“Well then, this should have been done earlier, but… My name is Orobas! You may use that name and speak casually, Island Master!”
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yes! That is an appropriate name for the avatar of this island!”
“…Please just call me Arata.”
“Oh… A nickname? Orobas understands. The name Arata derives from Island Master.”
No, Island Master just sounds lame. And there’s no connection between the two.
I say to myself, and Orobas looks shocked.
Right, there’s no point in glossing over this stuff, since he can read my mind.
“Orobas has quite a weak heart, so please make sure to at least say what you mean…”
“S-sorry Mister Orobas…”
“Just Orobas. Orobas is Orobas.”
He seems fussy, but recovers from his shock, and turns to Edinburgh.
“Well then, so this forgetful lady wants to know her past?”
“Yes. I heard I could remember if I met you…”
“Of course!”
He strikes a confident pose, which again, is kind of lame.
“…”
Orobas stops after looking at me, and I assume he read my mind again.
Right, he told me to speak instead of just think it.
“That pose is kind of lame.”
“I got it, saying it again just causes more damage!”
“S-sorry…”
He’s shocked again. Saying what I think right after it crosses my mind is tricky…
“By the way, how do you give someone their memory back?”
“Orobas is a demon that knows all, past, present, and future. Look at me, forgetful lady.”
“…”
Edinburgh obliges, and then falls limply.
“Careful!”
I rush to catch her, and it looks like she fell asleep.
Did Orobas do something? I think as I glare at him, and see his expression is serious.
“The forgetful lady is facing her past. The next time she opens her eyes, her memories will have returned.”
“…Is she okay?”
“That is up to her… Is what Orobas would say, but Orobas knows all! So she is!”
He strikes another lame pose, so I assume that’s just a habit of his.
But I feel relieved knowing she will be fine.
“You believe Orobas, right, Arata?”
“I don’t know everything like you, but I don’t think Miss Miriel would introduce me to a liar.”
“Yes. You are building good relationships…”
His eyes look calm. Like a horse…
“I am not a horse! I am Orobas!”
“Anyway, can you stop responding to my thoughts?”
He nods, and I continue.
“I trust my friends on this island, and I’d like to get along with you too.”
“That is a good idea. Orobas would also like to get along with you.”
He puts out his hand, and I shake it.
It’s a human hand with five fingers, but he has hooves on his legs.
I look at his face, and he smiles with his white teeth showing.
“So, when is Edinburgh waking up?”
“She is fast asleep now, so tomorrow.”
She looks a little pained, like she’s having a nightmare, but according to Orobas, she’s facing her past.
“I’ll take her home and let her rest.”
“Yes. Come back anytime.”
Orobas shows his white teeth again, and smiles with a ragged breathing.
I carry Edinburgh on my back as I head home, but Wil is waiting for me when I reach a rocky mountain.
“Oh? Weren’t you training the others?”
“They’re all unconscious, so I was left bored.”
“You’re just worried about Edinburgh, aren’t you?”
She says nothing and shoots an ice bullet at my head.
It doesn’t hurt, but the impact pushes my head back.
“Don’t say nonsense and just go back. Reina is sleeping at home.”
“Eh? Then…”
Wil silently turns around. It doesn’t look like she’ll say any more, but it looks like the training is complete.
That means that as far as Wil is concerned, she’s strong enough to face Edinburgh.
“…All right.”
I carry Edinburgh as I follow Wil.
I don’t know what will happen to the Edinburgh who respectfully calls me father, but…
“I need to treat her like always.”
After all, I don’t know past her.
When we get back, I see Zephir has just returned too.
He looks at Edinburgh with a somewhat serene expression.
“I heard what happened. It would normally fall on me to do it… But it seems Mister Arata was burdened.”
“It’s fine. We’re always helping each other.”
Zephir puts his hand on his beard, and laughs lightly.
“I have been remaking the hot spring, so please come by and give me your thoughts when it is done.”
“Of course.”
He says he’ll look after her, so I hand him Edinburgh.
He looks like an old man, but he has a pretty robust body, so he has no trouble carrying her with that small body of his.
“Take care.”
Zephir nods, and enters the house.
Then I go back to my own place, and head to Reina’s room.
She’s tired from training, and doesn’t wake up when I go in.
“Welcome back, Reina.”
I sit next to her bed, and watch her sleeping face.
I haven’t seen her in a while, so I reach towards her and…
“I can’t wake her up.”
The fact that she only shows herself this unguarded to me makes a loving feeling well up in me.
I watch her silently for a bit, and then leave.
If I kept watching her, I might not be able to hold back, and would wake her up.
I go back to the living room and look up at the stars from the window, and notice the full moon.
Maybe it’s not because of that, but the sky on this island has this strange entrancing quality to it, so I keep watching it.
“I’m sure it will be a tough day for her tomorrow.”
But no matter the result, I need to watch over her until the end.
After all, she’s my family.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.
My name is Orbas!
Orobas*