[Part 1/4]
"Ah, huh...?"
A faint consciousness stirred in the midst of my light slumber. What escaped next was a dry exhale. Lagging behind were the chills and aches that tornted my body.
"What's happening...?"
My entire body felt painfully chilled. Joint pain attacked every part of my body. Instinctively, I curled up to reduce my surface area, retaining as much body heat as possible.
In a strange way, this unpleasant sensation was oddly familiar. I had mories of this chilling feeling. Yes, it was akin to the sensation that followed after pushing myself to do outdoor work in the middle of a snowstorm during the winter, only to fall victim to it the next day.
It was the feeling one had when they let a cold escalate, and their body was wracked with fever...
"This is... not good."
Even with my eyelids unable to open, I strained my drowsy mind, forcing out a feverish breath. In reality, the situation I found myself in was quite dire. Considering our family finances, just one less pair of hands was a major issue.
If it were just one person less, it would be manageable to muddle through, but becoming bedridden would be a different story. I needed to sohow get up and inform my family, isolate myself... This world was already one where life was cheap, and our family was especially impoverished, even by the standards of this low-average standard of living.
If our entire family fell victim to a cold, it would be far from a laughing matter.
But this...
"It's hot, it's cold..."
My insides were boiling hot, but the surface of my body was unbearably cold. It was exactly the typical symptoms of a cold. Oh no, this is bad. I can't summon any strength. I have to tell my family sohow.
"...Warm?"
Suddenly, I felt a pleasant warmth in my embrace. Without thinking, I entwined my trembling arms and legs around it.
As the cold limbs t the warmth, the coldness slowly subsided. The warmth, though not excessively hot, was perfect, and it alleviated my chills.
"It's soft..."
I instinctively clung to it with my entire body. There was a slight, almost imperceptible movent, but my dulled brain didn't pay it any attention. I only sought this comforting warmth.
"It slls nice...?"
Tickling my nostrils was a faintly sweet fragrance. Whether it was the scent of incense, perfu, or sothing else entirely, it was a fragrance I shouldn't have encountered in this lifeti. And precisely because it was sothing so far removed from my life, I yearned for it all the more.
I embraced it. With my whole body, I sought it...
"Ah... Kyaa!? Wh-What are you doing!? Servant!? Stop it! You're being rude...!!?"
I felt like I heard a voice. But I didn't care. I didn't have the ti to care. Right now, this warm embrace was my everything. Anything else, everything else, was irrelevant.
"Hyaa!!? Wh-Where are you putting your face...!? P-Pervert!? Stop, stop it...!"
I buried my face in the warm softness. I pressed against it as if seeking comfort. The sweetness lted my brain.
"No, stop... Please, don't be so rough, please, not like... this...!?"
Suppressing her delicate resistance, I pressed and squeezed her. I would resort to any ans to monopolize this gentle warmth. I didn't want to choose. Being cold was painful. Being in pain was painful. To escape from that, there was no room for concern about her loud screams.
"Sob... Please, stop... I-I beg you, don't...! You, too, you... to , this...!?"
Wait. Wasn't there sothing I forgot? Whose voice was this crying? A girl's? Yukine? No, that's not it. It can't be. Because I had already left my family... then where is this? Where am I?
"What am I... doing?"
A sudden, rapid, and complete awakening of my consciousness. And simultaneously, I recognized it. What had I been doing to her in my imdiate mory? In what way had I been doing sothing to her? I realized it clearly when I understood the posture I was in, crushing her rcilessly, sprawled atop the frightened princess.
"Stop... stop... huh, what?"
Then, our eyes t. A young princess with rosy cheeks. Her tearful eyes carried traces of hostility, fear, despair, and a hint of confusion as she timidly called out. Her image appeared in my view.
For so reason, I noticed we were facing each other, looming over her in this embrace.
"Ah."
And then, I understood. I realized what I had been doing to her in my recent faded consciousness, where I had buried my face in her. The posture, dominating and unrelenting, as I sprawled over the young child, provided undeniable evidence.
"Um, Princess... well, good evening?"
"...Is there anything else you want to say!?"
I received a response dripping with hostility, almost threatening, for my attempt at a greeting when I didn't know what else to say. After pondering for a few monts in my bewildered and panicked mind, I opened my mouth.
"...Well, maybe it's because of my age, but it seems my body is a bit frail... Ugh!?"
In response to my straightforward comnt, she delivered a headbutt that felt like it could break my nose.
Honestly, I had that coming.
* * *
Let's gather myself and explain.
To put it succinctly, we had won the gamble. We had successfully escaped the imdiate danger, and there were even so bonuses along the way.
After being swept away down a river and enduring a series of twists and turns, we happened to wash ashore in a safe area. This place was originally part of the boundary, presumably for securing a water source, and we, I and the loli Gorilla-sama, had found our way here. It was an extrely fortunate turn of events. Had we washed ashore at a regular riverbank, we would have likely beco a al for nearby youkai.
There were two more strokes of luck about landing in this boundary area. First, due to the festering of the wounds I had endured and the cold from the river water, I had caught a slight cold, which ant I could rest my body here without worry. Second, this place was our original destination and the predetermined eting point with Hisa. It was truly fortunate that we didn't have to push ourselves for further travel.
"Die, pervert."
I'll pretend not to have heard that sharp, contemptuous mutter full of disdain that escaped Loli Gorilla-sama's lips when she turned to look at under the starry sky, her gaze fixed on the crackling campfire we had going.
I an, it's probably unforgivable due to my unconscious actions in my dazed state. So, let's just ignore it. My consciousness was hazy, so I can't be blad for my actions.
"Ah, Princess, your anger is entirely justified. It is, but... could you please stop looking at like that for now?"
I pleaded while rubbing my nose. Seriously, those eyes of hers are harsh on my already weakened spirit.
...Well, it's true that I completely brought this upon myself and it's a case of reaping what I sowed, but co on, this is a bit too much, right?
"I understand. Just rember this when we return to the mansion. I'll show you the hell of this world."
"I don't want to go back..."
I seriously thought that she was not joking with that stern tone. Or rather, how can she maintain such a condescending attitude in this environnt? Truly, it's worthy of admiration. No, it's not. It's not sothing to be envious of at all.
"Well, uh, Princess. It's a strange ti to say this, but... please have a al before you sleep. After all, you can't fight on an empty stomach."
"I'm not going to fight."
"Don't nitpick."
I handed her a soldier's ration ball (or rather, a miso ball) that had gotten slightly damp, along with so dried at, all while making this request. Co to think of it, we had a similar conversation about food before we left the cave...
"I hate it. I an, just looking at it, it looks disgusting. And it slls like water."
"Even so, please eat it. You won't have the strength otherwise."
"I'd rather starve than eat this pig's food."
Just as she was about to complain further about the dinner I'd offered, her stomach gave an energetic growl, as if on cue.
"..."
Loli Gorilla-sama blushed all the way to her ears and remained silent, enduring her embarrassnt. Well, it seems like she won't be bringing up more complaints herself. I'll have to initiate the conversation.
"A good dicine tastes bitter, they say. They also say food and dicine have the sa origin. Well, for now, please endure the taste. Co on, open up."
With a wry smile, I said so and picked up the reddish-black chunk of pork. I pressed it against her lips. She stared at , looking dissatisfied with its hardness. Then, she sniffed the sll of the dried at cautiously, still maintaining an aversion, but her stubborn stomach growling sealed the deal.
"~~~~!!!?"
The body doesn't lie. It growled with frustration, ultimately yielding to the temptation. She took it into her small mouth, chewing it carefully with her tiny teeth. The at stick gradually disappeared into her mouth. Finally, she swallowed with a gulp and proclaid, "It's tough."
"I prefer Duck at. And for , a princess, so fern rice cakes too."
"That's quite extravagant. ...What about dried rice and dried taro?"
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