“…”
“…”
Ceres and Arc know we watched them, and their faces are red while we walk.
It feels so innocent.
I can see the end of the forest.
“We’re almost there.”
We left yesterday, so they should be almost done making a house too.
Erie was pretty worried, so we should go there right… Away?
“Strange. This looks a little different from the place I know…”
“It’s pretty much a village at this point.”
There used to be just Merlin and Xello’s houses here.
There’s a hot spring behind our house, and a wall around it, but it’s supposed to be nothing but nature other than that.
But now, I can immediately see multiple houses.
They’re probably for the new arrivals, but…
“Isn’t it weird to do all this in a day?”
“I guess it’s possible with so many first class mages…”
“Yes.”
It took some time for Xellos and Merlin to build their houses, so how did they build these so quickly?
But as we get closer, I see there are a lot of people here. About fifty?
And then Elga and Luna notice me.
“Hey Arata, you’re back.”
“Ah, he is! Welcome back!”
“Thanks. So what is…?”
Gaius and many other divine beast people are here too.
They come by to have Reina’s cooking from time to time, but this…
“It’s not just divine beast people either. Are there demon gods and ancient dragons too?”
“Yes, once Reina called out to us, a lot of people gathered.”
“I-I see…”
Ceres and Arc are dumbfounded behind me.
Everyone’s holding back their power, so I don’t think they’ll feel sick, but it really is quite a sight.
“If one of these people really wanted to, they could easily destroy a country…”
Reina is holding paper and giving everyone instructions like a foreman, almost like she’s leading troops.
But then she sees us, and comes running.
“Welcome back.”
“Mommy!”
Snow happily hugs Reina, who holds her.
And then Snow takes the same position as usual, and looks peaceful.
“This really turned into something uh?”
“Yes. I wasn’t trying to make it such a big deal, but…”
I look at the site, and see almost completed houses where there was nothing yesterday. It feels like everything will be done by tomorrow.
“So, how did this happen?”
“Hum, I figured I could use help, so I talked to Graham, and all the ancient dragons came over. And Gyes just happened to come by, so I talked to him too, and all of them came too…”
“And Luna called the divine beast people!”
“It’s like she says.”
Says Luna with an awkward smile.
“It’s thanks to you too, Arata.”
“Me…?”
I’m pretty sure it’s just her food.
In any case, it’s nice how everyone’s helping and not fighting.
“Reina…”
“Seti, you’re safe too.”
“Yes, Arata saved me.”
They were never really friends, so their reunion is pretty curt.
“Hum, Mister Arata… Can we go over there?”
“I think it’s fine. They’re all good people.”
Ceres seems hesitant, but I respond to her quickly. It looks like she wants to tell Erie Arc is fine.
“Let’s just go.”
“Yes.”
Xellos and Merlin are pretty used to this island, so they don’t get sick anymore. People are mostly holding back their power out of consideration for the others.
Still, it’s pretty hard for them to enter that space, so I take them there.
There are four new houses, and Erie is standing in front of the biggest one.
She’s talking to ancient dragons, and doesn’t even notice us.
“Erie!”
“Eh? Ceres, and…”
“I’m back, Erie.”
“Arc!”
She throws the blueprints she’s holding, and runs towards Arc. Then she jumps at him, and Arc gently catches her.
“Do you know how worried I was!?”
“…Sorry.”
“Don’t say sorry, just don’t leave us again!”
“Erie…!?”
Erie’s voice sounds tearful, leading to tears forming on Ceres’ eyes too.
They keep hugging while the two cry, and Arc looks troubled, but still holds her.
People’s eyes turn to them, and this whole atmosphere feels kind of pleasant somehow.
“Ah, how embarrassing for the hero’s party to be a crying mess.”
“What do you want, Cara? You’re just jealous because no one cares about you being back, aren’t you?”
“H-ha! Absolutely not!”
Edinburgh and Cara say to each other, but I’m pretty sure she really was upset about that.
I look at Seti again, and see Xellos and Merlin are talking to him.
Cara looks kind of shocked about that too…
…Let’s just leave her alone.
Anyway, everyone’s here and safe.
I’m still curious about the high elf’s village, but…
“I think we can take it easy for a while.”
With that thought in mind, I go say hello to everyone helping with the construction.
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