237: First time in a new place, gotta try all the food, right?

We were assigned two thatched huts made from coconut palms and told to rest up for the night. That’s what we did.

But we couldn’t ignore the whole village buzzing like a festival just because we arrived. So we hit the main street lined with food stalls.

Paradio the Elder and I agreed to meet tomorrow—then parted ways.

I’m walking hand-in-hand with Maina. Ryuuko said I should, so we don’t get lost.

On Maina’s other side walks Eva, who offered to guide us.

Persia follows a few steps behind. She’s smiling, and judging by the look on her face, she’s in good spirits too.

And of course, Ryuuko trails us like a shadow.

Lord Javir’s already turned in for the night. I was worried about leaving him alone, but he’s got a barrier up—should be fine.

“Huh? Wait, where’s Camille and Marilyn?”

“Went to meet a friend.”

“Ah, yeah, they probably have friends. Is Eva okay with that?”

Eva looks away, just slightly.

“I’ve been busy with my magic training…”

“Uh… yeah.”

“And besides! If I’d kicked you all out, who knows what might’ve happened!”

“Don’t you trust us that much?”

“Look at that. Can you really say that?”

She points. There’s Jitarou, hollering and stuffing his face at a stall, and Leifan chasing after him, trying to stop him.

“…Sorry.”

“Just understand, that’s all.”

Most of the trouble’s usually Jitarou, you know? Am I always the one getting blamed?

“You’re not exactly blameless either.”

“I read your mind!?”

"Since you're a mage, try training a bit harder to keep your emotions hidden."

"Everyone says that, but am I really that obvious?"

"Very."

"Oh… right."

"Looks like they're fine over there."

Ahead, Nobuna and Chiyome moved calmly, chatting with passersby and browsing stalls.

The currency, oddly enough, was from the Maugalia Kingdom.

"Considering we'll eventually connect with the outside world, it makes sense they'd plan ahead. They've been using Kingdom currency for quite some time. …I've heard minting coins is a hassle, so maybe they just didn't want to bother."

"Wait—so they have coins even without outside contact?"

"Probably ran a secret trade unit. They studied foreign cultures in mage training, and their info was fairly up to date."

"Ah. I see."

Probably because Eva’s a candidate to seek the world’s secrets, but outside info was important too.

We found out currency worked, and Maina wandered freely, stopping at stalls, and people started calling out to us.

“You’re outsiders, right? The reclusive hermits rarely welcome guests—enjoy yourselves!”

“Hey! What’s the outside world like? I’ve read about it, but is it true there are places with ten times more people than this village?”

“A first-time returnee explorer… can I talk to you later?”

“Do world secrets even really exist?”

“Trade you some outside food for this coconut!?”

“They say monsters get stronger the farther you go from the island—so are you strong enough?”

“That mage’s cute.”

“The knight behind you looks sharp too—really impressive!”

That cat-beast guy walking over there was something else! Loli with huge tits? Absolute god-tier.

"Shut up! If you're into that, then it's gotta be the lady hanging out with that dumb mage, right!?"

"Get lost, perverts! Can't even appreciate the charm of that swordswoman who was with the cat-beast!?"

"Maids... are nice... too..."

Yeah. Gonna knock down any pervert who gets too close.

And hey, someone mention Leifan too.

We're kinda surrounded, chatting and eating, enjoying the feast. Not much hits the spot like Ryuuko or Leifan's cooking, but still, this is way beyond what we used to eat on the road.

Maina seems to be savoring the vibe more than the taste. I’m the same.

"No souvenir shops around here?"

Evah answers my mutter.

It’s a closed world, you know. You always knew what to bring someone you knew—food, that was the standard.

Yeah, I guess so.

We were having a nice, easy stroll when a group that felt off came into view from deeper inside.

I tilted my ear a little, listening in as a group of mage robes darted about in a panic.

Hey! Found him!?

No good! Damn it! Never comes out of his room unless it’s absolutely necessary!

No time. Find it no matter what!

"Anyway, why the hell did that reclusive bastard run off?"

Scared of meeting outsiders, are we...

...Catch her damn well! That selfish little witch!

That’s pretty much the gist of it.

There’s someone out there dodging us, avoiding the whole thing. Feels like bad news, though.

We decided to just pretend we never heard it and enjoy the festival instead.

◆

Sure, it was a festival, but nothing too big. Probably half a day’s worth of prep for most of the stalls.

We’d had our fill, so we decided to head back to the bungalow.

Following Eva’s lead, we dodged the crowded streets and slipped down a dimmer alley.

Just as we neared the bungalow, Maina stopped and tugged on my arm.

“Craft-sama. The barrier.”

“Huh?”

I didn’t catch it at first, but I figured she meant whether we’d bump into the barrier Javir-sensei set up for sleeping.

“Don’t worry. It’s set so it doesn’t affect us.”

“Wow.”

Maina sounded genuinely impressed.

Yeah, you’d have to be something to keep a barrier locked to specific people—open for them, closed to others—even while you’re asleep. That kind of skill’s impressive, no question.

When I and Jitarou stepped into the men’s barracks, Maina and Ryuuko followed along like it was nothing.

“Nah, nah. Both of you go to the women’s side.”

“We’re maids.”

“Then… sisters… I guess.”

Maina was the one making that weird comment, riding on Ryuuko’s back!

Maina’s been funny and cute lately, but kind of a pain.

“No way.”

“Alone, you might be a bit dangerous.”

“I’m not alone.”

Jitarou practically shoved himself into the conversation, trying hard to prove he was there too.

“Me? I’d be thrilled!”

Hey, I get that Ryuuko’s a beauty because Leifan shaped her, but she’s a homunculus, a dragon tooth warrior, and a golem’s child—how’s romance even supposed to work with that?

And honestly, Ryuuko’s form reflects the dragon’s Idean essence strongly, so Leifan just pulled that out perfectly.

That look? Not my taste at all!

...Not the time to be overthinking things.

"Master's barrier's up. You two get back inside."

"...If you insist."

"Boo-hoo."

Won't be crying.

I shoved the two of them into the women's barracks, then headed back to the men's side.

This barracks, supposedly for guests.

No inns exist here, so it's just an emergency setup. Never used otherwise, they say.

Though "guests" probably just means folks from another village showin' up once in a while.

Big island, so there're a few scattered villages—small settlements—like that, I'd learned from old Paradio.

"Man, Master's barrier is something else. Can't even sense it at all."

"Is that so?"

"Even if it's targeted, you usually feel the edge of a barrier, right?"

"Huh? Guess that's how it is."

"Probably got concealment runes built in."

"Yeah, I get that."

"Guess so."

Jitarou, he probably could do a little magic if he ever went to one of those public magic classes the academy runs. Kinda smarter than he looks, huh.

"Whatever. Plenty of bedrooms, so just pick one. I'm beat."

"Right. Then I'll take the back one!"

"I'll take the front room."

"Hey? The back one's a bit bigger."

"Sleeping's all I need. Doesn't matter."

The house Kyle gave me's spacious and comfy, but sometimes... you miss cramped little places.

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Good night."

I step into my room, toss my clothes haphazardly, strip down to my underwear.

...Guess I'm getting used to Ryuuko being around. My clothes don't matter much anymore.

I was gonna tidy up the tatami, but it seemed like too much trouble. Ugh. Total waste of time.

I yawned, slumped into bed—then froze. Someone was already there.

Why’s a half-naked girl lying in my bed?

Comiket 6 Vol. 11 is releasing November 7th—