The girl before her possessed a petite frame, yet in her hands, she held a sickle linked to a chain.
The corpses of the magical beasts scattered around were all the work of this very blade.
Sensing a presence behind her, she swiftly turned around, her gaze falling upon Castorice.
Though Castorice couldn't clearly see the girl's eyes, both her sweet, lovely voice and the pale contour of her cheeks visible beneath the hood confirmed she was an exceedingly cute young girl.
"A human...? No... an ordinary human couldn't possibly survive in this forest."
Upon seeing Castorice, a clear note of discomfort and distaste tinged the girl's voice.
It wasn't disgust directed at Castorice personally, but rather a simple, inherent dislike for humans. Or perhaps, she was just poor at dealing with them, instinctively expressing rejection through aversion.
"Don't be nervous, Miss. I mean no harm. I was just passing by and came to investigate when I heard the commotion."
Taking in the surrounding beast carcasses, Castorice didn't advance but remained where she was, aiming to soothe the girl.
She could tell the girl's emotions seemed somewhat turbulent.
Simultaneously, rising memories within her mind confirmed the girl's identity for Castorice.
Ana. The juvenile form of Medusa.
Of course, knowing her identity didn't mean Castorice would reveal it.
"You should leave. This is no place for someone traveling alone."
Once assured Castorice held no hostile intent, Ana tugged at her hood, further obscuring her face.
"How about we travel together? The world is so dangerous now, having a companion means having someone to watch your back."
Castorice looked at Ana and extended the invitation.
If the original story held, Ana would soon be found by Merlin. By sticking with her, Castorice could quickly reach a human settlement.
"No."
Ana refused without a second thought.
"Why?"
"I hate humans."
She shot a faint, quiet glance at Castorice and stated.
The moment her words fell, a rustling sound came from the bushes beside Castorice, and a magical beast lunged towards her with incredible speed.
Its maw gaped wide, aiming straight for Castorice's throat.
Faced with this sudden attack, Castorice stood motionless, as if frozen in fear.
"Look out!"
In an instant, Ana was at Castorice's side. With a swing of her sickle, the beast was cleaved in two. Blood sprayed through the air, yet not a drop touched her.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
Ana looked at Castorice with clear annoyance. As she spoke, she swung her sickle, flicking the blood clean from its blade.
"It couldn't have hurt me."
As Ana drew near, Castorice instinctively folded her hands together, clasping them.
It was a habit of hers. Anyone who touched her hands would, without exception, have their life extinguished. Over time, Castorice had developed this mannerism to avoid accidentally making contact with others.
"But you, why did you save me?"
"Shut up!"
Castorice's counter-question immediately triggered Ana. Like a kitten hissing, her face flushed red as she waved a hand dismissively. "I just didn't want to see you die and dirty my eyes, that's all! Don't... don't get the wrong idea!"
With that, she slightly turned her head away, muttering under her breath: "Humans... I hate them the most. I'll kill you..."
Having said her piece, she turned and began walking off into the distance.
However, after a few steps, she noticed footsteps persistently following behind her.
"Why are you following me? Do you really think I won't kill you?"
She looked back at Castorice with impatience, her voice cold.
To this, Castorice merely smiled gently. "I just happen to be walking the same way."
"..."
Looking at Castorice's serene smile, Ana opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. She just let out a defeated sigh. "Fine, follow if you want. But if there's more danger, I won't save you again!"
With that, Ana turned and strode forward.
Castorice simply smiled. As a Servant, if Ana truly wanted to lose Castorice, she could just speed away. At her pace, no ordinary person could keep up.
Yet, Ana continued at a walking pace, and a slow one at that. This was proof enough that despite her harsh words, she was still concerned for Castorice's safety.
She just wasn't good at dealing with people, didn't know how to express her feelings, and so resorted to this method.
Ana walked ahead, constantly glancing around and using her peripheral vision to check on Castorice behind her, ensuring her safety.
However, the more she observed, the more she noticed that Castorice seemed different from an ordinary human.
Besides the distinctively elven ears, both her aura and the faint, lurking sense of danger she emitted piqued Ana's curiosity.
After all, anyone traveling alone in these dangerous lands would have long become a meal for the magical beasts without some special ability for self-defense.
It wasn't until a specific moment that Ana saw Castorice's finger unconsciously brush against a small blade of grass growing from a nearby tree.
In her sight, the blade of grass instantly withered and died at an alarming speed.
Death had slipped past her fingertips, effortlessly stealing the life of that small plant.
Witnessing this, Ana's eyes widened beneath her hood.
An authority related to death? Is she really not some goddess of death?
But she doesn't feel like a Servant either...
For a moment, Ana looked at Castorice with intense curiosity. She also understood now why Castorice had instinctively pulled her hands back when Ana approached earlier.
It wasn't because she disliked Ana, but because she feared her own power might harm her...
Thinking this, Ana's mood inexplicably improved a little. When she saw Castorice withdraw her hands, Ana had felt slightly hurt inside, though she hadn't shown it.
While she claimed to hate humans and not care about their lives, this version of Ana, though a Servant, still possessed the delicate and sensitive heart of a young girl.
"My name is Ana. What's yours?"
After a moment, Ana actively broke the silence.
"My name is Castorice. You can just call me by my name."
"Mmm... Keep up. If you get lost, I won't care what happens to you."
Ana nodded, her demeanor towards Castorice now holding a little less wariness.
"Thank you, then, Miss Ana."
Castorice nodded, a timely smile appearing on her face. She wasn't sure what had changed, but the fact that Ana was initiating conversation and seemed less resistant was a good sign.
"Oh? It seems an unexpected guest has arrived on this earth. How truly... interesting."
As the two walked, a fragrant breeze swept by. Pink petals gathered and swirled before them, gradually coalescing into a handsome man with white hair.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.