"What do you mean you haven't hunted any kind of food?" Gabriel asked, eyeing the armored figure carefully.
The person tilted their helmet slightly. "I walked through this entire forest and found nothing edible. Earlier, I also noticed a pile of dead goblins in a pit. Was that your work?"
Gabriel tensed but stayed quiet.
The stranger continued, "If you can spare some of the food you claimed… I would gladly help you in your adventures."
Gabriel sighed. "Hm… fine. Giving away some won't hurt—especially to someone who asked politely. Wait here, Sir Knight."
He went back to his small camp, pulling a piece of roasted meat from the fire. Returning, he held it out. "Here. Eat."
The knight accepted it with a nod. "Thank you, kind sir. Might I know your name?"
"Gabriel Matsumoto," he replied. "And you, Sir Knight? What's your name?"
The stranger paused, then slowly reached up to their helmet. With a soft clank, it came off.
Gabriel's eyes widened. Flowing long hair spilled free, glinting faintly in the firelight. Crimson eyes stared back at him—sharp, yet beautiful. A woman's face, breathtaking and pale, smiled faintly as she bit into the meat.
"Uhm… thank you for the meal, Sir Gabriel. My name is Shizuoka Aurelisse."
She ate happily, savoring every bite as though she hadn't eaten in days. Gabriel, on the other hand, sat frozen in shock.
Wait… she's a girl?
Shizuoka brushed her hair back and continued, "I'm not from this world. But I can already tell what kind of place this is." She stretched, then pulled her armor closer around her shoulders. "Well then, I'll sleep in your tent tonight, Sir Gabriel. Goodnight!"
Before Gabriel could respond, she slipped into the tent and lay down.
"H-huh? Y-you were a girl??" Gabriel muttered, still stunned. He sat by the fire, staring at the tent, his mind racing while Shizuoka slept peacefully inside.
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(End of Chapter 2)