Aias: from a world of kaijus to a world of fantasy and magic

Chapter 86

I stared at the girl who just knocked me over, blushing like a bright tomato. I study her mannerisms, expression, and body language because I don't know who she is or why she is in the middle of nowhere.

With pinkish blonde hair and amber eyes, her clothing was that of an adventurer, featuring some rather expensive pieces of jewelry and high-end equipment. She looked like... how do I put this? She gave off the impression of a small animal, like a squirrel or chipmunk, more cute than pretty.

Huh... why is she staring at me like that? Those eyes... they're the same kind I always see at balls and parties, from all those young male aristocrats my age.

Don't tell me... She—oh, you have got to be kidding me.

Getting up and dusting the dirt off my new cloak, I offer a hand to help her up, wondering maybe, just maybe, she is suffering from a concussion after she collided with me instead of whatever this is.

Quickly, she turned her head away in embarrassment and took my hand to help her get up.

Oh, great, looking at her and feeling the palms of her hand, not only does she have a crush on me, but I think she's also a noble.

What have I gotten myself into? Today is ruined. I just want to spend some time fighting some monsters, but I can't because of her.

Mentally sighing to myself inside, I spoke first.

"Hello, I'm Blake. What is your name?"

Blake is the name I just came up with on the spot because I can't have her know my first alias, Nyx, or my real name in this world, Rita.

Would my eye color, which is blue right now, do, since right now, I am controlling the mana in my mana channels?

Shyly responding, she said, stuttering between her words. "I—I'm Aria Cindral. I do—do apologize for colliding into you, please—please forgive me."

The wording in her voice and how she said it felt like she was a noble of low birth, which, honestly, was better than what I initially thought, but it doesn't really explain all the accessories and gear she was wearing, like that amulet of protection, an expensive artifact capable of shielding its wearer from harm up to a certain limit.

"No, it's fine, but what were you running away from?"

Surprised by my question, like she finally realized something after staring at my eyes.

"We were attacked!"

"We?" Who's we?

"My party, monsters attacked us. Edwin, Serell, Eric, Isaac, and me. We ran, but somewhere along the way, I got separated."

"Monsters? What kind?"

"Wolves, I think; they were massive and had white fur."

She seemed panicked when she said that, and I'm guessing she was referring to a direwolf.

"I'm really sorry, but I have to go."

As she ran off after saying that, I couldn't help but think that she was brave for sure, but also dumb. Going back for her party like that was only going to land her in massive danger.

I was just about to stop her and offer her help when I heard a group of muffled footsteps that weren't human through the forest coming in our direction. And a second later, three direwolves burst into view, sprinting after her at blinding speed—with one already lunging for her with its massive mouth to take her away.

Reflexively. I grabbed her arm as time slowed down around me. I pulled her away just before she was about to be bitten by the direwolf lunging at her.

Seeing them, I can't help but inadvertently smile slightly, which goes unbeknownst to me as Aria is in my arms.