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CHAPTER 34 – VILLAGE CHILDREN
Among the village women, children, and elderly, Dirkhert hid in the corner while holding his little knees.
He doesn’t know what to do among so many strangers.
「Will Melu and Vol return quickly I wonder……」
Such words escaped Dirkhert’s mouth even though much time didn’t pass yet since Meluerina and Volsung left.
This situation of being only around people he doesn’t know is difficult for Dirkhert who suffers from being shy of strangers.
Would it be better if he had gone with Meluerina and Volsung? He can’t help but think. He shakes his head in a fluster.
I remained here to protect the people who are here. I must not forget that. Dirkhert fires himself up, walks up to the door and opens it.
Outside is quite and not a single person is walking outside. Of course, there’s no monster either.
Dirkhert takes a breath, closes the door, makes sure to lean against the door, and sits down.
「Oya, isn’t this young master? Aren’t you lonely by yourself? Come over here」
The one who called to him is Tris from the Inn.
Dirkhert feels a little relieved that there’s a face he recognize, but he immediately stiffens.
「It’s okay. Dirk has promised Melu and Vol, so Dirk will stay here」
Tris surely doesn’t know about the contents of that promise. She tilted her head, but if the person himself insist that much she couldn’t help, but give up and not say more. Instead, she made her way to the several nearby children to make sure they are okay.
Since Dirkhert promised to protect everyone, he should wait at the door so he could respond to the monster threat quickly. That’s why he sat near the door.
Because Chocola, Tart, and Pudding were with him, he wasn’t scared. While persuading himself, he listens carefully for monster footsteps.
After concentrating outside the door for a while,「That……」a small voice calls to him.
When Dirkhert turns towards the direction of that voice, one of the village children was there. Moreover, it was a girl of the same age as Dirkhert.
「W, what is it……?」
Dirkhert replied to the nervous girl’s voice with even more nervous voice.
「Those stuffed animal toys are adorable, aren’t they? Can I touch them?」
The girl nervously waits for the response while pointing at Chocola, Tart, and Pudding sitting next to Dirkhert.
On the other hand, Dirkhert who was asked something like that for the first time, moreover it was a human girl of the same age who talked to him. Dirkhert was puzzled about how to answer.
Then, Chocola, Tart, and Pudding moved in front of the girl on their own, and Chocola as the representative extended its hand to the girl.
「Do you want to play together……?」
To those words, the three animals nodded. Chocola takes the girl’s hand, then takes Dirkhert’s hand with its other hand and makes the two shake hands.
「A, anone, Lia is, called Lilia. Call me Lia, okay?」
「…… I’m Dirk. Hello, Lia」
Although awkward, the two greet each other.
Lilia who sat in front of Dirkhert asks proactively.
「It’s wonderful how these children move, isn’t it? What are they names?」
「Umm, you see……」
The surrounding heavy mood somewhat lessened with the little children’s conversation.
The surrounding women and elderly watched the children’s exchange with gentle smiles.