"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The spacious, luxurious living room was almost absurdly grand, yet the atmosphere was rather peculiar.
Frieren, Elaina, Fern, Übel, and Eule were gathered around the still-shaken Kanne and Lawine. Their expressions varied as they watched the two girls' pallid faces and horrified looks.
Thank goodness!
Under the glow of a gentle healing spell that Elaina had clearly used many times before, and which seemed to soothe the mind, Kanne and Lawine's ragged breathing gradually settled. Color soon returned to their pale faces.
Though deep in their memories, the intense pain of being bitten, chewed, and swallowed by that terrifying giant bear—and the dreadful feeling of despair—might still linger, their reason had returned. Their subconscious minds clearly told them that it had all been an illusion: a false death.
"Phew—"
"Huff—huff—"
Kanne patted her rather ample chest. It took her a long while before she finally murmured, still shaken, with relief:
"Th-that was terrifying..."
"I really never want to experience that again..."
"Ugh—"
As she spoke, her voice took on a faint, tearful quaver.
"..."
Lawine was doing better. With her arms wrapped around herself as she curled up on the sofa, she regained her composure more quickly.
"!!"
Then she took a deep breath and abruptly shot a sharp glare at Laufen, who was trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. Her voice was thick with barely restrained fury:
"Laufen!"
She practically ground out the name through clenched teeth.
"You—"
"Did. You. Have. Fun?!"
She had initially wanted to say something else, but in the end, all that came out was those three words, one at a time, along with a terrifying expression that looked ready to lunge over and take a bite out of her.
"..."
Under Lawine's murderous stare, Laufen squirmed uncomfortably, then