We get home as the sun is setting, and see that Gyes and Sakuya made up.
It’s late, so we tell them they can stay here, but they say they can’t trouble us any more, and leave after thanking us.
“Well, it shouldn’t even take them an hour if they’re in a hurry.”
“I wish they would take it easy, considering all they have done for us.”
After seeing them off, Reina starts preparing dinner, and I go to Merlin’s place to pick up Snow.
“Thank you for today, Merlin.”
“It’s fine, she’s so cute…”
She says while inviting me in, where I see Snow playing with a fishing toy she brought from home.
And Edinburgh is playing with her again. Also, again, she looks serious, but Snow is winning by a large margin.
Edinburgh’s expression stays the same, but I can tell she’s a little frustrated.
“I can’t believe this is the feared Mage of the End…”
Merlin says like it’s giving her a headache, but I’m used to this sight.
“I’m back, Snow.”
“Daddy!”
Snow raises her head when she hears me, and a happy smile forms on her face.
She’s about to jump to her feet, but then looks at Edinburgh with a somewhat troubled expression.
I guess she noticed she was in the middle of their game.
She looks at me, back at Edinburgh, back at me…
She’s a nice girl, to be thinking about someone else like that. But then Edinburgh smiles gently.
“Don’t worry about me, you can go.”
“Yes!”
And then Snow tackles me like always.
I feel like it’s getting stronger, but I catch her and hold her like always.
“Welcome back.”
“Thanks.”
I hold Snow better after her full force display of affection, and turn to Merlin and Edinburgh while scratching my cheek.
“Sorry, I feel like I’m always having you look after Snow lately.”
“It’s fine. I told you I like her.”
“I also don’t mind looking after such a cute girl.”
“Mufuh.”
Snow really is cute, but also full of energy.
She’s still holding on to me, but I imagine this would be tough on any other human.
Well, she can rein in her strength. She doesn’t use her full strength when she hugs Reina for example.
“It makes me wish I had kids too…”
“What about Xellos?”
“Edinburgh, there are things you shouldn’t say even as a joke.”
“It wasn’t a joke.”
“That’s even worse.”
Merlin flares up to deny it, but I also think they wouldn’t be a bad match.
But they’re rivals, so stuff like romance probably doesn’t even cross their minds.
“What do you think, Arata?”
“Merlin’s eyes are scary, so no comment.”
“I see…”
She looks a little disappointed, but it really does feel like it’s outrageous from Merlin’s point of view.
“Where’s mommy?”
“At home, making dinner.”
“Ah!”
Snow doesn’t care about this adult talk, and her stomach makes some noise when she hears about food.
“Au…”
“Are you hungry? Let’s go home then.”
“Yes. Ah!”
She taps my head, signaling for me to let her down.
I do what she wants, wondering where she’s going, and she goes to her toy.
Does she still want to play? I think, but she puts it in her bag.
She picks up all the small pieces quickly.
“That’s my girl, Merlin.”
“I know that.”
She’s so great, that I felt like saying it.
“Do you want help?”
Asks Edinburgh as she gets close, but after thinking about it for a moment, Snow shakes her head.
“You played with Snow, so Snow cleans up.”
“I see.”
She pats her head, and watches Snow.
“That’s my girl, Merlin.”
“You’ve become a big doting parent, uh?”
How could I not?
I want the whole world to see how adorable she is putting her toy away.
“All right!”
Snow puts the bag back on her back after she’s done.
The bag she uses to carry toys is pretty big, and it makes her look like she’s mountaineering, but despite how young she looks, Snow is an ice great spirit.
She’s strong, and her body doesn’t even tilt back.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes!”
“Then come with us too, Edinburgh.”
“…No, I think I’ll stay.”
“Eh?”
I figured she’d come with us, but she shakes her head.
“Considering my past with Riena, I don’t really think I should stay there.”
“Really…”
“Reina doesn’t really like it, does she? Even if she doesn’t remember it, apparently she put her through some pretty harsh training.”
Merlin knows about Reina and Edinburgh, so if she says so, it must be true.
I’ve heard about it too, but I thought she was over it.
“Hum, just so you know, the title of one of the seven great mages isn’t an easy one to get. It’s not just about talent, it’s a peak above prodigies that worked hard to the point of shedding blood.”
“…”
“It’s usually unthinkable for someone younger than twenty to get there.”
Hearing about working hard to the point of shedding blood is something unimaginable for someone like me, who got cheats from god.
That’s why I don’t think it’s something I can easily understand.
Come to think of it, Reina never said anything about my power.
I told her about reincarnating from another world, and getting this power from god. Normally someone who got to where she is through hard work would be jealous, but I’ve never got that feeling from her.
“Well, there you have it. She’ll stay here with me.”
“I’ll talk about the future with Zephir in the demon gods’ village tomorrow. Apparently he swore fealty to me.”
Yes, Zephir talked about how hard he had it when we were in the hot spring, but he never said anything bad about Edinburgh’s.
“Understood. Tell me if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Yes. I think I’ll still rely on you more.”
“Snow too!”
“Yes. Let’s play again sometime, Snow.”
She’s strong for someone who lost her memory.
Reina said she’s an elf who has been alive for centuries, so it really does take a strong person to lose all that and still smile.
“Well then you two, thanks for today.”
“Bye bye!”
We leave Merlin’s place, and when I tell Reina about this…
“Yes, she really is strong, so it’s fine.”
She says in a matter of fact way.
◇ ◇ ◇
The next day…
“I’m off.”
I head to the ancient dragon’s village.
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