After rejoining the search team, we questioned her about her circumstances.
Her name was Rami, and she was from the Garuda tribe. Aside from those two facts, she stubbornly refused to talk about herself.
Considering everything that had happened, the most likely theory was that she was a survivor of the Garuda tribe wiped out by the Demon King Army. And knowing how vicious that army was, I understood all too well why she wouldn't want to utter a word about it. After all, in the end, I could never bring myself to tell anyone about how Char looked in her final moments either.
I had expected some difficulty, but then she hit us with a troublesome demand:
"I'm coming along on this exploration of yours!"
She adamantly insisted on joining us.
From her words and actions in the dream, I knew she had immense confidence in her combat prowess. Even so, our opponent was that Aldebaran. If her confidence was mere arrogance, letting her tag along carelessly could put our entire party at risk of total annihilation.
I glanced over at Chato beside me, and he gave a firm nod. Apparently, he was of the exact same mind.
"Sorry, but you'd just be dead weight."
At Chato's blunt dismissal, Rami's brow furrowed in annoyance. In one fluid motion, she dropped low and swept Chato's legs out from under him.
"Whoa?!"
As he flipped through the air, just before he slammed into the ground, she seized him by the collar and hauled him back onto his feet.
"Who's dead weight, exactly?" Rami asked with a blatant, sugary smile.
"Yeah, yeah, fine, you pass. You guys good with that too?" Chato replied, giving a defeated shrug.
(He didn't even blow a fuse at that... Has Chato actually grown up?) Tama whispered into my ear.
(Yeah! I'm shocked too! I totally expected him to pop a vein and fly into a rage...) I nodded vigorously in heartfelt agreement.
"Gil, Tama, I can hear you two!" Chato barked with his usual fiery shout.
"I vote she passes too. You're pretty tough, little lady!" Bū gave a boisterous laugh, slapping Rami on the back.
"Wh-What do you think you're doing?!"
Caught off guard, Rami raised her voice in protest, but Bū simply rallied the group.
"Now that that's settled, let's get moving!"
With that, Bū led the way forward.
(Sorry. Bū is always like that, so don't take it to heart,) I murmured so only she could hear.
"W-Well, fine, whatever! I'll let it slide!"
As Rami looked away with a huff, I managed a wry smile of my own and fell into step behind the others.