Elzen was flustered.
It was because he had never viewed the situation from that perspective before.
Naturally, his time with Shuperti was limited. Though they had been meeting more frequently of late, he usually sought her out just before bedtime to read her a fairy tale and tuck her in. Naturally, she didn’t eat anything at those hours.
He knew well that the youngest loved her snacks and considered them essential, but he had no way of gauging her total intake during the “day.” It was the same for Lina, the maid in charge of her. Even as a personal maid, she didn’t hover at the dining table. There was no way to know exactly how much Shuperti ate in the Dining Hall or how many snacks she pilfered afterward.
Conversely, Diegon, who did dine with her, didn’t shadow her every waking moment either. In short, everyone spent brief intervals with Shuperti and simply felt pleased, thinking, *She eats so well.*
“Shuperti, what makes you hungry so quickly?”
“Uung.”
“That means your calorie consumption is high. You aren’t exercising or undergoing training, are you? And despite being a little chubby, you haven’t gained much weight.”
Joey offered a sagely analysis. After pondering for a moment, he turned to Elzen. “Since she’s connected to a Spirit King, perhaps that’s why she requires so many calories.”
“But she hasn’t formed a contract yet, has she?”
“That’s exactly my point. My hypothesis is that it drains her stamina without her even realizing it.”
“Hmm. That makes sense. The only person who understood much about spirits was Mother… but she is no longer with us.”
Spirit Masters were rare, and information regarding the Spirit Kings was even scarcer. There were no research results on how a spirit’s protection might affect a person who hadn’t even entered into a formal contract.
“Ah! You can’t go in there!”
Just then, Shuperti’s eyes locked onto something. She stood up abruptly and scurried off.
Straight toward the forest.
“Let’s follow her.”
“Right.”
Elzen and Joey immediately gave chase. It seemed some little rascal had darted into the trees, whoever it was.
***
The forest near the riverside was dense with timber. Since there were no established paths, I had to hop over piles of fallen leaves.
“Hey, stop right there!”
I shouted and called out repeatedly, chasing the bobbing round shape of her head, but the child didn’t stop.
“Huh?”
After a struggle to scramble over a bush, I stood there blankly, a leaf stuck to the top of my head.
She was gone. The kid who had been right in front of me just a moment ago had vanished.
“Shu.”
“Older Brother Elzen.”
“How could you just run off like that? You nearly became a lost child.”
Elzen, who had gently chided me, looked around. The noisy sounds of the riverside drifted toward us, suggesting we hadn’t wandered too far. With the lake nearby, it seemed safe to head toward the bank.
*I don’t know who Shuperti was chasing, but…*
She didn’t seem to be in immediate danger. Still, the youngest wouldn’t have chased after someone without a reason. It was best to be cautious.
“Oh? Brother, look at this!”
It was then.
***
The lake water was glass-clear; you could see straight to the bottom. I had crouched in the grass to peer inside, having discovered something platinum and shimmering—just like the color of Rasepher’s hair.
“Jellyfish… it’s a jellyfish!”
The jellyfish, each the size of my fist, were perfectly round. Their tentacles were short, looking like little frills. The golden, sparkling creatures gathered where the sunlight hit the water, shifting in a swarm whenever the clouds drifted overhead.
“Ah, right. This was your first time coming here, wasn’t it?”
“Did you know about this, Brother?”
“Yes. This is a lake filled with seawater. These jellyfish were created by an ancestor who was particularly fond of them several generations ago. They decided to make a lake instead of a fish tank.”
“I like jellyfish, too.”
Just watching their squishy forms made me feel happy. Then, I suddenly remembered the warnings that getting stung by a jellyfish hurt. The teacher of the Carrot Class had told me to be careful.
“I shouldn’t touch them, right?”
When I asked quite seriously, Brother Elzen burst into laughter.
“No, it’s fine. These guys don’t have venom. They are a species that gets nutrients through photosynthesis. Since they have no natural predators, they no longer have a reason to keep their venom.”
“Really?!”
“I’ll put one in your hand.”
The damp jellyfish went limp as soon as it left the water. Feeling sorry for it, I observed it for only a few seconds before returning it to the lake.
“It’s the same color as Rasepher’s hair.”
“Who is Rasepher?”
“The kid I met when I was kidnapped by the Bogeyman Grandpa before.”
I didn’t know where he lived, but I wanted to meet him again. I often found myself thinking of him.
“He’s a little brat with no manners. Don’t pay him any mind, Elzen.”
But Joey said that, of all things? I stared at him with wide, round eyes.
“Rasepher is nice!”
“He was like that to you, at least.”
“Then is he not nice elsewhere…?”
He didn’t look like a kid who would be mean. I was tilting my head, and Brother Elzen, who was standing on the surface of the lake, called out to me.
“The weather is nice, and it’s just the three of us. Shall we dance here?”
He wasn’t lying; he was actually standing on the water!
“So cool!”
I wanted to do that too, but I probably couldn’t—right? Because I wasn’t a real Pashayen.
“Come here. I’ll hold you, Shu.”
“Me too? Can I do it?”
“I’ll hold you.”
Brother Elzen reached out his hand first. I grabbed it tightly and looked back at Joey, but Joey just shrugged and stepped back.
“I don’t really like water. Go ahead.”
“Okay! But should I take off my shoes first?”
They were new. Brother Elzen smiled at the sight.
“The feeling of standing on water with bare feet is quite nice.”
“Then just a moment.”
Struggling to take off my shoes, I stood in the soft grass with bare feet. They were ticklish, and I couldn’t help but giggle. Splashing into the lake, I felt the cool mud ooze between my toes.
Technically, I wasn’t standing on the water yet.
“Heave-ho.”
At that moment, Brother Elzen took my hand and lifted me up.
“Waaa!”
“See? Since you’re holding my hand, you can do it, right?”
“Yes!”
To be precise, I wasn’t stepping on the water so much as Brother Elzen was holding me aloft. Still, this was thrilling.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ is happy and simultaneously saddened.]
[My precious little baby, you would have enjoyed all of this, originally.]
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■’ gives a warning.]
[You’ll get a strike if you speak carelessly. You might even get suspended.]
Warning? Suspension? Curious, I called for Eupheros in my heart.
[The master of explanations! The greatest explainer! Eupheros has arrived! (n˘v˘•)¬]
‘Yuppi, the Emotion Spirit King wasn’t seen for a few days because of the 140-character limit, right?’
[That is correct. This child-rearing entertainment room is, in reality, a channel that shouldn’t exist. It was approved by considering the special nature of the Water Spirit King, and the Spirit Kings who are viewers will have their communication accounts permanently suspended if they receive 3 warnings.]
‘Why do they get warnings?’
[They receive warnings if they spam beyond 140 characters, or if they give the child performer information beyond what the Law of Causality has determined. ₍₍ ◝(●˙꒳˙●)◜ ₎₎]
I held Brother Elzen’s hand and spun around on the water. Since I was wearing pumpkin pants, I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
[No matter how cute the child performer is, the Spirit Kings must maintain their boundaries. Please do not forget this and continue to enjoy watching!]
With those words, Eupheros’s orange text disappeared. We arrived at the center of the lake.
“The ground under my feet is transparent.”
“Isn’t it fascinating? Shall I show you something even more fun?”
“An even more fun one?”
“Just trust your older brother.”
Before his gentle words had even faded, a whirlwind rose from beneath our feet. It didn’t feel frightening or grand; rather, it was incredibly cute and beautiful. The whirlwind surged toward the surface, creating a mist of spray all around us.
“Jellyfish and… a rainbow!”