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"Sorry, but... after you get to that village, King..."

According to Snow, it would be fine if Coai just summoned her after he reached the destination village.
Indeed, when Coai entertained her... he had done so several times.
He would travel alone through dangerous paths and roads with nothing special to see... and once he arrived at a place she could enjoy without worry, he would summon her...

Until now, he had done it that way out of consideration for her, to keep her from danger and boredom. So, he never felt bad about it.
But this time, he would be summoning her to a remote village that seemed to hold no joy, solely for his own request.
That weighed heavily on Coai's heart.

"But... are you really sure?"
"I think it's better to just get it done quickly rather than dawdling here."
She seemed firm in her conviction that it was better for teaching grafting that way.

"Besides..."
"Hm?"
"I mean, I want to show you I can be useful sometimes, you know?"
she said, her smile deepening.

"...Ah, thank you."

It felt as if his heart was being seared, yet it was also incredibly joyous.
Feeling this, he found himself taking her hand without thinking.
Overcome by the feeling, his voice caught in his throat.

"H... mmm??"
Immediately after, the color of her smile changed.
Her eyes took on a mischievous glint...