- Lucy's point of view.

'What?　I'm going out with Jean!
　I was having lunch with Emily.

"Yeah, I mean, that's what Lucy said. I should just go ahead and tell her how I feel about her.
Oh, yeah?
　I hadn't seen my friend in a long time, and she had a man.
　Well, it was like we'd been dating since we met.

'So what about Lucy?'
Ugh....
　Of course they ask.

"Uh, the new girl who joined the party, Ayako. Yesterday I was with Makoto-kun...
Oh, you said it wasn't happening. You said it wasn't happening!
But I heard you went to the hot springs together.
Ugh.....

　I held off on talking to you yesterday because I thought you two might want to talk.
　You wouldn't think we'd make that much progress in just one day!

It's like they've known each other since they were in another world. Lucy, this is a bad idea.
Ugh.
　So far, it's been a party for Makoto and I.
　Now it's a party of three.

Makoto-kun and Aya-chan might end up getting together.
....

　I imagine what it will be like to go on my next adventure.
　Makoto and Aya are talking about the previous world.
　After the adventure is over, "We're going to go take a hot spring bath with you for a bit." "Lucy-san, wait for me at the guild." "What, what?　It's just...
　I'm waiting for them at the guild's stall.
　Then the two appeared with their arms around each other....

''No, no!'' I screamed.
'Then get on with it and confess.'
　Scream, Emily.
　d*mn, you have a boyfriend, but you're a big deal.

"Emily..... How do I tell you how I feel about you?
'Well, when I was...'
　I asked Emily for advice on how to confess.

◇

- Takatsuki Makoto's Point of View

'What?　Lucy, do you want to go goblin hunting?
　I was a bit surprised.
　You don't have to make that kind of small amount of money because you can afford it with the money you earn from the Great Maze.

''Umm, yeah. See, isn't it important to have a good first impression?
　It's a good one.
All right, come on, then. Let's get out of here.
　It's been a while since I've hunted goblins.
　Just in time for the first battle of a three man party!　It's safe.

"Goblins. I'll pass. I'm learning martial arts from Nina, you know. I'll come visit you," said Mr. Sa.
...er...
'Don't look at me like that! Because I've seen goblins all over the Great Maze.
　It's the first battle of a party of three. It's okay.
　Lucy and I are going alone!

　Lucy is making a small gut pose.
　Why is that?

　◇


　We make our way upstream through the river, which flows through a large forest, using water magic techniques.
　Lucy is clinging to me.
　I haven't had this feeling in a long time.

"Hey, can I ask you one question? And Lucy.
'What's up?'

The auxiliary magic 'water walking' you're using now can be used without any physical contact, right?
Of course I can use it. You can use it even when you're away from them. It's just that if you're touching your body, the effect of the 'water walking' you put on yourself will be transferred, so you can save your magic.
　Because of my low amount of magic, my saving habits are ingrained in me.
　...................I'm poor, though.

'You don't always make me cling to you because you want me to hold on to you, do you?
'No, no. I mean, all you have to do is put your hand on my shoulder. You don't have to hug me so much.
　And I'm still nervous because Lucy's chest is pressed against me.

'No. If you move with true water magic, you're going to get swept off your feet in a curve.
Uh, well, sure.
　It's nice to accelerate as fast as I can and turn as fast as I can.

　While we were chatting about this, we arrived at our destination.


　The fog is deep and dim.
　It's daytime, but the air feels cold.
　It's near the Demon Forest.
　There are a lot of demon responses in my enemy-sensing skills.
　Oh, I miss it.

"Phew, I'm back.
...even though I'm the one who invited him. You're really into hunting goblins, aren't you?
　I've got two embarrassing names, too.
　I'm sure it's a quest I'm more confident in than any other quest I've done since I arrived in this world.

　The two of us worked on the goblins for a while.

"You've gotten really good at controlling your magic, Lucy.
　Lucy's face lights up in a flash.
'Right!　It's thanks to the magic bracelet the Great Sage gave me. It seems that wearing this raises your magical proficiency level.
Hey, can I borrow it later?
'Proficiency level: 50+ doesn't work, the instructions said, right?

　It came with a manual?
　Even the after-sales service is perfect for you, Great Sage.
　And I don't think it's going to work for me.
　I'm over 100 years old.

"What are you doing later?
　Lucy changed the subject.
'Hmmm, I was going to go on the hunt. Is there any hope?
Hey, I've got to go somewhere.
Okay. I'll go out with you.
　Lucy's magic accuracy has improved and she's not in danger at the moment.
　As long as we don't go deeper into the Demon Forest, we should be fine.

　We used water magic to move again.
''What direction?''
Uh, it's right over there.
This is a lost forest.

　There are no more dangerous monsters than the Devil's Forest, but this is a place where the entire forest is a dungeon.
　It is said that if you don't have the map skill, you will be lost and cannot get out of the forest.
　The recommended level is Iron Rank or higher.
　Just in case we meet the criteria, but we weren't supposed to come to the dungeon today.

　That's okay. The Lost Forest is a playground for elven children. I've been there a lot in the past, so I know the safest route to take.
　I hope Lucy's right.
You're in charge of navigation.
Copy that.
　We made our way through the forest dungeon.


"Lucy, you're lost.
No, no!　It's been a while, so, uh, it should be this way.
I'll use my map skills to get you back in.
　Will it be okay?
　Slightly bewildered, I went into the back.

　I was in the back.

Well, there you are.
　It was a field of flowers blooming all over the place.
　A field of flowers in a different world with many flowers that I've never seen before in Japan.

'Right?　It's beautiful. It's a secret place for elves.
　It was fantastically beautiful, as Lucy was proud of it.
　Scurrying around, I look around and try not to step on the flowers as I go along.
　It smells sweet.

'Hey, sit here,'
　There was a rock in a field of flowers, just enough to seat two people.
　I sat down next to Lucy.

".........
....
　What is it, the silence continues.
　By the way, did Lucy have something to do with it?

Hey. What's up?
I can't help it.
　You see her every day.

How's the goddess?
Yeah, I'm fine.
　He brings up a timely topic.
　Perhaps he could see that I was troubled about Noah-sama?

'What's up?'
No, I'm fine.
You need help with something? We're all friends here.
　Lucy's big eyes look into my face.

　Lucy is my first companion in this world.
　I don't really want to hide anything from her.
　But I can't even wrap my head around the Apostle of the Evil One, I just can't wrap my head around it.
　Just give me a minute.

　Come to think of it, I've known Lucy for a long time.
　When I was in the Water Temple, when I was training on my own, I was like, "I'm going to do this solo! He was breathing heavily.
　In fact, I've been a lone adventurer in McAllen for several months.

(But I wouldn't have thought of defeating the griffons or exploring the Great Maze without Lucy.)

　If you were asked to be a solo adventurer now, could you do it?
　I'm stronger than I was a year ago.
　But I don't want to be an adventurer on my own anymore....

　Lucy is sitting on a rock and wobbling her legs.
　Something is wrinkling between her eyebrows.
　She still has a beautiful profile.

　I thank Lucy for all she has done for me.
　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

Hey, Lucy.
　We were talking to each other at the same time.　

".........
　We stare at each other and become silent.
　I just thank him, but once again, it's kind of embarrassing.

　Lucy comes very close to me.
　We're close enough to catch our breath.
　You can feel Lucy's high body temperature.

"Ah, you know what........Makoto.
"Yeah, Lucy.
　What is it?
　The atmosphere.

　It's as if he's about to confess...

　No, no, no, no, no. Don't get me wrong, man.
　Jeanne said you were supposed to stay out of trouble at the party.

It's me," Lucy said, trying to say something.

"Wait a minute, Lucy. Someone's watching us.
What?
　I'm too late!
　I'm surrounded.

　I get off the rock I was sitting on and hold my dagger.
　This isn't good.
　There's no water anywhere.
　Lucy's going to grab me by the sleeves.

We've got to get to Lucy first.

You don't think he's going to attack us?
Do you...
　Lucy has a delicate expression on her face.

The best way to do this is to have a look at a few of your favorite things. I knew it, Rosalee's daughter. I brought a different kind of man with me." "Hey, hey!　Introduce me to Lucy's boyfriend!

　What a bunch of people!
　And they're all elves!

'What!　Oh, no. Why, guys.
　Lucy makes an impatient noise.
You know him?
Jeez, my parents' neighbors...

We had a picnic today, you know.
Then Miss Lucy will bring a man.
We've all been watching it from the shadows.
　Wow, I didn't notice that at all.
　It's just like the elves living in the forest.
　Do they all have covert skills?

What? How long have you been watching this?
""From the very beginning..."

'No!'
　Oh, Lucy's running away.
　The elven children were chasing her.

　I was peppered with questions from Lucy's neighbors.
　The elves Lucy knew were all very friendly.
　They weren't as closed off as I'd imagined.

　Also, my auntie elf gave me a pile of fruit and I had to take it home.