CHAPTER 10 - Campeggio of the Sleepless Night

[yumemory]

[Location : Temple]

Heathcliff: So that’s what happened!?

Nero finally put down the cutlery that was chasing Bradley.

Nero: Yeah. We kept it low to not cause a commotion.

Mitile: Normally, wouldn’t you die if you’re thrown right into a chamber of magma…?

Shino: So we’re talking to Bradley’s ghost now?

Lennox: ...Are we really?

Bradley: Do I look dead to you?! This Great Bradley right here ain’t someone who’d let himself be beaten without a fight.

Bradley: I did get thrown into a chamber of magma, though.

Bradley: Got swept along through Mithra’s teleportation door, managed t’ sneeze myself away by a hair, and got thrown all the way to here.

Figaro: I see. So your affliction saved you.

Rutile: Then why didn’t you go back to the manor right away?

Bradley: I was just about t’ head off, but a monster came and attacked me.

Bradley: I fought back, of course, and it ran into this place. Keepin’ up with it was a real pain in the ass.

Bradley: Still killed it, though. Pickin’ a fight with me is just throwin’ your life away.

Murr: Hey, hey, what kind of monster were you fighting? Was it a giant spider?

Bradley: Huh, how’d ya know?

Everyone: !

Bradley: Are you after that monster, too, Mister Bobby Hair? Tough luck, you’re too late. That monster’s just a bunch of mana stones in my belly now.

Shino, Mitile, Heathcliff: ……….

In the end, we never found out if the legendary giant spider truly existed, and the mystery remained in the dark.

Akira: In any case, I’m just really happy Bradley is safe.

Bradley: Hell yeah. I can finally go back, damn.

Bradley: Hey, Nero, when we get back, ya better serve me up some damn good fried chicken.

Nero: Don't you get carried away now. Better apologize to the Sage for makin’ ‘em worry so much about’cha.

Shino: Nero was really intimidating back there.

Heathcliff: Yeah, it’s my first time seeing him so angry.

Heathcliff: He went all out even though Bradley is a Northern wizard…

Nero: H-Huh?

Nero awkwardly turned his eyes to anywhere except those two.

Nero: Ah, well... This guy eats the meals I cook at the manor with the rest of y’all now....

Nero: Don’t that at least make him one of them… uh, comrade things? So, yeah, there’s no reason t’ hold back, yeah?

Nero: ‘Ey, Bradley?

Bradley: That’s… a real dodgy way of puttin’ it.

Bradley: But, yeah, what he said.

Bradley nodded in exasperation, but he looked somewhat pleased.

It might take a while to untangle the twists and knots in the thread of their relationship, but that didn't stop me from feeling truly happy.

Heathcliff: Shino.

Heathcliff: Don’t go deciding things and taking matters into your hands all by yourself. If something like this happens again, I’ll get seriously angry.

Shino: ...Sorry. I’ll try to tell you first next time.

Heathcliff: Not just ‘try’, you must. And make sure to provide me with an aftermath report.

Shino: Got it. Will do.

Heathcliff: …...You’re being really compliant today.

Shino looked over to Nero.

Shino: I just don’t want you to snap at me like that.

 

[Location: Beach, day]

We found the raw materials for the dream-eating ring, souvenirs, and unexpectedly, Bradley.

Countless surprises came to greet us during our stay on this deserted island. We bid farewell to the exciting and thrilling adventure, and finally made our way back to the manor. 

 

[Location: Manor’s foyer, day]

Heathcliff: Master Faust, this is from us.

Shino: It’s a charm called the dream-eating ring. It’s said to eat nightmares, so go feed yours to this thing.

Heathcliff: Actually, we went to an island in the Southern country to gather materials for this charm.

Faust: I see. I didn’t know about it. Didn’t have the slightest idea. Not at all.

Shino: Did we surprise you?

Faust: Yeah, you did. I’m definitely surprised.

Shino and Heathcliff: Yay!

Murr: Faust, you gotta put your heart into reciting those well-prepared lines!

Figaro: Ah, look at him. Still so earnest, yet so awkward. That part of him hasn’t changed at all.

Lennox: Was he perhaps aware of Shino and Heath’s plan from the beginning?

Figaro: Well, adults tend to see through whatever the kids are planning, after all.

Figaro: At least he tried to act like he didn’t know anything about it, just to make them happy.

Mitile: I’m really glad Mister Faust looks happy.

Rutile: And I’m sure that happiness is no mere act.

Faust: Shino, Heath. Thank you for making this for me, really.

Shino: Heheh. Go on. You can cry out of happiness.

Faust: I’m definitely not going to cry, but….

Shino: But what?

Faust: But I’ll treasure this. Thank you again.

Heathcliff: My pleasure.

Shino: No prob.

 

[Location: Dining hall, evening]

Before Bradley went missing, he, Nero and I had a plan to share drinks.

We finally decided to act on the overdue plan tonight, so I went to the dining hall.

Akira: ...Hm?

I saw Nero there, but I didn’t find Bradley, the star of tonight’s show.

Akira: I wonder if something happened…?

Nero: Ah, ‘m sure it’s just the usual….

(thunder)

Akira: !? What was that sound…?

Nero: Think he went after Mithra for payback for what he put ‘im through.

A noise so violent it could throw the roof from the manor reverberated for the second and third time.

Akira: W-Will he make it today…?

Nero: He planned this thing ‘imself. He’ll make it if he has to crawl, no doubt about it.

Nero put his elbow on the table, looking somewhat rejuvenated.

Akira: Nero, you look livelier today.

Nero: Shino and Heath gave me that dream-eating ring, too. That could be it.

Nero: Well, let’s chow down before the fried chicken gets cold.

Bradley: Hey! Don’t y’all start the party without me!

The protagonist of today's banquet appeared to us with wounds all over his body, giving us an idea of the harsh fight he just endured. He looked a little more worn out than when we had met him on the deserted island.

Akira: Bradley, are you okay?

Bradley: Hell yeah. Got hit with two real big blows, but I got ‘im back right in the face. That's enough for today.

Bradley: Well come on, let's get to the main event!

Nero: There’s just no end to your tenacity, eh?

Bradley: Hah, just who do you think I am? I'm the fearsome Great Bradley.

Nero replied shortly, but meaningfully, to the fearless Bradley:

Nero: I know.

And his words sounded like a secret message, sent to a partner-in-crime.

TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle

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