We were close to everyone else when we realised something we should have noticed sooner. We aren't wearing shoes. I am sort of wearing shoes, but they are so severely destroyed I don't think you can say I am anymore. Luckily Satou had a pair of shoes I could borrow. I was pleasantly surprised when I found they fit me. They are pretty comfortable too. I put my old ones into storage. Maybe I can have them repaired or find some use for them.
Number Seven, who we rescued, is now attached to a carrying rank on Satou's back he made. He did a good job making it as Number Seven doesn't look uncomfortable or has sustained more injuries. She didn't even fall out when we jumped over ridges, ran across plains and climbed the side of mountains. The sunset partway through the journey, making it a bit more difficult, but we could keep running thanks to Satou's Night Vision skill. I even managed to earn it myself, so I put a few points into it. It really is a handy skill, and I think this is the first time I levelled anything up while I was awake.
I even had a pleasant surprise when I did. Somehow now it only costs one point to buy a level. It must have been because of that goddess from my dream last night. So I max out my resistance skills only with the Night Vision skill. I also max out my Self-Healing, Magic Manipulation, and a new skill I picked up called Magical Recovery, which restores my MP. I still have a few points left, but I will save those for now.
By the time we finally reached the campsite of our friends I was surprised to see everyone was still awake. They were camping out around a very bright bonfire. The corpses of crimson needle bees were all around them, with little animals no larger than puppies gathering to devour the remains. We leapt over a few boulders and arrived in the meadow where everyone was camping. The first ones to spot us were the dog eared girl Pochi and the cat-eared girl Tama. They quickly lept to their feet with cries of "Master!" alerting the others. Surprisingly, it isn't the animal eared girls who reach us first.
"Master!" Liza sobs and rushes to Satou, hugging him tightly with tears flowing from her eyes.
"Welcome back!"
"Sir!"
Pochi and Tama are quick to join Liza. They are climbing onto Sato, play-biting his head and shoulders before attempting to lick my face. Their actions remind me of any real dog or cat.
"Thanks. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"I'm so glad you're all right...."
I would have liked o watch more of the scene as Satou's other slaves approach but instead... I am slapped by Henry before she hugs me. I really wish I had a pain resistance skill. Hey, maybe I just ended up with one. You never know with how fast I have been picking up skills since I had that dream.
"Don't do anything that dangerous ever again," Henry tells me as her hug threatens to crush me. I hug her back and assure her I am okay.
"Master," Peal nods when she sees me, and a smile is on her lips for a split second but quickly vanishes.
"I'm sorry I worried both of you,"
After a few minutes of apologising and assuring everyone that we were okay, a young man with green hair and eyes approached us. He holds a bow in one hand and bows when he reaches us.
"Thank you for saving Mia," The man bows in front of me.
"It is okay," I smile when he raises his head. "I am always happy to help those in need."
"...Satou,"
"I'm back, Mia,"
"Kept your promise," Mia says, looking my way.
"Yes, of course, I did," I smile, patting her on her head and kneeling down so we are at eye level.
"Let me thank you again..." Mia cleared her throat and spoke at length. "I am the youngest elf of Bolenan Forest, Misanaria Bolenan, daughter of Lamisauya and Lilinatoa. Hero Kura Suou of the Shiga Kingdom, I give you my thanks."