Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 73

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 73   Friends

The next day, we decided to leave Istria.

It was because both my sister and I expressed a desire to return home.

We had relied on Glast-san’s hospitality for too long, and there was no longer a reason for us to stay in Istria.

After all, we wanted to take it easy in our familiar home.

Since this peace wouldn’t last long, we strongly felt the need to spend some time at home, at least.

So, in the morning, after finishing preparations to leave Glast’s house, we gathered in the living room.

Present were Glast, Rafina, Cole, Brigit, Father, Mother, my sister, and me.

Because my sister couldn’t walk on her own, Father was carrying her on his back.

“Did you forget anything?”

“Yeah. We’ve been in your care for a long time. Glast, we really appreciate it. Thank you.”

“Heh. Well, it’s only natural. You can stay as long as you want with me.”

Glast seemed to be speaking sincerely.

He looked lonely, and he would probably be delighted if we decided to stay.

“Heh, I’ll just take your feelings. We’ll come again. Count on it.”

“Yeah. Well, by then, I’ll probably have sold this house, so come to the new shop.”

Glast chuckled and let slip, “It’s a good shop.”

Come to think of it, I’ve never been to Glast’s new shop.

Everyone was busy, and we didn’t have the luxury to visit.

Next time, let’s all go to the shop together.

Rafina, Cole, and Brigit approached me.

Rafina looked sad, Cole kept a stern expression, and Brigit hid her face but seemed a bit down.

“It’ll be lonely without Shion.”

“Yeah. I’ll miss you too, Rafina. But we’ll meet again.”

“…It won’t be the same as before, but yeah. We’ll meet again.

At first, when we met, I only saw you as a noble’s child, but now I know that was a mistake.

Shion, among the men I’ve met, you’re the most wonderful and splendid.”

“You’re exaggerating, Rafina.”

“N-no! Shion is not like that at all! Shion, you underestimate yourself too much.

Act more imposing. Showing dignity is also necessary as a noble.

That’s the duty of those in higher positions.”

Rafina’s occasional condescending attitude—was it for that reason?

Indeed, if there were humble nobles, commoners might look down on them.

If that happened, families and even lords could be looked down upon.

Maybe it’s necessary to deliberately appear imposing.

It might be something worth remembering.

“I’ll gladly accept those words of wisdom.”

“Hmm! That’s right! A-and, you know, come to Zeppenlast next time.

I’ll introduce you to my father.”

Zeppenlast seems to be quite rural, even more so than our territory.

However, it has vast land, valued as an agricultural area.

I like pastoral places, so it might not be bad.

“Yeah, if there’s a chance, count on it.”

“Oh, ah! Anytime is fine! Absolutely, anytime! Hahaha!”

Seeing Rafina laugh heartily, I couldn’t help but smile.

As I did, I felt a strangely intense gaze from behind and turned around.

My sister was giving me a cold look, but when our eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze.

I wonder if something’s wrong.

As this question arose in my mind, Cole sighed and spoke.

“You’re dense.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“…It’s nothing. You being dense is probably just right.

If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all that.

An ordinary person would have given up midway. No, they would have given up from the start.”

“So, are you praising me? Or criticizing me?”

“I’m praising you. Sort of.”

Is he really praising me?

Looking at Cole’s face makes me uneasy.

This guy says jokes with a straight face, after all.

“Show your face when you come to Istria again, even if there’s nothing special.”

“Yeah, I’ll make sure to do that when I come to Istria again. I don’t know when that’ll be, though.”

Everyone knows that I’m going to the royal capital.

Even my sister.

While she has her selfish moments, she’s also rational.

She dislikes me going to the royal capital, but she doesn’t ask me to stop.

She understands that I have to treat the lazy syndrome patients.

By the way, I’ve already received greetings from Duke Balkh.

He said he would report immediately if there’s any communication from the queen.

“Anytime is fine. You don’t have to meet frequently to maintain a relationship.

If you have to constantly share time to keep a connection, that’s not a true friendship.

That’s just a superficial, fleeting relationship.

We’re different. Aren’t we?”

I opened my eyes in surprise.

I never expected Cole to say something like that.

When we first met, he was more curt.

Cole shifted his gaze awkwardly.

Perhaps embarrassed, his ears turned slightly red.

I was pleased with his words.

So, as soon as I regained my composure, I replied.

“Yeah, that’s right. Because we’re friends. Even if we’re apart or time passes, that won’t change.”

When I said that, Cole smiled happily. However, he quickly masked his expression and turned his back to me. Everyone else desperately tried to contain their laughter at the sight.

Then, I felt a tug on my sleeve.

“Shion…”

The usual petite girl, her face obscured by her overgrown hair, but I thought it was quite well-groomed. However, she often had a hunched posture and tended to keep her face down, so her face was not visible.

“Thank you for coming, Brigit.”

Brigit shook her head vigorously.

“Shion and I are friends… Cole, Rafina, and everyone are friends too… so this is only natural. Shion, do your best…”

Brigit clenched her fist tightly, and I nodded appreciatively at the depth of her words.

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

Brigit gave a small, bright smile – the most dazzling and memorable expression I’d seen on her face.

“Now, Shion. Let’s go home.”

With Father’s command, the entire family nodded. We left Glast’s house, carrying a mix of loneliness and nostalgia as we departed from Istria.