Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Gift Making (1)
My old friend walked up to us.
To greet my friend,
I also rose from the rock where I had been sitting.
My old friend, who had approached before I knew it, was much larger up close than he had appeared from afar.
"...You're big."
"Is that so."
This time, Rakiss had manifested as a sturdy, well-built middle-aged man.
Skin tanned under the sunlight,
A height two hands taller than mine,
Calluses thickly embedded in his palms.
But more than his rugged appearance,
it was the wrinkles around his eyes, traces of time, that made him seem even more solid.
His gaze, subtly infused with gentleness, only enhanced that impression.
I quietly took in my old friend's appearance before slowly opening my mouth.
"Is that person a monk too?"
"Yes. He says he was a knight in the past."
"I see."
My old friend always appeared borrowing the form of one of his creations.
Sometimes,
he came as a shabby old man,
and other times, like now, in the guise of a robust middle-aged knight.
Sometimes from those who had already passed from the world,
and sometimes from those living in seclusion somewhere.
Their features,
appearances,
and clothes were always different.
Yet I could always recognize him at a glance.
Because the essence of my old friend was always one and the same.
But not for the child, it seemed.
Was she scared of Rakiss's bear-like form?
From the moment Rakiss drew near,
the child had been trembling while hiding in my robe.
Seeing my robe shake, my old friend scratched his cheek.
"She must be scared."
"Seems like it."
Rakiss tilted his head with a somewhat troubled expression.
I glanced down subtly.
Peeking eyes from between the robe were filled with tears.
"It's okay."
"……."
"It's Rakiss. No need to be afraid."
The child loosened her tight grip on my robe just a little.
Rakiss cleared his throat once,
then lowered his body slightly to meet the child's gaze.
"I didn't mean to frighten you... I'm sorry."
"……."
At those words, the child cautiously poked her head out.
With her face peeking through the gap in the robe,
she stared at Rakiss with eyes half wary, half curious.
Rakiss smiled kindly and knelt on one knee.
"Next time, I'll come in a smaller, cuter form."
"……."
"Please forgive me for today."
The child slowly nodded.
Then, after hesitating a bit, she gently released her hold on the robe.
Rakiss's eyes softened even more.
"Good. Thank you."
"……!"
The child smiled shyly and leaned against me.
I stroked her very slowly.
I looked up at the sky.
Stars were beginning to twinkle one by one, adorning the heavens.
"Rakiss."
"What is it?"
"Are you free?"
A faint laugh from my old friend echoed.
"You ask me that every time we meet, Row."
"Well, you're always busy."
Rakiss didn't deny it.
Gazing at the sky for a moment, he shrugged.
"Today... I'm a bit freer than usual."
"Good. Let's go to the cabin. I'll make you some tea."
I picked up the child in my arms.
A light, warm weight settled fully in my embrace.
The sound of our footsteps crunching in the snow rang in my ears side by side.
The path home, usually filled only with my own footsteps.
Today, my old friend's voice responded alongside.
"How did you end up wrecking the mountain, Row?"
"I tried modern magic... and failed."
"I see. Well, the current magic doesn't quite suit your constitution."
Rakiss added with a mischievous chuckle.
"It wasn't made assuming monstrous mana like yours."
"I knew that, but I didn't expect it to be that bad."
Rakiss's laughter grew louder.
Even as his laughter echoed, his steps stayed steady beside mine.
Wiping the corner of his eye with a finger, Rakiss took a breath and asked.
"What wind blew you to practice such magic?"
"I needed it."
At my curt reply, Rakiss's steps halted.
He looked at me wordlessly.
Soon, his gaze shifted to the child in my arms.
A familiar benevolence spread across my old friend's face.
"...I see."
"So, Rakiss. I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
I looked down at the child in my arms, then met his eyes again.
"Help me make a gift."
"...A gift?"
"Yeah. I'm giving it in two days, but I don't think I can finish it alone in time."
A very brief silence passed.
Along with my old friend's laughter, the sound of snow crunching resumed.
"I'll gladly help."
"Thanks."
"……!"
"Oh? You want to help too?"
The child's large eyes sparkled.
Her nodding with fists clenched showed her determination.
A chuckle escaped me.
"Alright. Then let's make it together, all three of us."
"……!"
The child's eyes widened further, a bright smile blooming across her face.
Like a flower just opening, her expression brimmed with vitality.
I gently caressed her flushed cheek.
My old friend's voice came.
A gentle tone mixed with a hint of amusement.
"You two are still as close as ever, Row."
"Is that so."
I shrugged while brushing snowflakes from the child's hair.
As I chatted with Rakiss,
a familiar orange light flickered through the trees.
"Achoo!"
A sneeze came from my arms.
I looked down at the child sniffling.
"Cold?"
"……."
"Sorry. Let's get inside quick."
I hugged the child in my arms tighter and quickened my pace.
The wind grew a bit stronger.
Rakiss's steps naturally sped up too.
Opening the cabin door, warm air brushed my face.
"Come in."
"Pardon the intrusion."
The fireplace fire was still alive.
I sat the child in front of the fireplace and added more logs.
The roaring flames warmly heated her body.
Color slowly returned to the child's face.
Her pale cheeks gradually took on a warm hue.
I hung my robe on the hook and headed to the kitchen.
Fortunately, my old friend was sitting in a chair, looking around the cabin with interest.
I lightly tapped the table a couple of times.
"Sorry. What would you like to drink?"
"Anything."
"Got it."
I took out the herbal tea bags Lauren had given me before.
A subtle herbal scent began to fill the cabin.
Pale green herbal tea.
Its aroma, similar yet different from potpourri, was always pleasant no matter how many times I smelled it.
"Here."
"Nice aroma."
"Yeah. Lauren gave it to me."
"...Lauren?"
Rakiss paused while taking the teacup.
A faint surprise and interest flickered in his serene eyes.
"He's a human who runs a clothing shop in the lower village. He often brings things like this, treats the child well too. Even bathes her for me sometimes."
"...I see."
A benevolent smile graced Rakiss's face.
"You've got a good neighbor, Row."
"Yeah."
One sip—
Rakiss savored the tea leisurely and smiled in satisfaction.
"Anyway, Rakiss. About that favor I asked?"
"...I've only had one sip."
"Oh, sorry."
Rakiss set down his cup and chuckled.
As if he had anticipated it, he immediately pulled a bundle of papers from his bosom.
Documents with information on modern humans.
I had thought it would be vast enough to take months to read, but it was less than expected.
I slowly scanned the received documents.
The content was concise, seemingly distilled to the essentials at a glance.
Above all, the handwriting on the paper was familiar.
"You organized this yourself?"
"Yes. I selected only what you need now."
"I see. Thanks."
"If there's more you want to know, let me know through the correction orb. I'll bring it."
I nodded with a relaxed smile.
As expected of my old friend.
He anticipated needs without being told and filled gaps silently.
Then he pulled something else from his bosom.
A small, rectangular, thin plate.
It was unfamiliar, but the seal engraved on it was not.
I dazedly took what Rakiss offered.
"What's this?"
"Your ID."
"...ID?"
I examined the new ID closely.
It was thin and light.
The previous ID had been a round wooden plaque,
with letters hand-engraved on the surface.
But now—
it was metal, not wood,
and the engraved letters were uniform without tremor.
A mutter escaped unconsciously.
"...It's changed a lot."
"It's been thousands of years."
"...True."
I traced the edge of the ID with my fingertip.
I had needed one.
Someone might suspect me otherwise.
'I was planning to drop by Dianos sometime to get one.'
This saved me the trouble.
I tucked the new ID into my leather pouch.
"Thanks, but why?"
"I stopped by Dianos briefly. When I mentioned you, Bergatus said to give you this. Said the old one was outdated."
"That kid?"
Rakiss nodded with a smile.
Bergatus.
The Dragon of Order ruling the west of Dianos.
My oldest subordinate.
I had planned to ask him for a new ID this time too.
But I hadn't expected him to prepare it ahead.
He must have anticipated and acted.
Unlike me,
he hadn't withdrawn from humans.
'Though not deeply involved.'
Rakiss smiled faintly and spoke.
"Bergatus said, if you're still carrying the old ID, to collect it on his behalf."
"...Why?"
"Old IDs are to be discarded, he said."
Typical of Bergatus.
A deep sigh escaped my lips.
The previous ID had been from him too.
He, whose hobby was woodworking, had selected and carved the wood himself.
'...If I say I gave it to a human out of laziness, he'll nag again.'
I was already tired.
Without a doubt, he was the strictest among all dragons.
Unlike the free-spirited others,
he lived by order and principles.
Did it show on my face?
A mischievous glint entered Rakiss's expression.
"Did you lose it?"
"...No."
"Then?"
"......Gave it away. To a human."
As I confessed the truth, silence fell over the cabin.