We'll see who can build the more amazing castle with the sand on the beach. Me and Eric, who were going to play such a game, separated from each other considering the space for the castle we were going to build.

　Considering the size of the castle we're going to build, we should lightly separate ourselves from each other by ten meters.

"Hey, Alfried. Isn't that a bit too much of a distance?

'I'll make a bigger one. The more space, the better.

How big are you going to make it?

　I replied, and Eric snickered.

　It's certainly no wonder he snickered when he saw the space I was vacating. No matter how much sand there was, there was no way I could build a giant sand castle, no matter how infinitely equal the amount of sand.

　However, such an idea is just a matter of doing it in a normal way. If you use magic, it's possible.

　I'm going to be able to use my earth magic while Eric is busily collecting sand manually.

　I'll use my magic to control the sand in this place and gather it in front of me.

　It's not impossible to build a life-sized Misfirito Castle using all the sand here, but I don't want to do that because it would cause a lot of damage to Eric's territory.

　The entire village, including Eric's mansion, would be in the shade.

　A scale a little larger than my home would be just fine.

　I reminisce about the Misfirito Castle I saw in the royal capital, and I slowly use the sand I've collected to create an image.

　I've never been inside, but I've seen the whole view from the sky, so I have a general idea of what it looks like in my head.

　Of course, there are some parts I don't understand, but I think it would be stylish if it were like this. This is my selfish wish to add to it.
　When you make something huge with earth magic, you should not make it in detail suddenly, but in a basic shape such as a rectangle.

　When making something huge with earth magic, the key is to make the overall shape in a basic form, such as a rectangle, rather than just making details all of a sudden. It is easier to remember the scenery from your memory and make it more accurate if you gradually create the shape as you go along.

　Once I have the overall shape, the next step is to make a window by gently smoothing out the angular waste to make a roof, or by recessing the walls. Once the details are worked out in this way, it's time to finish.

　Magic is better for the rough edges, but again, it's the handwork that counts in the end.

　Finding the parts that have become rough with magic, I use the grinding tools and hands generated by earth magic to bring them closer to the ideal shape.

　........I miss this feeling.

　When I was a child in my past life, I used to touch the sand and other materials in the park to make mountains and sand dumplings.

　But as I grew up, I didn't touch the sand and dirt.

　One of the most common reasons for not touching the sand and dirt is that we get our hands dirty, but there is also a tendency to feel ashamed of playing in the dirt until we become adults.

　It's true, but I've always liked to touch the sand and dirt to make dumplings and mountains. It was a great way to be mindless without thinking, and I loved making things.

　The scale is different now, but I still enjoy tinkering with the soil this way.

　If I had the time, I could spend all day making things.

'....Hey, Alfried.

　As I'm building Misfirito Castle like that, Eric calls out to me from behind.

'What?　I'm kind of in a good place right now, don't you think?

　Right now I'm building a ladder with earth magic and climbing up there to improve the quality of the windows in the Misfirith Castle.

　I'm a bit out of touch, so I'd like to talk about it later.

　Eric doesn't know how I feel about this, but he opens his mouth without a care in the world.

''I was watching from the side, but isn't it beyond the level of magic you use for fun?　In less than a few minutes, a mansion-sized version of Misfirito Castle will be ready...

'Eric, there's no such thing as too much to play with, is there?　As long as I enjoy myself, that's all that matters.

'I understand, but I don't agree. I've grown up in this village, and I've never seen such a fine piece of sand.

　Eric looks up at Misfirito Castle, half stunned. After all, it's nice to be praised for something you've made.

'Isn't it pretty good?　But we're in the game now. And Eric, go back and build the Misfirito Castle.

"I'm not going to make this stuff up after seeing it!

　When I gestured away with my hand, Eric said with a frustrated look on his face.

　When I look at the place where Eric was, I see only a dense pile of sand, which is a far cry from the Misfirito Castle.

''Woohoo!　Awesome!　A castle made of sand!　Did you make this?!

　As I was teasing Eric, one of the boys called out, wondering when I was getting close.

　He had tanned wheat colored skin and short brown hair. His eyes were the color of jade and a friendly smile, and his mouth showed his missing front teeth.

　He's a typical mischievous boy who looks like he could be found in a country village.

　He spoke to me quite familiarly, but is he a friend of Eric's?

　He is wearing a white sleeveless shirt and blue shorts. From his appearance, he must be a village child.

　When I turn my questioning gaze towards Eric, he also looks somewhat confused.

　Apparently, he doesn't even know Eric.

''Oh, brother, you're being rude!　That man is probably a nobleman since he's with Master Eric!

　Amidst the bewildered air, a girl with semi-long brown hair comes running from behind the boy.

　It appears to be the sister of this silly-looking boy.

''Ew!　Seriously?　It doesn't look like that at all!　Whoa!　I mean, Master Eric is there too!

　The boy is surprised that I'm a nobleman and that Eric was here.

　I'm sorry. I didn't have an aristocratic aura about me.

''Um, I'm sorry. I didn't know my brother was a nobleman, and I'm sorry to be rude to you...

'It's okay, it's okay. I'm a baronet like Eric, and I'm not the type to care that much about it.

　When I'm slightly hurt, my sister apologizes to me, frightened and desperate.

　I can't think of anything to be angry about when I see my sister looking sincerely sorry.

''Oh, oh, I'm glad to see you're a big fat aristocrat.

Big brother, you need to look around more before you act.

No, if you've got a sandcastle as good as this one, you've got to go.

　A younger sister scolds her brother, who is somewhat stunned.

　Her appearance and atmosphere give the impression that the younger sister is a bit shy, but that's not the case with her brother.

　Could it be that the younger brother is higher in the family hierarchy than the younger one?　I can't help but worry about such things.

'Oh, I'm sorry. I'm the daughter of a decorator in this village, my name is Quina.

'It's Quina's brother, Tornell..............................ugh!

　And just before the boy Tornell could say his name, Quina's elbow went into Tornell's side.

'Quina, that hurts!

"Be polite, big brother.

It's Tornell.

　Tornel screamed in protest while holding his side, but he obeyed quietly, perhaps consumed by the power of Quina's gruff tone voice.

　When Eric and I unintentionally looked at Quina, Quina's face fell down as if she were embarrassed.

　Apparently, she can speak strongly to her brother, but she's not very good at talking to anyone else.

　Well, I guess that's how a general sibling relationship works.

　I can't speak strongly to my sister, but....

''As you know, I'm the second son of the lord here, Eric-Silford.

"Yes, I know,

　Unfortunately, it didn't mean that he didn't know about Eric, despite being a territorial citizen?

　Well, it seemed like they both knew about Eric from the beginning, so it was a futile expectation.

　Who was Eric here?　If I reacted like that, Eric would have been embarrassed in a big way.

　After Eric's introduction, it's my turn to be the last one left.

　I open my mouth as the three of them stare at me, but it's quickly closed.

'I'm Eric's ... hey, Eric. We're friends at least, right?

"Regrettably, this incident has forced you into that relationship.

　I asked him to make sure and Eric gave me a very rude answer.

　It's enough. I was slightly cautious about being a nobleman from another territory, but if that's your stance, we won't care about it either.

　From now on, Eric will be categorized as a bad friend, just like Thor and Asmo.

''Well, it's Alfried-Throwlett who's doing the friend thing for such a troublesome guy.

Hey, what a pain in the ass!

'Shut up. You don't have many friends anyway because you have such an unfriendly face and a troublesome personality, do you?

No, it's not!　I can talk to Titus, Garibas, and Urbas like I did earlier!

　I step in and say it, and Eric makes a strange, impatient sound.

　That's a lot of old men and no one your age.

　I turn my gaze fixedly on him.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen Master Eric talking to someone his own age.

Big brother!　You don't have to say those things!

　Tornell and Quina said the words that couldn't have been more in evidence.

　Quina said them out of concern for Eric, but I think that's what sticks in his mind the most.

　Eric, who had been arguing against this, couldn't stand it anymore, and a sinking look appeared on his face.

　Come to think of it, I was the same way before I met Thor and Asmo.

　If there was one relationship I could talk about comfortably outside of my family, it was Bartolo and Roomba. I didn't have any friends my own age like Eric, and I even felt a bit of a crisis.

　I couldn't help but take offense at the rude words earlier, but thinking about such things makes me more forgiving.

　I put my hand on Eric's depressed hand and speak softly to him.

'It's okay. Eric. You have a friend named me, right?

Alfried. I have a right to choose my friends, don't I?

　I don't know who this guy is anymore. It's just too much work.