Bonus 6: Because We’re Friends, I’ll Listen to Everything

"I see… That’s a shame."

"Nah, I kind of figured it would turn out that way~."

It was a quiet afternoon.

I was holding a silver-haired girl in my arms.

It was Rizel.

Even though she said that so casually, her ears drooped and her tail hung limply without strength.

Last night, for the first time in half a year, she came to visit this village.

The village erupted with excitement over the wolf girl’s return. After all, Rizel had been in Elna Village even before we came here.

Naturally, the night turned into a huge feast of drinking and singing.

Apparently, this village really does love its festivals.

The next day, once things finally calmed down, we sat together and caught up on each other’s lives.

By the way, Raiga had gone out hunting for fresh game to serve to Rizel.

Thinking back to the last feast, it was obvious the stored provisions wouldn’t be enough.

As for her request to King Risharl, sadly, she’d gotten nothing out of it.

Several villages had been swallowed by miasma.

This world doesn’t have anything like Earth’s detailed family registries—there wasn’t even a record of the victims’ names.

Of course, the investigators sent on orders scoured the entire country.

And yet, not a single clue was found.

"Cheer up, okay?"

"I told you, I’m fine~. I’m fine, really."

Her forced cheer was obvious, so I reached up and patted her head. She gave a tiny, pleased shiver.

…We first met here in this village, too.

She had appeared out of nowhere in front of Raiga and the others when they were struggling against an ogre—that was the beginning.

It feels like something from a long, long time ago.

"So… what will you do from here on?"

"Hmm… For now, I’m thinking of traveling around other countries. Yeah, other countries."

"If you’re looking for somewhere with elves, then… Regionia, maybe?"

That’s a multi-race nation located in the center of this continent.

It’s the country with the highest traffic. Naturally, that means it should have the richest flow of information.

When I suggested it, she nodded in agreement.

From here, you’d have to cross the mountain range, and then smaller mountains beyond that.

It’s not exactly the kind of distance you can just pop over casually.

"So… I don’t think we’ll see each other for a while. For a while, okay?"

Rizel smiled slyly, hinting at a reunion. I tilted my head in puzzlement.

"So Yuto, don’t make such a lonely face~."

"Huh…?"

Was I really making that kind of face? I instinctively touched my cheeks, but of course that wouldn’t tell me anything about my expression.

A moment ago I was the one comforting her—somehow the roles had reversed.

I was being fussed over by a girl who, at least in appearance, looked younger than me.

…Ever since I came to this world, I’ve gotten softer.

The old me would’ve sent her off without a change in expression. No—maybe I wouldn’t have gotten involved with her in the first place.

But I don’t dislike this change.

In fact, I’m a little surprised to find that I actually like this side of myself.

"It’s not like I’m going to be searching for people forever. Just… lightly, maybe three years or so? Lightly. Then I’ll come back."

Her sense of time made me let out a wry laugh.

To us, three years is a long time.

"Three years, huh… I wonder what things will be like by then."

My gaze drifted off into the distance.

Back in my old world, I’d probably be starting university or getting a job by then.

But in this world, that doesn’t matter. For now, I’m too busy just living with Raiga. I can’t even picture the future—so the thought slipped out of my mouth.

"Hmm… maybe you’ll have kids? Kids."

"…Huh?"

Rizel’s words froze me in place.

With who and who, exactly?

"With Raiga and Yuto, of course."

…I must have said that out loud.

When Rizel called me out on it, I felt the heat rise in my cheeks.

"…It’s too soon. Not yet."

"Eh~? But you’re already living together after a proposal, right? The rumors even reached the royal capital, you know—rumors!"

Ah… she must mean that whole exchange in front of King Risharl.

I was at a loss for words.

When we moved to this village, just like Rirod-san had told me, it seems a lot of the elves took it that way.

I hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now, for some reason, a strange embarrassment welled up inside me.

"What about you, Rizel?"

When I tried to change the subject, she just smiled meaningfully.

"Hmm… who knows~."

I thought back to last night.

Her looks were clearly popular among the village men—she’d been asked to dance many times.

If she kept her mouth shut, she was a beautiful girl like a Western doll, complete with dog ears and a tail. Of course she’d get attention.

And she was single.

It really drove home the fact that no matter the world or the race, people’s tastes don’t seem to change.

"For now, I don’t have any plans—no plans at all."

Then Rizel added, "Unless it’s someone stronger than me."

That was a ridiculously high bar. So high you could almost walk under it instead of over it. Without a doubt, that wiped out the entire male population of Elna Village.

"Besides… I think I’ll wait until I find my mother’s family."

"I see…"

The mood turned just a little heavy.

Then Rizel spoke again.

"Yuto. I want you to hear the truth. The real truth."

Her sudden change in tone made me nod silently.

Then she began to speak.

"I’ve been saying I’m looking for my roots, but at first… it was just an excuse to go traveling."

"…Yeah."

"There was no one in my father’s domain stronger than me, and every day was boring. My mother was always nagging me… So really, it was more like I ran away from home. That’s the truth."

It sounded almost like a confession, and all I could do was respond with small nods.

"But… by chance, I came to this village. And when I saw the elves here who had lost their families, I thought—maybe my mother felt like this too. Being torn away so suddenly by something so unfair…"

"I understand."

The pain and sorrow of losing everything in an instant—I knew it well.

That crushing loneliness is something only those who’ve lived it can truly grasp… and it’s not something you should wish on anyone else.

"That’s why I’m absolutely going to find my mother’s family. Absolutely. That’s my vow."

"If you ever go through something hard, I want you to come here anytime. I’ll listen to anything. Of course… you’ll have to listen to my complaints too."

"Ehh, no thanks~. Complaining is fine, but I don’t actually want to hear yours, you know~?"

Rizel made a genuinely displeased face.

It was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but laugh.

She smiled back in response, and somehow, a warm, peaceful air filled the room.