“Ah, Sora! And Hikari!!”
When we reach Filo’s place, Kotori notices us immediately and comes running. And the kids she was playing with follow her.
But today we have things to take care of here, so we need to take care of that first.
“Are the others here too?”
She says Naoto and Shun are helping Olin.
Shun looks up to adventurers, but Miharu isn’t too interested, so he’s reluctantly farming too.
“They’re over at Olin’s place. Kaede and Miharu are there too.”
“Then can you come with us? Hikari, sorry, but can you look after the kids?”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
“Then we’ll help too.”
Says Sera, and they end up staying here too.
Going to the Dragon Kingdom means we won’t be coming back so soon.
We could get back here immediately using Transfer, but that would mean leaving a magic item here, and there’s already one in Eril. I can’t just start leaving them so close to each other, because I have my MP to think about.
“So, what is it?”
“I made communications devices, so I was thinking about leaving one with you. Should I explain how to use it?”
“Communications device? So, like a smartphone?”
“It’s not that good.”
It’s pretty basic from the point of view of a modern person, so don’t look at me with those eyes filled with expectation.
Also, I think Kotori understands communications devices of this world, at least a bit. Surely she saw Suiren and the others use them.
She has a lot of questions, but it’s best if I explain when everyone’s here. So instead, she tells me how things are going.
I mean, even if I explained it to her, I’d just have to repeat it to the others, so I’d just be doing it twice.
Kotori understands this, and doesn’t ask about the devices any further.
“So, what are you planning to do? You’ve gotten pretty friendly with those kids.”
“…I’ve been thinking about it. But I want to stay with Kaede and Miharu, so…”
It sounds like things are complicated in her mind.
“And you’re going to the Dragon Kingdom, right?”
“Yes. If what the Dragon King said is true, there should be a clue about making elixir there.”
“Then… What are you going to do after saving Mia?”
“…I haven’t decided, to be honest. I want to check out the Beast Kingdom too, and see people I know in the Magic State.”
Leila and her party are in Majolica, but I’m also curious about Elsa and Alto.
Also, Kotori is concerned about the Sorcerer King that was summoned with us, but sadly, Windsor told me that he’s missing.
“Ah, but I’ve heard that there’s trouble in the empire. There are even talks that it’s collapsing.”
That’s the first I’m hearing of it, but after what happened with Sera, I don’t feel bad for them.
Even before that, Rurika and Chris talked about how it wasn’t a good place, and the attitude of the adventurers from the empire we met on the way to Majolica was just the worst.
And then there’s Sera’s former owners from when she was a slave. Just the worst kind of people.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing. I see… So the empire is collapsing…”
Then we meet the others, and I explain the communications device.
I was only going to give them one, but I end up giving them two. One for Kotori, and one mostly for Miharu.
They might get separated and do different things soon, and they want to be able to stay in contact.
“But how did you get this?”
At first I’m inclined to dodge the question, but they already know about Transfer, so at this point, telling them I made these doesn’t seem like a big deal.
I tell them it’s alchemy of sorts. Naoto is kind of exasperated, but Miharu praises me.
Shun and Kaede ask if they can get one too, but I tell them I don’t have the materials.
“So you could if you had materials?”
Asks Shun, and I nod. He then asks me what materials I need.
Other than monster materials, I would need stuff like ore, starting with mithril. And I guess good quality magic stones.
Then we talk about how I’m going to the Dragon Kingdom, and I guess because of that, we eat together.
We mostly talk about what we’ve been doing since we came to this world, but they’re also interested in how I’ve been living here.
The next day, we leave Nahal.
Kotori and the kids seem sad to see us go, but Kotori and the otherworlders in particular know what’s going on, so they don’t try to stop us.
“Come on, don’t cry. We’ll come visit. And grandma and Eris will be back soon too.”
Says Rurika, and the kids finally release us.
“Sora, look after them.”
Says Filo, and I nod, before we get on the wagon to go to the Dragon Kingdom.
We could travel the whole way by wagon if we went through the Holy Kingdom, but that would mean going around. So instead, we’ll basically be going back the way we came.
We’re going by wagon to the border city Belka, and from there, we’re on foot up the mountain.
“It’s finally time.”
Says Chris, and I nod. I turn to Hikari when she holds my hand, and see her looking a little anxious.
“I’m sure it’ll be all right.”
I’m basically saying that to myself too, but Hikari nods.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the update, and have a good week. 👍😀