Volume 4 Chapter 9 Part 2 (1/2)

Volume 4 Chapter 9 Part 2

Translator: Imlartis Editor: Queenie

「The two of you. Would you like to go sightseeing for a while?」

「Huh?」

「Wouldn’t you get depressed if you only stayed here? What do you think?」

Juri’s mischievous smile seemed to be saying that he’d give us a discount. I looked at the boy by my side and tried to guess his thoughts. He was sitting there and drinking tea in silence. There was no sign of him planning on standing up. No matter how I looked at it, he didn’t seem enthusiastic about the idea. Even if he hadn’t said anything I could see that he wanted to stay here and continue deciphering. Like Juri said, I wanted the boy to take a break instead of staying cooped up in such an unhealthy environment and continuing the investigation. However, in the first place, the boy himself wasn’t unhappy with the task so I couldn’t just suggest to take advantage of the fact that we were on an island and unwind.

「Juri, I’m sorry…」

「You too! Don’t just sit there! Hurry up, let’s go!」

「!」

Juri took the boy by the arm and lifted him up. The boy was of a much smaller stature so it didn’t take much effort on Juri’s side. I laughed involuntarily at the boy’s bewildered state. Seeing me like that and Juri who seemed to be gleefully saying that he got him, the boy scowled.

Juri wasn’t scared of that threatening glare at all. On the contrary, he was staring straight back into that face, seemingly enjoying himself. The unexpected reaction caught the boy off guard and he blinked his eyes in surprise.

「Hey, big sister. It’s fine, isn’t it?」

「… Yes. It might be good to get out for a little while.」

「Filmina!」

After I said that, the boy looked down at me with impatience. While he was looking at me, I stood up, dusted off my dress, bent at my waist and smiled at the boy.

「Edi. It is only for a while, so let’s take a break? I’ll wear the overcoat too, ok?」

「……」

After a period of silence the boy finally nodded slowly. Relieved, I put on the overcoat which was laying folded on the ground. Then I took out a small bag with a wallet inside, which I had taken with me just in case, from the baggage.

「Juri, we shall be in your care ok?」

「Leave it to me! Let’s go!」

Still grasping the boys arm in one hand, Juri made a fist with the other and raised it up in the air. I too, made a fist, lightly raised it upwards and said「Yea!」. The boy’s sigh echoed loudly in the huge cave.

* * *

「Hey, hey! That’s delicious too!」

「Is that so? Excuse me, please give me three.」

「There you go! Be careful because it’s hot!」

In exchange for the copper coin, the cheerful stall owner gave me three steaming hot skewers of something similar to steamed fish paste. I passed one to Juri who was walking in the front, and another one to the boy walking by my side. Then I opened my mouth slightly and took a small bite.

「It really is delicious.」

「Right? My mouth is never wrong! You think so too, don’t you?」

Juri smiled broadly at my words and asked the boy for confirmation. At this point, the boy had learned that Juri wouldn’t give up if he didn’t answer, so he nodded under the deeply pulled up hood. It couldn’t be helped that he was somewhat reluctant but since it was a taste that that man would have liked, then the boy would like it too. In the first place, if it wasn’t good he wouldn’t have eaten more, but the boy continued eating silently so he must have liked it.

「Right? Don’t you think that it was good to get out?」

「I only came because Filmina said she wanted to go.」

「You’re not honest…」

Not disheartened by the boy’s neither friendly, nor curt reply, Juri laughed.

Under Juri’s guidance after leaving the cave, we reached the nightless city road.

At first the boy seemed fearful facing the unexpectedly crowded street. However, maybe he was influenced by Juri, who didn’t mind the people at all, because before long he was confidently walking down the street. Regardless of what he said, he was looking around with curiosity. I was relieved that it was a correct decision to go out and take a break. I needed to thank Juri. As I took the last bite of the skewer, I decided to give him an ample compensation.

「Let’s go and drink something next. They sell Niberta’s specialty, the coconut juice over there.」