Chapter 6

Somehow, I managed to write this, making it the third consecutive post of the day. Please be aware.

Thanks to everyone, I was able to reach 11th place in the daily high fantasy rankings, which made me very happy and motivated. Thank you so much!

"But still, I didn't expect you guys to come down from the mountain. It's really nice to know you missed my face so much."

"We didn't come down just to see your face."

"Exactly."

Sazaki, who had stayed at an inn, smiled at Faido and Erika as if he had just remembered something while walking through the town, but the two friends responded rather casually.

"I know, I know. You probably wanted to see me after your great-grandchildren. Being second is good enough."

Indeed, Sazaki didn't seem to mind at all, shaking the bottle of alcohol in his hand.

"You must want to see Lala the most."

"Ah, ah, ah... I really don't know what to do... What kind of face should I make? It's really embarrassing."

But Sazaki, who had been smiling, almost crouched down at Faido's response.

"By the way, why did the talk turn to inheritance?"

"It was a major oversight. I entrusted a will to my disciple, writing about my inheritance and all, but I forgot to convey the important parts. As a result, it went straight to Lala as a letter. Lala sent a magic message saying that a will should only be revealed after death. Do you understand how I felt at that moment? I don't even remember spitting out the alcohol I was drinking."

(The content wasn't just about the inheritance, you know.)

(It must have said something like 'I love you,' right?)

In response to Erika's question, Sazaki, with a thoroughly exhausted expression, answered.

But Faido and Erika, who couldn't believe that just writing a will could make Sazaki so flustered, exchanged glances and deduced the truth.

Sazaki and the old woman named Lala had a rather peculiar marital relationship, maintaining a distance while still being close, and they even lived in different towns. However, they had a strong affection for each other, and Sazaki had even added the words "I love you" to the will.

But from Sazaki's perspective, he had written such an embarrassing will thinking he would be dead by the time it was read. If it was read, it would only be embarrassing.

(So Sazaki has a sense of shame too.)

Faido, seeing his friend in such a rare state of distress, felt a bit refreshed. It was truly the biggest mistake of Sazaki's life.

"You have a good relationship, don't you, old man?"

"Yeah, that's right, old lady."

"Hehehe."

"Ho ho ho."

"Stop saying whatever you want...!"

While Erika smiled gracefully and Faido laughed heartily, Sazaki alone had a sour expression.

◆

"Hey, it's me. Can you give me a ride?"

Sazaki, who had left the town, approached the carriage that connected the towns, which he occasionally used to meet his wife, and called out.

"Huh? It's been a while, old man. I thought you were dead."

"Hmph. Not that easy. Oh, and give my friend a ride too."

"You have a friend?"

"A fellow who narrowly escaped death."

"I see."

"I'll be a bother then."

"Please take care of me."

"Sure, come on in."

Sazaki, joking with the familiar driver, got into the carriage along with Faido and Erika.

Faido then noticed that the horses pulling the carriage were golems.

"These are golem horses, you know."

"What, you knew? Oh, you said you came by carriage."

"Indeed. It's a great era, don't you think, Sazaki?"

"...Hey, Faido. Can I say what I think?"

"Huh?"

"The old man's way of speaking is really off. It's almost scary."

"Forget it. Rather, you haven't changed much since we met."

"Wha-"

"It's not that your heart is young; it's just that you haven't grown up."

"Wha- That's not what I said!"

"Don't you get it? The fact that it's so obvious means you haven't grown up at all."

"Then I'll say it too. Forget it."

The light-hearted banter between Faido and Sazaki was utterly trivial.

These two, who were close friends and comrades-in-arms, had survived the dark ages and even shattered them to reach the present, yet their interactions were just like they were back then.

"Hehehehe. You haven't changed a bit."

Erika, who had met them when they were mischievous kids, smiled gracefully, recalling the past as she looked at the wrinkled old men who hadn't changed at all.

"Well, look at this, Erika! I'll show you the blue sky again! Right, Sazaki?"

"I have to create a world where all the brewers can work."

"You were drinking again, weren't you!?"

"I have no memory of that."

"Hehehehe."

Recalling their youthful days, when they had run through the sky with nothing but youthful zeal.

"Alright, let's get going."

While the two old men were bickering, the passengers got into the carriage, and the golem carriage started moving as scheduled.

Their destination was the magic city of Marguard, the city where golem carriages were created and where the most advanced magic technology is researched.

◆

Bonus

"Swordman" Clovis

- Whether a completed 'individual' or a 'lineage' that inherits techniques, the answer to which is correct varies among warriors. But at least, none of his fellow disciples underestimate Clovis.

"Potential" Karl

- Future. Potential. Ah, what wonderful words. And how incredible they are.

"Godspeed Sword Saint" Sazaki

- As a child, Sazaki swung empty bottles, hypothesizing that if he could swing a sword faster than anyone else, it would be one of the strongest. He was right.

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