Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: First Errand (1)
I wanted to carefully package each cooled cookie one by one with utmost care, but things didn't go according to plan.
Baking the cookies had taken quite a bit of time.
If I delayed any longer, I might end up late for the time I'd promised the villagers.
I checked the clock.
Any more delays, and it wouldn't be midday—it'd be afternoon.
'No good...'
Fortunately, I managed to finish packaging the cookies for the people who would be helping with Merthesia's first errand.
I turned my gaze to Merthesia.
The girl was fully focused on packaging the cookies for Loren.
"Merthesia."
"...?"
"Once you're done with those, get ready to head out."
"...!"
Just as I'd taught her,
Merthesia finished packaging them with care and held out the bag of cookies to me.
"Good job."
"!"
"Get ready. I'll handle the rest of the cookies."
"..."
"We can't take the rabbit, so no need to put on the harness."
Merthesia set the harness down.
She seemed a little disappointed, but the excitement of heading to the village alone for the first time won out.
Her expression brightened in an instant as she headed into the dressing room.
I checked the unpacked cookies.
Even after packaging for over thirty minutes, more than half were left.
It looked like the best approach would be to put the packaged ones at the bottom
and the rest on top, then hand them out like that.
I hurriedly filled the basket with cookies.
My hand paused as I was placing the last packaged cookie.
It was because I saw Merthesia's handwriting, written with such care.
[Thank you]
[Enjoy]
[I'll make more next time]
The writing was crooked, but the sentiment behind it was straight and true.
It had been Merthesia's idea.
We were running later than planned, but it was more than worth it.
They'd surely get jumbled on the way,
but at least when putting them in the basket, I made sure the handwriting was prominently visible.
'She wrote it well.'
Just a short while ago, she couldn't even write "acorn" properly.
Now, she was managing to copy writing quite convincingly.
Once autumn passed
and winter came,
Merthesia would surely grow even more.
By then—
she'd probably look back on these awkward writing days with a smile.
I placed the remaining cookies on top of the packaged ones.
With the basket full of cookies,
and after a final check of Merthesia's bag, the dressing room door opened.
Merthesia poked her head out.
"Hm?"
"..."
The girl stared at me for a long moment before cautiously pulling something out from inside.
A long pink cape.
We'd bought it at Loren's clothing shop at the end of summer,
but the weather had been iffy, so she'd never worn it despite having it.
"Want to wear that?"
"..."
"Yeah. It's fine. Today is special, after all."
"!"
Merthesia's face lit up immediately.
She hurriedly draped the cape over her shoulders
and, with clumsy fingers, tied the ribbon that secured it herself.
"You've gotten so much better."
"!"
"You'll be carrying a bag today, so I'll just adjust it a little."
I slipped the bag over her shoulders and neatly arranged the cape.
Finally, I retied her slightly mussed hair.
With all her primping done, Merthesia gazed up at me steadily.
"Hm. You're pretty today too."
"..."
"For real."
"...!"
A shy smile crossed her face as Merthesia wrapped her arms around my waist.
Because of that—
the hand holding out the basket ended up in an awkward position.
"Uh..."
"..."
"Yeah. You can do it."
I set the basket back down and patted Merthesia's back.
A challenging task, equal to her excitement.
Maybe that's why tension was already evident before departure.
A soft chuckle escaped me.
"What? Didn't you say you wanted to go alone?"
"..."
"Can't do it?"
"..."
Merthesia hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
The girl's eyes were resolute as she shook her head.
The path she would walk alone for the first time,
even if frightening and tense, held a will to see it through shining in her eyes.
"Yeah. You'll do great."
"...!"
I carefully placed the basket in her small hands.
I could see strength entering Merthesia's grip.
We stepped out of the cabin.
Fortunately, it wasn't too late in the day.
Even if she got distracted for a bit, it wouldn't get dark easily.
I gave the cape ribbon one last adjustment.
"Remember the way?"
"!"
"If you get tired midway, rest anytime."
"..."
"If you get hurt, or run into a scary animal or person?"
"...!"
A small hand patted her bag.
Inside were the magic tool and self-defense items I'd prepared.
The magic tool was made by me,
using one of my scales.
Infused with a good amount of my magic power, no monsters would dare approach.
'No big issues should arise, but...'
I lightly stroked Merthesia's head.
"Hm. Right. Just like I told you yesterday."
"...!"
"If something happens, blow the whistle around your neck. The villagers will help."
"!"
"Be careful. Got it?"
Merthesia pressed her lips together and slowly nodded.
Then, with her eyes, she asked me back.
"...?"
"Hm?"
"..."
This time, I could tell just from a glance.
I answered Merthesia's question with a soft smile.
"Yeah. I'll be waiting until you get back."
"...!"
Only then did Merthesia carefully take her first step.
Very slowly,
but without hesitation.
Merthesia's footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
'You've grown so much.'
Basking in the cool autumn breeze,
I closed my eyes against the warm sunlight and etched the girl's receding figure into my memory.
Even if memories became jumbled,
I wanted to keep this sight tucked away in a corner of my mind.
"...Hm?"
The footsteps stopped.
I slowly opened my eyes.
About a dozen steps away, the girl was looking back at me.
Hesitation.
An expression mixed with excitement and tension.
And another emotion nestled within.
"..."
Merthesia carefully shifted the basket to one hand.
Then she raised her other hand and slowly waved it.
Only then did I realize I had forgotten the most important words.
"Have a safe trip."
"!"
I waved back with a small smile.
Merthesia responded with a radiant smile and started walking again.
Her steps seemed even more buoyant than before.
A slightly chilly autumn breeze rustled the hem of her cape.
A leaf or two drifted down onto her hair.
Even as her gaze flicked upward, Merthesia kept looking straight ahead, unlike usual.
And so, as Merthesia's figure
slowly blended into the vibrant autumn scenery—
I quietly followed behind.
'Never thought I'd end up tailing a kid...'
I hadn't planned on secretly following her either.
But since it was her first errand, I just couldn't shake the worry.
Quietly, very quietly.
I moved my feet so not even the crunch of fallen leaves sounded.
'Gotta check if the magic tool works properly, and I think I read somewhere that watching over the first errand from behind is the standard...'
Fortunately, Merthesia didn't notice.
She stared straight ahead, walking the familiar path we always took together.
Her slightly stiff posture betrayed her tension plainly.
And yet—
A faint hum reached my ears.
'She's in good spirits.'
She wobbled a bit from the basket's weight,
but since it was a familiar route, she proceeded without much trouble.
Every step led toward the village,
and the girl's memory retraced our days together perfectly.
'She's really doing it on her own.'
A inexplicable pride swelled in me, even though I hadn't done it myself.
I'd worried what if she got lost,
or cried after just a few steps and came running back.
Those fears
scattered cleanly the moment the village outskirts came into view.
"...!"
The girl's pace quickened too.
She must have met the grandmother at the entrance.
I'd asked her as well.
To watch over Merthesia from afar since she'd be coming down alone.
I hid in a tree as she entered the village, where I might be spotted.
And—
I heightened my senses to the max to track the girl's traces.
'I can see her.'
Good thing my eyesight wasn't failing with age.
Merthesia's figure was clear as day.
"Thank you. Do your errand well, Mer."
"!"
The grandmother's voice carried over.
It seemed she'd safely delivered the cookies.
The first step had gone smoothly.
The small footsteps headed forward again.
They sounded much more confident and natural than before.
Merthesia ventured deeper into the village.
"Oh? Isn't that Mer?"
"...!"
Some recognized her and greeted her warmly.
As I'd taught her,
Merthesia took cookies from the basket and handed them out to the people.
'Doing great.'
She looked a bit tense,
but handing them out with shy greetings and smiles felt quite natural.
However,
it wasn't all smooth sailing.
As Merthesia headed to Loren's clothing shop, someone trailed right behind her.
The village alley boss,
and the biggest troublemaker boy around.
He and his friend snickered as they cut in front of Merthesia.
"Hey, mute! What're you doing alone?"
"..."
My brow furrowed at the boy's words.
Unfortunately, with my back turned that way, I couldn't see Merthesia's expression.
I focused my senses more sharply on the alley.
Merthesia had stopped in her tracks.
Her whole body was probably tense.
The hem of her cape trembled faintly.
"What's that? Cookies?"
"I saw you handing them out to the adults. Can't you give us one too?"
"Hey, why eat something like that? If we do, we'll turn mute too..."
The ignorant yet cruel words only a child could say
snapped back at me sharply enough to tear my ears.
To be precise—
not the words themselves,
but the forceful blast of the whistle Merthesia blew.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiii──!
With my senses heightened, it felt like it was blown right into my ear.
My ears rang for a moment.
"...Ow, my ears."
At least I confirmed it works.
It was much louder and more intense than expected,
but Merthesia had remembered how to protect herself.
As proof, Loren and his mother rushed out from the clothing shop.
"What's going on? What happened?!"
"Mer!"
"You kids! I told you not to bully your friends!"
The boys were caught in an instant.