Why do you live out of town?　Aren't people more convenient in the city?

　On the way out of King's Landing to the house in the forest, Rona asked me, as if it was a casual question.

I used to live in the city, but I had some problems. Now I'm building a house in the forest and living there.

Don't tell me they're being chased here too?

'No, it's not - it shouldn't be - but ....... At least I have kids at home who don't want to be in the public eye. So I avoid the streets.

　It was Ardis who almost assured me that it wasn't, and replied somewhat unsurely.

''Hmm. If that's the case, that thing that's following you from behind, should I get rid of it?

　As usual, the return from the royal capital was followed by a tail to Ardis.
　Rona, who had noticed this, had a feeling that she was about to reverse plunge in at any moment, all over her body.

'Let it go. I'm not a skillful person who can follow you into the forest anyway.''

Yeah, you're welcome.

　Rona, who was easily convinced, seemed to have lost interest already.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time in the city.

''Why don't you stop eating at least when you're walking ......, hmm?　Hey, Rona.

　Ardis, who had been looking at it with a look of astonishment, suddenly called out to Rona.

'What?'

Where'd you put that leather bag of yours?

　Aldis's question is a valid one.

　Other than the shopping bag around her neck, there is nothing else that Rona is wearing now.
　She does not wear open-pocketed clothes like a human, nor does she carry a packing bag on her back.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for in a shopping bag, but even when that bag was puffed up with food, Rona was holding a leather bag in her mouth and pushing it towards you.

'Hmm?　It's here?

　What's wrong?　Rona puts the leather bag in her mouth as if to say.

'...... Where did you get that from now?'

　After a moment of speechlessness, Aldis finally opened his mouth.
　In his eyes, it was as if a leather bag had suddenly appeared to Rona's mouth.

''From where, ......, from Mukou(⋅)koko(⋅)u?''

Over there?

Yeah, the world out there.

What?

　A voice came out of the boy's mouth, unconsciously.

Wait a minute. You mean that's it?　You mean you left the leather bag on the other side of the world because it would have been too much trouble if you'd held it in your mouth?

Yes.

That's what I'm talking about: ......

　Can you do it?　Aldis swallows it down as he tries to put it into words.

　If Rona's story is to be believed, then this world and the world Aldis used to be in can go back and forth.
　Unable to do so, Aldis can't decide if what Rona is saying is true or not.
　But if it's true, then it's probably possible for not only one's body but also objects to travel back and forth.

　Of course, Ardis didn't doubt what Rona said, and he didn't consider the possibility that Rona was lying to him at all. It's not a good idea for Rona to deceive Ardis, because there is no reason for her to deceive him.

'By the way, where does all that stuff you sent over there go?

It's my roost. You know Al, right?　A cave at the foot of the White Mountains.

Oh, there it is. I've been there once.

　So I cut off the words and after a rather long silence, Aldis asked.

'............ huh, Rona?'

What?

'You can only send them stuff over there?　Can't you send a human?

　If they can do that, then Rona's hand will allow Aldis to return to the other side.
　Not right now. But in the future, once the twins have a better perspective on their future, there is no reason why they should stay in this world.
　The question of whether or not they have the option to return will greatly influence their course of action in the future.

　However, the answer that came out of Rona's mouth was one that discouraged Aldis.

'Hmm ....... The size of a baby that I can send or call to you with my hands free is about the size of a human baby at best. I don't think it can be any larger than that. The hole they could make would be too small for someone the size of Al to fit through.

Well: ......

　Aldis's voice lost its power as her secretly rising hopes rapidly sagged.

But if I can do it, so can you," he said. I'll show you how to do it. Let's practice hard!

　Rona offers her help to cheer Ardis up.

'I'm going to tell you how to do it, but then that's .......'

　Aldis's face clouded over as she remembered the explanation of 'how to get back to the other side' that she had heard the night they met again.




　As they entered the forest and felt their tails farther away, Aldis led Rona to her own home.
　She is greeted by her usual squire, Nere, who is completely unfazed by the presence of her companion, and her twin sisters, who, in contrast, are frightened by the size of Rona.

　But even those twins were probably relieved by the way Aldis was letting them off the hook.
　Eventually, they let down their guard, but this time they changed it to curiosity and showed their curiosity about Rona's body.

'It's amazing!　It's so fluffy!

Mofufufu!

　Filia and Liana start to enjoy Rona's fluffy fur with their bodies to the fullest.
　It's hard to know where their initial timid attitude has gone, but now they are jumping on Rona's body with great energy.

"You're a big boy, aren't you, fox?

Woof!

'Huh?　Are you a ...... doggie?

　Apparently, Rona intends to act as a very conventional beast.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with the company.
　But if the actual Rona has not let down her guard, I have no intention of saying anything about it.
　However, even with that, Aldis wondered about the canine-like sound.

　The twins were completely neck-deep in Rona's furry line, while Nayle, on the other hand, was nonchalant.
　Even when Aldis introduced them as his old partners, his reaction was to say what it was all about.
　Maybe it's because Rona is pretending to be a mere beast. Of course, its appearance wasn't so mundane that it could be dismissed as 'mere beast'.




'Those twins were so cute!

　After dinner was over for the four of them and one unit, with the addition of Rona, who was acting as a mere beast.
　The twins, who were still clinging to Rona after dinner as if they mistook her for a plaything or something, are indeed tired of playing, and have moved into their bedroom much earlier than usual.
　Rona and Aldis were exchanging words as Nayle excused herself from her seat to put the twins to bed.

'Rona. How long are you going to keep pretending to be a beast?

'We'll just have to wait and see for today. First of all, how much do those three people know about Al?　I don't think it's okay for me to talk about it.

　At the unexpected rejoinder, Aldis turned to face Rona with a new expression on his face. After spending only a few seconds in thought, he opened his mouth to answer Rona's question.

'I haven't told the twins anything. I haven't told Nere about the other side either. I certainly don't want them to talk about it all they want.

'If they find out I can talk to you, they'll ask you about the old days, right?　If Al's going to reveal everything, that's fine, but if he wants to keep things from the other side, wouldn't it be better to let him think he can't talk now?

　Rona had a point.

　Aldis had revealed very little about himself to Nere.
　It was partly because Nere hadn't asked, and partly because Aldis wasn't sure he could explain it well himself.

　Just as Aldis feels about Nere, perhaps Nere has some thoughts about Aldis' identity.
　But even now that she has put her trust in Nere, Aldis has not revealed any of her past stories.

　He was once offered a condition that he would share the information he learned when he provided his hair to Marida in the city-state of Leitin.
　Or maybe I thought that would be a good way to start a conversation, but in the end, all Marida could tell me was about her special abilities and the sights she would be able to see in the future.
　In the end, they ended up not talking about this and that in the past either.

　The fact that Ardis herself still didn't have a clear understanding of her situation was probably one of the reasons why she was reluctant to confess.

'I didn't think you'd thought that much about it,'

Well, I don't want to keep up with people and all that.

　Without regard to the feelings of the impressed Ardis, Rona reveals her true intentions without a care in the world.

"Hey, hey, hey. Is that your true feelings?

Woof!

　Rona responds with a subtle smile, dexterously using her scarce facial muscles.
　Apparently she has decided to pretend to be a canine when it's not convenient.

'Hey, no ....... Apparently I need to have a long talk with you.

I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I'd appreciate it if you could continue this story another time. I'm sure the girl will be back soon.

　Rona, who was lightly glared at, put her self-assertion into words with a stone-faced expression.
　As if to back up her claim, footsteps from the twins' bedroom were approaching Aldis and the others.

'They both slept well today. They must have been very tired from all that frolic.'

　A squire with short Alice Blue hair comes over, talking to Ardis.
　Her face is usually devoid of emotion, but today Nere has a faint hint of alarm that is different from the usual.

'What do you think the Lord will do?　If you want to enjoy the evening for a while longer, I can make you something to snack on.

No, I was just about to head back to my room myself.

"Right. ...... when my master. What do you think he'll do about his bed?

　Nere, who nodded with a face that seemed to say, "Well then, it's good," asked Ardis while shifting his gaze to Rona.

'Rona?　Yeah, this guy could be anywhere as long as he can keep the rain and wind out: ......

　Hearing Aldis's reply, Nayle uttered, "Yes," and for some reason began to walk out of the house.

'Then I will show you. You may follow me.

　When he said it to Rona, he opened the door and walked out without even checking his reaction.
　Although he said with his mouth to show her to her bunk, the air in his entire body was like a swordsman in a match. Aldis had some idea of what Nere was thinking.

''She's surprisingly impatient, isn't she?''

　Rona mumbled to Nere, who disappeared through the door, and turned to Ardis and continued in a lighter tone.

''Well then, I'll be off for a bit.

...... You need to take it easy on me, okay?

I know. Play-acting.

　When she replied in a bouncy voice to Ardis, who had a look of helplessness on her face, Rona followed Nere with a bouncy gait.