Oh, long time no see!

Hey, Douglas.

　As soon as we reached the southern harbor and got out of the carriage, Douglas called out loudly to me.

　He wore a long green coat with a long hem and a knife tucked into his belt.

　He still looks as pirate as ever with his Rumba-like girth combined with his strong face.

　It's so powerful that it makes you want to retreat for some reason even though you're just walking around.

　When Douglas came towards me, his expression gradually changed to a questionable one.

''Hm?　Didn't Master Alfried gain weight?　He's kind of plumped up from when we first met.
Is?

Did you grow up because you were growing up?

No, he's the same height as he used to be.

　Douglas puts his hand on my head and pats me as if to check my height.

　Not that I wasn't a little concerned, but I didn't expect him to say it next to say hello....

　Did I gain that much weight in plain sight?

　As I touch my cheeks and body to check my appearance, Douglas heads down to Irvine and Malt.

'Oooh, Irvine and Malt have stockpiled some meat too!

I don't have a choice!　The food and drink are good!　What's wrong with eating a belly full of food that can only be eaten here! I ain't regretting it!

Yes, yes, yes!

　Irvine and Malt tell him that while Douglas pinches his belly.

　It's even more refreshing to be able to say that much.

　But it's an idea I can sympathize with. Besides, the food we'll be eating on our journey is likely to be frugal.

　And if that's the case, the calories you're taking in during your stay won't be wasted.

　Well, I'll keep that in mind.

　As I was saying to myself, Douglas went to his next targets, Aleusha and Ilya.

'Ooh, looks like you guys enjoyed Kagura too--'

'Oh no!　Don't say anything!

I'm going to help you check your stuff!

　Aleusha and Illya must have heard our conversation, because when Douglas approached them, they screamed and ran away.

　Are those two the type to escape reality?

　As I was thinking that, Douglas said, "Hahahaha, I didn't say anything about that! I came back to say.

'Come to think of it, where was Douglas while we were staying?

Hmm?　We're merchants, you know. After we dropped off Master Alfried and the others, we moved to the other islands to do our day job of trading, you know?

Oh, I see. There are other countries and islands, not just here.

　Because of his piratical appearance, I had completely forgotten that Douglas is a merchant by trade.

There are a lot of islands and wide open seas around here," he said. You can buy all sorts of furnishings here. Don't you see how beautiful this necklace is?

　Saying this, Douglas shows me the necklace that he wears around his neck.

　There was a shining white fang on it, bound with a string.

　The lines that curved fluidly like a gravestone were very beautiful, and the color was pure white.

　However, depending on the angle, a light iridescence of color could be seen.

　It was as if the color reflected from the back of a shell, very elegant.

It's very beautiful!　Fang of a demon or something?

The fangs are said to belong to a demon that lives deep in the sea. It is very difficult to obtain the fangs because they rarely come out of the shallow waters. It's valuable, and only the highest ranking residents can hang them on their necks, so they want a good price.

　I see... after all, demons also prefer shallow water, and prefer deep water.

　Then, like in the previous life, when it comes to the depths of the sea, some demons might have a different appearance.

　I'm not going to go there because I'm scared.

"Do you want this, if you want?

What?　Wasn't that valuable and expensive?

That's all right. But the next time you're out on the water, you're on my boat.　Master Alfried is not like the other nobles, he's funny, and he cooks good food!　Because I want to travel with you again!

　I ask him, stunned, and Douglas smiles boldly and puts a necklace on me.

　He smiled vigorously and gave me a necklace.

　I don't go out much by nature, but there are many more countries I want to visit.

　I want to go to Kagura again with you.

Yes, I understand. I will definitely get on Douglas's boat when we cross the sea again.

Oh!

　I told him, and Douglas raised his hand lightly and headed for the ship.

　I looked at the necklace Douglas had given me and....

"...Yeah?　If I'm the only one who gets this beautiful necklace, Mother Erna is going to be mad at me.

　If there are any other good accessories that Douglas has obtained in trade, I will buy them from him.

　He made a mental note of this.



　◆



　It's been an hour since we reached the southern harbor.

　The crew of the Douglas is loading the ship with the goods we have brought with us.

　There is a lot of food for the return trip, and a lot of rice and soy sauce that I bought, but the strong sailors seem to be used to it, and they carry it smoothly.

　Even so, the volume is still large, and there's a final confirmation process, so it takes some time.

　It doesn't look like I'll have to magically help this time, so with nothing to do I sit in the harbor and look out at the ocean.

　The wind is blowing stronger than in the city. There was a thick scent of tide in the air, and the constant sound of waves in the endless blue sea.

　I shut my eyes as I listen to the sound of crashing waves.

　The quiet sound of the river is good, but sometimes the sound of the ocean is also good.

　As I listen to the sound of the waves for a while, I hear footsteps coming from behind me.

　It was probably a rumba, judging by the stride of the foot.

Well, when are Haru and Shuichi coming?

You said you'd definitely come to see me off, but you haven't come yet.

　Me and Roomba looked around again, but we couldn't see Haru and Shuichi around us.

'Now that I think about it, Haru and Shuichi are the children of a great shogun family in this country, right?　You're not going to bring a lot of guards with you, are you?

'He played at the shrine without many of his attendants, and I don't think he would have done that.

　They'll come in secret, like they always do. I'd like to think so.

"Hey!　Al!

''See, if we were to talk quickly, Haru and Shuichi came--huh?　Your voice sounds very mature for Spring and Shuichi, doesn't it?

But I've heard that voice before, haven't I?

　Me and Roomba turn around in the direction of the voice, wondering.

　There's a beautiful, long-haired man with a big wave of his hand and running towards us.

'It's Kojiro!'

It's true!

　I get up and head over to Kojiro who comes running up to me.

''Feng, you're in time!''

Kojiro, are you here to see me off?

'Oh, of course, my friend. I was walking down the main street to study the making of the sauce for the eel bowl when I saw an exotic trading company heading for the harbor in a carriage!　I've been chasing after them if only!

　Oh, as luck would have it, he must have found us just as we were leaving the inn.

　It's quite a distance from that main street to the port, but as expected of a former swordsman. He must have had confidence in his legs.

　While me and Loomba are impressed, Kojiro, who has caught his breath, looks mortified.

He says, "But you smell like water, Al, Roomba. You could have just called out to me if you wanted to leave!

"No, because I don't know where we are, Kojiro.

"...hmm?　Oh, oh?

　As me and Roomba quickly rushed into it, Kojiro muttered as he left it for a few seconds before squeezing the momentum out of it.

'Yeah, sorry about that. At that time, all I could think about was making eel bowl and quitting my job.

Speaking of eel bowl, was Kojiro able to quit his job after all?

Yeah. That's what I'm wondering too. Was Kojiro able to quit being a swordsman?

..........

　Roomba and I asked him together, and he made a mysterious face.

　Then, after a pause of about five seconds, he huffed and laughed.

　As soon as we saw that genuinely happy smile, we knew the outcome.

'I would have quit if I were a swordsman!　Look!　Plain clothes, even though it's just before noon!　There's no family crest behind it, no job to be forced to do!　I've got my freedom!

Oh, congratulations, Kojiro!

'You did it!'

　I couldn't help but hug Kojiro because I was as happy as I was that he was able to quit his job.

　As I hug him, Roomba gets on and hugs him vigorously, too.

　Hugging a man is not my cup of tea, but this is a very happy day for my friend as he is quitting his job.

　The joy should be shared.

'Yes!　Al!　Rumba!　Now I can be an eel bowl shop!

'You did it!　All that's left to do is to make a good eel bowl!

We'll definitely go eat when it's done!

Yeah, you'll both be there!

　We rejoiced in the harbor with the sea breeze blowing.

　Kojiro's smile was already refreshing and radiant as he quit his job.