288 - - a person who has followed the same path

Holding a small, old barrel under his arm, the old man tapped lightly on the door of the temple head's room and pushed it open without waiting for a reply.

The sun had already set, and the only light in the dimly lit room came from a small magic stone lamp hanging on the wall.

Dadaan saw a familiar figure sitting on the sofa, and settled himself down on the opposite side of the sofa, and placed the sake barrel he had brought on the low table.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to comfort you, Uncle.

Zazam was not the only one in the room.

There were two more young women asleep on the sofa next to the old man.

The twin sisters, Kikiriri and Nenemimi, let out a sleepy, liquor-filled sigh.

Their heads were resting on Zazam's lap from either side, revealing their relieved sleeping faces.

"I thought you were going to follow them, but you came back with a nonchalant look on your face.

With a bitter expression on his face, Zazam indicated the item in front of him with his chin.

On the low table was a small barrel, even older than the one Dadan had brought.

The aroma of rich spirits wafted strongly from the opened barrel.

"Wow, you've really put a lot of effort into this thirty year old cask, haven't you?

"Did you really think I would allow you to get away with this? You've been underestimated."

Dadaan only lifted the corners of his mouth, though it seemed that Kikiriri and the others had succeeded in bribing him when they had allowed him to fall to his knees.

"Well, I guess I'll be your companion, then."

"You drink yours. This one was given to me.

"As usual, you are stingy when it comes to alcohol, Uncle."

"Well, say what you will. I only drink the sake that is brought to me to drink.

After saying this, Zazam emptied his cup in one gulp and gently patted the twins on the head.

The look of tenderness on the old man's face was like that of a grandfather watching over his grandchildren.

Cocolara is the sister of Zazam's dead wife.

The couple, who had no children, must have loved their younger sister even more.

From the outside, the three of them were so close that they could be mistaken for a father and son.　

Cocolara, who was like a child to them, was losing her mind day by day in the depths of the earth.

It must have been a painful experience for Zazam, who had cared for her closely on behalf of Dadaan, the mayor of the town, who did not encourage her to stay in a particular temple.

No wonder today's outrage.

The corners of Dadaan's mouth lifted again as he recalled the events caused by the relic and the child.

"What are you laughing at?

"Mm. I'm afraid your uncle may be disappointed, but I'm kind of looking forward to it."

"...... What's the use of taking on the miasma without a relic? How much value is there in merely demonstrating one's prowess?

"But you needn't worry so much. If only the holes in the other temples could be filled, Cocolara's work would be done."

We have paved the way with all our heart and soul!

That is hubris. We have only prepared this place for you.

You know better than anyone how hard it was!

The bald-headed old man replied to Zazam's agitated words without hesitation.

It's all right, Uncle. I want nothing more than to save Cocolara. If you speak louder than that, they will wake up.

Zazam exhaled loudly in exasperation at Dadaan's deceptive response.

He then picked up a sake cup that was lying on the table, dipped it into the barrel, and presented it to his nephew.

"Here, drink!

"Hmm, thank you. Oh, this is good sake. It's really good for the guts.

"You mentioned other temples, do you have any idea where they are?　Wind and fire are out of the question for the time being. I don't hear anything about earth either.

"Perhaps the water is already prepared. And ice seems doubtful.

A temple of exploration. You've done your research.

"Oh, my wallet is much lighter now thanks to you."

The night pavilion that Dadan frequented these days was also a place that dealt with such information.

It is said that a man's mouth tends to lighten up after a night of drinking or a party.

According to the owner, Aniella, one of the servants of the temple of the quest was drunkenly overheard saying, "I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.

He said that just after Yuril had been raised to the Kongo class, a single, tightly controlled item arrived from Stora in the north.

"There's probably something in it. "And one thing, Uncle."

Without hesitation, Dadaan scooped up the old wine again from the barrel and continued his story with a merry laugh.

"Looking at the little guy today, don't you think the presence or absence of the relic is a small concern?"

"Mmm, that's for sure. I've lived a long time, but it's been a long time since I've been so surprised.

I'm afraid those four might be able to do more than just plug the noxious gas hole," he said.

Dadaan said happily, and drank up his cup of sake, muttering to himself.

It is really delicious. This is the weight of 30 years.

"Hmm, that's a deliberate sarcasm."

"You know what?　Uncle. Thor's magic trick... he trained it for twenty-five years for his precious daughter.

The old man who holds the temple together opens his mouth in shock at these words.

Then, after a pause, he lets out a muffled laugh.

"What, he's one of us?"

"No, you're better than us when you're helping your daughter, Uncle."

"Oh, I see. I see. ............

The two old men look each other in the eye, and then, without looking at each other, lift their cups to their lips.

Dadaan stared into the amber liquid and muttered a few words.

"Thor, take care of the rest."