Volume 2 Chapter 1 Part4 (1/2)

1-4 An Old Friend

When they returned to the cape with the wind for them

“Heeey, Fin!”

The loud voice traveled far Fin could clearlysun in the backdrop He strained his eyes because of the light, but before he could identify the guest, they had co up to him in a hurry No sooner did Fin raise a surprised rehly tackle Fin The momenturound in a panic

“Taz!?”

“Hey hey It really is you You're alive! You got the devil's luck, you bastard!”

A voice coupled with surprise and elation was his response Fin was taken aback, but after they separated a little while later, he co face of the childhood friend he grew up together in the orphanage He couldn't forget it even if he tried His black hair was dry because of the salty sea air and his skin tanned by the sun His bare arnition, but his ed a bit

“You…I see So you were in this town?”

Taz o years older than Fin, but he wasn't blessed with foster parents until he turned 15 It was around the same time Fin was adopted into Oandus' home that Taz was picked up and boarded a merchant shi+p alone as an apprentice sailor Since then, he had occasionally returned to Nanais and visited Fin, but the number of times this happened was not an impressive number

“It's been a while”

Fin showed a wide, relieved sged each other again This ti that the other was alright Afterward, Taz's gaze turned to Fin's accoan to water

“I see that Nellis is safe, too I'lad… Since Nanais had turned into such a state, I was completely convinced that everyone had died”

“—! What did you just say!?”

Fin and Nellis shouted at the sa hiaze He questioned hiht words to have said

“Taz, please tell us What did you see in Nanais? We had left about 3to push back the Beasts of Darkness After that, Nanais…”

Fin hesitated He searched for milder words and continued

“Fell…or so I've heard Did you see what happened that day?”

There was a long silence before Taz answered His gaze dropped and he ue tone, different from his usual manner

“Yeah If you've heard the ruuessed It was a complete mess The city burned Rubble covered in soot and ashes…It looked like the temple had also crumbled”

“…………”

Nellis covered her mouth with both hands, but a faint cry leaked out Fin reaze dropped down to the ground As expected, Nellis' intuition was right There was no mistake

Taz tried to coht tone

“But, you knoe didn't even diseo and replenish our water supply, but it was already late in the day so it would be dangerous In the end…what I'h search That's why, there still ht?”

“Yeah,” Finreply “I don't think that Captain Masod would easily kick the bucket Plus, there's the possibility that they ed to safely escape in the nick of ti in Winea or even Vertia by boat by now”

“Their destination was probably Winea”

Taz shrugged his shoulders Fin asked with a look, “What do you

“Boats can no longer approach Vertia It's packed full of refugees… If you carelessly approach the ripped from you before they drive you away And if you're unlucky, you could be killed and have your boat stolen It's been about half a year since then For a while, you could at least replenish your water supply there, but now, it's definitely no good That's why this will be the last time our boat will , “At any rate, there aren't any decent custoave a dumbfounded nod in response Was that so? Was that why Masod couldn't escape by boat? He must have made at least an attempt once But…

“Taz? Is that you, Taz?”

“Ah, Mr Oandus! Long tilooreeted Oandus with a loud voice Fauna popped up frohtful voice

“Oh, it really has been a while I'lad that you're safe”

“I'ht up in the couple's friendliness, Taz's face broke out into a sain

“Well, I was really surprised My one out to have so that the windet what they were talking 'bout I mean, well, yeah, shouldn't that be obvious? But, apparently, this place had the best drinks and women…Er, I mean, it was a location where sailors could buy various pleasures”

“No way Was that your intention co here as well?”

Fin flashed a sarcastic look yet Taz took no offense and slapped Fin's shoulders

“Stupid You know that ain't true I'er That's the secret to surviving Anyways, the group that came back mentioned Mr Oandus' na here Yeah, this was quite the surprise”

“Yes, thanks for co by”

Oandus nodded, and Fauna proposed that they all eat dinner together Since this group didn't have a reserved relationshi+p, Taz excitedly joined the fae nu there before, there were plenty of useful things left behind for everyone in the Millers to live comfortably: a wide kitchen, a cauldron, a hearth, a modest yet wide table, and solid benches Those froed on a carpet or lie sideways on a couch while they ate However, in the north, thatwas li stea in the pot rose, the group who had left for the tavern just cah food for everyone to eat outside, and there was no way that Fauna and Nellis could prepare enough As such, this beca into a habit

In thetable, Nellis interjected

“Mo some snacks for us”

“What do you mean?”

Fauna blinked, confused, so Nellis and Max retold their encounter with the girl before Varte whistled and jeered

“Yo, Phineas! You, lady-killer!”