We walked for a while, releasing and maintaining ice magic at a moderate temperature.

　The village of Colliat came into view. The ears of wheat that greeted me as usual had grown up to be magnificent and lush and large.

　A gentle breeze blew today and shook the wheat as if to welcome me.

'Long time no see!'

　I grinned, happy to hear that, and called out to the barley.

　In another two months, they will turn golden and it will be time to harvest. Then the harvest festival will start in a few days, and I'll be reminded that a year goes by in a flash.

　With deep emotion, I headed into the center of the village of Koliat.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that the people are bartering, tanning leather, and doing their laundry as usual.

'Ah, Alfried-sama!　Welcome home!

It's been a while!

Hey, guys!

　Apparently, the news of my return has long since gone around.

　The villagers are friendly and say "Welcome home" to me.

　It's nice to hear not only from my family but also from the villagers. I felt that I had returned to the village of Koliat.

"I heard you went to a faraway country called Kagura?

That's right. It's a week's journey by horse-drawn carriage to the next port city, and then another week by boat.

　When I tell them how long it took me to get there, the villagers give me a surprised look.

Wow. I've never been out of this neighborhood, so I have no idea what it's like out there.

A port town with an ocean?

Speaking of the ocean, isn't it?　I'm told there's a lot of salty water all around.

　For those villagers who have never been out of the Coriat village, things like the sea and the neighboring countries are a new world to them.

　For those villagers, my experience of the outside world must be very interesting. Many villagers have gathered around me.

I'm sure you're not the only one who's noticed it, but it's cooler around here.

　When there was a break in the story of the trip, Roland, a villager who had gathered there, said.

It's true, it's strangely cool only around here. We're in the shadow of the house at least, but even so, it's too cool.'

Yeah. It's weirdly comfortable in here.

　Wester and Roland say that in good company.

　Yeah, that's because I'm releasing cold air with my ice magic. As expected when so many villagers are gathered, it becomes hotter than usual, so I'm lowering the temperature than normal.

''........Isn't there something like steam coming out of Alfried-sama's body?''

　Roland and Wester, who were near me, seemed to notice notice noticeably.

'It's true,'

　Then Roland approaches curiously.

''Well there's a hint of hyness around Master Alfried!

Really?

　I hear Roland's voice and Wester grabs my arm.

'Not around Alfried-sama!　Master Alfried himself is getting hinky!

Really?

　Hearing Wester's surprise, the villagers around me crowd in unison.

　It's like taunting someone with a warm body warmer in the middle of winter when it's cold and everyone is touching their bodies to get the benefit of the cold air being generated by me.

'It's true!　That's cold!

'Master Alfried is getting hinky!

'Oh, this coldness is unbearable!

　It's not. It's not that easy. It's as intense as a starving zombie's desire for human flesh. One minute it was just the arms with skin showing, the next it was the face, then the clothes, and then the villagers' arms, one after another.

'Hey, hey, hey!　I don't have any taste for men to play with me!　Hey!　Don't put your hands in your clothes!

'We don't like doing this either, but we're hungry for cold!　Bear with me!

　How could the villagers, who had no ice mages or ice magic, be so hungry for the cold?

　I seemed to be licking the villagers' frustration.

　At this rate, their hands might even invade my trousers, the final defense run.

　If they get that far in, I feel like I'll lose something important. That's what I need to avoid.

　While the villagers were squirming around, I lowered the temperature of my ice magic and released all the cold air at once.

　Then all at once, white cold air spreads from my body and swallows all the villagers.

''Whoa!　That's cold!　What is this?!

I don't know about you, but it feels good!

　While the villagers are rejoicing in the cold air, I make an excellent escape from the crowd.

　Thanks to the cold air, which is hillier than mine, the villagers' consciousness seems to have shifted.

　After confirming this, I ran into the shadows of a house without wandering off and transitioned to the vicinity of Thor's house.



　◆



　Huh, I had a bad experience earlier.

　What makes me so happy that I have to be touched all over by men? I shudder to think if I hadn't been able to escape like that.

　Did they lick the power of the villagers' desire for cool air in summer?

　Anyway, I'll be careful not to let this happen again in the future.

　With that in mind, I step out of the shadows of the house and walk to Thor's house.

　Then I see Thor and Asmo in front of his house.

　They seem to be cooling off in the shadows of the house, not even going into the house, as if they are taking a break from their farm work.

　Feeling lucky that I didn't have to search for them, I hid in the house again and activated my spatial magic. I take out a wooden box containing the souvenirs - a wooden sword, a jar of soy sauce and miso.

　Holding the wooden box and the wooden sword is a pain in the ass, so I use my psychic to float the package and I approach Thor and Asmo's bottom.

''Who?　Isn't that Al?

'Oh!　It's been a while, ain't it Al!

　Asmo and Thor, who noticed quickly, wave to me as they sit down.

　Despite the fact that I haven't seen my friend in a while, there is no sign of him coming out of the shadows at all. I know that it's hot, but you could stand up and greet me.

'What's the gift?'

Do you have any food?

　And the next word that came up was a request for a souvenir.

　Can we really call this a friend? I'm starting to get a little worried.

'We haven't seen each other in a while, can't you say something a little more thoughtful?

Because I've already heard about Al's return.

　Asmo nodded at Thor's words as if it were natural.

'But then there are words like 'I missed you' and 'welcome home'... something about imagining the two of you saying those words makes me want to vomit.

Right?

Right?

　Yeah, I can't imagine Thor and Asmo saying those words at all. In fact, if they started to say such words, I'd be wary that they were planning something.

　It's because of their easygoing relationship that it's okay for them to feel this appropriate.

　When I'm convinced in my mind like that, Asmo looks at me seriously while folding his arms.

''........Al.

What's up, Asmo?

I knew you'd get fat.

Nah!

　I knew these guys were so recognizable at a glance.

''Uhahaha!　If that's what fat Asmo told you, then Al is done for!

'I'd be shocked if Asmo said that.

Are you guys trying to pick a fight with me?

　Hearing what Thor and I said, Asmo says with a blue streak on his face.

　Yeah, this feels sober and angry. Let's get him to quell his anger so it doesn't get him in trouble later.

''Oh well, forgive me, I have some food gifts for you today.

Then Al will forgive you.

'I know the food is in a crate, but what's that long thin stick?　That's not a wooden sword, is it?

　Thor points to the wooden sword that he levitated with his psychic, not even noticing Asmo's words.

　Apparently, he is curious about the wooden sword.

''This is a wooden sword. I bought it at Kagura.''

Wooden sword?　Isn't that a wooden sword?

That's not true. In Kagura, they don't use swords, but mainly a weapon called a sword.

What's the difference between that sword and a sword?

'Swords are double-edged and straight, but swords are single-edged and warped.

　I pull him in with my psychic to show him, and Thor looks at him with interest.

"It's true. There's something a bit crooked and a bit differently shaped from the wooden sword!

　Tell him you're warped. Kagura's blacksmiths will be pissed.

''Well they both look the same to me but...''

'They may look similar, but the actual fighting style is different because swords are better at stabbing and swords are better at slashing.

'Heh!　Yeah, right!　By the way, you got three of these for us?

　Thor asks with a look of anticipation on his face.

　From the look on his face, it's clear that Thor wants it.

'Okay. I brought this one for you two.''

Yes!

Oh!

　When I give it to him with my psychic, Thor lets out a happy squeal and Asmo makes a surprised sound.

　Thor, who said he wanted to be an adventurer, must be happy to be able to touch a foreign weapon. He gazes at the wooden sword with a glint in his eye.

　On the other hand, Asmo, who still doesn't understand the difference between it and the sword, was gazing at the sword.

　Then, when the two of them finished observing the wooden sword, they started swinging at a distance from each other.

　It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　If Father Nord or Sister Elinora were here, they might be able to correct him with raised eyebrows and get him to work on the basics.

　On the other hand, Thor on the other hand, maybe he was getting some lessons from sister Emma, and he was able to swing reasonably well. Naturally, there are many rough edges that even I would notice, but I'm sure he's improved while I've been to Kagura.

'Oh, Thor has improved a lot, hasn't he?

"Heh, heh, heh, right?　

　When I praise him, Thor smiles with a bit of embarrassment.

　I mean, this isn't a wooden sword, it's a wooden sword, so the way it was originally wielded should be completely different, but let's not worry about that. While I'm thinking about that, Thor swings the wooden sword as if to show his competence.

　Naturally, I can hear the buzzing and splitting of the air, but it's still too much to compare him to Father Nord. A dragonslayer and a villager are different.

'Thor is better with an axe than a sword, though. Murat praised him for the uniformity of the firewood's shape these days.

I knew it?　Well, maybe I'll give you an axe for your next souvenir?

'You're not really going to do that!　Because it's the sword I want to use!

　Me and Asmo were laughing at Thor, who really didn't like it.