After saying goodbye to Mikoto-san, who had given me a somewhat ominous prophecy, I sent her back to heaven.
The next time I see Mikoto-san will probably be in heaven. The level 30 cheat roulette should happen during my journey, so maybe I’ll be able to meet her again sooner than the villagers?
After sending Mikoto-san off, I headed to the living room with Yggdrasil-san, and we all had breakfast together.
I won’t be able to eat Mother’s home cooking for a while. Thinking that, I made sure to savor every bite.
After that, I went back to my room once, slung my magic bag for world travel over my shoulder, packed with all sorts of things, and then――
I returned to the living room again to say my final goodbyes to everyone.
「Well then, I’m off」
When I said that to my family and Yggdrasil-san, a quiet, somber mood settled in.
Well, it’s two years… Everyone seems sad to see me go, and I’m sad too…
Even so, I can’t start crying here. If I do, everyone will just worry more. I can’t leave while making them worry.
Thinking that, I tried to put on a firm expression――
「Two years. Do your best」
「Ah, yeah…….Thank you, Mother. I’ll do my best」
Mother gently pulled me into a hug. It really feels like an emotional farewell scene…
「Yeah, if it’s Alec, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Do your best, Alec… Be careful not to get hurt, and make sure to listen to what Jisrare-san says…」
「Thank you, Father…」
Father, who looked a bit teary, hugged me as well.
Hmm… When they act like this, it makes me feel like I might start crying too…
「I see, I see. So, this is how it goes? In that case, do your best, Young Master Alec」
「…Thank you, Nana-san」
Following after Mother and Father, Nana-san hugged me too.
…What is it. With Nana-san’s energy, the somber mood has eased a little.
「Hmm, me as well, then. Yes. Go and do your best nojka」
「Ah, yeah.Thank you, Yggdrasil-san」
Even Yggdrasil-san gave me a hug.
It’s a bit embarrassing. I don’t feel embarrassed with my parents, and Nana-san already feels like family too, but with Yggdrasil-san, it’s somehow a little embarrassing.
But still, I ended up hugging Mother, Yggdrasil-san, and Nana-san…
I see, if I think about it relatively… Nana-san might actually have a huge bust.
That said, the comparison is with my elf mother and childlike Yggdrasil-san, so the comparison itself is a bit――
「Right now, I feel like I have been terribly insulted」
「…………」
…Sorry.
◇
After finishing my farewells with my family and Yggdrasil-san, I stepped outside――
「Whoa…」
I was immediately greeted by loud cheers and applause. It was the residents of Meiyu Village and Lukmine Village who had gathered to see me off.
Even while I was inside, I could tell it was unusually lively around the house, but this is on a whole different level…
「T-thank youu. Everyoneee」
For now, I waved both hands and responded to their cheers.
「Thanks for coming today. I’ll do my best. Thank you, everyone」
I waved while bouncing up and down so even the people far away could see me.
Honestly, I never expected it to turn into this much of a festival…
I figured a lot of villagers would come, but I didn’t imagine it would feel like this.
I thought it would be a bit more emotional, but it’s the complete opposite.
If I interpret this as the entire village being happy that I’m leaving for two years… that’s a bit complicated, but well, it’s better than a gloomy send-off.
「Ah, hello. Yes, I’m finally leaving today. Ah, yes. Thank you. ――Ah, it’s been a while. Yes, that’s right, about two years, yes.」
And so, while shaking hands with the people who came to see me off, I exchanged a few words with each of them and went through my farewells.
「That’s right, I defeated a wild boar. Yes, that custom… No, no, I’m not that impressive. No, really, thank you. ――Ah, hello, hello. Thank you very much for this」
Huh? I somehow started greeting people individually, but… if I do this for everyone, this is going to be pretty tough.
「…Hm?」
Since I had already started, I kept going, half resigned, greeting each person one by one――when I noticed something.
A short distance away, in one part of the thick crowd, there was a small open space.
There was no one there. What could that be?
I was a bit curious, so while continuing to greet various people, I made my way toward that spot…
「Hey there, Alec-chan」
「It’s been a while, Alexis-san」
「Muu! Muu!」
It was the Ralina family.
Ralina-mama and Ralina-papa were there… along with Ralina-chan, tightly bound with rope, wrapped up like a bundle.
Ralina-chan had a gag in her mouth and was flailing around while making muffled noises.
…No wonder no one was going near them.
「Um, what exactly is going on here…」
「Ah, this? Even if she’s not allowed to go out, it would be too pitiful if she couldn’t even see you off on your journey, Alec-chan. So we thought we’d at least let her say goodbye」
「I see… I understand that, but this situation…」
「She was preparing all sorts of troublesome things. This is to make sure she doesn’t do any of that」
「I see…」
Just what was Ralina-chan planning…
「Anyway, congratulations… I suppose that’s the right thing to say? Well, do your best out there, Alec-chan」
「Ah, yeah. Thank you very much, Lisaberte-san」
「I also pray for your safe journey, Alexis-san」
「Thank you very much, Ralina-papa-san」
「…………」
I thanked the Ralina couplee with a smile.
…Though, for some reason, Ralina-papa had a rather complicated expression on his face.
「Muu! Muu! Muu!」
「Ah, uh, right… um…」
What am I supposed to do about Ralina-chan, who’s just going 「Muu muu」 like this…
「Ralina is worried about you, Alec-chan」
「Muu」
「She’s worried you might get charmed by women in the human world or by Jisrare」
「Muu muu」
So that’s what she’s worried about after all…
I feel like there are other things she should be more concerned about…
「Well, don’t worry, Ralina. If you look at Alec-chan’s face, you’ll understand he’ll be fine, right?」
「Muu?」
Ralina-mama suddenly threw me a line I didn’t quite understand.
Not really sure why, but for now, I tried putting on a firm expression.
「See, just look at that face. If anything――Alec-chan is the one who’ll be doing the charming」
「Muu!!」
Hearing Ralina-mama’s words, Ralina-chan started thrashing around again with a fierce expression.
Meanwhile, Ralina-mama laughed cheerfully, and Ralina-papa panicked beside her.
What is this supposed to be. How am I even supposed to react…
You could probably call them a close family joking around, but Ralina-chan’s movements and expression are honestly reaching a somewhat traumatic level…
Also, it’s not like I’m going to go around charming women or anything…
◇
Somehow, I managed to calm Ralina-chan down, promised her 「You don’t need to worry」 and 「Let’s ride a boat together when I get back」, and then said my goodbyes.
After that, I continued going around greeting various people.
「Alec! Do your best!」
「Fleur-san, you came」
「Of course. I’ll miss you too, but… I’m cheering for you!」
「Yes, thank you!」
「Leave the boat building to me. I’ll take responsibility and finish it!」
「I’m sorry I couldn’t stay until the end…」
「It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll make sure it’s done properly! ――A nice boat!」
「…Thank you」
Fleur-san cheered me on like that, but… I feel like she said something slightly ominous there.
「Hey…」
「Ah, Diana-chan… Thank you for coming to see me off」
「――Two years」
「Huh? Ah, yeah. Two years」
「I won’t wait any longer than that」
「…Uh, yeah. Two years」
…This feels like a romcom. It really feels like a romcom moment.
To create that kind of atmosphere in such a short time… as expected of Diana-chan.
「Helloo」
「Ah, Laudette-san. Thank you for coming all this way」
「No, noo. When I heard you’d be leaving on a two-year journey starting today, I just couldn’t stay homee」
「I see, well… that’s really…」
「Please come back as soon as you cann. I’ll be waitingg」
「Yes. Thank you」
It already made me happy that Laudette-san, who usually stays indoors, came to see me off, and to say something like that too…
Man, this is embarrassing. This too… yeah, it’s like a romcom.
Following Diana-chan, now this too. It’s embarrassing.
「Yo. Do your best out there」
「Jered-papa-san, thank you」
「This is a parting gift. Take it」
「Ah, yes. Thank you very much―― thank you」
From Jered-papa――he gave me a blacksmith’s hammer.
It was so unexpected that I hesitated for a moment…
I mean, I’m about to go on a journey, and I get something like this…
Will there ever be a time I’ll actually use it during my travels? If my 「Fire Magic」 improves along the way, maybe that could happen…?
Well, whatever. I’ll gratefully accept it for now.
「Alec. It’s finally time」
「Ah, you came. Thank you. Yes, it’s finally time to depart」
「I’m sure the experiences you gain on this journey will become a great asset for you」
「Yes. I’ll do my best to make that happen」
「And someday, I’d like you to use that experience――to become the village chief of Lukmine」
「I see…」
And so, the beautiful village chief of Lukmine also came to see me off.
And as usual, she brought up the idea of me becoming the next village chief of Lukmine.
Why is she so persistent about making me the chief of Lukmine…
If I were to become a village chief at all, I feel like it would be for Meiyu Village instead…
◇
While greeting everyone one by one, I had been slowly making my way toward the edge of the village, and at last, that task came to an end.
「Everyone, thank you for coming today. From here, I’ll be setting out on a journey to see the world」
I turned around and gave my final words to everyone.
「The next time I return to this village, I hope to have grown even stronger. Everyone, thank you. I’ll do my best」
I called out loudly, waving my hand as I walked toward the outskirts of the village.
And the villagers all waved back, seeing me off.
…I’m grateful. Truly grateful. Just like Yggdrasil-san said, I can really feel how much everyone cares about me.
――I’ll come back again.
I don’t know what will happen on this journey, and I don’t know when it will be… but someday, I’ll definitely return to this village.
To this place I love, to the people I love, and spend peaceful, happy days together again.
Someday again―― a slow, relaxed life in the countryside!
…By the way, I finished my farewell and ended up walking out of the village alone, but… where is Jisrare-san?
With this atmosphere, I can’t exactly go back into the village now, so what should I do…
Also, I feel like there was one more close friend I was supposed to say goodbye to… or is that just my imagination…?
next chapter: World Journey
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