ACIEL'S DIARY : INDIGO
SHEET 4.7: PRONUNCIATION & INTENTION

However, the forest in the mountains is as usual. There were quite a number of Spirits passing by, I tried to ignore them but this growing number made it difficult for me to do so.

It also made Mona uneasy from earlier, there were some little Spirits she could see but for the larger rest she could not see them and could only sense their presence. You can't see anything but know if they're there, it's scary enough.

Mona looked at me from earlier to ask for certainty about the situation around, I also tried to ignore her gaze. Saying unnecessary things would instead strengthen her anxiety.

And feeling restless when you're in the middle of nature is a bad thing. When the Spirits sense that something is strange, they will definitely come after us and take us somewhere.

Therefore the only thing we could do was to remain silent and act as usual, observing the medicinal plants growing under the trees and rocks while noting a few things about them.

Until finally, our first task was completed.

"We have completed the task to observe the Forest Fern plant. Aciel, you can take a picture of him for document creation later. Mona, take one of the Forest Ferns, we'll take it as a sample."

"OK~"

"I-I understand."

I immediately took out a small camera and photographed a few pieces of Forest Fern in front of me. After that Mona took one of them and put it in a plastic bag.

Ella confirmed it and started taking notes on the paper on her chest board. He bit the pen and flipped the paper then looked at it with a face that looked a little troubled.

"Rubborn girl, is there something that's stuck?"

"Huh? Ah, ja. Since we have already completed the Forest Fern, what remains of the next medicinal plant is Ilalang and Paku Rane then proceed to observe the rabbit. The problem is the location point between the two plants and the rabbits ... Hm? Bastard, did you say something to mock me just now?"

He realized it long enough.

"uh? Whatchu mean? Did I say something weird?"

I shrugged and put on a stupid face, making Ella put on an unconvinced expression and look at Mona beside her.

"Mona, did he say anything earlier?"

"Ah? Uh ... Um ... No, Aciel didn't say anything."

Mona lowered her head and Ella brought her gaze closer to the girl then sighed and knocked on her chest board once more.

"Well, forget it. Where I was ... Ah, the location of the two medicinal herbs and the rabbits were quite far apart. With the location of plants in the southwest part of the mountains and the location of rabbits in the northern part of the mountains. Right now we are at the southeast point, how is this? Do we have to get to the Southwest point and catch up with him to the North first?"

I approached Ella and saw a map showing many points on the mountain range where we were standing at the moment. That is indeed true, the location of the two is quite far apart and it will take too much time to visit them one by one.

I don't know if the six hours given are still time to do that, we've spent about an hour looking for the Forest Fern and observing it.

Which means there are only about five hours left to complete the task. Maybe the time will be very tight if we have to do it in sequence like this. Then the only option is to do it at the same time.

It's just a task of formality but we have to get it done right, after all it will still get value.

Well, there's no other choice, right?

"What if we split up?"

I raised my hand and looked at the two girls beside me, both of them looking at me in different ways but showing the same thing. Ella showed a look of disbelief, while Mona showed a look of worry. I tried to smile in response to that.

"Dissociated, huh? It's not that I didn't think about it at all anyway, but parting ways while inside a mountain like this is a bit dangerous and there's a chance that you'll get lost. It's precisely the reason why the teachers divided us into groups of three to avoid the worst possibility, no one will help you if you're alone."

To be honest, I thought if he might agree to it easily and let me go alone but it didn't happen. Instead he felt objected to it and thought of some possible options that would occur.

I guess I subconsciously underestimated it, huh? It's a little embarrassing. I had to rebuild the judgment I gave Ella.

"E-Ella is right, it's dangerous to go alone in a mountain like this. Maybe we should do it sequentially even though it would risk exceeding the deadline? At least we won't part with it."

Mona also expressed her opinion. Even though his gaze was still looking the other way, he could at least express it.

"Hm? Bastard, why are you smiling? Are you mocking us?"

Ahaz.

"No, that's not what I meant. How, huh? I'm used to spending a lot of time in the woods and the mountains and that makes me pretty sure I don't get lost. That's why you can accompany Mona to a closer plant point and I'm going to the rabbit point. That's faster."

"You're used to spending time in the woods? What do you usually do when you play there? It seems like the rumor that you're a weird kid is true."

This girl, saying something as subtle as that.

"Ella, don't say something like that. Not that I told you Aciel—"

"Ah, I understand so don't bring your face closer like that!!"

After getting rid of Mona who kept her face close, Ella coughed and continued.

"After all, I won't approve. We will go in sequence even though it will make us exceed the given time limit. This decision is unanimous, objections will not be accepted."

Mona nodded her head several times enthusiastically as a form of appreciation. But at that moment, I came up with another idea to get a way out of this.

Maybe it's not very visible but I'm actually the type of person who would do something with totality. If I decide to do it, then the only option is to finish it in good shape.

Therefore, Ella's decision that would lead us to the bad end of being late for the task I couldn't accept.

So, there was no choice but to use the option I just got a moment ago.

"Are you afraid to walk without a boy?"

I added a thin smile and looked at Ella, said that one line of short sentences lightly and raised an eyebrow.

Ella, as if in disbelief about what I just said, opened her mouth.

"Huh? You ... What is ... Huh uh?"

On the other hand, Mona also put on a look of confusion and looked between me and Ella, getting ready for the worst possible event.

With the slightly heavy atmosphere between us, I inhaled a breath and put on the same expression, saying it once again.

"I said, are you afraid to walk without a boy and hold me back from going like that? You should have told me from the beginning and I'll take it straight away. Geez, you really can't be straightforward."

I shrugged and sighed, making a mocking pose.

Ella was silent for a moment to understand what I was saying and finally, she gritted her teeth and stared intently at me.

Seeing that look made me momentarily regret the words I had spoken and hope to pull them back.

But it can't be done.

"Say that one more time. I really hate being underestimated, you know? Come here." Come here."

Ella walked closer towards me, clenched her hands and inhaled a lot of breaths using her mouth. At every step he took, it added to the amount of pressure that came and made my stomach hurt a little.

Scary, what should I do about this?

But before Ella could get any further, Mona stepped in front of her and spread her arms and nodded firmly.

"Ella, relax."

Ella stopped her steps and looked at Mona, then clicked her tongue in annoyance and threw some things at the grass. Then she held Mona's hand, taking her walking away.

"Ella?!"

"Already, Mona. Let him do as he pleases. I was trying to pay a little attention but seeing him retort in such a way, that damn pisses me off."

Mona turned to me with a worried look and I returned with a smile, waving my hand. It didn't take long for the two to disappear behind the trees.

I took the note and map that Ella threw on the grass earlier and put it on the breastplate, then arranged it with the compass.

"It seems I'm overreacting. I was going to joke."

Damn, I have to apologize later.