14-Invitation to play

When I went to the living room, my dad and Sierra were in the middle of eating.

They looked at me as they walked in after my mom and looked surprised when I looked at them.

'Gerald. Is your body ready to go?

Yeah. I'm fine.

Nodding at Dad's words, I take my seat.

Soon after, my mother brought me bread and hot soup. A mouth-watering smell of freshly made bread and soup hits my nose.

I'm still very hungry, but I haven't eaten for three days. I've not eaten in three days, so it's no surprise that I'm very hungry.

My hands naturally reached for the plates laid out in front of me. He devoured the bread and tilted the plate of soup. The beautifully baked wheat-colored bread and the warm, slightly sweet corn soup were diminishing in a flash.

But it's because I ate it with gusto.

Gehohohoho.

Oh, God. Don't be so pushy. Eat slowly, Gerald, and don't be in a hurry to get rid of it.

Ugh, I'm sorry.

Mom pulls the handkerchief over my mouth as I swallowed impatiently. I took the handkerchief and wiped my mouth before she blew on it with her hand.

........I know it's childish, but I still want to act like an adult. I know I'm a child, but I still want to act like an adult.

Speaking of which, Dad. Mom.

This time I spoke to my mom and dad as I slowly sipped my food.

"I've learned to sense magic.

As I told him this, my dad's expression changed from surprise to delight.

'Gerald you are such a guy,'

My dad looks at me, his eyes glazing over with emotion. Then he wipes his eyes (but no tears are flowing) and says in a sincere tone

'I see. You're becoming a man too...

What a murmur.

But I kind of understand my dad's feelings. Or rather, I understand it in the present.

I've become able to sense magic that I couldn't perceive before. If you don't call this 'becoming a man', what do you call it?

At the very least, I've become much more 'sorcerer-like' with this. There is no doubt that you have grown as a sorcerer.

"Father, am I becoming a great man?

Yeah. He is, he is. I didn't think he'd grow up to be such a great kid, but that's my boy.

Dad....

Gerald...

Hsi!　Looking at the two men embracing each other, Mom was muttering with a dumbfounded look on her face.

''Hmm, men are really stupid...''

I guess he thinks it's all about the nonsense. Even though it's extremely important to me and my dad.

But I can't just stand around in front of my mom and let her get away with it, so I untie my arms from my dad's back.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

Dad?

'Gerald, I...I too...well, I used to have a thing for sorcerers.

Yes, sir. It's easy to understand.

He was really excited about me being able to use magic. When I told him that you could use magic, he got all teary-eyed.

I love and respect my dad for the fact that he has a lot of his boyishness left in him. I really want to be an adult that never forgets innocence, just like my father.

But I didn't have the talent to do that and I couldn't solve the magic language. But to my surprise, my son is making that dream come true. There is no greater joy in a parent's life than this. Thank you!

I blush at my dad's words of gratitude. Why does it make me so embarrassed to feel gratitude when it's directed straight at me?

He must have noticed my embarrassed complexion. Mom was showing an amused smile across the table, chuckling.

'Oh?　You're with me, aren't you?　Shereemo!

In addition, Sierra was squeezing me from the back. What is this cute little creature? Just being able to get close to me makes me feel happy, doesn't it?

Niiin, niiitaaan~

Sierra rubs her cheek against my back. Even though I can't see the gesture, I can imagine it, and it makes my heart feel so warm and relaxed.

After all, Sierra is wearing an aura of healing. I can see it. It doesn't matter if you can sense magic or not.

And when I was thinking about that.

What?

Well, if you haven't washed up in three days, I don't blame you.

Sierra.

Sierra pulled away from my back. Mom's oddly calm comment seemed to drive me over the edge.

But with Sierra off my back like that, I manage to regain my composure. As I sat back in my chair and reached for my spoon of soup again, I decided to 'see' my parents and Sierra.

Then I can see, I can see. I can see the magical light that covers the bodies of the three of us.

My father........unfortunately, his magical light is quite weak. Its color is dull and it emits a faint light. However, the color that gives off a will that seems to have a single core to it somehow makes him look like a serious father, even though he is a romantic.

He said he didn't have any talents, but even if he understood the magic language, he wouldn't be able to use very strong magic with the size of his magic power.

Mom saw it when she came into the room earlier, but it's a pale shade of orange. It's a relatively strong light compared to my dad's, but it's inferior to my own magical power.

However, the magical power that I can feel from my mother is filled with a softness that seems to embrace me, and I feel receptive.

Then I shift my gaze to Sierra - and it's amazing.

Unlike me, she has a silvery glow, but the magical light is so strong that it seems to be a halo. As expected, it's not as strong as me, who handles magic, but it's still dazzling.

According to the magic books, everyone has a talent for magic during their infancy. From there, as you gradually get older, the magic light becomes smaller and more ephemeral along with that talent.

In that sense, it makes sense that Sierra is only two years old, so it makes sense that her magic light is strong.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's good to practice putting magical power into spells alone in a room, but seeing people's magical power in this way is very impressive. It's interesting to see how the color and light of the magic light varies from person to person, and more than anything else, the magic light itself seems to reflect the person's inner self.

Anyway, how did you suddenly become able to sense magic power........

''........Ah.

Come to think of it, I have an idea.

The sign I felt just before the big boar appeared. And the appearance of the demon that had its entire body wrapped in an indigo glow.

Perhaps, at that time, it was already........

''........Hey, dad. I've got something to ask you.

Yeah?　What a Gerald.

Did you notice the glow that covered the giant boar's demon's entire body?

'The light ... no, I don't have that memory of it, but ...'

Hmm.

"'Heaven bless him and protect him.'

'Oh, oh!　Gerald, have you cast that spell on me again?

A golden light enveloped Dad's body as he chanted the spell.

"Hey, did you see that golden light that just enveloped my dad's body?

Well, I didn't understand.

Hikari?　Shira, I don't know.

Yeah. Okay. Thanks, you guys. We get the gist of it anyway.

Okay what?

My mom tilted her head at me for being convinced by myself, but I was able to figure out some things.

When I was attacked by the big boar, I was already able to sense strong magic power. For example, the time I cast a strengthening spell on my father's body.

And the subsequent encounter with the giant boar, I was able to recognize the magical power the boar possessed. Probably because of that, my sensory organs, like a sensory organ, developed rapidly in order to sense the magic power.

But my body couldn't bear the sudden change, and that's why I ended up being in bed for three days.

I told my dad and mom about my prediction, and they both agreed.

But then again, Gerald is clever as well as able to use magic. I didn't expect him to have the ability to make sense of things at his age. I'm sorry, but there are some terrifying things that happened.

Well I wonder where I've been raised wrong.

What do you mean by that, Mom?

"I don't like this clever little Gerald, Mom I think you'd be cuter if you were a little bit silly.

Are you okay?　Is your gown cute too?

'Yes, of course!　Sierra is the prettiest thing in the world!

Oh, boy, thank you.

The smile on Sierra's face at that time was too much of a pain in the ass.

It was so adorable that it really made me want to hug her and pat her head around in the middle of a meal, even though it might be bad manners.

Come on, Sierra, come on!

So I open my arms and position myself to welcome Sierra.

But my intentions are easily overturned.

'Oh no,'

Phew.

'Eh, Sierra. Come on, I'll hold you in my arms... big brother will give you a hug, okay?

Hey.

Phew.

'Why ... why ... why, Sierra ... do you not like your brother?'

Do you like it, boy?

Then why would I...

"It's a mess.

Ha. You've been dumped, Gerald.

My dad's hand bashed my depressed back after being cut off and discarded with a single word.

.........and yet. It hurt even more than usual when he bashes me like this with his strengthened body.

He was going to experience the effects of his own magic with his own body.

* * * *

After my princess cut me off and threw me away as "stinky", I filled my empty belly and went outside.

I wanted to try out various things with the magic power I had quickly become able to detect, but for now, I decided to wash up first.

After all, Sierra is like a beloved daughter to me. I'm not going to be able to squeeze such a Sierra, how could I possibly do that?

...Well, when I say this, my father will say, "You don't have a daughter!　I won't let a man like you have it! And I don't talk about it because I hustle, but I don't say it.

Anyway, I get a tub of water from the well at the end of the yard and throw in some chopped up and dried herbs inside. I carry the tub to the sink and wipe myself down with a wet cloth.

A sink is, simply put, like a bath tub without a tub. The surface of the floor is made of smooth stone, and the area around it is covered with cloth, so it cannot be seen from the outside.

Basically, people in this village bring hot or cold water to this sink and wash themselves. They don't seem to have the custom of soaking in the bathtub, but thanks to the medicinal herbs that take the place of soap, it didn't seem as if they had a filthy impression.

........Well, if you use magic, it only takes a moment to clean your body, and there's actually not much need to use the sink in this way.

However, right now is just the height of summer. The sunshine overhead shows no signs of waning, and the sky is so clear it hurts my eyes.

''It's a nice day...''

But it was quite hot instead.

On days like this when my skin is burning, it's nice and cool to wipe my body with water. It made me feel refreshed when I woke up in bed.

While I was washing my body in this way while cooling off, I felt someone's magical presence coming towards me.

Oh, Gerald!　You've been sick, huh?　Is that enough?

Just as I thought such a voice was being called, a familiar face peeked out from between the cloths surrounding the sink.

''Nah, nuh-uh, nuh-uh!

"Oh, what's the matter with you, Gerald?　Don't throw it in my face!

Startled, I involuntarily splashed the water from the tub over its face. The face that was poking out from between the cloths retracted with great force.

Mi, mi, mi, mi, mi il!　I'm washing myself naked right now...

Suddenly upset, he speaks up somewhat too quickly. Naturally, you cover your crotch with your hands.

You're not a trivial matter, you know. It's just me and you. Okay?

'Nwaaaaah!　Again!

Once I withdrew my face once, Myl poked out from between the cloths again. I let out a pathetic scream again, just like before.

The eyes she turned to me were gloomy and unsuitable for this sunny day.

".........Don't raise your pitiful voice, man!

I don't want you to see me as a man!

"?　What does that mean?

You don't need to know that yet.

Millyle - a.k.a. Millyle, five years old. A girl.

She is my classmate...or rather the same age as me, with crisp eyes and red hair as if to show her vivacity.

It's not surprising that there are children in this village as well, and the five-year-old me is inevitably a part of that community.

It's not just the same age, but also the same age, so we often played outside together with Meir.

''Hmm?　What do you mean I don't need to know?　Oh, well, that's okay. Anyway, let's go outside. Don't wash yourself, okay?

''Well maybe it doesn't matter, but one thing anyway. Why are you in here without permission?

Cecil told me.

Is that a good idea?

It's just like Meir when he doesn't say 'your mother'. She is not afraid of anything.

I'm dumbfounded, but I said, "Just get my clothes," and I left the sink after taking the clothes from Meir and changing into them.

And when I went outside, I found a ball at the side of Meir, who had a fresh smile on his tanned face.

''........how dare you play outside on such a hot day?

It's a beautiful day!

And there's a lot of energy in your life.

'It's a beautiful day!　I mean, Gerald, why would you wash yourself at this hour?

Normally, body washing time is in the morning or evening. There aren't many people in this village who wash in the daytime.

''Uh ... it's a beautiful day.

It's hot.

'Right!　You'll be pissed off if you don't play outside on a day like this.

To whom? I'm just saying, don't ignore the flow of conversation.

That's a lot of detail for a guy.

Be careful with that word, because in my past life, it would be treated as s*xual harassment.

Well, frankly speaking, I'm not dissatisfied with playing with Meir. It's a good idea to get a little exercise after sleeping for three days.

So there is no particular reason to refuse her invitation.

--And then it occurred to me.

When I put strength into my eyes to look at Meir........I could see. Her magical light shining red.

After all, or rather, it seems that the color of the magic light differs from person to person. Whether that means the personality and nature of the person in question, or whether the color changes depending on the strength of the person, I still don't know.

But, well, I thought that red magic light on red hair was very Meiru-like and suitable.

And since the red color of the magic light is so bright and beautiful, I couldn't help but fall in love with it....

''Huh?　Hey, Gerald. Why are you looking at me like that?

I'm sorry. I'm just...

"?　What do you mean, it's not good for you? You're blushing, aren't you?　Does the fever come back?

'　It's a beautiful day!

It's hot. I'm not saying where.

'But you're going to have fun with it!　Let's get the hell out of here!

"Hey, wait a minute! Don't leave me here, you idiot!

I start walking slowly and steadily, and that kind of voice follows me on my back. But rather than slowing down, I speed up and walk away.

But you know what? It's a beautiful day, and it's hot.

I'm not going to say where, though.