Chapter 201 – Loss and Regeneration

Last night’s “Sea Serpent Ascension Festival” (named by Myrril) was a great success. We left before midnight, but I heard that the drinkers were still going strong until dawn, even though it was winter.

“Are you all right? Didn’t anyone freeze to death?”

“Oh, it’s because we had Takifu’s fire wine (distilled liquor). You don’t feel the cold when you drink it.”

That’s not the point, hey. Are you Russians?

Tig and Louis arrived back at Kayson-san’s house just as Trin and Rufia were getting ready for breakfast, which was a surprise to us.

Colon, McCain, and Eino, who are sensible people among the ‘Battlecry,’ came home at the same time as we did, and in return for the hospitality, they woke up early to help maintain the boat, repair the nets, and prepare breakfast.

“Did you enjoy the sea serpent?”

“Yes, of course.”

Nora-chan, Calmon’s daughter, was helping Rufia-san, and they were laughing together. They tried to try all the parts, but there were too many, and they gave up halfway through. Thanks to the skills of the talented team of cooks led by Owens, a large amount of meat the size of a whale was transformed into nearly a hundred different kinds of exquisite dishes.

I don’t think an eleven-year-old girl could eat all of that. Even I couldn’t get in after trying about seven dishes.

“I guess so. I think that’s what you mean when you say you feel like your cheeks are about to fall off. But I feel like I ate about a year’s worth of meat just last night.”

Calmon’s mother, Trin, also laughed.

“So, Takifu-san, are you going back to Sarz today after all?”

“Yes. But we will visit you again. We have a new vehicle that is much faster than a horse-drawn sleigh, so next time, we will be able to come back in half a day.”

“Half a day from Sarz? It takes a little longer in the summer, even with a fast horse, though.”

“What are you going to do now?”

Tig and Louis are stunned, but they ask the remaining three about the future of ‘Battlecry.’

“We are considering using Lafan as our base for a while. Last night, the southern lord invited us to stay here for a while.”

Eino and Colon nodded at McCain’s words.

“Oh, that’s good. I’m sure Lord McKin won’t treat you so inappropriately. You’ve come a long way, haven’t you?”

“No, it’s thanks to Takifu and Mir. As a result of the fact that we completed the lord’s escort mission, the adventurers’ guild in Lafan has certified us as a first-class party. They want us to stay in Lafan if possible so they can continue sending out appointment requests.”

The half-dwarf Colon said with a grin. Myrril and I patted the three of them on the back and shared our joy… but he said that Myrril’s patting was very strong. Colon’s back is arched.

“If that’s what you decided, why don’t you go buy a house?”

“Right, right, your pockets must be warm now.”

I laugh, and the three of them look at each other uncomfortably. What’s the matter? This house doesn’t cost that many millions of yen.

“…Oh, you see, Takifu. I’m talking about that.”

“Yes, no matter how much it is, that’s…”

“That’s a lot of money, isn’t it?”

The three from Battlecry looked at the large barrels piled up in the corner of the dirt floor. It seems that Calmon and Kayson-san’s barrels, which were given to them before the expedition, were somehow managed to be put into the room, but when the group started to pile the remaining barrels inside the room, the floorboards started to creak, so they moved them to the dirt floor. Since there were so many of them, it was very bulky. They were blocking the entrance to the house, which was quite large and completely obstructing the way in and out of the house.

“You say that, but it’s not true.”

“Everyone’s cooperation was involved, and it’s not like I’m the one who should get the credit for it. I’ve tried to be reasonable about it.”

“””That’s!?”””

Don’t fret. I think it’s a fair line for a share. I’ve heard that silver coins are the best for convenience for us (and for the general public), so I’ve been allocating more than just gold coins, though.

Silver and copper coins in one large barrel of 120 liters each, gold coins and assorted precious metals in one small barrel of 5 liters each. That is ten large barrels for the number of people to be multiplied. Since I had failed to give the gold coins to Calmon and his father, the number of small barrels was twelve. The entranceway has only enough space for one person to pass through.

In addition, there are two large barrels of weapons of a peculiar nature that were not provided to the guards of the central territory because they seemed to be difficult to use. A decorated greatsword, a cursed spear, and a magic staff with a bead of magic bells were carelessly placed in the barrel like an umbrella stand. There is also an ill-advised bow with an entwining sea-serpent motif.

“…What are we going to do with this?”

“I don’t know. If you don’t need them, sell them.”

“That’s not what I mean…”

I understand. I understand it. I know that feeling of being overwhelmed.

When you’re poor from the start, you can only be happy to receive a large sum of money up to 100,000 yen, or at most a million yen.

“What’s more, too much money or too much recognition is like a curse. It sticks to you whether you want it or not. I have been down this road before, so enjoy it to the fullest.”

Laughing with an amused look on her face, Myrril patted them on the back again. This time, the giant McCain sacrificed himself and arched his back. Maybe she is just careful not to do it to the slender woman, Eino-san.

“Well, many thanks for your hospitality.”

“Are you leaving, Mir-neechan?”

After breakfast, when I took the hovercraft outside, Nora-chan hung on to Myrril’s hem. I was sad to part with her, but I also felt that it would be wrong to stay in Lafan forever.

“I’m going back for a while, but I’ll come back here some other time to buy some fish.”

“Really?”

“Yes, of course. Takifu is fond of fish, but we didn’t have time to visit the market this time. And if Nora behaves herself, I will bring you plenty of souvenirs, okay?”

“…Yeah, I’ll be waiting for you. Will you bring Moff with you when you come?”

“Of course.”

“Woof!”

On our way home, it was just me, Myrril, and Moff in the car. I thought the car was quite small, but it was so empty and lonely.

“Thank you, Takifu-san!”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Trin-san, and Rufia-san. I’ll be back again, so take care of yourself. And Kayson-san, don’t push yourself too hard now that you have the boat.”

“I’ll be with him, so he’ll be fine.”

“Calmon… In that case, I still think Kayson-san is more dependable than you.”

“You’re awful!”

Calmon and Kayson-san’s family and the entire Battlecry are all laughing and waving at us.

“Ara, it’s a big ship, isn’t it?”

“I heard that you can go on land with this spinning thing.”

I turn around at the sound of their lively voices and see that it is the same ladies and grandmothers who greeted us when we first arrived. They had brought vegetables and fish as souvenirs. It was the warmth of the countryside.

“Takifu-san, please come again.”

“Thank you very much. The sea serpent you caught was very tasty.”

“Take care, Grandma and the others. We will be back.”

The propulsion fan splashes snow up in the air, so I ask them to move away for a moment. When the engine started, the voices were drowned out. I opened the throttle, and we left Lafan. The hovercraft starts moving smoothly, picking up speed and pushing forward across the snowfield. The shadows of everyone in the haze behind the snow plume became smaller and smaller and soon disappeared.

Myrril, who had been looking back through the window for a while, sat in the passenger seat and let out a sigh.

“What is… this prickling feeling deep in my chest? …I haven’t felt this tingle since I left my family and friends and headed for the kingdom. …I’ve neglected it for so long.”

“I know. Where I was from, we called that feeling homesick.”

“Homesick?”

“How should I say it…? It’s a kind of mild mental illness that affects people who have left their home.”

“You’ve had it, too, haven’t you, Yoshua?”

“Yes, indeed. When I was still pure.”

How long has it been since I felt anything like loneliness or sadness? At least, when I was a corporate employee, I never felt lonely or sad.

In fact, even now, I don’t feel so bitter. I know in my head how Myrril feels, but I don’t know if I’m okay now.

“But now, you don’t feel so bad. How can you become so?”

“You don’t have to be like me. However… I think that the reason why I feel so much pain is because I feel like I’m not where I’m supposed to be like I don’t really belong here.”

Hou, Myrril let out a sigh.

“…I see. That makes sense. I was wondering why I didn’t feel this way when I left Casemaian.”

“Hmm?”

“At that time, I thought I was going where I was supposed to be, where I belonged. …Hmm. I suddenly felt a lot better.”

Myrril smiled with a radiant face. I felt her heart leaning toward me.

“…You’re right. I’m fine with you, Myrril. I’m fine as long as you’re here. I don’t care to be anywhere.”

A small palm wrapped around my hand as I steered.

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t have anything to worry about anymore. …This is where I belong.”