant at this time. The soup, which conveyed warmth from the tip of the tongue, had a strong aroma of beans, as Ios had said, but with a mellow taste. But thanks to the incensed little meat in it, on the other hand, the fragrance is also felt. Then the sweet vegetables are simmered in such a thick place that they do not become a prototype.

"... yummy"

Astreia, who unconsciously crushed the word, heard her own voice and threw bread into her mouth in the first place.

What did you say?

"It's delicious to put bread on the soup. If you want to pinch a raw ham or something, you can cut it in."

While he remembered his remorse for the words of Ios, Astreia could not defy the appeal of the food he had once spoken of. I regret it, while I regret it, but when I realized it, I even kept eating until Ios told me, "I don't know if this is anymore".

"Sorry, I didn't prepare dessert after dinner...... did I satisfy you?

I didn't eat it, I didn't want it, but this is it - I thought so. Astraia was remorseful, but I couldn't deny the fact that it was delicious.

"... Welcome"

To Astraia's reply, Ios opened his eyes a little before smiling with a grin.

"You were rude."

But Astraia wants to protest. I was wondering if I had to be surprised to say hello after dinner. It's not like I don't have the consciousness to have a scattered attitude.

That's why I regret it extra.

"... but now you must have thanked me. Go home."

Still. Don't come, right, Astreia told Ios even with her gaze.

"Well, it's been a lot longer than I thought."

"Don't rest for the rest of your days. If you're a soldier, stay with me."

While Ios grinned bitterly at Astraia's words, "Well, unfortunately," he rode home on Lazur. What a shame.

But Astreia got mixed emotions about the taste of the soup that remained in her mouth even after she lost sight of Ios. I thought soup was such a delicious thing.

You don't have to eat to die - I felt like I only remembered a little something called a meal that I had strayed away from when I thought so.

(But there's no next time. In this forest, I can't prepare anything for myself)

But a few more days later.

"... so why are you here?"

"Because I even brought dessert today"

"No, that's not the problem."

Ios appeared again and Astreia held her head.