Chapter 344

Chapter 344

The fact that Gargarences was behind the attacks was a closely guarded secret.
The case had been resolved amicably and there was no need to create anxiety.
Lance and Sechika also thought the explosion was the work of terrorists, so Nabiroze and the Fire Mother were the only ones who knew the truth.
Varen’s eyes widened as if they were going to pop out of his head when Nabiroze told him the news.
“Well, what do you mean, a bombing almost happened in a flame bow?!”
“Yes. Lance and Sechika did a great job, and while you’re the only one who knows about it for now, I think it’s only right that we recognize them as soon as the school trip is over.”
“Ahhh… Even though Lord Ronan isn’t here, this is happening.”
Varen grabbed him by the back of the neck.
The dizzying sensation was similar to what I felt when I was an advisor for the Express Adventure Club.
It was dawn the next day when Lance returned.
After chatting all night with Navardozze, they snuck in among the morning rush of students.
“Lance, where were you last night? I thought you were asleep and went to brush my teeth, but you weren’t there.”
“Don’t put that on, you idiot. I told you I was just going to see a friend of my father’s for a minute.
“Alas, it is, and it is a gloomy morning anyway. I was really hoping to see the firebags—no, I mean Mr. Navarordze.”
Wilumph sighed as the ground gave way.
Luckily, no one noticed the three of them leaving the house.
Lance and Sechika were so far behind that it was hard to keep up with them, and the sound didn’t leak out of the flame bow.
“So, Sechika. Did you kiss Lance yesterday?”
“Keith, Keith, I’m not–I’m not here to see him.”
“Don’t lie to me, you were just trying to play the field so you wouldn’t get hit on by a transfer student who looks like me. So how did you feel about your first kiss? Did it involve tongue?”
“Ack! No!”
Sechika’s hair stood up like fire.
She had to fend off her friends who criticized her.
It was a sight that made me smile.
As Nabirozé watched the two fidgeting, he spoke to himself in a low voice.
“Five days.”
It was time for her to live her life as a girl.
Normally, she would have been back to her 20s by now, but she asked Navarordze to let her stay this way until the end of the school trip.
There was no particular reason.
I just wanted friends to remain friends.
The rest of the trip went smoothly.
“Naro. What do you think of this necklace? It’s not really Sechika’s style, is it? We’re the same girl, so I’d like to ask your advice—.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll be happy with anything you give him. He’ll jump up and down with excitement even if you pull weeds on the side of the road.”
“Well, no way. Seriously, give me some advice. By the way, it’s just a thank you, it doesn’t mean anything, don’t get me wrong!”
“Haha—— I don’t have to take after my father in this area.”
Nabiroze sighed.
Ronan and Adeshan had already felt the frustration of being shoved through five sweet potatoes.
She enjoyed the sightseeing in Adren, being dragged around by her two new friends.
【Ah, I know who you are. You’re Ronan and-]
【Descendants of Meiji Asel, right?
“Oh, that’s right—but which one is the dragon king?”
[Haha, those kids-].
[I asked the same question].
We walked around Adren together.
“Now, this is the spot where Archmage Asel stopped Adren’s fall. The circle of magic on the floor belonged to the terrible Nebula Clazier—”
“Hey, Naro. I’m bored, why don’t we go get dessert? I’ve got a place I’ve been looking at.”
“Still, it’s your father’s story, don’t you think it’s good to hear?”
“Ewww. How many times do you think I’ve heard that? My siblings love it, and there’s an Adren epic at the table once a week. And it’s my job to do the giant’s voice?”
“Well, so be it.”
Sometimes I’d even tinker.
Nothing special.
It was just a normal teenage school trip.
Except I was having so much fun, I didn’t even notice the time passing.
The last day has arrived.
When Navarrozze came out to see off the students, he spread his wings.
【Farewell, children of the earth. Children of the Earth, may you all one day be the dawn that lights this star.
“Ooohhhh—!”
The students let out a collective gasp.
Back to his true form, Navarordje was too big to take in at a glance.
The width of his spread wings vaguely exceeded the length of Adren.
“Mother of Fire, I will never forget this favor!”
“You are the true owner of this star!”
Wilhelm and Sensen banged their heads on the deck, tears streaming down their faces.
Navarordje’s molt ended sooner than expected, allowing them to do their dream roeing.
Although they didn’t get a picture, the overwhelming physicality of the scene would forever be etched into the back of the boys’ retinas.
“Well, that’s you–it’s big.”
“I didn’t think there were any dragons bigger than you. You’d have to be that big to have a fireball—”
“Firebags?”
“Oh, no, there is such a thing.”
Lance and Sechika were also shivering, clutching each other’s sleeves.
The human form was also shocking in many ways, but again, nothing compared to the original.
“—Is this the end?”
Nabirozé was the only one who remained expressionless.
She leaned against the railing and watched Adren walk away.
Something Navarordze had said stuck in my head.
I’ve said before that retrogression is about going back to a time you miss, not a time you were in your prime.
At first I didn’t understand what it meant, but now I think I’m starting to get it.
She looked back at Lance and Sechika and smiled weakly.
“That makes sense.”
You’ve been missing it without realizing it.
Not a battlefield, but a fleeting youth.
A green spring that was never supposed to come back.
Nabiroze called out to the two of them.
“Hey.”
“Huh? What’s going on?”
“Thanks for the fun. It’s fun to play with friends.”
“——Suddenly?”
Lance scowled.
I didn’t understand why he was saying that, since we were going to hang out again when we got back.
Sechika rushed over and threw her arms around her.
“I had so much fun! It was an unforgettable experience. Heehee, let’s do it again.”
“If you have a chance to come.”
“Of course there will be, because you’re so much stronger than us. Lance and I will work hard to make sure you don’t fall behind. Will you, Lance?”
“Oh, sure. I won’t lose next time.”
Lance grunted.
By the look of determination on his face, it was clear that he had learned a lot from this experience.
Yeah, that’s how kids grow up.
Nabiroze looked at the two of them alternately, then chuckled.
“—Yes. Again sometime.”
The sky was clear.
Riding on the wind, the biped carried the students safely to Pileon.
After that day, Lance and Sechika never saw Naro again.
****
One month later.
“Wow, I’m finally done. What did you have piled up?”
Ronan stole his forehead.
His sweat-soaked sleeveless shirt showed off his fiercely toned muscles.
He had just finished helping his old mentor organize his belongings.
Nabiroze said.
“That’s a bit much. I’m sorry.”
“Not the hard work, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a good sweat. What the hell is this, anyway?”
Ronan stuck his tongue out.
I thought about it the whole time I was organizing, but it was a lot.
Nabirozze’s house was a mess, but now it’s a museum-quality space.
All of his gifts to his disciples were displayed in a specially designed cabinet.
“Well, I don’t know. I’ve had it since I’ve been in the ministry—more than twenty years.”
“It’s jingling, so that’s why you have all the fancy stuff—Oh, yeah, I saw some underwear earlier, but was that a gift from some pervert?”
“—But.”
Nabiroze shook his head.
Judging by the reaction, I decided it would be better to hide the fact that Adeshan had given it to me.
When I tried it on again, it fit, but I realized I couldn’t wear it, so I put it away.
“We both struggled. Here’s the water.”
“Oh, thanks.”
That’s when Adeshan brought in the cold water.
Like Ronan, she was sleeveless and had just finished cleaning up.
Given their status, this was a rare sight to behold.
What a cleanup crew.
Nabiroze, who had just drained the cold water, asked.
“Yeah, Ronan, this guy is one thing, but you’re really okay, you should be doing your job.”
“I don’t care that it’s summer vacation, I’ve missed you.”
“It’s hot. Get off.”
Adeshan picked up Nabiroze as if she were a doll.
I was able to embrace him because of the height difference.
Adeshan glanced down at her and shook his head.
“By the way, Instructor. I think something’s changed.”
“I’m naturally pretty.”
“That’s true, but should I say my skin is more elastic? Hmmm—it’s definitely changed, but it’s hard to explain, and my hair looks amazing.”
“I see. I’m sure your eye is spot on.”
Nabiroze was disappointed.
She kept the short haircut she’d gotten in Adren.
I cut it out so that Lance and Sechika wouldn’t know who I was, but it was actually cool and fine.
Adeshan claps his hands.
“By the way, I was wondering if I could get an update on your nephew?”
“Nephew?”
“Yes. Was your name Naro? Lance said you were a friend of his from Adren, but I can’t seem to find you.”
“Oh, is that him–I’m sorry, but he won’t be here for a while.”
Nabiroze shook his head.
Once the spell was broken, there was no going back to being a girl again.
“Oh–I can’t help it, just tell him I miss him a lot.”
“Sure.”
Lance and Sechika had already come to him time and time again, but he could only give the same answer.
It was quite literally a midsummer night’s dream.
Ronan, who had been pacing around the living room, froze in place.
He pointed to the most recent framed picture, next to a photo of him and Schlieffen.
“Oh, this is from the last school trip, isn’t it? I think it’s also in Lance’s room.”
“Yeah. It was taken right after we stopped the terrorist attack.”
“You’re lucky to have your picture taken with Navarro, my boy. You’re a master.”
Ronan whistled.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Mother of Fire in person.
In the photo, the trio, including Naro and Navarro, are framed in a composition reminiscent of a family portrait.
After all these years, her weight hasn’t changed at all from when she was a student.
I’m not kidding, one side looks bigger than my head.
“Lance would have loved that. By the way, this Naro girl, isn’t she really your daughter? She looks so much like her.”
“Why are you making a healthy virgin into a baby mama?”
“No— but this is really—.”
Ronan stuck his tongue out.
The girl in the photo looks so much like Nabirozze’s childhood self.
And it’s no wonder, because that’s exactly what happened.
Ronan, who had been looking at the photo for a while, snapped his fingers.
“Oh, well, at least you’re different from your sister.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She has such a beautiful smile, it makes me feel good just looking at her.”
Ronan rapped on the frame.
Naro was between Lance and Sechika, making a V with his fingers.
His posture was a little awkward, but his facial expressions were awesome.
“Smiling is pretty?”
“Yes. I wish my sister could smile like that.”
Nabiroze stared wordlessly at his reflection in the frame.
Ronan was right.
It was one of those smiles that made me wonder if I could have made that face.
The corner of her mouth twitched in amusement.
Adeshan’s eyes widened next to him.
“Instructor, did you just copy that?”
“Ugh.”
Nabiroze covered his mouth in disbelief.
Adeshan was looking at her with a look of adoration in his eyes.
Wiping a hand across his flushed face, Nabiroze turned his head in the opposite direction.
“That’s loud. When you’re done, you can go.”
“Come on, don’t be so chilly, let’s eat, it’s been a while since the three of us have been together.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, fluffies, I don’t make that much money.”
“Oh, so your sister lives there?”
“Of course you’re going to buy the expensive one. I made some money this time.”
Nabiroze said confidently.
As a reward for saving Adren, the dragon king Azidahaka allowed him to take five chests’ worth of gold from his treasury.
Navarro didn’t take no for an answer, and there were few people in Pileon wealthier than her right now.
“Expensive–I don’t really have a favorite, but what about the Pileon cafeteria? It’s been a while since I’ve eaten there.”
“You want to die, I eat there every day.”
“Oh, that’s right. Then—”
“Come on, come on. Let’s go out and think about it, shall we?”
The three of them headed out, eager for a meal.
The sky was a brilliant blue over the islands.
Huge cumulus clouds like battleships, weather not so hot that it’s more like late spring than summer.
Looking back, I realize that those two kids gave me so much.
Looking up at the sky, Nabiroze muttered softly.
“You’re young.”
“What? What did you just say?”
Adeshan asked, but Nabiroze didn’t answer.
Instead, he hid the smile that was forming on his face.
Her smiling face reminded me of a sunflower blooming in summer.
Ronan waggled his eyebrows.
“She looks so much like her—isn’t she your daughter?”
“It’s noisy. Let’s go.”
Nabirozze took the lead.
The cicadas’ song, at its peak, rang out, blessing her with a belated green spring.