She had just responded to a name that should not have been hers.
And with unnatural naturalness.
"Um, Hati-dono... just now, that was——"
"Sorry for pulling something like a sneak attack."
Mist lowered her gaze.
After a brief pause, she spoke.
"You had noticed."
"Yeah."
I told her about using [Sleep] in the Mills Ruins.
How, after it took effect, Mist's sleeping form had her ears and facial features change.
And the reasoning that led me to conclude her true identity was Seras Ashrain.
I explained everything.
"I see... that's how it was."
She accepted it more readily than I had expected.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of telling anyone. Fortunately, I'm not short on money, so I don't need the bounty. There's no benefit for me in exposing you. What I need is your ability as a warrior."
Mist—rather, Seras Ashrain—gave a complicated smile.
"The reason you hesitated earlier was whether or not to reveal your true identity, right?"
"——!"
"If you traveled with me while keeping your identity hidden, one problem would arise. It probably has to do with sleeping, doesn't it?"
Seras gave a start.
"Y-Yes."
At an inn, we could take separate rooms.
But in the Golden Habitat Monster Zone, that wouldn't be possible.
"From what I understand, when you fall asleep, the power maintaining your disguise temporarily lifts, and your changed face and ears return to normal. But——if I already know your true identity, then even if the disguise drops while you sleep, it won't be a problem."
"...Yes."
"Yet earlier, even though you almost revealed yourself, you couldn't bring yourself to cross that line."
As a result, I had pulled her over to the side of making the decision.
"Like I said before, I have no intention of selling you out to anyone. There's no reason for me to hand over combat strength I need to someone else. Besides, knowing your true identity makes it easier to coordinate in emergencies."
Seras remained silent for a while.
Eventually, as if she had made up her mind, she began to speak.
"The nature of my contracted spirits is slightly different from ordinary ones."
Seras placed a hand over her chest.
"When I borrow the power of the spirits I've contracted with, I must offer them my 'desire for sleep.'"
To borrow a spirit's power, one must offer the desire most essential to them.
That was how Seras explained it.
For her, the most vital desire was the need for sleep.
In a sense, it could be called a form of detachment from other desires.
"In short, using the spirits' power makes you unable to sleep?"
"Yes. I can manage very shallow sleep—alternating between slight wakefulness and drowsiness—but I can no longer achieve deep sleep."
I see.
That explained her ongoing sleep deprivation.
It felt like borrowing sleep in advance.
And offering that borrowed sleep time to the spirits.
A high elf who sacrifices sleep to wield spirit power.
"..."
Needing sleep but being completely unable to get it.
I had experienced such nights occasionally in the previous world.
It must feel like that, only constant.
And with no proper sleep ever coming afterward...
In a way, it was a horrifying state.
Seras had contracted with three spirits.
The spirit that altered her face and ears was the light spirit.
The one that sensed truth was the wind spirit.
The one that reinforced her weapons was the ice spirit.
Generating armor and equipment was apparently the combined power of all three.
"I can only sleep once I have fully paid the price to the spirits... so at the very least, during that time, the spirit technique that changes my face and ears is released."
Sleep = return to original appearance.
"That's why you avoided sharing rooms at cheap inns. To keep your true face hidden from others while sleeping."
"Yes."
She probably hadn't intended to sleep in the Mills Ruins either.
No—she had declared she couldn't sleep.
She had assumed there was no risk of exposure because she couldn't sleep.
But the unexpected [Sleep] had forced her into slumber, releasing the spirit technique.
"And about those four you defeated——"
Lowering her gaze, Seras began to explain.
"They were pursuing me. There was a time when I was sleeping in a certain place... and they saw me while I was asleep. Naturally, since I was sleeping, the disguise technique was not active."
The disguise spirit technique could not alter features below the head.
If other distinguishing traits matched, tracking was still possible.
Those four had terrible personalities, but they seemed quite capable...
"The Sacred Sentinels—White Walkers. With those four gone, my journey has gained considerable leeway. I am truly grateful to you."
At that moment, Seras's head emitted a faint light.
Her appearance returned.
To the form I had seen in the ruins.
Her ears were pointed.
Her beauty had increased even further.
Seeing her awake gave a different impression.
"Since you've released the disguise——"
I stood up.
"Does that mean I can take it that you trust me?"
Seras also rose from the edge of the bed.
"Yes. I will trust you, Hati-dono. I believe you are——"
She looked straight into my eyes.
With those clear, unclouded eyes that had grown even more transparent now that the disguise was gone.
"A person worthy of trust."
...
Trust, huh.
"Call me Touka."
"Huh?"
Seras's eyes widened.
"Let me tell you one more secret. My real name is Touka Mimori. In exchange for you not revealing this name to anyone else, I also promise not to disclose your real name without permission."
Revealing one's true name.
A message of trust.
For someone like Seras, this approach should be effective.
Binding her further with the chain called trust.
"Hati—no, Touka-dono."
The tension around Seras's eyes softened.
It seemed to have the intended effect.
She extended her hand.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Seras Ashrain. As your escort, I will accompany you through the Golden Habitat Monster Zone."
I took her hand.
"Yeah. Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes."
I glanced toward the door.
"Pigi-maru."
"Pi."
Pigi-maru came squishing over.
Until now, it had been stationed by the door, checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Pyuu〜♪"
Pigi-maru turned light pink and chirped at Seras's feet.
Seras gave a graceful smile and slowly knelt down.
"Pigi-maru-dono, allow me to say once more—pleased to meet you."
"Pi♪"