Chapter 54

### Naga's Perspective

"Hey, kid. Looks like you made it back safely."

"Yeah."

The day after returning from the mushroom forest, I visited the church. I greeted the priest who came out from the back and walked up to the statue.

"So, are you here to help with the cleaning?"

"...No. I want to pray first."

After visiting the church with Crane and the others, I came here a few times during my free time. Each time, this priest welcomed me without any unpleasant expressions. His natural demeanor made me wonder what the first priest, who had a fishy smell, was all about.

"Do as you please. This is a place for that."

Before I could ask to be left alone, the priest smiled and went back to the back.

"…………"

Standing before the mysterious statue of the god in this world, I offered my prayers. Not to the god, but to my parents.

Even if my thoughts don't reach them, I pray. For the disobedient son I am... at least, for their happiness.

When I realized it, I was already in this world. I had almost no memory of the white world that Granos and Crane talked about. I was standing there in a daze when someone called out to me. I was part of a group, but I couldn't communicate well and was told not to glare. I felt out of place in the group, but I didn't know what to do.

It was the same in the previous world. I was bad at talking and was often told that my face was scary and that I glared at people... I didn't get along well with others. My parents were worried, but their concern was annoying, and I rebelled. I knew that my mother cried to my father after I went to bed, but I couldn't do anything about it.

Even when I was with the group, I felt out of place and didn't like it. But I didn't have the courage to leave. When I didn't know what to do, I was asked to display my status.

When I was asked about my status and confirmed what I had, I understood what I had chosen, even though I didn't remember. I was still me.

I didn't like it.

Not getting along with others.

Thinking that if I became a hero, I could get along with others... I chose the unique skill 'Dragon Slayer'... but I didn't want to expose my unchanged self.

"Did you refuse it too? Then, how about it? Want to travel with me until you decide what you want to do?"

The man who spoke to me was a joker. Many of his actions seemed like he was teasing me. But he listened to me well and waited for me to gather my thoughts. He talked to me without any unpleasant expressions.

After that, Crane also didn't show any negative feelings towards me. He treated me a bit like a child... as someone younger.

"Naga," "Naga-kun"

The two of them took care of me, even though I couldn't do anything. I could survive in this troublesome world thanks to them.

It felt very comfortable, and I wanted to stay with them, but I was worried about my parents. From what they said, I was dead in the original world. ...After being raised so carefully, I would have died without giving anything back.

I felt guilty. Praying to the god wouldn't change anything, but the church is a place for prayer... I wished for my parents' happiness.

"Praying for a long time. Is there something you wish for?"

"......For my parents to be happy."

"I see... Well, you must have a lot on your mind. I hope your wish comes true."

"......Do you know?"

The priest who returned had a gentle smile. He really looked like a clergyman. We were supposed to be strangers, but he nodded slowly and smiled.

"Of course. If you're a priest, you'd know... There was a stupid woman making a fuss in someone's garden. You have to gather information to avoid getting involved."

"......"

"Thinking about your parents even when you're far away is a good thing. You've grown up well."

"......I've been rebellious lately. I caused them worry until the end......"

The priest listened to me with a smile, not giving any specific advice, just nodding along.

I didn't want to show my weakness to Crane and Granos. They were older... probably with different ways of thinking and feeling. Their approach to family was different. I was a child, someone who needed to be taken care of.

But here, it doesn't matter. I need to act my age. The time when being a child was an excuse is over. I need to take responsibility for myself.

"So... what are you going to do in this world from now on?"

"......I'll think about it... but... I want to protect."

"I see... then, don't run away from what you've decided to protect."

"Yeah... to become stronger, I'll travel with the older brother. To be able to stay together again... when I return... can I come back here?"

"Yeah. I'll pray for your journey to be blessed."

I intended to help with the cleaning until it was time, but the priest said, "Your guest is already here."

When I stepped out of the church, someone was already waiting. It was still before the agreed time. When our eyes met, he bowed elegantly, and I nodded in response, unsure of what to say.

"Let's go."

"Yeah, thanks for the trouble."

We started walking towards the Tamer Guild. Apart from Momo, I wanted to tame another monster. When I consulted with Fol, he easily arranged for me to tame a monster at the Tamer Guild.

"I didn't expect you to approach me."

"It's not that... I thought you were better suited for it. The other one seemed busy."

"I thought I wasn't trusted..."

"......You move for Raz. I move for Crane. There's no reason to doubt when Raz and Crane aren't enemies."

"Haha... interesting... thinking..."

"Hmph..."

I don't think he's a bad guy. Even though Crane is wary and Granos is hostile, he accepts it without issue. Plus, Crane's attitude changed halfway through. For now, he's not an enemy.

But being laughed at annoyed me. I glared at Fol, who was trying to suppress his laughter, but it had no effect. "Let's go," I said, and we headed to the Tamer Guild.

Leonis explained that since I was registered with the Adventurer Guild, I couldn't join the Tamer Guild, but it was better to register my familiar. If I registered Momo and gave the registration card to Crane, there would be no problems if anything happened. When I asked Fol to do it as well, he readily agreed.

The Tamer Guild sells various monsters. It's like a pet shop, but the monsters are dangerous and not domesticated, so they make you tame them on the spot. If you can't, they don't give them to you. When the shop assistant saw Fol, he immediately said, "I'll show you around," and led us to a back room.

"We've been waiting for you, Mr. Fol. This is the magic pigeon you requested."

"Hmm... it's a bit small, isn't it? And... it's not a regular magic pigeon, is it?"

"Of course, you can tell. This is a young pigeon that has just started flying... and its father is not a magic pigeon but a golden magic pigeon..."

"I see... looking closely, its feathers have a golden hue. A golden magic pigeon..."

The pigeon prepared for me had white feathers with gold mixed in, and a reddish-brown color around its neck. It was smaller than the pigeons I saw in the hallway but was striking and had a presence.

When its round eyes met mine, we stared at each other for a while. Then, it seemed to nod as it looked away. Meanwhile, Fol and the shop owner were having a conversation.

"Yes. Since it's a stronger individual, there's a possibility it won't obey even if sold to merchants... What do you think?"

"Naga-sama. This magic pigeon is smarter and stronger than usual, but it's also harder to handle. As long as you are stronger than a pigeon, it shouldn't be a problem... It can handle long distances and constant movement, so it should be fine for letter exchanges."

"I see... then, this one... no, I'll take this one."

The pigeon nodded at my words. It seemed to be evaluating me as well. When I took it out of the cage, it flew to my left shoulder and moved its feet as if checking if it was a good spot.

"Understood. I'll handle the procedures... Ah, let's register Momo as well. He's registered with the Adventurer Guild, but I'll be his guarantor."

"There will be no problem if Mr. Fol is the guarantor. Here are the documents."

I signed the documents and registered the magic beast with my blood. I named it "Litchi." The neck color resembled the skin of a litchi, and the overall color was like the flesh of a litchi. It wasn't a bad idea to name all my familiars after fruits.

"Naga-sama. When you have the chance, please give Crane-sama's blood to Litchi. This will allow Litchi to identify Crane-sama and follow his magic to deliver letters."

"......Got it. Then, give your blood to it as well."

"Mine?"

"Yeah. You can't report directly to Raz, right? If something happens, I'll send it to you."

"Is it okay if it's me? What about Leonis-sama?"

"......Wouldn't it be slower with Leonis? You're closer... I don't know who Raz is... but might it be necessary?"

"......Thank you. Then, I'll let it remember me. ...When you let it lick your blood, it will remember your individual magic. Got it, Litchi? I'm Fol."

Litchi licked the blood and nodded, so it probably remembered. All that's left is to let Crane and the master remember it, and we can exchange letters.

And... I should at least greet the Adventurer Guild and ask them not to give me unreasonable quests.