Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Loren's Invitation
I hugged the child.
Why was that?
Holding her was something I did all the time.
But this time, it felt a little different.
Something swelled in my chest,
and the tiny child looked strangely admirable.
Her slender legs,
her expression quivering as if on the verge of tears from frustration,
the courage that had let her fall countless times and stand back up.
All of it.
"You were amazing."
"...!"
It wasn't even something I'd accomplished,
yet pride spread deep in my chest.
The child wiped her tears.
Then she clutched tightly at my robe.
I gently stroked her face, still marked with tear stains.
"Yeah. Really. Amazing."
"!"
The child smiled brightly again.
And then,
slowly and carefully,
she rubbed her cheek against my chest, letting out a pleasant little laugh.
Soft hair tickled under my chin.
Warm body heat,
excited breaths of joy were transmitted to me.
Slowly,
very slowly, I stroked her back.
In place of my clumsy words─
It's okay.
You did well.
I'm so proud.
I hoped this touch would convey all my feelings in place of words.
At that moment, Loren, who had been watching us warmly from the side, clasped her hands together and approached.
"Our little one tried so hard because she saw you watching, Mr. Row! She stood way longer than when practicing with me!"
"...!"
"Heh heh, she really accomplished something big today. Our little lady."
The child's eyes shook a little.
Then, embarrassed, she bowed her head slightly.
Her faintly visible cheek was flushed red.
Loren pinched that cheek with a grin.
"You did really well, our little one."
"...".
"Mr. Row, she accomplished such a big thing—what do you have for her?"
"...Hm."
The child snapped her head up.
Soon, she looked at me with eyes full of eager anticipation.
I smiled faintly and asked.
"What do you want to do?"
"...".
The child's gaze darted around.
And then,
carefully,
she buried her face in my robe.
"Hm?"
"...".
She only rubbed her forehead deeper,
and even when I tapped her huddled back, she just flinched slightly.
'What does she want to do...'
It's still hard.
Figuring out what's inside her heart.
At that moment, Loren burst into laughter and said.
"Oh man, does she like Mr. Row that much?"
"Hm?"
"You can tell at a glance. She just wants you to stay by her side."
"...Really?"
"Of course! Heh heh, little one. Wanna come to big sis?"
Loren grinned and carefully touched the child's back.
The child startled at her touch and burrowed even deeper into me.
Her huddled back stiffened warily.
"See?"
"...".
"Just kidding, kidding. Mr. Row says he'll keep holding you."
"...".
Only then did the child's back straighten.
Loren, who had been watching playfully, shrugged her shoulders.
"Jeez, with Rakiss's holy day coming up soon, I was hoping she'd ask for a nice present. But she's satisfied just being held by Mr. Row."
"...Rakiss's holy day? What's that?"
"Don't be irreverent—it's Rakiss sam! More importantly, you don't even know about Rakiss sam's holy day?"
I nodded at the incredulous Loren.
"I don't."
"You really don't?"
"Yeah."
Loren gaped at me, then pressed her hand to her forehead.
"I heard you're from another continent, but I never imagined you wouldn't even know about Rakiss sam's holy day."
"So what is it?"
Loren sighed but stroked the child's head once before explaining softly.
"Rakiss sam is the chief god of our country—no, of this entire continent. The one who makes the land fertile and fills this earth with the breath of life."
"...Rakiss?"
"Ra. Kiss. Sam!"
Loren jabbed my chest with each syllable, pointing accusingly.
She didn't seem to be lying.
But,
something felt off, so I tilted my head.
'My old friend doesn't have those powers.'
The immutable powers of a god wouldn't change.
So I asked carefully.
"...Rakiss is the god of abundance and life?"
"Rakiss sam, I said! Besides, Rakiss sam is an omnipotent god, so His power isn't limited to just one thing!"
"...Rakiss?"
"Rakiss sam!"
An omnipotent god.
That was an amusing claim.
Their powers were absolute,
but at the same time, each had a clearly defined domain.
No god,
no matter what method they used,
could go against their own essence.
Gods couldn't even use magic outside their own powers.
For Rakiss to be omnipotent.
I wondered how such a perception had spread.
'Now I have another question for Rakiss.'
It seemed the world had changed quite a bit since I set aside learning.
Hubert let out a hearty laugh as he watched us.
"Calm down, Loren. We can't force faith on someone."
"Ugh, I know, but still."
"What seems obvious to us might not be to someone from another continent."
Loren nodded slowly.
Then her eyes sparkled as she approached us.
"That's right! Then I'll invite you officially!"
"...Invite?"
"Yes! The village has its festival too, but on Rakiss sam's holy day, the most important thing is sharing food and praying blessings with your cherished neighbors at home!"
"...".
The moment she heard "neighbors,"
the child huddled anxiously and gripped my robe tight.
To her, the world was still not a place she could easily open her heart to.
I carefully wrapped her small hand.
"Sorry. I'll decline."
"...".
"Hmm...".
Loren, who couldn't possibly fail to understand the child,
blinked in momentary confusion, then smiled brightly.
"Don't worry! It'll just be us!"
"...Just us?"
"Yes! Me, the bookstore elder, Mr. Row, and the little one—four of us!"
"Hmm, I'm fine with that... Loren, are you sure you don't mind skipping Shaun?"
"Eek...!"
Loren's face turned bright red in an instant.
"W-well...! Shaun will be busy selling skewers at the festival that day anyway!"
"Heh heh, I see."
Hubert chuckled slyly and let it pass.
It was obvious he was just teasing.
"...".
The small hand still clutched my robe tightly.
But she wasn't huddling as severely as before.
I watched the child quietly.
Her eyes were less tense than moments ago.
She seemed a bit relieved by "just us."
Loren clasped her hands and added.
"No going to crowded places or inviting strangers! Just us quietly! We'll share the food we each prepared, exchange gifts, and make wishes!"
"...Wishes?"
"Yes! On Rakiss sam's holy day, it's tradition to all make wishes together. You write them on paper and hang them on a tree or burn them in a bonfire."
The child's eyes sparkled.
She seemed intrigued by the unfamiliar custom.
A small spark of anticipation lit up her face.
"Want to try it?"
"...".
The child's eyes shook faintly.
Then, very slowly, very carefully,
she nodded.
Loren beamed.
"Is that okay?"
"...".
My robe wrinkled even more.
But the child nodded again.
A firmer motion than before.
"Alright. We'll go."
"Yay! Then on Rakiss sam's holy day, the four of us will spend it together!"
"Heh heh, sounds fun."
Hubert smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling.
Loren, even more excited than before, hurried to the counter and pulled something out.
Then she beckoned me over.
I approached with slow steps,
and she handed me a somewhat thick book and a densely scribbled memo.
"What's this?"
"This memo is the unsweetened pancake recipe I mentioned last time. And this is recipes for foods we often make on holy days."
"Should I make all of these?"
"No, no! Just one or two is fine!"
Loren added, humming cheerfully.
"Normally we'd discuss what food each person brings, but with us, let's just each bring whatever we want!"
"Heh heh, could end up with three of the same dish."
"That's part of the charm!"
I nodded, looking back and forth between the memo and book.
"...Got it. I'll prepare one or two."
"Yes! I'll be looking forward to it!"
Loren clasped her hands tightly in delight.
The child in my arms still watched us cautiously.
But with her cheeks flushed, her anticipation had grown.
"...!"
I stroked the child's head.
Soft hair tickled my palm.
"Oh, right! And I have something for you two!"
"Hm?"
"What is it?"
"Here! We bought too much and have leftovers, so share them with us!"
Loren pulled a thick bag from under the counter.
Inside were
all sorts of vegetables and sausages.
And a few freshly picked fruits.
"I wrapped up a bunch, but no way our family can eat it all. By the way, if you refuse, I'll be hurt!"
"Heh heh, thank you."
"Thanks. We'll enjoy it."
"No problem!"
I took the bag.
A heavy weight came through.
For some reason, the cool bag felt warm.
"I'm sorry we keep freeloading like this."
"Yeah."
"Aw, don't say such disappointing things. If it really bothers you, give us a nice present on holy day?"
"...A present."
"By the way, expensive jewels are off-limits, Mr. Row."
How did she know?
Most of the gift ideas in my head were disqualified.
"Presents are about sincerity and heart, not value! Got it?"
"Heh heh, yes."
"...Tricky."
"Hee hee, little one, just you showing up is enough! That's the biggest present for big sis!"
The child's eyes widened.
Then, very slowly, she nodded.
Seeing that, Loren smiled warmly and gently patted the child's head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The village was a fun place.
Something always happened contrary to plans,
and unexpected items ended up in my arms.
Today was the same.
The cookbook and groceries from Loren,
the picture books and study materials for the child from Hubert,
the herbs and mushrooms the alchemy merchant threw in as a bonus.
I looked up at the sky.
The sun was setting.
'I didn't plan to stay this long.'
This was unexpected too.
But I didn't dislike it.
"It was fun, right?"
"!"
The child, hugging the fire pot to her chest, smiled brightly and nodded.
The cabin came into view before long.
The familiar roof was dyed red in the fading sunlight.
"Rabbit must be hungry."
"...!"
"You're still good, right? You ate street food while wandering the village."
"...".
The child grinned widely.
I carefully wiped the sauce from her mouth.
I opened the cabin door.
As the door opened,
the soft scent of wood and lukewarm air welcomed us.
And the rabbit approaching, stretching after waking.
"...!"
"Feed the rabbit first, then we'll eat."
I put hay in the child's hand.
She carefully offered it to the rabbit.
I watched fondly, then turned my gaze.
"Huh."
"...?"
"It's snowing."
The first snow.
White, tiny flakes silently fell.
"!"
"Hm? Want to see?"
"!!!"
"Yeah. Let's go out for a bit."
I fastened the child's coat securely.
Then,
I picked her up.
Her eyes brimmed with excitement.
I opened the door.
White breath scattered into the air.
"...!"
"It's coming down pretty good."
White snow quietly piled up.
On the stacked firewood,
on the tree branches,
under our feet.
The whole world slowly blanketed in white.
Admiration lingered at the child's lips.
As if trying to catch a snowflake carefully,
her small hand slowly reached toward the sky.
A single white crystal softly landed on her tiny palm.
"...!"
"You got one."
"!"
The child, who had been staring intently, smiled and nodded.
At that moment,
I felt a gaze from somewhere.
I whipped my head around.
"...Rakiss."
"You...".
There stood my old friend.