We finished our breakfast, which doubled as a welcoming party for Xellos and Merlin. It looks like the two of them have broken the ice with Luna.
She has a very friendly personality to begin with, so I knew it was only a matter of time. Still, I feel relieved to see them getting along.
But it looked like they were struggling to talk with Katima. Even from my point of view, Katima is a bit of an airhead.
She doesn’t really go out of her way to be friendly with them, but doesn’t treat them badly either. She just has the kind of personality that’s hard to get a grip on.
Katima started getting involved with me and the others because I saved and we gave her free food. Still, it’s not like she’s a bad girl, so I’m sure they’ll start to get along eventually.
“There was such a ruckus, that it feels lonely all of a sudden with them gone.”
“Yes. But it would be exhausting if it was always like that.”
“You have a point there.”
Reina and I are cleaning up after breakfast. We’re the only ones here now.
Katima and Luna went to their respective homes. Elga told me that alfar live pretty far, so I was a little worried, but Katima herself looked completely unconcerned, with her aloof and easygoing attitude. Is she going to be all right?
“Back when I was on the continent, I never could have imagined it would ever turn out like this.”
“Are you talking about Xellos and Merlin?”
“Yes… We saw each other during meetings, but we never really talked.”
“You never know where fate will take you.”
Apparently those two have been talking about what to do from now on
I guess they have their pride as members of the seven great mages, or maybe just being with Reina was a problem, since they weren’t really friendly.
But now that those ill feelings with Reina are gone, there’s no need to dwell on that. That means they shouldn’t have a problem living closer to us either.
“Well, it might actually be useful to have them around.”
“Eh… How so?”
“Xellos has the nickname Extinguishing Fire, right?”
“Yes… That nickname tickles my heart a little, as a guy.”
It’s not like I have a case of chuunibyou, but I kind of look up to that sort of thing now that I’m in a fantasy world.
Still, that sort of thing ranks as a very low priority compared to having an easy-going life in this world.
“He can control fire better than me, so it should be useful when doing things like roasting meat.”
“…Hn?”
“And Merlin is good enough with water magic to have the Nickname Holy Water, so that should improve our lives in regard to things related to water, like laundry and cleaning.”
“…”
I wonder… But then I think about our lives.
Generally speaking, Reina uses simple magic of various types, and I copy her.
Releasing a lot of magic energy is easy, but controlling it precisely is still hard for me.
That means I tend to give Reina trouble when it comes to stuff related to our daily lives.
“How about we let them handle that sort of thing if they come to live near here?”
“…Yes, that might be a good idea.”
Reina proposes that with a proud look on her face, and I accept it with a smile on mine.
Unfortunately, the title of one of the seven great mages doesn’t mean anything here. In fact, raising our standard of living is way more valuable than something like that.
I’m definitely not offering those two as sacrifices to hide my shortcomings or anything.
Around the time when day turns to night, Xellos and Merlin bring their tents over here. It looks like they’ve made up their minds.
The tent Reina and I use is for military use, so it’s pretty big, but theirs are big enough for about two or three people.
They’ve settled on a place that’s not too close, but is still visible from here.
Then we have dinner together, the girls go take a bath, and the two of us stand watch.
“…Is what we talked about earlier.”
“…What do you two think the seven great mages are?”
“You ask that, but you know I don’t know anything about that.”
Xellos and I chat in front of a fire.
Mages really are incredible. Reina told me he’s over fifty, but he looks about the same age as me.
I guess before, when he first got to this island, he was mentally exhausted due to all the tension and excitement.
Now I’m finding him surprisingly easy to talk to.
“Ahh… Well, it’s fine. I’ve been wondering how I’m going to live on this island, so I’m glad to have some sort of role, at least for now anyway.”
“That reminds me, what are you two planning to do from now on?”
Reina and I already decided to stay here and live on this island.
And since leaving the island isn’t in our agenda, we can think about how to spend our days comfortably and have fun.
But the same doesn’t go for them. They’ve only wandered in here a few days ago, so I’m sure they’re thinking about escaping somehow.
“We’ve only really been thinking about surviving… And we need to start thinking about how to make it back to the continent…”
“Of course. But you should know that Elga and the others have no idea how to leave the island.”
“Elga… The beast person with the wolf ears?”
“Yes. He’s a very nice, caring guy. Ah, and he’s a divine beast person, so you shouldn’t call him beast person.”
They didn’t seem to care all that much about that difference when we visited their village, but I’m sure it doesn’t feel nice to be referred to by the wrong race name.
“I see. I’ll be careful.”
“Well, I don’t think they’ll be mad at you for that, but still.”
Xellos’ face twitches a little. He probably felt how strong Elga is.”
Reina also had a gloomy look on her face at first when she looked at Elga. I assume mages are sensitive to that sort of thing.
I ask him, and…
“No, your senses are just weird about this sort of thing. Any human would feel scared of an opponent they can’t possibly beat.”
“…I see.”
Now that I think about it, since I have this cheat body, I haven’t felt scared of anyone since I arrived on this island.
“Well, maybe Suzaku and Wil…”
“…I’m scared to even ask, but is there anyone you’re afraid of?”
“Eh? Well, not really afraid, but different from others.”
Those two are like a rank above the rest, compared to the other people I’ve met.
I mean, an original divine beast and a true ancestor with a history behind her feel a little different from descendants like Elga and Tiltue.
“Seriously… I’ll try to not go near them.”
“They’re not bad. But they do like to play with people…”
“Hou… Is that how you see me? Hearing that from someone like you, who is beyond a monster, means I must be impressive.”
It feels quiet like a whisper, but for some reason, this voice stays in my ears.
I look up, and see a beautiful girl looking like a witch as always, with her black cloak and conical hat.
Wilhelmina Vermilion Worheim.
The oldest person on this island, and a true ancestral vampire, said to be the strongest race.
Her blonde hair flutters in the wind. She looks like a sweet girl, but she’s strong enough that even Elga, the strongest divine beast warrior, doesn’t want to fight her.
She’s looking this way like she just found a new toy.
I follow her eyes, and see they are pointed at Xellos, who is looking up at her with fear painted on his face.
“Ahh… Ahh…”
“…So that’s Wil.”
I don’t think he’s listening, but I introduce her anyway.
And then, I put my hands together in prayer for my new friend, who has just become the target of Wil’s interest.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
