Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume5 Chapter7 (section)

===Part 4===
They had walked in the forest for roughly half an hour.

From a while ago, ball-like light spirits had frequently flitted around overhead.

They were the spirits for the purpose of relaying the Blade Dance from the field back to the great shrine.

It seemed they were trained not to intrude on their privacy, but there was no doubt that Kamito and the others were currently being displayed on-screen.

"We haven't found any signs of water. Just how large is this place?"

"It should be considerably large. Ragna Ys's size is comparable to a small country."

Claire, who was walking in front, answered Kamito's question.

"It looks like we'll need to create a map soon."

Rinslet said as she removed a branch from her hair.

"......My feet have started to hurt a little."

Fianna, who wasn't used to hiking, said with a grimace.

Unlike Claire and the others, she had transferred in and hadn't undergone the same open field training.

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"Shall I carry you?"

"Eh? N-No, it's fine......"

At Kamito's words, Fianna's face reddened and she shook her head.

"Don't push yourself. It's too late if you become unable to walk."

"B-But, I......that is, I'm wearing this short skirt......"

"Th-That's true......"

......As expected, even the queen that always teased Kamito would be embarrassed by that.

"Kamito, you're thinking about such indecent things again!"

Ellis drew her sword.

"I-I'm not thinking them! Or rather, what's this again about!"

"Hmph, m-my foot hurts......maybe."

Ellis chewed her lip like she was pouting.

Looking at her condition from before, that didn't seem to be the case but,

"I-Is that so?......but, as expected, carrying two people is a little harsh."

"M-My foot also started to hurt suddenly!"

"Yes, lending me just your sh-shoulder would help greatly!"

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"Yeah, I can do that much."

"I-Is that so? T-Then, I shall take you up on that."

Rinslet smiled and moved over to his shoulder.

"......!"

Her uniform that lightly smelled of sweat.

His heart throbbed at the soft sensation touching his arm.

"......Th-That's unfair, Rinslet! Kamito, please lend me your shoulder as well!"

For some reason unbeknownst to him, Ellis also latched onto his shoulder.

"Th-Then......me as well♪"

Fianna also rested her head on his shoulder from behind.

"Th-This is difficult......"

Being hugged by three girls, he let out an anguished voice.

"Hey, you three! The formation is falling apart!"

"Fufu, you're not honest. Even though it'd be fine for Claire to say her feet hurt as well."

"Wha......a-aren't you being stupid!? I'm fine, I can walk on my own!"

Claire cried out angrily with a red face at the teasing Fianna.

"......"

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And Kamito stopped walking.

"Kamito-san, what's wrong?"

"Be quiet. We're being ambushed."

"......!?"

The three separated from Kamito and summoned their respective contracted spirits.

A silence like the drawn bowstring of a bow.

(No, this isn't silence — it's inaction.)<!-- TLC, not sure if '' or " -->

Kamito sharpened his senses and searched for presences.

(Two people. They're scouts or there are others with them.)

"It's unexpected. That we would find a trap this early."

"Yeah, even though it shouldn't be a good plan to act this quickly—"

Right after Kamito nodded.

"—They're coming!"

A flash of light exploded.