I finished the coffee that Ozma-san had made for me, and after recovering from my fatigue to some extent, I got up.
　Then I thanked Ozma-san and was about to leave when........Ozma-san opened her mouth.

''Ah~ Miyama-kun.''
Yes?
'I know it may be unnecessary, but as an elder, can I give you a little advice?'
Yeah, yeah, I'd love that.

　While running a hand through her shaggy hair, Ozma looks at me with kind eyes and continues to speak.

'You're a kind, humble, good young man. But, you know, I want you to remember that in some cases, that modesty isn't a virtue.
...What?
'You know, Miyama-kun, you feel sorry for asking for someone's help... somewhere in your heart, don't you?　No, I don't mean it as a bad thing. 'You're consciously trying to fix it too,' your uncle knows.
....

　That was pointed out to me by Shea before. She said it's my own power, including the bond that lends me strength....
　Just like Ozma-san said, I've tried to fix my thinking as consciously as possible since then. But, yeah. I don't know if it's my original personality, or if I've just gotten used to it, but I think there's a part of me that feels bad about it.

I think you're thinking too hard, Miyama. I think it's fine to be a little more relaxed.
Loose, right?
Yeah. The people who help you, the people who help you, they like you and they're willing to help you. You don't have to think so hard. I help them because I like them. You don't think it's a hardship for you to save the child you love, do you, Miyama?　That's what I mean.
Well, yes.
Everyone has been saved by someone. Even uncle, the Sixth King, and the Creator God are all saved by someone as long as they have a heart. So, in that case, all you have to say is one word. 'Thank you'.
...Yes!

　Ozma-san laughed softly as she said that, and then stroked my head a little roughly with a crunching motion.

''Well, I'm sure you're going to be going through a lot in the future,'' she said, ''and I'm sure there's a lot you can do to help, and a lot you can do to help. There's a lot of things you can do to help, and there's a lot of things you can do to help.
Yes, sir.
I'm sure you'll continue to have problems and suffer in the future. That's okay ... it's okay to try things and make mistakes. You're still young. The more you build up, the more attractive you'll become. Compromise' is such a troublesome thing, you can learn it slowly when you get old enough to be an uncle.

　It was really just sarcastic advice from an elder.
　Such gentle words of support that it's okay to worry and make mistakes................................because that's how you can grow.

Wasn't this kind of serious words the pattern of your uncle~?
'No, thank you!　I don't know, I mean, I was able to think again about trying my best at a lot of things...
Well, that's good to know.

　While telling me this, Ozma strokes my head once more, then removes her hand and smiles gently.
　The gesture of adding the cigarette she took out again, I felt something like the coolness of an adult.

　Is that why?　Inadvertently, certain words poked out of my mouth, albeit thickly.

''.........If I get into trouble again, can I ask you for advice?''
'I think it's a mistake in selection to talk to your uncle, don't you?
I don't think so.
Hmm. Really?　Well, you can come visit me anytime you want, if you're willing to be a dirty old man... I'll even offer you a cup of coffee.
'Yes!　Thank you!

　With a bitter smile, I bow deeply once again and thank Ozma-san, who still told me in a slightly roundabout way that I could always come to her for advice, and thank her.

''Yeah. Well, then, was it Agni-chan's place next?　Good luck!

　With that, he gave Ozma a small wave of his hand, and left this place with Anima for the next arena.







　I proceeded alongside Anima to the fifth arena.
　The stamp card in my hand has four oversized stamps that are proof that I have defeated the five Warlord Generals. Assuming that the stamps from the attractions we participated in along the way don't count since they don't have anything to do with our journey to Megiddo's place... the next one is the fifth one. The last one.

'Master, the Hummingbird....'
Yeah?　It's from Miss Lilia.

　While I was feeling somewhat emotional, a hummingbird from Lilia-san arrived at just the right time.
　I'm sure that Lilia-san and the others have finished challenging Bacchus-san's arena and are heading to the opposite order from me............next to Bacchus-san, they are heading to Agni-san's arena. ''Can we meet up there?'' It ended with the sentence, "I'm not going to be able to go to the arena.
　In fact, it was just the right time, so we sent a reply that we were also heading to Agni's arena and decided to meet up with her there.

　Then, thinking that this was the case, I was about to speed up my walk a little, when the hem of my clothes was picked modestly.

''........Eh?　Anima?
'Oh, I'm sorry, too!　I was just going to....
No, I'm fine, but what's going on?
No, no, I mean...

　When I asked her while tilting my head to ask if she had something to do, Anima turned over with a red face and muttered in a small voice, which was unusually small for her.

''Buh, I know it's rude, but... uh... um...''
Yeah?
I'm sorry if it's just a little bit more ... 'just the two of us' and ... well, I'm sorry, too. No, sir!　It's nothing!
....

　It was a very rare, or perhaps the first time it was told to me since I met Anima it was a small, modest selfishness.
　I didn't get the words out of my mouth until the end, but I still understood what Anima wanted... and to be honest, it made me happy.
　So I told Anima, who bowed deeply, to look up and opened her mouth, smiling as gently as possible.

''.........Actually I'm hungry, probably because I moved around a while ago. I want to go eat something. I'll tell Lilia-san and the others that I'll be a little late, so will you go along with my selfishness?
'Master ... yes, sir!　Gladly!
Well, I heard they're setting up a restaurant over there. Let's go.
'Yes!　Oh, well........master.
Yeah?
Thank you very much.

　I smiled at the modestly announced thank you and headed to the area where the stalls were lined up with Anima.

　Dear Mom, Dad - Ozma seems like a grown man, what a grown man, he seems dependable... I'm really glad I met him. And on a different note, I had to go along with Anima's little selfishness. No, selfishness it's not. This one is. She rarely makes demands of her own accord, but this was the first time she'd ever uttered it - a lovely request.