West Short Story (Bs-LOG - April 2021)

[yumemory]

B’s-LOG.com Special Event Series

Real-life Cluster Event – 3rd Special Story

“Happy”
featuring the Western wizards

In a poll held on B’s-LOG.com on August 17th-24th of 2020, viewers could vote for a theme, “Happy” or “Lucky”. The winner was “Happy”! The current issue of this story features the Western wizards conversing about “happiness”.

Writer: Tsushimi Bunta

Issue: B’s-LOG April 2021

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Murr: Yayyy, time for a new mission! I’ll call the elevator~

Shylock: Please do.

Chloe: It’s been so long since we last went on a mission with just the four of us. Maybe we can go sightseeing if we end up with some free time in our schedule?

Rustica: A wonderful proposal, Chloe. But I think we can still go sightseeing even if we don’t finish the mission early.

Chloe: B-But wouldn’t that mean we’d have to cut the allocated time for either the mission or the sightseeing?

Murr: We should cut the mission time.

Shylock: How about we extend our leave, and return to the manor on a later day? If we can find a nice house, perhaps we can buy it and live there for a few days.

Chloe: “Live there for a few days”? You say it like we’re going to take a detour for a little tea party! I guess that’s the hundreds of years of being alive speaking….

Rustica: I’m sure you’ll come to say such things one day, Chloe.

Shylock: Things such as, “Maybe I’ll build an observatory.”

Murr: Or something like, “Maybe I’ll take care of this old artisan in his final days.”

Chloe: Will I really…? Anyway, I hope this mission will be a happy one!

Rustica: A happy mission? What would that be like?

Chloe: A mission that makes you happy…?

Rustica: And what would that be like?

Chloe: Uh, I didn’t see that kind of question coming…. It’s something you experience hands-on rather than trying to figure it out in your head, I guess?

Shylock: Wouldn't a happy mission be a mission filled with happy people?

Chloe: Ah, yeah! That’s right, that’s probably it….

Murr: You make a really interesting claim, Shylock!

Shylock: ….

Murr: Do you define happiness by number? It’s sooo unlike you to measure happiness simply by quantity. If you really do, you would’ve extended your beloved bar from the hill alllll the way to the beach!

Shylock: You are mistaken, Murr. I do not equate my happiness with my patrons’ happiness.

Murr: Then what’s happiness to you?

Shylock: It’s rather simple—it’s when my desires are fulfilled and I am happy about it.

Murr: That’s not what you said! What was that thing about the number of people being happy?

Shylock: Isn’t it true that it’s easier to feel happy when you’re in a place where many people are happy?

Murr: That’s fallacious. And what if I’m unhappy in a world full of happy people?

Shylock: Feeling confident, are we? That doesn’t change a thing; I’d still be happy.

Chloe: Ah! ‘Ding!’ Did you hear that? That’s our eleva—

Shylock: Let us see it off once.

Chloe: What do you mean ‘see it off’!?

Rustica: Ah…. It has left us behind….

Murr: Because you’re willing to go through all sorts of trouble for me! It’s natural and normal to grow attached to things you care for. The fact that you take care of me alone sets me apart from the general population of people!

Shylock: I see that I have been underestimated. Are you saying normal psychology applies to me?

Murr: Oh, I wouldn’t be so brazen! I respect your noble peculiarity from the bottom of my heart. That’s exactly why I thought it was a strange statement. You, of all people, think happiness is measurable by quantity?

Chloe: H-he was just backing me up! You didn’t mean it in a deep way, right, Shylock?

Murr:  You can’t side with him, Chloe! He knows full well what it means to bring up the topic of happiness to a philosopher. It is by no means a trivial matter. I suppose he couldn’t hold back because you were being so adorable.

Shylock: Hm, the elevator sure is taking its time.

Rustica: It arrived just a moment ago, Shylock.

Chloe: Y-You can ask us about happiness, too, Murr. Maybe we can gain new insights through, um, self-introspection!

Murr: Okay, Chloe. What if your way to happiness is one that brings misery to Rustica?

Chloe: Uhhh, is there anything for beginners? Why are you always asking deep questions?

Rustica: If Chloe is happy, then so am I. There’s no reason that I wouldn’t be. Be that as it may, Chloe, you’re welcome to find your happiness in a way that brings me unhappiness.

Chloe: I can’t do that! I don’t even want to think about making you sad….

Rustica: You are ever so kind, Chloe. I’m happy to know you feel that way about me.

Chloe: Rustica…

Murr: Wow, they care about each other so much that I can see sparkles around them! Right, Shylock?

Shylock: I can see what you mean.

Rustica: Oh, what were we talking about again?

Chloe: About a happy mission! You asked me about that first.

Rustica: Did I?

Murr: Did so, did so. And then Shylock said something about it being the number of happy people.

Shylock: I was merely following the flow of the conversation without much thought put into it. That was a mistake. Please forget about it.

Murr: Meooow! I like you, Shylock!

Shylock: Fufu, and I you.

Rustica: It would be lovely if I could hear the grand philosopher’s answer. What do you think happiness is, Murr?

Murr: Something that will slip through my fingers the moment I get my hands on it, but I can reclaim at any time, again and again!

Chloe: That’s so cool! I kind of want to make a new outfit with those words sewn into the ribbon!

Rustica: I see. Very much like the waxing and waning of the Great Calamity.

Shylock: And your answer, Rustica?

Rustica: I know of all sorts of happiness, but I am sure that finding my bride is what shall make me the happiest. Even thinking about her fills me with joy. If I were to actually see her again, I would be on cloud nine. Everything will be dyed golden, as though we’re dancing on the moon.

Chloe: I see… I guess that’s right.

Rustica: What is your happiness, Chloe?

Chloe: Me? …I think the present is happiness to me. Day after day, I’m filled up with more and more happiness. Ehehe, that’s thanks to everyone being here for me!

Shylock: How adorable.

Murr: Yaaay!

Rustica: That’s great, Chloe. Ah, here comes the elevator.

Murr: Wait, I haven’t heard Shylock’s answer!

Shylock: Why don’t we move on and proceed with our mission instead?

Murr: But I’m curiousss!

Shylock: No can do. Unfortunately, as someone who works in the hospitality industry, I do not expose my true sentiments often.

Murr: Oho? Challenge accepted! I will make you tell me your answer!

Chloe: Murr, did you just pull the lever again!?

Rustica: And away it goes…

Murr: Let’s go back to the manor’s bar and talk it over a drink!

Shylock: All right, then.

Chloe: Heyyy, why are you two suddenly so eager!?

Rustica: Perhaps, in the end, a happy mission is one embarked on after a delicious drink.

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TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle

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