Early in the morning of my fifth day in the Kingdom of Hydra, I came to the old man's place again to talk to him.

''I see, you're leaving this evening.
Yes but I'll come back to visit you sometimes.
Ha-ha, you are very polite. I didn't expect you to come here every day, even though I asked you to.
Oh, no, well, there was plenty of time to spare, so...

　By the way, I've been coming to my grandfather's place every morning since I met him.
　It seems that his grandfather has some work to do, so they don't talk for that long, but they just have a light conversation.

I'm sure they're just chatting with each other.　Maybe I should drink some of that tissue tea.
Yeah?　Oh, yes.
I have an acquaintance who eats unusual sweets, and this is his favorite.
...Is that a cracker?
Yeah, I've heard that one before.

　The grandfather is still talking lightly, and I noticed that the topic of conversation is switching, but I don't particularly care about that since I've gotten used to it over the past few days.
　More importantly, I didn't expect to see a cracker here... I wonder if the person I know from my grandfather's past is playing a brave man?

I can't get enough of this Senbei and Ryokucha.....
Thank you.

　With a grin on his wrinkled face, the old man offered me a teacup with green tea and a rice cracker, which I accepted and ate with him.
　Somehow, even though we are on the coast here, I feel like I'm on the edge... I feel a little nostalgic, somehow remembering my relative's grandfather.
　I haven't seen him much since his parents died and another relative took him in... but I wonder if he's still doing well?

Mmmmm. So good.
Yes, and the sea breeze is nice.
Oh, you know what I'm talking about!　This wind is good!

　It's good to relax and look at the sea like this once in a while.
　While I was thinking such a thing and taking a bite of a rice cracker, an old man suddenly said in a calm tone of voice.

But the old man is a good man, he doesn't have a single bad face to put up with this old man's small talk.
I enjoy talking to my grandfather, too, and I learn a lot from him.
'Haha, yeah!　A really pleasant young man........I don't mean to say that young people today are pressed for time, but most of us are pressed for time. Time is finite, so that's something to be desired, but I don't like it.

　As someone who grew up in Japan, I feel that people in this world are using their time wisely, but from my grandfather's point of view, it seems that he is in a hurry.
　It's true that time is finite for human beings and the time that flows is irreversible. It's true that there are some people I know who seem to be able to overturn that law, but....

Are you saying that because we have a limited amount of time, it's better to have that kind of space in your mind?
But there's nothing wrong with being in a hurry and being in a hurry. But if we are pressed for time, it would be a vicious circle, wouldn't it?　Sometimes it's important to take your mind off things and check your feet.
That's a very significant statement.
Woohoo, if you think so, you'll be fine.

　I don't know if you can call it the years that have passed, but it's because he's lived longer than I have. I've taken it to heart, and I've decided to make sure I don't forget to keep a relaxed mind.
　Well, I'm fortunate enough to be blessed with people. If you're in a hurry, there are plenty of people who will admonish you and give you a hand if you're in a hurry.

Well, that's that... once again, young man, you're a good man!
What?　Uh, uh, thank you?
Hmm. What do you think?　Would you rather come to me as your son-in-law?
'What?　Ummm ... does that mean your grandchildren or something?
Mmmm... oh, that's about it!

　It was a bit tricky to say in the second half, but I'll take it as honest praise.


No, I think that's the secret to being popular...
Is that how it works?
That's the way it should be.
"...pfft...
"...phew.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha.

　The atmosphere of the conversation was somewhat interesting, and the old man and I looked at each other and laughed.
　He's a really cheerful and energetic old man, and I feel like I'm laughing along with him. After all, conversations like this aren't hard........no, they're rather fun.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. It's already that late....
Do you work?
Yes, there's something very annoying about a fellow old man making fun of an old man.
That's how much they depend on you. I'm sure.
Hmm, I'd like to retire... well, we'll see.
Yes. Thank you for dinner today.

　I look at the old man as he stands up, scratching his head lightly, and I thank him for the crackers and tea before standing up as well.

'Mm. I'm fine, too.......please come and talk to me again.
'Yes, sir. I'll be back. Take care of yourself, grandfather.
Yeah, well, I'll see you later.
Yes. See you then.

　I put a bright smile on my face again and waved off the old man as he carried a fishing rod.








　Now, I told him I was going back to the Kingdom of Sinfonia, and that was not the end of what I had to do in the Kingdom of Hydra.
　In fact, I had one more plan that I didn't intend, but I decided to go with the flow.

　When I walked out of the inn around the time before noon, I saw the person I was waiting for.......Shea-san.
　In the past, Shea-san offered to apologize, and I responded by asking her to buy me a meal, so today's lunch is going to be a treat for Shea-san.

　Shea-san is still wearing a black robe and sailor's uniform, and although she knows this, she doesn't make eye contact with me.

''Excuse me, Shea-san. Sorry to keep you waiting.
I don't mind. I'm tied up in a dastardly ruse now anyway.
No, no, we're just going out to eat... right?
'What?　You're trying to tell me that's not enough... how devilish...

　Hey!　Someone please remove the negative filter on this person!　I'm making it sound like I'm the big bad guy!

I'm going to finish it quickly.
Yes. What are you planning to eat, by the way?
'Kuhn ... can you pick a restaurant that can satisfy me?　That's what I'm saying-just give me a little room to breathe while you can, and I'll make it impossible for you to think like that soon.
....

　...we're going to eat, right?　Why does this conversation sound like a duel?
　It's not working. Anything I say is automatically converted in a negative direction. How arrogant and irreverent have I become in this person?

　Dear Mom, Dad - I'm going to dinner with Shea, who I promised before, and Shea's negative filter seems to be in great shape, and for some reason, the words I tell her - automatically in a bad way. It was converted.