Part 1
Haruto strolled calmly through the forest, telling stories about his world.
He spoke of bustling cities, the mountains of Japan, and of course, the countless manga he had read.
His words were full of excitement, while Rina listened intently as if she were hearing fantasy tales for the first time.
"Such interesting stories… Rina thinks Japan sounds like an amazing place," she said, her golden eyes shining with fascination.
Kizuna, floating near Haruto, raised an eyebrow, noticing how fluently Rina's words were beginning to flow.
"Haruto-kyun, don't you think it's odd, Kizu? She's stringing together longer sentences now… It's like she's starting to remember things," Kizuna commented, spinning mid-air with curiosity.
Haruto paused, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
"Maybe she's recovering her memory," he suggested, watching Rina with interest.
"You might be right, Kizu! She no longer talks like Jungle Juan!" Kizuna exclaimed, laughing as she twirled dramatically through the air.
Haruto raised an eyebrow, clearly confused.
"You mean that character from the Venezuelan movie who lived in the Amazon?" he asked, trying to catch the reference.
Before Kizuna could answer, a familiar figure floated toward them Olivia, accompanied by her giant pillow, approached lazily while yawning.
"Information," she announced in her usual drowsy tone, "It is indeed curious. Direct interaction with the master seems to help her recall vocabulary," she added, closing her eyes briefly as she hugged her pillow tighter.
Haruto let out a light chuckle at Olivia's observation.
"Looks like our little chats have helped quite a bit," he said, glancing at Rina, who was still listening quietly completely unaware of the conversation unfolding around her.
Kizuna fluttered up to Rina, pointing a tiny finger at her.
"Hey, Rina! If you keep talking to Haruto-kyun, you'll become a real Japan expert in no time, Kizu!" Kizuna said with a mischievous grin, twirling through the air again.
Rina tilted her head, clearly confused by the comment, but replied with honesty.
"Rina learns fast… It's just that she never had anyone to talk to," she said in a calm tone, tinged with melancholy.
Olivia, floating nearby with her pillow in tow, tilted her head slightly with curiosity.
"Question: How long have you been lost?" she asked with her trademark neutrality though her voice carried a trace of intrigue.
Rina raised a hand to her chin, as if pondering the question deeply. Her golden eyes fixed on the sky as she tried to recall.
"Rina… does not know exactly. All I can say is… many moons," she finally answered her tone serene, but heavy with the kind of uncertainty that speaks of years spent alone.
The group fell silent for a moment, taking in her words. Haruto, a mix of sadness and empathy in his eyes, broke the silence.
"That must've been hard," he said, gazing at Rina with genuine compassion.
She nodded softly, saying nothing more as though words could no longer express what she had endured.
Not wanting the atmosphere to grow too heavy, Kizuna chimed in with cheerful energy.
"Then we better teach you lots of things, Kizu! If you learn fast, we'll catch you up in no time!" she said, smiling brightly as she spun through the air again.
Rina looked at Kizuna, then at Haruto, her gaze filled with a mix of curiosity and quiet gratitude.
"Rina… will learn. Haruto, Kituna, and Oliva… good friends," she said with a soft smile, more genuine than any she had shown before.
But suddenly, Rina froze.
Her golden eyes blinked rapidly as she seemed to focus on something invisible to the others.
"What's wrong, Kizu? Why'd you suddenly stop like that?" Kizuna asked, tilting her head curiously as she floated in front of Rina's face.
Rina raised a hand to signal silence, tilting her head as if listening to something far away.
"Kizuna, quiet… traps nearby. Rina hears something strange," she said, her voice low but firm.
Haruto looked at her with a mix of surprise and curiosity, his thoughts racing.
"Can she hear traps? Or maybe she picked up on something else?" he wondered, watching as Rina tensed, her posture sharpening.
"Kunkun," Rina murmured, sniffing the air. Suddenly, she closed her eyes and focused all her energy.
"Someone… in trouble… caught in trap," she said with concern, her golden eyes snapping open.
Her voice then turned resolute.
"Hunter Sense!" she called out, activating her ability.
With instinctive precision, she pointed in a direction.
"That way!" Rina said with certainty, her hand extended before dashing off without hesitation.
Haruto barely had time to react, exchanging a quick glance with Kizuna.
"Wait, Rina! Don't run off alone!" he shouted as he hurried after her.
"Kizu! Haruto-kyun, hurry up! She's really determined, but we don't know what's out there!" Kizuna added, fluttering around Haruto, clearly nervous—yet also intrigued.
As they chased her, Haruto couldn't help but notice Rina's speed and agility. Her movements were fluid, almost instinctual, as if the forest were an extension of herself.
Even in her innocence, there's something extraordinary about her, Haruto thought, admiring the way Rina moved with a blend of grace and unwavering focus.
The intensity of her run made the wind whip through her chestnut hair, and her golden eyes sparkled with unshakable concentration.
To Haruto, it was clear Rina was no ordinary girl. And whatever she had sensed, she was ready to face it head-on.
After sprinting ahead, Rina ducked behind a tree, watching the scene closely.
Haruto reached her moments later, breathless from the run while Rina showed no signs of fatigue.
"There… someone…" Rina whispered, pointing toward a figure caught in a trap. "Rina can disarm trap… but she needs help. Leg injured…"
Haruto looked at her in surprise, once again impressed by her skills.
Such strange abilities… but it makes sense. In RPGs, having a rogue around is always useful for handling traps, he thought, recalling his bad experience in the root labyrinth.
An idea crossed his mind.
Having someone like Rina in the party could be a huge advantage. I'll talk to Yuna… if she has nowhere to go, maybe she can stay with us.
"Haruto-kyun! Stop daydreaming! Rina's already helping the trapped person!" Kizuna interrupted, floating beside his shoulder.
"Right—sorry! Let's go!" Haruto replied, summoning his magic pistols and hurrying after her.
When they arrived, they saw Rina kneeling down, examining the trap with focused eyes.
In front of her, a young girl with dark gray hair struggled to stay composed.
Her ears and tail—clearly lupine—made it obvious she wasn't human.
"Who are you? Are you slavers?" the wolf-girl asked, her gaze locked on Haruto, full of distrust.
"Not at all. We're adventurers," Haruto replied calmly, showing his adventurer's badge as he glanced quickly at the trap on her right leg.
"Rina senses no one else nearby… area safe," Rina announced quietly.
The wolf-girl let out a breath and slightly lowered her guard.
"Then I'll trust your word. Can you help me with this trap? By the way, my name is Seraphina," she said, trying to keep her composure despite the pain.
Rina stepped toward the trap, closing her eyes as if focusing deeply. After a few seconds, her fingers began to move with delicate precision as she murmured…
"Trap Trick!"
A faint metallic sound rang out, and as if by magic, the trap split clean in half, freeing Seraphina's foot.
"Thank you so much… it was only a matter of time before those slavers found me again,"
Seraphina said, a flicker of relief in her voice, though the pain still showed on her face.
She tried to stand, but pain shot through her leg, causing her to collapse back down with a sharp gasp.
"Easy. Don't push yourself. That looks like a serious injury," Haruto said, rummaging through his backpack for his first aid kit.
"That won't be necessary… I'll be fine," Seraphina murmured, though her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
"I'm not a doctor, but I can give you first aid," Haruto replied as he gently applied medicinal herbs to the wound, stabilized her foot with a piece of wood, and fastened a makeshift tourniquet.
Rina watched closely, tilting her head with curiosity.
"So that's what you call a bandage… interesting," she remarked, her golden eyes tracking Haruto's hands.
"Thank you,"
Seraphina said with a faint smile, though her eyes still held a layer of mistrust.
"But you haven't told me your name yet."
"Haruto. Haruto Kibou. Nice to meet you," he replied as he finished securing the bandage.
"What a strange name… I've never heard one like that before. Are you from Estelaris?"
Seraphina asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Let's just say I'm with the Aeris tribe for now," Haruto answered smoothly, dodging the question.
"I might look naïve, but you don't strike me as a wind elf," Seraphina replied with a slight, ironic smirk.
"A lot has happened… but first, let's deal with your injury and get to a safer place," Haruto said as he packed up the kit.
"Agreed. Rina senses no enemies nearby, but this area has many traps," Rina warned, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.
Haruto knelt down and gently lifted Seraphina over his shoulder.
"Rina, lead us to a safe spot, please. I'll carry Sera until we're clear of danger."
"Oki doki! Rina will find safe place. Just follow me," she replied cheerfully, stepping ahead with her senses on high alert.