Chapter 44: Gate Exploration, Unwanted Attention, and a Misunderstanding

After repeated cycles of walking, fighting, and resting, Sayo sensed they were nearing the end of the route. Judging by the time, they’d likely encounter magical beasts one more time before reaching the gate’s entrance/exit, where they had started. The battles lacked any real challenge, making the whole experience rather dull. And Leia, who had the lowest tolerance for boredom, inevitably started clinging to Sayo.

“Leia, I don’t mind you touching me, but could you please give me some space?”

“But you’re so soft~ And you smell so good~!”

Sayo wasn’t short, but with Leia, who was over 170cm tall, clinging to her like this, it was… uncomfortable and difficult to walk. Leia ignored Sayo’s request for space, and looking at her cheerful, oblivious face drained Sayo of the will to argue. She gave up and let Leia cling to her as they walked.

“…Do you have something to say?”

As they walked—or rather, as Sayo walked while practically carrying Leia, due to the height difference—Sayo felt their gazes. Melkine and Allar were looking at them with strange expressions. Mitt, his face slightly flushed, kept glancing at them. Sayo understood why.

Two cute girls clinging to each other could be… stimulating. As a former man, Sayo understood the reaction. But being the one on display felt strange.

“Are you two… together?”

Melkine walked up to them and asked a bizarre question. It was completely out of the blue. ‘What made him think that?’

“We just met today, so that’s impossible. But why would you think that?”

“…You just met? But you’re clinging to each other like that? It doesn’t look like you just met.”

“I’m not exactly doing this on purpose. Leia is just… very affectionate. It’s a bit much for me, to be honest.”

“Yeah, yeah! Cute.”

“That might be true, but… are you sure you just met today? You’re way too close for that.”

‘Men really don’t understand women, do they?’ Even Sayo, who had lived over a decade longer in a world with instant information sharing, hadn’t understood this at first.

“This is normal between girls. All my female friends are this physically affectionate. Though I admit, none of them were like Leia, clinging to me the moment we met.”

“…Really? Is that normal? Well, if you say so… Hmm?”

He didn’t seem entirely convinced, but it was true. Sayo hadn’t known this at first either. She’d been surprised and even questioned Nell and Euru’s behavior initially.

Growl

“Looks like the last group of magical beasts has appeared. Let’s finish this quickly and get out of here. I’m bored.”

Sayo raised her hand, channeling her mana as she looked at the approaching beasts.

“Good work, group eight. No problems, I presume?”

After giving a brief report to the instructor, they emerged from the gate to see about five other groups resting. ‘Two groups haven’t arrived yet? Did something happen?’ But there was no sense of urgency or commotion, so they were probably just running late. ‘They might have gotten lost, or gotten stuck fighting magical beasts for too long. There are many possibilities.’ This was a low-level, managed gate, so there was no real cause for concern. Even in the game, it had been more like a tutorial.

“Good work, Sayoreinne.”

Turning towards the familiar voice, Sayo saw Nell, Euru, and Soine. Nell’s group and Euru and Soine’s group must have finished earlier and were waiting for her. Miner was in group ten, which had entered after Sayo’s group, so they would have to wait for her.

“Sayo-Sayo~!”

“Eek!” A sudden voice and a surprise hug from behind startled Sayo, making her yelp.

‘What the—?!’ The voice, the slender arms around her waist, the soft sensation against her back… It could only be Leia.

“Wait a minute…!”

‘Hugging me out of nowhere with so many people watching is a bit much, don’t you think?’ Nell and Euru had always been discreet with their physical affection, choosing moments when they weren’t in the public eye. Sayo had never seen other girls behave this way, so she assumed they were being considerate, knowing that excessive physical contact could make others uncomfortable.

Inside the gate, the only witnesses had been the three boys, and Sayo hadn’t been able to do anything about Leia clinging to her, so she’d let it slide. But now, just after emerging from the gate, with everyone’s attention on them…!

‘Ugh…’ As someone who preferred being alone in her room, being the center of attention like this was uncomfortable and embarrassing. Sayo’s head drooped, her face and ears burning. ‘This is… too much…’

“…You. Aren’t you being a bit too much? Get your hands off Sayoreinne.”

“Suddenly touching someone’s body… How rude.”

‘Huh?’ Weren’t they doing the same thing just a moment ago? Sayo was glad they were sticking up for her, assuming she was being forced into this—which she was—especially since it was a stranger doing it. But they didn’t need to. Mustering her courage, Sayo raised her head and met their gazes.

“I’m fine, so please calm down.”

“Fine…? Sigh, alright.”

“Understood…”

And then there was Leia, who seemed completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere, still hugging Sayo. Sayo grabbed Leia’s wrist. ‘She’s not budging.’

“Leia, I can’t breathe. Could you please let go?”

“Oh, Sayo, were you feeling suffocated~?”

Upon hearing Sayo’s complaint, Leia immediately released her. Despite being a quirky, four-dimensional, and undeniably strange girl, Leia wasn’t malicious and meant no harm, so she listened when Sayo expressed discomfort.

The three boys had disappeared, but Soine looked on awkwardly, Euru glared at Leia, Nell simply watched Sayo, and Leia stood beside Sayo, grinning as if nothing had happened. The awkward atmosphere was unbearable. And Sayo had another pressing issue.

“Let’s move somewhere else.”

She wanted to escape the curious stares of the onlookers. ‘I feel like an animal in a zoo…’

‘This is awkward.’ The five of them found a secluded corner and sat down. ‘What should I say?’ Sayo needed to clear up the misunderstanding between Nell and Euru and Leia. While being suddenly hugged by Leia was surprising and embarrassing, Sayo hadn’t disliked it, and it wasn’t something to get angry about. She needed to explain this.

‘But their glares seem to have intensified.’ Their gazes were fixed on Sayo’s hand, which Leia had grabbed when they moved to the corner and still hadn’t released. ‘Do they think I’m being forced into this, too?’ Sayo wasn’t used to this kind of situation and had no idea how to address it.

“What’s your relationship with each other?” Thankfully, Euru broke the silence.

“Friends… I guess?” Sayo glanced at Leia, who was swinging her feet, seemingly oblivious to the conversation, neither confirming nor denying Sayo’s statement. ‘Well, after clinging to me like that, it would be strange to say we’re not even friends.’

“How long have you two known each other? I had no idea you had a friend like this.”

“We met today.”

“Today…?”

“Yes, today. Here.”

Stroke, stroke. “Sayo has such nice hair~!”

‘I wish she’d pay attention when we’re talking about her.’

“What’s with that nickname, ‘Sayo’?”

“Leia just decided to call me that.”

“Because Sayo is Sayo?”

“…Should we call you by a nickname too?”

‘Nickname? This is the first time I’ve heard it.’ Judging by their expressions, Sayo felt she had no choice but to agree.

“Go ahead.”

“Ahaha~!” Leia suddenly linked arms with Sayo. Nell and Euru’s glares intensified. ‘Why does it feel like she’s making things worse? She can’t be doing this on purpose, can she?’

“Sigh…”

Clearing up the misunderstanding with Nell and Euru had been exhausting.

Making an acquaintance and becoming friends with Leia was a good thing, but… Sayo had a feeling things were going to get complicated. Hopefully, that feeling would remain just a feeling.

‘I need to get back and have Ahrin give me a massage… I need to relax…’