128 128 "Reunion" (1/2)

How's it going, Fitis, what's going on over there?

”No, there's nothing here that could lead to Kyou-sama's footsteps in particular. ...... What about you, Lily?

”...... I don't have a clue either. No clue.

A few days later.

Lily, Phytis, Shin, and the rest of Kyou's friends have been roaming the desert searching for the missing Kyou.

But they are still untraceable, and the group wanders through the scorching heat of the desert with the horizon in sight.

I'm sure you'll find that ...... is a bit of a cloud grabber when it comes to finding people in the desert. ......

”But that doesn't mean we should give up. If you're tired, you can go ahead and go back.

”Don't be silly, Miss Lily. What's the point of being a partner if you can't be there for your brother in this situation?

Even the demon Jack couldn't hide his exhaustion in this hot weather search.

But that didn't stop them from continuing their search for the past few days.

...... Maybe it's better to think of something to help us search for clues instead of just going around in the dark.

That was Fitis's impression as she searched for the past few days, but it was something everyone here was feeling.

But they hadn't found the key hint, and the group was in limbo.

When they began to wonder what to do next--

”...... Papa

Suddenly, Locke, who was at Lily's feet, muttered something to himself.

What's up, Rock?

”Feel the presence of Papa ...... ......

Everyone in the room, including Lily, reacts to Rock's words.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect.　Does that mean Kyou-sama is nearby?

”I don't know ...... but I can feel my dad's presence more than ever before. ...... It's not close, but I know he's closer than ever before.

That's the only hint of a search that hadn't been available until now, and as if to bite into it Lily suggests.

”Then search by your senses, Rock!

Sure, it may take some time, but you may have a much better chance of finding it than you did.

Singh nods.

As if to follow suit, the group rides the coboda they brought with them and tries to start a search in the desert, but Locke himself shakes his head in response.

...... nope. Maybe there's a faster way to do that: ......

”Huh?

In response to Lily's questioning voice, Locke grabs the hem of it and declares, ”I'm going to go to Papa now!

I'm going to go to my dad's--I'm going to my dad's!

◇ ◇ ◇

What do you mean no?” ......

The manticore remained silent in response to my question.

Eventually, the words that came out of his mouth were the same as before.

”No, anyway. The boy is going to stay.

The manticore, which stubbornly tells me only those words.

But there was some impatience and fear in his eyes. But there was a hint of impatience and fear in her eyes.

”...... Are you maybe ...... lonely?

”............

The manticore does not answer my questions.

But here, the silence said it all.

...... Okay.

Muttering, I look at the boy's face as he falls again.

Indeed it is, come to think of it.

This manticore has lost his first child born to his wife.

Not only that, he lost his wife of many years.

Now all that's left is this boy.

Even though he was an unrelated human child, he is now the only family left in the manticore.