Chương 51: 51 – The Haunted Mountain Streams – II

A rush of cold wind from behind.

I shivered and took a look back to see what it was.

We were in the middle of summer, so it was definitely too early for a breeze that cold…

“Is something wrong, Sen?” Celes tilted her head to look at me and then followed my gaze. “Is someone following us?”

“...I don’t think so? But something feels weird.” I frowned and took a closer look around.

We had walked deeper into the forest to get some privacy. Not for anything intimate.

W-We weren’t planning on having a secret rendezvous or anything. It was just to get away from the annoying classmates.

Ahem.

Anyway, we were deep in the forest now, and most traces of civilization were wiped out. There was still a faint trail that we were following, but since Celes insisted on doing some ‘adventuring’ since she never got a chance beforehand, we were really in the thick of nature.

Which meant that there shouldn’t have been anyone around following us. But…

A faint chill from behind. Different from the wind, but more pointed. Almost like icicles pressing on the back of my neck.

I flinched and spun around to look, only to find empty trees.

Celes turned to look as well and narrowed her eyes. “...I do not see any nature spirits or people. But this presence…”

I let out a nervous laugh and said, “M-Maybe we’re just too used to having people staring at us, Celes?”

After all, it wasn’t like there was a ghost or anything, right? Those aren’t real.

[Help: But ghosts exist, Mister Sen…]

?!?!?!?

W-What do you mean ghosts exist!?

[Help: Beings who die filled with resentment or a strong obsession have a chance to become earthbound spirits. This is especially likely in areas with strong natural auras or feng shui, just like where you are now.]

That’s-

Before I could finish that thought, Celes pushed me back and stood in front of me, her gaze sharp.

“Celes?”

“Something is here.”

“S-S-Something?”

I gulped and swept my gaze around.

T-There couldn’t be a ghost here, right? I mean, sure there were stories about people committing suicides in the forests, but n-not here. R-Right?

Celes glanced at me and let out a warm smile. “Rest assured, Sen. So long as I am here, nothing will harm you.”

“I-I’m the one who’s supposed to be saying that-“

*CRACK*

“KYAAAAAAA!”

I flinched and instinctively jumped. Then before I knew it, I was in Celes’s arms, held close against her chest.

[CG: <The Real Princess> has been saved.]

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I felt my face burn up when I read that message and then cleared my throat. Glancing up at Celes, I said, “S-Sorry. You can let me down now, Celes.”

“No. Hold on tight.”

“H-Huh?”

[Help: E-Eh? An urgent mission?]

[Urgent Mission: Escape from the wicked spirit!]

Success: ???

Failure: ???

WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!

Before I could question it further, the surroundings turned into a blur as Celes broke out into a sprint.

xxx

It was dark. Beneath the forest canopy, only shadows and darkness could be seen. The only breaks in the darkness were the few glimpses of sunlight that peeked through the canopy when the wind blew.

That was where she emerged. Marking her territory, she gradually spread out the perimeter while claiming new terrain.

That was where she saw them. A pair of ignorant girls playing around without a care in the world in the middle of the dangerous forest where no one would notice them disappearing.

So she taught them a lesson. Rushing out from the darkness, she grabbed the girls and pulled them back into the darkness, stifling their screams with ragged clothing.

After that, she roamed around some more to see if there were other ignorant children wandering around.

Then she saw them. A lovely couple strolling around without a care in the world. Not only just a couple, but a couple that included ‘him’.

And when she saw that…

‘It isn’t fair.’

…She decided to grab ‘him’ for herself.

xxx

[????? is in hot pursuit!]

[????? is enraged at the loveydovey atmosphere between you and Celes!]

[????? is determined to take you for herself!]

Seeing the flurry of messages pop up in front of me, I shivered and hugged Celes a bit tighter.

Then I felt something squishy against my face and flinched, feeling my face heat up.

Thankfully, Celes didn’t seem to notice, too focused on our surroundings.

Seeing her serious gaze, I tried to focus as well. “D-Do you see what’s chasing us?”

“I do not. But I can sense that whatever is in pursuit is immensely malevolent.”

“R-Right…”

Dang it! Why are you so scared, me? It’s probably not even a real-

A pale white face, just in front of my own.