Chapter 13
「Alright, that marks the end of today’s lessons. Good work everyone」
With a soft sound akin to gentle clapping, teacher Finley closed his book.
Shortly after, following Finley’s voice, the sound of a bell could be heard. It was the bell signaling the end of the lessons.
With this, we are done for today, huh? Having finished my duties as a student, I took a small breath.
You could say that the contents of the lessons weren’t hard, but maybe because I didn’t feel like taking them, I felt tired.
Half a day of lessons wears me out more than an entire day of training. It seems like the fact that I’m worse at using my brain than moving my body, hasn’t changed from my past life.
「Ah! Today was also tiring. However, with this, we are done for the week!」
While stretching his body with all his strength, the one who shouted happily, was Sid, who sat behind me.
…Judging from his presence during class, I’m pretty sure he spent the entire class sleeping, and he’s still tired?
That being said, I guess you could say that, that is also part of his charm.
The class that had been silent until a while ago, came back to life.
What each student was doing varied. There were those who were stretching, those who were packing their things, those who stood up after having finished their preparations and so on.
I was usually one of those that finished packing early and left the classroom, but today I had something to do in the classroom.
「It’s over! Good work, Slava-kun」
「Yeah, you too, Celia」
While making my preparations slower than usual, Celia came over with her bag on hand from the distant desk.
That’s right, today was the day previous to a student’s precious day off. Since we had not hung out together for a while, we stayed behind to make plans for it.
In this academy, the dormitories are separated by genders. Because you are normally not allowed to enter the dormitory of the opposite gender, once you leave the school, there’s no place to sit back, relax, and talk.
That’s why we are borrowing this place.
If you looked around, you could see that there were other students apart from us in this classroom, happily talking with each other.
「Oh, you came Celia. Hey, don’t forget about me!」
「Ahaha, good work Sid-kun!」
Sid raised his voice because she had not called his name, however, I couldn’t feel any anger from it.
Celia knew that…it was like mutual trust between us, she just laughed it out.
「More importantly, what are we going to do tomorrow? Are we going to town after all?」
「I guess so? Do you have somewhere you want to go, Slava-kun?」
…Oh, right. We were making plans for tomorrow.
Hmm. Now that I think about it, nothing really comes to mind. What came to mind were places like the mountain or the river but…those were dangerous places that I used to train.
「Not really. As expected, isn’t the town just fine? Once we get there, we can think about what to do」
「There are lots of things in town after all! Alright, we are going to town tomorrow then?」
In the end, we settled with walking around town, because it was a safe choice.
Even if we walked without any particular aim, as long as I was with my friends, it’d be fun.
Gathering like this to talk without any objective, might be a way to play for us. Even though we had already finished deciding what our plan was going to be, Sid and Celia didn’t return to the dorm immediately. Just talking like this, was fun.
While replying to Celia and Sid, I looked at the reddening sky.
…Times like this, are also quite nice.
From their conversations,their cheerfulness and friendliness was conveyed to me. If I ever had grandchildren, would it be something like this?
If that was the case, it’s not like I can’t understand Chester’s transformation.
Remembering the smile full of happiness of my undesirable friend, who I lost against, the corners of my mouth suddenly started to warp.
…It was at that moment,that a small storm assaulted the school.
Suddenly, from the entrance of the classroom, a sound akin to an iron ball crushing a wooden board could be heard.
From the sensation I felt from the sound, I believe that had actually been the case. The moment I turned around to look at that direction, I was able to see the pitiful state of the door.
Even if it’s a wooden door, a normal person would need to put some effort to destroy it. To do it without any signs of bloodlust, who is this person?…
That’s what I would think if this a few weeks ago. The students inside the class were shaking in fear because of the big noise. They tried to calm down without making a ruckus.
Everyone’s gazes focused on the place, where the door that was mercilessly blown away, was initially at.
The figure that appeared slowly, was as expected…the girl that I’ve become acquainted with lately.
「Pardon me…」
The one that came into the classroom was Sheryl, with her glittering silver hair waving.
Several months ago, I fought with her in Chester’s mansion. Because she has become considerably attached to me…when it’s just before a day off, she sometimes does things like this.
At first, everyone thought it was an attack from a djinn…and it caused quite the uproar, however, once you get to know her, she’s fundamentally harmless.
As a result of explaining things thoroughly, nowadays it’s gotten to the point where, the students just get surprised and think 「Oh, it’s her again」, elves are surprisingly tough.
By the way, Sheryl. I believe you have to say that, before breaking the door.
「Oh, it’s big sis!」
Sid, who idolizes Sheryl like this and calls her big sis. Apparently, it was a 「Complete defeat」, could it be that he has challenged her to a match?
Anyway, it means that to some extent, they don’t shrink from seeing a half djinn anymore, and have gotten used to it.
In that sense, you could say that the only one that has not gotten used to this kind of situations, is me. Each time Sheryl comes, I take the stance of trying to avoid any problems from surfacing.
「Ahaha, Sheryl-chan, long time no see…」
「…Long time no see」
…However, Celia is also one of those that can’t get used to this. For someone like her who doesn’t discriminate and can talk with anyone, the fact that she built a wall around her like this, came off as a surprise to me.
I wonder if she had bad experiences with djinns or Sheryl.
As I’m friends with both of them, I’d like them to be on good terms, it would be nice if I could act as a bridge between them.
…Anyway. For Sheryl to have come to visit the school like this, means that her guardian should have come too.
「Hey, you are there, right?」
「Of course. I’d have come out even if you hadn’t said anything」
After Sheryl, from the broken door, a white haired old man appeared.
There’s no way that this stupid old man wouldn’t have come with her after all. I should probably hear the details from him.
While keeping track of Sheryl and Sid, who were making strange poses, I stared at Chester.
「So? What do you want this time? Though, I already have an idea without you saying anything」
As I called this stupid old man, who was captivated by his granddaughter’s cute gestures, Chester fixed his stupid face and turned around to face me.
「Ah? Well, it’s probably what you are thinking about. Even if I say so myself, she has endured pretty well. She has mostly never got irritated either, as a reward, won’t you come to our house tomorrow?」
「Oh?」
Because of Chester’s unexpected words, I unconciously let that out.
Sheryl has endured, huh? Having known her for only this amount of time, you could say that’s some impressive progress.
In the old days…that being said, it’d only be a few months ago, she would have started hitting things as soon as something happened. From the way he talked, it seems like it’s not like she has completely stopped, but if the frequency has decreased to this extent, it’s true that I’d like to give her a reward.
「Normally I would have said yes but…unfortunately, I have plans for tomorrow. It’s something we’ve been planning for a while, sorry about that, would it be fine if I went the day after tomorrow?」
However, I had already made a promise for tomorrow. Sheryl doesn’t have many friends…well, you could say that there’s no one else she can come in contact with other than me, I’d like to give her preference.
Even then, my friends…especially Celia, are really looking forward to tomorrow. I can’t really bring myself to neglect them.
As expected, I can’t really give them the ok while having a prior arrangement.
My undesirable friend was astonished at the fact that I was doing something appropriate for my real age, even then, Chester managed to move his mouth.
「…Oh…well, nothing we can do if you had previous plans, is what I’d like to say, but…」
「……Slava-kun」
While I was waiting for Chester, who was hesitating to say something, finish talking, I felt an impact on my back that could have mowed down a big tree.
What gave me the illusion of having been tackled, was the shock from being hugged by Sheryl.
As usual, she had languid eyes, but lately I’ve noticed slight changes in her facial expressions. Now…she looked unusually excited.
…Oh, I see.
「With Sheryl looking like that, there’s no way I can back down that easily. Can’t you do something about it…?」
Sheryl was rubbing her face against my back to the point that it looked like she was trying shove it into it.
As expected, after seeing the current situation, there’s no way that as her grandfather, he would have his grandaughter’s wishes denied.
「I really want to do something about it but…hmm, this is troubling」
While exchanging glances with Chester, we both sighed.
However, this proved to be a bad move, Sheryl, who was rubbing her face against my back, stopped after all.
Oh no, this was not something I should have said in front of the person in question.
I felt her face separate from my back, then I timidly peeked at Sheryl.
Her expression was different from before, it was an expression of disappointment mixed with killing intent.
Dark magic power started to overflow from her body, not to mention her oppressive aura. The students that were still inside the class made puzzled faces, they were probably sensitive to this change in magic power.
「We can’t be together? I…am I troubling Slava-kun…?」
…The insanity she had kept hidden had still not be cured.
That being said, if it continues like this, something that can’t be undone will happen.
At the very least, the image of 「She’s harmless to a certain extent」 I’ve worked so hard to make will crumble.
「Oh, no, it’s not like that. It’s just that I have something to talk about with Chester. Can you wait for a bit..?」
「Oh…OK, I’m sorry」
I patted her head, like I used to do with Alma in the old days.
It was soft like wool, and its coolness made you think of marble.
It’s true that they had taken great care of them, but they were splendid silver threads.
While I was patting her head, Sheryl’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned on me. It seems like Sheryl likes to have her head patted like this,lately, she calms down to a certain degree when I do this.
…As a result. When I do this, Chester’s expression turns into that of a demon, so I have to take care not to overdo it.
What should I do? I don’t want to do something as dishonest as breaking a previous appointment, but I’d feel sorry if I neglected Sheryl too.
While I placed my hand on my chin to think if there was a way to satisfy both sides, it happened.
「…isn’t it fine if Sheryl-chan comes with us?」
Said Celia, who had been watching over the situation from a certain distance.
Oh, we had that option. It’s true that it was a good idea.
「Hey, Chester」
「Yeah?」
「We are going to walk around town tomorrow, we don’t really mind taking Sheryl along with us. I believe seeing the town will prove to be a good experience for her. Of course, I’ll watch over her so there are no problems, what do you think?」
When I took a look at Sheryl, her usual languid eyes were now shining.
We should have talked about this from the start. For these glittering eyes of his beloved granddaughter, Chester won’t be able to refuse.
「Well, if you are the one looking after her, I don’t really have a reason to refuse…my bad little miss, for coming so suddenly and it ending like this」
「No no, it’s fine. Let’s have fun tomorrow, Sheryl-chan」
At the sudden development, a smile akin to a blooming flower appeared on Sheryl’s face.
Because of Sheryl’s inability to control her strength, she had never gone around town.
It’s a good opportunity, we should go all out and have some fun. I’ll put more effort tomorrow.
…However, there’s something that bothers me.
While looking at Sheryl, who was spinning around in happiness, and Chester who had a worried face, I got next to Celia and asked her.
「…Was it OK?」
Celia, who was kind of wary of Sheryl had proposed this idea, I could feel joy from her…but at the same time, I felt something akin to guilt.
Filled with a multitude of emotions, just by saying these words to her, Celia grasped the hem of my clothes.
「…Yup, Slava-kun is Sheryl’s friend, right? That’s why I was thinking that, I should try to get along with her too」
While looking downwards, the words she let out, were filled with complex emotions.
Since I wasn’t really good at reading other people’s expressions, I wasn’t able to fully comprehend Celia’s words.
However, I was able to understand that she had made a compromise. …She’s really a good kid, this one.
Towards this beloved friend of mine, I did the same thing as I do with Sheryl, and gently patted her head.
When I did that, Celia brought her shoulders closer to me.
I looked at her and saw Celia’s mouth moving slightly. I could hear the sound of her whispering something, but I was unable to hear what she was saying.
「It’s because, you do things like this」
For some reason, I felt like she was reproaching me…as expected, was Celia having a sense of inferiority?
Some time passed until Chester left the school, in the end, Celia didn’t leave my side.
「We have arrived! Good work, big sis!」
Then, the day changed, and we arrived at Alfaleia.
The time we spent in the carriage wasn’t long, but it seems like it was still annoying for this little rascal…Sid expressed his sense of liberation through his whole body and with his voice.
However, now that Sheryl was coming with us, it helped that Chester provided us with a carriage.
We can take a carriage from the school, but that does cost money. It can’t be helped since it’s a job, however, it’s not kind on a kid’s wallet. Being able to reduce traveling costs, is a welcome misscalculation.
…Even then, from mine and Sheryl’s point of view, it would be faster to run. If Sid and Celia weren’t here, I would have ran, but since we live in the same place, gathering in town would have felt a little meaningless.
Sid descended from the carriage, then it was Celia, and then me. Finally, Sheryl appeared from the carriage. I took the confused Sheryl’s hand and guided her outside the carriage politely.
Well, the last time I escorted a lady was since Alma. It would be around 50 years since I last did it, I wonder if I’m doing it properly.
When I suddenly turned around towards Sid and Celia…
「．．．Umu」
Celia was puffing her small cheeks.
…Hmm? Could it be that Celia wanted to be escorted like this too?
They say that girls this age admire princesses or high-class nobles after all, if I had noticed, I would have come out first and grabbed her hand.
Well, let’s leave that for next time. Though I should probably have done something to turn her mood around.
More importantly.
「What do you think, Sheryl?」
Having only come one time when she was small, what kind of reaction will Sheryl give?
She restlessly looked around, her eyes were glittering, and you could say smile was an innocent one. I didn’t even have to hear her answer.
「Incredible…」
I had never seen such a happy expression from her.
It’s true that she was having fun in our match, but those were the eyes of a martial artist having fun in a match. This might be the first time I’ve seen her full of curiosity with eyes befitting a girl her age.
We have to make the most out of today.
For some reason, I suddenly…remembered the day Alma and me became 「Parent and child」.
「So, where should we start from? We should have as much as fun as we can until curfew」
I said so, while putting my hand on her head. When I did, Sheryl’s restless eyes fixed on me…
「．．．Yup！」
It was the most delightful smile she has ever shown until now.
I should express my gratitude to Celia for proposing this.
「Alright, let’s go then! I’m hungry!」
True, it would be a waste if we spent more time like this.
Now that he said it, it’s about time we started getting hungry. Agreeing with Sid, I exchanged glances with Sheryl and began walking.
Seeing me start walking, Sheryl started walking in a hurry too.
She stood next to me in a hurry, linked arms with me, and then looked at my face to see my reaction. Her getting close like that expressed her full trust in me…it was quite cute. With this, I could really understand why all the grandparents in the world are so infatuated with their grandchildren.
「……So warm」
It’s probably the first time she has gone out with children around her age after all.
Her gestures were undeniably those of a child having fun.
…However, the expression of Celia, who was walking a bit behind us, was completely opposite of that of Sheryl.
Celia was walking next to Sid and they were talking together, but what they were talking about was unclear.
It was just that she was definitely looking at Sheryl and me…hmm, looking at her expression, it seems like she wants to say something to me.
That time before descending from the carriage came to mind, and a small thought was brought to life. …No way. However, was it because of that?
If I thought about it like that it did make sense…is Celia by any chance, feeling jealous?
The one I’ve known the longest in this school is Celia. We are basically always together during breaks, and we go out together during days off, she’s a precious friend I’ve spent a long time with. However, since Sheryl appeared lately, I’ve been devoting my time to her. That probably bothers her.
The previous example of the carriage was easy to understand, but I get the feeling that Celia’s bad mood, is because of the large amount of time I spend with Sheryl.
The students that enroll in the academy, they all separate from their parents and live in the dorms. The fact that they are far from their own parents, is something that applies to everyone.
That also applies to Celia, who has come from far away. Thinking about it to this point, a clear answer comes to mind.
To sum it up…what Celia is feeling is, like having a new sister appear, and take her parents away from her?
Compared to the children around my age, I’m someone that has lived over a hundred years, so I probably look more grown-up. Celia probably regards me as someone older than her.
Parent and child…it’s probably similar to what I feel, that relationship between a grandparent and his grandchildren. Now with Sheryl appearing between that relationship, Celia probably thinks that Sheryl has snatched my attention from her.
That gesture she made when we got off the carriage. I felt the pieces falling together. Am I not hitting the mark with this train of thought?
Being convinced of it, I hit my fist with my palm. Sheryl, who was unaware of the things that were going on in my mind, tilted her head confused.
「Oh, it’s nothing. Don’t mind me」
I didn’t want to bother Sheryl, so I patted her head.
…Wait…Is this something I shouldn’t do? I took a peek at Celia…as expected, it looked like her bad mood had intensified, it’s true that I had Alma, but I never had two children. What should I do in this kind of situation?
If I suddenly started to care for Celia, it would feel unnatural, and it might have the opposite effect. If I separated from Sheryl, who is quite delicate, I might hurt her too.
So, what should I do? …As I was considering my actions, it happened.
Celia pulled Sid by the hand, and fastened her pace. It wasn’t originally a big distance, but they caught up to us who were on the front.
「．．．Slava-kun, we have somewhere we want to go, so you both should go have some fun in the meantime」
When we reached the crossroad, Celia cast her eyes downwards and left these words behind.
…I was planning to take action, but was she faster than me?
What should I do? If I followed her in this situation, it would put me in a corner.
No choice, I should let some time pass for now. She might come back after having sorted out her feelings…if she doesn’t, I’ll go talk with her.
My exchange of words with Celia happened under the gentle rays of the sun, it made you feel like closing your eyes. I believe I haven’t given my gratitude for such wonderful weather yet.
Good grief, the thing called relationships are quite complicated. Even if I exhausted a whole life, there’s still lots to learn.
…It would be nice if Sid, who was taken by her, would be able to support her.
For the time being, I’ll have to look at how it turns out. Until that time comes…what should we do? As I kept thinking, I heard a sound akin to that of a small cat next to me. The source was…the area around Sheryl’s stomach.
「…Guh, I’m so hungry」
Now that I think about it, she did say she skipped breakfast.
Sheryl, who placed her hand on her stomach, looked embarrassed.
…Without giving it much thought, it seems like I found something to do.
The meaning might be a bit different but…one can’t fight on an empty stomach. Until Celia sorts out her feelings…for the time being, we should fill our stomachs even if it’s with something light.
「Should we pick something light? What would you prefer, something sweet or something salty?」
「Something salty」
「Hmm got it. Then…」
If we ate too much, we won’t be able to eat more once we reunite after all.
Something small and simple…I believe there was a shop that sold sausages around here. A shop that sells juicy sausages and you can choose how you want it cooked. For the record, I prefer it when the shopkeeper cooks it in a big fire, removing the fat on it.
「Shall we eat some sausages? Let’s eat other different things once we reunite with Celia and Sid」
I smiled as I said that, and patted Sheryl’s head, her expression was one of delight. Being happy like this, and sometimes embarrassed…apart from the times she got irritated, she was a normal girl after all.
I pray that, Sheryl is able to live like a normal girl.
「It would be nice, if she was able to befriend an honest girl like her」
The words directed at the way Celia went, dissolved in the air.
Good grief, we are at quite the problematic age. However, I somehow felt like it was fun too.
Maybe I should have spent more time with Alma too.
I placed my hands on my waist and sighed. Alma, Celia, and Sheryl. Just looking at them, made me want to have children of my own.
Should I go search for someone to marry in this life? however, when it comes to love for elves, I have even less idea than in human cases.
I sank my teeth into the sausage we just bought, which was still steaming, and its thin skin was cut. It might be because I was thinking of my unmarried life from my past life, the pleasant sound that sounded after the juices, felt lonely.
「Hey Celia, where do you plan to go leaving them behind!?」
To stop the girl that was running while pulling him, Sid shouted this question at her.
Seeing Celia, who was usually cheerful and kind, like this, his voice contained confusion.
…Walking, though it should be called running in this case…they’ve been doing it for a while.
What was really going on? Sid was confused at his close friend’s sudden actions.
From looking at her expression he felt feelings like anxiety, irritation, sadness…complex emotions that he was unable to understand. Sid was unable to understand what was going on.
But somehow, he felt like her current expression had turned dark.
「Hey, stop already! At least tell me the reason!」
Having become angry, Sid shouted. They were words that might have lacked a bit of restraint, considering they were words of worry towards Celia, but that was not the case.
No matter how young they were, when it comes the difference between genres, Sid would be stronger. That’s why, shaking off the hand that was grasping his tightly was an easy task. Obviously, if he wanted to stop in this place, Celia wouldn’t be able to drag him.
However, Sid did not do that. Even if it was only for a short while, she was a friend he had become accustomed to, and she was making a face he had never seen before.
Having conveyed this to her, Celia finally stopped her feet when she heard Sid shout.
However, because she was not facing his way, Sid was unable to peep at her current expression, even then, he gave a sigh of relief.
「Good grief, at least give me an explanation. We have separated quite a bit now」
In Sid’s playful words, no anger could be felt.
When she heard her friend’s voice, Celia’s shoulders started trembling.
「…Sorry, for doing something like this so suddenly」
「It’s fine. Though I don’t know what’s going on. However, I don’t want to be kept in the dark, talk to me. Think of it as an apology」
Sid, who was the embodyment of mischief, said in a gentle voice to cool the current situation.
Celia was still facing the other way, but her trembling stopped a bit, and she let go of his hand.
While feeling a bit of discomfort in his wrists from being pulled around, he waited for her to talk.
Before long, Celia started to talking.
「I, I’m such an awful kid」
「…eh?」
At her unexpected words, he got closer to Celia to take a look at her.
Having regained some of his cool, her figure entered his field of vision, and Sid noticed for the first time that she had been trembling.
「I like Slava-kun」
Bitting her lips, she squeezed these words out. Hearing these that he felt took all of her courage to say, Sid was surprised for a second, but he was able to comprenhend the meaning of those words. That’s why he didn’t raise his voice, and asked her about it again. Celia continued.
「You see? I became friends with Slava soon after enrolling in this school. At first, I thought he was a strange kid that was always alone, but once I started talking to him, I was surprised at how fun it was. He was always calm…it made me feel like I was talking to my dad」
Feeling empathy towards Celia’s words, Sid didn’t say anything and urged her to continue.
「And then, before I noticed, we were always together. I felt that if I was close to Slava, I would have a great time, and then…before I noticed, he became the person I liked the most in the world」
While talking about Slava, Celia looked happy, but somewhat sad at the same time.
Sid was also able to somehow notice that. That his friend had feelings of love towards his close friend. He had been looking at them from close by.
That’s why he was able to guess, the reason she had started running like that.
「Big sis, huh」
While containing the tears she had pilled up, Celia nodded.
「Since Sheryl came, Slava has always been together with Sheryl. …They get along really well, right? But I think that Sheryl is being unfair, and I dislike her. Even though…Slava likes Sheryl」
She was able to let these words out, even when she looked like she was about to cry.
Towards the girl in front of him, the young boy felt a sense of guilt.
However, other than letting Celia continue, he was unable to comfort her in any way.
「And a while ago, when I saw her linking arms with him…when I saw that, I thought that it was unfair after all…even though Sheryl-chan is a good kid, I hated myself for disliking her, and then…」
Not knowing what to say, Sid placed his hand on top of her trembling small back.
Feeling a slight sense of alienation, Sid finally opened his heavy lips.
「D-don’t say that. I think everyone wouldn’t want the guy they like to get along with someone else」
「But, I’ve been cold towards Sheryl-chan, you know? Even today, I’d invited her to get along with her better, Slava-kun will hate me for this…」
To sum it up, Celia was feeling confused. Usually she was more cheerful than anyone, a gentle kid that was able to make friends with most people. For someone that has lived like that her whole life, she was feeling jealousy for the first time, and felt it was an ugly emotion.
That’s why, she ran away. She was scared of this feeling of jealousy, that kept turning uglier.
However, Sid, who looked at them from so close, knew.
「You know? I don’t think Slava will hate you just because of that. Look, he tends to act like an old man…I get the feeling that he’s treating big sis like a friend, or a child. …Well, I don’t think he’s thinking anything more than that. I don’t know how to say it, it’s not really something you should worry this much about…?」
Feeling irritated at the fact that he was not good with words, and that he couldn’t explain it properly…Sid tried to convey his words along with gestures.
Like this, or like that. The words he let out, were different from those that he had in mind.
He looked like he was trying to search through his luggage. However, it seems like Sid was able to reach an answer.
「Well, it’s like that. Believe in Slava. He won’t hate you for something like this. Haven’t you fallen in love with him, because he’s that kind of guy?」
It was somewhat convenient, but it was the truth. Sid let out the answer he had finally found.
It was clumsy, but he tried his best to cheer her up, Celia finally raised her head a bit…looked at Sid, and made her nostalgic smile.
「You are right, it’s Slava-kun after all」
「Oh? A-ah! That’s right! He’s the man I approve of after all!」
Looking at the expression he had not seen for just a fraction of a day, he hit his chest, and started smiling.
Because the girl he knew had finally come back, Sid could finally smile from the bottom of his heart.
「Hah…good grief, don’t surprise me like that」
At the same, he dropped his shoulders from all the anxiety he had accumulated. Good grief, girls are such bitter and sweet beings. Sid made a wry smile, towards the emotion that had no relation to the current him.
「Ahaha! I’ve trouble you…however, it’s fine now. I might be able to get along with Sheryl-chan too!」
It was the composure of a girl! The smile Celia gave, looked even more cheerful than usual.
It wasn’t just an act, at her overflowing vitality, Sid finally felt like he had returned to his usual every day.
Anyway, it took some time, but I wonder if Slava has ran out of patience.
I doubt that calm friend of mine has though, he might have started searching for us instead, and we might have passed by each other.
「Well, let’s go back already. If you
dawdle around here, big sis might take Slava from you, you know?」
「That would be troubling. Well then, let’s go back!」
There had been some trouble, but the day off had just started.
As one would expect, they had started to feel hungry, they should reunite and go get something to eat. Returning to his usual self, he turned around and faced the way they came from, it was at that moment that it happened.
There had been nothing there a while ago, but Sid collided with something and fell on his back.
I wonder if I had collided with a passerby? I became a bit confused.
The moment he tried to obediently apologize, Sid and Celia saw someone covered in a hood.
At the sudden appearance, both of them gathered their sights on that person.
…Wondering if he had some kind of injury in his face, they understood that the person in front of them was a 「Good-for-nothing」, and he gave them an evil laugh.
「No good, it’s dangerous for kids to be walking around alone. You might get kidnapped by some evil guy, you know?」
Looking at him, there were several of them, and they surrounded them.
At that moment, they remembered. That lately, Alfaleia’s public order has turned worse.
Their day off, had only just begun.
Giving Sheryl a sidelong glance, who was stuffing her cheeks frantically with fried sweets, I was looking around constantly.
It’s been a while since Celia and Sid separated from us, that’s why, there was no sight of them here.
Thinking about waiting for them to come back, we didn’t move from this place, bought some food, and were currently killing time. However, there were no signs of them coming back.
In this case, I guess we should go search for them? However, what if we start searching for them, they return, and we miss by each other?
While thinking that, I brushed the idea and repeated the process over and over. I felt an strange sense of uneasiness.
Now that I think about it, they said that the public order was not that good these days. If by any chance, they got into some trouble…Not being able to stand still, I stood up. At that exact time.
Sheryl took the last bite of her sweet.
「Slava-kun」
「…What is it?」
Without hiding my impatience, I replied to Sheryl. While feeling sorry about the way I replied, my eyes were fixed on the way Celia and Sid went through.
「…Let’s go look for them?」
Sheryl grabbed the hem of my tunic.
…Is she being considerate? Even though, in Celia’s eyes, she’s someone that she doesn’t approve of.
However, I’m grateful. Right now, I want to look for them.
「I owe you one, Sheryl」
I took Sheryl’s hand, and we started to run.
The places we had gone to, the places we rested at, we went to all the places that came to mind.
Sometimes, we asked passerbies if they knew where they were, and we kept running.
However…we couldn’t find them. It’s the biggest town in the continent, without any sort of clue, this was the expected result.
Something might have really happened to them. If something has happened to them, it would be something I’d come to regret during this long elven life I have obtained.
They are the first friends I’ve made in this life. I kept running while remembering their faces.
I went to the places they might go, and sometimes I returned to the plaza we were at the beginning, but…
As expected, they were nowhere to be seen.
「Hah…ha….We can’t find them」
As one would expect, Sheryl had ran out of breath. It was understandable, we had been running at a pace that only adults would be able to run at.
…Maybe I should have checked on her before. Where are they? Have they been involved in something? But if they have, in what exactly?
My biggest worry was the events where multiple people had been beaten up recently, or at least that’s what I’ve heard. A theory was that they were slave traders.
If they somehow got their hands on them, I doubt there would be any inmediate danger on their lives but…on the contrary, given enough time, I won’t be able to find them anymore.
It would be nice if we had just missed each other, but I was starting to panic. I want to brush away my impatience and find them as soon as possible, but I have no leads.
While I was lost in the maze of my thoughts and stuck in place. When I had lost my bearings, it happened.
「Hmm? What’s wrong Sheryl?…what’s going on…h-hey!」
While staying silent, Sheryl started to search inside my breast pocket.
Feeling itchy because of her touch, I unconsciously pulled Sheryl away, when I did…
「…There it is. As I thought, it’s the same」
Sheryl took something of a dark color from my breast pocket.
Before I noticed, She was holding that thing towards the sky.
A dark crystal. In exchange for evil magic power, it will dye the heart in darkness. An evil crystal.
Why is taking that out now? When I asked her, Sheryl pointed towards the direction Celia had run away to before.
「Far in that direction, I sense lots of things that give the same feeling. Grandpa said that bad people use these crystals」
After hearing those words, I started to think about it.
So basically what she’s saying is…that she’s telling me the place where these bandits are gathering?
I placed my hand on my chin again. However, I had to choose if I wanted to take the road that has been presented to me or not.
If by any chance, Celia and Sid had been beaten by an organization and been kidnapped, there’s the possibility that they have been taken to their hideout. However, there’s the possibility that the place they are gathering the crystals at, is just that, and they are a different group from those that had taken Celia and Sid.
…However, it was true that I didn’t have any other leads. I reached my decision.
「…Let’s go. Sorry Sheryl, can you lead the way?」
That’s right, I have no other leads. Then I should hurry. Instead of regretting it without doing anything, regret it after doing it, those were words from my master.
After asking Sheryl to guide me, she gave a small nod, and started running. I followed after her.
I tried to go as fast as I could, while taking Sheryl’s pace into consideration. The pace we were going at, was faster than before.
…It’s fine if nothing happened. However, if they got involved in something…wait for me, Celia, Sid. I’ll definitely save you.
I was running, and cold breath came out, but my mind and body were both calm.
If they have laid a hand on those pure kids…they should prepare themselves.
It was a feeling from my previous life that I hadn’t felt in a long time. While praying that it could be solved without fighting, I grasped my hands so tightly that blood started to drip.
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