Chapter 200
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As I prepare to return to the mountain, there are a few lingering regrets.
Among them, I particularly regret not being able to spend much time with Ash, who was busy dealing with the aftermath of the Sealed Domain incident.
Still, since she probably won’t go far until the summons from the country ends, I decide to wait for another opportunity.
So after parting ways with the Tesoro brothers, I call out to Sensei and head back to the mountain.
When I reach the foot of the mountain, Sena is waiting for me.
The moment I see her, I feel something welling up inside me.
Though it’s somewhat embarrassing to admit it myself, I was probably tired. Despite sleeping for several days after the succession of intense battles, farewells, and heart-shaking events, my glass heart hadn’t recovered at all from the mental exhaustion.
「Sena…」
She’s small, fitting perfectly in my arms when I embrace her.
「Welcome back, Ichiro. Good work.」
I feel her warmth and presence clearly within my embracing arms.
「Yeah, thanks.」
Sena is here.
「Let’s go back to our home.」
Looking up at me from my chest, she speaks.
Her voice is gentle and full of compassion.
I let her lead me up the mountain by hand.
Despite this being the Hidden Mountain, where fearsome monsters should be swarming, not even a single wolf shows itself as we make our way to the cabin that houses the three of us.
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Sensei remained in Boldaf to help Anon and the others with various matters, so it was unclear when she would return.
For a while, we spend a relaxed time together, just the two of us.
It’s truly such a leisurely life that even our sense of time becomes distorted.
The time I spend with her has always been strange.
Sena never forces me to talk about things.
And I have no intention of hiding anything.
So regarding recent events too, we spend time together and naturally begin talking bit by bit. When the conversation ends and silence falls, it becomes time for us to think. It’s precious time for both of us.
This might sound a bit dry, but it’s not like that at all. If anything, the distance between us has grown closer than before.
That day, while I’m sitting on the floor reading, Sena crawls under and leans back against my chest, poking her head out between my face and the book.
Her head is blocking the book…
「Hey, I was just getting to the good part!」
「Don’t mind me. Continue reading.」
「There’s no way I can ignore this situation!」
At my words, Sena arches her back, and I see her face upside down.
「I’m doing what I want to do. So Ichiro should continue reading too.」
Ah, why is she so cute…
「No way! I’m done! Sena! Let’s go hunting or something!」
I drag her out of the cabin.
We end up hunting tons of monsters after that.
The next day.
I’m busy cooking from the morning.
When Sena returns from completing her routine dance, I sense a restless atmosphere from her.
「Ichiro, what’s that?」
「Huh? What?」
I only take my eyes off for a split second during this conversation.
But that’s plenty of time for Sena.
The four rice balls I had just finished making have vanished.
「Whaf?」 (What?)
「What are you, a hamster?」
「Dof’t! Stof!」 (Don’t! Stop!)
I poke her cheeks, which are now completely puffed out.
Despite Sena’s repeated interference, I continue cooking.
Today, we’re going to have something like a picnic.
This food I’m preparing will be our lunch for that.
Though one might wonder what I mean by 「something like a picnic.」
We go to a meadow a short distance from the cabin, lie down as we please, and spend time spacing out. When we get hungry, we eat our lunch, and when we’re full, we lie down again—this kind of lazy way to spend the day is what I call 「something like a picnic.」
The wise people of old would surely be shocked: 「Sure, we said ‘Return to nature!’ but we didn’t mean go this far!」
We spend peaceful time together.
We lie down and gaze at the sky.
I talk to Sena about random things, like what happened in the Sealed Dungeon and my relationship with the three of them.
Sena occasionally nods and sometimes asks me questions.
As time passes, we spread out our lunch before noon and thoroughly enjoy it together.
Once our stomachs are full, we lie down again.
The wind rustles, and clouds drift by.
We can hear beast roars from somewhere.
Even the sound of leaves rustling in distant trees reaches us.
I hear Sena’s 「skaa…pii…」 sleeping breaths.
Despite being in the mountains, the wind isn’t strong, it’s not cold, and it’s just the right environment for a nap.
I take out two blankets from my magic bag, cover Sena with one, and myself with the other, then drift off to sleep.
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