An hour later.
We stand looking at the castle.
Conclusion?
Failure.
Zanoba takes the crest of Shirone. I translate for him to request an audience with Demon King.
"Never heard of that country. Atofe-sama is busy! No one is allowed!"
Denied.
Door slammed in our face.
Maybe Asura Kingdom, or Kingdom of the Dragon King, or Holy Kingdom of Milis would have been different.
But Shirone is a small kingdom, so it's impossible.
It's like expecting a Japanese to know the name of some country in Africa.
Especially when there was no appointment.
It's only natural.
"I'm sorry. My home country lacks the prestige."
Rather than getting angry at the blatant breach of etiquette, Zanoba is apologizing to me instead.
"No, I was inconsiderate."
"I thought this might happen..."
Zanoba said as he frowns.
Zanoba isn't much of a patriot, but to hear his country mocked in such a matter, I doubt he'll let it go.
"...Sigh, let's take a break."
Cliff leans on a wall nearby and sighs.
I still have some gas in the tank but...
"True, I'm a bit tired too."
Looking around, Zanoba is sweaty too.
It might miss, but he's also an indoor type. A day's exercise is hard on him too.
I also feel like my head is running slow.
Let's rest.
"Alright. Then let's go grab some grub."
We didn't have time for lunch.
The jerky was lacking as well.
Well, food here is hard to eat, so I don't have much appetite.
"Shisho, there's an open-air stall there. Let's just eat there. Is that alright with you two?"
Now that you mention it, for a while, we could smell barbecue in the air.
Following our nose, there's a heavily spiced Magic Continent specialty, open stall spicy barbecue skewers.
With a crowd of... 3 customers waiting in line.
"I don't mind, but eating while standing... isn't that against the rules?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
As they argue, Elinalise has already taken her place in the line.
"I'll hold a spot. Rudeus, go set up a place to sit somewhere."
"Will language be a problem?"
"For numbers, we can just use our hands."
That's true too.
There are ways to get around without knowing the language.
Following her instructions, with magic, I set up some chairs on the side.
Although eating standing up is fine, since we need to rest, we might as well sit down.
Although to be honest, I don't mind sitting on the ground either.
"I'll line up too."
Cliff and Elinalise line up together.
I finish with the preparations and sit down with Zanoba.
"Phew."
After sitting down, a day of exhaustion rushed onto me.
But sitting here like this, I start to feel like the entire day has been a waste of time.
We still don't know whether we can find Kishirika.
Even if we find her, we have no clue whether she knows anything useful.
Rather, I have a feeling the chances that she does is nigh.
Badigadi as well, although they have long lives, I think they rarely get ill.
"...Shisho, don't be too hard on yourself."
"Eh?"
"Nanahoshi's illness, Shisho doesn't have to feel so responsible for it."
I'm not responsible.
Right. That's true.
But, this is not an issue of responsibility.
This is what I want to do.
"That's true."
"But feeling homesick and wanting to go back, I can understand that a little. That's why I want to help."
"Really? I thought you were happy with the life you have now."
"Of course. But sometimes, I feel nostalgic for home. That's also true."
Zanoba feels homesick sometimes.
I thought he only had dolls on his mind, but I guess Zanoba is also someone's flesh and blood.
"...Nanahoshi tries so hard. Her home is definitely something important to her."
"The boy she likes, and her family too... They're all there."
Both are ordinary, but both are important.
Very, very important.
"Both of them are beyond me."
"For you, it's dolls."
I absentmindedly watch the other two while chatting with Zanoba.
Cliff and Elinalise.
Those two have changed so much from when we first met.
Cliff can't read the mood, but now he's more considerate of others.
Elinalise too, I'm fond of the time when she was busy chasing after boys.
If they ever split up, they probably would return to their true forms in a hurry.
"..."
The customer before Cliff ordered his skewers.
Probably to ask for change, a beggar in hood and rags went over, but that customer kicked him away.
Cliff looks angry when he spots this.
But Elinalise stops him, so no fight broke out.
Cliff is kind-hearted. He definitely will get something for the beggar.
As I expected, he bought an extra skewer and handed it to him.
The beggar devours the skewer as he thanks him.
Nom, nom.
Soon after he finished one, he brazenly begs Cliff for another, so Cliff bought a new one for him.
So moved that he's trembling, the beggar holds Cliff's hand.
Eh?
Deja-vu.
Say, that beggar, is he thanking Cliff in human language?
In that moment, the beggar suddenly laughs with a voice so loud that it can be heard from even over here.
"Faahahahaha!"
Throwing off her rags, she loudly declares!
"This one is called Kishirika Kishirisu! A.K.A. THE GREAT EMPRESS OF THE DEMON REALM! You have saved this one's life! It's fine if you ask for any one desire!"
I feel dizzy.