MTLNOVEL Chapter 202
Chapter 202. The Bumpy Family And The Grilled Mochi
In the starry night sky, a giant beast with wings soared.
Amid the chaos of the past few days, we hadn’t had a proper conversation, but Cherina had asked to talk, and now she was leading me somewhere.
I also had a lot I wanted to say, so this was perfect timing… but now we were both silent.
Maintaining an awkward silence, we rode on the griffon, Kukkel, and landed in the middle of a desolate wilderness where Sebites was nowhere to be seen.
“I’m fine with talking, but does it have to be in a place like this?”
As I jumped off Kukkel and turned around, Cherina was leaning against a nearby rock, looking uncomfortable.
“……Ugh, Akira-sama, how are you so calm?”
“I’m not exactly calm… maybe it’s because of the waves.”
“That’s unfair… ugh…”
Cherina should be able to use the waves too, but admittedly, that ride wasn’t comfortable.
I gave her some bottled water and waited for her to calm down.
“Haa. I’m fine now.”
“Good.”
I exhaled the smoke from the cigarette I’d been smoking into the star-filled sky.
Two moons shone beautifully.
“Now, Akira-sama, there’s a lot I want to ask you.”
“I’ve already given you the general explanation, haven’t I?”
“That’s not what I want to ask about.”
She puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away.
“Ah…”
“Akira-sama, are you really that dense?”
“……”
“What’s your relationship with that elf… Lalaila-sama?”
“I already told you, she’s Yaralai’s daughter, and we met along the way. After we leave this country, we’re heading to Lake Lure, and then to their hometown.”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… you two seemed very close.”
“Ah…”
I scratched my head.
Well, I guess that’s what she’s getting at.
“It’s not like anything special happened. I ended up saving her life, so she’s attached to me. To me, it feels like I’ve gained a little sister.”
Even though Lalaila is older, I can’t help but treat her like she’s younger because of her appearance.
“A little sister…?”
“Yeah. More importantly, can I ask why you’re in a place like this now?”
“That’s… it’s a long story, but it happened a while after you left.”
I took out a cup and brewed some instant coffee. Cherina’s was loaded with sugar.
Remaining balance: 1,694,924 yen.
“Many merchants came wanting to trade with Tessa. Kukkel… the griffon was one of the gifts.”
I see. There shouldn’t have been griffons in that country.
“And then, one day, the Cazmus Church came.”
“Cazmus Church?”
“The god of space. They’re the religion that can create item bags.”
“Ah, I remember.”
I think all the item bags in the world are made by the Cazmus Church.
They don’t have churches except for their main temple, and the priests who can make item bags travel around to train… or something like that.
“Yes, that’s mostly correct. A priest from the Cazmus Church came and proposed building a Shift Room.”
“A Shift Room… that’s the teleportation device, right?”
“Yes. Recently, its usefulness has been recognized, and there’s a waiting list for construction. So, this was a proposal to skip the line. We jumped at the opportunity.”
“Isn’t that a scam?”
“We’ve thoroughly investigated that part.”
“I see.”
Well, Cherina and Brow Soar wouldn’t overlook something like that.
“Anyway, for some reason, the construction of the Shift Room was decided. And as Tessa’s representative, I’m negotiating the installation of Shift Rooms in various cities.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“A Shift Room is a special spatial tool that swaps the contents of two rooms. Of course, it doesn’t work with just one.”
“Ah, I see.”
“We’re already in the process of proposing installations in Lake Lure, which has many Shift Rooms on the eastern side of the Midal continent.”
“I see. So Sebites is just a stop along the way.”
At that, Cherina pursed her lips.
“……That’s not the only reason, though.”
“Huh?”
Cherina turned her head away again.
“……Do I really have to say it out loud?”
Yeah… I guess so.
“Cherina.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s skip the details.”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t look her in the eye and turned away instead.
“I’m glad to see you.”
“!”
The next moment, I felt an impact on my body.
Of course. Cherina had hugged me.
“Me too! I… I’ve wanted to see you for so long!”
I gently hugged her slender shoulders.
Yeah.
This isn’t just a fleeting emotion. For both of us.
“Sorry. I couldn’t believe in myself.”
“You’re… always like that.”
“Yeah.”
“I… I’ve been thinking about you so much, Akira… it’s not fair.”
“Yeah.”
Through her thin shirt, I could feel Cherina’s body heat. In the cold wilderness, it was like a warm light.
It was something precious I had gained after being thrown into this wasteland alone.
Remembering that, I gradually tightened my embrace.
◆
In the morning, when I returned to the camper van we were using as a base, Lalaila gave me a half-lidded stare.
Unable to withstand her piercing gaze, I tried to get some breakfast.
“……Lalaila, where’s my portion?”
“Who knows?”
“I… see.”
I scooped up some leftover soup from the pot and ate alone.
◆
“Well, I’ll go help out at Lalaila’s kitchen.”
“Akira, you should go help at the sewing workshop. The clothing guild said they wanted you there.”
“Oh, right.”
I headed to the sewing workshop alone.
◆
When I returned at night, they were cleaning up after dinner.
“Lalaila… where’s my portion?”
After being glared at, she turned her back on me.
This is tough.
Cherina’s looking way too smug about this.
I went to the kitchen and had them make me some dinner from the leftovers. (They gave it to me for free out of kindness.)
◆
Early that morning, Rotton Maguwa from the Adelle Trading Company arrived.
“Good morning, Akira-sama.”
“Hey. What’s up?”
“The support system for Hanshon Village is fully in place.”
“I see. Sorry for all the trouble.”
“Not at all. We’ve already made plenty of profit from the mirrors.”
“Thanks.”
I took out a document from the container, a loan agreement for 1 billion yen to the Adelle Trading Company, and handed it to Rotton.
“Take a look.”
“Yes. ……This is genuine.”
He took the parchment and tossed it into the campfire.
The contract slowly turned to ash.
“I hope this isn’t out of line, but are you sure about this? That was a formal document. If you demanded it, the Adelle Trading Company would have no choice but to pay.”
“It’s fine. More importantly, I’m counting on you for Hanshon Village.”
“Of course. On the honor of the Adelle Trading Company.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Coincidentally, Cherina had also witnessed the revival of Hanshon Village. The fact that it started so quickly was likely due to the Adelle Trading Company’s support.
That’s enough.
Dodoro’s money should be used for Hanshon Village. I have no right to take it.
“But entrusting us with this means…”
“Yeah, I’m thinking of leaving this country soon.”
“Let me ask just in case. Would you consider joining the Adelle Trading Company? I can guarantee you a position as an executive.”
“Hahaha. You already know the answer, don’t you?”
“I suppose so. I wish you happiness on your journey.”
“Thank you.”
Just then, Giro and Clari came for breakfast, along with Eutis, who had been helping with the cooking.
Me, Hagg, Yaralai, Faf, Lalaila, Cherina, Giro, Clari, Eutis, and Rotton all gathered.
As I served breakfast, I spoke up.
“Listen up, everyone. I’m thinking of leaving this country soon. I haven’t decided on the exact day, but it’ll be in the near future. Does anyone have any objections?”
“Akira-nii… you’re leaving?”
“Yeah. I never planned to stay here long.”
“It’s going to be lonely.”
Not just Giro, but Clari also looked downcast.
“So, Cherina, what about you? We’ve been together for a while now.”
“Our destination is the same. I’ll go with you.”
“Alright. Is everyone else okay with that?”
Hagg and Yaralai nodded, but Lalaila turned her back.
I could only smile wryly, but Yaralai waved it off, so I let it go.
“In that case! Please take me with you too!”
The unexpected declaration came from Eutis, a member of the clothing guild.