Going to the demon god’s village means being away from home for a few days, which causes trouble for people like Xellos and Merlin.
When I’m around, monsters don’t get close, but when they know I’m not here, they start making moves.
Those two can defeat the weaker monsters on this island, but if a stronger one like those rabbits appears, they’re going to be forced into a tough battle.
Elga stayed nearby when we went to the alfar village, but…
‘Sorry, but I can’t leave the village for a while.’
He said. Apparently he has his own things going on.
He’s full of gentlemanly spirit, so I’d like to help if there’s anything troubling him too, but he insisted he wanted to deal with it alone.
He wouldn’t tell me what it was, but he asked me to look after Luna.
“What do we do?”
“Yes…”
I thought about us all just going together, but then we might come back and find the houses destroyed.
“I can look after the place.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Sure! I have some things to plan with Merlin anyway.”
Says Tiltue while playing with wooden building blocks with Snow.
I thought for sure she’d insist she’d go too, but apparently she has plans with Merlin.
She’s been getting kind of close to Xellos too, so it’s a little moving to see her graduating from being a loner dragon.
“Well then, thanks.”
“Leave it to me! But in return, play with me a lot when you come back!”
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
And since Elga asked us to look after Luna, the four of us are heading to the demon god’s village.
◇ ◇ ◇
According to the map we got from Elga, the demon god’s village is east of the forest where we live.
Luna knows the way too, so she’s walking in front of us while holding hands with Snow.
After a while, we reach the divine beast people’s village, and take a break while sitting on a sheet under a big tree and watching the two kids fill their cheeks with Reina’s food.
Reina and I spread the map we got from Elga, and check our location just to be sure.
“This is the divine beast people’s village, so the demon god’s village is a little to the northeast…”
“But once we see it like this, the island really does feel big.”
“It sure does.”
There are a lot of places we haven’t visited.
The forest where we live is a little to the west of the center of the island, and to the north, there are the alfar village and the places where the great spirits live.
Going further northeast from there would take us to the rocky mountains where the ancient dragons live.
Even further north, there is a place with small solitary islands, which is where Wil calls home.
“I know this comes really late, but this is where I first came to.”
I just sort of remember the path, but I never thought to check.
Pointing to the eastern shore facing the forest is a little emotional.
There are more divine beast people and regular beast people compared to other races, so they hold a wider territory compared to other races.
I say that, but it’s not like they’re fighting over it. People on this island don’t really seem to care.
“Mommy, this is where Snow was born!”
“Fufu, that’s right.”
Snow is sitting on Reina’s lap, pointing to Miss Sheryl’s place, where she was born.
Now that I think about it, both the fire and earth great spirits have their own dwellings, so does that mean Snow will have her own too one day?
I’m thinking like I’m a father that doesn’t want his kid to leave home, but great spirits live for thousands of years anyway. I wonder when that will happen.
It’s… A little lonely.
“Daddy?”
“It’s nothing.”
That said, it will be a sign of her growth.
Even if she leaves one day, we just have to stay with her until she does.
“This is Luna’s.”
“Ooh.”
Divine beast people, and alfar like Katima also live longer than humans.
But it’s the same for us. We graduate from school, retire, and die.
We always have to say goodbye, but we keep going.
Suddenly, I remember what Wil and Suzaku say.
Boredom kills the immortal.
Of course, there were also the ones that kept fighting, but they gradually disappeared.
They had their own life spans too, but also simply died fighting… In any case, the flow of time made them grow quiet. Except Wilhelmina.
The strongest races on this island are near immortal, but there are still people who go away.
How many times have people like the oldest vampire and the phoenix who have been on this island for so long have to say goodbye?
“Living forever…”
“Arata, are you really all right?”
“…Yes. I was just getting a little sentimental.”
“Really…?”
“…”
Reina tilts her head a little, and Snow stares at me from her lap.
And then she hops to her feet, runs over to me, and sits on my lap.
“What is it?”
“Daddy’s lap is good!”
She leans on me, and looks up with a smile.
Those pure, shining eyes look like they’re going to be having fun forever.
And those bright eyes full of hope blow away my vague worries.
“Your back is pretty warm for an ice great spirit, Snow.”
“Hehehe.”
And, with her on my lap, I look at the map again.
The demon god’s territory is a little north from here, more specifically, Gyes’ village. If we hurry, we could reach it in a few hours.
But we’re having fun walking without rushing, and camp along the way.
We can do this because Reina and I can use Storage Magic.
From this point of view too, it’s really lucky that I met her at the start.
“What is it now?”
“Nothing… I was just thinking that I’m glad I met you.”
“…What? What brought that on… Geez…”
Maybe it was too sudden. Well, I mean it.
No matter how much trust you have in someone, there are a lot of things you have to express with words. And I want her to know how thankful I am.
“Daddy likes mommy.”
“Hahaha, that’s right.”
“…”
Snow most likely means that in the same way that I like her.
That’s not wrong, but I’m aware that I’ve always been attracted to Reina. But I meant that as in that I like her as a person, and stuff like that.
Her face is red. She’s embarrassed.
“Do you like Snow?”
“Of course. And you like me and mommy, don’t you?”
“Yes! And Luna! And Tiltue!”
“Luna likes you all too!”
“I see.”
She kind of left out Katima, but she said before that they’re friends, so I’m sure she likes her.
“Arata is always so direct.”
Mumbles Reina as we all smile, with her face bright red.
I heard that thanks to my good ears, but I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything except what she wanted me to hear.
It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.
I think this kind of ticklish relationship is the best, so I keep putting it off.
But one day, I have to tell her how I feel.
I don’t think that day is very far. I think as we all laugh.
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If the MC was anymore dense he’d sink into the ground up to his neck……