125 – The Story of a Winter Day (2)
#The Story of a Winter Day (2)
The scent of winter was felt in the trees that had lost all their colorful leaves and bare branches.
Cold and lonely.
It was proof that a sad season was coming.
“Wow~”
If you are an adult, you may feel a sense of bitterness as you look at the sight of winter approaching.
Because winter means the end. This may be the result of the unique human nature of hating the end.
“There are a lot of stars!”
However, there is a girl sitting on a low stump, looking at the night sky that is sparsely visible through the bare branches.
Even though winter is fast approaching, I feel only joy rather than bitterness.
The home of a special Heretic Questioner located in Kente Village.
The back of an old house commonly called ‘Mila’s Mansion’.
Rayra was sitting in the middle of a forest where small trees grew sparsely, and she was talking chatteringly to the small sparrow in her arms and pointing at the night sky.
“Beep! That’s Marie! It’s called Virgo. And next to it is a carp spot!”
-Beep.
Dawn was approaching, when any child would be in a dream world, but Leila was just showing off her knowledge of the constellations with her big eyes sparkling.
She wiggles her tiny fingers here and there, rolls her glass-bead-like eyes, and talks really hard.
“Ugh- and then again. “What was there?”
-Beep!
“Huh? Why are you like this, Beep? “Don’t you want to play with your sister?”
-Beep beep beep!
“Should we stop going in now? Nah! He hasn’t escaped yet, Marie! Don’t be like that, let’s look at the stars together. Huh?”
-…… Beep.
However, Piyak, the only student of Leila’s extraordinary and dedicated lecture(?), Just wanted to return to the mansion where Julius’ traces remained with this small owner as soon as possible.
-Piyaaak!
On the outside, she looked exactly like her mother, Cecil, but on the inside, she looked just like her father, Julius.
Just like Julius in his younger days, who had accidents even when he was breathing and not breathing, Leila was also currently in the midst of a major accident.
“Walking is usually done at night. Let’s go out when the sun rises. Understand?”
[Night walk].
She is usually a very mature Rei, but as the saying goes, you can’t fake her blood. The child would sometimes sneak out of the house in the middle of the night and enjoy a night walk.
When she lived in her capital, Darkana, her father rarely came home because he was busy performing a fire offering to the devil. It had become her habit to run away from home to meet Julius Tapnell.
And Layla’s sudden and major accidents did not seem to stop even after arriving at Kente Village.
Today, as usual, I sneaked out of the mansion guarded by the Heretic Questioner and went stargazing with a small sparrow in the forest.
-Beep─ About!
“It’s okay! If anything happens, this little sister will protect you. Don’t be lazy, ah! Can you see Jogi Jogi?!”
-Beep!
“I found the North Star! “Then that is the north!”
She may or may not know that she unintentionally gave chronic gastritis to Piyak, a familiar of her high-ranking demon Cecil and her own pet animal.
Whether the little sparrow in my arms, Ray, was worried or not, she was busy admiring the night sky in the countryside with her eyes sparkling.
Her constellation was something very special for her child.
─Layla, that is. It’s a Virgo. The one next to it is Libra.
Because he is such an amazing person, and because he is such a busy person. My father, who can’t even see his face very well.
Sometimes on the way home, carrying myself after running away from home. Because it was taught while looking at the sky.
Rayra liked the starry night sky more than pretty dolls.
-Biyaaak! Bleak!
“Is it okay or is it okay? You’re not home today. She said she and her grandmother had something to do at church all night long. “I’ll never get caught!”
If the North Star is over there, is there a capital over there?
I found myself nodding my head for a moment as I thought of the faraway capital, which was more than a month away by carriage.
Layla puffed out her cheeks at the chirping of the sparrow that continued to fuss in her arms.
This night’s walk was the result of much more preparation than other times.
Cryle, who used to blow honey on his head every time he went for a walk at night, said he would stay at the church instead of Julius’ mansion tonight.
Emily, the grandmother whom I met shortly after arriving at Kente Village—she was my father’s mother and grandmother, but no matter how I looked at her, she looked like she was old enough to attend the academy—so Rayra decided to call Emily ‘grandmother’—in the same way. They said they were renovating a church that had been empty for a long time.
─Layla, do you understand? When she goes around town, she always goes with me.
Well, just one person.
Her dad’s younger sister, who became close friends with her grandmother’s older sister, Emily.
That is, although her aunt, ‘Talia Zifnel’, remained in her mansion as a caregiver.
It will be okay.
Before her escape, I saw her lying down on her sofa and falling asleep.
He is an angel’s representative who doesn’t care if he doesn’t sleep, but once he falls asleep, he won’t be able to easily wake up.
But what if I wake up midway?
Then you’re just getting scolded, isn’t there anything else you can do?
Rayra, who closely resembled her father in personality, was a bold-faced child who was not particularly afraid of being scolded.
“Wow, I can’t see the stars as well as before. “Is the sun already coming?”
-Piyaaak!
“Wow! Squeak! I told you not to yell when you play with her sister! “It’s okay!”
-Quick!
“What is this because of Biyak~! “It’s already time for the sun to rise!”
She was sitting softly on an old tree stump, bobbing her head back and forth and looking at the stars frantically. It seemed like it was already almost time for dawn.
From the long ridge visible between the bare, gray-colored branches, a hazy light began to slowly color the sky.
What! Walking time is already over!
This is all because of Piyak, who went back to her mansion and went to sleep throughout the night walk that lasted until dawn, and howled.
Unable to bear it anymore, Laira puffed out her cheeks and held on tightly to the little sparrow’s cheeks.
A night walk after a long time.
I can’t play with you, but I’ll just bother you.
I hate beeping!
“You bleep! Are you going to keep doing this? “My older sister also told me the constellations that she had worked so hard to learn from her father!”
Once you enjoy a [Night walk], You have to remain quiet for a while.
Sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night undermines the trust of adults. If you do it too often, you will definitely be tied up with a rope and banned from going out.
“Hanging out alone with Piyak like this… I don’t do it often. But even when I teach him the constellations, he doesn’t even listen.”
Therefore, for her little lady, every single [Night walk] Was invaluable.
It was a departure that occurred once a week.
It was a rare day when even the stars could be clearly seen, so it was natural for Leila to feel disappointed with Piyak who kept trying to take her back to her house.
-Beep! Beep! Piyaaak!
“…… Blood.”
I wonder if I’m sad that I haven’t been able to see the stars I love so much. Seeing Layla lowering her head in despair, a belated little girl flaps her wings and tries to comfort the child, but even though she is heartbroken, the sound of a deflated balloon comes out of her mouth. It was just coming.
So.
This is.
The little master……
…… You’re upset!
-Biyaaak!
She shows a maturity that is not appropriate for her age, but Rayra is still a child. She said that young children are easily offended and easily hurt.
She had completely forgotten that fact, and she was only worried about her little master’s well-being. She spent all morning thinking about taking her child and returning to her home. A belated regret escaped her lips. Exploded.
What kind of safety thing can make the little master sad?
In the first place, wasn’t the big master sending him to the little master to protect his safety?
In this case, her obvious pout was her own mistake.
-Beep, beep.
Then what Piyak has to do right now is……
Only one thing.
“…… Tooth.”
-Beep, beep! Beep!
“…… Yes?”
Her whole body was rounded up.
It relieves the mind of the young owner who is drooping like a wet puppy.
And since ancient times, the most direct way to relieve a child’s heartache is!
-Beep!
“Huh? What. “What kind of leaf is that?”
It was a ‘gift’.
-Beep!
Piyak picks up a dry leaf that was lying on the ground with his beak and puts it down next to Layla. He flaps his small wings and makes a lot of gestures with his hands and feet.
Leila opened her mouth with a sullen expression on her face at the untimely cuteness of her obnoxious younger brother, who had been interrupting her all-night walk.
“Chi. Don’t play around. “Her sister isn’t in the mood to play with Piyak right now.”
-Piyaaak. Beep, beep.
“Huh?”
-Beep!
“It’s not a joke?”
-Beep! Beep!
“So…… One? “You listen to it?”
How on earth can a mute beast—more precisely, a familiar of the devil—understand what is being said? Layra, who clearly understood the intention of Piyak, who was just making a noise, gently lifted the dry leaf next to her.
Aside from her angelic powers, Leila was just a helpless girl. A dry leaf that could easily crumble with just a touch caught her eye.
So, this was the so-called ‘right to wish’.
Sparrow, her friend and younger brother. A wish ticket that Piyak gives to himself.
Apparently, while coming to Kente Village, Piyak noticed the ‘dad-only massage ticket’ that she had been making secretly from Uncle Krail at night.
“…… Hung.”
What… You can also do stargazing next time.
It seems like Piyak is reflecting a lot, so I’ll leave it at this.
Actually, if you look at it, Biyak is just worried about me.
Layla’s mouth twitched slightly as she was uncharacteristically excited because her favorite constellation viewing ended too quickly.
Even though she was the one at fault, Piyak still wants to grant her sister’s wish.
Wouldn’t it be natural for her older sister to accept her as her body?
Contrary to his innocent appearance, he is a wicked boy who is extremely cunning.
The corners of Layla’s mouth rose slightly.
-Beep, beep.
“Yes, Jo! Because it seems like Piyak is reflecting a lot. This sister especially! “I’ll forgive you just this once!”
Percussion!
Reira, who was relieved by the wish ticket she received from Piyak, vigorously kicked the stump she had been sitting on throughout the night walk and stood up.
Then.
After shaking off the dirt that was all over her body, he hit her chest once with his fist.
Really, Layla reminds me of Cecil in even her smallest actions.
-Beep! Beep!
Even though I clearly didn’t do anything wrong, I suddenly felt like a sinner… No, Biyak, who had become a sin bird, flapped his wings with tears in his eyes at the sight of Layla’s majestic appearance.
…… Sparrow-type familiar, Beep.
This little sparrow seems to be quite prone to fraud.
“Of course. “Can I use this right away?”
Sunlight begins to spread slowly along the ridge, erasing the stars in the night sky.
Layla’s head tilted slightly as she briefly took in the sight of the coming morning, which was definitely more disappointing than the end of fall, but still more beautiful.
She still sees Piyak standing upright on her stubble, her own warmth still there.
She waved a dry leaf in front of her little sparrow, who was smaller than her own fist.
-Beep!
A cheerful expression of intention to do so of course.
The sight of her flying through the air while flapping her wings is really cute.
──Even though it is a demon’s familiar, it is really, really cute.
“Then, Beep, can I ask you something?”
-Beep!
Piyak happily nodded her head towards her little owner, who was absolutely adorable no matter where he looked.
The name is a wish-gwon, but you can only ask a question with a wish. As expected, the little owner is kind, but too kind……
“My mom, is she the devil?”
…… One… ….
“My mom. “Are you a devil?”
-… ….
“Can’t you hear clearly? “Then I’ll tell you again clearly.”
As if it were a well-made sculpture, I was at eye level with the frozen sparrow on a large tree stump.
Layla’s blue eyes sparkled, just like her mother. She pursed her lips, looking just like her mother.
“Beep! You have to listen carefully. Because this is a wish. “You must listen.”
Warm sunlight heralding morning seeps through the gray-white branches.
I would like to inform you that the whole world is colored with winter.
“My mom.”
Are you the devil?
Leira Tapnel.
The only daughter of Inquisitor Julius Tapnel and high-ranking demon Cecil Lionelta.
The child truly resembles his mother. So scary.
Really, she looks just like my mother.
Enough to give me goosebumps……
…… She was smart.