Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Gift Creation (2)
Rakiss's expression hardened.
The playfulness vanished from his eyes, replaced by a serious air.
"…No way, did they figure out your identity like last time?"
"No. It's not that."
I simply confessed.
During my travels, in the first village I visited, I showed my identification.
A human saw it and treated it like an ancient relic, making a huge fuss, so I just gave it away.
Another silence fell.
Rakiss's shoulders shook, and soon he burst into laughter as if he couldn't hold it back.
"Hahaha! That's so you."
"…Don't laugh."
"Sorry…. Heh…."
Rakiss covered his mouth and lowered his head.
But his massive shoulders were still trembling.
I sighed and lifted my teacup.
By then, Rakiss had composed himself, wiping away tears as he spoke.
"So…. You just gave it away?"
"It was annoying and noisy."
"Haha, Vergatus would give you an earful if he knew."
"…Don't tell him. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."
Rakiss nodded with a laugh.
His eyes, as always, held a mix of mischief and consideration.
"Should I keep it secret? Or tell him?"
"…Whatever's easier."
"Got it."
Rakiss set aside his playful smile and lifted his teacup.
The cup looked small in his thick hand.
Still,
his calm and prudent demeanor remained unchanged—my steadfast friend.
Slowly savoring the slightly cooled herbal tea, Rakiss spoke leisurely.
"…So, Row. You're making a gift?"
"Ah, yeah."
"In two days…. That'll be my holy day."
"Right. The girl who gave me this herbal tea invited me to the holy day party. For a long time."
"Haha, you're having fun, Row."
Rakiss set down his teacup and slightly raised an eyebrow.
"So, what gift are you planning to give?"
"I'm thinking of making a simple magic tool. I can manage something like producing a small flame."
"I see. So, a magic tool that ignites fire?"
"Still deciding. That was the original plan, but if you help…."
I calmly shared the concept I'd been mulling over.
My longtime friend
nodded lightly and listened quietly to my story.
It was still vague,
uncertain if feasible,
just an unreliable idea.
But he didn't rush me with a single word,
simply following my words to the end.
As always.
"What do you think?"
"Hmm…. Doesn't seem impossible."
"Yeah?"
Lost in thought, Rakiss soon spoke leisurely.
"If it's that much, I'll gladly help."
"Thanks."
I checked Rakiss's teacup.
It was empty, right on time.
I stood up quickly.
"Then let's start now. If we try all night, something should work."
"Sure. Let's do it."
"……?!"
A frantic sound came from near the fireplace.
I turned my head,
and the girl was pummeling the folded blanket with a pouty expression.
"!!!"
"…Ah."
Only then did I remember.
Today, we had promised to sleep together.
I glanced at the girl's face.
Her cheeks were puffed out, lips protruding.
Her small hands pounded the blanket again.
She looked just like a rabbit upset over not getting hay on time.
Cute.
A chuckle escaped me.
I shrugged and looked at my longtime friend.
"Rakiss."
"Yeah?"
"If it's okay, can we sleep tonight and make it tomorrow?"
Rakiss tilted his head.
Puzzled by the sudden change in plans,
he saw the sulky girl and nodded leisurely.
"Sure. Let's do that."
"Thanks."
I changed into pajamas and laid out the bedding.
Only then did the girl's sullen expression soften.
"Sorry. Let's sleep."
"!"
And so, the three of us lay down together.
With me in the middle,
the girl and Rakiss lay side by side on either side.
It was the usual sleep, but somehow it felt fresh.
"This is fun."
"I see."
"……!"
"…But it's cramped."
"Sorry. Next time, I'll manifest in a more appropriately small size."
Rakiss muttered, hunching his shoulders.
At that, the girl laughed as if it was amusing and snuggled closer to me.
"…It's fine. Being sandwiched like this isn't bad."
"Is that so."
"Yeah. Feels secure somehow."
After saying that, I slipped my hand under the blanket and held the girl's hand.
Her small, delicate hand gripped my finger tightly.
Her high-pitched giggle brushed softly against my ear.
Good.
It was a sign that her earlier sulk had completely melted away.
"Sweet dreams."
"……."
Her small head nodded slowly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The morning was busier than usual.
We had one day to prepare the gift.
So I woke up earlier than usual to prepare breakfast.
I brewed medicine,
made breakfast,
and helped wake the girl and wash her face.
Moving faster than usual like that,
the time we had became just a bit more ample.
I placed the box by the bonfire onto the table.
"Good thing I made this in advance at least."
"What's that?"
I smiled faintly and opened the box.
Inside were
the wooden doll figures I'd carved during the day before.
Small enough to hold in one hand.
The cylindrical wooden dolls were painted with the girl's drawings.
It was her help.
Originally, they were just plain cylinders.
But
the girl brought her picture book and drew all sorts of things on them.
Some looked like bears,
others like people with hats,
some like little fairies with wings.
With the touch of her imagination,
the plain cylinders became wooden dolls each with their own personality.
I handed one wooden doll to Rakiss.
"What do you think?"
"You carved it? Your skills haven't rusted, Row."
"Glad it looks that way."
Rakiss examined the wooden doll closely.
"…But what's with these drawings? Pretty good for your work."
"The girl drew them."
"Haha, she's better than you."
"……!"
The girl's shoulders perked up.
Her triumphant look made me laugh.
I twisted the wooden doll I was holding with a bit of force.
Click—.
With a small sound, the center of the wooden doll opened.
The wooden doll split precisely in half.
The outside was thin, the inside hollow.
I showed the interior to Rakiss.
"I'm planning to put an enchanted amber in here."
"I see. Good idea."
"Yeah. I was worried about fire risk, but with you here, it should be fine."
Rakiss nodded with a leisurely smile.
Then, the girl's eyes sparkled.
Her expression asked what she could help with.
Wanting to do something, she wiggled her fingers and looked between us.
I handed her a few sheets of paper.
"Can you draw on these?"
"……?"
"It's wrapping paper for the box to hold this doll. I want to decorate it nicely."
"!"
The girl's eyes widened and sparkled.
Her lips curved up slowly, blooming into a bright smile.
"Can you do it?"
"!!!"
"Thanks."
She hugged the paper to her chest and nodded vigorously.
I picked her up and headed to the small table I'd made recently.
It was for the girl, who loved drawing.
I set her down carefully.
She spread the paper on the table and took a serious breath.
"I'm counting on you."
"……!"
The girl gripped the pencil tightly, her eyes shining.
After steadying her breath,
she began moving the pencil without hesitation.
The blank white paper quickly filled with her imagination.
I watched her fondly, then
quietly stepped away so as not to disturb.
Now it was my turn.
I gathered the materials for enchantment, organizing the plan in my mind.
The material I chose for enchantment was—
amber formed from the sap of a mana-infused tree.
Similar properties,
similar material.
Stone might be superior in stability and durability,
but compatibility with the wooden doll favored this.
According to the plan, compatibility mattered far more than durability.
The enchanted magic needed to spread throughout the entire wooden doll.
Above all, stability would be handled by Rakiss.
I placed the amber on the table.
Within its translucent orange glow, faint silver veins intertwined.
Rakiss approached and peered into it.
"What do you think?"
"Hmm…."
A faint smile spread across his lips.
"Good material."
"Yeah. Got lucky. These were surprisingly plentiful in the rugged mountains."
"You gathered it yourself? Impressive dedication, Row."
"It's a gift."
Rakiss chuckled lowly at that.
He held the amber up to the light, slowly examining the inside.
"The solidification is stable. This should withstand high heat easily."
"That's what I thought."
"Try it now?"
I nodded slowly.
Small,
very small.
Smaller than the girl's hand—a flame flickered to life.
I held the sturdiest-looking amber.
Slowly,
very carefully.
I transferred the flame into the amber.
Then, a small ember began to flicker and breathe inside the amber.
The amber's temperature changed too.
The once-cold amber now radiated heat like the flame itself.
Success.
"Your skills haven't rusted, Row."
"Yeah."
At least that was a relief.
Modern enchantment wasn't much different from ancient methods.
Though the material was amber,
its properties were flame-like. I handed it to Rakiss.
Along with the pre-opened wooden doll.
"Please."
"I'll do my best."
Rakiss infused his authority into the center of the wooden doll.
The empty space
soon absorbed his authority, changing its nature.
It became a special space that wouldn't ignite,
wouldn't react to external stimuli,
and steadily emitted consistent heat while remaining stable.
Rakiss's authority was beyond doubt.
A god's power was absolute, even if fragmentary.
The domain created by the God of Space, Rakiss, wouldn't waver.
Not even a tiny space inside a wooden doll.
Without hesitation,
I placed the enchanted amber into the new space he'd made.
Click—.
The wooden doll closed with a sound.
Compatibility akin to the amber itself.
Their properties meshed smoothly, becoming one like a single material.
And because I'd carved it thin,
the wood quickly transmitted the gentle internal warmth.
Warm enough to thaw frozen hands.
"Looks good."
"…Does it?"
I nodded lightly.
I applied reinforcement magic to the wooden doll.
Ancient magic, but reliable and sturdy.
This should hold even if it's thin.
More tests would be ideal, but
I couldn't help the small smile at the satisfying first result.