Chapter 458: Chapter 438

--- ---

Town of Glad

“”Oniichan, Oniichan.””

“… N? Good morni… Huh? Eh, it’s still dark!?”

The next morning, I was awakened by the children… and the surroundings were still dim.

“It’s not morning yet, is it?”

“It’s just after sunrise.”

“You are already awake too, Kaiser!?”

“Umu, I don’t need much sleep.”

It seems they woke me up with the sunrise.

No… if the sun is starting to rise, is it technically morning?

“Anyway… isn’t it a bit too early?”

“”Ehehe~ woke up early~”

Since we went to bed early yesterday, it seems they woke up early as a result.

“Well… I was planning to wake up early today, so it’s fine~”

Since everyone was still full and couldn’t move much, I set the house in the compromise of a shady, rocky area. So, I had planned to pack up the house early.

“Now then, yesterday everyone seemed like they were about to burst with a full stomach, but are you guys up for breakfast?”

“”(Will eat!)””

“(((((Breakfast!)))))”

“Hahaha~…”

Seems like they have a good appetite. Got lively responses from everyone.

“Yesterday, there were fewer vegetables, so… I’ll focus on vegetables in the morning.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“”Got it~””

“… I’m not a big fan of vegetables, but if it’s Takumi’s cooking, even vegetables might taste good. Umu, I don’t mind!”

Grilling various vegetables, bacon, and sausages, seasoning them with everyone’s favorite sauce or salt, we ate them with white bread.

“”Depa~rt!””

After a short break after the meal, when it finally became brighter, we decided to head to the town of Glad.

“I can see the town.”

(Well, then, this is where we part ways.)

(I want to stay together a bit longer, but it would be too conspicuous if a large group like ours entered the town.)

(That’s true. It can’t be helped, but this is where we part ways.)

(Too bad. But you’ll go back to a dungeon soon, right? I can endure it if that’s the case.)

(Over~? I wanted to play more~)

(Radian, it’s okay! We’ll see each other again soon!)

Joule and the others said their farewells to me and the children, and then disappeared into my shadow.

“Is it okay for me to stay with you?”

“Of course, it’s fine. But let me know before you’re about to revert to your non-human form.”

“Of course! But, Takumi! I’m evolving every day.”

“Huh?”

“I can now revert to my shrunken state when undoing my humanoid form!”

“!”

Kaiser proudly puffed out his chest, and suddenly, he reverted to his non-human form. He turned into a Leviathan about the size of my arm… well, more like a snake.

“”Ohh~”

(How about that? I struggled a lot to achieve this level of Shrinking.)

“”Amazing~””

“Yeah, well, it’s impressive, but… it’s a bit surprising when it happens suddenly. I wish you’d say something before reverting to non-human form.”

(Umu?)

Kaiser reverted to his humanoid form again.

“I apologize for that~ But now, it should be fine for us to stay together for a long time, right?”

“That’s right. But you never know where people might be watching, so be careful when changing.”

“Umu, I’ll be careful.”

“Alright, let’s go… oh!”

“””N?”””

Just as I thought, “Well, let’s depart!” I noticed a problem. Startled by my sudden exclamation, the children and Kaiser tilted their heads in confusion.

--- ---

“Kaiser, go back to your shrunken monster form after all.”

“Hmm?”

“Kaiser doesn’t have identification, so he can’t enter the town!”

“””Ah!”””

As I explained the problem, all three of them unintentionally exclaimed.

“So, pretend to be my familiar.”

“Oh, right.”

Kaiser transformed again into the sna… I mean, the shrunken Leviathan form, wrapping around my neck.

“Whoa! It’s a bit cool~”

(Is there a problem?)

“No, it’s fine. Just stay like this until we enter the town.”

(Alright, understood.)

With that, we headed towards the town. Well, we were questioned a bit at the gate, but we managed to bring Kaiser into the town of Glad safely.

“”What to do~?””

“For now, I want to revert Kaiser… maybe take some back alleys.”

(I’m fine staying like this.)

“If possible, wouldn’t you want to explore the town together?”

(… If it’s possible?)

To transform Kaiser back into humanoid form, we deviated from the main street, took an unpopular back alley, and he transformed.

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“No problem, I don’t mind this much.”

“”No probs, not at all!””

“Alright, then… where to first?”

“”Umm… the shrine?””

“Oh, right. Let’s go greet them first.”

Upon the suggestion of the children, we decided to head to the shrine first.

(Takumi-saa~~~n!)

“Uwah!”

“”Nniyu?””

As we entered the shrine, Syl’s scream echoed, and I couldn’t help but let out a surprised exclamation. The children looked up at me with curious expressions.

“It’s nothing. I will go give my greetings, so you two wait here for a bit.”

“”Okay!””

“Kaiser, come with me for a moment.”

“Umu, okay.”

Leaving the children to their usual freedom, I took Kaiser with me towards the shrine’s statue.

(Syl, don’t suddenly shout like that. It startled me.)

(S-Sorry. But, but! I thought you’d come to visit me in the town of Gista! I couldn’t meet you!)

(Oh! Sorry, I completely forgot!)

(Ugh~… Even though I was looking forward to meeting you…)

I initially expressed my complaint about the sudden loud greeting, but I ended up being scolded in return.

… In the town of Gista, huh? I haven’t thought of visiting the shrine at all there.

(I’m really sorry. But, you know, Syl, it’s not like I promised to… go to the shrine every time we arrive in a new town… right?)

(……)

(……)

(……)

(……)

It’s not like I made a promise with him to visit a shrine every time. So, when I tried to counter with that, Syl fell silent.

(Uu~… please come to visit~)

After a while of mutual silence, Syl, unable to bear it any longer, made a pitiful request.

(I can’t promise always, but I’ll try. Is that good enough?)

(… Okay~)

I always think about it, but… Syl is technically my superior, right?

I feel like I’m being cheeky. There won’t be any… punishment or anything, right? It should be okay, right?