Chapter of Ancient Labyrinth, Episode 6: Hanging Out in Aomori

I slowly awoke as the morning sun hit my eyes. I didn’t quite understand how exactly I was able to travel to and from the dream world. I used to think it was just a dream, and now that I knew I could visit that world freely, I wished this routine could continue on forever. The draconian was sitting up, her pale back muscles and long, black hair facing me. Her beautifully picturesque side profile had an otherworldly air to it, and her long lashes stood out all the more with her eyes closed. It made me happy to realize I was seeing a side of Wridra that no other human had seen before.

“Zzz...”

Wait a second. I thought she had awakened before me, but she was still half asleep. Her face turned in my direction, and then she tried to crawl back into bed with her eyes still closed. The voluptuous outline of her form filled my view, and I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep in a fluster.

“Nn, getting up in this world is wonderfully comfortable as usual...” she muttered, and an indescribable, hefty sensation was pressed against my cheek. Her supple skin was soft, pleasant to the touch, and smelled faintly sweet. Her arms wrapped around my head, and then I felt her breath against my hair as she continued to sleep.

Then, I realized something. The way she had me in her arms probably looked very bad from an outsider’s perspective. Wridra pushed Marie’s thigh off of me with her knee, making the elf girl flip over on her back without resistance. She, too, was enjoying a deep, comfortable sleep, and their steady breathing reverberated in my room. Despite the sleepy atmosphere in my room, my heart was pounding against my chest. I didn’t get it. What would happen if Marie woke up in this situation? I felt like she would be incredibly upset with me, and any explanation I could give wouldn’t be sufficient. I wished Marie would sleep in late, and I wanted Wridra to awaken as soon as possible. My weekday morning was filled with quite a deal of conflict already.

The window slid open, and Wridra let out a moan as she stretched extravagantly. Her entire body was bathed in sunlight, the negligee she had just created becoming partially transparent. There were purple embroideries around her chest that invited one’s imagination to run wild with thoughts of the beautiful body underneath.

“Ahh, Japan. It is quite a sunny day today.”

“Wridra, please don’t stretch like that in that outfit. And why don’t you start wearing pajamas already? It’s indecent walking around like that.” Marie’s cheeks were slightly puffed out, reinforcing the idea that the situation earlier would have led to big trouble.

“Hah, hah, I refuse to wear such clothing in my sleep. It would be a shame to constrict my body when I could sleep in such comfort.” She laughed without even a hint of remorse. A human’s sense of modesty was foreign to her, and her understanding of our common sense was only what she had learned from visiting human settlements in the past. I picked up two teacups and approached the table where the pouting elf was sitting. A pleasant blue sky could be seen through the window, indicating that it had finally stopped raining.

“How’s the weather from tomorrow on?” I placed the cups on the table, and the girl glanced at me. Marie’s hair was as bright as the white clouds, and her eyes were like precious gemstones. I secretly noted how attractive she looked when she was outwardly showing her emotions.

“Good. They say it’s going to be sunny starting today.” The weather was being reported on the TV behind me, and I could tell she was excited for the Aomori trip and view from the bullet train starting tomorrow. The ticket for the ride was on the table, and she had taken it in hand to inspect it several times. Lured by the smell of tea, Wridra came over and sat down next to the elf. The draconian had heard our conversation, but strangely, she was humming and in a good mood, despite all that complaining she had done about not being able to ride the shinkansen. Another thing that caught my attention was the jewel-like mass she had placed on the table. I’d never seen it before... What could it have been?

“Hmhm, it is a secret,” she said without looking up, and Marie and I blinked. Wridra continued to fiddle with the jewel the entire time.

“But I didn’t say anything yet... What are you making, by the way?”

Sure enough, she didn’t answer. I could see the side of her grinning face, but I only felt trouble coming from that innocent smile. Well, Wridra could probably make pretty much whatever she wanted to, and there was no point in trying to figure out what the Arkdragon was thinking. And so, I decided to go make some eggs and sausages instead. Marie also seemed to come to the conclusion that it was better to leave it be, and she started up a new conversation.

“Kazuhiho goes to work on weekdays, so it will just be us here during the day.”

“Hmm, I did not realize he actually worked. It seems all he does is play in his dreams.”

I thought I did a lot of work in my dreams, too. Though, I had fun with it, unlike my job at the company. Ahh, yesterday’s fight was a close one, and it was really exciting.

“He seems like a different person here, but that’s how he releases stress from his job.”

“They say the quiet type tends to bottle things in, but I see he uses his dreams to relieve tension.”

Y-Yeah... They weren’t wrong, so I couldn’t really say anything. But it was kind of making me sad, so I decided to give the fried egg with the broken yolk to Wridra. I scooped it onto her plate to execute my revenge.

“I usually study Japanese in this room, but you might end up being bored. Why don’t we watch anime together in the afternoon?”

“Animay? I have not heard of it, but I am all for any form of entertainment. Though, I am not expecting much from something made by humans.”

Oh, statements like that are called “flags” where I come from.

We were departing for Aomori tomorrow, and Marie had a sort of fascination for life in the Japanese countryside. This would serve as preparation for the trip, so I didn’t mind. As those thoughts crossed my mind, I noticed the serious look in Marie’s eyes.

“Ah, I see you still don’t know anything about the quality of Japanese recreation. It’s not just food and hot springs. Anime is filled with beautiful art that’s drawn by illustrators who put their souls into each illustration. The stories are incredible, too, but the music is what really surprised me. They reach you deep down in your heart and can make you cry involuntarily.”

It seemed that Marie’s love for anime had been ignited. She went on passionately about it being an art form and a complete story within itself. But since Wridra had never seen it before, her reaction was full of question marks.

“Hah, hah, then I shall give it a proper assessment. I am no easy critic, having seen art of all times and places. Unfortunately for you, I can only foresee a future where you end up being disappointed by my evaluation.”

“You’re on. Just you watch, it’s going to blow away everything you’ve known!”

It felt as though fire was erupting in the background as the elf and draconian faced off, but the anime package presently being held between them was... a strange sight. Maybe I was imagining it, but I could almost see a fat anime character striking an intimidating pose behind Marie. In her case, anime was part of the reason she had taken up learning Japanese in the first place. I did admire her passion, but there was a part of me that recognized the fact that she was starting to see Japan with rose-colored glasses. I wondered what would have happened to their little competition. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t watch it unfold, since I had to get to work. But it soon slipped my mind, as I got called in for a meeting as soon as I punched in, was informed of a change in direction for our workflow, and had to remake some documents. Being a working adult meant that I was constantly being yanked around for this task or that task, so I doubted the idea that there was anyone who didn’t get stressed out from work. Or maybe there were. But the ones I knew, at least, just made excuses to not take on any work in the first place.

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I arrived home and pushed the door to my condo open. The interior was dim, which reminded me of a time when Marie wasn’t around. That was odd; the elf girl usually came running up to me upon my return. Maybe the two of them had gone out and hadn’t come home yet. As I was removing my shoes, I noticed that not only were the downlights still on, but the TV was, too.

“Oh, did they fall asleep?” I wondered aloud and walked inside. After taking two steps, I glanced to the side and nearly jumped with a start. A mountain of blankets had been constructed in the bedroom, with Marie and Wridra curled under it, their eyes round and glued to the screen.

“...What are you two doing?” I asked after a long pause, and the girl raised a finger to her lips and beckoned me over. I undid my tie and removed my jacket as I observed them, and noticed that they were in the middle of the movie we had purchased a little while back. They were right about to get to the final scene, and the cheery voice of the sisters could be heard from the TV.

“Ohhh!” Wridra leaned forward, and I could see in her eyes that she had been captivated by the story. She was so into it that she didn’t even notice me coming in. When one was so drawn into a story, an interesting phenomenon would occur. They would empathize with and become connected to the characters, sharing their same emotions, such as pain, sorrow, and happiness. This was the moment they had just overcome hardships, and a pretty smile spread over the face of the dragon that was thousands of years old. I was sure Wridra used to smile just like this when she was a child. As the emotional moment passed, that uplifting tune began to play. The music was simple, but also told a story within itself. And so, the dragon’s face lit up with happiness.

“Ahh, this is incredible...! I did not know such harmony could be found within this so-called anime!” And she seemed so disinterested back when she had first gotten up this morning, I thought as I started to change out of my work clothes. With the finale coming to a close and the joyous music dying down, the two removed the pile of blankets and stretched. “Ohh... This is quite wonderful. So colorful and full of emotions, with an exceptional charm to it. I was unaware the countryside of Japan was such a fantastical place...”

“Ahem. So you finally understand. Anime puts many drawings together to tell a beautiful story like that. And just so you know, they don’t use magic to make it.”

They sat down at the living room to discuss the movie they just saw. Marie began preparing tea with a practiced hand, so I also ended up sitting down with them. Wridra had a dreamy expression about her and let out a sigh while holding her cheeks.

“Nnn, it truly was like I was in a dream. This world struck me as constantly busy and full of trifles, but it seems there are some who still have a playful heart.”

“What do you mean? That was just a small fraction of what anime has to offer, and there are thousands of titles out there. You could watch one every day and still take years to get through them all.” Marie ran her hand through her hair with a proud expression, and Wridra found herself at a loss of words. I was surprised, too. Marie looked like she was having the time of her life as she boasted about the topic. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve been having so much fun here. By the way, that kakuni we had a while back was a gift from our neighbor. I’ve enjoyed other supremely rich flavors like foie gras―though, you’re probably not familiar with it.”

“What?! Impossible, you could not have received such a treat free of charge... No fair, that is not fair at all! I have been restraining myself from coming here!”

Um... What’s happening?

Wridra whined as she lay flat on the table, and Marie’s cheeks were flushed as she watched the draconian with a gleeful expression. Maybe she’d been wanting someone to brag to for a long time. Wridra was the only one who we could talk to about our secret, and she couldn’t help but think of this situation as “unfair.” I knew from experience that women tended to have a side that enjoyed boasting to others, so I quickly followed up to soften the blow.

“Um, personally, I like the world you two come from better.”

“...Yes, I do like it, as well. If only convenience stores existed there.”

Huh? Well... They didn’t. I’d actually have been disappointed if they did, and I thought being able to enjoy all the nature there was way better.

“I want soft serve, rather than smelly fish. Ahh, the one we had at lunch was so soft and delicious. I wish I also lived in Japan!”

Oh, did she have some today? I nonverbally asked Marie with a glance, and she gave me a proud look. I see. So she bragged about ice cream, too. Wridra continued to sob, then looked up at me.

That’s weird, you’re supposed to be the great Arkdragon, not a kitten looking for a home. But I’m sorry, I don’t make enough to take care of two... Wait, aren’t you someone’s wife?!

She continued shooting me glances, and I really was at a loss for what to do. I slid the door open after taking a bath to find the two sitting on the bed, and Marie waved at me. As for Wridra, she seemed to be making something like she had back in the morning. Her black eyes looked at me, but she turned away as if she was still upset about earlier. I peeked in to find she was using a string of some sort, and the device was making a sizzling sound. She’d been working on it since the morning, and it made me wonder what she was planning on creating here in Japan. My curiosity was killing me, so I sat down next to her, and she whispered at me to be quiet without even looking up. She was in a state of total concentration, so Marie and I only watched silently. It looked like she was blowing magic particles into a jewel that was about the size of a 500 yen coin. She seemed to be drawing something like a circuit board for a machine. Marie and I continued to stare.

Sizzz...

Smoke rose from the device, and it seemed the precision work was done. Wridra let out a sigh of relief, then snapped the lid shut.

“Now, let us see if it works. Turck Ittshi Aap.” The mysterious words were likely advanced words of the language of dragons. The phrase also served as the incantation for a spell, and the Arkdragon had the ability to cast spells by using words of the language. It almost made me forget that we were still in the Koto Ward of Japan. As we watched, a black shadow slowly appeared. It slowly appeared from midair, then landed on its feet with a plop. Its small body was covered in black fur, and it had a long tail. When it let out a small meow, Marie’s eyes widened.

“Ah! A cat... I mean, a familiar! You can call one even in this world?”

“It would normally be impossible. After all, there is no underlying mechanism that allows for magic to be completed here, but with an artificial core like this one, it is a different story.” Wridra grinned as she rubbed the black cat’s chin. Marie couldn’t help but get closer, and the cat turned toward her and sniffed her finger. It took its time smelling Marie, then let out a satisfied meow. It rubbed its fur against her as a sign of approval.

“Wow, it’s warm... Aren’t you a beauty? You’ve got a pretty face.” Marie had gotten used to conversing with cats. After watching her scratch the cat behind its neck, Wridra stretched and let out a yawn.

“Ahh... Of course, I did not create a familiar simply for the sake of it.” She gestured for me to come over. I was a bit anxious, but my curiosity won out. I approached her carefully, and then Wridra put her finger on my chin like she did to the cat, then tilted my face upward. Her slender finger traced along my face, then stopped behind my ear. Then, I heard a sound like some sort of suction, and my shoulders twitched in surprise. When Wridra touched the core that was on the familiar’s collar, I felt strange words being spoken into my ear.

“Communication line has been established.”

Huh...?!

The same voice reverberated from the cat’s ornament, and Marie and I looked at each other.

“Don’t tell me you made the same technology from the dream world?!”

“Hah, hah. Of course, my creations are superior to those created by humans. The effective range, sound quality, and portability are much improved.”

This was very surprising. I didn’t expect her to bring dream world technology here, and Wridra had pulled it off so easily. Then, as if in payback for all the boasting about Japan she had endured, she began to explain.

“Stealing technology is no simple task. After all, one must fully understand the structure, disassemble it, rethink its concept, and rebuild it while fulfilling all of its requirements. Now do you understand the extent of my greatness?”

I was in such a state of shock that I wasn’t registering what she was saying. Marie was in a similar state, her mouth flapping, but no words coming out.

“It’s so impressive that I don’t know what to say. So... what does this mean?”

“We can use this to talk even while I’m at work, I’m guessing.”

The girl let out an “Ah!” and picked up the cat in her arms. The cat rubbed its pink nose on her, and she laughed ticklishly.

“You’re so small, but you’re pretty amazing, aren’t you? Do you have a name?”

I could hear Marie’s whispers deep in my ear. I was starting to understand Wridra’s goal in all of this. Sure enough, she was wearing a smug look on her face when I turned around to face her.

“You will take the familiar with you as a compromise. That way, I will be able to share its sensations. I, too, will enjoy this so-called shinkansen.”

It was no wonder she was so focused on getting this done. She had given us a telephone feature, while allowing herself to enjoy the view of the trip.

“No problem. And we’ll make sure you can join us for our next trip.” She smiled, then told us how to use our new tool. You’d think Wridra was from the future, with all the tools she was making. Well, we had gotten all of our tasks out of the way. We cleared the rescue mission in the ancient labyrinth, Wridra completed preparations for the trip, and the most important part: the tasty snacks were laid out on the table.

“Our long-awaited Golden Week is finally here. Make sure you don’t oversleep from all the excitement. We’ll be heading to Aomori as soon as we wake up.”

The two raised their hands in the air with a cheer, then high fived each other on the bed.

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After making our report, the well-built man looked at us with a level of shock we’d never seen before. His name was Zera, the leader of Team Bloodstone who had become our friend after the rescue mission we had completed just the other day. The red-haired woman known as Doula was with him, and we had just recently met up with each other. The view was much different from the previous night when we had defeated the demon.

“Huh? Do you realize how much treasure we’re finding? Are you seriously going to head back once?” Spit flew out as he spoke and gestured to the piles of Magic Stones and other spoils. It seemed the treasure room had been unlocked after defeating the demon, and they were all currently busy hauling out their findings. The squad members seemed to be absolutely thrilled as they worked.

“Yes, we have a long holiday coming up.”

Marie and I smiled as I replied, and even Doula had a tight look on her face. The thing was, the Golden Week we had been anticipating for so long was more important to us. Besides, I had already gotten Astroblade, which I suspected was the greatest treasure of all. Zera scratched his black hair, looking as if he still didn’t understand at all.

“I don’t get it. It’s like you guys don’t have any desire for anything... or you only desire something else completely. Well, we’ll take care of things here, so go enjoy your vacation.”

Then, he seemed to remember something. He brought out wrappings that were slightly bigger than the size of my fist and handed the bundle to me. When I unwrapped it, there was a turquoise gem that reminded me of the ocean.

“Here, that’s the biggest Magic Stone we found here. I worry for your future, so at least take this. I’ll send you the rest of your share once we sell off some of the goods.” With that, he pushed the item into my hands before I could even hesitate. I didn’t think someone would end up worrying for my future even in this world... Marie and I thanked him and I decided to accept it without protest. Then, the other squad members joined in the conversation.

“Oh, but aren’t you going on a long vacation for your honeymoon soon too, Captain Zera?”

“You’ve gotten enough funds with this haul. Maybe you should upgrade your trip and deepen your love with...”

The two speakers got a fist to the head, as per the usual routine. But even he seemed to enjoy the sight of the usually coolheaded Doula getting flustered. Zera put his squadmate in an arm lock, but they all seemed to be having fun. Then, the large man pointed toward me.

“Anyway, think of that as a token of celebration. The first floor seems to have other Floor Masters, so you can go have fun until we’re done clearing them.”

“Yes, thank you. We’ll be going now!”

We said our goodbyes, and then I activated my long-distance movement skill: Trayn, the Journey’s Guide. Marie held on to me as we fell into a world one layer beneath, plunging us into darkness.

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Dazzling sunlight peered in from the sides of the curtains, hinting that this fine weather would go on for some time longer. Marie and the black cat were sitting in front of the TV and watching the weather report. The program stated that the maximum temperature for the day in Tokyo was twenty-two degrees and eighteen degrees in Aomori. Mariabelle the elf was wearing a subdued, green one-piece with cotton long sleeves that were appropriate for the spring season. If she wore high socks with matching stripes, she’d look even more like she came from a fantasy world. The black cat sitting next to her was a resident of another world, too. It was no ordinary cat, but a familiar, and Wridra was its master. I was told its appearance was such that it could easily blend in for our trip, and that Wridra could share its consciousness and perceptions.

Marie turned toward me and said, “What a strange feeling. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, and it’s finally happening.” I understood how she felt. The wait was so long that I was a bit taken aback now that it had begun. Was it really happening? I knew the appropriate answer to that question.

“Well then, ladies, let us begin our trip. Please take my hand.”

In response, Marie’s somewhat-absentminded look turned into a smile. The black cat stood up from her lap, and Marie placed her slender hand in mine.

“My, how lovely. I think attending to me like this suits you.”

“Hm, I’m not sure how I feel about that. Actually, having people attend to you suits you, too. That’s a compliment, of course.” She acted indignant in response to my comment, and I proceeded to check and make sure all the doors were locked. I turned off the TV, and we left the room. The black cat stepped out of the front door, and we were greeted by sunny weather when we followed.

Our trip would last for two nights and three days, and our luggage was mostly just our clothes. The shoes that I was also carrying in the bag weren’t heavy enough to suppress my light footsteps. As we exited the front door and descended the stairs, Marie started humming a popular song that was perfect for going on trips. It was the song she had sung with the dragon when we went on that trip near the city. The cat walked near our feet as if to play with us, which I found adorable.

“It doesn’t feel like we’re going on a trip unless I hear this song.”

“I have to admit, it does feel like we’re officially starting our vacation, thanks to that song. Though, it looks like Wridra is sad that she can’t sing along too.”

The cat meowed in protest. Its pouty-looking face was very un-cat-like, which made the elf girl giggle in reaction.

Tokyo Station... It was around seven in the morning, and there were many travelers around us. Tokyo Station’s layout was quite complicated, and the flow of pedestrian traffic made it easy to get lost. I somehow managed to enter the gate to the platform for the shinkansen heading northeast, then turned to Marie. She was carrying a black-lacquered mesh basket, so she seemed to be having a bit of trouble getting through. I gestured an offer to hold it for her, but she shook her head, so I figured she could handle it. The black cat was inside the basket, meowing softly. I held her hand so we wouldn’t get separated and decided to stop by the nearby shops to keep her entertained. We arrived at a shop with a sign that was brighter than the rest, and her eyes widened.

“Wow, so many bentos!”

“Beautiful scenery and delicious food are essential for long trips. Why don’t we pick a drink and a bento?”

The boxed meals were tightly arranged in rows, each of them unique in appearance. One was packed with seafood, another featured appetizing sirloin, while another had chicken covered in tartar sauce. The colorful variety of simmered and pickled dishes were sure to catch the eyes of travelers, and the containers themselves were distinct, as well.

“So much variety! Which one should we pick...? What do you think, Wridra? We need to figure out which one is the most delicious.”

“No need to overthink it. Well, go ahead and take your time.” The girl groaned as she and the cat deliberated over her options, the latter meowing occasionally from inside the basket. A small black paw reached out from the basket, pointing at one of the boxes.

“Not that one. I’ve heard these character-themed types don’t taste as good. How about this one? The egg is yellow and pretty.”

The cat meowed as if to argue that the two of them should’ve been prioritizing taste over aesthetics. I was impressed by how they could communicate even without words. I couldn’t help but observe them with great interest as I drank tea from my plastic bottle. Then, the girl turned around to shoot me a look.

“Why are you sitting there relaxing? You need to understand that the good ones have a tendency to sell out before the others. If you don’t hurry, you’ll end up with just tea for your meal.”

“Ah, then I’ll take this shumai bento. Looks like it’s the last one left.” I picked it up, then heard an “Ah!” and a “Mew!”

“Oh, were you planning on getting this one? I don’t mind switching.”

“I-It’s fine! We have plenty of other candidates. That one was the weakest option out of all of them anyway.” The elf girl and cat pointed at me dramatically.

R-Right. I was fine with that. It seemed the shumai bento was the weakest of the elite four. I felt bad for it, so I decided to savor it later.

So, after spending a lot of time deciding on their boxed lunch, they ended up choosing a Makunouchi bento. The colorful simmered dishes, takikomi rice, and other side dishes divided by compartments seemed to fit the needs of both Marie and the cat. The elf girl’s satisfied look seemed to indicate that they had chosen the best possible option. They peeked into the paper bag from time to time, occasionally glancing at my bento and grinning.

Huh, I guess I lost. I guess you just couldn’t beat the Makunouchi bento, my shumai bento. I silently admitted defeat as we slowly made our way up the stairs.

The Tokyo Station platform was surprisingly warm and sunny for May, but the weather report stated that it would drop by about four degrees by the time we’d arrive at Aomori. Even the prestigious spirit sorceress gawked in awe at the sight that awaited us. There was the shinkansen Hayabusa, showing off its deep emerald-blue color like a tropical ocean.

“W-Wooow, it’s so big! This is a shinkansen?!”

“Yup, it’s the fastest vehicle around, proudly made by Japan. Wait, maybe it’s not the fastest anymore? Anyway, it’s a really technically advanced vehicle.” I had shown her a video of it before, but seeing the real deal in person was a different story. Its aerodynamic form reminded me of rides at a theme park, and the neo-futuristic design was exciting to behold. But seeing the way the two of them were frozen in place, it was possible that they were a bit intimidated by it. I pointed at the vehicle and said, “We still have some time, so why don’t we walk up to the front?”

“Yes, let’s! Wooow, this is so incredible! I have a feeling it’s going to be very fast.” It seemed she was looking forward to it. She held the cat mesh basket in both hands, looking around curiously as she followed behind me. The bullet train obviously looked best at the front, and there was a strange charm to it. Its distinctly modern and curved lines gave the impression that an incredible amount of advanced technology went into its design. The other two took in Hayabusa’s glory, mouths agape.

“Such beautiful curves! Oh, is this the highest rank of trains? They must eventually evolve into this once they gain enough experience.”

“Not exactly. This is Hayabusa, a vehicle specifically made for long-distance travel that’s going to take a certain cute elf all the way to Aomori.” I squeezed Marie’s hand as I explained, and her eyes lit up. We were heading to Aomori on this thing. It seemed to finally be sinking in. We took our time looking at the shiny exterior of our ride as we walked. I noted how it managed to be functional yet aesthetically pleasing, and the faint vibrations it gave off could be felt through the platform. The cat also had its mouth wide open, overwhelmed by the train’s sheer presence.

“This is where we get on, right? I wonder how the interior looks.”

“You’ll see once we’re inside. Let’s find out, shall we?”

An announcement in both English and Japanese played through the speakers as we entered through a nearby door. The sounds from the platform immediately quieted down, and we were greeted with an elegant interior with wooden accents. The elf and the cat glanced around, seemingly noting the distinct smell in the air, and we continued onward as I led Marie by the hand. There, we found the first class green seats, with a soft light coming in through the roof of the car. The others widened their eyes in surprise again as they took in the neat rows of seats.

“Our seat is over there. Watch your step.”

“So this is what it’s like inside... The high-rank trains really are a class of their own.”

The seats were subdued in color, as well, and I obviously let Marie take the window seat. We could still only see the station platform, but Marie would have a nice view once we got going. As soon as she sat down, she turned to me and exclaimed, “It’s so fluffy!”

Seeing how she was enjoying it, I was glad that I decided to splurge a little. There was actually another class above our tickets, but this was the best I could do with my income. I figured I would be able to consider it once I got a more stable income at some point down the road. I placed our luggage on the racks above us and put the cat’s basket on the girl’s lap.

“Stay quiet for a while, Wridra,” I whispered through the mesh, and she responded with a meow. Even the cat’s eyes were bright with excitement. I figured shinkansens were designed to entertain their passengers. The tone of the announcements was calm, and the vibrations were quiet, but there was a definite sense of excitement in the air. Marie seemed to feel it too, her cheeks slightly flushed with anticipation.

“This thing goes very fast, right? How fast would you say it is, compared to an animal?”

“I’d say it’s like a falcon. That’s probably where the name Hayabusa came from.” She had a curious expression on her face, so I looked up a peregrine falcon on my phone and showed her.

In the meantime, the time for departure was nearing. All the passengers were now inside, and an onboard announcement informed us that we would be departing soon. Maybe I was nervous, because I could feel sweat in my palms as I closed my hand, and I thought I could even hear the sound of my heart beating. The clean, well-lit platform began moving away, and I saw the bento shop pass by, leaving Tokyo Station behind us. A group of buildings in sunny weather could be seen through the window, and the girl let out a surprised noise.

“Wow, wow! So pretty! Look, all the buildings look so nice.”

The blue sky was reflected on the giant buildings, making me appreciate how nice the weather was today. A cheery tune played over the speakers, followed by another announcement. As it went over the train schedule for the day, I noticed there was another train running below us. There were railroads below and above us, and the other two looked quite adorable looking up with a dumbfounded expression. But as they were enjoying the scenery, the interior suddenly became plunged into darkness.

“Oh, I can’t see anymore...”

“We went underground. We’ll be back out soon.”

“You know, this sort of reminds me of your Trayn, the Journey’s Guide. I wonder if they’re related somehow.”

I wasn’t sure, to be honest. I did have a similar skill in the dream world, but I doubted that was somehow affected by things in Japan.

“Then maybe my Trayn will also have passenger seats once I raise it to max level.”

“Yes, you should give it a try. Then we could enjoy our travels in leisure. Oh, and you should upgrade it so it can travel above ground.”

Huh, I was only joking. She responded pretty positively to the idea, making me wonder how I was going to ask for such a thing from the god of travel. The bullet train came back above ground, and the scenery shifted from skyscrapers to residential buildings. The view passed by rapidly, the pace so quick that Marie had a blank look on her face.

“Ahhh, it’s so fast... The view changes so quickly... This is pretty different from riding a car.”

“I like taking it slow with cars, too. There was a thing called sleeper trains up until a little while ago, where people slept while traveling.”

She listened with great interest, and I started preparing the bento and tea for her. The cat’s pink nose peeked out of the mesh basket and twitched, and it was time for our late breakfast. Marie had chosen a Makunouchi bento, while I had a shumai bento. With the excitingly luxurious shinkansen, clear blue sky, and the beautiful Marie beside me, this was quite a high-quality way for me to spend my time. So much so that it made me think not choosing a higher-class ticket didn’t really matter. We pulled our chopsticks apart with a snap, leaned in close, and whispered “Itadakimasu” to each other. Seeing them from up close, her large eyes were a vivid and pale purple in color.

So, the bullet train had finally started moving. We heard a meow, as if to remind us of the cat’s presence, and Marie and I laughed.

“Mmm, this gentle taste is very Japanese. Would you like some too, kitty?” Marie brought the food closer, and the cat opened its small mouth greedily, promptly chewing away at the fried shrimp. It wasn’t something that should have been fed to a normal cat, of course, but this was a familiar and wouldn’t have technically been classified as a cat, so it shouldn’t have been a problem... Probably. We passed through another tunnel to find fields of farmland under a blue sky, revealing a bright view of fresh verdure. This seemed to be a completely new sight to the both of them, and they momentarily stopped eating.

“Marie, try this one too.” Her purple eyes widened when I gave her the shumai as she turned around, and she brushed her fingers through her hair and opened her mouth adorably. She mumbled “Yummy” with a mouthful of the shumai with soy sauce, and I felt a strange sense of happiness.

Good for you, shumai. You weren’t part of the elite four for nothing.

The cat chewed on pieces of food that had been cut smaller for it, and the two only stopped eating whenever a beautiful view occasionally popped up. The sight seen through the window passed by at an incredible speed. Still, we were enjoying our trip in leisure inside the train.

I could feel us gradually moving at faster speeds. Hayabusa seemed to be accelerating toward its maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour, and Marie squeezed my hand with more strength as the speed increased. I looked over to see if she was okay and found her shaking her head, tears welling up slightly in her eyes.

“This is... pretty scary... Can I... hold on to you?”

The elf had clearly never experienced such speeds before, and she seemed to be afraid. I moved the arm rest between us out of the way and gestured for her to go ahead, and in response, she clung onto my arm without hesitation.

“Stay still, okay...? Eep... I think I’m getting dizzy...” I felt a bit bashful about having such an adorable girl clinging on with both arms around me. That being said, she looked pretty cute when she was scared, too. She usually put up a tough front... Wait, did she? Marie was full of emotions when we watched movies together, and she’d been acting rather precocious as of late, so I wasn’t so sure anymore.

Although, I wondered what she was so afraid of. The bullet train was indeed fast, but the interior was very stable, with minimal shaking. I patted her on the back for a while, but then I finally realized what the issue was. She wasn’t used to the scenery going by so quickly, and that had spooked her. I noticed she had calmed down a bit as she squeezed her eyes shut. She finally relaxed her hold on me, then looked up with a sigh of relief. Her face was still somewhat pale, though.

“I’m sorry for bothering you... I feel a little better now.”

“Ah, so warm. But I’d prefer it if you were a little closer.”

She reacted with a “Huh?” and tried to pull away, but I brought her in closer. I held her in our usual sleeping position with her head resting against my chest, and I heard her softly say, “We’re in public...”

“I hear Aomori is cold, so it might be just the right temperature if we stay like this.”

“You’re so silly...”

She seemed troubled at first, but eventually gave in and leaned on me. I felt her relax her weight against me and drew her in even closer. As I held her slender body, softly patting her on the back, I felt her breathing in a relaxed, rhythmic pattern, almost as if she had fallen asleep.

“I already know how stubborn you get at times like this. Then, before I know it, you make me feel better. I was well-known for hating humans, you know?” she said in a pouting tone with her head still against my chest. I was well aware of how much she loathed humans. Somehow, it almost felt as if there was a tone of apology in her voice.

“Of course I know that. You blew me to smithereens the first time we met. That’s why I learned my lesson and decided to capture you like this first.”

“Oh, I’m captured now, am I? Well, aren’t you a dastardly human. I really like the way you smell. So, unfortunately for me, I didn’t even notice I’d been captured.”

Her pale purple eyes began to close. It seemed listening to my heartbeat was making her sleepy. Maybe I was only able to say what I’d said earlier because she was on the brink of falling asleep. Her arm gradually drooped down, and then she fell into a slumber. Seeing her peaceful expression made me smile. I noticed how much I seemed to like watching her sleeping face as I pulled a blanket over her. Moreover, I probably just liked seeing her face free from worry. Suddenly, I heard scratching noises from the mesh basket. I looked down to find the cat looking up at me, its expression seeming to portray dissatisfaction for the drab view from down there. Well, maybe we could get away with it for just a little while. I opened the basket lid, and the cat slid in under the blanket. I felt it climb up my knees until it seemed to have decided on a sleeping spot. It circled around a few times, and then the bulge in the blanket sank down. Seeing this, I whispered, “Good night, you two. We’ll be in Aomori when you wake up.”

The small meow I heard almost sounded like a human had responded. I patted its fluffy fur as the shinkansen entered another tunnel. The windows were somewhat small, so I was worried about whether the others would be able to enjoy the trip or not. But Marie had been excitedly pressing up against the window without seeming to mind. The sleeping cat also looked adorable, all curled up in the blanket with its head poking out.

I would be returning to the countryside in Aomori soon. I had lived in Tokyo up until the higher grades of elementary school, then lived with my grandfather in Aomori until I became a working adult. Thinking back, I thought my personality hadn’t really developed until I moved to Aomori. That just went to show just how little there was for me to gain in Tokyo. There was a strange loneliness to the big city, and the sights were constantly changing. In fact, the views I remembered from my youth were all gone by now. Likewise, my memories from childhood were growing faint, and I felt as if they would disappear completely someday. I could hardly remember my own mother’s face.

We continued through the tunnel, and I could see my own face in the reflection of the black window. A young adult that had only cared about the dream world, neglecting reality all the while. Yet, I felt as if the arrival of the elf from another world had begun to change me. As she lived freely and without worries, I made more and more new memories with her. A clear, blue sky appeared with a whoosh. I originally thought the windows were small, but they looked quite beautiful now. I observed the mountains flourishing with greenery in the distance as I enjoyed the warmth coming from the elf and cat.

Aomori Prefecture, Hirosaki City. The window creaked as I slid it up, letting in the air that was unexpectedly warm for the season, but still colder than Tokyo’s, into the bus. The old bus slowly moved forward in the sunlight, and the black cat peered out of the window.

“Behave now. Come on, sit over here.”

The cat meowed as if to say it was fine, but the girl didn’t listen. She lifted the cat to place it on her lap, then looked at the view outside the window. There were no skyscrapers to be seen, or any buildings at all, for that matter. Farmlands and orchards spread out as far as the eye could see, and the elf excitedly proclaimed, “The sky is so nice and big!”

There were many tourists at the stations at this time of year, but few passengers could be found this far out. Thankfully, this meant it was less likely for others to get upset even if we got a little noisy. The towns and buses around here had an old-school feel to them, and I felt like I had gone back to the Showa era amongst the pervasive sense of nostalgia.

“This place is so different from the Koto Ward. Not just the scenery, but the air feels calmer here.”

“True, the night and the air in the city feels more restless. See those mountains in the distance? The farmland stretches all the way out there.” The girl and the cat turned around in unison, incredulous. Even as a cat, Wridra and the elf were like sisters.

“Hehe, it can’t be. You couldn’t possibly eat all the food that would be produced.” The girl laughed, saying everyone’s stomachs would burst from all that food, but Japan’s population was actually high enough to consume it all. As I explained that the food was distributed down to the supermarkets near my place, the bus took a slow curve along the road. We finally got through the pass, and mountains topped with snow could be seen past the woods.

“Oooh!” Our conversation was forgotten as we took in the impressive view. Which was understandable, considering the highest mountain of Aomori, Mount Iwaki had revealed itself. “It looks amazing. The top is all jagged and white with snow. The air has gotten a lot colder. Maybe it’s always cold up there?”

“Are you okay with the cold, Marie? If you are, we could come down here in the winter to go skiing.”

“Skee-ing?” they both seemed to ask as they looked up at me. People often said that cats would curl up under kotatsus, but I wondered if that was the case for familiars and elves, too. While I thought about it, the bus moved along the route to Mount Iwaki. Seeing it again really did make me feel nostalgic. The sight of it growing bigger as we approached reminded me of when I was a child. I was in my grandfather’s car when I first saw Mount Iwaki, and I couldn’t help but yell in surprise when it appeared seemingly out of nowhere. I was quite worn out then, and it had been some time since I’d even heard my own voice, so I vividly remembered being drawn to the grand sight before me. My grandfather had turned around and smiled kindly, and I thought I remembered him reaching over to hand me a sweet snack. Just then, I smelled something sweet near my mouth. I looked to find Marie holding out some chocolate, her eyes telling me to open wide. I took a bite and tasted a strawberry flavor that seemed like it would be popular with kids, and the fresh mountain air made it taste all the better. The cat ate from Marie’s hand and let out a satisfied meow.

“I like this Mount Iwaki. The mountain where you grew up is very beautiful.”

“Haha, I didn’t actually grow up on the mountains. Well, maybe you could say that.”

The coating of snow made it look similar to Mount Fuji, so it was also known as Tsugaru Fuji. I wanted to take her to see Japan’s great mountain someday, too. The bus moved along slowly, but it finally sped up when we reached a downward slope. Marie’s silky white hair billowed as she let out a surprised noise at the wide view of farmland and orchards below.

Now that we had left the bus, we only had our own two feet to rely on. There were few cars driving by, and the road was a straight line surrounded by farmland. There were houses between plots of plowed fields, with woods on the other side of greenhouses, and mountains even further beyond.

“Ahh, so much open space! I love it! I feel so free here.”

The cat cried as if to agree, following after Marie. I understood how she felt. There was such a laid-back air to this place, with scenery that had remained unchanged for a long time. The elf girl stretched as she walked in front of me, and the beautiful sky around her looked healthier than usual. She had such pale, nearly translucent skin. But the sunlight suited the half-fairy elf very well. Her steps were light and accustomed to the hills and fields, and the lively atmosphere about her likely had something to do with it. I was staring at her, lost in my thoughts, when she suddenly stopped walking, waiting for me to catch up. When I finally walked up to her, she flashed me a dazzling smile.

“Hehe, you seem happy too. Does it feel good to be back?”

“Now that I’m here, I have to say it does. I’m finally realizing how amazing it was that I used to walk to school with sights like these.” We turned around together to face the enormous, snow-peaked mountain. It was like seeing the Alps... Well, maybe that was going a bit far. “I guess it goes to show that you can get used to anything when it becomes part of your daily life.”

“Yes, some things you don’t realize until you take a step back to reflect on it.”

I was surprised I was even able to attend school in a place like this. I was buffeted by powerful winds in the winter, and I remembered shielding my face with both hands and seeing greenhouses flapping around loudly.

“So, where is your grandfather’s house?” I pointed toward the forest, and the elf and cat widened their eyes. The road paved with asphalt came to an end, the rest of it being a path of nature... In other words, dirt. The gentle slope ahead was lined with paths of greenery, and the girl was flush with excitement, rather than being intimidated by it. It seemed traversing the bumpy path was no issue for the elf that had grown up in a forest. In fact, my pace was slower. I’d gotten out of shape from life in the city. As we walked along the path that was just wide enough for a mini truck, we finally found signs of civilization. Wooden fences enclosed a perimeter with animals, which were sticking their heads into fresh verdure.

“Ah, a cow! Look, it’s just like the cows on milk cartons!” the girl cried excitedly, and the brown cow paused its grass chewing. Maybe it was intrigued by the rare visitor, because it slowly walked over to us as it resumed chewing again. “Oh, oh! So big! Wridra, you’re going to get eaten!”

The black cat had been moving closer at first, but ran away with a startled expression as soon as the cow took a whiff with its big nose.

“Ah, so he finally got himself some cows too. My grandpa must still be healthy for his age.” I led Marie by the hand and continued walking, and the cow followed us from the other side of the fence. The elf seemed to be getting used to its large body, or maybe she was drawn to its pretty, beady eyes, because she tentatively reached out a hand. The cow let out a big puff of air from its nose, then licked her hand down to the wrist with a big, pink tongue.

“Nyaa! That tickles... Ahaha, that tickles!” The cow seemed to enjoy the taste, because it kept licking the elf repeatedly, the bell around its neck ringing with the motion. Apparently, the noise had caught its owner’s attention.

“Ahh, is that you, Kazuhiro? You’ve grown so big.”

I turned toward the aged voice to find an old man in work clothes holding a bucket in his hand. He stood straight-backed despite his small frame, his face full of wrinkles as he smiled.

“It’s been a while, Grandpa.”

“Yes, I’m glad you’re here. Whoa!” He dropped the bucket upon seeing Marie’s face peek out from my side. The old man stopped the bucket from rolling away, blinking his widened eyes repeatedly at the girl.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Mariabelle. I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy.” She bowed her head, a little nervous. Her polite greeting and eloquent Japanese seemed to put him at ease, his shoulders relaxing visibly. I couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing his sigh of relief.

“Yes, hello. Thank you for coming out so far. So, you must be the girl Kazuhiro wanted to bring along with him.”

“Yes, I wanted to show her what life in the country is like. We thought we could take you up on your hospitality since I had some time off...” In response, he slapped my shoulder with unexpectedly strong arms.

“Haha, what are you getting so uptight about? I thought you’d be a little less modest now that you’re an adult. Hey, Hanako! Don’t be licking our guests now.”

Marie twitched and spun around to find Hanako the cow getting carried away, trying to lick the elf’s hair. Marie let out a yelp and leapt up in surprise, and I laughed with my grandpa for the first time in a while. Then, we all began walking toward my grandfather’s house. Chickens were roaming about, and the girl dodged out of their way as she asked, “Hanako is such a cute name. Can I call her Hana?”

“Huh, there’s a black cat following you, too. I wonder where it came from... But sure, you can call her whatever you want.”

He placed his bucket at the entrance of the house, then opened the poorly fitted door. As he removed his shoes, he said as if speaking to himself, “I was surprised to see a girl with such pretty, pretty hair. I thought Kazuhiro brought over a fairy from a dream world or something.”

His off-handed comment made us freeze in place. Marie turned to me with an expression that said, “Does he know?” and I shook my head, indicating that he shouldn’t have. I’d always thought my grandpa could be strangely sharp at times. He looked at us with a puzzled expression, but then his face softened as he laughed.

“I guess that was a strange comment. It’s just that the boy used to love sleeping. He always seemed so comfortable whenever he did. My wife and I would always wonder if he was playing in his dream world.”

With that, he led us to a household Buddhist altar. We entered the sunlit tatami-floored room and put our hands together. Marie seemed to understand the custom without explanation, and she quietly let the smell of incense surround her.

My grandpa wiped the cat’s feet, then said to us from behind with a cheery voice, “You know, I thought you were going to bring your wife today.”

Our eyes snapped open. In reaction to the word “wife,” I glanced at the girl beside me. Marie was looking at me, hands still together, and our cheeks began to grow hotter. Her wide-open eyes were beautiful, and her lips were scrunched into squiggles, but she didn’t deny it. She was probably thinking the same thing. We only stared at each other without saying anything, so my grandpa spoke up instead.

“What’s up with you two? Seems like you’re not so against the idea. Aha, you’re free to quit your job and succeed my farm, if you want.” He lifted the cat with his wrinkled, tan arm, and it meowed in response. It almost sounded like the cat was agreeing, but we were having trouble coming up with a reply.

The elf beckoned me over, and I followed her to the back of the house. There was a distinct smell in the house I grew up in, and the creaking hallways and long afternoon shadows all invoked a sense of nostalgia. The cat was already walking around as if it owned the place, and it looked at us with a cool expression. We walked for a little while, and then the elf and the cat both stopped in front of an average-looking door.

“What is it...?”

“Shh, stay quiet. I have a feeling it’s here.”

I didn’t know what she was talking about, but the two of them were looking at me with serious expressions, as if we were in the middle of a mission. Then, I looked at the old door again, and it came to me.

“Ohh... Then we should definitely stay quiet. I’d open it, but it might hide if it sees an adult.”

“You think so? But we finally found one...” She looked disappointed, and I figured this was the influence of an anime she had watched. It was a story in which mysterious creatures lived inside an old house. She was beginning to get teary-eyed, and I raised a finger in front of her nose.

“It should be fine if it’s just you two. You’re not actually a child, but they’re not smart enough to know that. Go on, try opening it quietly.”

After some hesitation, she hardened her resolve. She nodded, then put her hand on the door and slid it open quietly. It creaked lightly as it opened to reveal a dark, ordinary closet. She looked disappointed, but I gently nudged her from behind to get her inside the closet. Then, I crouched down and whispered with my face close to hers.

“Would you be interested to know there’s a secret passageway here?”

“Y-Yes! Really? Where?”

One comment was all I needed to get her curiosity running wild. She and the cat were dying to know more, tapping their feet out of excitement. I gestured for them to find it, and their adventure began. They opened shelves, peeked into pots, and eventually, the cat meowed. The girl turned around to find the cat sitting on a chest of drawers shaped like a staircase. Marie turned to me, as if to ask if she could climb on, and I gestured for her to go ahead. This sort of thing wasn’t uncommon in old houses. These staircases were there to provide a path to the attic. She carefully opened the hidden door, and they poked their heads into the dim attic.

“Don’t let your guard down, Wridra. I’m sure it’s in here... Ah!”

Startled, they withdrew their heads, and the door leading to the attic was closed with a click. I looked up, wondering what happened, and heard a scurrying noise from above. They must have found a mouse or something. Or maybe it was a mysterious creature that could only be seen by children.

“There was something up there! But I’m too scared to look again. So now... I’m counting on you, kitty.” The cat shook its head vehemently, squirming to escape from Marie’s hold. As they were enjoying their little adventure, my grandfather called out to let us know it was supper time.

“Oh, fine. Let’s come back again when it’s bright out. We’ll make a tactical retreat for now.” The two nodded to each other, then cheerfully called out to let him know we were on the way. I thought to myself how much I enjoyed Marie’s company and joined them in said tactical retreat, but I had a feeling they were more focused on the food they were about to eat.

Our first meal in the countryside looked like quite the feast. My grandfather placed a clay pot upon a cooking stove, then switched it on to light the warm fire. He made broth out of kombu and saw-edged perch, then scooped them out once oil started coming out. He lined up some Chinese cabbage, green onions, tofu, and shiitake mushrooms, and added miso to the broth as it began to boil. Then, he added the ingredients on the cutting board directly into the pot.

“Is that sliced fish and shirako? I thought they weren’t in season right now...”

“Haha, you came all this way. I thought I’d give you the best food in Aomori.” With that, he flashed a charming smile.

He was a strange person, as usual, but the other ingredient he added was even more surprising. It was more vivid than the shirako, and the lustrous, collagen-filled food ingredient was...

“The foie gras of the sea, anglerfish liver. It adds a lot of depth to the soup. Mariabelle, judging by your expression, it seems this is the first time you’ve had hot pot.”

“Oh, no. I’ve had it before, but... not with fish. Doesn’t it make it smell fishy?” He grinned a wrinkled smile, then returned to the kitchen. The pot continued to boil, the smell of miso filling the air.

“Kazuhiro, do you want something to drink? I received some as a gift.”

“Oh, yes please. Is it sake?”

I helped set up the chopsticks and bowls, and the old man placed a bottle of Japanese sake on the table with a thud. Marie and the cat looked at it with wide eyes.

“Wow, the bottle is such a pretty pink. There are pictures of cherry blossoms on it, too.”

“I was expecting the guest to be someone who could legally drink. Oh, maybe you’ll be fine if you’re not from this country?” Marie nodded awkwardly, and he laughed out loud. He scratched the white hairs on his head, then placed three glasses on the table. We each took a seat, and the clock rang as my grandfather started turning the ingredients in the bowl.

It was already seven at night. Nights came quickly out in the country.

“Well, let’s forget the minor details for today. This sake is popular with the ladies, and I wanted to open it today since you’re here.”

“It’s so nice-looking. Is it mainly for tourists?”

The clear sake was poured into each glass, and I decided to have a taste before we started eating. I poured some on my tongue to taste, then let it pass through my throat as I swallowed. It was surprisingly easy to drink as far as Japanese sake went, and it had a fruity aftertaste. The elf girl seemed to be taken aback by the fruity flavor, as well.

“Wow, it warms me from my throat down to my stomach. It goes down so easily.”

My grandpa smiled, and the pot seemed to be just about ready. He scooped plenty of food into each bowl, and we all said “Itadakimasu” in unison. Marie carefully used her chopsticks to put some food into her mouth. Her surprise was both expected and completely understandable.

“Ah...! It’s melting in my mouth!” This was, after all, anglerfish liver—foie gras of the sea. It dissolved all at once, its rich flavor that could only be found in the ocean spreading through her mouth. One could say that the flavor packed a punch. The shirako, covered in its sauce, also delivered a creamy and robust reminiscent of the sea. Marie couldn’t help but let out an “Ah!” and squirm, then swallowed, staying motionless for a moment.

“It’s delicious! Oh, I don’t know how else to say it. This is fish? How can it have such a complex flavor? Maybe I’m imagining it, but I’m starting to think it tastes better than meat.”

The girl’s chopsticks continued moving, as if in search of the secret behind the flavor. I wouldn’t have described her as voracious, but it almost seemed like she was lost in the taste. We enjoyed the Chinese cabbage soaked in miso and soup and the soft, fragrant shiitake, then washed them down with more sake.

“Say, Kazuhiho. Why is it that I’m not getting tired of the flavor, even though I keep eating the same thing?”

“The great thing about hot pot is that the flavor grows in depth over time. That’s why you can keep enjoying it until it’s empty.”

“Plus, you can enjoy a fresh and crisp texture by adding more vegetables,” my grandpa explained as he added more ingredients into the pot. Marie sipped the soup, then let out a warm breath. The old man had a wide smile on his face from watching the satisfied expression the elf had. Marie expressed her emotions in a candid manner, so it felt like we could enjoy the flavor with her just by watching. My grandpa slapped me on the shoulder, as if to say I’d found a keeper. Some things could be communicated without words, and we naturally smiled at each other.

After we had been drinking for some time, my grandpa said in a puzzled tone, “It seems like you two have been seeing each other for a while, but you still haven’t learned Kazuhiro’s name?”

“Wha? Isn’t it Kazuhiho?” Marie asked with widened eyes, her cheeks a bit flush with sake.

The old man shook his finger, then corrected her saying, “Kazu, hiro.” The girl shot me an accusatory look.

Oops... I forgot about that.

“Yeah, I messed up when I was setting my name. It’s actually Kazuhiro.”

“You misspelled your own name?! Hey, I’ve been calling you by the wrong name this whole time! I’m embarrassed.”

She tugged at my sleeve, but in her inebriated state, she was practically hugging me. She whispered, “Are you listening to me?” and put her chin on my shoulder... You’re reeeally close, Ms. Mariabelle.

“So, what would you like me to call you, Kazuhiro-san?”

My eardrums trembled, and my brain felt like it was melting from her sultry voice. Her warm body, the faint smell of alcohol, and her half-lidded eyes staring directly at me made me feel as if I was getting drunk myself.

“Ah, so she’s the flirty kind of drunk, huh? Good for you, Kazuhiro. You got yourself caught by a real beauty.”

“You aren’t listening to me, are you? I’m going to pinch your cheeks later, so prepare yourself.”

I felt myself sweating. Both of them were several times older than me, and there was nothing I could do with them both teasing me at once. Meanwhile, the black cat was eating away at the food in its bowl, narrowing its eyes as if it was about to start chuckling. Surrounded by a lavish feast and in the company of my foster parent, who I hadn’t seen in a long while, the old living room was full of laughter for some time. The cat diligently went back and forth between the food and sake, which brought on more laughter.

The elf and cat both curled up in the kotatsu after eating their fill. Though, the cat’s protruding stomach prevented it from actually curling up, and it ended up lying on its back instead. As for the elf girl, she was staring at the ceiling with a blank expression, on the verge of nodding off to sleep. She was in a state of bliss from the delicious food and drink, and we found ourselves smiling just from watching her. My grandpa placed his hand on my shoulder, wordlessly telling me to have her take a bath. It surely would have felt nice to fall asleep like this, but the clothes she liked would have ended up getting wrinkled.

“Marie, why don’t you take a bath before going to sleep?”

“Ohayyy... Umm, where is the bathroom...?” She responded with a sleepy expression, then reached out with both hands, as if asking me to pick her up. I pulled her up to her feet, causing the cat to lose its pillow and roll over onto its other side. It must have felt like its sleeping spot had suddenly vanished. Marie finally opened her eyes, which were pretty like marbles, and we walked out to the dim hallway. The cat debated whether it wanted to follow for a moment, but it seemed to be interested in bathtubs in the rural country. It was clearly still sleepy and stretched its body before finally deciding to leave the living room. The cat tapped its claws against the glass, and my grandpa opened the door to let it out into the hallway. The hallway here was dark and lonely, but the familiar still figured Marie and I would be up ahead. Despite its heavy stomach, the cat stepped out into the darkness with light footsteps.

The poorly fitted door slid open, and there waited a large bathing area. But the dimness gave it an eerie impression, and Marie and I peered in carefully.

“You must have sweat a lot today. Make sure to sit on this chair and wash yourself thoroughly.”

“Y-Yes... But this strange atmosphere is just a little bit scary. Um...” She hesitated, as if unsure whether she should voice her concerns, then looked up to me and asked, “Ghosts won’t appear, will they...?”

Huh... She’s an elf who can control spirits. She should be way more familiar with supernatural beings than me... Despite that, she seemed pretty helpless as she said it, so I didn’t have the heart to tease her. Instead of telling her there were no ghosts, I handed her a present.

“Ah! A red... fruit?” The weighty apple had a shine to it, even in the dark changing room. It was fully ripe and gave off a faintly sweet smell. Marie and the cat widened their eyes and blinked at the sudden gift.

“It’s an Aomori apple that couldn’t be sold because it’s bruised. I heard you can put it in a bath to add a nice scent. Why don’t you two give it a try?”

When I told them as such, their eyes seemed to light up a little. It seemed their fear of ghosts was outweighed by their interest in this mysterious new bathwater additive, and the elf and cat glanced at each other, then nodded vigorously.

“And I can stay nearby if you’re still worried.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t have been scared if you’d just said so from the beginning! Would you like to join me, Wridra?”

The cat entered the bathing area instead of replying, and the girl began to remove her clothes as well. She tossed her clothes into the clothing basket, then called out that she was ready as I waited for her. And so, the apple’s aroma filled the bath, and the cat enjoyed the bath by using a wooden bucket as a tub.

“How’s the temperature, you two?”

“It’s just right, and the sour-sweet smell is refreshing. Hehe, I feel like this is a bit extravagant. I’m sure it would have tasted sweet and delicious.”

I heard the sound of what I figured to be the apple being dropped into the water. The silence that seemed to absorb any sound was likely another thing that could only be found out here in the country. It was like nothing else existed outside of this bathing area. I could even clearly hear her breathing out, and the steam delivered a sweet scent over to me. The girl eventually began to hum, and the atmosphere of the bath became cheery. If a ghost really was there, it would have probably felt compelled to read the room and leave. I’d only ever seen one once, back when I was a child, so I assumed it wasn’t around anymore. The cat joined in to the melody with meows of its own, making the song even more fun and lively.

I changed into my pajamas and returned to the hallway to find an elf girl hanging around the veranda. There was a strange sense of transience to her slender frame, but there was also what felt like a motherly air to her as she gently petted the black cat. When I saw her, I found myself immobile for some reason. It was almost as if she would vanish into thin air if I spoke to her. Her pale skin was emphasized further under the moonlight, and her hair that hung straight down to the floor was as white as silk. I didn’t think about it much when I was younger, but the veranda out in the country was full of wonder. There was greenery all around us, and the wooden buildings seemed to be one with the surrounding nature. The sight of Mariabelle in this nostalgic scenery made me consider the fantasy-like charm of Japan I didn’t know existed. I heard her glass cup clinking and finally found my voice.

“...You got some apple juice?”

“Yes, your grandfather gave me some earlier. Hehe, I didn’t expect I’d be enjoying this after my bath. It’s sour-sweet and very delicious.” She gestured for me to join her. I was a little relieved to find she had accepted me without vanishing. I sat next to her, just as she suggested, then brought up an idea.

“It’s a nice night. Would you like to take a walk with me?”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful. But I was thinking of inviting you once you got back.” She smiled charmingly, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

I reached out, and she took my hand, her fingers slipping in between my own. Then, we began walking slowly along the path in the night. There was a little bit of wind out that night. The sound of leaves rustling overhead was quite refreshing. The moonlight didn’t quite reach us in the woods, and the path of hardened dirt was a bit hard to navigate. However, it seemed this wasn’t an issue for the half-fairy elf accompanying me. She tapped a floating point of light that looked like a little firefly with her finger. After two taps, the faint illumination expanded, making it easier to watch where we were stepping. I turned around to find her smiling proudly, and she gave me a satisfied smile when I reached my hand out toward her.

“I don’t think people will notice if I keep the light this low.”

“Being able to control light spirits is really convenient, huh?”

The girl had somehow become able to control spirits even in Japan, and she had learned Japanese, a language that was said to be one of the hardest in the world to learn. Her usual demeanor made her seem almost juvenile, so I always found that gap surprising. Marie revealed another side of her while surrounded by trees. There was a mythical air to her, or rather, a quiet liveliness, like a deer one would meet in the middle of the night.

“Ah, the night is so quiet and beautiful. I wanted to thank you for bringing me with you.”

“I was worried you’d be bored out in the rural country. One thing I didn’t expect was for Wridra to join us.” The black cat scratched at my shin, as if to protest. Its eyes were shining brighter than the elf’s at night, and it meowed while hanging onto my pants.

“There’s no way I would be bored. I can’t believe how much I’ve experienced already after just a day of being here.”

“We were enjoying that hot pot for a long time. I hope you both liked it.”

“Yes, it was incredible. I’ve never eaten something with such depth of flavor. I’m sure I’ll remember it every time I hear the word ‘Aomori’ from now on.” I heard the cat meowing in the darkness in affirmation. I was glad to know they had enjoyed the hot pot to the fullest.

“Then, maybe we could make it in the labyrinth. It would warm us up, and it doesn’t take much time to prepare.” I said as such offhandedly and felt a tug on my arm. It seemed I had been pulled back by Marie when she stopped walking. I realized that both the elf and the cat were looking at me with sparkles in their eyes.

“Oh, oh, that sounds great! We should do it. We can bring the taste of Aomori into the labyrinth.” The cat meowed insistently in an attempt to convince me as such. Marie had a mystical, fairy-like air to her until just a second ago, and seeing her desperate expression left me dumbfounded. All I could do was nod in agreement.

“Then, let’s bring Japanese hot pot back with us.”

“Yaaay! Hehe, I have more to look forward to in the labyrinth now.” Marie turned to the cat with excitement, and Wridra leapt into her arms as if she had been waiting. They embraced on the road in the night, which was... a bit of a strange sight.

“My grandpa is also my cooking teacher. I’ll replicate his flavor when I make it.”

“No wonder. I felt like there was something about him that reminded me of you. Especially how he’s so aloof, but seems to know so much.” Huh, I didn’t know I was anything like my grandfather. It felt like she was telling me that I seemed older than my actual age, so I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

The sound of rustling leaves had stopped, and there were no more trees covering us overhead. Once we passed through the woods, we found the footpath stretched on ahead. We happened to look up, then raised our voices in surprise. A blanket of stars that could never have been seen in the city were glimmering in the sky, filling us with a sense of liberation that was unlike what we had felt during the day. We let out a fascinated sigh. It felt as if we were the only ones in the night. There was a sense of loneliness to that, but at the same time, I became distinctly aware of the person whose hand I was holding. Maybe that was why... When she spoke, it felt as if her voice came from much closer than usual.

“See you later, light spirits.” The faint lights vanished, making the stars shine all the brighter. There wasn’t a single city light around us after walking toward the mountainside for some time, and she uttered, “I wonder if the era of night always looked like this.”

“Ah, you mean in the dream world. Who knows? Maybe it looked like this a long time ago.”

I remembered the day I stepped into an ancient labyrinth for the first time. An art piece depicting a tale of ancient mythology used the same dark navy as the night sky above us. We didn’t know a thing about those days, but one thing I did know was that it must have been very difficult living through those times without someone by your side, like I did now. I knew that if I let go of her hand, I would feel the same as they did. The only one among us who knew of those days was the Magi Drake, and she remained silent. I couldn’t even distinguish her from the darkness, due to the color of her fur. I heard the sound of the rustling trees again, sound finally returning to the world.

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The fusuma panel slid open. We were unfazed by the bedding laid out on the floor side by side and crawled in as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. The bedding smelled of sunlight and felt harder than what we usually slept on, but I was sure it would be comfortable for the night. I pulled the other pillow closer to me, and the elf scooted into my arm. The black cat circled around, as if deliberating where to lie down, then spotted the space between me and Marie and settled there.

“All that walking around was pretty tiring. Let’s get some rest.”

“Yes, let’s. The night was so quiet outside, all I could hear was your voices.”

We heard a meow from under the blanket, and we both laughed. She naturally placed her leg on top of mine, snuggled up to my neck, and then let out a contented sigh. The faint sour-sweet scent was likely from the apple-soaked bath she’d taken earlier. My eyelids grew heavy as I was taking in the scent. Our breathing grew steady, consciousness beginning to fade away. We stepped foot into our dreams like we were sinking into water.

Some time later, footsteps sounded in the hallway. The old floorboards creaked with each step, and the owner of the house put his hand to the sliding door.

“Are you two still awake?”

The old man intended to ask what time the visitors were planning on waking up, but his wrinkles deepened when he slid the door open. In the silent room was a blanket covering a rather large bulge. Then, the mound slowly flattened before his eyes. All that remained was the warmth on the bedding, but the old man only smiled gently.

“Heh... Go have fun, you two.”

He slid the fusuma closed, and footsteps sounded in the aged hallway again. There was complete stillness once he left, as if the world had been covered in snow.

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I took in a deep breath, gripping the sword that was heavier than it looked. The thin blade looked like it would shatter with one solid hit, but there was an unexpected density to its construction. Breathing out through gritted teeth, I sent energy into it from the core of my body, and Astroblade began to pulsate with light.

Eeeeee...

It sounded like a whinnying horse―no, more like the engine of a fighter plane. It greedily drew out my energy, and a single streak of light ran through the blade like a shooting star. Apparently, this signified an increase in power level by one rank. I had to lower my stance with legs slightly further than shoulder-width apart to brace myself. Firmly holding the hilt with both hands, I aimed carefully in front of me. Going through this procedure while keeping my energy at its full level took quite the effort. I touched the protrusion on the hilt like a trigger, and the shooting star was unleashed. My surroundings lit up as if it were midday for just a moment, and the flash of light disappeared toward the rock walls in the distance, leaving a long trail behind. Moments later, I was surprised to find that the tremor was audible all the way to my area. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a big sigh. The light had vanished from Astroblade, but it would return once I charged it with energy again. I decided to check out the spot where my shot landed. After walking through the dim cavern for some time, I found a fractured rock wall awaiting me. When I touched it, shards of the wall came crumbling down. Wridra and Marie looked up at me in the dark cave.

“Wow, you put a person-sized hole in the wall. Maybe the more you charge it, the stronger... or, rather, the faster it gets.”

“Hm, you will be unable to move while charging. Your specialty lies in overwhelming the opponent with quick, successive hits. This ability may not be well suited to you. Not to mention, it drains you of your vitality.”

“That’s the thing. I’m glad it doesn’t need magic to use, but I’m an amateur when it comes to manipulating energy.”

We continued discussing the trial run of Astroblade’s ability. It really helped to have users of spirit magic and sorcery with me as I tried to figure things out. When the dragon whelps waddled over to spectate, the dim caves grew somewhat lively. I’d gotten used to it by now, but I realized it wasn’t very normal to be hanging out in the Arkdragon’s den. Marie turned her pale purple eyes toward me, then parted her lips.

“Speaking of manipulating energy, monks would be the specialists in that department. It can even be used to heal, right?”

“Apparently, but I’m still a complete novice at it. I only know what someone taught me some time ago.” Monks tended to be solid in build, with a penchant for showing off their muscles. My impression was that they were kind of weird, and they liked teaching things, even though no one would ask. Maybe if they used this sword... No, they had precepts that prohibited the use of bladed weapons. Wridra had been watching the entire time, but her sudden comment threw me off guard.

“That hot pot and sake were simply incredible...”

I thought she was putting serious thought into the issue at hand, but her mind was off in Aomori. But from the perspective of someone who had mastered magic, I understood how hot pots could’ve been more interesting than the Astroblade... Well, not really.

“It really was amazing. Who knew fish could have such a complex flavor?”

“Oh, are hot pots more important to you too, Marie?” She denied that they were, then went right back to excitedly talking about the trip with Wridra. How delicious the food was, how nice it felt to be there, how fast the bullet train was, and the distinct atmosphere of old Japanese houses... The topics were never-ending. Having been stuck in the cat form without a way to speak, Wridra talked as if she was making up for lost time. I was starting to grow bored, so I felt the urge to fuel the flames a bit.

“You know, there are hot springs within walking distance over there. They have a custom called touji, which is healing your mind and body in the hot springs. Apparently, a lot of people visit from afar to partake in the culture.”

““Ooohhh!””

Ah! Their heads trembled vigorously. I mean, it was only our first day there, so we didn’t have much time to go. The girls were so intent on exploring that they ended up just sitting under the kotatsu afterward anyway, but these women had a tendency to forget things that were inconvenient to them, so there was no point in mentioning it. Wridra turned away from me, turning her nose into the air.

“B-But... hot springs are expensive, aren’t they? I’m worried about your budget.”

“Heheh, don’t underestimate the rural country. It’s only 300 yen there. The yellow-green waters are nice to soak in. Would you like to try it when we go back?”

They agreed enthusiastically, but would a cat have even been able to enter the hot springs? We were still on a long vacation, even in the dream world, so I was mostly here to help Marie. That is, a rare structure spell was said to be contained in the ruins, and Marie hoped to upgrade her spirit magic by learning it. Though, I thought her magic was strong enough, even without an upgrade. That was why I wouldn’t have been bothered at all if her research didn’t end up bearing any fruit. I decided to go fishing at a nearby river or something while Marie worked hard...

“Fool, you intend to play around even in your dreams? Now, it is time to train your swordsmanship before you grow fat from eating all that food. You can practice with the new weapon you found.”

It was naive of me to think there was a possibility that this wouldn’t happen. Wridra was a cute little cat in the other world, but this was what I had to deal with as soon as we came back. And so, Marie enjoyed her studying while I sweated like a tightly wrung rag... Wait, it wasn’t supposed to be like this... In any case, we went back to Aomori afterward. The dream world was starting to feel more frantic than reality. Even I was looking forward to going back to Japan.

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I slid the shutters open, greeted by the pleasant, sunny weather. I let out a big yawn, then turned around to find Marie and the cat doing the same thing. The bedding and tatami under the bright sun felt nice every once in a while.

“Good morning. Nice weather again today.”

“Hehe, it’s our second day in Aomori. Hot springs, hot springs!”

The cat raised a paw in triumph, but... cats probably weren’t going to be allowed in. Now, it was somewhat confusing, but this black cat was a familiar, and at the same time, it was an entity that was severed from the dream world. So, it couldn’t return into dreams even if it slept with me, and it had to be resummoned with the Magic Tool on its collar. I had no idea how it worked, though.

“This kitty has a spell weaved into its core. That’s why it can’t be separated from the Magic Tool. Wridra disables the spell when we go to sleep, like putting out a candle.”

“Oh, I get it. Then we need to be careful not to lose it.”

Just then, my grandpa called us over for breakfast. Ahh... So this was what it was like to have someone else taking care of everything. I could spend my time in comfort, but I felt a bit guilty... As I dwelled on it, I was offered a Japanese-style breakfast of sunny side up eggs, rice, seaweed, and miso soup. I experienced a moment of nostalgia as I tasted the flavor of miso soup from the rural country. Oh, and Ms. Elf was adorable, sitting at the dining table, full of curiosity and wearing an expression that said, “I love seaweed!”

“See you later! Be safe now.”

“Okay!” We waved back, a bag containing a towel and a change of clothes in hand.

We were on our way to the local hot springs. It was nice being out in the country for my vacation. The fact that I was able to completely forget about work while just going out nearby was a huge benefit.

“Oh? I thought you forgot about work while in the dream world.”

“Hm, is that what it looks like? I’m not the type to bring work even into my dreams, of course.”

The cat interjected with a meow, as if to say, “So you do forget about it...”

There was someone else we had to give our morning greetings to. A white and brown calf came over from behind the wooden fence.

“Oh, Hana!” Hana flicked her ears, her pure, black eyes looking at us. Hana was far bigger than a human girl, but there was a youthfulness to her big, cute eyes. She moved her recently grown horns closer from between the fences as if to show them off, and Marie rubbed calf’s head around the horns. The sound Hana made when she let out puffs of breath sounded like laughter, and her ears flapped around as if she was loving it. “Sooo cute! Aren’t you a little sweetheart? If only you could come to the hot springs with us.”

“She’ll be happy enough with head pats. Calves love being rubbed around the ears and behind the neck.” I began helping her rub Hana’s head, and the calf’s expression was that of pure bliss. Her eyes drooped, tongue moving sluggishly, and she tilted her head to move closer.

“Oh, my, gosh, so cuuute!”

Apparently, the calf was nothing like what her big body suggested. It seemed Marie was absolutely loving this, and shuddered as the cow let out an “Oof.” As for me, I was having fun watching Marie’s reactions.

Hana waved her tail reluctantly, and we started walking again. We enjoyed a night walk last night, but the path looked completely different out in the sun. Bright greenery, and farmland as far as the eye could see. The lack of anything obstructing my view gave me a strange sense of freedom. We proceeded along the asphalt, the girl and cat stretching leisurely as we walked on.

“I’m surprised by how different the colors are between night and day. It’s just like in anime!”

“I’m glad you seem to like it.”

It really did make me happy to see that they seemed to be enjoying themselves. We slowly continued walking toward the snow-peaked Mount Iwaki. The hot springs spot had a 170 year history, so its building was quite old. But Marie was a bit different from the average person, and she had started learning the Japanese concept of “wabi-sabi,” so she actually had a gleeful expression as she opened the rustic door.

“Oh, I can smell the hot springs already!”

“Huh, you must have a good sense of smell. Maybe it’s because the building is small. I’ll go take care of the payment first.”

The interior looked quite plain and didn’t strike me as a hot spring house at first glance. The elf and cat glanced around at all the aged objects around us. They looked at the homely chairs, lanterns, and the old beer vending machine with great interest. I thought to myself that this place was still in the Showa era as I headed toward the reception area. I began to negotiate with the middle-aged receptionist lady, and I was surprised to find she agreed. She looked at the well-behaved cat, then said it could enjoy the hot springs as long as it was from inside a wooden bucket. It was probably because there weren’t many people around at this time of day, but maybe she wanted to welcome the cute foreigner with this gesture. Or maybe she just liked cats. And so...

I stepped into the yellow-green water, gradually submerging my body into its warmth. The land of healing hot springs smelled of iron, and when I sat down, I felt a grainy texture under my butt. The water was mild and just the right temperature, and I let out a sigh of content. It overflowed onto the tiles, and I sank my body deeper below. The interior was stained and old looking, but there was an air about it that seemed to welcome me to stay as long as I wanted. I looked out the window with such thoughts, then noticed a tree with colorful flowers outside.

Ah, cherry blossoms... Marie must have been looking at them too. Boy, I was completely fooled by the timeworn exterior. With the water coming directly from the hot spring without added heat or water, it couldn’t get any better than this. I submerged myself deeper into the water. Ahh, this is bliss. Who could’ve guessed I would take such a liking to hot springs just from spending time with a half-fairy elf? I had been enjoying the fantasy world, and before I knew it, I was immersing myself in Japanese culture. It was an odd feeling, like I had been bewitched by a fox. The deep breath I exhaled echoed and dissolved into the steam.

Once I left the bathing room, I put on some clothes and stepped outside to find middle-aged ladies chatting and walking by. “So cute,” I heard them say in a Tohoku dialect, with satisfied smiles on their faces.

Apparently, they had taken a huge liking to Marie and the black cat. The women had touched and petted the well-behaved cat as it floated in the wooden bucket with its stomach poking out of the water, narrowing its eyes happily as they did so. Add the fairy-like girl to the mix, and the level of excitement in the bathing room was like that of a festival. Marie told me all about it as we walked around after the bath.

“Hehe, they taught me some words in their dialect. They also told me to go visit them.”

“I’m glad you two seemed to have fun. You can make a lot of connections at the hot springs here, so maybe you could become a resident of the prefecture if you spend time here for a while.”

Seeing the elf and black cat in such a good mood made me smile, too. Yeah, maybe she was a bit of an oddball. Just as I found myself immersed in Japanese culture without realizing it, it was possible that I would end up traveling around Japan in search of different hot springs. I opened a can of juice, the carbonation hissing as I pulled the tab. Now, it was time to show the guests around the tourist attractions of my hometown.

A mini truck slowly moved along the road under the bright sun. The slower pace was due to me not being used to manual transmission, and the fact that there were no cars in front of or behind us. I realized I liked driving at a leisurely pace. Wind blew in from the partially open window and stroked Marie’s lustrous hair. Speaking of Marie, she was having a staring contest with the black cat... which was playing with a stick of chocolate. The cat was glaring at the snack with a serious expression, then swiftly struck at it with a swipe of its paw, but ended up swinging at nothing. If it missed, it would try again, and if it connected, it would get a bite. By the time I realized the game they were playing, we had already arrived at the city streets. The girl looked up to find vivid colors outside of the window. The cat took the opportunity to take a bite, and the girl let out a surprised voice at the same time.

“Oh, wow... Cherry blossoms!”

“We made it just in time. It’s rare for them to bloom at this time of year.”

The blooming season this year was estimated to be much later than the last. Kaoruko, the woman who lived in the same complex as me, told me as much. Now that I thought about it, she had given me the advice to keep it a secret until we got here to maximize the excitement. Thanks to her being so preoccupied with the cat, it ended up being a surprise without me planning for it. The girl stared with lips parted, her twinkling amethyst eyes almost as colorful as the cherry blossoms. Perhaps they had managed to stay bloomed until this day just so they could greet the elven guest from a fantasy world. The car in front of us scattered some petals, which flew over and enveloped our mini truck. Marie’s eyes widened as they followed the petals, and the sight made me wonder if my earlier thought had been right. The black cat, too, stared with its mouth agape.

“W-Wait, so you mean we came here to...?” I smiled, and responded by turning the handle into the parking lot. And so, the residents of the dream world had arrived at Hirosaki Castle for sightseeing. “Oh, look, look! Mount Iwaki!” When we left the parking lot, we saw the snow-peaked Mount Iwaki and cherry blossoms swirling in the air. I didn’t expect to see such a magnificent sight at a place like this. I just had to take a picture.

“Look over here, you two.”

“Umm, what are you doing?”

I took a picture with a snap. The two came up to me, wondering about the shutter sound, and I turned the screen toward them. They saw an image of an elf and a black cat turning around curiously, and they let out a surprised “Ah!” and “Mew!” respectively.

“Wow, an image projection spell that doesn’t need incantations!”

Not quite. Well, they could capture images like this with magic in their world, so it seemed they weren’t too terribly surprised. Though, their method was mainly used for scouting purposes. Such thoughts crossed my mind, but the two of them continued staring at the screen. They cocked their heads curiously, and then their round eyes turned toward me.

“This is so much more clear and pretty than magic!”

“Yeah, you don’t really need high picture quality for scouting, after all.”

They stared at it again with a fascinated expression, and I got the sense that they may have come to enjoy it after all. Even though it had been a while since I’d gotten my smartphone, this may have been the first time I’d actually used it for taking pictures. Well, I was the indoor type, or rather, the in-dream type.

“In this world, you’re supposed to use this to keep memories of your trips. So, let’s take a bunch of pictures of you two walking around Hirosaki Castle.”

“Yeeeah!”

Maybe it was just the briskness of Spring, but we were in an excited, jovial mood. Marie and I held hands and began walking, careful not to step on the cat that was playfully walking near us. Now, there was a path lined with rows of cherry trees known as the Cherry Blossom Tunnel. We could ride down the tunnel by riding the boat nearby, but with so many petals in the air, we were sure to enjoy ourselves no matter where we walked. The cat looked around curiously in the fine weather, managing to keep up with Marie with some effort. Seeing how busy it looked, I picked the cat up in my arms.

“Right, sorry. This is your first time seeing cherry blossoms, isn’t it, Wridra? I’ll carry you, so you can focus on enjoying the scenery.” The cat looked at me with its round eyes, then rubbed its head against my chin as if in thanks. It felt a little ticklish, and I caught a whiff of the smell of hot springs from earlier. Though, I figured I smelled the same way.

And so, Marie ended up holding on to my shirt, looking around in exactly the same way the cat was as we continued walking. The falling petals filled our view with pink, like some earthly paradise, and the elf’s gait began to grow unsteady. I couldn’t blame her, with the sight before us. Spread out before us was the most beautiful view of the year. The girl parted her colored lips and began speaking with a wistful tone of voice.

“The cherry blossoms in Koto Ward already fell a while ago... I didn’t know they’d be so colorful.”

“The cherry blossom front slowly moves northward. We were riding the shinkansen, so we ended up traveling ahead of it.” The girl nodded with a dreamy expression. I was beginning to feel a little worried. Her eyes were relaxed, almost drowsy looking, and her usually pale skin was a bit flushed. I thought about having her rest somewhere, but then she moved her open hand to her side.

Fwoosh...

The sight made the cat and me both widen our eyes. Colorful petals began swirling around her slender hand. They danced in a spiral, the pink color turning into a fascinatingly deep shade of pink. The cat meowed, and Marie seemed to snap back to her senses. The petals dispersed, and I heard people commenting, “That was pretty,” “Did a whirlwind just pass by?” I let out a sigh of relief and looked at Marie to find the color of her eyes looked much more normal than before.

“Oh no, I’ve touched upon the spirits too much. But... this is the first time they’ve come so close to me. I feel like their thoughts and feelings could overflow.”

That was right. She was a spirit user, which was incredibly rare in this world. It was often said that Spring could play tricks on people, but perhaps that was the work of spirits.

We walked along the vividly colored path for a while, then came upon an elegant view. A gently curving bridge of deep vermillion could be seen, and there was a castle tower beyond the many layers of cherry blossoms. There was a certain grace, tastefulness, and dignified air to the castle, and its harmony with the surrounding scenery felt almost surreal.

“Wooow, how wonderful! That’s what a Japanese castle is like? Its pretty colors stand out so much! It’s nothing like those castles that were made by just cutting out rocks and stacking them on top of each other.”

“Now that you mention it, the construction is a lot different from the ones you see in the dream world. So, how would you two like a commemorative photo?”

Marie whirled around happily, and the cat jumped out of my arms in a hurry. The girl picked up the cat, and they raised their right hands in a victory pose. I nearly burst out laughing at their cute pose, but snapped what ended up being a pretty nice picture. Their large eyes and the contrast of black and white made for a well-composed shot. As I was checking the picture on my phone, the other two were over at the bridge, looking below. I walked over to them to see what was going on, and they turned toward me at the same time.

“The trenches were made with a very distinct build. It’s filled with water, and there’s a slope to the walls. I wonder why that is.”

I didn’t expect her to be so interested in the castle’s design. I then remembered that she had conjured defensive structures to wipe out entire mobs of enemies. Maybe she had a strong interest in castles because of that event. I stopped in thought for a moment, then took the girl’s hand. I decided a change of plans was in order and guided the elf girl to the museum.

The museum in the castle tower had swords, spears, matchlock guns, and armor from the olden days on display. To my surprise, the black cat was completely drawn to the Japanese sword exhibit area. It stared with such intense concentration that the glass around its nose was getting foggy.

“Oh, you were using a weapon like a katana, weren’t you, Wridra? Did you modify it yourself, by any chance?”

The cat nodded. Boy, this kitty sure did like to make things. It reminded me of the Neko in Arilai that refined items out of Magic Stones. Maybe it was just a trait that cats had in common. Just then, I noticed Ms. Elf was staring at a matchlock gun intently. That was odd. I thought the two women would have been more interested in something more feminine.

“Have you not seen guns before? ...Oh, I guess they wouldn’t be common in the other world.”

“Yes, it’s a completely foreign concept over there. The construction is rather simple, but to increase its firepower simply through its structural design...”

Y-Yeah, this was getting a little too real. Even worse, there were cannons in the exhibit, too. I couldn’t help but notice the incredibly serious look on the elf and cat’s faces as they observed. They occasionally met eyes and nodded at each other, which was rather concerning, but I decided not to think about it.

We finally arrived at the miniature model of the castle, but... Wow, the look in their eyes was completely different.

“I see, so that’s why there was water in the trenches. They funneled invaders into a spot that seemed easier to attack, then struck them down. I assumed they would have had trouble defending themselves. It looks like Japanese castles were built with a surprising amount of cunning.”

“Meow, meow.”

“Yes, their long-ranged firepower is what supported their defense. The wide-open area meant, ‘please attack from here so we can kill you.’”

Before I knew it, it seemed like something was awakening within the spirit sorceress. I hoped I was just imagining it. For some reason, the cat nodding to her in agreement was strangely terrifying.

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After our little learning session, we had to go out for something good to eat. We took an open bench that we luckily found and stuffed our faces with food from a food stall as cherry blossoms fell around us. Each passing breeze carried new petals into the air. I heard a soft exhalation and turned to find Marie motionless, holding dango up to her mouth. She must have found herself mesmerized by the view of the final moments of spring.

“It’s so pretty... It’s almost scary how pretty the cherry blossoms are.”

“But that makes me appreciate how captivating they are all the more. You know, because you kind of get used to seeing purely peaceful sights.” When I replied as such, Marie looked up and put the dango she was holding in her mouth. The cat had already gone through an entire box of takoyaki and was curled up on Marie’s lap, purring contentedly. Marie hit my shoulder lightly, then leaned her head on me. Her eyes held mine the whole time, and I couldn’t keep my heart from thumping nervously, despite my age. I felt something was off, and realized it was the heavy-lidded look in her eyes. Maybe it was the sunlight, but her purple eyes were more vivid than usual, and she was blinking rather slowly.

“...Do I have sauce on my face or something?”

“No, I just wanted to see if I would get tired of looking at your face. After all, there’s no one as easy-going as you, Kazuhiro-san.”

She had been calling my name with “-san” ever since yesterday. Did she know that it made my heart beat faster? She was close enough that I could feel her breath, and her whispers were very effective at getting a reaction out of me.

“The first time I stayed in Japan, the scenery was just like this.”

“You’re right. It was such a beautiful season. Feels like it’s been so long...” The elf giggled and moved in closer to me. My hand naturally rested on her waist, and she twitched.

“But a lot has changed since. It was so fun getting to know you more and more. Hehe, I could never get tired of looking at you.”

That was exactly how I felt. I’d always seen her as just a little girl, but her existence grew bigger inside my heart with each passing day. Whether I was at work or in a labyrinth, I was always thinking about her.

“That’s why it’s strange. The cherry blossoms haven’t changed, but the view looks so different now.”

Don’t you think so...? I thought I heard her whispering in my ear.

My head felt numb. She leaned her head on me again, this time on my collarbone, and I was aware of how close her full lips were to me. With her flushed cheeks and deep pink lips that were slightly parted, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Yes, her eyes... They still had that dreamy expression. I thought I recognized that look, but it was just like earlier, when she had been overwhelmed by the cherry blossom spirits. That look in her eyes that I saw moments before the colorful petals whirled in the air and she came to. Her pale purple eyes were right in front of me, with petals drifting about her like before.

“Marie, I think the cherry blossom...” Just then, a single petal landed on her lips.

“Oh,” she said, and my eyes were drawn to it. The petal emphasized her soft, colored lips, and there was a mature allure about her that was unlike that of a little girl.

I let out an involuntary noise. They were far, far softer than I had imagined, and I heard a tender sigh that sounded as if it came from far away. The girl pressed herself against me as if asking for more, and maybe the spirit had affected me too, because I felt my head go numb, and I became unable to think. People passed by in front of us. But strangely, I couldn’t hear anything from our surroundings; only her heartbeat. When I came to, the girl was extending her finger toward me and touched my lips. Her pale, slender finger had a petal on it, and she giggled. It would still be some time before my heart could calm down. I thought I was in a dream, enveloped by cherry blossoms, an elf, and a sweet scent. The tourists had enjoyed the fine weather and the flurry of falling cherry blossoms at the cherry blossom festival today. Perhaps unrelated to Mariabelle the half-fairy, we thought about coming back again next year.

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Afterward, we started heading home without saying much else. My body felt a bit feverish, so I kept being careful on the drive home in mind. Even when the girl had her finger on my lips with that dazed expression, I was feeling too shy to meet her eyes. The dinner my grandpa had prepared was delicious as usual, but honestly, I didn’t quite remember the taste. This was probably because the elf’s sweet taste still remained on my lips. The impression Marie and the cherry blossoms had left on me was just that strong, and they refused to leave my head even when I dunked it into the water. Just then...

Dishes were stacked in the sink. Curtains were spread out beyond the glass window, and I heard dishes clanking as Marie washed them. My grandfather stood next to her, wiping the dishes clean as they were handed to him and putting them away on the rack. He occasionally looked over to his side to find she still had that same vacant look from dinner time, and she didn’t even notice his glance. However, the old man knew this was nothing to worry about. After all, it was clear to him that she was in a good mood.

“Something good happen?”

“Ahh!”

The girl nearly dropped the plate she was holding, but my grandpa’s wrinkled hand caught it just in time, as if he had been expecting that reaction. Marie thanked him, and the old man smiled without concern. Seeing that expression, Marie realized it reminded her of Kazuhiro’s smile. The suntanned and wrinkled skin were different, but there was a familiar comfort in those deep, dark eyes.

“You know, I was surprised. I didn’t expect that child to come back to Aomori so cheerful.”

Marie cocked her head. She knew he was talking about Kazuhiro Kitase, but she wondered how gloomy he was as a boy to prompt such a comment. Under the dim lighting of the lightbulb above, the old man laughed in a low voice. Still pensive, the girl ran water over a dish, rinsing away the grease and bubbles.

“My daughter was no good at taking care of children, so my wife and I took care of that poor boy.” The old man looked off into the distance, as if recalling those days, and put a plate away on the rack. He gestured for Marie to hand him the next dish with his hand, which reminded her to rinse another. She shot him occasional glances, hoping he would continue his story. “He didn’t have any interest in people, animals, or cooking, and spent his time sleeping instead. He seemed so happy in his sleep that I was afraid he would just vanish someday...”

The elf twitched in response, wondering if he knew about the dream world. He spoke as if he did, but Kazuhiro had shook his head when she asked. Marie handed him another plate and looked up. He dried it off with a towel and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction as he gazed at its luster, then quietly placed it onto the rack.

“But you know, my wife would say... The poor boy would be happier if he didn’t come back from his dreams. ...That wasn’t true. He would come back each time because that fool daughter of mine bound him here.” The old man turned the tap off, stopping the water flow. This was because the girl had been so invested in his story that she was no longer washing the dishes. “Even when he went to the city, he may have been hoping to see his mother somewhere. That’s why I didn’t think he’d ever return, but... Haha, who knew he’d come back with such an adorable girl.”

He patted her head. His calloused hand was a bit rough, but there was a warmth to it. It was as if she could sense his feelings through the warmth of his touch. He must have watched over Kazuhiro kindly, even through difficult times. Marie even began to understand how he must have felt when he first greeted them at the garden outside. She placed the dish she was holding in the sink, then hugged him with hands covered in bubbles.

“Mister...!”

“Heheh, I want you to enjoy yourselves. So, you don’t need to wear those ear ornaments while you’re here. It’s my special privilege to be able to hear stories about your adventures in the dream world.”

This mysterious old man had known about all of it. Kazuhiro had been playing in the dream world since he was young, and his grandfather had naturally accepted it. Surprised by his broadness of mind, the elf removed the cover for her long ears. She stood there insecurely with her true form revealed, and the old man placed a hand on her shoulder.

“As expected of a half-fairy elf. So lovely, you might appear in my own dreams.”

Mariabelle’s eyes widened. How much did this man know?

As such, I was in for a surprise when I returned from my bath. After everyone had relaxed together, watched some TV, and prepared to go to bed, I finally realized Marie had her long ears exposed. When I began to panic, she and my grandpa burst out laughing, and for some reason, I got told to wake up, since my face already looked sleepy enough. How odd... Since when had they gotten so close? And so, the night in Aomori wore on.

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I looked up to find a beautiful, sunny sky. It seemed the weather held out even better than I thought. Hirosaki station in the morning had many tourists on their way back home, and an announcement was playing over the speakers in front of the ticket gate. My grandfather flashed a confident smile and handed me an envelope. I cocked my head, and he placed it in my hand, telling me to take it.

“Just put it toward your traveling expenses. You’re not a full-fledged worker at your company yet, are you?”

“Huh? I thought I was... Wait, isn’t this a bit too much?” The envelope had more heft to it than I’d imagined, and numbers popped up in my head, calculating the total...

“I want you to use it for your future vacations, or the next time you come back. I’m guessing you still haven’t taken Mariabelle to visit Mount Iwaki.”

He was right. There was a historical shrine, as well as a ski slope there. But even as a working adult, I became very conscious of the weight of this money. Though, Marie wanted to come back too, so maybe we could return to say hello during winter break. My grandfather glanced at Mariabelle.

“Come back if you ever get bored. You’re welcome any time.”

“Yes, thank you. We’ll definitely be back!” My grandfather was taken aback as Marie jumped at him for a hug. She was just so friendly and sincere. We had been welcomed and enjoyed our time here, and we were lucky to have someone as understanding as my grandpa. As he stroked Marie’s head, it seemed to sink in for the elf girl that it was time to say goodbye, and tears began pouring from her eyes.

“Ahh, this is no good... Now I’m starting to...” I was surprised to find him wiping away tears, likely moved by Marie’s genuine nature. Regardless of her incredible intellect and the hardships she had been through, he knew she was pure to the core.

We waved goodbye and put Aomori behind us. After passing through several tunnels, we laid out our bento meals in our seats in the shinkansen. The scallop bento and Aomori zukushi bento, both of which were Aomori specialties, were full of appetizing colors. The girl smacked her lips appreciatively at the delicious sight, but I caught her looking out the window occasionally. She was likely recalling our time in the deep mountains of Aomori and the fond memories we had made there.

“So, how was the Aomori trip?” I asked as I stuck a piece of scallop into the basket where the black cat was contained. I simply wanted to know their thoughts on their first trip on the shinkansen. The girl turned around, then stared at my face for some reason. She waited for a moment, then gave me a beautiful smile.

“Hehe, it was amazing.”

Her rather succinct sentiment seemed to be filled to the brim with memories. All we had left to do was eat delicious food and enjoy the rest of our days off. We passed through another tunnel, and a refreshingly blue sky awaited us.

Boy, Aomori sure was fun.

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The ancient labyrinth. Just as the demon died, it had left a terrible parting gift. He had opened a gate to the demon realm, marking the start of complete chaos. The horde of monsters that spilled out had been slaughtered, and the gate was destroyed. This process took an entire day, which resulted in the leader of Team Diamond running out of patience and deciding to handle it rather than leaving it to his subordinates. The monsters had been wiped out, but it wasn’t over yet. With the floor master of the first floor having been defeated, the ancient labyrinth was filled with a silence it had never seen before.

The sound of clicking shoes reverberated from the floor to the ceiling, echoing throughout the room. The man was enshrouded with an aura of energy as he walked, and there was likely no one in all the lands who could best him in combat. The dark-skinned elf held her blood-soaked stomach and stared at him with passionate eyes as he approached. Her cheeks grew redder the closer he got, and a shiver went down her spine when he came right up to her face.

“...Eve, are you hurt?”

“Oh, no, please don’t concern yourself over it, Lord Zarish.”

The young man cocked his head, as if confused. It seemed that wasn’t what he had meant by his comment. “You’re the only one who got injured. If you fail again, I’ll have some thinking to do.”

“Ah?!”

Her eyes snapped open as if she had ice dumped on her, but the young man was no longer looking at her. He stood up as if he had lost interest, then began walking again. There was actually a different woman who piqued his interest more than her. That woman he had met at the oasis... because of her, his interest in Eve had been waning. A draconian and an elven spirit sorceress―both were quite rare, and his suspicion that there was something about her had turned into confirmation when he heard they were the first to take down the first floor master. Thinking through his various options, he continued walking alone. He was a famous collector, but his collection was limited. He touched the many rings on his fingers; a longtime habit of his. Zarish entered a place out of earshot, put up a magic circle, and then uttered to no one in particular:

“Now, let’s begin. Are you all ready?”

His voice sounded in the small room, then faded away without anyone hearing it. Here, in this ancient labyrinth, was where it had all begun.

Chapter of Ancient Labyrinth END