Commemoration Short Story #3: Jungle Expedition with Yuri

It happened some time after Rest had taken the entrance exam for the Royal Academy.

“Hmm… it seems we’ve gotten lost, haven’t we!”

“…”

Hands on her hips, a short-haired redheaded girl dressed in practical trousers made the bold declaration.

Her name was Yuri Catreya—the daughter of the Marquis Catreya family.
Currently in the middle of a grand runaway-from-home escapade, she was a mere acquaintance to Rest, having met him briefly during the academy’s entrance exam.

Now, Rest and Yuri were surrounded by thick, overgrown trees.

A jungle.
From somewhere far off, the distinctive cries of tropical birds echoed through the humid air.

“Wait… why? Why am I in a place like this—alone—with you, Yuri?”

He had no memory of how they’d gotten here.

He couldn’t recall meeting Yuri, nor agreeing to travel with her into this jungle.
Could it be… that they’d been kidnapped?

“Rest, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you into this mess.”

“Ah, right… well, as long as you feel sorry, I guess…”

Holding his head as a dull ache pulsed behind his eyes, Rest sighed.
He had no idea what led to this bizarre situation—but for now, figuring out how to escape took priority.

“For the time being, I’ll fly up using magic and scout the area. If I can get a look from above, I might see something.”

“Got it. I’ll leave it to you.”

“…Huh?”

Before Rest could react, Yuri stepped close—and then climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

“Wha—why are you on me!?”

“Aren’t you going up to check from above?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Then I’m coming too. Please.”

“…Fine.”

He hadn’t said she was coming along, but arguing with Yuri was usually pointless.

“Mmm…”

The sudden closeness made him acutely aware of Yuri’s warmth and softness against his back.
Though her build was lithe and athletic—like a feline predator—her chest was… notably soft and full.

“Something wrong?”

“N-No… Levitation.”

Rest muttered the spell, lifting them both smoothly off the ground.

He ascended until the jungle canopy spread out below them in a green sea, scanning the endless expanse.

“…Where is this place?”

All he could see was forest.
An unbroken ocean of trees, stretching as far as the eye could reach.

“Don’t tell me… did I get reincarnated into another world again?”

“Rest, look! There’s a village over there!”

“Huh?”

He squinted, but no matter how he strained his eyes, he couldn’t see what she was pointing at.

“Maybe it’s a vision thing… with Yuri, I guess that’s possible.”

Yuri wasn’t good with magic, but her physical abilities were exceptional.
If she said she saw a settlement, maybe she really did.

“Alright, let’s head that way. Wind Control.”

“Whoa!”

A gust of magic wind propelled them forward.

They glided over the treetops—not too fast, but about the speed of a small motorbike.

All around were glimpses of animals and birds, but no signs of civilization.

“Hmm… maybe this is like the Amazon? We’ve really wound up somewhere insane.”

“I’m so sorry for getting you caught up in this—”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it. It’s fine.”

He didn’t even want to know what exactly he’d been caught up in anymore.

Maybe he’d ask later—maybe. Right now, he was too tired to care.

After about thirty minutes of flying, they finally reached the village Yuri had spotted.

“So it really was here…”

It looked like a stereotypical native settlement— rows of wooden, tent-like structures and large animal bones strung up as decorations.

“It’s got a pretty sketchy vibe. I’ve got a bad feeling about this… let’s stay quiet and—”

“Hey! Anybody here!?”

“…Were you even listening!?”

Completely ignoring Rest’s warning, Yuri shouted into the village.

And then—though the place had seemed deserted—people began to emerge one after another from the huts.

“Outsiders! Outsiders have come!”

“Raise your spears! Don’t let the outsiders set foot here!”

Humans wearing animal-shaped masks appeared — about twenty of them.
The natives, it seemed, were armed with crude spears made of stone and wood, and they charged forward, radiating hostility.

“Kill them!”

“Oh, Rest! I have a feeling we’re not exactly being welcomed here!”

“Ugh, I knew this would happen!”

“I’m truly sorry for dragging you into this—”

“Enough with that! If you’re really sorry, then mean it!”

“Kill them all!!!”

The natives attacked, hurling spears and leaping with bizarre cries.

“Geez, fine! Guess there’s no helping it… [Lightning Orb]!”

There was no other choice.
Rest unleashed magic, striking the natives with a surge of lightning.

“Gyaaaaaaahhhh!!”

“It’s Kamui! They’re using the power of Kamui!”

“Hold them down! If we get close, they can’t hurt us!”

“Like I’d let that happen! Rest, I’ll protect you!”

Yuri grabbed one of the charging natives and threw him effortlessly.
Her slender arms shouldn’t have been capable of such power — she tossed them around as if they were dolls.
Rest took care of the distant attackers with magic, while Yuri handled those who came near.

Soon, when every native had been defeated, they all fell to their knees, pressing their hands to the ground in reverence.

“Please forgive us, O mighty ones!”

“You who wield the power of Kamui — you are gods!”

“…Now what? They suddenly started worshipping us?”

Rest sighed, feeling a headache coming on from the nonsensical turn of events.

Then, from deeper within the settlement, a small masked figure appeared.

“O children of the gods who wield sacred power, please forgive our rudeness.”

The figure — judging by the voice, likely a young girl — spoke fluently, unlike the others.

“Please, hear our plea. We are cornered and desperate… that is why we attacked you.”

“Rest, I don’t really understand, but let’s hear her out!”

“Yeah… sure… whatever…”

Yuri was strangely enthusiastic, while Rest could only hold his throbbing head.

(This kind of thing… can’t be real. It has to be a dream…)

“Huh…?”

The very next instant, the world flipped upside down.
The jungle scenery twisted — and suddenly, everything changed.

“Rest!?”

Yuri’s voice echoed — and then her figure warped and vanished.
What appeared instead was Rest’s familiar bedroom at the Rosemary Marquis estate.

Soaked in sweat, he sat up on his bed.

“No way… it was all a dream…?”

He was almost relieved that some grand adventure hadn’t actually begun.
And yet — he couldn’t shake the feeling that the story wasn’t over.

(Will I… dream the continuation someday? No… no way. That’s impossible… absolutely not!)

“…I should get changed.”

Shivering from an uneasy premonition, Rest got up from his bed.

“Rest and Yuri’s Jungle Adventure”

To be continued…?

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