17 Chapter 17 : The Great Forest of Another World : Discovery

"Elrain-sama, let's stop searching now. General Phyllis is no longer ...."

　Two days had passed since Phyllis and the battalion were separated.

　Elrain, Phyllis direct subordinate and right-hand woman, has not given up hope of Phyllis survival. However, she has already sent several scouting parties into the Great Forest, but not a single piece of information has arrived.

(There is no such thing as Phyllis-sama dying. ...!)

　To counteract the searing frustration, Elrain struck her own cheek.

　It's at times like this that you have to keep your cool. What's the point of taking out your frustration on your subordinates? With the pain in her cheek, the blood that had risen to her head eventually came down. Elrain, who had once again regained her composure, shook her head "no" at her subordinate's advice.

"I'm sure Phyllis is alive. Even without sufficient equipment, she should be able to hold out for a week while being chased by the Imperial Guard."

"And yet, that Ronia Ilfte was there too, you know?"

"... I'm sure Phyllis-sama will be able to win the war. Don't worry."

　Elrain eyes narrowed as she said.

　... It's a lie.

　Elrain cannot affirm from the bottom of her heart that Phyllis can win a simple single combat against that Ronia. But even though she knows it in her head, she cannot back down. She does not want to think that Phyllis, who was sometimes harsh, sometimes kind and worried about the future of the kingdom and this world, is dead.

　Elrain shakes her head and drives the evil thoughts out.

　The search continues. She doesn't think that is a calm decision for a soldier.

　But until the death is confirmed, Elrain can't give up.

(... Phyllis-Sama.)

　--But that's when Elrain mouth is drawn into a tight line.

　The purple eyes behind her glasses reflect something strange.

　Far, far away, from the depths of the forest, she saw something strange slinking towards her.

　It was not a deer ....

　It was a human being.

　But not a soldier. It was neither from the kingdom nor from the empire.

　It was dressed in rags and walked with an unsteady pace.

　On the back of that human, walking unsteadily, was a woman with long, beautiful golden hair...

"Phyllis-sama!!!!"

　-Elrain was quick to realise this.

"What, a man ...!"

　Elrain eyes were peeled back from the situation.

　A young and beautiful man.

　Accompanied by a number of soldiers under her command, Elrain ran to Sota faster than the wind.

　Phyllis was alive.

　But more than that, Elrain could not hide her suprise that the person who had saved Phyllis - and Elrain could guess at this point - was a young man.

"What, a man ...?"

"And that's black hair too,..., Wahh, beautiful,...."

"Is it a dream?"

"What are you doing here ...?"

　The female soldiers who accompanied Phyllis made a fuss and were excited.

　Even if they did see him, they would probably only be able to catch a glimpse of his profile through the windows of the heavily guarded men's protection area.

　So I can't help but be buoyed by the fact that there is a real young man in front of me.

Plus--

"..."

　--The female soldiers gulped ... their throats at the same time.

　The reason for this was, after all, Sota outfit.

　The young women found his naked figure with only a cloth pulled over it too poisonous to look at. The skin of Sota's smooth white thighs could easily be glimpsed through the rags, and depending on his behaviour, not only his breastplate but even his nipples could be seen. The fact that he is slightly sweating, perhaps from exhaustion, is also incendiary.

　The female soldiers narrowed their eyes and extended their noses in a dishevelled manner.

　Sota outfit is no different from that of a tramp, but his skin and hair are kept clean by Japanese standards, which is one of the reasons they drool over him. The Sota who peeks at them with a curious look is truly a kitten surrounded by beasts of prey.

"Hm!　Gohon!"

　But it is still the brilliant Ellein who is not carried away by greed.

　She gave one loud "cough" and took a step towards Sota.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Elrain, a member of the Vedna Royal Army"

　When she told him this, a sunflower blossomed on Sota face.

"Kingdom of vedna.!　That means Phyllis-san!"

"Yes, we are Phyllis-sama subordinate. We will now take you and Phyllis-sama into our custody"

"Good, good. ..."

"But it's still dangerous here. ... We have a lot to talk about, but let's move first."

"Yes, that's right ...!"

"I have a horse ready for you over there. Can you walk there?"

"Yes, of course."

　Sota nodded vigorously.

(... But why would a man ... be in a forest like this?　And in this outfit ... if he had been found by the Empire ...)

　Elrain has a lot of questions to ask Sota. But strangely enough, no sense of caution came to mind. He carried Phyllis on his back and protected her while sweating through the forest with poor footing,... and for that reason alone, Elrain can't help but have a certain level of trust and respect for Sota. Because an ordinary man living in the kingdom would not have helped a woman in the first place.

"Come along, please. This way."

"Yes."

　Ellein leads the way, followed by Sota and the female soldiers.

　He had no idea that their eyes were on his legs and buttocks.