Half a Year Later 3

“Take Chiharu on a trip? Isn’t it too early?”

She had only just recently returned to her normal health. Maki’s expression turned serious at Aeris’s suggestion.

“Hey, Maki-chan. I’m fine. Besides, it’s not like I’m going to go out with the birdfolk. Aeris said he’s going to take us on his airship.”
“But surely it is comfortable with us as well.”
“Uh, yes. Well, being with you and Saikania is nice because I can feel the air.”

Sauro had interrupted Chiharu, but he nodded with satisfaction when she said that the air felt nice.

“But it takes a lot of energy to be carried through the sky.”
“That’s true.”

You had to keep your legs still and maintain the same posture for a long time.

“And so I wanted to talk to you about where we should go.”
“So it’s already decided that we are going.”

Maki shrugged with exasperation.

“If anything, you should just think of it as treatment through a change of air.”

Said Aeris. Maki nodded, realizing that it made sense. While Chiharu was more of an indoors person, staying inside the castle for half a year would do her no good.

“Maki-chan. The castle is very big, and there was even a library, so I wasn’t bored. But, yes. I do think it’s time to go out again.”
“Well, if that’s how you feel, Chiharu. Then I don’t mind.”

As Maki had given her permission, Aeris nodded with satisfaction.

“I also got permission from Arthur. As for me, I would recommend the elf lands. You know, didn’t you want to see the waterfall that is deep in the mountains?”
“I do! And we might be able to see all kinds of fascinating creatures.”

The mandragoras had been very fun to see in the elf lands.

“I see. In that case…”
“Hey, wait!”

The door burst open and Zynis walked in.

“Ah, Zynis. I haven’t seen you in quite a long time.”
“Aeris, nevermind any of that. What’s this about you taking the Saintesses on a journey without permission?”
“I do have permission. And Arthur agreed.”

The two big men were over two meters tall, and they were quite intimidating when they faced each other like this.

“I just heard about it! Maki and Chiharu are going to travel!”
“Edwy!”
“Edwy!”

Edwy entered from the open door.

“It’s been a while since we were all together like this.”

Chiharu said happily. Indeed. While Maki met with Aeris, Sauro, Saikanai as well as Kaider and Nyran when going inland, it was different with Chiharu. Huh? Maki tilted her head to the side.

But Edwy was in Midland, as was Zynis. And Aeris visited Chiharu every time he came in his airship. Sauro and Saikania were also said to visit quite often. So it really shouldn’t have been that long at all.

“It’s because we’re here as well.”
“Kaider! And Nyran!”
“Hey, Maki.”

They had been working inland, but they were here now.

“In the first place, the idea was that we could all go on a trip together as a reward for all our hard work after the incident. And yet you started running ahead, Aeris.”

So that’s why everyone was here. Maki and Chiharu looked at each other and laughed.

“Uh, yes. I wanted to tell Chiharu and Maki as soon as possible. And…”
“Because you wanted to go to the elf lands, right? Damn it.”

Zynis grumbled.

“What’s wrong with that? Besides, Chiharu wants to go.”
“No.”

Zynis shook his head.

“They have previous engagements.”
“Previous engagements?”
“Previous engagements?”

Maki and Chiharu said in unison. While many of the royal family were quite odd, Zynis was calm and generally enjoyed his role of just watching over Maki and Chiharu. And so it was rare for him to clearly state his desires in this way. However, what was this previous engagement? They did not remember making any promises.

“Have you forgotten, even though it hasn’t been a full year yet? Right after you were summoned, I told you to come visit the beast lands, didn’t I?”
“Oh, the elephants!”

Chiharu exclaimed. And then Maki remembered the conversation as well.

“That’s right. You said something about it being like a cage. As for why…”

Chiharu looked at Maki.

“Because they’ll come in packs.”
“Because they’ll come in packs.”

Zynis had said something like that. After a moment of silence.

“Gg…”
“Heh.”
“Haha!”

Maki and Chiharu’s laughter echoed through the room.

“You don’t have to laugh so much.”
“I really do feel bad about what happened that time.”

Saikania and Sauro looked very awkward as they shifted their wings. Yes, that time. The birdfolk had come and tried to abduct Chiharu. Who would have thought that they would eventually become such good friends.

After their laughter echoed through the room for quite some time, Edwy clapped his hands and everyone’s attention moved towards him.

“I understand why Zynis wants them to go to the beast lands, and why Aeris wants them to go to the elf lands. However, I too have a place that I want them to visit. In the first place, they haven’t even seen much of Midland.”
“Well, they haven’t gone on a food tour of Lowland either.”
“While they did travel a lot in the dwarf lands, they haven’t been able to stay and enjoy a single town at all.”

Indeed, there were a lot of places that they had never been to. And even if they went to them all in order, where should they start? Maki and Chiharu did not feel like they could decide quickly.

Edwy let out a deep sigh.

“Well, it cannot be helped then. In order to make things fair, we’ll settle it with rock, paper, scissors.”

“Rock, paper, scissors?”
“Rock, paper, scissors?”

Said Maki and Chiharu.

“Yes. It’s quite convenient, isn’t it?”

Apparently, they had it in this world as well.

“Well, I guess that’s fine.”
“Why not?”
“It will do.”
“No, wait.”

While the others agreed, Aeris alone seemed frantic.

“What’s the matter, Aeris? Don’t tell me you don’t know what rock, paper, scissors is?”
“I do know. However, I’ve never done it before. But I understand the principles.”
“Huh?”
“We’ve never done it either.”
“Yes.”
“Huh?”

Apparently, Aeris and the birdfolk had never played rock, paper, scissors before.

“We do what we want. Why must we compete with others?”
“That’s the birdfolk for you…”
“Yes.”

Of course, Sauro would say that.

“But why Aeris?”
“…Because I’ve always done what I want…”
“You’re the same as them!”

Maki couldn’t help but say. And while she didn’t say it out loud, she thought, ‘I’m sure the merfolk chief would say the same thing.’

In the end, the minority opinion of Aeris was ignored. And as the results of the game dictated, it was decided that they would go to the beast lands first.

Next Chapter

Two Saints wander off into a Different World