Chapter 17 (1/2)

Translator: Kurehashi+ Aiko

CHAPTER 17: Dragon-san Is Trens were all there

It was soht have missed it if you blinked even for a second

(Lava, could you come here soon?)

Since Nectar didn't want to disturb es via the scales, and today's e was so unusual for him that for a moment I honestly did not kno should I react

(Ilike this to co to be a New Year's Eve festival here in town I thought that you've never been to one before, so why not come this year? We can even celebrate later at Kyle's house)

Of course, there was no need for o on the spot and on the promised day I arrived at Kyle's house

Since Kyle's house was situated on the hill near the royal castle, if you were to go on its roof (or somewhere close to that), fro illuminated in celebration

Since I had to take care of so, I only arrived at the town so To kick this short vacation of ether with Kyle, his wife and his children

The children were growing big and strong, and Kyle wanted to have a toast to that, but I politely declined, since there were quite the few things that I wanted to do the following day So I decided to call it a night quite early and went to the room that was prepared for me, but since I didn't need to sleep at all, I had way too o for a walk around the town, but I was planning on doing that together with Nectar tomorrow That way it could be more enjoyable

That is why for today I was only planning to indulge h it was nighttiical lanterns being lit

Magical poas responding to people's s stiht that was now in front of my eyes

Tohts were even brighter and you could feel the merry at, for vast ht's sluhtness was beautiful

It was a sight to behold, light pouring out of the laht as bright as the day, but there was also a certain beauty to night's darkness, one completely different from that of the day

This world is dark at its very core Humanity of this world notices that on the unconscious level and tries to dispel it, not respect it Night is dark, and because of that accepts all of the emotions that you would nor nightti

Sofor that state to never truly disappear

「What on earth are you doing, Lava?」

Then, while I was enjoying the night's breeze and was looking at the clear, starry sky, I heard a voice co fro on the balcony of the roo a bottle of liquor in his hands

「I was just watching the night scenery And what about you? It's rare to see you drinking」

「I just felt like it That's all」

Kyle calass and pourednext to me, Kyle poured some of the amber liquid for himself, and as soon as we had a toast he drunk the contents of his glass all at once

「Is it okay for you to be drinking like that? If ood with handling your liquor」

「Don't worry about me It's not like I can't handle thisjust one cup, Kyle's face was already flushed red

But still, I drunk lass and Kyle almost immediately started to pour me another one, ready to have another toast

It was fairly weak, but it was still an alcoholic beverage nonetheless

「It's beenabout that tione by in a flash」

「There was soon at the time, but I can still reether with you, Lava Well, even though he was alive and well I couldn't believe my eyes, for he looked completely different froht that he would find soic」

Kyle looked at his e like that next:

「To be honest, I was a little envious of you」

Hearing Kyle's confession, I held my breath

「When I met Nectar for the first time, it was around the ti But his eyes were cold and he was looking at everything and everyone with disinterest, to the point where even when he was laughing, there was no sign of joy on his face He was exceptionally gifted at everything he set his mind towards, be it research or academics, so it small wonder that I somehow developed a sense of curiosity towards him I admit that part of it was the need to vent outinto the Academy I rarely spoke to my fa, it was just that his expression rarely changed In fact, the only time where he would show any kind of eic」

I watched in silence as Kyle took a sip frolass, as if to moisturize his lips

「Before Nectar entered the Academy, it seems that he must have taken care of himself on his own, since thanks to his peculiar talents withAnd his talents withpoint I don't entirely understand, but it looks like he was thinking that he could only be useful to so of himself as entirely useless He was also totally unconcerned with his surroundings, payingelse Also, he was always trying to fulfill the requests of others, no matter how forcible or unreasonable they were I couldn't do anything to stop Nectar fro hireen, too inexperienced I thought it would only be a o and kill himself Until he met you」

Kyle smiled a little

「Hey, Lavdono When I firstte from one extreme to another instantly」

「Well, not that youlike that」

I can think of at least a few cases of sohs and looks into the distance

「You seem to be trustworthy, so I don't want you to think all that hard about it, but if you do not abandon hiain what he once couldn't obtain during his childhood, and it tookhim to arrive at this conclusion」

「I was jealous of you, butyou, Lavdono It e, but he became more human He also seemed to have calmed down He can now put himself into somebody else's shoes What's e who is respected by the whole et hier Still, once he trusts so to betray them No matter what this is, there must be a reason for this Please, don't leave hi I live, I a ould he do after I pass away, but I alad that he has found sorateful that you are that person, Lavdono Well, now that's taken care off, I ask that you keep on treating hiulped down another cup, while I si

「What are you saying? It sounded just like……」

It sounded just like a testament

Even if I was to simply pretend that I didn't hear it, Kyle was unable to force a smile back at his lips

But as soon as I wanted to say soht where he was sitting, on the rooftop

I frantically support his body to prevent hi from the roof

In the end, it seems that he drank more than he could possibly handle

I look at Kyle's sleeping face for a while, and then I gulp down the rest of his drink, the one that he poured for hied to finish

I don't think it's like he wanted to thank ed to becoe

I began to laugh softly There was soht now

But I didn't do anything I didn't think about Nectar's circuood ti with them That's about it

But, in the future I s

All people are destined to die someday

After I took drunk Kyle back to his rooht of dawn started to illu froover, but still he soed to eat the breakfast that his wife prepared for us

And although Kyle's as siht, I kept silent about the reason for that

When I finished eating, Nectar cae of clothes and was ready waiting for hiurila's shop

I only glanced once at the price tag, and I tried to turn it down but even after that I was somehow persuaded that since it was a special occasion it demanded special clothes But still, the price was very much different from ordinary clothes Like, by one or two zeroes at the end

Although I was very persistent at refusing to accept it, it was a kind of a tradition that in this country, while celebrating New Year, one would wear new clothes that were bought for them by members of the family, friends, or loved ones

Oh well, since apparently I had no choice in the iven and then I went to the city together with Nectar

As this country entered its new year, the winter caot noticeably colder The snoas yet to begin to fall, but the streets were filled with lot more people than usual

When I took hold of Nectar's hand so that ouldn't get separated, I was honestly surprised of how cold his hand was

「Uet separated in this crowd But still, Nectar, your hands are so cold」

I can't really feel temperature all that well, but it seems that Nectar was cold this whole tiertips will ask forit from other parts of your body

「Lava…… This is unfair, you know……」