"Teacher, you should eat too! This is really delicious, trust me!"
Just as the man was feeling somewhat dazed, Artoria raised her bright, smiling face and held out a rabbit leg with the most meat on it to her teacher.
That radiant smile was intensely infectious. The man's tense features relaxed despite himself, and he helplessly accepted his student's offering, patiently finishing the rabbit leg beneath the girl's eager, satisfied gaze.
"Phew, I'm so full."
After stuffing herself, the deeply satisfied Artoria rubbed her swollen belly and stretched happily.
"Come on. Time to get moving."
Samael habitually raised a hand toward the little head swaying about before him and spoke irritably.
"Teacher, don't knock my head. It'll make me stupid."
The girl pouted her cherry lips, tightened her little face, and waved her pink fists in protest.
"Give me a break. With your intelligence, a few more knocks might actually knock some sense into you."
Samael raised a brow and snorted, casually extinguishing the campfire before getting up and moving on.
"Really?"
"Of course not!"
"Waaah, Teacher, you tricked me again!"
"Who told you to never learn? You believe everything anyone says."
One large and one small figure darted through the woods, their bickering scattering along the road and adding a touch of liveliness and amusement to the journey.
Near the edge of the Nameless Forest, Samael stopped to get his bearings. Though she had just been scolded, the little girl bore no grudge at all. She came over again, put on a stern little face, and spoke with unusual seriousness.
"Teacher, I have a very serious question to ask you."
"Go ahead."
Samael glanced back at the little girl and answered tersely.
Artoria looked at the staff in her hand, then at the ornate sheathed longsword at Samael's side.