Vermillion

To the sound of the birds, I woke up.

High rising sunlight plunges in from the gap between the closed rain doors. Sleeping in bed, Kay looked at it with blurry sleeping eyes.

I feel the plumpness of human skin beside me. Sweet, warm enough to want to hold you forever.

Eileen is resting in Kay's arms. Unconsciously, Kay's hand was glimpsing Irene's spine. Skin like white magnet. Often, it is indulgent in the smooth feel it conveys to your fingertips. Eileen is still dreaming, even though she tickles her fingers back and forth.

Keep an eye on that gentle sleeping face, Kay, thanks to love.

but.

(- That, what time is it?

I am struck by the feeling of being accidentally exposed to cold water.

Bright. Too bright outside the room. Weren't you planning on challenging the Devil's Forest early this morning? But at least, this height of sunshine is unlikely in the morning.

"Shit."

Together, before noon. Kay jumps unexpectedly, Kay's arm, which was supportive, is gone, Eileen buries her face in the pillow and speaks up "Nguyen".

"…… Hmm? ……………. …… Kay, hello."

In bed, Irene blinks her pussy and blue eyes with a face like a pigeon ate a bean cannon. He often wandered his gaze, captured Kay's appearance, and grinned as if relieved.

"Oh, oh, good morning..."

In the meantime, Kay smiled as Eileen matched, but the edge of her mouth was cramped. It was Irene leaning her neck as she rubbed her eyes against her somewhere behaving suspiciously lover, but she traced Kay's gaze and - radiantly noticed the sunlight slipping through the rain door.

Aw, and Eileen gets a real face.

"... What, wait, wait, Kay, what time is it?

"……… I don't know."

Two people looking at each other.

- I overslept.

The two jumped out of bed as they rolled, and began to wear clothes scattered across the floor in a great panic.

†††

"Oh, you're up."

When Kay and the others, who had managed to finish their personal duties, rushed into the living room, Sergei, who had kept some books at the table, called out to them in good spirits.

"Sorry! I was supposed to go to the woods this morning."

"Hey, don't worry about it."

Sergei waves flirtatiously, blocking Kay's words.

"There would have been some fatigue in the trip, wouldn't there? I've decided to put him to sleep, because the Devil's Forest won't be easy to escape."

You don't have to hurry, and if you can't do it today, you can do it tomorrow. Only, to Sergei, who looks relaxed, the Kays also regain their composure.

Yeah - nothing, we don't have to hurry.

Until now, I may have been a little too crunchy because of my journey to be driven away. Being aware of that, they seemed ridiculous when they were frowning and panicking, and Kay and Irene looked at each other and laughed bitterly.

"Right, so is that.... What time is it now?

"Dude, you think there's a clock in this country?

More or less after noon, Kay darkens the colour of his bitter smile to Sergei, who answers in his soothing pose. Perhaps at present, the only clock present in the village of Sharito is one pocket watch that is being served by the luggage of the Kays.

"Nevertheless, Kay and Eileen, you slept really well"

"Oh yeah...... thanks to you I got some rest. I feel like I've been asleep for a long time. I used to fall asleep for over six months because I was ill and almost unconscious, but it felt similar."

Hold your forehead, Kay, shaking your head. Really, strangely, I felt like I'd been asleep for quite some time.

"Surprisingly, you don't look like such a sick person. Well, for now, you can have some tea. In addition to my long journey, I was involved in a battle. Yeah, well, you can't get tired."

"Thanks."

Sergei recommended me to take a seat and get the herbal tea that was made in the medicine can. Kay and Eileen are gonna put their mouths on the cup.

"Even so, you were quite intense yesterday. How many times did you end up fucking me?

but suddenly he sprayed tea at the same time as "bufo" to Sergei's question, which turned into a guess-face.

"Gee ho, come on!

"Hey, what are you talking about? You!

Eileen who can mumble, Kay who stands back, Sergei who darkens his ghetto face even more with "Ghehe" for the reaction of two such beginners.

"No, no, I know, I know, I know! You can't make it easy when it's a trip, can you? Huh? It's been a while, hasn't it? It's common for you to burn for what you put up with! Hey, good, good, good, young!

Busy Sergei nodding and convincing and exuberant on his own, with his hands twitched. Eileen dyed her cheeks and pointed at her, Kay arm-wrapped. Seeing those two, Sergei laughed more and more.

"…… So, what do we do today?

I tease the two of them one at a time, then Sergei with just a few serious tones.

"Uhm... To attack the woods..."

"I think it's a little late..."

Kay and Irene all have a difficult face and look up at the sun that has already risen and cut high through the window of the room. It's not like we have a specific vision of what to do in the woods. Kay's goal is to see if it is possible to return to the original world, perhaps by encountering a 'sage' - or a similar being - somewhere in the woods. Talk about no ex or child if the sage doesn't exist, but that lazy, whimsical wind spirited Sieve showed the way on purpose must mean there's something.

The problem is that the key sage has no idea where he lives in the woods. We must wander through a forest of extremely dangerous demons in search of the dwellings of the wise. Even though the season is late summer and the sun is still long, I just want to get into the woods early in the morning.

"Hmmm...... why don't you just give it a try?

With a strange face, close your books, Sergei.

"... What is' trying '?

"It would be no surprise to explore the woods in a bump production. Even though I went down there yesterday, I don't know if I can actually use the Devil's Forest Exploration Gear that my father left me. Why don't you try the prep exercise first?

As for full-scale exploration after tomorrow, I wonder if we could actually practice 'stepping into the fog', Sergei said.

A lot of caution, but in view of the dangers of what they call the "Devil's Forest," it could be a reasonable decision. Anyway, even if you stay in the village, you won't be able to relax in a soothing and restless mood. The Kays decided to get on Sergei's suggestion.

After a lunch treat, Sergei's father once again borrows the Devil's Forest Assault Gear, which he devised. A small pile that serves as a signpost, a leash and chain that connects each other - of particular importance among them would be the lifeline, which is nearly 100 metres long. Sergei said this was knitted over the years by his father, the longest rope present in the village. Whether it's too short to explore the woods or not, it's too long to step into the fog to the extent of a 'liver test'.

Someone bracketed this rope around their hips and waited the other side out of the woods to keep it. From time to time, I gently and quickly-pulled it to signal, and decided that if the signal didn't return, it would have caused a mental abnormality or some kind of problem. So we can pull and rescue them quickly.

"Well, I knew that."

Getting ready, Kay headed out into the woods again, looking back and saying a word.

"…… Is there not much?

"They're all interested."

It's Alexei who laughs at me.

By the Devil's Forest.

Aside from Sergei and Alexei's two parents and children, there was a figure of the inhabitants of the village of Shalit who followed each other in rows. Everyone carries sandwich baskets and bottles, spreads the rug to the woods and begins serving alcohol, presenting a banquet-like appearance.

Such a dish of their liquor is nothing else, a Gentile traveler - a pair who recklessly tries to challenge the Devil's Forest. Kay is equipped with a clasp, a light outfit with an arrow barrel and a long sword down his waist and a "dragon scale through". Eileen also carried a sabel and wore a black outfit, the usual outfit.

Leather on his hips, checking the condition of the hooks connecting the chains, bracketing his lifeline around the trunk of the tree - and as Kays silently prepared, the drunken villagers began to make noise. A young man in the mood is flying around among the spectators with a bowl in his hand. There seems to be a lot of talk, but I don't understand Kay because it's Snowfield's words (Roski).

"... What are you talking about? That."

"Uh-huh... sounds like you're making a bet"

Irene answered Kay's question with an extremely complex expression.

"Betting?"

"Whether or not we can come back... like if we're staying sane..."

"……… Ah."

Kay also had a similar look to Eileen. Even in the less entertaining countryside, it is we who are trying to do something reckless to the extent that it is established as a bet.

"All right. Then we're both ready?

"It's fine."

"No problem."

To Sergei's words, Kay and Irene nodding. They both wrap leather bands around their hips and connect them with elongated chains of about Nim. It's a measure to stay together in the woods. Kay's belt is also bracketed with a lifeline, which will literally be the only one to ask for when he returns.

In the Devil's Forest, the sense of direction goes crazy and the azimuthal magnetic needle becomes useless, he said. There was also a hand in relying on Sieve to return, but in the fog, magic is also inhibited, which could consume a large amount of catalyst even if the technique just shows the way. There are few Gems in hand (Emerald) and only two Remaining Exorcisms (Talismans). I want to avoid squandering because jewels are both horns and talismans are precious - in addition, if the amount of magic demanded exceeds the catalyst in hand, it is death that awaits. Either way, you shouldn't use as much magic as you can in the fog.

"……… OK. Shall we go?"

A little nervously, and finally again, Kay licked the pepper and lips, checking to see if the rope was tightly tied to her hips. Eileen on the other side is also nervous about boulders. Look at each other and snort.

Grey walls.

Stand in front of the 'fog' of the Devil's Forest.

The wind is faint when Kay puts his hands together. Ooh ooh and the atmosphere sounds and a hole in the fog wall. The surrounding wild horses.

"Ugh..."

but while dressed with her hands up, Kay moaned with her face up.

"What's up, Kay?

"……… Sieve sucked my magic"

Even though I didn't ask for it, it is Sheave who exercises his magic on his own and then firmly collects his magic power for it. There's no point in showing me through a wind hole to the residence of a wise man, and even if it only opens the entrance, there's no point in anything other than entertaining the spectators - perhaps that's what Sieve is for. Whimsical and groovy, that's the spirit of the wind. Though Kay has not enjoyed the magic of being entertained.

"…… Are you okay? Do you want to stop?"

I'm worried Eileen because I know how low Kay's magic is. Kay shook his head, "No," though.

"I'm fine.... Somehow, I'm getting used to it"

When I first practiced witchcraft in "Here", I used my magic until I was dying, and the nausea of recoil was dying somewhat, but I became somewhat accustomed to it as I gained experience more than once. Sometimes the boulder is reduced by the sheave, but the exercise of magic is also done to the extent that the body flutters a little.

"But shouldn't we be full? Better get some rest………………"

"No, no, I'm really fine. Because I've already recovered."

Still, to Irene, who looked worried, Kay gave her a bright laugh. I'm not being strong. Slap Peppy on the cheek and regain her temper again.

"Okay. Then Alexei, Sergei, I'm coming"

"Mm-hmm. It's an honor to be present at the birth of a new heirloom"

"I don't know what to do or how to be careful... but be careful"

Sergei snorts heavily with his arms around him, and Alexei smiles slightly weaker as he grips firmly on Kay's waist bracketed lifeline.

"This is the signal. As soon as we don't hear back, we'll pull everything we can, Kay."

Alexei quickly-pulled the lifeline twice gently. For once, the end of the lifeline is bracketed in the tree so that no matter what happens, it doesn't come off. It is Alexei's role to send a signal confirming the cheap condition.

"Yeah. Here's the thing."

Kay pulls back, too, twice.

"Come back safe, both of you."

"Nah, don't worry about it."

"Today, within the reach of the lifeline, I'm just going to take a light walk."

Eileen waves flirtatiously, and Kay laughs.

Tightening their expressions and facing back to the fog, the two step into the gray world without hesitation as they were.

Their backs are swallowed with mist - they become invisible.

Just a piece of rope from the soaring gray wall. Shaking all the way back. Alexei was over the lifeline at hand, feeling the pace of the two of them.

"Kay, Eileen! What do you say, do you feel okay?

Alexei calls out as she rolls out the rope.

but there was no response from the back of the fog. Driven by anxiety, it draws the line twice when it is difficult.

Then, quickly, the signal returned. Apparently, he's safe. I can't seem to get a voice in the fog.

Alexei thought well, "You've gained more knowledge of the Devil's Forest."

The Next Moment.

Bullshit, and the lifeline swayed a lot - stopped.

And by the time it's creepy, it won't move.

"……… Kay? Eileen?"

Kuruku, and Alexei sends a signal.

…………

The answer is...

"Is that it? We both...... nooo!?

Suddenly, his hand was taken away all the time, and Alexei raised her voice of confusion. The rope is pulling with tremendous momentum. It's like the reins of a runaway horse.

"Ugh!? Whoa, whoa, whoa!!

It was only for a moment that the force antagonized him, although he defeated his body like a drag and tried to endure it by feeding his heels into the ground. Alexei is pulled so hard with Gun that his body is about to rise into the universe and drag him into the mist with every lifeline.

"Stop it. Get your hands off me!

So I peeled off Alexei so Sergei could hit him. You two, hit it harder and roll it into the rotten soil of the forest. The rope is drawn with fierce momentum, like a fishing line with big fish on it.

"What the hell is this!?

"I don't know!

The speed at which your hands are likely to rub off if you touch the detour, the rope that was left in the form of a tumble around the ground, quickly reaches its limit.

Bang, and a lifeline that makes dry noises and sticks. The ends tied to the great trees are swollen up.

"Something" to pull the life line, so he realized the limits...

For a moment, the line loosened.

but put it down for a beat and it pulls violently again.

Bam! Bam! Bang! And the dry sound that makes you even feel obsessed echoes by the woods. The trunk of the great tree swayed with too much force, and the rope wore off as it wandered.

"Ah, oh......!

Alexei's voice, neither moaning nor screaming, is vain.

Batun! and made an international loud noise, and the lifeline broke a thousand.

And then they swallow it.

There's a lifeline - across the fog.

and pun, and the gray walls rocked untouched, leaving nothing behind later.

"You're lying...... hey Kay, Eileen?!

To the limit, close to the fog wall, Alexei screaming desperately.

"Ke-yi!? Iri-n!! Answer me!

Alexei screams.

But the Devil's Forest doesn't respond.

It's just that it's quiet to the point where it's creepy.

"- Hmm?"

My vision is sumptuous. In a world of bright white mist, Kay, uh, stopped.

"What's up, Kay?"

With a pressing voice, Eileen.

"... no. I thought I heard something."

Kay, clear his ears.

Silent.

"... do you? I didn't realize that."

Irene, as she whispers.

"It's just an imagination."

Kay looked overhead.

Blurry sunlight.

"... Aren't you Alexei?

Maybe so. So, I remembered.

"…… Speaking of which, I need to send the next signal"

As soon as I went into the woods, as I did.

Kay again gently pulls the lifeline of his hips twice.

- Ku (...) I (...) I (...) and (...), the merge (...) figure (...) came back (...) and (...) came (...) (...).

"Okay."

The lifeline is firmly connected.

"A little more, let's move on"

With this, Leo will be able to establish himself as the fourth faction in the current three-ways succession war.

Irene snorts.

Kay squeezes the "dragon scale through".

Plus, we step in.

endless

of fog

To the world.