On the Way Home I Got a Bride and Twin Daughters, Who Were Dragons Chapter 158

Published at 15th of February 2022 04:52:56 PM

We waited for what seemed like forty minutes.

From the top of the mountainside, a bear, at least two meters tall, slowly appeared.

“They finally approached us.”

“They must have been vigilant.”

Aoi, who was sitting on a slightly larger rock face, stroked Nana's sleeping head and looked at me.

“You can't live in the woods or mountains without that much caution.”

Rouge, who was sitting next to Aoi, nodded in agreement.

On my lap, Jaja and the little bear were happily playing. They really get along well, don't they?

“It was worth the wait. I didn't want to have their bows pointed at us because of a misunderstanding.”

Officer Inoue, who had been leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, straightened his posture and prepared to greet them.

The negotiations and explanations were to be left to Officer Inoue.

He is a policeman and a public servant. In terms of position, he is a member of the country that is protecting them.

“W-what should we do?”

“We should stay back and not interfere. It can't be helped that they already saw us.”

The little dragons went behind me.

They were so absorbed in their stories that they forgot to hide. These careless dragons.

They're so carefree that it really worries me.

“Hmm. We'll be home soon, okay?”

“Kyu?”

The little bear looks up curiously at Rouge's question.

When she saw Rouge's somewhat lonely face, she stood up unsteadily and touched Rouge's face.

“Kuah?”

“Hmm. It's okay. Sweetie.”

Rouge slowly stroked the little bear's head as she gently tapped Rouge's face with her little hands.

“Now, are the other beastmen not moving?”

“'Huh?'

I asked Wera as I picked up Jaja from Rouge's lap.

“Yeah, they seem to be lurking behind trees and in the grass, watching us.”

Wera replied, looking around.

Thanks to Azui and Wera's noses and ears, we knew all along that they were surrounding us.

Once they spotted us, they stayed at a distance, probably waiting to see what would happen.

Eventually, the other beastmen received the news and joined in, completing our encirclement with their well-coordinated movements.

“They're not going to attack us after all this, are they?”

“The fact that they sent a representative suggests that they intend to talk to us. They know that if they try to harm us, the little bear might be in danger.”

Of course, we had no intention of doing anything to the little bear, but in short, they're worried that an arrow or something may accidentally hit the little bear.

There is no way that such a mistake could happen because we have Rouge, who can put up fire walls, and Aoi, who seems to be confident in her wind barrier, but they don't know that.

“The presence of Jajchan and Nanchan has worked in our favor. I think it's partly because the sight of a smiling baby has taken their guard down, you know?”

That's right. It's only natural that one takes to such cute kids.

We didn't want to mislead them by taking a stance, so we decided to pretend that we didn't know about the existence of the beastmen, and we showed them that we didn't have any strange intentions by letting Jaja and the little bear play innocently.

Nana was asleep the whole time.

You wouldn't think that such an easygoing group of people would be malicious.

There were about five beastmen with bows and arrows, probably men.

Their bows were already drawn, but the tip of the arrow was pointing toward the ground.

I guess they are trying to be ready to respond immediately if something goes wrong.

“Ah, Aerilikatte. Zung manana.”

The bear in the lead suddenly spoke to me.

“What?”

Huh? Did I lose my hearing?

“Ah… I completely forgot about it. I should have listened.”

Officer Inoue scratched his short hair and made a troubled face.

“This tribe is like a tribe of other languages. We can't communicate without a sphere.”

“Eh? Is that so?”

The world's most famous and most used magic tool that automatically translates between different languages.

That's the word sphere.

They are only made in Fracion, a large country on the sphere continent, and even the small ones for home use cost a fortune.

Of course, there's no way we'd have such an expensive item.

That's troubling. Is the language barrier getting in the way here?

“Hm. Kunpei. Leave it to me and Aoi.”

“Huh?”

Rouge, who had stood up before I knew it, put her hand on my shoulder.

“Yes, if the effect of the magic is the same as the translation magic, the spirits can also do it with dragon qi. So Ru-anesama and I will negotiate with them, okay?”

“Eh? Is that so?”

I didn't know that. Spirits are so useful.

“Kunpei, have you forgotten that I came from another country? I've been studying it a little bit lately, but Japanese is difficult.”

As Rouge tilted her head, I remembered.

I remembered that she came to Japan from the continent across the sea. I didn't notice it because we were having normal conversations, but it's strange that she can speak in Japanese, isn't it?

“I've been living in Japan for 40 years now, so I can speak it, but Ru-anesama has been talking to Kunpei and the others with the help of spirits from the beginning. Dragons have their own language, but it's not understood by Kunpei-san and the others.”

Huh. I didn't notice that at all. Maybe that's the reason why Rouge's mouth doesn't move much?

Ah, now that you mention it, last night.

The conversation I had with Azui and Wera in the distance was more of a roar than words.

Is that kind of howling dragon language?

I looked at the little herb dragons hiding behind me.

“We're talking to you through the spirits even now, you know?”

“It's a very simple technique. We don't even need to control the spirits. The only difference with translation magic is that the effect is limited to you.”

“Then I'm counting on you. I'm no good, if it had been a police car, it would have been loaded with a portable sphere.”

Officer Inoue stepped back with a wry smile.

“Are you okay with negotiating, Rouge? I can't say you're a very talkative person.”

“Hm, excuse me, I like to talk, even though I look like this. I just never had anyone to talk to before.”

Please don't come out with something sad. I'll sympathize with you.

“You too, Aoi. Don't you have a fear of strangers?”

And you used to be a recluse.

“N-not so much these days! …Well, it's a little scary. But it is for the sake of the little bear! I'll do my best!”

Aoi stood up with great enthusiasm, holding back Nana who was slightly slipping.

She slowly stood in front of the bear beastmen while fixing the baby sling that was digging into her shoulder.

That beastman in the lead is the representative?

He carried a bow larger than the other four, and his waistcoat-like cloth was gaudily embroidered.

On his exposed upper body, he wore a black arrowhead pendant, the same as the one worn by the little bear, but this one had a lot more arrowheads. I wondered what the meaning of the arrowheads that were strung together like beads were.

When I looked, I saw that the other beastmen were also wearing black arrowhead pendants, though in different numbers.

“Oh, um… Hello! Nice to meet you! We're here escorting a lost child. My name is Aoinoun Dragoline Kazmachi. This is Rouge-anesama. This is Kazamachi Kunpei.”

Aoi, looking nervous, bowed deeply.

Somewhat worried, I positioned myself right next to her and unintentionally hugged her shoulder.

To my left stood Rouge, holding the little bear.

“Yusufuts, Beara Kelusha. Gownosse. …Grumeluerte. Avolonial. …Lyrica, elte aero?”

The bear beastmen who seemed to be the representative gestured to Aoi to tell her something.

It's no good. I have no idea what you're talking about.

“Um, you're Gaunosse the head hunter of the Beara tribe? Yes, that's right. Yesterday, we took care of Ririkchan downstream at the river! I think she was hungry and was attracted by the smell of the rice balls. She ate well yesterday, and this morning she was eating bread and salad, so I don't think there's anything to worry about, right? She doesn't seem to be injured either.”

Aoi also began to explain, waving her hands in an exaggerated manner.

That's good, it seems she's able to communicate. Is Ririka the name of the little bear?”

“Hmm. Ririka was very well behaved. How did she get lost?”

Rouge nodded lightly and cut into the conversation.

“Elle, Ambasca. Gurmel elte. Lirica palma, permaci. Liricaemma, caelo, fugleran.”

“What? Is that so? Ririkchan's mother, is she alright?”

Aoi seemed to be somewhat surprised.

“Oh, hey, Rouge. What is it?”

I asked secretly in Rouge's ear.

“Ririka's mother has been sick in bed. She disappeared from the village when her father took his eyes off her while nursing her mother.”

Oh, that must have been so surprising and worrying.

I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't found her.

After a few conversations between Aoi and Gaunosse-san, they found out how the little bear, or Ririka, got lost.

It seems that the Beara tribe are a migratory tribe that uses large canoe-like boats to move around, mainly along the river, and their current village is located upstream from the river where we were playing.

Ririka's mother was lying in bed with a seasonal illness.

Her father was taking care of her, but the energetic Ririka was playing around when she got on a boat and was swept away by some accident.

When she disappeared, everyone made a fuss and looked around the village for her. They noticed that there was one boat missing, so they rushed down the river and found a boat by the shore.

They had mistakenly thought she had gone into the mountains and had been searching the mountains since yesterday.

Actually, she had just followed the river downstream and we had taken her under our protection.

I see, the boat was the reason why she could walk such a long distance even though she was a baby. That's one mystery solved.

But it's really dangerous. What if she had fallen into the river by mistake?

“Um, the father is on his way here now and her mother is very worried and very weak.”

Aoi translated with concern.

As a mother with a baby of her own, I guess it didn't feel like someone else's problem.

We have to be careful, too. In the case of Jaja and Nana, they are able to fly, so we have to be even more careful.

“It's really dangerous to take our eyes off them. I'm so glad we found her. Hey, you little tomboy. You shouldn't be walking around on your own either.”

“Kyu!”

Rouge picked up Ririka, looked her in the eye, and gently scolded her.

The one who was being scolded didn't seem to understand and was happily wiggling her arms and legs.

I mean, this kid was on her own for a whole day, wasn't she? I wonder if she was worried about her parents being away. She's an unexpectedly bold child.

“Ririka!”

“Ririka! Ririka!”

I heard a voice calling for her from the top of the mountain slope.

I looked up to see two bear beastmen coming down the slope at high speed, their faces pale.

It seems your parents have arrived.

“Ku! Kyuu!”

Ririka squealed with delight when she saw them.

“Hm, go ahead.”

When Rouge saw that, she lowered Ririka to the ground with a wry smile.

She landed slowly, kicked the ground with her arms and legs without looking aside, and ran to her parents.

“I'm glad. That's a relief.”

A few words leaked out of Rouge's mouth as she saw her off.

You don't look like you're… relieved, though. You've got to put up with being lonely.

“Ririka! Ririka!”

“Aah! Ririka! Hotegrull! Ririka!”

The bear couple picked up Ririka, who rushed to them, and hugged her tightly.

The family was digesting their reunion, tears streaming from their round eyes.

“… that's good, isn't it?”

“Ah. Well, I guess that settles it. Hmm?”

Aoi exhaled as she patted her chest and leaned on my shoulder.

“We've also got to get our act together…”

Oh, I guess she saw a little bit of herself in that parent and child relationship.

I would also be distraught when I think about Jaja and Nana being gone.

If I've been running all over town, looking for them in the woods, and if I still can't find them.

I don't want to think about it too much. I have to be careful not to let that happen.

They're too important to lose in a moment of carelessness.

“… Ah, yes.”

I took Jaja and Aoi took Nana.

Each of us held tightly in our arms, and we huddled together.

This is the perfect form, this is the best form. Nothing should be missing. No one should be left out.

Before we came to that house, we never imagined what we'd become, but now it's all we have.

“U-um!”

“Hm?”

Ririkchan's father came running towards us.

The image of a black bear over two meters tall, with black fur, walking on two legs, coming at you from the mountainside.

I was a little freaked out even though I knew it was coming.

“Oh, thank you! I'm going to be there. Nihongo tokotto wakaru. Japanese is a little clearer. Ririka, arigato. Desu.”

Ririka father tried his best to express his gratitude in broken Japanese. There were still tears in the corners of his eyes.

I could feel the joy from his face rather than his words.

The mother came up behind him, holding Ririka, and bowed her head so deeply that I thought her head would touch the ground.

No, you're sick now, you don't have to bow your head so many times.

“Realy! Arigato. Death! Tottemotemo! Arigato! Death!”

“Oh, no, um… I'm glad you found her! Desu!

You're talking too much.

“Kyu!”

“Dah!”

Ririkchan, in her mother's arms, reached out to Jaja, in my arms. Jaja responded cheerfully and extended her hand in the same way.

“Ada! Dda!”

“Kyu! Kuah!”

I wonder what's so fun about it, when they're not even within arm's reach of each other.

But if the little ones are laughing, there's nothing wrong with that. I wonder if they realize that we'll be leaving soon.

I don't think they understand. I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

“Kunpei-san, Kunpei -san.”

“Hmm?”

Aoi tugged on my sleeve and I turned around.

“Gaunnosse-san wants to hold a thank-you party and would like us to come to the village… What should we do?”

A banquet again. Oh, they're hunters, right?

“No, it's getting late and my father and Officer Inoue have work tomorrow, so we have to go home.”

“Right.”

I appreciate the sentiment, but… unfortunately, we don't have time.

I asked Aoi to translate for me, but Gaunosse-san didn't back down.

Instead, he offered us a whole wild boar or a pile of freshly caught fish. How were we going to bring that back?

It wasn't until about half an hour later, with the help of Officer Inoue's wisdom, that I managed to convince him.

“Okay, let's go home then.”

“Yes, we should. Nana's awake too.”

“Au?”

The princess who did things at her own pace, who had been awake for some time, looked up at Aoi's face curiously.

“Jaja, say bye-bye to Ririka.”

“Dah?”

Jaja replied to my question with a question. Yes. It's obvious, but you don't understand, do you?

“Ririka, Jadzhaerunno, Souler?””

Visit readel.me for extra chapters.

Ririka's mom was also talking to Ririkchan, but she had a similar reaction.

“The sky will be dark soon, and if we don't get home soon, the mountain roads will be scary.”

“It's going to be another hour from here to the car. It's going to be tough.”

It was up to Wera and Azui, who had been reading the air and keeping their mouths shut, to show us the way back.

“Then, we'll be going now.”

“Bye, little bear.”

“Kuah!?”

Rouge waved her hand in the air, and Ririka looked at her with a surprised face.

“Kyu! Kyuuuuuun!”

Ririkchan desperately reached for Rouge in her mother's arms.

“Hm, I'll miss you too, but I have to go home.”

“Kyu! Kyu!

Wow, what an unbelievable way to say goodbye.

She was very fond of Rouge, wasn't she?

She must have sensed the parting even as a baby. But there's nothing I can do about it.

“I'm sad too, but Ririka is going to live with her mom and dad in this mountain. That's why. So…”

“Rouge…”

I noticed that she had been holding back for a while now. I'm not sure what to make of it.

Tears began to well up in Rouge's eyes.

“Fueeehh! Hyahhhh!”

“Ah… you too, Jaja?”

This one finally noticed, and Jaja started crying loudly.

She stretched out her arms and legs desperately trying to get closer to Ririka.

“Jaja, Jaja, don't cry. If Jaja cries, I'll also…”

Once the dam burst, the tears won't stop.

The tears rolling down her cheeks were getting bigger and bigger, and Rouge was sniffling and trying to stop them.

“Udah… fuyaaaah!”

“Oh no! Nana is crying too!”

Jaja's crying made Nana start crying loudly.

“Okay, okay, well, it's better than not crying, right? It means you love your friends, right?”

It would have been a bit tasteless if she hadn't reacted at all to the farewell.

“Heeeee! Aaaaaaah!”

I rocked her and tried to soothe her, but to no avail. Jaja shook her head in disgust and began to cry even louder.

Jaja, Nana, Ririka, and Rouge were all crying, and there was a great commotion.

Birds flew away from the trees in the distance as their cries echoed in the quiet mountains.

The rest of us adults are just in a quandary. What should we do?

“Ririka.”

Ririka's father picked her up with a wry smile and walked over to us.

“Kyuuu! Kyuuuu!”

He removes the black arrowhead pendant from Ririkchan's neck, who continued to cry like Jaja.

“Our precious thing. Give, together.”

As he said this, he put a cord made from a wooden vine around Jaja's neck.

It fit snugly around her neck so that it wouldn't get tangled or strangled, and there was only a gap of about one of my little fingers.

“What? No, we can't take such a precious thing.”

I mean, it's like a birthday gift, right? It's not something that should be taken lightly.

“Fine. Jaja, Ririka's friend. Very friend, it's okay.”

With a smile, he patted Jaja's head.

“Fueh, egu…”

Jaja, who has stopped crying for a bit, looks up at Ririka's father and Ririkchan in his arms.

“Kuu, Kuuu…”

Ririkchan also stopped crying and looks at Jaja.

“Ririka, I'll give you this.”

Rouge pulled out a small, black object from her jeans pocket.

“Ru-anesama, that's…”

Aoi, who was watching her while nursing Nana, was surprised.

I wonder what it is.

“Un, it's my horn. It's a good luck charm that I've carried around with me ever since they were replaced when I was a little girl. There are four of them, one I gave to Aoi a long time ago, and one my mother has. They are special things that I give to my loved ones.”

Rouge said and put something in Ririka's hand.

Ah, that's Rouge's horn.

Unlike Aoi and the twins, Rouge's horns were bright red.

There were four horns, two long and two short, extending back from the top of the ear.

The tips were rounded and had a jewel-like luster.

They get replaced?

“If you have this, I'll be with Ririka wherever she is. It will protect you. When you grow up and forget me, just keep this horn with you, okay?”

“Kyu…”

Rouge and Ririka talked to each other in silence as they stared into each other's eyes.

Both of their faces were covered with tears and snot, not even bothering to wipe it off.

“Fyaa… nii, egu, higu.”

“Jaja.”

I followed suit and lifted Jaja up so we were forehead to forehead, looking into each other's eyes.

“Dah”

“Oh, you're sad to say goodbye, aren't you? You really wanted to play more. I'm really sorry that you have to leave your friends.”

I don't know what to do about it.

The only thing we can do is to ignore the small but important wish of the children to just play together.

I'm sorry. But we have to go home.

To that house. To that town.

It's the most important thing for the whole family to return together.

“We'll come back someday. I don't know if we'll be able to see her again, but we'll keep coming back until we see Ririkchan. Jaja and Ririka0chan are now friends, remember? No matter how far apart they are, they will always be friends?”

“Egu… ah.”

Jaja rubbed her eyes and responded.

“Do you understand?

“Dah.”

I rubbed my forehead gently against her's. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead against , which was very commendable.

“Good girl.”

I kissed her gently on the forehead and hugged her to my chest.

Jaja grabbed my shirt tightly and buried her face in it.

“Nana's okay now, right?”

“Mmm.”

I turned around at the sound of Aoi's voice and saw her looking proudly at me and Jaja, holding Nana, who was leaning over her with her thumb in her mouth.

What the hell. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if they saw us?

“… Let's go home. Rouge.”

“Hmm. Let's go home.”

Rouge stood next to me, reluctantly parting from Ririkchan.

“So long, Ririkchan and everyone from the Beara tribe. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye!”

“Bye!”

“Whoa!”

You startled me!

As soon as Aoi bowed her head, many beastmen appeared from the surrounding grass.

What? How many of them were hiding and watching? There must have been at least forty of them.

“It seems that everyone is interested in people outside the mountain. Maybe they'll come out into the world in the near future?”

Officer Inoue, who had been in the shadows until just now, smiled wryly.

“Alright, let's go.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.

We turned our backs on the beastmen and started down the mountainside.

“Hey, hey, did they forget about us too?”

“We were forgotten, but what were we supposed to do in that situation?”

Wera and Azui, who were ahead of us, were whispering to each other.

I haven't forgotten. I just didn't mention it. Because it was obvious that you guys were scared out of your minds.

“Nana, come on, say bye.”

“Dah.”

Aoi grabbed Nana's hand and shook it.

“Ugh, hic… Ririka.”

Rouge looked down and struggled to hold back her tears.

“Ah, at least endure until you can't see Ririkchan anymore. You can cry as hard as you want later.”

“I'll do my best…”

I stroked her head from behind.

“Dah.”

Jaja, who had completely stopped crying, waved her hands in imitation of Aoi.

“I'm hungry. I thought we were going to have dinner on the way back from the highway?”

“You said we were going to a family restaurant.”

“What's a family restaurant?”

“Do you know Wera?”

“How would I know?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah….

“Oh, come on, Rouge, at least look at the road ahead. I'll hold your hand.”

“Ru-anesama, please blow your nose with this.”

It was noisy, but fun.

No matter if it's goodbye or not, we're going to stay positive like this.

I think that's what suits us best.

Chapter end