CH 63

Several people were shocked by what happened at the merfolk island, but as Chiharu was used to it, she was the quickest to return to normal.

“Now, Edwy. We’ll arrive at the first chamber soon.”

“Yes, we will. I know.”

“So, can you stop it?”

“Huh?”

Chiharu smiled at Edwy. Not understanding, Edwy smiled back. Then Nyran suddenly raised his voice.

“Chiharu, you…”

Chiharu nodded.

“This time I’m going to be one step ahead. We’ll go outside and try calling the gazers.”

“But…”

“We can leave once we know there aren’t any. Right?”

Edwy, Kaider, and Nyran looked like they wanted to say something, but in the end, they kept quiet as the carriage was stopped. Aeris and Grudo watched over them silently.

“Maki-chan.”

“Yes.”

Maki was better now, and so Chiharu pulled her outside. Kaider and Nyran followed after them. Chiharu and Maki stood side by side and looked up. They came. One. Two. Three. There were no four-legged monsters.

“So few.”

“Come here.”

“Are you sure?”

The gazer swayed as they talked to them. 

I am sure. They said.

Chiharu and Maki had never seen a gazer refuse to become a magic stone. They wondered what god had been thinking about when making these creatures.

God, huh. Before thinking about how this world worked or the meaning of the monsters, Chiharu thought of this god as the culprit who had brought them here. The anger she had pushed away into the back of her mind began to return then. Chiharu had to take in a deep breath to calm herself.

Of course, it was important to think about why this all happened, but there was still never going to be a way to undo what had been done. So for now, it was more important to think about what would happen in the future, then why the past had been the way it was.

Chiharu tried to maintain a normal facial expression, but her fists were clenched. Maki patted her gently on the back then. And like that, her anger disappeared.

“I understand how you feel.”

She said.

“But I don’t think you always have to be looking forward.”

Yes, there were times when you could feel depressed. She should share these feelings with the others.

Chiharu got back on the train and asked them.

“What do you do when you’re feeling down?”

They all looked at each other uncomfortably. Then Edwy said,

“Kaider, Nyran. You’re just the right age for this. Please tell us.”

He said.

“What do you mean, ‘just the right age’?”

Nyran grumbled. Kaider looked uncomfortable as he said,

“Sorry, I don’t feel like that very often.”

And then Nyran said,

“Sorry, neither do I.”

And the others all nodded. Chiharu could hardly believe it.

“But, what about when your sword training isn’t going well?”

“I’ll train if I have time to feel down.”

It was no use. They were all meatheads. But what about Edwy?

“What about when things go bad diplomatically?”

“It’s not my fault that those old people don’t understand.”

Uh, he was a tough one. What about Grudo and Aeris? They had a lot of experience.

“What about when things go bad while developing things?”

“Hmm. Trial and error is the only way.”

“Yes, we don’t have time to feel depressed about things.”

What? Then what about this!

“What about when you are heartbroken!”

“That’s never happened to me.”

“That’s never happened to me.”

“That’s never happened to me.”

“That’s never happened to me.”

“That’s never happened to me.”

Those handsome bastards!

“We-well, Chiharu. We can always just drink something.”

“Ye-yes, Maki-chan. That’s it!”

“Also, umm…”

Maki folded her arms and thought about it. Chiharu became impatient.

“For instance, turning the lights off in your room. Then you sit down in a corner and hug your legs while you cry and cry.”

“Ye-yes.”

“Or you put on dark music or watch a sad movie.”

“Hmm…”

“Overeating…”

“That! I do that!”

Chiharu was relieved by Maki’s answers. They were girls after all. Huh? When Chiharu looked around them, there were people rubbing their eyes or looking up or staring at them with sad eyes. Even the servants were trying not to cry…

“Chiharu. So that is what you’ve been doing.”

“Uh, but it’s normal?”

Chiharu replied to Edwy. Maki looked away.

“Chiharu. You don’t have to sit in the corner of the room anymore.”

“Well, I’m not going to go to you either, Aeris.”

Chiharu said. Then she turned to Maki. This time she nodded.

“Chiharu. I will practice sword-fighting with you when you feel like that.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Maki was trying to hold back laughter as she saw Chiharu reply to the meatheads. Hmph.

She started to feel like none of it even mattered. And something welled up in the pit of her stomach. Maki-chan?

“Pppfftt—kk–hahahaha!”

“You!”

“Haha!”

“Heh. Hahaha!”

How could they stay gloomy when no one in this world seemed to feel down?

“Chiharu…”

“Laughed…”

“And Maki’s smiling…”

And so the train was filled with smiles as Chiharu and Maki rode it back to Midland.

That is, until they saw Arther and Zynis waiting for them at the station.