Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 142: The Journey to Recovery

Moments before Rio and Celia's arrival in the earl Claire's territory. Private room of Saint Stellar's first princess, Lilyana.

Lilyana called out to Miharu after cleaning up the people around her.

The two sat in chairs facing each other. If anyone asks about their business now,

「You want to learn Japanese? 」

Despite that she nodded to that question, Miharu tilted her head in surprise.

Because she couldn't find a definite reason why Lilyana wanted to learn Japanese. Because the world does not have Japanese.

「Although our kingdom has not confirmed anyone else involved in summoning the hero except Miharu-san-tachi, it does not mean that they will not appear in the future. So we think that it is better to have at least one person who can speak another world language. Will you grant my request? 」

Perhaps because she could guess Miharu's doubt, Lilyana explained her reasoning in a polite tone.

「In this case, gladly help you」

As for why she had easily agreed to Lilyana's request without checking deeper perhaps because she had agreed to her intentions.

"Thank you very much . And then, actually I was hoping that the fact that I learned Japanese from Miharu-san would be kept secret from others including Masato-kun and Aki-chan 」

Lilyana was hoping for that. After that Miharu became even more curious.

「I will learn it in no time to surprise everyone you see」

Continuing on, Lilyana showed a meaningful smile.

Although Miharu could feel a slight change to Lilyana's expression, she couldn't guess the deep meaning behind that small change.

「I understand .................... Understood」..

「With this Miharu-san is my teacher. Please take care of me 」

Lilyana bowed to Miharu with an awkward attitude while smiling cunningly.

「Teh- ..... Cher? Me…… . . For Lilyana-sama 」

Miharu said those words with a high tone. When summoned as a teacher, he could feel a great responsibility on his shoulders. Even more so when her disciple was the 1st princess herself.

「No need to be too formal about it, will you accompany me to have tea as a friend? 」

「A-I'll do my best」

Lilyana unintentionally chuckled seeing Miharu show a tense expression.

「Then, please come to my room at the same time as today starting tomorrow. As for the reason for your visit, are you allowed to write it down as "To learn more about your work under the guidance of Fril, my exclusive servant"? 」

"Yes nih . Because I have nothing to do before and after meal time 」

Miharu volunteered to take care of Masato and Aki, but at the moment she doesn't work much except for meal time.

It seemed like Lilyana was also making that request based on those circumstances.

「Then, our lesson will only start from tomorrow but please treat me well. I will send Fril as my messenger 」

Lilyana said that while glancing at Fril.

「Please treat me well. Miharu-sama 」

Fril bowed respectfully to Miharu.

「T-No, please treat me well too! 」

Miharu suddenly stood up from her chair and then bowed to Fril.

「By the way, by taking this opportunity, will you accompany me for tea? I want to have a conversation with Miharu-san after everything 」

Afterwards, Miharu decided to deepen her friendship with Lilyana by drinking tea with her.

☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

Two days had passed after Rio's meeting with Celia-tachi in spring near the post town.

They are currently traveling southwards across a southern highway that runs from the capital of Claire's earl region, Creia.

They should be able to reach the examination station after advancing a little more. After that checking station by crossing the mountainous area, they would arrive at the crossroads that would take them towards the east.

But, Rio-tachi is not going to go through the examination station, they suddenly change their route and enter the mountain and forest paths that spread far on the side of the highway.

They travel in formation with Vanessa as the vanguard, Kouta right behind her, and then followed by Christina and Celia, with Rei and Rio as the rear guards.

「Uhm, is it okay to stray from the highway? 」

After they went to the forest route without a trace, Kouta asked the question while looking around.

It is currently spring and still in the morning but, since the sunlight barely passes through the densely growing forest, it is still dim and cool.

「Because at this rate, we will meet the inspection station if we continue to follow the highway. And since we're on the run, the inspection should have reached the inspection station by now. In the worst case, the route is closed now so the best option to avoid the inspection station is not it? 」

Christina did an explanation from behind him.

「I-I understand. But in the forest still dangerous ..... 」.

Maybe the dim plants turned Kouta into a shy person.

「Of course it's dangerous. We may get lost and often meet wild animals or demons. But, just calm down. We will take a detour to the highway after passing the 」 inspection station

Although Vanessa heard the conversation from the vanguard position, she added an explanation without looking back.

Although his actions were reasonable as they were currently on a route that was completely inseparable from the highway.

And then, he deliberately left part of how dangerous the act of traveling on a route without a lane deviating from the highway was.

Traveling the route without a trace alone already consumes a lot of time and stamina, and can easily make them lose their way.

And it comes along with the risk of being ambushed by wild beasts and demons as told by Vanessa.

Moreover, although their fighting strength was not that high, the snake-like living creatures and poisonous leeches that existed in large numbers in the forest were something that was extremely difficult to deal with.

「Bastard and devil Wild ………. . 」

Kouta swallowed his saliva.

「We can still go back to the highway but, do you want to go back to the castle? 」

Christina who could not stand Kouta's weak attitude asked him that question.

「T-No, I have no intention to return to the castle. Anyway I chose to leave the castle alone 」

Kouta frowned as he said those words. Christina suddenly narrowed her eyes.

「True. In that case, please prepare yourself. The sword hanging on your hip is no ordinary decoration, you know. Although we have masters Amakawa and Vanessa, you have to fight for yourself when things turn out to be the worst 」

"……yes to"

Kouta nodded at his words. His profile became less gloomy than it had been a while ago as if he had lost quite a bit of his fear.

☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

「Christina-sama. Let's rest around this area. I found the nearest water source 」

Vanessa proposes to take a break after finding a small spring suitable for their retreat in the forest. Right in the day. And it's a good time for their stomachs to start grumbling.

「Because it will be boring for lunch like this, I will eat simple using the ingredients in our stock. Celia-ojousie. Will you help me conjure water with magic? 」

So Rio suggested to make a simple dish.

Celia denied that why with a shy expression.

「........ But, how should I call you then? 」

Rio asked her with a troubled face while glancing at Christina-tachi.

Actually Rio was not too good at keeping his distance with Celia in front of Christina-tachi. Therefore he kept reminding himself to keep his distance with Celia before arriving at this place.

「I-That, Hey. …… . You can call me 『Celia』 as you normally do 」

Celia replied with a slightly embarrassed face. After that, Rio showed a somewhat confused face.

「As how do you do it normally? ………. But"

When addressing him without honor, Rio decided to call him by his pseudonym, 『Cecilia』.

But, when she calls him by his real name, 『Celia』, he usually adds 『Sensei』 after his name.

However, even if he says 『As usual』, 『Biasa』 actually never happened.

But–,

「D-Listen! To see! Otherwise, I won't be juggling water for you! 」

Celia continued to babble with slightly flushed cheeks.

"……I understand . Then, Celia. Please, the water is 」

While smiling wryly, Rio gave up on her. After which, Celia smiled happily.

Christina-tachi secretly finds out about their exchange.

「Yosh, now grab the pot! 」

When Celia said so, Rio replied with 「Ya」 and then lowered his backpack to the ground.

And then proceeded to remove the pot attached to his backpack with a rope and put it in front of Celia.

「Please」

「Yes. 《Make Air》 」

Celia read aloud aria while holding her palm on top of the pot. After which, a small magic formation emerged from his palm. The water then flows into the pan as it does when it comes out of the tap.

After just washing the pot with water, he filled the pot with water a second time. It was filled with enough water in just 10 seconds.

「Wait a minute. I'll make a simple kitchen table for you ..... 《Earth Wall》 」

Celia placed her hand on the ground and then recited the spell.

A magic formation emerged from the ground in front of him and was then followed by a land that towered upwards in a rectangular shape.

「You are as skilled as ever in using your magic」

Rio.

Although magic Wall Earth》 Wall users can control the shape, durability and size of the earth wall by controlling their magical powers, to make a wall of earth similar to the one made by Celia now is not as simple as looking at it .

Because magic was developed for the sake of battle and not for something as trivial as cooking.

Small details like these were more suitable for spirit arts. Because spirit arts are not bound by the so-called limitations of magic equations like magic.

"Make it to me . Although I look like this, I am a magic lecturer and have a high rank in my achievements in that field 」

Celia replied with a slightly proud face. Maybe he was happy to be able to help Rio.

"Thank you very much . Since I cook, will you help me make chairs and tables with everyone? Because you will be able to rest after finished making it 」

「Yes, leave it to me! 」

Celia nodded with a happy face as she ran over happily.

Rio then took out 2 thin metal plates from his backpack. Each surface is engraved with the same magic equation.

After placing the metal plate on the kitchen table made by Celia, his hand quickly picked up the pot and placed it on top of one of the metal plates.

After placing some magic stones around the plate, the plate then released light as it absorbed the magical power of the magic stone and then released heat in return. By the way, this plate is a magic tool whose heat can be adjusted by adjusting the number of magic stones.

When he took out the ingredients and the frying pan from his backpack, the cooking preparation was completed.

Using the time until the water in the pot boiled, Rio started cooking.

First he cut the edible mushrooms he picked up along the road in the forest and then threw them along with vegetable oil and spices into a frying pan.

After the water in the pot boiled, he threw the sliced jerky into the boiling pot. After carefully frying the mushroom in the pan, he put it on a plate.

And then, not long after Rio started his cooking――,

「You are an expert in this not」

Christina suddenly called out from behind with an amazed face.

「Yes, as this is useful in a variety of ways during long trips. ………. Please wait a minute with everyone as this will be finished soon 」

Rio replied while glancing at her. Nonetheless, he tried to end the conversation indirectly because he did not want to do so.

But, Christina who did not go, did not go,

"Thank you very much . I'm really grateful to you 」

Suddenly thanked Rio.

「Well it's nothing, I just go with the flow. Don't worry about it 」

Rio shook his head in denial as if saying it in a difficult way. Since Rio will keep trying and doing everything to help Celia, saving Christina is only the end of the result.

「This is for Celia-sensei right? 」

Christina asked that question honestly.

"……Yes . Right"

Rio paused for a moment and then nodded at her. Then–,

「………. . I see"

Christina's expression was rather dark.

Rio who was focused on the dish in front of him failed to notice his expression. Rio did not start the conversation voluntarily and just cooked the dishes in silence.

After that, the silence lasted for a while.

But then, Christina would not leave that place. He just silently stared at the back of Rio who was still in the middle of cooking.

（Does he want to talk about something?）

Rio who felt the gaze of Christina on his back at a distance still felt a little uncomfortable with her gaze.

Nevertheless, the cooking is almost cooked. He was currently cooking wheat rolled with a frying pan along with hot water.

He could not let a momentary disturbance ruin the plate.

Well, maybe he need not be so aware about this more than this―― So he decided to continue cooking with an indifferent face. But, uh,

「By the way, what is the name of the dish? 」