A few days later, Graham and Sakuya drop by.
“Bro! I’m here to visit!”
“Good morning everyone.”
“Welcome.”
The couple is holding hands with a happy aura to them, showing that they’ve been getting along as well as ever since the fight.
Tiltue comes out from the back of the house, and gets closer while looking at Graham…
“Oryah.”
“Hey!?”
And she suddenly kicks him in the knee, making him bend over.
“Hey Tiltue! The hell are you doing!?”
“Phun. You’ve been getting carried away saying you’re the strongest ancient dragon! That’s like saying you can beat me!”
“Ah! Of course I am, I beat my father!”
“Howls a guy scared of me! How about we settle it then!?”
Tit for tat. Their argument is turning into an actual fight.
“Darling! I’m just going to show him the real power of an ancient dragon!”
“I’m not gonna lose to you now!”
“What!?”
“Now now, take it easy.”
I say as they yell at each other and leave, and turn to Sakura.
Maybe it just seems to her like they’re messing with each other, because she doesn’t seem bothered.
“The others are here too, come in.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
She bows and comes inside.
She follows me, but as always, her footsteps don’t make a sound.
I thought about this when I first met her, but she really has the conduct of a Yamato nadeshiko.
My personality is pretty loose, so maybe I should ask for some pointers.
Inside, Merlin and Reina are still working on revising their water magic.
“How about you take a break instead of going at it all the time? Sakuya is here.”
I say to the two that didn’t notice our guests at all, and Reina looks surprised.
“I have been on edge lately.”
“Yes… But as a water magic user, this is something I have to get over.”
“Maybe, but it’s important to rest. I’ll make tea, so take it easy and chat.”
Reina seems more stumped than Merlin, but for the latter, it’s a matter of pride.
I asked them if they couldn’t ask Edinburgh for advice, but Merlin got mad and says she’s the water magic expert.
Reina understands how she feels better than me, so I haven’t touched on it since. But…
It’s like I can see myself when I worked for a black company…
To be honest, it hurts to watch.
And she’s not going to get a good idea unless she unwinds.
I sneakily told Reina to try to get her to rest from time to time, but it doesn’t look like it worked.
“I’m going out for a bit. Take it easy.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I think it’s a little better if I let the girls be alone. And in the meantime, I’ll go get advice from Merlin’s superior, Zephir.
◇ ◇ ◇
I’m here at a mountain near the demon gods’ village, where Zephir is working on a new hot spring. He’s wearing a white singlet, pants, and the white work gloves I told him about, while digging a hole with a shovel.
The sunlight that makes it through the trees reflects off the sweat on his forehead, and the crisp way with which he wipes it reminds me of an idol.
He looks like a grandpa in his seventies at a glance, but his muscular body attracts even my stare.
He looks too healthy, like the complete opposite of what Merlin was like just now.
When he sees me, he stops and turns towards me.
“Mister Arata. What is the matter?”
“I’m actually here for advice…”
“Then have a seat here.”
He points at a log.
Is that his seat when he rests? I think as he plumps down on it.
I sit next to him, and talk about Merlin…
“Hahaha! You worry too much!”
He laughs hard, but I can’t help but be concerned.
She had bags under her eyes, and I’m sure I’ll see her trying all sorts of things when I get back.
She doesn’t rest, and I think she’s going to collapse eventually. But Zephir doesn’t agree.
“But she has to rest or…”
“She is having too much fun to rest.”
“…Fun?”
“Yes.”
He says full of confidence, while I sit here not understanding what he means.
How is someone that looked so tired and annoyed having fun?
“Mages get fired up the harder the task, the higher the wall.”
“I don’t get it…”
“No, I’m sure you do.”
He shows a gentle smile as he continues.
“I heard you wish to involve all the races of this island in a banquet. Why is that?”
“Eh? Because it’s my dream…”
The conversation suddenly takes a turn, and I answer despite not understanding why he asked.
“Dream? Really? Think about it again. The inhabitants of this island are far more powerful than humans. And have the pride to match. No one is cooperative in achieving your dream, and some may think it is none of your business.”
“Well…”
He rapid fires with a stern voice, leaving me with no response.
It really might be none of my business.
After all, getting a bunch of races that don’t get along together might be a bother to them.
Once that thought enters my mind, I start to lose confidence in what I’m doing.
“Still… Everyone is gathering around you.”
“…Eh?”
His tone suddenly changes into something softer, and when I reflexively look at him, he smiles.
“To be blunt, what you have accomplished so far could not be done by another human… No, even by any of the races on this island.”
“It’s that big of a deal. I just thought it would be nice for everyone to get along.”
“Yes. Then let me ask you again. Why do you want to get along with everyone?”
“I thought it’d be fun…”
I stop myself and realize something.
I’ve been doing something that others might see as unbelievably hard, but I’ve been doing it naturally because I think it’s fun.
“Merlin is the same. It might seem like she is tired and troubled, but she is having fun. Otherwise, she would have asked Miss Edinburgh for help.”
Now I see it.
Reina didn’t seem too worried about Merlin either, and now I know why.
“There is plenty of time. If that is her wish, should you not let her live how she pleases?”
“Yes… But cutting into your sleep time could be fatal…”
“I won’t say that a mage wishes to die for the sake of magic research, but she is usually too carefree. I think staying up late sometimes is fine.”
It sounds like he’s talking about a kid staying up all night playing videogames while the parents aren’t around.
But yes, I saw past me in her, but she’s not sleeping poorly for months at a time. I should just keep an eye on her for a while.
“Thank you.”
“What? You have helped me so much on this island, And Miss Edinburgh. Offering some advice is nothing.”
Zephir stands up while saying that, and picks up the shovel.
I grab another one from where he keeps his tools, and show it to him with a smile.
“This looks fun. Can I help you with the hotspring?”
“…Hahaha, go on then! Digging a hole is not a lot of fun, but the alcohol that comes after tastes incredibly good!”
“I can’t wait.”
And then, we start digging together.
Thanks for the treat.