The next morning, I wake up and get out of the tent, and see Katima the alfar girl standing in the forest.
She has her silver hair that’s like a beast’s fur tied in the left and right sides, and dark brown skin. And despite her long ears, she doesn’t look all that different from a human.
She seems a little younger than she looks, and as I see her looking on at nothing in particular, I’m really starting to think that generally speaking, the inhabitants of this island don’t look their age.
Katima notices me, and turns her red eyes to me.
“Arata…”
“Good morning Katima. You’re up early.”
“Yes. The morning sun filtering through the trees feels good. Katima loves to bathe in the morning sun.”
“Eh…”
The gentle morning sun does feel good.
It’s really nice to bathe in the sun while hearing the trees being gently rustled by the wind, and the chirping of birds.
“Thanks for yesterday.”
“Hum…? Ah for saving you? Don’t worry about it.”
“No, alfar don’t forget debts. And Katima also got the fish you all caught.”
I laugh awkwardly, because she suddenly drops her shoulders and looks dejected.
I didn’t fish anything. Well, other than her.
Luna and Elga were the ones who caught that fish, so there’s no reason to apologize to me.
“Then bring something for Luna next time. She’s the one who caught most of the fish.”
“Yes, Katima won’t forget, and repay lots.”
She says while clenching her fists and firing herself up. Her expression doesn’t really change, but it’s clear how she’s feeling.
“But you saved me too, so Katima’s going to repay you. Do you have any problems?”
“Me? Well, hum…”
There’s not a whole lot that’s troubling me on this island.
I got an invincible body from god, so I’m healthy and don’t get hurt. And everyone I met here is friendly, so I don’t have any social problems either.
I eat good and fresh food every day, I have fun, and I’m comfortable. So as far as problems go…
“Ah, I know. Katima, alfar live on the mountain, right?”
“Yes, the mountain’s full of fire, earth, and dark spirits. It’s a really nice place for alfar.”
“Then are there any local specialties there?”
“Local specialties?”
Katima asks as she tilts her head. Does she not understand that?
“Ah… I’m asking if there are any tasty things you can take from the place where you live.”
“Ah, that. Lots. The mountain’s the source of life.”
She says as she puffs out her chest. That puts some emphasis on the round contours of her body, clearly noticeable because of her thin clothing, but I look away.
She’s dressed in what looks like ancient Japanese clothes.
She’s wearing a sleeveless dress cut out of one cloth, so when she does that, I have to look away.
“Katima recommends mushrooms.”
“…Safe ones?”
“Hn? They don’t have poison or anything…?”
I can’t trust mushrooms on this island. Elga’s story is just too scary.
That said, it’s not like all mushrooms are like that. And her saying they’re tasty is leaving me curious.
“Then can I have some when I go to that mountain?”
“Yes, Katima will let the elders know too. Every alfar is indebted to Arata for saving Katima. The great spirits will welcome you too.”
Katima says with a proud smile. I think she’s exaggerating, but I guess it’s true that I did save her. I feel like I shouldn’t argue with that.
Also, there aren’t that many vegetables that we can pick in the area around the tent. Although meat is plentiful for some reason.
“Then we’ll visit soon.”
“Can’t wait.”
We keep talking about what food they have over there, until Reina and Luna wake up.
They’re curious about what we were talking about, and we let them in on the conversation.
Luna starts drooling at some point, and she seems ready to go there right now.
“I still have plenty of ingredients, but I do want more vegetables.”
“The mountain where alfar live is rich in nature. And there’s the things we make.”
“Is there anything like this?”
Reina then starts asking Katima all sorts of questions, like a switch turned on inside her.
I can tell from past experience that this will take a while.
“Luna, I’m going to wash my face in the river. How about you?”
“Yes… Luna too!”
Katima looks a little flustered, caught in Reina’s tempest of questions. She can’t afford to care about anything else right now.
Luna would be bored and feel left out if she stayed here, so I figure she should come with me.
“We’ll be right back, Reina and Katima.”
“Be right back.”
We say before we head to the river.
“Ah, Xellos. Good morning.”
“Ah? Ah, Arata…”
There’s already someone by the river.
One of the seven great mages of the continent like Reina, Xellos Grinder.
He looks at me, then at Luna, and his face stiffens a little.
“Why are you looking at Luna like that?”
“No, sorry…”
He’s probably remembering what happened yesterday.
That said, unlike yesterday, Luna is containing her magic energy, and shouldn’t be overpowering him with it.
He looks a little uneasy, but it doesn’t look like he’s feeling bad.
I think he’s just wary because of the overwhelming difference in their power.
“Luna, Xellos still isn’t used to this island, so be careful with how you show off your strength.”
“Geez, Luna knows.”
It’s nice how Luna says yes without any issue. If it was Tiltue, she’d intimidate them on purpose for a laugh.
Xellos and Merlin still don’t fully believe the people of this island aren’t dangerous, so they’re still wary.
They are outsiders who ended up on this island like me, so I want that misunderstanding to be solved soon.
“Still, they’re more wary of them than Reina…”
Maybe it’s Reina who’s the weird one here, for her great ability to adapt. The fact that I’m with her probably plays a part too.
Anyway, I get along well with Luna and Elga, so I don’t want them to feel like others are scared of them forever.
And there was that incident with the shantak bird.
If we leave them be, they’re eventually going to collapse emotionally under the weight of the conditions on this island.
I’ve already met them and everything, so I kind of don’t want that to happen.
“Xellos, do you have some time?”
“Ah? I do, but…”
“Then how about having breakfast with us?”
I propose, and his face stiffens a little again, but he agrees.
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