kscans

Chapter 151 - The O-saki and the Emissary

"Lana! Donal!"

Little One ran over, teke teke. Ahead of her, the scorpion and antlion duo were sunbathing, surrounded by children.

"Well, it’s been a while."

"Welcome. Is it trouble?"

"Why is it that whenever I come, the only thing you can think of is trouble?"

The giant scorpion gently stroked the head of the pouting Little One.

Sure, stroking is fine, but don’t use your tail, your tail. Isn’t it poisonous?

With half-lidded eyes, Little One hopped onto the scorpion’s back, pyoin.

Ah, it’s warm. This is nice.

It was now near the end of summer, but in Donautil, located close to the northernmost region, the climate was already autumnal. It got quite cold at night, so this warmth was welcome. The giant scorpion, Lana, tilted her head at Little One clinging warmly to her back and spoke.

"If it’s not trouble, are you sightseeing? You must have some business, don’t you?"

The antlion, Donal, chimed in, looking over at Chihaya and Dorfen who had come with Little One.

"It’s about me, I’m sure. It’s fine as it is."

"You think so? Can I ask why?"

It seemed that all the Lords, except for the one in Castrato’s forest, intended to share their fate with Legion. Donal pondered Little One’s question for a moment before speaking haltingly.

"The gentleman from Castrato, me and Bread, Trigger and Legion-sama. We have collected five dark magic crystals so far, and we have also visited Olga’s golden magic crystal, have we not? Did you not think that one was missing?"

At those words, Cesare raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed. The number of magic crystals I first sensed was seven. I thought it might have been an error, as the little brat from Castrato was mass-producing magic crystals."

Cesare, inside Chihaya, looked sternly at Donal. Donal nodded and looked back at Cesare with a sorrowful gaze.

"It was no error. There is one more magic crystal, my master."

"But all my memories have returned. Probably. As has my power as a god. What else could there be?"

"I cannot say. If I were to tell you, the final magic crystal would lose its color. Therefore…"

Donal trailed off, his gaze fixed on a distant point.

"We will be with our master until the very end."

Cesare gave Donal a quizzical look before turning his gaze to Little One. Chihiro didn’t understand what it meant either, but she knew for sure there was one more place they had to go.

"The water magic circulation device, I guess?"

The existence of a magic circulation device meant there was a high possibility of a magic crystal beneath it. That was the only place they hadn’t visited. Now that the continent of the Kilfan Empire was lost, it shouldn’t be impossible to go if they dived into the sea.

"With the frogs’ protection, it won’t be a problem. If we ask the sea serpents, they can guide us. Let’s go check it out after this."

Seeing Little One strike a firm pose, Dorfen hurriedly added.

"Please wait a moment! It would be best to properly report to His Highness the Prince Regent and make preparations. It is already autumn. We must also begin preparations for the Arts Theater."

Little One’s mouth fell open in an "ah."

That was right, Arcadia’s first theatrical performance would be held in the autumn. To live up to the name of the Arts Theater, the first-floor hall was planned to be an exhibition space for paintings and sculptures, and a cafe and restaurant were also scheduled to be attached. The trees and flowers planted around the area needed to be adjusted, and the magical tools for the light-up also needed to be selected. On top of that, there were applications for the food stalls to be set up in the gardens around the theater and coordination of the adventurers and soldiers to be hired for security. The autumn was packed with things to do.

"Uwaaah… I wish a day had seventy-two hours."

A cold sweat trickled down Little One’s face. Little One’s troupe couldn’t hide their wry smiles. Donal watched the Honeybee Carriage fly off towards the Donautil royal capital, its passenger in a flustered panic, and quietly looked down.

"Until the very last moment. With our master."

"Hey, you think he’d want that?"

The image of the twins, affectionately snuggled together, floated in Donal’s mind. Cesare, with a bashful smile that suggested he didn’t mind at all. To allow that happiness to continue, Legion’s emissaries could not stop.

"When I think of our master’s past when he was as good as a corpse… I want to make sure he is happy in this life."

The carriage had become a tiny dot in the distance. The former boy god, who must be laughing inside it.

Lana could only watch over Donal as he murmured as if in a delirium.

"You’re leaving already? You could stay longer!"

Having completed her objectives of checking the magical institution and visiting the forest, Little One quickly began preparing for her return. She had only stopped by the Donautil royal capital to deliver gifts of sweets, honey, beeswax, and magic stones for magical tools.

"Well, let’s meet in Frontier next time. I’ve invited you, right? To the opening of the Frontier Arts Theater. I’ll be waiting."

That’s right. Chihiro, wanting to unveil the concept of theater to many countries and spread it, had left invitations in all the borderland countries she had visited. With a Honeybee Carriage pick-up and drop-off service, they planned to welcome the royalty and nobility of each country for a week starting from the Arts Theater’s opening. In Arcadia, where the countries were a three-week to a little over a month’s carriage ride from each other, inviting them would normally be an extremely difficult task. Unless it was for a long-term stay like studying abroad, they couldn’t just come and go as they pleased. The Honeybee Carriage solved that problem. This flying vehicle could deliver invited guests from even the northernmost Sucaraba Kingdom in about a week. The interior of the carriage was now the size of a house. It could carry ten or twenty people without any problem. If they were accompanied by a magician, their luggage could be kept to a minimum, making it a truly all-inclusive service.

Marrow looked at the grinning Little One with a complex expression, his face slightly puffed out.

With him looking on, Little One and her party returned home.

"I’ll definitely go! Come pick me up early, you hear!!"

As Marrow shouted at the flying carriage, Masahad’s fingers gripped the back of his head, gashi.

"Then make sure you finish your work properly. I’ll decide your length of stay based on your progress."

The older brother stared at him with a dark smile, his fingers tightening, giri giri. Marrow glared back with teary eyes, muttering, "It hurts, it hurts." Little One watched the two of them with a wry smile.

Considering the uproar from two years ago, it was an unbelievable sight.

I’m glad for you, Marrow.

Just as Dīvadatta rushed in to mediate between the two squabbling brothers, the Honeybee Carriage picked up speed and shot into the sky.

There was a mountain of things to do, but they were happy worries.

Let’s do this! Arcadia’s first theatrical performance, Arcadia’s first Arts Theater that doubles as a museum. It seems it’s the first time it’s being opened to the public too, so let’s blow the world away.

Romel had also made inquiries to the countries in the central region, and she had heard they had received quite a few favorable replies.

"Nfufufu, ah, I’m so looking forward to it!"

Little One’s head, as she bounced around, pyon pyon, was filled with thoughts of the Arts Theater. The matter of the water magic circulation device was no longer even a fragment in her mind.

Later, after enjoying the festival to her heart’s content, by the time Little One remembered it, the season had changed, and even though Frontier was in the south, the temperature was no longer warm enough to dive into the sea.

"Aaaaaahhh!"

"No use crying over spilled milk."

Being watched over with lukewarm affection by a slightly exasperated Chihaya was also part of the charm.

And so, as the new year began, Little One was swept up in a series of festivals, including Wilfe’s wedding and the new school term, and her final pilgrimage was inevitably put on the back burner.

"How did it come to this!"

For now, Little One did not know the future in which she would shout that all-too-familiar phrase.