158 Episode 51: To a mining site in the east (2/2)

”Heh... I see”

Assemble my share of the fishing rod and the spare fishing rod to feed and thread the two of us.

River spirals and the sound of tree leaves swinging in the woods are pleasant to my ears. I hear Monica screaming from time to time, but that's kind of respectful, too.

Drop the thread and wait for a while, but it won't hit me. It's just a fishing rod swinging in the river stream. In the meantime, there's no conversation between me and Gakun. Only time passes when it seems very quiet.

”... Dear Anis”

”Hmm?

We didn't even hit each other, and Gakkun called out as we were dripping yarn. Besides, I hammer relaxed.

Gakun has spoken to me, but I don't really throw up any more words. It's just all the fishing line shakes.

”Have you been doing this for a long time?

”Um, it wasn't a long time since I used to be an adventurer. Even I'm still young.”

”That's what you do...”

”But I wonder if it was full of waves. I was tattooed by the Knights of Sprout, and I became an adventurer with forgiveness from my father and mother, and I went to all sorts of places, and I had a hard time. I used to fight big men who would be preached later.”

Now I think he was a reckless and natural wagamama daughter, while I was at it. Being a rumor for better or worse, hiding being royal has also stopped putting in effort along the way.

I didn't care that much about my bad reviews back then, and I didn't care about ratings from others. I just had dreams and ideals I wanted to get. I kept running to my samurai to get it to me.

”I honestly don't really know how much my life meant either. I'm aware that I've done something big, but I don't know if I could say that's necessarily good.”

”... is that right? But you're not lost, are you?

”I'm not lost, but in the end, I guess I just couldn't give in. That's just it. I just wanted to convince myself.”

”To convince myself, is it?

I think Gakun's gaze turned on me, but I kept looking at the end of the fishing line.

”There was certainly a way to live by behaving like a royal, even if magic was not available. But I wasn't convinced by that. There was a path I wanted to take, no matter how denied or praised I was from around me. Of course, there's a lot of reflection, right? But I want to live without regret.”

”... don't regret it, do you?”

”This is hard for me.... If I were you, I could have done better about Al. You should have discussed it more properly, or something. It's very hard to live perfectly.”

That's a way of life that even Ufi couldn't exchange. So if I lived, I'd be able to do one or two of my regrets. There are more things to reflect on. Still, I have to swallow to live with my chest up.

”Has Gakun ever lived and regretted his choice?

”... are you sorry? Because I'm an idiot. Sometimes I think if you think about it some more, but still... I don't think you've chosen something you'll regret. I just don't think there's enough effort...”

”Then Gakun and I are the same. But with me before I regret it. I guess I should just run straight until something happens that's good or bad, but really makes me want to regret it. I must have been chasing something more impenetrable than Gakun.”

I couldn't use magic. I still couldn't give up the magic I couldn't use, no matter how rushed I was.

As a result, there is me now. I learned a lot about how the hard work and time I had built up to meet Yufi had changed with the kick-ass, ever narrow world that Yufi had spread.

”Gakun is older than me, but if he's still kicking ass, he'll be fine.”

”... I don't know what to do”

”At least I'm not dissatisfied with Gakun's work. If you're doing your duty, why don't you do it as freely as you can later? I'll give you a big look if you're a little impotent.”

So come on.

Because I don't know the problem with Gakun either. I also have trouble handling feelings I have to hold without help, because I think I can lean on you for a bit.

You just have to live free. Although there are duties to be fulfilled, people are free if they even fulfill them. You can think, train, or think to be strong.

”If you're as worried as you are, it's one hand to hit and smash it. Well, that might sound like a treat.”

”... you will. I haven't hit it and smashed it yet, so maybe I could try something a little more reckless.”

”To the point where Navre doesn't piss me off.”

Couscous and I laugh. Looking at Gakun with his gaze on the side, he was scratching his face with his fingers like he had trouble choosing his expression.

”Ah! Gah, I'm pulling a pole!

”Wow! Hit it!”

The rod Gakun was gripping shakes and the thread is pulled. Gakun is trying to catch fish in a desperate shape by putting his strength on the pole like he panicked.

That kind of thing made me laugh out of my heart.