Latina sighed in front of the lined up ăMagic Toolsă.
âTheyâre so pretty.â
âYou interested? If you want them, Latina, you can.â
âUun (No). Iâm happy just looking at them.â
Shaking her head at Daleâs words, she picked up something else lying next to it.
âIs this also a ăMagic Toolă?â
âThatâs right. Our villageâs livelihood is dependent on the production of ăMagic Toolsă. Weâre good at making weapons with trick devices implanted in them like these wares and my gauntlet.â
What Latina was looking at now were all exquisitely made accessories, arranged with gemstones. However, in reality, it means that the magic tools were loaded with protective magic.
Generally, these are products popular with nobles who arenât capable of wearing things like armour.
âWeâve originally been good with metal works, so we donât do very many leather works like my coat though. This was custom made.â
These werenât made to be sold externally and were only made to be used by the internal members of the village.
Those leather work ămagic toolsă which had been made were worn by hunters as armour or everyday clothes. This is a luxury in other regions, but those that live in this village believe that utilising the materials of what they gather themselves is natural.
âHmmmâŚ.â
âI contacted them earlier, but to measure your size and finishing it will still take some timeâŚ.Weâll be going back to Kroix after that. You might get bored though since this is so far out in the countryside.â
âUun. Iâm looking forward to it. Thereâs so many things here that Kroix doesnât have.â
âI see. Tomorrow, I have to go around and greet some people, so at that time I will give you a tour of the villageâ
âUn (Ok).â
Compared to Dale and Latina, who were calmly talking about the speciality of this village, ămagic toolsă, standing in front of them, the one who took them out to show it to them, Randolf, had a complex expression plastered on his face, mixed with shock.
From what he could see, his son, who he hasnât met in forever, is doting on that young girl, which is probably why he interacts with her to such a degree.
However, looking at that sight, it seems that he has returned to his former self, having retrieved his capability to dote on someone.
With that, he was at ease.
In the outside world, where he has undertaken countless life-threatening tasks â tasks such that ăNormală adventurers would never interfere with themselves, the dangerous jobs regarding the ăDemon Kingă and the ăDemon Raceă. â He, who had dulled his heart concerning such matters, as his father, there was no way he wouldnât worry.
To kill and continue killing humans and those close to human, his son who was suffering to the point where he was capable of saying âit means nothingâ; Randolf had sensed that suffering.
(âŚI wonder if he was able to better himself by directing his gratitude and unreserved affection towards this little missy (Jou-chan) here?)
If that was the case then, as his father, he would probably have to express his thanks to her. Because she was his sonâs ăSavioură.
âOld man. Is Cornelia-sensei still teaching?â
âNn? âŚ.Recently he asked his daughter Clarissa to take over the education of the children in the village. He seems to be well however.â
âI see⌠In that case, Latina. It would be good if Cornelia-sensei teaches you while you were here. Compared with Asfarâs (Yellow God) shrine in town, you might be taught from a slightly different viewpoint.â
âThereâs a ăschoolă even in this village?â
Latina tilted her head. At the villages that they had passed by over the course of their trip, she heard from Dale that no ăSchoolâs of Asfară exist. No one would expect a service called Education to spread in a small settlement in the countryside.
However, it seems âTisrohâ is a land which is an outlier to these rules.
âCornelia-sensei is a priest belonging to Asfar after all. I guess itâs pretty much a ăschoolă, on paper.â
As Dale speaks, he seemed to be slightly reminiscent of the past.
âIâll introduce him to you tomorrow so look forward to it.â
âOk.â
It was a large villa but, the fragrance of dinner being prepared drifted from the kitchen into the living room. Latina, who had noticed that, was acting restless.
Since Dale understood what was happening, he only watched over her with a gentle expression, but Randolf looked concerned.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âEhâŚ.um, uhmâŚ.â
At Randolfâs question, Latina panicked, looking embarassed. Like so, she pulls at Daleâs sleeves, begging him to tell her what she should do with her eyes.
âDaleâŚ.â
âRest well for at least tonight. Iâll go tell mum myself.â
Dale smiled wryly as he pats her head, puff puff, and explained the situation to his old man.
âLatina wonât settle down if she doesnât cook as well. Even in Kroix she would help Kenneth out, working at the âDancing Ocelotâ. Even on the way here, Latina was the one in charge of the cooking.â
âHouâŚ..â
âShe probably doesnât like it without any âCustomersâ. Just let her work.â
âBeing hardworking is a virtue.â
Randolf says so and makes a gentle expression. Latina too looked relieved and let go of Daleâs clothes.
Nevertheless, the two father and son watched over Latina, who looked as if she was itching to do something, with loving gazes as if spying on a small animal, before the door to the living room opened.
Fundamentally, the people of Tisroh donât have the habit of ăKnockingă. This is because they have the thought process where they would call out beforehand when they enter a work or private room, but in a shared space such as the living room, anyone can come and go.
The youth who opened the door to the living room and came in was a figure who at first glance looked very similar to Dale.
Their ages were pretty much the same.
His hair was trimmed shorter than Daleâs and kept down smoothly; his figure under the leather coat he took off was no less inferior to Daleâs, who was a capable adventurer.
âYork.â
âBrother (Aniki)⌠When did you come back? Was it today?â
ââŚ.Thatâs the normal reaction, sigh. Dad and the others, just how much effort did you guys put into such a ăstupid prankă.â
âAhh. So you were done in again. Youâve also had it rough, brother.â
As York speaks he turned his gaze towards Latina who was standing next to Dale.
âIs that girl, the Demon Race child that youâve been taking care of?â
âYeah. Latina, this is my younger brother, York.â
After hearing those words of Daleâs, Latina jumps up onto her feet. And bows neatly.
âNice to meet you. Iâm Latina. Iâll be in your care for a short period of time.â
ââŚâŚâŚâŚ..â
York looks slightly surprised before looking at Latina, and then his brother.
âWhat a surprise. Such a proper girl, so much so I canât even imagine you taking care of her.â
âAre you also saying that huh, you bastardâŚ.â
Daleâs brows come to a knot hearing his little brotherâs words. Somehow it seems that his family, even now, hold a strong impression of the time he left the village, back when he was still pretty much a kid.
It seems the fact that he is ăbeing marketed as a top-grade adventureră within Kroix and the Royal Capital, or even the rumours of such things, havenât been able to reach a place like this, and they have no idea of how far heâs come.
âNice to meet you too. Youâre probably always taking care of my brother, right? Sorry about that.â
âFue!?â
âYorkâŚ.â
Latina let out a wild shout at Yorkâs greeting. They were words she could never have expected.
âAnone. Anone. Latina is, always being treated really, really well by Dale, you know?â
âHaving such a small child being mindful of youâŚ. Brother pleaseâŚ.â
âDamn youâŚ.â
âItâs just a joke. At least half of it.â
Latina, during such an argument constantly tilted her head slightly, trying her best to understand them and when she did, she would nod with all her might.
âDaleâs family sure is weird!â
âLatinaâŚâ
Dale could do nothing but hang his head down, crestfallen.
He couldnât find anything to refute her.
âWe canât finish the preparations today, so weâll have your welcome back banquet tomorrow ok?â
âUwahhhh!â
At Daleâs mother, Magdaâs cooking which was lined up on top the table, Latina let out countless shouts of joy.
Despite saying the banquet would be held the next day, plenty of food had been placed on top the table. There were also many dishes and ingredients that Latina had never seen before. There was no reason she wouldnât be happy.
âWe have to go call for granny.â
âThen, I will go!â
After raising her hand with a healthy vigour, Latinaâs light footsteps went âpuff puffâ as she went to go call Wenn-baa (Granny Wenn).
At that moment, Dale shouldâve believed in the bad feeling that brushed past him.
His gut, which could be described as top-class was, after all, something he could rely on to a certain extent, no matter when.
His gut feeling came true.
After that, Latina didnât leave Wenn-baaâs side during or after dinner.
(Authorâs note: Thank you very much for always reading.
Year end is arriving and Iâve become slightly busier, and I might not be able to update until after the new year.
Although I definitely want to update during the first week of the new year. Even if Iâm busy, it may happen once again.