Chapter 7

## Chapter Chronology

**The Peach and the Peach** is the 7th chapter of the Peach Boy Riverside manga series.

## Summary

Sally and Mikoto are shown sitting next to each other under a big tree. Mikoto asks her if she has cut her hair and tells her that he likes her new look, resulting of Sally blushing heavily. She tells him that the main reason for this was for her to show her father how serious she is about going on an adventure. Mikoto asks her if it was tough for her travelling all on her own. The princess adds that she has met several companions on the way and has experienced things which otherwise wouldn't be possible if she has stayed in her kingdom.

She then out of nowhere asks Mikoto why the humanity hates the demi-humans and the ogres. Mikoto gives her a hypothetical example of a bear-like demi-human who has killed a human in front of his child and then asks her what would the kid do. He tells her that at first the boy will be sad but then he will seek revenge for the death of his parent and adds that if he has the power he will exterminate their whole kind. Sally says to him that the first companion she met while travelling is a harefolk, who saved her life several times, and tells Mikoto that she has also came to the conclusion that other races can coexists together. Mikoto smiles and says that she might be one of a few if not the only one who is aware of this fact. She is surprised to hear it and gets motivated because, as she is the only one that has experienced it, she can make people tolerate each other more. She then asks Mikoto if it would be weird if she travel around telling people to make compromises. He tells her that it wouldn't but also that it will be a hard journey. She takes is as a challenge and asks if Mikoto wants to travel with her. Unfortunately he tells her that he prefers travelling alone but assures her that they will meet again and he will be stocked with stories to tell when it happens. Dog tells his companion that Sally is still watching him and is revealed that he is actually running away as if he turns his back he will takes her offer.

In the meantime Hawthorn is drinking a glass of water on the street when he suddenly catch a glimpse of a familiar face. He is surprised to see Bellett and is even more shocked that he is alive, as he is revealed to be one of the Rimdarl Knights. With tears in his eyes Bellett tells him that he isn't sure what happened either and that he somehow ended up in the West Forest. Hawthorn ask him to follow him inside the inn. He explains that their kingdom was attacked by Oni and was completely wiped down, much to Bellett shock, and then he asks him how he managed to survive. The boy tells him that at the time he was on duty, guarding the library, when suddenly a mysterious woman appeared. As he proceeded to ask her how she entered, he suddenly found himself in a forest. He adds that he has met another two apprentices, named Tom and Jeff, but as the woman ordered them to work for her, he got scared and ran. Carrots tells the group that if she has used a teleportation magic, the woman is probably a magician and the only possible reason for her to do so is to either kill or eat them. Hawthorn scolds her and accuse her that she has made Bellett even more anxious. The boy apologise and says that he isn't worthy of being a knight, but is then comforted by his captain, who tells him that as long as he is feeling bad for it it is alright. Hawson wonders if it is the Witch of the West Forest when Sally suddenly returns. She is surprised to see a new unknown to her face but then she introduce herself. Frau tells Sally that a witch has used magic to help them escape, which shock the blonde girl, as she has never seen magic before. Sally then ask Carrot if the explosion she did back at the kingdom was magic but is answered that it was actually her kihou.

Meanwhile somewhere inside a huge tree a mysterious figure is observing the group.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

1. Saltherine Aldarake
2. Mikoto Kibitsu
3. Moki (*Flashback*)
4. Dog
5. Hawthorn Grattor
6. Bellett (*Debut*)
7. Carrot
8. Frau
9. Winnie Emex (*Debut*)