Case 108: Upon teasing the feline princess.

Yuria Visette found herself tagging along with a strange woman.

She saw Cecilia's flowing blue hair glistening in the morning sun, some unknown sensations arising as she felt the soft shade under the girl's floppy hat dangling. Romantic attraction aside, Yuria's natural curiosity pushed her closer and closer to this enigmatic person.

''...Cecily, where exactly is your destination?'' She absentmindedly asked. ''Are you... planning to enter the capital?''

Holding a brief silence, Cecilia eventually shrugged, ''Who knows?''

Although the answer was another question, it more or less confirmed the fact that this delicate woman, one who seemed so soft and fragile that a gust of wind might blow her away, was actually aiming for the very end of the continent, where the demon's so-called capital was located.

It also meant that the two would have to part ways at some point in the journey. No matter how experienced an adventurer was, advancing so deep into hostile territory was simply suicidal, especially when a proper team had not been established.

'Won't that be dangerous?'

Such words nearly escaped Yuria's mouth, yet something intangible held her back. Something... like fear. Not that she feared Cecilia, but rather, she didn't want to upset this person.

'What is it, I wonder...'

Following the faint road, the two eventually reached another checkpoint—Checkpoint Number One.

The logic was rather simple: The further one was into the unknown lands, the more dangerous it would be. So, countless numbered checkpoints were constructed throughout the vast territory, with higher numbers corresponding to more risky areas. Accordingly, to pass through certain entrances, one would need certain certificates and credentials as an adventurer.

Of course, simply placing such stations wasn't remotely enough to prevent reckless people from sneaking through. Not even the empire could build walls spanning thousands of kilometers and maintain them regularly.

Instead, in those cases, the adventurers in question wouldn't be able to receive insurance from the bodies that governed adventuring, and they wouldn't be eligible to standard perks either.

Nonetheless, checkpoints that had the number one assigned to them were relatively peaceful, so much so that most attendants there were young interns and part-timers.

''Er... Adventurer Yuri... oh?! Are you perhaps...!''

'Another part-timer...'

Yuria thought to herself, sighing internally at the giddy receptionist. Being a famous adventurer was akin to being a quasi-celebrity. Plus Yuria's unique appearance, she was bound to attract attention nearly everywhere she went.

Strangely enough, the clearly out-of-place Cecilia didn't receive many eyes, even though she was more of an anomaly than Yuria herself.

''I suppose cats are popular even among adventurers.'' Cecilia chuckled, her voice teasing.

''Ugh...''

The princess wanted to get mad—she usually would, with her pride—yet her beastly side was busy fawning over the woman's smile.

''Hah... I'd like to rent a vehicle.''

After registering the two as a team and finishing the papers, Yuria familiarly took Cecilia to a rental car. At first glance, it seemed rather bulky and somewhat... ugly, especially with plated armor pieces and all sorts of magical devices breaking the design's balance, but practicality was king here.

''...''

Yuria found the endearing Cecilia admiring the car as if she had seen a rare animal. Resisting the urge to touch her head, the princess handed her partner the key, ''Go in first. I'm going to buy some supplies.''

''Ah, alright.''

So, Cecilia settled her luggage and hat near the car's passenger seat. Minutes later, Yuria came back with a mountain of boxes and bags in her arms, enough to dumbfound the blue-haired girl.

''...That much?'' She asked.

''If we're getting to the capital, this much is not even enough,'' Yuria replied, her face obscured by the pile of things. ''These can probably last us until six... so we'll change cars and resupply there.''

Now, Cecilia was truly dumbfounded, ''Yuri... are you following me into the capital...?''

Without a word, the princess began to stuff the packages into the trunk, her tail swaying listlessly, ''Well, I mean...'' She scratched her pink-tinted cheek, ''I can't let you go there alone, can I?''

''...''

''W-What was it? This is common sense! As someone with upstanding morals, there's no way I would abandon a woman like you... ah.''

''Heheh... as expected...''

''...What?''

Cecilia smiled—this time, a proper, untainted smile, and Yuria witnessed it all with rounded eyes. The feline princess was rather honest, perhaps not in her expressions... but her ears and tail.

'Her cheeks are rosy, though...'

Cecilia thought to herself as she helped put the luggage into the trunk. She tapped the dazed Yuria, after which the job was finally progressing decently.

''You were as kind as I thought, Yuri.''

''Huh?''

Yuria tried to chase the fluttering white dress, her hand unknowingly wanting to grasp the azure traces, yet her body was so tense. In the end, she slapped herself in the face a few times and got into the driver's seat, following Cecilia.

''...''

''...''

For a while, the car was quiet.

''You know, Yuri.''

''...What?''

''I'm already taken.''

''...''

Yuria nearly smacked herself in the face several times as she drove.

Between the first few checkpoints, there was only a vast plain with relatively weak monsters. One could even say the scenery was perfect for a picnic.

Yuria herself was used to roaming this place and relaxing, yet her heart was in turmoil. Sitting beside the princess was the culprit herself—the obedient-looking, delicate girl named Cecilia. On her face was an elegant, almost sunny smile, as if she were unaware of her sins.

'So this is why mom told me to be careful of women...'

Yuria bitterly thought. She nearly got deceived!

Alas, perhaps it was fortunate that Cecilia clearly rejected her instead of keeping their boundaries hazy. Thinking back, there was no way a beauty like this wasn't taken by someone, nobles or magnates... she almost ran the risk of tangling with such powerful people.

After all, she wasn't a particularly prominent princess, politically speaking, and she didn't have the confidence to go against the empire's high nobles in the first place.

Suppressing the rising frustration and regrets in her heart, Yuria Visette ultimately chose chastity. From now on, she would never poke her nose into this woman's business or naively receive her teasing flirts anymore!

''Phew...''

Finishing that silent oath greatly liberated the princess, especially her swaying tail. With an eased mind, her driving also became more stable, more relaxed.

''...''

Still, was it Cecilia's nudging presence, or was it her damned cat's curiosity? Yuria couldn't swallow the words that floated briefly in her mind,

''...But what kind of jerk lets you go here alone? Your lover, I mean.''

''Yes...?''

Cecilia was just as stunned as Yuria. Until now, she had considered her journey as only hers, as if she were a separate person, so when Yuria asked her a question about her lovers so straightforwardly and brashly, her brain's CPUs were practically overheating.

On the other side, the princess promptly misunderstood this as her words offended Cecilia, so she began to frantically apologize, which was only met with awkward responses.

For a long time, the mood in the car never seemed quite right.