GalaxyTL
“Wehwcome!”
Saura-san readily approved, so Dad brought Asuka and me to the beast carriage station. We stopped by the shop, and Miina-chan, the poster girl, immediately came toddling over. So cute, as always!
“Well then, I’m going to talk to the owner.”
“Okay! We’ll be here!”
Just as I was being healed by Miina-chan’s cuteness, Dad said that, so I answered. I thought this would be a good place to play together, because it’s inside the shop, and there are tables.
“Um, it’s nice to meet you, Miina-chan.”
“N-Nice to meetchu too…”
Asuka, being older, spoke to her kindly while Dad was talking to the owner. Asuka’s beaming smile is incredibly powerful. What is this heart-throbbing effect? Miina-chan face was so red it almost sounded like she was going to make a puffing noise. I was also smitten by how adorable she looked, hiding behind me, but still properly greeting him. This is a chain of heart-throbbing! But now’s not the time to be charmed. I have to introduce Asuka properly.
“Miina-chan, this is Asuka. He lives in the Elf Village, and he’s visiting Ortus.”
“Just for a bit. His real name’s Ryuasukatius, but it’s long, so call him Asuka, okay?”
“Um, A-Asuka-onii-chan.”
“O-Onii-chan, she called me onii-chan! Meg, did you hear that!?”
Asuka, shocked at being called “onii-chan”, was grinning excitedly. Ah, I totally get it. The moment you’re called that, you can’t help but hear it echoing in your mind. I know from experience. It makes you so happy! To have someone younger call you that.
“Fufu, well then, shall we play? I brought some toys!”
“Really?”
“Of course! I have a bit of free time until Dad’s done working.”
Miina-chan, happy to hear we could play, suddenly brightened.
“Thank you, Meg-onee-chan!”
“Me too! Thank you, Meg-onee-chan!”
“Even you, Asuka!?”
It’s been a while since anyone’s called me that! They’re definitely making fun of me. I’m even being teased by Asuka now. Sniff.
But now’s not the time to feel down. This is our playtime! Let’s play! Oh~!
I placed the toys I brought on the table. The wooden puzzles and building blocks also seemed fun, but Miina-chan took a liking to the dolls. It’s only natural, because she’s a girl. We changed their clothes and brushed their hair, and even went on a picnic, using a miniature play set.
My girl doll is Miina-chan’s doll’s older sister. I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about how little girls admire their older sisters.
Asuka, on the other hand, diligently used the blocks to create obstacles and buildings. A slide, a house with a garden. Miina-chan and I then used those for our dolls. Asuka’s architectural skills are incredible. That quality, even though it’s just blocks.
“This shop has a nice atmosphere. We should go to the park after this, Meg-chan.”
“Uwah! I’m looking forward to it! Miina-onee-chan.”
She smiles happily every time I call her “onee-chan”, it’s so cute, I can’t help but call her that over and over. Just as I was being healed, Dad, who’d appeared at some point, muttered something that stuck with me.
“There’s… no sense of incongruity… this is natural for her.”
“Th-That’s not trueeee!”
How rude!!
I felt like it had just ended, but it was already evening when I looked outside. We’d spent the entire afternoon playing. I-I didn’t even notice…!
“You must have had a lot of fun.”
“Yeah… I kind of… got carried away.”
It made me realize that I’m currently acting my age. Even though I’m about seventy years old. So this is what it means to be age appropriate. I can’t just keep thinking like a Japanese person!
“Meg-onee-chan, A-Asuka-onii-chan. C-Can we… play again…?”
She must have felt even lonelier because she rarely gets to play with kids her age. She asked us that, with tears welling up in her eyes. My heart…! Her mother gently picked her up, praising her for saying goodbye without crying. It really got to me, now I feel like crying!
“Yeah, let’s play again. Here, take this.”
I held back my tears and smiled, pointing at the toys. We put everything away properly, of course! I put the pretend play set, the puzzles, the blocks, all the toys we used, in two boxes.
“I-Is that okay?”
“Yeah! So we can play when we come here, okay?”
I smiled, answering her mother, who’d asked if it was really okay.
“I don’t play on my own anymore, and it’s a shame to just have them. And toys would be happy to be played with! So Miina-chan, play with them, even when we’re not here, okay?”
All of these were gifts from the people in Ortus. I’ve always felt bad that they weren’t being used. I did play with them, when I was bored… but, well, I am an adult on the inside, and I probably haven’t played with them as much as a normal child. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away, so I’ve been wondering what to do with them. So I’m really happy that Miina-chan will take them and play with them!
“Thank you, Meg-onee-chan! I’ll take good care of them!”
“Okay! Thank you too, Miina-chan.”
Ehehe, we giggled and then hugged tightly, and then finally left the shop. Just as I was waving goodbye to Miina-chan, who was waving at us, I stumbled and Asuka ended up supporting me. S-Sorry.
“Geez, be careful, okay? Meg-onee-chan?”
“Ugh, I know! You’re being mean, Asuka!”
He really did grow up to be a little mean! But he always apologizes, and he didn’t mean it, and he’s so cute, so I always forgive him!
“She’s right, you know, Meg-onee-chan.”
“Even you, Dad! That’s awful!”
Even Dad’s teasing me, chuckling. He always joins in!
“So, what happened with the beast carriages?”
To change the subject, I asked Dad about our original objective. I wonder if we’ll be able to use them as transportation during the tournament. I’m sure there will be quite a few people who want to go, to support us, even if the participants can handle things on their own. We probably came here to discuss that too.
“Ah, we’re actually preparing large beast carriages for the tournament. We’re making them in Ortus, ones with a large area for people to board. Just imagine a large bus. Normally, they’re pulled by one beast, but that limits the speed, and it’s also a burden. So we’re thinking of having two or three beasts pull them.”
“Hmm, so like a… stagecoach?”
“Well, yeah.”
If it’s a land beast, then a stagecoach type, and they’re also considering applying that to air travel. That means the beasts that transport them are incredibly important. Dad said the issue is whether these large beasts, who generally don’t form herds, will be able to run and fly together in the same direction. It would be terrible for the passengers if they start fighting or rampaging…!
“I even thought about developing vehicles that use magic tools, like airplanes. But if we did that…”
“Yeah, I get it, it might make beast carriages obsolete.”
“Vehicles that use magic tools probably won’t become popular right away, because of the cost, but… we don’t know what’ll happen if they’re developed. And…”
Dad suddenly looked up at the sky, his eyes softening.
“I don’t think… those things would suit this world.”
The sights I often saw in Japan. Rows of tall buildings, lots of cars and trains, and airplanes flying overhead. They’re convenient, and I used them often, but… I also think this world’s better off this way. Even though there might come a day when thinking like this will be seen as outdated.
“Yeah. I also think… it’s better this way.”
“That’s right.”
I don’t think we should be the ones to start that!
Asuka asked what we were talking about, and so the topic ended there. Dad concluded, saying that it seems like it’ll be fine to use the large beast carriages. Judging from the way he spoke, it looks like the problem between beasts that I was worried about will also be solved.
“Alright. Things are going to get even busier from now on. I need to capture those beasts that form herds and find and train tamers. And it’s almost time to start preparing the prizes and the rules. And then…”
Dad, stretching, seemed to have pulled himself together. He really does have a mountain of things to do. It would be good if there was something I could do in the High Elf Village… but there’s not, it’s pointless to even think about it. I-I’ll at least… try!
Tomorrow, we’re finally leaving for the High Elf Village. I hope I can research my special ability. My job right now is to regulate the flow of magical power to stop it going out of control, and to thoroughly investigate the mysteries surrounding myself. I made that resolution in my head and pulled myself together.