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yumemory[Location: Beach, night]
Murr: A long, long time ago, the people on this island worshipped a giant spider.
Murr: Unfortunately, this spider god was super greedy. No matter how many offerings it received from the humans, it was never satisfied.
Murr: And so, it decided to eat everyone who lived here!
Mitile and Heathcliff: ...Urk….
I gulped. The legend was more gruesome than I expected. Mitile and Heathcliff were visibly growing pale.
Shino: Does that spider really exist? I bet it’s just an ancient legend.
Murr: Who knows! But I did find a place that looks a lot like the nest of that giant spider.
Murr: There’s a temple deep in the jungle. I sensed a presence lurking inside.
Heathcliff: By a presence lurking, you mean…
Murr: Is it the giant spider? Or is it just an ordinary jungle beast that turned the shrine into its stronghold? Who knows? I wonder which one it is.
Akira: ….........
The darkness of the night only made the jungle seem scary. We were just exploring it during the day, but now it had turned into a terrifying monster.
The giant spider that devoured those humans could be wriggling within the dark of that very jungle. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Shino: Don’t worry, Sage.
Shino stopped eating.
He faced me confidently, his red eyes free of uneasiness and fear.
Shino: I’ll protect you.
He assured me with a calm voice, and added:
Shino: I’ll protect Mitile, Rutile, and Lennox, too.
Shino: And Heath, of course.
He looked at everyone’s faces and nodded firmly.
Heathcliff: Shino…
Figaro: How dependable of you, Shino.
Figaro: Well, we came this far for an adventure. Might as well make use of this chance to refine yourselves into full-fledged wizards.
Figaro: If anything happens, you have the world’s best doctor and scholar by your side, so don’t worry too much, okay?
Murr: Don’t worry, don’t worry!
Shino: You can count on me. Any spider or monster will turn into mere food for my scythe.
Shino: Or our dinner menu, like that boar.
Mitile: That’s a little…
Rutile: Can we even eat spiders…? I wonder what it tastes like.
Before I knew it, the peaceful atmosphere had already returned. Nero laughed and put another slice of steak on my plate.
Nero: No need to be so scared. Just think of it how a Western wizard might, like a li’l stimulation, or somethin’ of the sort.
Nero: Ain’t it just a story ya tell to spice up your journey? Bit like a scary legend from your homeland.
Akira: Oh, like the ghost stories you tell your friends on a school trip, during your stay at the inn…
Nero: The what?
Akira: Nothing, I just remembered that we have a tradition like that back in my world as well.
I looked over to where I heard a lively laugh. On the other side of the bonfire, the Southern wizards were merrily partaking in the fruit.
Rutile: Would you like some, Master Sage?
Rutile called out to me, and within his hands was a delicious-looking fruit cut in half.
Mitile: Mister Leno cut the fruit without a knife!
Akira: This fruit? With his bare hands? How?
Lennox: Like this.
Lennox picked one of the fruits, lightly twisted his wrist, and nonchalantly broke the fruit into two.
Akira: Wow, two clean halves!
Rutile: Can you believe it?
Mitile: I’m sure Mister Leno wants to show it to surprise you!
Akira: I was really surprised, I didn’t think it'd be this clean of a cut!
Akira: That’s amazing, Lennox. Is it because you’re strong?
Lennox: Not really. Anyone can do it once they understand how.
Rutile: Oh, I want to know! How do you do it?
Figaro: Leno, do my share too while you’re at it.
Mitile: Doctor Figaro, you rely too much on Mister Leno. Come on, let’s learn for ourselves!
Even on this isolated island, the warm atmosphere created by the Southern wizards was still the same.
A feeling of ease filled my heart, like what one would feel when joining a harmonious family sitting in a circle.
Akira: (Well, if this place was really dangerous, Figaro would’ve noticed by now….)
Figaro threw a smile my way, as if he noticed I was looking at him.
Figaro: In any case, we should check out that temple tomorrow.
Figaro: Our initial plan was to obtain the materials for the dream-eating ring, after all.
Akira: You’re right, let’s go tomorrow.
Mitile: Um, Heathcliff. I heard from Shino…
Mitile: ...that the dream-eating ring you plan to make is for Mister Faust. Is that right?
Heathcliff: Yeah. It seems that Master Faust experiences sleeping troubles at times, so we thought of making the dream-eating ring and giving it as a present to him.
Mitile: ...Some time ago, Mister Faust gave me a big help.
Mitile: So I thought I should return the favor this time…
Heathcliff: I see.
Heathcliff: Then let’s find lots of spiderwebs together. The legend sounds a little scary, but I’ll do my best.
Mitile: Yes, me too!
Murr: Yay, a grand exploration with everyone tomorrow!
The night deepened, and the wizards went off to their own tents to rest for tomorrow’s exploration.
I tried to sleep as well, but even after lying down and closing my eyes, I just couldn't fall asleep.
Akira: (I can’t sleep…)
I tossed and turned so many times. Eventually, I gave up and went outside my tent.
Drawn by the sound of the waves, I headed to the beach where I found someone gazing at the bonfire.
Nero: ...Oh, Sage?
Nero smiled weakly as he noticed me. He didn’t ask what I was doing out here at this hour.
Perhaps, like me, Nero was forsaken by sleep.
Akira: I can’t sleep… Probably because it’s too quiet here.
Nero: Maybe. Sometimes a bit of noise in the background is exactly whatcha need for a real good sleep.
He poured me a cup of tea with the water he boiled over the bonfire.
Nero: Here, herbal tea. Should help ya sleep better.
Akira: Thank you very much.
I took the cup into my hands, and a steam that rose out from the cup with a soft, relieving aroma brushed against my cheeks.
Akira: ...It smells good.
Nero: I got it from Faust. He said to look after Heath and Shino to make sure they don’t do anything reckless.
Akira: F-Faust did…?
Making the dream-eating ring for Faust was supposed to be a surprise that Shino and Heathcliff had secretly planned.
Akira: Don’t tell me... he already realized?
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
