by CHIROLU
“It’s closer to an herbal tea. Is it too different for you? There should be normal tea leaves too, so should we go with those instead?”
“No, this will taste good, too.”
Randolph returned when they were enjoying the light-green tea, which differed from what was normally found in Kreuz. He had several small boxes in his hands.
“Dad?”
“Girls like things like this, right?”
“Hmm?”
Latina tilted her head at the boxes being held out to her. Opening up the boxes at Randolph’s silent insistence, she shouted, “Wow, they’re so pretty!”
“They’re all magical devices... That’s our village’s livelihood, after all.”
Inside the boxes were elaborately crafted accessories adorned with gemstones. The fine craftsmanship and design alone were enough to make them all beautiful. Adding the large jewels, with their varied cuts that reflected the light at all sorts of angles, the pieces looked all the more gorgeous.
“These are magical devices?”
“That’s right. Making magical devices is our village’s main source of income, and when it comes to things that need complex metalwork, we’re world-famous for our skill. Stuff like this and weapons with gimmicks built into them, like my gauntlet, are our specialty.”
“Wow...” Latina muttered, picking up one of the accessories and holding it up to the light. She was enthralled by the sparkling gem; she may have been young, but she was still a girl. Such accessory-type magical devices were one of the village’s top-selling products and were imbued with protection magic. They were especially useful for nobles, who couldn’t walk around openly wearing armor.
“Do you like them? If there’s one you’re fond of, you can have it.”
These most certainly weren’t the sort of items you’d give to a child on a whim.
Realizing that, Latina refused. “No, Latina’s happy just looking at them. They’re really pretty.” She was well aware that her guardian occasionally pampered her to an outlandish degree. Going at her own pace, Latina placed the accessory with a green jewel back into its box and then picked up and stared at a red one.
“Leather goods like my coat usually aren’t sold to outsiders, though. The enchantment technique is the same, but they’re just made for using around the village.”
“We’re in the mountains, so it’s quicker to make something ourselves if we can.”
“Hmm...”
There were many magical beasts and other animals in the land surrounding the village, so Tislow was never lacking when it came to leather. They used it when they made hunting equipment and even for their everyday clothes. Such a thing would be considered quite extravagant elsewhere, but as they had the goods on hand, it made sense to use such highly functional gear. The reason that Dale was so ready to spoil Latina with expensive magical devices was because he had plenty of funds, but also perhaps because he came from this village, where they weren’t seen as anything special.
“I did contact them in advance, but it’ll take some time for them to get my measurements and put the finishing touches on my coat. We’re so far out in the country that it may be boring for you.”
“No, Latina is looking forward to it. There’s lots of stuff here that isn’t in Kreuz.”
“I see. Well, I’ve got to go say hi to some people tomorrow, so I’ll show you around the village then.”
“Right.”
Randolph wore a complex expression with a bit of amazement mixed in as he watched Dale and Latina have this relaxed conversation. He acutely sensed just how much his son doted on the young girl. It was unavoidable that a parent would become that way, but looking at Dale now, it seemed clear that Randolph’s son was once more back to his old self again, which made Randolph feel relieved.
Dale’s mission in the outside world had him risking his life taking on dangerous jobs involved demons and demon lords, which normal adventurers would never touch. Doing such work over and over ate away at him, so of course his father worried. Randolph had also realized that his son had kept cutting himself off from others until he was all alone in order to dull the pain.
So, he’s able to earnestly feel gratitude and affection for this girl, huh? As Dale’s father, Randolph needed to give Latina his thanks for saving his son.
“Dad, is Master Cornelio still teaching?”
“Huh? His daughter Clarissa has taken charge of teaching the kids around the village lately, but he’s still alive and kicking.”
“I see... Then you should study under him while we’re here, Latina. He should be able to teach you from a bit of a different viewpoint than the Asfarian priests back in town.”
“There’s a school here?” Latina asked, tilting her head. She’d heard that there were no Asfarian schools in the villages they’d stopped in on their trip. Even though Laband was a grand, powerful nation, there wasn’t any proper schooling in small country settlements. From that point of view, Tislow was quite unusual.
“Master Cornelio is a priest of Asfar, so you can technically call it a school,” Dale said, looking nostalgic. “I’ll introduce you to him tomorrow, so look forward to it.”
“Got it,” Latina responded, bringing their conversation to an end.
Though the mansion was vast, the smell of dinner being prepared carried from the kitchen to the living room, and when Latina noticed it, she grew fidgety. Dale knew what was going on, so he simply watched her with an amused expression on his face, but Randolph looked worried.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Um, um...”
Latina was flustered by Randolph’s question. She tugged on Dale’s sleeve and looked up at him as if asking what to do.
“Dale...”
“Just take it easy for today. I’ll ask my mom later,” Dale said, gently patting her on the head. “Latina can’t calm down unless she’s working. Back in Kreuz, she’s always helping Kenneth at the Ocelot. I let her handle the cooking on the way here, too,” Dale explained to his father with a strained smile.
“I see...”
“She doesn’t like just being treated as a guest, so let her help out, alright?”
“She’s such a hard-worker. How admirable.” Randolph said with a gentle grin. Latina calmed down, releasing Dale’s sleeve.
The door to the living room opened while the father and son were watching over the still-anxious Latina as if admiring a small animal. There was no custom of knocking in Tislow. When it came to offices or personal rooms, people would speak up before entering, but that wasn’t considered necessary when it came to a shared space like the living room. Everyone in the village was okay with this because they were part of the same clan and were all brethren with the same sense of values.
Even at a glance, it was obvious that the young man who opened the door was quite similar to Dale. He didn’t even look to be too different in terms of age. He ran his fingers through his hair, which was cut shorter than Dale’s, and when he took off his leather coat, a build was revealed that was in no way inferior to that of Dale, an adventurer renowned for his skill.
“Yorck.”
“Oh, you’re back, big bro? Did you get here today?”
“See, that’s a normal reaction. Dad and them put in a lot of work to mess with me.”
“Oh, they did that again? You’ve got it rough, bro,” Yorck said, looking over at Latina, who was by Dale’s side. “Is that the devil girl you’ve been looking after?”
“Yeah. Latina, this is my little brother, Yorck.”
Latina shot straight up and bowed. “Nice to meet you. I’m Latina. She’ll be relying on your kindness for a while.”
Yorck seemed a little shocked as he looked at Latina and then at his brother.
“What a surprise. She’s really got her act together, considering you’re looking after her.”
“So you think of me like that too, huh?” said Dale, his brow creasing. Apparently to his family, the still-childish impression of him from when he�
��d left the village remained strong in their minds. That may have been partly because the rumors of him being a first-rate adventurer who sold himself on his name might not have made it here from Kreuz and the capital, but regardless, his family didn’t see him that way at all.
“Nice to meet you, too. You’re always having to help out my brother, right? Sorry about that.”
“Huh?”
“Yorck...”
Latina hadn’t expected him to say that at all, so Yorck’s greeting threw her for a loop. “Um, um, Dale is always very good to Latina, though.”
“She sure is conscientious for someone so young, bro...”
“You...”
“I was at least half-joking.”
Latina tilted her head and stayed that way as she tried to understand their whole exchange. She finally gave a firm nod when they were done. “Dale, your family is weird!”
“Latina...”
Dale could only hang his head in shame, crestfallen. He couldn’t find any grounds to deny it.
Before long, Dale’s mother, Magda, announced that dinner was ready. Latina let out a “Woooow!” when she saw the food that was carried out.
“I couldn’t get everything prepared for today, so we’ll have the welcome party tomorrow,” Magda said, even though there was already plenty of food giving off a delicious smell on the table. There were also quite a lot of ingredients and dishes that Latina had never seen before, so she was, of course, overjoyed.
“We’ve got to call Granny...”
“Latina will go get her, then!” Latina said, cheerfully raising her hand and then hurrying off to Granny Wen’s room. Her slippers made a soft pitter patter as she went. She really did want to do whatever she could to help out, even if it was something small.
Dale should have trusted the bad feeling he had right then. His first-rate senses were working at all times, and he could pick up even something vague.
That bad premonition ended up being right.
Both during dinner and after, Latina didn’t leave Granny Wen’s side.
While Dale was catching up with his family for the first time in a while, Latina’s eyelids started to grow heavy. The sense of relief at reaching their destination after a long, tiring journey was likely finally hitting her.
“Are you heading back to the room alone, Latina?”
“Yeah. Latina is alright. She’ll go to sleep first, so goodnight.”
With a quick bow of her head, Latina left the living room.
After that, some time passed as they discussed the capital and the state of the clan. It was fairly late by the time Dale finally returned to the room. His old room and the one next to it had been set aside as guest rooms. He opened the door and heard the out-of-tune snores he’d grown so accustomed to.
“Hmm, well, it’s not my room anymore...” he muttered, looking in on the happily sleeping Latina and naturally breaking out in a smile. He’d intended to use this room because it used to be his, but he had no intention of moving Latina when she was sleeping so peacefully. He decided to use the other room, closing the door gently so as not to make a sound.
At the time, he’d thought that was the right decision.
Dale suddenly awoke in the middle of the night. As he lay on his side in the dark, he wondered why he had woken up. Even if he could awake with a start due to his work, it wasn’t something that occurred at random.
He felt like someone was calling him.
“Latina?!”
He jumped up from the bed and flew out of the room. The very instant after he hit the hallway, he flung open the door to the room next door. Hurrying inside, his eyes first fell on the empty bed, and he turned pale. But even so, he kept himself from falling apart entirely, and with what little calm he had left, he sensed a presence in the corner. A blanket from their luggage that was supposed to be packed away had a lump under it.
“Latina?” Dale called out, and the lump trembled a bit.
“Dale...?”
“What’s wrong?”
Latina’s head peeked out from the blanket. “Dale!”
Latina flew out of the blanket and threw her arms around him. She shoved her tearstained face tight up against the bewildered Dale.
“You’ve been crying? Why?”
“When Latina... woke up... you weren’t there. She was... scared. But she... didn’t know where you were,” Latina said bit by bit, her words broken up by tiny sniffles. “You were gone... so Latina was scared.”
“Sorry,” Dale apologized in a gentle voice, tousling Latina’s bedhead. The sleeping Latina had had no idea Dale was in the room next door, and back when they arrived, they’d unpacked their luggage in this room. Having been born and raised in this mansion, Dale was well acquainted with its layout, but because it was her first time visiting, it was a new place to Latina.
Of course she’d be uneasy. He’d forgotten something completely obvious.
I was too relaxed because it was my first time back home in a while...
“It was scary, huh? I’m sorry.”
Latina gave a tiny nod, still hugging Dale tight as if she didn’t want to let go.
When he saw Latina’s slender shoulders shaking, he tried to comfort the young girl and said with a frown, “Come on, hop back in bed. You’re cold, right? I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep, so relax.”
The seasons in the deep mountain land of Tislow lagged behind those of Kreuz, and it was colder there overall. This late at night, it was so chilly that it was hard to think of it as early spring.
“Latina doesn’t want you to go, Dale,” Latina said, shaking her head and weeping. She hugged him even tighter than before. “Latina wants to be together... she doesn’t want you to go... she doesn’t want to be alone...”
Latina’s... begging me...
He may have often pampered Latina, but she never made selfish requests; and yet here she was, in tears and begging him.
“I guess I’ve got no choice...”
It only took a mere moment for Dale to give in. It was what you’d call a “snap decision.”
†
Early the next morning, Dale’s mother stood frozen and at a terrible loss.
A little later at breakfast, she declared to her son, “I know that everybody has their quirks, but still, I think Latina’s just too young.”
“I’m not even going to ask what you’re thinking about me, Mom, but it’s absolutely, positively wrong!”
“I’d heard that folks in the city marry later, so I’d thought that was why you hadn’t found a bride yet. But to think that my son was into little--“
“Could you please cut it out? Latina can hear you.”
When Magda had gone to inform them that breakfast was ready, she’d found the young girl sleeping in the same bed as her son. First, she’d found one of the guest rooms empty, which she’d thought was odd, and when she opened the door to the other one, that was the sight that awaited her. Her full-grown son, sleeping with his arms around a little girl, and that was certainly something to worry about. She knew he doted on Latina, but she didn’t know it had gone this far. As his mother, it was her duty to make him see reason.
After she dropped that bomb, Magda looked her seated son right in the eyes. Randolph, who had watched this exchange while eating, took a sip of his tea and then gave a firm nod.
“I see... So you have those kind of tastes, huh?”
“Don’t say that with such a serious expression, Dad.”
That was when the despondent Latina spoke up. “Dale... This is all because Latina was selfish. She’s sorry...”
“See? Latina took you seriously!”
“There, there. She really is a good girl.”
“Right.”
“My parents are just teasing me, Latina. You don’t need to worry.”
Having said that, Dale faced his parents once again. “I’ve had to leave Latina home before, so it’s not like she can’t sleep on her own. But she was all alone in an unfamili
ar place this time, so she got nervous. I did that to help her calm down and feel more relaxed.”
“Well, you’re still young, Latina. And it’s pitch-black in the country at night, so of course it was scary,” said Magda with a smile, facing Latina with a completely different expression than she had taken towards her son.
“Right,” agreed Randolph with a nod.
“You woke up in an unfamiliar place, so it’s no surprise you were scared. That son of ours really is no good.”
“Yeah.”
“You guys...”
“Why are you referring to your parents as ‘you guys’?” Randolph retorted.
“Doing this this early in the morning... I’m exhausted...”
“Dale, are you alright? Latina’s sorry she was selfish.”
“You really are the only one who can make me feel better, Latina!” Dale exclaimed, with a flood of emotions from the depths of his heart.
After breakfast, Dale left the house holding hands with Latina, who was still looking despondent.
There was a crisp air to this Tislow morning, but it was more refreshing than cold. It had been the height of spring in the places they’d visited on their journey, but Tislow was still just heading into the start of the season. The branches had yellowish-green leaves, and there were still only buds attached to them. The wild flowers on the side of the road were all gentle, light colors. It was as if they’d all been waiting to bloom together to usher in the late spring.
This land was blessed by the power of the earth, so it was absolutely overflowing with such scenery. Rather than the cape she’d worn on the trip, Latina now had a stole over her shoulders. It was light pink and made of a thick, napped fabric, so it was quite warm. She also had a flower-shaped broach pinned to it, which Granny Wen had pulled out of somewhere in the mansion. “She’s moving way too fast...” Dale muttered to himself, completely ignoring his own past actions.
“That color suits you, Latina.”
“Dale?”
“It’s the color of spring, and it’s cute. Granny made a good choice.”