第４０３堀：幸せですと即答できますか？ (Part2)
"It’s been a long time for a bathroom break, so I came to check on you in place of Aslin and the others."
"Ah..."
I suppose that would be a concern. Perhaps those two were in a panic. If I don't explain things properly later, they’ll end up in tears, and I’ll be the one getting punished by Labyris and Shera...
As I was thinking that, Vilia opened her mouth to speak.
"There are actually quite a lot of them, you know? Children like Dressa who have no idea what they should be doing."
"Eh? Really?"
"The majority of the children attending school were originally orphans. Well, they’re still orphans, in a sense. Thanks to the special arrangements made by Brother and the support from the orphanage attached to the school and Weed, we don't have to worry about having enough to eat every day. That’s actually quite an incredible thing, isn't it?"
"Is it?"
"Yes. Most of these orphans were children who were never taken in by any orphanage; they would huddle together, desperately scrounging for whatever they could eat that day. Even the person I called my brother died during those times. That’s when I became the one responsible for looking after the orphans living in the slums. I was desperate. I didn't have the luxury of thinking about the future. I just wanted to make sure the children younger than me wouldn't have to go hungry..."
"..."
"And I don't have to do that anymore since coming to Weed. Brother is always kind, and he has provided us with proper, filling meals and warm beds. Because of that, many of the children who lived their lives in desperation are now confused by the way of life in Weed—the question of 'what do you want to be?'"
"I see. Then, why did you decide to help Brother... Yuki?"
"For me, it’s simple. I’m grateful to Brother for creating this place, and I admire him. I’m certain that Brother will continue to work hard for the sake of many people's smiles. That is why I want to help him, even if it’s just a little."
"…You’re very mature."
I feel like she’s much more grounded than I am. No, I had thought she was surprisingly mature for her age from the start, but hearing her story, it all makes sense.
"Come to think of it, what about the others—the ones who don't know what they want to be?"
"Actually, they still don't know."
"Huh? And they’re just playing outside right now? Is that really okay?"
"Fufu. You’re saying the exact same thing I did. I also tried to scold the children who were playing without thinking about their future. I told them they should offer their gratitude to Brother and, like me, study hard so they could help him! But Brother stopped me."
"Huh? He stopped you? Yuki did? I don't get it."
"Yes. I remember his words from that time, word for word..."
*“Happiness is different for everyone. For now, just do what you think is fun. Play and try many different things; that’s what a school is for. Well, you’ll have to stay after class if you can’t handle the basics, of course. Naturally, you mustn't do anything that causes trouble for others. As long as you can follow that, do as you please. That will surely lead to your own happiness.”*
"…I don't really get it."
"I suppose that’s expected of Dressa."
"Then, Vilia, do you understand what Yuki meant by 'your own happiness'? Did studying lead you to it?"
"Yes. My happiness is to help Brother, even if just a little."
I stare at Vilia in surprise as she answers without a moment's hesitation.
"How can you be so sure? You might be wrong, you know?"
"That’s true. I suppose there is a possibility that I am wrong. But Brother said this at the end:"
*“If someone asks you, ‘Are you happy right now?’, be the kind of person who can answer from the bottom of your heart, ‘Yes, I am!’ Well, I think that’s incredibly difficult, though.”*
"I can answer without any hesitation. Helping Brother is surely my happiness. It isn't out of obligation or anything like that; it’s something I feel from the bottom of my heart."
"…I think I understand what you’re trying to say. There’s no way someone saying that with such a good smile could be unhappy. Finding something I can be proud of—that’s what I need to do now. …You’re right. It’s definitely better than moping around like this and just going to play to my heart's content on the grounds."
"Fufu, that’s right."
Alright, then my course of action is decided.
"Vilia. Go call Aslin and the others. We’re going to play on the grounds together!"
"Yes. Understood."
First, let’s try playing to our heart's content. I’ll find that source of happiness I can answer for with my head held high, just like Vilia!
Yes.
And with that, that was the story of the last remaining person, Dressa. From here on, she will likely explore various paths in Weed. Whether or not that relates to the future story remains to be seen. Perhaps the fact that she moves around to various places in Weed is the key? You might be able to guess a bit more in the next chapter.
Now, regarding the comments asking about the details of various things—I think I will continue to address those through side stories and "pitfalls." Some people might get involved in the main story, but as for things like the technology behind Betan’s pumps, the answer is that the place is an experimental site in many ways, and as for the recruitment, there hasn't been an answer yet, so the results are still pending. As for Taiki’s Soel, that is still a story for much later.
It’s a story about how things don't always end perfectly. I hope that later on, I can write a story like the one with Demon Queen Liliana, where all the flags—like those of the Four Heavenly Kings—are fully resolved from the start.
Finally, I think it’s quite difficult to answer immediately when asked if you are happy right now. As you become an adult, you think more about what happiness actually is. So, let’s keep it simple. If you can smile with a genuine expression right now, isn't that happiness? It’s the accumulation of small things—like getting a good result at work, playing a game, or reading a book you were looking forward to.
With that said, I am working, playing games, and writing novels as a hobby, so I feel fulfilled and happy. If I didn't think this way, life would be too tough, wouldn't it?
See you next time.