Chapter 59 – The Seasons Turn
After a sound sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed.
Maybe it was because most of the troubles surrounding Alfheim had been resolved, or perhaps the milestone of a full year since returning to this world had given me a renewed outlook. It might simply have been the gentle warmth of spring. Either way, I had slept deeply, for what felt like eight hours, dreamlessly.
Drawing the curtains, the sunlight streaming in was bright but not overwhelming. Checking the clock, I saw there was still some time before breakfast.
I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and changed clothes. Stepping out into the garden—
「Bark!」
「Good morning, Chocola.」
Sensing my presence, Chocola peeked out from the stable. His tail wagged furiously as he gazed at me with those questioning eyes, as if asking, What’s up?
I grinned and said,
「We haven’t been on one since I got back. How about a walk?」
「Bark…? Bark, bark, bark!」
Although I’d been plenty active traveling back and forth to Sidera and causing chaos in Alfheim, walking was a pleasure of its own—one both Chocola and I cherished.
※※※
「Fufu, Chocola, you look so happy」
「Bark!」
「His expression’s completely different from when he’s on a hunt. So relaxed.」
「Awooo!」
Five minutes later—
When I told Mother I was taking Chocola for a walk, she’d just gotten up herself. Naturally, she said, 「Then I’ll come too.」 and so, the three of us—Mother, Chocola, and I—set off into the forest together.
「It’s still a little chilly, but the season’s turning for the better, isn’t it?」
「Yeah. There’s no trace of winter left now.」
Walking side by side, I held Chocola’s leash. The grass and trees glistened with morning dew under the sunlight, and the air I breathed in carried the faint scent of new growth.
「Oh, heading that way today?」
「Sniff…」
Chocola sniffed around, wandering wherever his nose led him. We followed, stopping whenever he paused, letting the leash guide us.
Strictly speaking, proper dog training dictates that the owner should set the walking route. It’s important to establish the household hierarchy so the dog understands its place below the owner.
But Chocola isn’t an ordinary dog, and we’ve spent so many years together. Letting him choose the path won’t change our bond at this point—I’m certain of that.
「Sniff… Bark!」
「Hey, Chocola, no showing interest in caterpillars. You can’t eat them, you know.」
「Kwuunn…」
…Well, I do put a stop to these sorts of things.
「Chocola, you’re always picking up sticks, aren’t you? How about this one?」
「Hmm…？」
「Oh, not interested?」
Mother picked up a branch from the ground and held it out to Chocola, but he just sniffed it briefly before turning his nose away.
「This guy only cares about sticks he personally deems ‘just right.’ Once he equips one, he won’t give it to anyone, yet when he gets bored of it, he casually discards it.」
「What a whimsical boy.」
「Bark!」
As we continued walking, the dense trees began to thin, and rocky terrain started to emerge. It seemed we’d left the zone where quality sticks tended to drop.
「This area…」
「Yeah, it’s where they make their den.」
While chatting with Mother—
「Bark!」
Responding to Chocola’s bark, a low growl rumbled from within a cave surrounded by underbrush. Emerging from the shadows came a family of saber-toothed tigers (Smilodon).
「Long time no see. Been away for a while, but I’m back.」
As I greeted them, the mother smilodon rubbed her body against me like an oversized cat. Her deep, rumbling purrs resonated as I scratched her neck, her eyes narrowing in contentment.
「Bark! Bark bark!」
Chocola, meanwhile, was pounced upon by the three cubs, and they immediately began playing together. The cubs had grown quite a bit since I last saw them.
「At this rate, they might be ready to leave the nest soon.」
「Considering the lifespan of smilodons, it’ll likely be another year or two.」
「I see. Their pace is definitely different from Earth’s animals.」
A long childhood—was that a blessing or a curse? For the mother, it meant prolonged protection of her offspring, a tough responsibility in the harsh environment of the Void Forest. But at the same time, it allowed for more time spent together as a family.
The gentle gaze Mother cast toward the cubs was the same one she must have directed at Karen and me when we were little.
「You’ve got quite a few scars, huh? Some spots are even bald.」
The mother smilodon’s fur bore several scars left by her battle with a mutated Wolpertinger. The injuries had been severe, causing necrosis in some areas. Even though new skin had formed, the fur hadn’t grown back.
「I wish I could’ve healed you better… Sorry about that.」
「Don’t worry, Sui. Those scars are badges of honor for a mother protecting her young.」
Mother’s words carried a quiet warmth, and the mother smilodon gave a contented rumble as if to agree.
With a roar, the smilodon let out a cry as if to affirm my mother’s words.
「I see. …Take care of yourself.」
When I stopped petting her, the mother smilodon growled softly and disappeared into the bushes with her cubs in tow. Knowing we were back, she might show up again in a few days, carrying meat in her jaws.
「Bark!」
「Oh, what’s up? Are we heading back?」
「Bark bark!」
「You’re right. If we go that way, it’ll disturb their hunting.」
As I gave Chocola a gentle pat, he started back along the path we had taken, and we resumed our walk.
※※※
Before long—on the way home.
As we emerged from the rocky area, Chocola finally decided on the perfect stick and grabbed it in his mouth.
「Seriously, you…」
「Ara ara.」
But as it turned out, it was the same branch Mother had picked up earlier and offered to him. Rejected once and discarded on the ground, now Chocola happily snatched it up, as if proudly declaring, 『Look at this great find!』
「Huff! Huff!」
「He looks so smug…」
The stick, just the right length, thickness, and weight, must have been fun to carry. His tail wagged cheerfully as he quickened his pace, clearly pleased with himself.
「You really are something… You completely ignored it earlier when Mother picked it up for you.」
「It’s fine, Sui-kun.」
Next to me, Mother smiled brightly, a mixture of joy and amusement in her expression. With a gentle and thoughtful air, she spoke.
「That’s just how children are, I think.」
A toy given by their mother and a toy discovered on their own. Even if they’re the same, to the child, they’re different.
To the child, they’re different, but to the mother, they’re one and the same—
「I see. If you say so, Mother.」
It’s not just about toys.
Lessons, environments, paths we walk—they’re all the same.
What we inherit from Father and Mother, we rediscover and make our own.
Even today’s walking route might have been one Mother had taken during a hunt.
But Chocola and I walked this path freely, following our whims, making it ours.
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