"Are you cold?" Annie paused for a second, then glanced at Hikari's fluffy outfit and couldn't help but laugh. "I was going to ask you that, don't you feel hot?"
"Why?"
"Although I did feel the temperature drop a bit when I came in from outside, once I reached the deepest part of this cave, the air around me felt humid and hot. I would break out in a lot of sweat just by wearing any clothes."
As Annie spoke, she reached out and wiped her arms, displaying them in the light: "Look, it's only been a short while and there's already so much water."
Hikari's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape for a moment before she managed to close it again. Somewhat embarrassed, she took off the fleece jacket that had been covering her up completely: "Uh, I, I thought it was because I was too worried that I was sweating so much."
Amidst the sudden burst of white smoke, she glanced at me, her face flushed, and muttered softly, "And Mr. Yumi didn't remind me at all..."
...Can I say I forgot? All my attention was focused on my ears.
I coughed awkwardly and could only innocently reply, "I am a cat now."
And I wasn't paying attention just now, but now that you mention it, I feel all damp and sticky all over.
"Meow."
A soft meow sounded at our feet, and a black cat looked up at us, turning its head back and forth in a figure-eight pattern.
Hikari said, "Fokine said that Ms. Miyuki was urging us from downstairs, and asked if anything had happened and if we wanted her to come up again."
Anne: "...No matter how many times I try, I still can't figure out how you two communicate."
Me too.
Hikari smiled slightly as she put away the sweater and the stalagmite Anne handed her, then touched her heart again: "Just do your best."
Let bygones be bygones of this perplexing episode, and a new question will reappear before us.
“Although we’ve confirmed it’s safe down there, and there’s a meter-deep pool of water,” Annie leaned forward, then quickly frowned. “But how are we supposed to get down?”
Hikari raised her hand: "Should we just jump down?"
“We don’t have strong bodies!” Annie retorted without hesitation. “Even if we slid down the cave wall, how to land safely and without getting hurt would still be a problem for us!”
"Didn't Miss Miyuki say she would meet us down below?"
"But you can still get injured! Do you want to hold the team back for the rest of the journey?"
Annie crossed her arms, and despite her small stature, her presence slightly overshadowed that of Hikari, who was considerably taller than her: "This mountain range is fraught with danger. We've left the safe zone, and there's that beast tide you mentioned in the distance. We could be in trouble at any moment."
Her clear eyes flickered, and the little fool fell silent.
I glanced at the three silent figures, sensing the small amount of magic within me, and raised my claw: "I do have a way."
Three pairs of bright eyes looked at me at the same time.
I pulled my ear back for a moment to steady my slightly unsteady posture as I explained carefully: "With my current magic power, I can cast the most basic Featherfall spell once or twice. This is a spell that can dissipate most of the kinetic energy generated when we fall. If used properly, it can almost guarantee that we will arrive at the ground safely."
The gaze directed at me became even more ardent.
"but!"
Seeing that the group was about to finalize the proposal, I had to raise my voice again to interrupt: "It is regrettable, but with my current magic power, I cannot support the energy consumption of three people falling at the same time."
Therefore, there are only two solutions: one is to have one person stay above and return to the outside world along the original route, waiting for us to leave the cave before reuniting; the other is to use the Featherfall spell only at the last moment of the most urgent situation to forcibly accelerate, but this may still cause us considerable damage.
I simply cannot choose between the two, even the safest option cannot guarantee that the person left alone outside will not be in danger.
Even including the gray wolves tamed by Annie, Hikari and the others themselves do not possess the combat power to cope with all changes.
Even I don't have that confidence.
The scene fell silent instantly, and the three of them looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Then let me..."
"Maybe I should stay."
Ai An calmly cut off Annie's hesitant words: "I was just a temporary addition to the team, a drag on the team. If I stay behind, I can still have time to continue reading the books I have now." He then turned to me, "Besides, I'm not completely without the ability to protect myself."
"Lady Juliana gave me a protective talisman before I set off. I believe that if it weren't for the appearance of the ancient dragon from ancient legends, my safety would be guaranteed—at least until you return from below."
Did the headmaster actually give Ai'an something to protect her? This is the first time I've heard of such a thing. I'm afraid the headmaster has forgotten because of his long-term hard work.
However, if that's the case, perhaps leaving the young boy there would be a suitable choice.
Just in case, I asked again, "Don't you feel lonely and scared when you're alone?"
Ai An raised an eyebrow and held up her right hand, which was holding a book: "I have books to keep me company."
He really didn't seem to care.
"Hey, why are you all so slow and hesitant? Are you acting out some kind of romance drama?"
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