99 - a bit of solicitation

After a quick lunch at a food stall, Thor and his friends headed for the temple of exploration in the inner city, where they were to meet.

It seems that it was just time for a lunch break at the Temple of the Ice God, which is also a place of education.

A few students can be seen hanging out in front of the building.

Sola's eyes immediately light up at the sight of so many young people of the same age.

"Wow, what are they all doing?"

"This is where they teach you how to read, write, and do math, so that's why you're here."

"Heh, come to think of it, our company was the same way. Tall girl used to run away from us.

"Yeah, I only remember my grandfather being too strict."

The boys, perhaps noticing the girl's bouncy voice, turned their heads in unison, and their eyes widened one after another.

They seemed to have mistaken Sora for a new student and Thor for his guardian.

Perhaps they had dreamed of a beautiful girl classmate, the youngsters began to talk excitedly.

However, as Thor and his friends approach, they seem to notice the plate around her neck.

The students' eyes widened again, and they immediately shut their mouths.

Thora tilts her head curiously at the sudden quietness of the students.

One of the young men, perhaps gathering courage from the sight of the students, steps forward.

"Oh, um, ....... I'd like to show you around, if you don't mind.

The dark-haired boy who spoke to us had a light in his eyes that was a mixture of fear and longing.

He shifted his gaze back and forth between Thor and Sora.

Just as he was about to reply, a loud noise suddenly echoed from behind the door.

Thor lets out a small breath at the sound of someone's familiar childish laugh.

"Was that Moo-chan?"

"Maybe. Thank you, maybe next time."

Nodding lightly to the students, Thor pushed open the large wooden door.

A staircase attached to the small hall in the stairwell was immediately visible.

Straddling the railing was, as expected, a child of the Purple-Eyed Tribe.

But he was not alone.

Behind him were a group of children of the same age, connected in a bell-like pattern.

Mu's movement stopped when he hit a round ornament at a dead end.

Then the following children rushed in one after another.

The children who were sandwiched between each other start to laugh and scream with joy.

Thor scratched the bottom of his chin at the sight, which was so unlike the solemn temple.

"Well, I heard happy voices, so I came to see what was going on, but now I'm in trouble.

Suddenly, an ash-eared woman in a fine-looking gray robe spoke to me from the side.

It was Meera Lirila, the chief of the temple.

She smiled thinly at Thor, who was about to straighten up his residence, and continued the conversation.

"I told her not to get on that railing because someone got hurt on it before..."

Moe jumped off the railing and ran up the stairs without noticing Thor and the others, probably because he was so absorbed in his work.

The children who were sliding down the stairs with him followed him, fussing wildly.

It seemed that Moe was leading the other children.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you. I will make him stop immediately.

"No, you can't get through to them if you scold them out of hand. Besides, if you stop them, they will want to do it even more.

The temple director, who had caught Thor with a glance, approached the stairway without making a sound.

Then he suddenly and smoothly reached up and placed his ample buttocks on the railing.

The first moo hits the woman sitting on her side at the end of the staircase, unable to slow down.

The child, her face buried in her soft, gray robe, bursts out into a giggle.

The temple master gently stroked her curly golden hair.

Moe smiled innocently again, as if the touch was comforting.

But as soon as the children see Meerah Lilyla, their faces immediately stiffen.

The temple head spoke to the instigator in a calm voice as he watched them silently clinging to the child in front of them.

"How are you enjoying the railing?"

"Yes!　This is good stuff!"

Moo replies cheerfully, but the other children avert their gazes and slump their heads.

"By the way, are you a student here?"

"Seito?　No, Moe is a bokensha.

"Oh, well, that's going to be a bit of a problem, isn't it?"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, only students are allowed in here. They might get caught."

At Meera Lilyra's words, Moe's purple eyes widened.

"What should we do?　To,To-chan at ......."

"But it's okay. I know a way to avoid getting caught."

Oh, my God. You scared me!

"That's the thing, if you become a student here, it'll solve the problem. What do you say?"

The last question was not directed at Moe, but at Thor.

Of course, she must have been joking in her own way, but the look in her eyes seemed to be quite serious.

"Yes, that's right. I'll think about it."

I had no intention of neglecting Mu's education in the first place.

But adventurers work long hours and do not have much time to devote to their education.

He was planning to ask Yuril, a former teacher, to help him in this regard from time to time.

"Well, in that case, yes. From now on, we will only open the railing during the lunch break. But not when they are not accompanied by an instructor.

The children, with the exception of Moo, look at each other in surprise at the temple head's sudden declaration.

Then, understanding what he meant, they cheered at once.

An ash-eared woman sits down from the railing, picks Moo up, and stands him on the floor.

The child, who had been looking at her with a puzzled face, finally noticed Thor and came running toward him.

As if to replace him, Sora runs toward the stairs.

The girl heads toward a child who is even younger than Mu.

While everyone else jumps down from the railing, she remains face down and does not move.

Suddenly, the child's body shook.

The child lost her balance and fell down to the inside of the railing.

However, just before he throws himself down the stairs, Sola's outstretched hand stops him just in time.

The girl gently holds the child in her arms and breathes out a sigh of relief.

"Whew, that was close. Are you okay?"

"What's wrong, Lou?

Moo, who had hurriedly turned back, called out to the child in Sola's arms.

The child is limp and weak, taking several labored breaths.

Sola looks impatient as the child clings to his clothes with his eyes closed.

"Well, what should I do?　Thor-chan."

"Are you hungry?　Shall I go find you some food, Moo?"

"You've been watching me very closely, Sola. You're not looking too well.

Thor receives the child from the girl and frowns at her.

Her straight black hair reaches down to her shoulders and her lovely face suggests that she is a girl.

However, her cheeks are obviously flushed and the breath escaping from her mouth is not busy.

The girl was born a little frail. Thank you for your help, Ms. Sora.

The temple head looked into the face of the child in Thor's arms, casually calling out Thora's name, which he had not said.

Touching the child's forehead with a lightly outstretched hand, the temple director nonchalantly checks the child's symptoms.

"He has a slight fever and his breathing seems to be a little labored. But with this, he should be fine in no time after a little rest.

Mehralirila gives a calm diagnosis, smiling and reassuring the children who have gathered around her anxiously.

She then glanced at Thor, who was holding the child in his arms, and Sola, who was standing next to him.

"Hey, you guys are here to see Aurindor, aren't you?"

Yes, that was the plan.

"Then, may I ask you to do something for me?"