With that thought, Alain sighed and said,
"Honestly... imagine how it feels to witness something like that right in front of you. And you didn't even try to get up... I was seriously shocked."
"Ugh... If you say that, it's your fault too! It's mainly your fault for bringing me to such a dark place!"
"... Well, that's true."
Yet still feeling uneasy, Alain scratched the bridge of his nose.
And as Seria looked at him, she said,
"By the way!"
"Yes?"
"What about the gift? When are you going to give it to me?"
"... Ah, right. The gift, the gift."
"Seriously... If it's something ridiculous, I'm going to get angry!"
"Please cut me some slack. The money I earn as a lumberjack isn't much."
He only earned three copper coins per day as a lumberjack.
It was barely enough to buy a loaf of bread.
But even with just those copper coins, he could do something.
Thinking that, Alain took out an old pouch from his clothes.
"... What is this?"
"Just wait a moment."
Saying that Alain pulled out what was inside the pouch. A clattering sound. An object fell into his hand, and Alain dropped it into Seria's palm.
"... Ah!"
After checking the object in her palm, a light exclamation of admiration slipped from Seria's lips.
What she held was none other than a necklace.
It had a complex geometric shape shining in yellow under the moonlight, with a beautiful bird symbol resting on it, made of a silver-colored chain.
Seria lifted it to examine it closely in the moonlight.
"... Don't look at it so closely. It's not that remarkable, you know."
"...! Did you, by any chance, make this yourself, Alain?"
"Well, yes."
Alain, scratching the back of his neck, averted his gaze as he answered.
As he said, the necklace was indeed made by Alain himself.
To be precise, just the symbol, though.
The tools for crafting were scattered in the workshop. Once the shape was made, it wasn't too difficult to polish the surfaces with the finishing tools.
And the material, shining in yellow, as you might guess, was none other than a copper coin.
Of course, he couldn't use a dirty, impure coin, so he had to explain the situation and ask the old man to process it into a small ingot.
The old man, who received Alain's request, smiled and agreed to help.
He even found a chain for the necklace to go along with it.
Perhaps the old man thought that the two of them were getting along better than expected.
He would probably have to repay him somehow later.
For now, Alain thought he should check if any of the traps he had set for beasts around here had caught anything, and he glanced at Seria.
"..."
She was silently examining the gift from side to side.
She seemed to be pleased.
Alain felt a bit relieved and allowed his face to soften. Watching her look so happy eased the heavy guilt that had settled in his heart.
"Hehehe... Thank you, Alain."
"Don't mention it."
"Hehe... Oh, Alain. Can you lend me your arm?"
"Hmm? ... Ah, right. I guess it's time to get up."
Quite some time had passed.
According to the clock that Alain had checked earlier, over an hour and a half had already gone by.
He thought it was about time to take her back. As Alain grabbed Seria's arm to help her up, she wobbled,
"...!"
Seria was unable to regain her balance and collapsed. Alain was surprised and quickly caught her.
"Uh, what's wrong? Why is this happening?"
"..."
Seria, looking puzzled, asked him.
To that question, Alain did not answer.
He had erased all traces.
The blood and bodily fluid stains on her body had been cleaned away using the "restored magical power."
But still, the fact that her hymen had been torn and the traces of defilement that had invaded her body would not disappear.
"... Maybe it's just dizziness? It's right after just getting up, after all."
"Yeah, I guess so. Then just hold on like this..."
Worried that it might stimulate her memory again, Alain hurriedly came up with an appropriate excuse.
And at his words, Seria lightly nodded and leaned against Alain.
In the moonlight, the figures of a man and woman overlapping each other.
It was a scene reminiscent of lovers.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence flowed between them.
It might be okay soon,
Alain thought, and just as he was about to pull away from Seria,
"Um, Alain?"
"Yeah?"
"Um... If I leave this place, it'll be hard for us to meet again, right?"
"..."
Was it starting to kick in?
The influence of the magic was taking effect.
Thinking that, Alain nodded his head for now.
"Probably so."
"..."
"Seria?"
"I don't want that! I really don't want to!"
"...!"
At her intense reaction, Alain was taken aback and tried to step back. But before he could, Seria jumped into his arms, trying to hug him.
"...!"
Seria looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke,
"I don't want to part... I like you, Alain. I don't want to say goodbye..."
Alain's face flushed with embarrassment, his expression shifting as if he'd been struck by something heavy.
"...!"