“Anyway, once the elder gets back, let’s ask her if anything like this has happened before.”
Elga says, sounding troubled and exasperated.
Then I turn to Luna, who today is also playing with Krr and Grr, along with Snow. She’s full of energy and looks like she’s having fun without any problems.
Suzaku has been alive for a long time, so she might know something.
And so, we give up on trying to figure out why Luna’s body isn’t going back to the way it was, and go back to our normal lives.
◇ ◇ ◇
When we go back to our house for the first time in a few days, I find Tiltue curled up, sleeping in my bed.
The bed cover has slipped and her stomach is exposed, but she’s mumbling something in her sleep, and looks to be enjoying her nap a lot.
It’s because she’s been here that no monsters have gotten close to this house, making it a safe zone. I’m very thankful.
“Thank you, Tiltue.”
“Hn…”
I sit on the bed, and caress her hair.
She’s always asking for headpats, and seems to like me doing this.
I do this for a while, until she opens her eyes a little, probably because the sunlight coming from the window is hitting her.
“…Darling?”
“Yes, I’m back, Tiltue.”
The moment I say that, her eyes open widely.
She sits up on the bed, and happily hugs me.
“Darling darling darling!”
She starts rubbing her head against me. I guess she was lonely.
Stuff like this makes me think she really is just a kid, but this adoration makes me happy, so I accept it.
◇ ◇ ◇
After a while, Tiltue calms down, and we go to the living room together, where Snow and Reina are playing with building blocks.
By the way, Reina and I made those.
“Ah!”
“…!?”
Snow notices Tiltue, and a big smile forms on her face.
Tiltue knows what’s about to happen, and turns around as her face twitches.
“It’s Tiltueeeee!”
“Nuwah!?”
The building blocks all collapse, but Snow doesn’t care.
She puts out her arms, and dives with full force against Tiltue’s back.
“Tiltue Tiltue Tiltue!”
And she rubs her head against her.
I’m getting deja-vu…
“Snow really loves Tiltue.”
“Hahaha, she even pushed the blocks aside.”
“Good grief. We need to teach her to put away her toys when she’s done playing.”
Reina says as she puts the blocks back in the box.
I help her, and watch Snow and Tiltue.
“H-hey Snow! All right! All right, I’m not leaving, so calm down! You get cold when you get excited…”
“It’s been a while!”
“Higyah!”
Snow is too excited to hold her power back, and Tiltue screams.
I feel a bit bad for her, but it’s a display of affection, so I let it be.
◇ ◇ ◇
After playing a lot with Tiltue, Snow gets tired and falls asleep.
And after finally being freed from Snow, Tiltue falls limply on the sofa.
“T-that was awful…”
“Let it go, it’s a display of affection.”
“M-mu… I know that. But you two should tell her to be a bit less rowdy…”
“Hahaha…”
I laugh vaguely, and Tiltue stares.
She likes you so much that she’s not going to listen to what people say, so give it up.
“Thanks for helping us out, Tiltue.”
“Don’t worry about it. Aren’t we friends!?”
It’s because of her that we were able to go visit the demon gods’ village.
I feel like Reina and I should thank her somehow.
“Is there anything you want?”
“Then…”
Tiltue starts talking, but then she turns away and stops.
“Tiltue?”
“M-mumumu…”
What’s wrong? I keep waiting, but she doesn’t face this way.
But after a while, she turns rapidly, like she made up her mind…
“A-a date with me!”
She yells, seemingly embarrassed.
◇ ◇ ◇
There’s still some time before it gets dark. Also, if Snow finds out Tiltue and I had fun without her, she’s either going to want to be pampered or cry. Either way, it will damage me greatly.
And so, we leave while she’s still sleeping.
“See you later.”
“Yes, goodbye.”
Reina sees us off, and we walk into the woods, with the sunlight shining through the trees.
Yesterday we were busy with Luna’s situation, but it really is nicer to just take it easy like this.
“That Reina sure wasn’t worried… But Merlin told me that victory comes to those who grab their chances, s-so I’m also taking this chance.”
Tiltue mumbles to herself quietly, so I don’t hear.
I do hear it, but I think I should pretend I don’t.
“Come to think of it, what did you do while we were away?”
“Spreading magic energy around the house so monsters wouldn’t get near it, and studying with Merlin.”
“Studying?”
“Study sessions between us to become better women!”
“I-I see.”
I feel like I should leave that alone.
Then she starts counting the things she did on her fingers.
“I went hunting with Xellos, helped Merlin train…”
“So you did all sorts of things. What kind of training?”
“I gathered some monsters of the island and tried encircling them.”
“…”
I can picture them turning pale with fear, yelling not to underestimate the seven great mages.
That’s probably right on the money.
Still…
“Did you have fun?”
“Yes! Xellos and Merlin are good people!”
“I see.”
When I first got to this island, Tiltue was a loner dragon without any friends. But she started getting closer to different people, and the description of loner dragon doesn’t fit her anymore.
“What about you? What did you all do!?”
“Well…”
Then I start telling her about what happened in the demon gods’ village.
How we had fun in the hot spring region, how we all put on kimono… And I try to avoid the whole mix up caused by Wil…
“Oh, sounds fun…”
“Then you should come along next time.”
“…But ancient dragons and demon gods don’t get along.”
“Hm…”
She says that, but unlike before, lately when they’re done fighting, they cooperate to try to take me down, so it doesn’t feel that way anymore.
I feel like they fight, but it’s because they’re close, or something like that.
No to mention the demon god that likes Graham.
“Sakuya doesn’t mind.”
“Gyes’ little sister?”
“Yes. If anything, I think she’d welcome you.”
“…Then can I go with you next time?”
“Of course.”
I say, and she smiles brightly.
We keep walking through the woods, as I think that she looks so cute like this.
It’s getting late, so we should be going back. And as we walk back through the woods before it gets dark, I notice that even though she was cheerful at first, Tiltue feels kind of distant.
“All right, I’m saying it…”
“What’s wrong?”
“…”
She’s mumbling again. I wait for her to speak, but she’s still quiet.
This happens again, but just before we reach the house…
“D-darling!”
“Hn?”
Now she’s ready, as she raises her head.
I turn to her, and wait while she looks back at me with a serious expression.
“U-uh… Hum… What was I going to say…”
“It’s all right, Tiltue.”
“Eh?”
“If you have something to say, I’ll wait. Take your time.”
I crouch a little to meet her gaze, and she gulps.
She’s still nervous, but unlike before, she’s breathing normally.
And after she calms down a little, she speaks.
“I-I… Don’t want to go home today.”
“…?”
She doesn’t want to go home? She lives in the ancient dragons’ village, but lives by herself.
Maybe she misses those agitated days with us, because she’s been here alone for a while.
“Then you can stay here tonight.”
“…Eh?”
“Eh? I mean, you don’t want to go home, right?”
“Ah, no, not that… Merlin…”
“Merlin?”
“Ah! N-nothing.”
I don’t know why she brought up Merlin, but those two have been getting closer lately.
Could it be that she slept at her place while we were gone?
Ah, then maybe she’d feel lonely sleeping by herself.
“Then we can be together tonight.”
I don’t think we need to ask Reina for permission. It’s Tiltue.
There’s even a room for her in the house, and Snow is going to be very happy about her staying the night too.
It’s a bit troubling when she gets too excited, but it’s cute, so it’s fine.
“With darling…?”
“Yes. We could even set up the tent so everyone can sleep in it. We haven’t done that in a while.”
We spoke about doing that every once in a while, but never did it.
“Ooh… That’s great!”
“Right? Then let’s talk to Reina when we get back.”
It’s already dark today though, so let’s leave that for tomorrow.
When we leave the forest, we see three lights in the house.
Unlike a big city, only the lights from the stars illuminate the forest, and it feels mystical and comforting somehow.
Then I think back to how Tiltue was acting.
“What were you going to say?”
“…It doesn’t matter anymore!”
She shows her teeth with a big smile as she turns this way.
“Because we’re going to sleep together tonight, right?”
She runs to the house, and I keep walking casually as I follow her.
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