The fragmented sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves danced on the girl's face. The melodious singing of the blue-tailed thrush set her sharp ears a-trembling. The dew gathered along the leaf veins and dripped from the leaves onto her nose, the icy prickling sensation causing her nostrils to twinge. She woke from her warm cocoon wrapped up in a blanket, stepping into the awaken world.
Camping in the morning was also part of the girl's daily routine, even if the familiar scents of her kin and the morning breakfast in the village were absent. For her who had grown accustomed to sleeping under the open, this tranquil freshness undoubtedly had a unique familiar and comforting feel, almost forgetting some of the unpleasant moments from the past.
"Good morning, miss, did you have pleasant dreams?"
Whether it was a simple greeting or some other intention, the young boy's quoted indecisive words, coupled with his teasing intention — his crisp voice was like a song that thoroughly shattered the good mood of the refreshing morning.
Both her spoilt mood and unpleasant gaze were cast towards him and she responded sharply:
"Having a dream of a place where folk like you don't exist, indeed, might qualify as a 'pleasant dream'."
Her harsh words darted towards him, yet this blue-haired boy seemed immune to the cutting words, unfazed and shameless. His frivolous gaze flitted over the beautiful Elf's face, causing the already tense atmosphere to escalate further.
"You look quite spry. As expected of an Elf, your recuperative abilities are much stronger than a human's."
"Fumbling doctor, your dubious compliment fails to make me happy. In fact, it's rather nauseating."
From the boy's rudeness and eyes, the Elf was sure that this human was of questionable origin, certainly exhibiting poor upbringing. In contrast, his knowledge, adaptability, and possessing mysterious powers resulted in her initial assessment of the boy.
"A capable bastard."
She found it hard to imagine herself using vulgar language to insult someone, but in front of this detestable guy, there seemed to be no option to back down.
"So, Mr. Bastard—"
"Excessive language pushes a lady farther away, precious miss."
"There is no excessive language here! You touched an unwed woman without permission, and even created that brutal scene. Regardless of who judges, the conclusion will be the same!"
"For an unrelated, passerby girl whom I met for the first time, I fought to the death against unknown assassins, and now having to maintain gentlemanly manners amidst these odd accusations... This aligns quite prominently with the hero of a heroic tale, which embarrasses me."
The folded blankets were neatly packed along with other items into his backpack, and the perfectly squared package was deftly secured in the carriage.
"Well, we have no time for embarrassment now, nor any time to dawdle. Pack up and let's leave. We'll have our breakfast on the road."
"Wha... What?"
"You're a slow one..."
Muttering words that sounded like dissatisfaction and impatience, the boy extended one arm under the Elf's thighs and another around her back. The Elf, covered with a blanket, was hoisted up in one swift motion — precisely in the position known as a 'princess carry.'
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah—!!!!!!!"
The scream equivalent to a thunderclap resounded through the forest, startling the birds to fly towards the sky bathed in the morning sunlight.
"What, what, what, what... what are you doing?!!!!"
A rush of pink swept over her fair skin, her eyes were wild, and her pointed ears trembled at an unbelievable frequency.
"Princess carry."
The boy responded calmly, without a trace of doubt.
This answer left the Elf even more flustered and she couldn't give a composed reaction.
"That's why... what on earth are you doing?!!!! No one picks up a girl he barely knows, not even knowing each other's name, especially not a princess carry, carry, carry, carry!!!!!"
"Any other way would be too strenuous, it might rip open the wound, so don't hit me, that too will cause the wound to tear."
"Pervert! Freak!"
"Like I said, stop moving, it'll be over soon."
"Molester! Sadist!!"
"It's too much trouble, so tight... Hmm, finally I'm in."
"Bastard! Beast!!!"
The refreshing morning, the birds chirping, the morning wind brushing the leaves' rustling accompaniment. The argument filled with discord that teetered on the edge of morality and age limits continued to be unproductive, accompanied by the Unscrupulous Dragon Clan's "Mating! Mating! Is it mating?!" and the Dwarf's exclamation "Ah, to be young... The scent of recklessness... This is youth..." it all solidified into an awkward concert that caused bystanders to sweat with discomfort and stomach convulsions.
"So — where exactly is your tribe, miss?"
The morning glow shone on the face that had all traces of handprints and punch marks gone; it was as energetic as ever. It's as if the matter about a certain person continuously hitting his face and chest never happened. He wore a small upward curve on his lips, a delicate smile that seemed to radiate the clearest and gentlest aura of the world.