Four Ikemen Extra Part 3.1

A Picnic With Everyone! Last Part (Part 1)

 

 

By the time we reached the eighth seam, the sun had started to go down and was becoming yellowish. We may have relaxed too much during lunch and wasted too much time.

 

That or my feet were slower than I anticipated… I didn’t know that the increase in my endurance was just my imagination, that’s too bad.

Well, we can just use wind magic to go down the mountain on our way home.

 

As we were advancing through the shade of the leaves obstructing the bright sunlight, Dy, who was in the bangle, flew forward.

 

[Dy?]

[It’s right ahead of here. I’m going there first.]

 

It would have been fine to go together since we’ve come this far, what an impatient fellow. I exchanged looks with Ciel and smiled wryly.

 

[Good grief, doing whatever he wants…]

[Well isn’t that fine, it has also been a while for that fellow to have any contact with anything connected to his birthplace so he’s in a hurry.]

 

Ragna pacified Alf who was making an astounded face with a knowing tone. Alf turned around to Ragna.

 

[Does Ragna-dono know what that is?]

[I don’t know personally, but I think there was a legend told in the past. I only heard a little bit of it once when I was a child so I don’t remember the details.]

 

Even with Ragna’s unclear response, he seemed to have an idea what it was.

 

The trees eventually open up. The road leading to the higher ground went on as if inviting us. Step by step, we climb the broken stone steps as if we’re drawn into it.

 

After climbing up the last step of the stairs, my field of vision suddenly expanded. In fact, there are no trees growing above the hill as if there’s an obstruction.

A beautiful lawn has grown uniformly at the same height as if it was being maintained by human hands.

 

Beyond the space where the lawn grew was a cliff, we can see Zohana Lake which extends beneath our feet, and the gray and white walls of both countries along the border. It was a very scenic place.

 

There was a light purple rock at the center of the lawn. It was a cylindrical rock with a diameter that can fit two of me lying down vertically. It’s slightly taller than a counter desk, and Dy was standing beside it.

 

[Welcome to our festival.]

[Festival?]

 

When I tilted my head, the Demon greeted us with an exaggerated gesture and explained about the purple rock.

 

[Daebuldoir had held a festival once every year. It’s in honor of the prosperity of the city above the lake and the Royal Family. This device was used for that.

 

Even while speaking, Dy pours his magic power into a device that can be seen on the cylindrical rock.

It didn’t seem like it would start immediately even with Dy’s magic power, so he kept his palm on the rock while talking.

 

[What can this device do, you ask…. It might be faster to show you instead of explaining. Can you wait until enough magic power has accumulated?]

[Isn’t it just because you found explaining to be troublesome?]

[Well, you can say that but… I just think that Rei will be pleased if he sees it directly.]

 

It seems to be useless to retort to Dy who evaded it with a non-committal smile. I shook my head as a sign of giving up.

 

[We can wait if that’s how it is. How long will it take?]

[Let’s see, if you slowly take a look at the view, it would most like have enough gathered before the sun sets.]

 

Hey hey, won’t we be able to get down the mountain today then?

 

[What should we do?]

[I think it’s fine to wait. I’m interested in Daebuldoir’s technology.]

[I don’t mind either, this mountain is quite a calming place, after all.]

 

Alf, who is the only one left, meets eyes with the three of us. A moment after he faltered, Alf sighed.

 

[…… From time to time, it’s good to spend our time outside.]

 

Okay, so camping outside has been decided. Oh well, camping isn’t so bad because it’s just as if we’re back in those times when we were traveling.

 

Now that it’s decided, we’ve got to get things ready.

I collected some firewood with Alf, Ciel arranged for the place to set the tent up, and Ragna said that there seems to be a river flowing nearby and went there to fish.

 

We collect firewood while taking care not to get too deep into the mountain, bringing it back to the campground.

 

Our camp has been decided to be by the tree at the edge of the hill. It might have been better if there was a river, but there’s water magic so there’s no problem.

 

Things are steadily being set up, and all that’s left is to wait for Ragna to return. I and Ciel, who have gotten bored, head towards Dy.

 

[Hey Dy, should I also pour my magic power in?]

[This is engraved with a special magic formation, you see…. Moreover, maybe because of time, it’s quite broken. It’s safer for me to do it.]

[Special magic formation?]

[Curious? Shii-chan.]

 

A discussion about the magic formation started between Ciel, who was interested in it, and Dy. Since it’s a subject I can’t possibly understand, I shrugged my shoulders and left them.

 

When I approached the cliffside, I saw Alf by himself looking at a distance. Before his eyes were the two towering walls along the border.

 

[…… I heard that the monsters are decreasing.]

[… It looks like it. Since the disappearance of the high density of magic power in Zohana Lake, that place will eventually become somewhere people can dwell.]

 

Alf’s expression tightened and his light blue pupils narrowed.

 

[The relationship is good between Yodelia Kingdom and the Sacred Country of Habartalt. However, not all of the people are positively welcoming the national exchange. Until now, only some Humans, including high-ranked Humans, merchants, and aristocrats could come and go, but who knows how things will go afterward….]

 

I see, once a lot of people can visit each other freely, a bunch of inconsiderable thoughts will pop up because of that.

 

But well, right now, the Holy Emperor and Westin have a close relationship like friends, and even if there’s a bit of trouble, won’t things be fine unexpectedly?

 

I slapped Alf’s back to encourage him.

 

[It’s going to be fine. Alf is also working very hard for the sake of the two countries’ peace, things will work out from here on out as well. If the situation looks hopeless, Dy and I will pour our magic power together and threaten them to get along with each other, or we’ll increase the monsters again.]

[If so then Rei would be treated as a villain.]

[Then Alf should properly keep an eye out so that doesn’t happen.]

 

Alf gave a troubled smile, took my hand, and dropped a kiss at the back of my hand with a refined bearing.

 

[You’re right, in order for Rei not to get into a villainous road, I will firmly protect you.]

[Y, yeah.]

 

Alf’s sincere eyes haven’t changed since the time I met him, nor is there any sign of them going stale. I managed to give him a response despite the embarrassment at being stared at by such straightforward eyes.