Living as a Recluse Deep in the Forest - Episode 5: Aurora’s Feelings, Yuu’s Feelings

The heated Mahjong battle had concluded, the night Aurora had spectacularly "decorated" the table with a Yakitori.

Outside, the world had completely sunk into darkness, and the rustling of the forest had grown distant. However, the guest room Yuu had built was filled with soft light and fluffy bedding.

To call it a "guest room" was an understatement; it was a completely different beast from the original.

On that day, for the sake of the women who were nearly freezing to death in the snow, Yuu had built a shack in a single night with a vibe that basically said, "Just sleep for now." Back then, it was the bare minimum—somewhere to shield them from the wind and rain, somewhere to light a fire and lie on the floor to avoid death. At the time, that warmth had been more precious than any divine salvation.

...And yet, look at it now.

"Haaa... paradise."

Aurora lay sprawled out like a starfish on the bed.

Even with her eyes closed, she could feel the elasticity of the mattress.

A down comforter, soft and airy, slowly cradling her weight.

She wasn't the only one.

The maids' beds were lined up alongside hers, and the room was equipped with a small closet, a vanity, and even a compact bathroom.

To anyone looking, it was well-equipped enough to be called a "Royal Entourage Villa" without any exaggeration.

"How should I put this..."

One of the maids, having returned from the bathroom, spoke while wiping her still-damp hair with a towel.

"We technically come here under the grand pretense of 'Ecological Research of the Forest' and 'Scouting Lord Yuu'..."

She paused, looking around the guest room.

"But for the past year, this has been a complete vacation under the guise of work, hasn't it?"

"I feel you."

Another maid, sitting on her bed, nodded with a serious face.

"And an elegant vacation at that. This bedding is incredible. Lord Yuu called it a 'down comforter,' but you won't find blankets this easy to sleep in anywhere in the Royal Capital."

"The mirror on the vanity doesn't have a single smudge," another remarked, running a finger over the polished glass and letting out a sigh. "A mirror this beautiful... I wonder how many gold coins it would take to buy one."

"The 'toner' and 'moisturizer' are amazing, too," someone else added, looking at the bottles lined up on the shelf with a dreamy expression. "Honestly, if I could, I'd take them back to the Capital... I can't bear the thought of going back to plain soap and scented oils the moment we return."

The maids reached a unanimous conclusion:

"Lord Yuu is wonderful...!"

There was no romantic ring to it. To them, Yuu was the "God of Beauty."

Soap that was gentle on the skin.

Shampoo and conditioner that didn't make hair creak, but rather made it soft.

Toner and lotion that left skin moist after a bath.

Once you used them, you could never go back to the harsh soaps and greasy oils of the Capital.

The maids were well and truly corrupted—mostly thanks to Yuu’s unnecessarily elaborate handiwork.

"You lot," Aurora said, rolling over on the bed in an attempt to regain a semblance of her princess-like dignity. "Certainly, stiff etiquette isn't necessary here. I don't intend to bind you more than necessary, either."

Her words were noble. Her speech was grand.

"However, you are still the glorious Maid Corps attached to a Princess. Show a bit more moderation—"

"Your Highness."

The maids all turned a cold, dead-eyed stare toward her simultaneously.

"You have zero credibility saying that in that posture."

"Yes, the most corrupted one here is the Princess herself."

"Indeed, indeed."

"Urgh..."

A princess giving a lecture while rolling around on a bed could have no majesty. To anyone watching, she was simply "a woman who had temporarily thrown off the burden of royalty."

Aurora herself couldn't deny it.

This place—inside Yuu’s barrier—was a tiny, separate world within the forest.

Her face as royalty.

Her face as a widow.

Her face as a pawn for a future political marriage.

It was a place where she could set all of those aside and just be "Aurora."

The only place in the world where she could truly relax her heart.

That was exactly why she became so slovenly.

Staring at the ceiling while lying on her back, words spilled from a soft place deep in her chest.

"...As I thought, Yuu won't come to the Royal Capital, will he?"

Her voice was laced with weakness.

The maids weren't at all surprised by the sound of it. They had heard it several times before. But to anyone who knew her two years ago, this "True Face of the Second Princess" would have been utterly unbelievable.

The person she wanted by her side wouldn't stay by her side.

The person she wanted with her at all times was a shut-in deep in the forest.

Any honor.

Any status.

Any fame.

With power like Yuu’s, he could surely obtain them easily—especially when Aurora herself had promised to help him with everything she had.

—And yet, Yuu wouldn't nod.

He showed not a shred of intent to leave this forest.

Aurora understood that better than anyone. That was why these weak words leaked out.

"...Lord Yuu is a bit of a hermit, after all," one of the maids said with a wry smile. "I feel something similar to the stubborn craftsmen in the Capital. The ones who will never leave their workshops, no matter how much gold or status is piled before them."

"There are people like that, aren't there?" another maid agreed, nodding. "Stubborn as iron, unfazed by status or power. But usually, the items produced by such people are 'the real deal'—first-class."

"Lord Yuu is exactly like that." Someone chuckled. "He only walks the path he believes in and won't take a single step on any other. He’s a stubbornly honest man, to a troublesome degree."

Aurora rolled onto her side, turning her back to the wall.

"...The fact that he even built this guest room for us is more than enough." She whispered softly. "I know that."

On that day, seeing them shivering in the snow, Yuu had—albeit reluctantly—built the shack.

For him, that was a clear "concession."

This forest belonged to no country’s territory. Therefore, no one had the right to command Yuu, who lived there by his own strength without anyone's help.

Furthermore—though they couldn't imagine it, not knowing where he was born—this world itself was not his home.

Yuu was a single human being, bound by no one.

Such a man had built a guest room for them.

He had increased the facilities, prepared the bedding, placed a mirror, and even provided a bath.

That alone was a concession that should normally be called a "miracle."

"Even so..."

Her quiet voice fell into the space of the room.

One of the maids asked softly, "Even so—Your Highness won't give up on Lord Yuu?"

Aurora paused for a moment.

Then, she answered in a completely defenseless tone.

"Yeah—I hate the idea of him being near anyone else but me."

In that instant, the air came to a dead stop.

".........."

The maids all covered their mouths at once.

(So... so cute...!)

An emotion close to a scream welled up in their throats.

Judging strictly by the content, it was quite selfish for a princess. But her tone was just so... honest.

Like a maiden truly in love, an unconscious sense of possessiveness.

It was so adorable that the maids themselves turned red and fell silent.

"W-what’s with those faces?" Aurora asked, her voice turning grumpy as she looked at them.

"We didn't say anything."

"Yes, nothing at all. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"Your Highness is..."

One of the maids swallowed her words and instead let out a small laugh.

"No. I'm just relieved that you're being yourself, Your Highness."

"That's right. If Your Highness were to give up on Lord Yuu, that would truly be the end of the world."

"You lot, isn't that a bit rude in its own way?"

Aurora grabbed a pillow and tossed it haphazardly. It hit the bedding with a soft poof, and the maids giggled.

The air in the guest room softened again.

Nevertheless—the words she had just spoken aloud were slowly spreading through Aurora’s chest.

(I hate the idea of him being near anyone else but me, huh...)

Even though she said it herself, her cheeks felt hot.

She, who had lost her husband, never could have imagined having these feelings for someone else two years ago.

Was it love?

Was it obsession?

Was it just an extension of gratitude toward the person who gave her a reason to live?

Aurora herself didn't know which it was.

But regardless—

"...I’m still not giving up."

She made a small declaration to no one in particular.

"If Yuu wants to stay in this forest, he can stay. No one can order him. I don't intend to take him away by force, either."

She gripped the comforter tightly.

"But, even so—I hate the thought of him smiling by anyone's side but mine."

Those words were purely a young girl’s selfishness.

Because the maids had heard them, they could say nothing.

They simply smiled secretly in their hearts.

(Truly... a lovely person.)

Someone whispered that internally and softly put out the lights.

The night in the forest was still long.

Beyond the barrier, inside the log house, Yuu was surely staring blankly into space alone.

This guest room was the only place in the world where Aurora could expose her true self.

And it was also very close to the "Shut-in Mage" she would never give up on.

The morning forest was filled with air as clear as glass.

Thanks to the barrier, it wasn't as cold as it was outside. However, the wind tickling their cheeks was definitely chilly, effectively blowing away any lingering sleepiness.

Inside the log house, a scent that blew away sleepiness in a different sense filled the air.

"...It smells so good."

Aurora, returning from the guest room, couldn't help but murmur.

On the table, breakfast was laid out in an orderly fashion.

Bacon and eggs with crispy-fried edges.

On the side of the plate, fresh leafy greens that looked as if they were repelling the morning dew.

In a basket, freshly baked bread emitting steam.

And white, cloudy bone broth just poured from a pot.

It was a lineup that fully woke up the stomach through sight and smell alone.

"Really... no matter how many times I see it, this is grand."

One of the maids let out a small sigh as she took her seat.

The meat used for the bacon was the wild boar meat of the forest monster "Adamant Boa."

A ferocious beast with skin harder than iron, capable of crushing even armor with its teeth.

Bacon made by carefully treating that meat, salting it, and smoking it repeatedly.

If you sought a slab of this bacon in the Royal Capital, the amount of money spent would be enough to buy several decent dresses. It was an item you would rarely see anywhere but high-end restaurants frequented by nobility.

And now, it was oozing fat right there on the plate.

The eggs used for the sunny-side-up were from the forest monster "Red Cockatrice."

A high-ranking Cockatrice that breathed strong acid capable of melting even iron.

One wouldn't know how many gold coins a single egg would command. Its flavor was rich and mellow. From the aroma alone, one could tell it was completely different from a normal egg.

And those eggs—were being used for a perfectly ordinary sunny-side-up.

It was a usage that the phrase "pinnacle of luxury" couldn't even keep up with.

The bread looked like simple round rolls at first glance.

However, the fact that one could eat "freshly baked fluffy bread" in the middle of this demonic Great Forest was already the highest luxury.

In the first place, having a bread oven here was strange. It was equipment one wouldn't expect in a single house in the dead center of a forest.

Furthermore, Yuu’s bread-making skills had steadily improved every time Aurora visited.

(This is bread at a level that could be served at a Royal Palace banquet...)

While murmuring that internally, she tried not to think too deeply about it.

If she started thinking, she’d start feeling sorry for all the bakeries in the Capital.

And the bone broth.

A cloudy white soup where the bones of yesterday’s "Destroy Horn" had been carefully simmered, and only the umami had been extracted using a unique magic that adjusted the flow of flavor vegetables and mana.

With one sip—.

"...!"

Heat surged through to the core of her body.

The heaviness unique to the morning seemed to vanish in an instant.

"This... really kicks in, doesn't it..."

One of the maids blinked her eyes in surprise.

"I was so sleepy just a moment ago, but now I feel like I could do a lap around the forest if told to."

"Don't do that. You'll die halfway."

Yuu interjected bluntly while tearing a piece of toasted bread.

The guards were also scarfing down the same breakfast at the outside table.

Everyone's faces were impressively sharp.

The saltiness of the bacon and the rich yolk of the eggs.

The freshness of the vegetables.

The gentle sweetness of the freshly baked bread.

If you washed it all down with that bone broth, anyone’s eyes would turn bright.

"...Thank you for the meal."

By the time everyone had finished eating, Aurora’s entourage had faces that looked completely "ready for battle."

As breakfast finished and the cleaning was mostly done, the time for Aurora’s group to depart arrived.

They had to return to the Capital.

Especially this time, they had come to ask Yuu about the response to the foreign country from across the sea. They needed to bring the information they had obtained back to the Capital as quickly as possible.

Normally, they would stay for at least a few days.

Technically, the pretense was "Ecological Research of the Great Forest" and "Scouting Yuu." In fact, following that pretense, it was their usual pattern to stay long-term while recording forest plants and monsters. Using Yuu’s living space as a base and walking all over the place had been the set routine for about a year.

To leave the day after arriving was something that hadn't happened since two years ago—the day they first met.

Perhaps having realized that... Yuu and Aurora were acting a bit strange.

Facing each other in front of the entrance, they both wore awkward expressions.

Shy.

Frustrated.

A little bit embarrassed.

An expression where those feelings were all jumbled together.

It was different from back then. Unlike that first day they met, they no longer took hostile attitudes toward each other.

For example—.

"Alright, line up."

Yuu raised one hand as usual.

Aurora, the maids, and the guards all lined up obediently in a row.

Yuu pointed his palm toward them.

"Force Field."

With a short chant, a faint light enveloped the group.

A light like a thin film softly stuck to everyone's bodies. After a few seconds, it became transparent and invisible to the eye.

However, they could feel it on their skin.

In the chilly air, they could sense an invisible "wall" surrounding them.

"...It really is amazing, this thing," Aurora murmured, lightly swinging her arm.

This "Force Field" possessed defensive power exceeding armor made of the highest-grade Mithril. Mithril was one of the finest minerals in this world. It had strong resistance against magic, and its hardness surpassed iron. To provide defensive power exceeding that with a "single spell" was, as expected, outside the norm.

As long as this defensive magic held, their return journey was practically guaranteed to be safe. If anything, existences capable of breaking this barrier were rare.

...Nonetheless, Yuu didn't fail to give his usual warning.

"I’ve said it many times, but," his voice became a bit more serious, "your country is to the south, so it shouldn't be a problem... but absolutely do not approach the north side of the forest."

His gaze flickered toward the depths of the forest—the northern direction.

"There’s a territory of something even I consider 'troublesome.'"

At those words, everyone naturally straightened their backs.

It was a warning they had heard many times. Every time, something cold crawled down their spines.

A territory of a monster that even Yuu called troublesome.

Even if asked, even out of curiosity, they had absolutely no intention of getting close.

But at the same time—.

(...He’s worried about us.)

A warm feeling spread through Aurora’s chest.

On that day they first met.

The Yuu of that time didn't worry about them like this.

He had shot down the dragon.

He had healed their wounds.

And after that, he had driven them away without mercy.

He had simply told them to "Get out" and closed the door.

And yet now, he cared about the safety of their return journey.

Over and over, repeating the same warning.

Giving them the "be careful" that she didn't know how many times she’d received.

Just that simple thing—.

Only things like that were certainly healing Aurora’s heart.

"Well then," Aurora straightened her back and returned to her usual tone. "I'll come again, Yuu."

It was no longer a "promise," but closer to a "declaration."

Today's scouting was a failure again. There was still no sign of Yuu nodding to the invitation to leave the forest and come to the Capital.

Even so—.

"Yeah, see you later, Princess."

Yuu smiled naturally. It was a smile that hadn't existed when they first met.

Not cynical, not resigned.

Just a smile that accepted, as if it were obvious, "You'll be coming next time too."

the moment she saw that smile.

(I’ll come again.)

Aurora thought so from the bottom of her heart.

The Royal Capital and the depths of the forest.

The Second Princess of the Great Southern Kingdom and an inhabitant of another world shut away in a demonic territory.

Two people who shouldn't have crossed paths were in the center of the forest, over and over, exchanging the words "See you later."

The guards and maids bowed their heads quietly.

"Lord Yuu, we will disturb you again."

"Can I expect a new type of bread next time...?"

"...You lot are pretty brazen."

Though he spoke as if exasperated, Yuu didn't drive them away.

Watching his back, the group began walking toward the south of the forest.

The film of the Force Field faintly reflected the sunlight.

Looking back, thin smoke was rising from the chimney of the log house.

A house built of logs standing alone in the center of the Great Forest of the demonic realm.

A field, a well, a guest room.

And—the dwelling of a person from another world, where Yuu was now alone once more.

"...Well then."

Once the group was out of sight, Yuu looked away from the window and stretched.

"What should I make for lunch..."

His murmur reached no one’s ears.

However, his tone wasn't just filled with the void of the past.

There, just a little bit, was a rhythm of life that assumed someone else’s visit.

The Royal Entourage returning to the south.

And the Shut-in Mage remaining in the center of the forest.

Across their respective backs, the premonition of a story that was still continuing swayed quietly.

Author's Note:

For now, this is the end. Thank you very much for reading until the end.

I'm debating whether to writing this story. I'm currently prototyping various short stories... if you're interested, I'd appreciate your support through bookmarks, ratings, or likes.

Update: I've decided to continue the story. From now on, I expect Yuu and Aurora will continue to be the main focus. Please keep an eye on them over the long term.

Prev            TOC            Next