Chapter 44 – My Path, His Path
That day, they arrived back at the inn just as the sun reached its peak.
As Totto had fallen asleep while holding onto Menew, the three of them collapsed in the room and slept like logs.
After all, they had not slept for two days, and all three were exhausted.
(Seker, Seker, Seker…)
Menew chanted in his head, just before he fell into a deep sleep.
As soon as he lost consciousness, he felt that familiar sensation of being pulled, and before he knew it, he was in that white space.
“Welcome, Mr. Menew.”
“Hey.”
Menew raised his hand at the gentleman who was enjoying some afternoon tea.
He gestured for Menew to sit down.
“The last time you were here, it was to report that you were setting out on a journey. …And what a journey it has been.”
“Uh, yes… It has. I feel like some kind of terrorist.”
Freeing the elves, the downfall of the lord in Muzeria. Some might see him that way.
However, it was never Menew’s intention. He was not trying to create great change or anything.
“It is a good thing. Being able to choose your friends. And being able to act for them.”
Seker said as he patted Menew on the head. To him, Menew was not much different from a baby.
“Haha, yeah. Totto is a good friend. With a lot to learn… Hey, Seker.”
“You are thinking of taking Totto with you.”
“Yes. But…is it possible?”
He wasn’t so young that they would need to do everything for him. Right now, he was an orphan who had lost his parents. If there were schools, then it might be best to put him in a facility, so that he could go.
Though, Menew didn’t know where they could go to do that.
“It is possible. However, if he is your friend, shouldn’t you ask him what he wants?”
Seker said as he spread out his hands. And then a semi-transparent map appeared above them.
“Your first town, Amumos, is here. And here is your current location, Muzeria. If you head to the northeast from here, you will reach the royal capital of Yark. It is the only place with schools, and the orphanages there are more likely to accept new children. You are able to freely attend school until you are twenty, so it might be a good idea to take him there.”
Seker said as he turned the map into paper and then rolled it up before handing it to Menew.
“Thank you. I will discuss it with him then.”
“Good. Ah, by the way… Horus was dying of laughter.”
“Uhh…about what?”
Menew had a bad feeling about it.
“The dramatics were so typical! Too many medjed! And…other things…”
Menew’s slumped over the table. He did think that he had overdid it, but he did not imagine that people would laugh…
“While rude, I found it quite amusing myself. Well, it seems that the medjed are continuing to help the elves.”
According to some theories, the medjed were temporary manifestations of gods with too much power within.
Yes, the insides could be Horus. Though, they were accepted as mascot characters of Flying! Horus-tan.
(What a relief. It wasn’t the actual god Horus that was summoned…)
If Horus was laughing, then he was a different being.
“By the way, before meeting Mamnak, you said something about not killing living creatures for the first time…”
“Ah, yes. Well…with the very first giant troll, I used my power without really understanding. I thought it would be different if I was doing it myself, but… Well, I had never killed anything in my past life. But I was able to do it, surprisingly… I suppose I was able to turn a switch. You know…for things that are important and not important.”
As always, Menew was bad at expressing himself. However, Seker understood.
If you think of them as objects and defeat them like it’s a game, then it is completely different from defeating someone who you think is a living creature.
Menew must have been scared about whether he could do it or not.
Thankfully, in his past life, he had very little interest in anything outside of drawing. And so it was easier for him to switch the way he thought.
(…I do hope that it doesn’t increase the danger for those who are important to him.)
Seker nodded with a smile. And then Menew felt himself being pulled again.
It was almost time.
“Thank you, Seker!”
“Yes, please come again.”
Menew was not able to thank Seker wholeheartedly.
He recognized what he lacked, set his own goals, and took interest in those around him.
That broadened his vision. Menew was showing real growth.
“Yes, I will come again.”
Menew said with a laugh and then he fell into a hole.
Then his eyes slowly opened and he saw that he was clutching onto the map.
It was still dark outside. Next to him, Totto was still sleeping. Ralph was up and sharpening his sword.
“…Morning.”
“It’s still night. But do you want to go eat?”
Ralph put down the sword when he saw that Menew was awake.
And then Totto woke up as well. He put on his glasses and sat there sleepily.
“Morning, Totto.”
“Good morning.”
(Ralph didn’t say good morning to me??)
“Go-good mor… Huh?”
Totto’s voice was so raspy that he raised his hand to his throat.
It was no surprise.
Menew gave him some water and said,
“Let’s go and get some food.”
“Yes.”
Even though he was still thinking about his mother, he seemed much better now.
And so they quickly got ready, and Stan perched on Totto’s shoulder.
And like that, they headed to their favorite restaurant.
“I will pay today!”
It was true that Totto had quite a fortune, including medicine that had yet to be sold, but Menew and Ralph weren’t sure they should let him pay.
However, they realized that Totto wanted to show his gratitude, for helping to recover his mother, and so they accepted.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Totto was even happier than they expected. He must not want to be in their debt the whole time.
Today, they ordered yamyam beef stew, tail soup, a whole roasted mizari fowl, and skewers of gatto pork.
But once they started to eat, Totto shed a tear again. The other two watched him and then ate as well.
“It’s delicious.”
“Yes! These skewers are sweet and spicy. I can never get enough of them.”
“You can have the mizari fowl thigh, Totto.”
“Yes. And the tail soup is so good.”
They enjoyed talking while they ate.
“Totto, this is great.”
“You better eat it before Menew does.”
“I won’t!”
And Totto started to laugh.
“I…really…you two have done so much for me…”
“Totto. Would you like to come with us? Or is there something else you want to do?”
Totto assumed that they would just part ways, but sensing this, Menew decided to suddenly get to the point. He was bad with communication, but it seemed like a good time to be more blunt.
“…Huh?”
“If you want to come with us, you are welcome. If you want to stay here, or go to a school, then we can still visit you sometimes. We are friends after all, aren’t we?”
“It is your choice. …Though, if I’m being honest, I would like someone else to help me control this walking freak over here.”
“I think that I’m quite normal!?”
Menew snapped back, but then saw that Totto was thinking hard, and so he waited.
He must choose his own road.
“I…want to go with you…. To travel with Mr. Menew, Mr. Ralph and Stan.”
Stan stopped pecking at his meat and jumped onto Totto’s head. He then puffed up his feathers as if it was decided.
“Well, we’re glad to have you with us, Totto!”
“Welcome.”
“Pii!”
Totto wiped his face with his sleeve and nodded with a smile.
“Yes, thank you for having me!”
They made a toast with ale, apple cider and cold tea.
And like that, Totto joined the party.
Awwwwww…!
Thanks for the chapter!