Gyes is completely frozen, and Sakuya is looking at him with an anxious expression.
That figures. He raised her like a father, so I don’t think he’s going to accept her liking not just an ancient dragon, but his rival of all people.
“Gyes…”
“W-what are you talking about, Sakuya!? H-hahaha, I see! You got everyone involved in playing a prank on me…”
“…”
Gyes is trying to play it off as a joke, but stops when he sees Sakuya’s serious expression.
“…You’re serious?”
“Yes. I love Graham of the ancient dragons.”
“…And you knew this, big bro and big sis?”
“Yes.”
“I did.”
“I see…”
We nod, and Gyes quietly gets up and leaves the house with uneasy steps.
Sakuya tries to go after him, but I stop her.
“I’ll go.”
It’s just like when Sakuya left, so this time, I’ll go after him.
It’s less like he’s running away, and more like his body moved unconsciously because he can’t keep up with what’s happening.
He’s still walking with uneasy steps, towards the forest.
“…”
I run until I’m next to him, and walk with him silently.
Monsters are too afraid of my power and his to get close, so the forest is quiet. The creaking of trees and sunlight filtering through their leaves would normally make me feel good, but… Not in this situation.
I peek at his face, and he looks ghostly. He’s like a zombie, just walking forward.
And well, I’ll just stay with him. He’ll pull himself together eventually, and it’ll definitely be good for someone to be with him when he wants to talk.
“Ah…”
Eventually, we leave the forest, and see the ocean.
I look around, thinking there’s no way someone washed up again, right? And I’m relieved to see no one’s here.
Reina, Xellos, Merlin, Edinburgh… They all washed up here…
Actually, Zephir just found himself on this island when he woke up, so I feel like there might be a special power working here.
That’s what’s on my mind while Gyes keeps walking towards the water with no hesitation, and keeps heading into the ocean.
“Eh?”
“…”
He shows no sign of stopping even after his feet get wet…
“Hey, that’s far enough!”
“Nugah!?”
I grab his shoulders and pull him back to the beach without thinking.
Maybe I used too much force, because Gyes lets out a weird voice, but I couldn’t just stand and watch.
“Ah…!? W-where are we!?”
He’s wet all the way to his head, as he looks around. Apparently he wasn’t aware of what he was doing.
“Hm, I feel like I received a big shock in your house, but we’re outside, so I definitely got things mixed up. Like the Sakuya that I’ve been doting on since she was little would…”
Gyes starts trembling, and tears fall from his eyes.
They fall into the water, and wash away…
“Oooooooon! Why big brooooo!? That was just a dream, right!? Tell me it was!”
He keeps crying loudly while his body is hit by waves.
This keeps going until he stops after a while, and walks away from the water to sit on the beach.
I sit next to him, and face the ocean.
“Are you a bit calmer?”
“…Yes…”
He’s holding his knees while looking at the ocean too. It reminds me of a teenager.
“Big bro, why does Sakuya, hum, like that Graham?”
“You shouldn’t ask me.”
“U, mumumumu…”
“But he must have that much appeal, if Sakuya likes him, don’t you think?”
I don’t think his strength is the whole reason why Graham is the leader of the ancient dragons.
Of course, strength is definitely an indicator for them, but it would make sense for him to be overthrown if he was an oppressive leader.
The same can be said for Gyes. He cares about his friends and family more than anyone, and I always feel his strong resolve to protect them.
That’s why each group trusts their leader.
“Why, Graham of all people…”
“So you really can’t accept it?”
“Of course not! He’s my rival! How could I let my little sister…”
“But Gyes, you said it before. A demon god woman is happy when she marries a strong man.”
“Nu? What do you mean?”
He told me that the first time I went to their village, while he was drunk.
And since he was dead drunk, I know that’s how he feels.
“And you said people in your village are weaker than you.”
“D-did I…?”
“Pretty clearly too.”
I’m sure it was the truth. And that was why he thought she liked me…
Gyes wants more than anyone else for Sakuya to be happy, so he wants her to be with a man that’s stronger than him. And I definitely fit the bill, considering I can take them and the ancient dragons on by myself.
But both me and Sakuya have different ideas.
“You accept that Graham is strong, right?”
“But he’s an ancient dragon…”
“And I’m human.”
Lately I’ve been feeling less confident calling myself that, but let’s leave that aside for now.
“Is there a rule that says demon gods and ancient dragons can’t be together?”
“No, but…”
“And you and Graham are actually a lot alike, from what I’ve been seeing lately.”
It’s like they’re good enough friends to be rivals. They clash a lot, but it’s to better themselves.
I think it would be fine if they became family.
“That’s not true, but…”
Gyes keeps holding his legs, and looks at the sky.
“He’s strong, I’ll give him that.”
“That’s good enough for now. In any case, Graham doesn’t know about this.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Sakuya met him a long time ago, but she hasn’t gone to see you fight since.”
That’s probably why she’s pining for him. It’s like people in the past falling more in love because they couldn’t see each other, and could only write to each other.
Well, in this case letters have been replaced by stuff that Gyes tells her, but the principle is the same.
That actually makes me feel some pity, but let’s not think about it too deeply.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“…I want Sakuya to be happy.”
“Yes.”
“If Graham can make her happy, I can accept it.”
“I see. Then you need to tell that to Sakuya.”
I get up, and reach out towards Gyes.
He grabs my hand, and I pull him up.
“Let’s go back. You can stay here tonight, so talk all you need.”
“Yes…”
We head towards the forest again, but Gyes stops.
“Gyes?”
I turn around, and he bows.
“Thanks, big bro…”
“Listening is the job of a big brother.”
He raises his head, and goes back with me, with a much clearer expression than when we came here.
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Good job, Arata. 👍
Thanks for the treat.