chap 14 8

Leaves rustled.
Yume.
Master hadn’t spoken out loud. Yet, still, Yume knew she had been called.
Looking over, Master was signaling, Follow me.
Yume nodded.
They continued moving down the game trail awhile longer.
Up ahead, Master suddenly came to a dead stop. He must have found something. Where, and what?
Yume wanted to ask, but she desperately resisted the urge.
Eventually, Master approached a nearby bush and crouched down. Yume stuck close to him.
Somethin’ there? Yume asked that with her eyes, and Master pointed.
She stuck her head out of the bushes, looking in that direction.
She nearly let out a gasp, but Yume hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.
It’s a wolf...!
It resembled the wolf-dogs raised by the guild. It had a similar build and fur, but it was completely different.
First, its fur was almost all white. Second, it wasn’t just big, it was strong. Yet, despite that, it was also nimble.
It’s cute...
For some reason, Yume teared up.
If she could, she wanted to pet it. To hug it. And if that wasn’t possible, she wanted to at least get closer.
Probably she couldn’t. If they could get any closer, Master would have done it.
That wolf was clearly difficult to approach. It was a being that humans couldn’t become close with.
That might have been why Yume was crying.
The white wolf turned their way. It fixed its eyes on Yume.
It was probably only a moment. But there was no questioning it: Yume and the white wolf had looked into one another’s eyes.
The white wolf suddenly turned to face forward again, and ran. Its movements were swift and easy, its feet light.
In no time it was off into the distance, then out of sight.
Master let out a sigh. “Well, it’s good fortune just to have been able to see one. That was no ordinary wolf.”
“Ohhhhh. It wasn’t?”
“I told you about the White God Elhit, right?”
“Yep, yep. That’s the reeeeaaaal big, reeeeaaaal white wolf god, right?”
“Elhit rules over all nature—or rather, is a symbol of nature as a whole. From the time this land of Grimgar was born, Elhit has been there, and should Elhit ever die, the land shall too, they say. Basically, Elhit must be incredibly grand, an incarnation of a massive power far beyond our understanding.”
“A musty powwow beyond our standing, huh?” Yume pondered. “Hmm...”
“You’ve mangled that horribly, but whatever. —Moving on. Great white wolves like that one, they’re seen as Elhit’s kin.” “Kings?” Yume asked.
“Kin... Um, family, not royalty. Kin are, well... it’s like they share the same blood. It’s a mystery how they can bear the blood of a god, but that’s the belief.”
“Mwuhoooo! Soooo, that white wolf, it’s the child of a god?”
“No, it’s probably not the child.”
“The grandchild, then?”
“I doubt they’re that closely related. But sure, grandchild.”
“The grandchild, huh? Or maybe great-grandchild?” “Could be.” Master patted Yume on the head.
He didn’t do it often, but when Master patted her head, Yume felt like she’d become a wolf or a dog. Master had to be really good at petting wolf-dogs. It felt good, so she wished he’d do it more.
“Nyunh, nyuh!” she said.
“...Urkh.” Master pulled his hand back. “S-Sorry.”
“Fwuh? For what?”
“I touched you without meaning to.”
“Master, is it wrong for you to be touchin’ Yume?”
“I-It’s not a good thing.”
“Why not?”
“Why? You... Um, well, I’m supposed to be your father, so there’s an appropriate amount of distance we should keep between us, so...” “Distance?” Yume asked.
“Not too close, not too far, I guess?”
“Oh, yeah? Guess that’s how it goes.”
“I-It is, you know?”
“Yume doesn’t want to part with you, though. Does she have to move away?”
“N-No...!” Master seemed to struggle for some reason, clutching at his own chest. “There may not be any need... for us to part. It’s just, um, that sense of distance... Right, that’s right, distance... If we get too close, you know? There are issues...” “Issues?” she protested.
“Yume, you’re puffing up your cheeks way too much...”
“Well, hey! Yume, she doesn’t know anything about what you’re
talkin’ about! What’re these issues, huh?!”
“U-Um, well, you...”
“Yume and Master, they get along great!”
“We don’t... get along terribly, no.”
“They get along great, right?”
“Y-Yeah, sure, great... But still.”
“Yume, she’s learned a whoooole lot about bein’ a hunter from you. Issues? There’re no issues here, are there? Is she wrong?”
“Y-You’re not wrong... no.”
“Well then, this is fine. Right?”
“I... I guess so.”
“So, keep on doin’ it. Once in a while, give Yume a pet, would you?”
“O-Okay.” Master nodded awkwardly. “Only once in a while, okay?”
“Okay!”
“Damn it...”
“Foo? What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing’s wrong... Nothing... Damn it. What’s wrong with me? It’s never been like this before. If anything, I’m a misanthrope, and that’s
why I washed my hands of the whole volunteer soldiering business...”
“Master, you want to wash your hands? Next time, should Yume wash your feet for you, too?”
“Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Why would you wash my feet?!”
“Yume, she’s always bein’ looked after by you. That’s why, yeah, she wants to wash your feet for you.”
“Noooooo! No, thank you! I’ll wash my own feet! I mean, m-m-m-mmy feet are filthy!”
“Nuoh? That’s why they’d need washin’, though. If they weren’t dirty, you wouldn’t have to wash them. Oh. If they’re that dirty, they’ve gotta be worth cleanin’ up, so Yume’s definitely gonna wash your feet!”
“I said no...! It’s embarrassing! Seriously, you don’t have to...!”
8. The Last
“Girlie,” Grandfather announced.
“...What is it?” Shihoru managed.
“You must think I’m an old fart who’s all talk.”
“Not at all...”
“No. You do. You absolutely do. I can tell these things, you know? Ever since that one time, your attitude towards me has changed. Massively, too. I’m honestly not that senile, you know? You know that, at least.”
“I-If you aren’t senile, could we not have this same conversation several times a day... please?”
“Ah! Ahhh! Ahhhhh!”
“Wh-What is it?”
“Are you suuuure it’s okay? Talking to a wizard like that? I think it’s a weeee bit rude. Now, listen. I didn’t just get old without doing anything, you know? Yet I’m not feeling the sliiiightest bit of respect. I don’t knoooow. Is that okay? You’re hurting me here. If you’d give me a massage, though, girlie, this pain miiiight go away.”
In a classroom alone with Grandfather, Shihoru hung her head, letting out the latest of who knew how many hundreds of sighs.
Why? Why had Shihoru refused Wizard Yoruka’s kind offer that time?
Yoruka was cool and analytical, and they said she was the youngest wizard. Even from the short exchanges they’d had, she could tell the woman was very smart. A little frightening, maybe, but if she had to learn from someone, a person like that was the best.
Shihoru was probably spoiled. A little harsh treatment was sure to be good for her.
Grandfather, meanwhile, was a depraved pervert.
He seemed to know more about magic, and having been, according to his own claim, practicing as a mage for ninety years, it would be strange if he didn’t. Grandfather said he’d been a mage for ninety years, but a man for over a hundred, so it was only natural that his male instincts would win out over the intellectual curiosity, spirit of discovery, and drive for self-improvement that came with being a mage.
She sort of understood that logic, and sort of didn’t. No, she understood what he was saying; it was just, uh, super gross. If there was a person still obsessing over carnal lust at over one hundred years of age, Shihoru could only think they were a monster. So why...?
There was just one thing that might have sufficed as a reason: what Yoruka had said.
“His teachings will, undoubtedly, become an invaluable asset to you as a mage. You may not understand that now, but with time, you will.”
It was true, she absolutely did not understand now.
However, she felt Wizard Yoruka was far more trustworthy than Grandfather. Because Grandfather was a liar, while Yoruka probably wasn’t.
Yoruka had told her that, if Shihoru found herself unable to deal with the old coot’s behavior, she was willing to take over as her instructor for the rest of her basic training. But that could also be interpreted as her advising that, if she could tolerate him, it would be better to have Grandfather teach her.
That suggested Grandfather’s basic training would have enough value that it was worth bearing with the unpleasant treatment.
And there was one other thing. If Shihoru had Yoruka teach her, that would mean, for a certainty, that she would have to sit next to Adachi. She did, to some degree, want to avoid that. His type, the kind of person who thought he was a genius, actually was sharp, and looked down on others, was hard for her to deal with. Even being around him was suffocating.
“I-I’m not... g-giving you a massage,” Shihoru said. “I mean, I can’t.”
“Just a liiiight one is fine. If you’d just ever so sooooftly touch the places I tell you to, that would be perfect.”
“I’m sure you’re planning to make me touch you in weird places...
right?”
“Weird places, like wheeeere? Could you teeeell me? Well, girlie? Where? What spot? What spoooot?”
“I-I don’t know! H-How would I...?!”
“Aww, you’re soooo cuuuute. Getting all embarrassed. Girlie, you’re cuuuute. Uweheheh!”
“I-I’m not cute at all!” Shihoru cried. “I-I’m... f-fat...”
“Nweheheh! You certainly do have a bit of meat on your bones, girlie.”
“I-I know. That’s why I told you, I’m fat...”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Grandfather smirked. “It comes with youth. Besides, your meat is of good quality. It’ll feel excellent to touch. Eheheheheh...”
“Urrrrrrrrrrrgh...!” Shihoru felt a chill.
But...
Shihoru’s face was turned down, but her lips were secretly turned up.
She’d won.
Shihoru had overcome this trial.
“Gufufufuh... Nuhuhuhuhuhuhuh... Hahh! Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah...! Hahhhhhhh...”
Grandfather let out a sigh that was far too big.
“It’s already ending, huh.” Yes. That was right.
Grandfather had taken every chance to try and touch Shihoru, make her touch him, say obscene things, and make her say them, so her basic training felt like it had lasted an eternity, but finally it was ending.
Looking back on it, the time she had spent in Grandfather’s lectures laced with obscene stories as she’d learned about elementals and magic, the times she’d meditated in front of the old man who was distraction incarnate, the times she’d practiced casting simple spells under his malicious direction, they were all good memories—was one thing she would never say, even under pain of death, but they had been at least somewhat to her benefit.
If nothing else, there was a feeling of accomplishment that came with having endured.
It was unlikely she’d ever go through anything this unpleasant again, too.
It might not be a good memory, but it had been a good experience— maybe.
“Grandfather... thank you for taking care of me,” Shihoru said.
“For my part, I wish you’d keep on ‘taking care’ of me, girlie...”
“I-I’ll pass.”
“You should give up on this volunteer soldier business, girlie. It’s nothing but danger. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I appreciate your concern, but...”
“Of course I’m concerned! What would I do if my girl got herself hurt?! When I think of any wounds on that young, supple body...”
“I... I have my comrades to consider.”
“Girlie, if you got roughed up by orcs, or goblins, why... I’d be a little, no, very! Very aroused!”
“...Thank you again.”
“My girlieeee! Ohhhhhhhhh! I... I can’t take this...!”
“I’m not yours....”
“Enough!” Grandfather suddenly stood up from his chair. With swift motions, not at all like those of a man who was 107 years old. He was so energetic, it was terrifying. “Girlie! I challenge you!”
“...Say what?”
“Fire a Magic Missile at me!”
“Huh? B-But... that’s...”
“Don’t underestimate me because of my age, girlie! I’ll show you the difference in level between us as mages!”
“Th-The difference in level...? I just entered the guild... I only know one spell, too, there’s no challenge here...”
“It’s fine, just shoot! I’ll show you what true magic is!”
“...True magic?”
That caught her attention, if only a little.
Wizard Yoruka had mentioned it before. Grandfather was one of the few mages in Grimgar who had attained true magic.
What exactly was that true magic? Shihoru had no clue. But Grandfather was saying he was going to teach her now.
It probably wasn’t anything she could understand yet, but like Yoruka said, this might become a valuable asset to her, and come in handy one day.
“O... Okay!”
Shihoru took her training staff, which was leaning against her desk, and stood up.
Grandfather leaned back and looked down his nose at Shihoru. Due to his advanced age, it felt like he might throw out his back if he wasn’t careful doing that, but he could still stand tall if he tried.
Also, despite being over a hundred, Grandfather was tall. He had to be over 180 centimeters. He must have shrunk somewhat, too, so he’d have been even taller in his youth. It wasn’t easy to see at first glance because of his stark white beard and eyebrows, but his skin was glossy, too.
He had an incredible sense of presence.
Shihoru felt suffocated. Her hands quaked. Grandfather was intimidating her.
“This chance doesn’t come often, girlie,” Grandfather grinned. “Let’s review your last lesson. Tell me the four types of elementals.”
“The flaming Arve, the freezing Kanon, the electric Falz, and the shadowy Darsh.”
“Correct. The Arve are like burning red flames.”
When Grandfather said that and raised his right hand, surprisingly, a flaming elemental, an Arve, appeared on his palm.
“The Kanon are like snowflakes.”
The mystery continued. The Arve vanished, and a Kanon appeared— or rather, to Shihoru’s eyes, it appeared the Arve turned into a Kanon.
“The Falz are like lightning.”
The Kanon turned into whirling electricity. “The Darsh are like dark black masses of seaweed.” Finally, the electric discharge became a black ball.
“These are the four forms of elementals. Remember them well, girlie. Elementals are everywhere. They appear to feed on the power of our spirits, our magical power, and through it exert their force.”
“I-I know that. You’ve already taught me.”
“You’re a serious one, girlie. Much like Yoruka. However, you mustn’t imitate her. That one’s too hard-headed. Yoruka’s aware of that herself, but she can’t cast away her preconceptions. To be a mage, you must study as deeply as the depths of the land, yet also soar as high as the sky. Even knowing this, though, it is not easily done. Do you understand, girlie?”
“...Y-Yes.”
“Why do all mages learn Magic Missile as their first spell? That is the key. In a way, you’ve been given it from the start. Now it is up to you to put that key into the keyhole, turn it, undo the lock, and open the door.”
“The key...” Shihoru repeated.
“Indeed. Now, face me, and unleash a Magic Missile.”
“Marc...”
As if trying to suck them in, Shihoru drew elemental sigils with her staff as she chanted.
“...em Parc!”
Light gathered at the end of her staff, and formed a bead. The elemental had shown its form.
What elemental was this, though?
For an instant, that doubt crossed her mind, and then she launched the Magic Missile at Grandfather.
Grandfather faced the bead of light. The Darsh was still resting in the palm of his hand.
The bead of light and Darsh made contact. No—they... mixed?
They became one, and then became something else.
It was close to green in color, round, and had little arms and legs growing out of it.
It was unclear what it truly was, but it wobbled in Grandfather’s hand awhile, then, as if burning out, it blinked... and was gone.
“Girlie.” Grandfather sat down in his chair.
She couldn’t imagine it was just because he’d sat down, but Grandfather suddenly looked much, much smaller.
“...No, Shihoru. You are a mage now. There is nothing left for me to teach you. The next time you come to the guild in search of training, I will entrust you to Wizard Yoruka. I’m too old for this. I want to spend what little time I have left on my research. You are the last disciple of Wizard Sarai.”
“Grandfather...”
“If you’d let me rub your boobs just a little, I would teach you again, though.”
“...No. I’ll have Wizard Yoruka teach me. I’ll be fine, thanks.”
“Hmm,” Grandfather said regretfully. “Is that so? What a shame.”
 
9. My Sweet Home
“How is it, Yume?” Master asked.
“Yeah, yeah! It feels super great!”
“O-Oh, yeah?”
“Fwahhh... It’s all meltin’ away...”
“I-It’s just right, huh?”
“Sure is... Nnnngh... This’s unbelievable. Funyuhhhh...”
“I... I see.”
“Hawfuhhh...”
It felt so good, she didn’t know what was happening anymore.
The water temperature was perfect.
There was a bath in the hunters’ guild. It was designed so that you poured water into a stone basin, then lit a fire and heated it. Yume had helped draw the water, of course, but Master was the one who’d heated it up. In fact, he was outside the bath now, adjusting the level of the fire.
“Sorry, Master. Yume got in first... Normally, she feels like, normally, it should’ve been you who took the first bath. Bein’ the Master and all.”
“Y-You dummy,” Master said. “It’s fine. I’m not that big on baths and stuff like that, anyway. I just want to get clean and be done with it. But you, well, you’re, uh... a woman, after all.” “Master, you’re nice,” Yume beamed.
“N-No, I’m not. No one’s ever told me that before.”
“That’s a mystery, then. Master, you’re so nice.”
“I-It’s not like I’d do this for just anyone...”
“Nuoh? Master, did you just say somethin’?”
“I did not! You’re hearing things.”
“Oh!” Yume closed her eyes. She relaxed. “Masterrrr?”
“Wh-What?”
“Yume, she...”
“Y-Yeah?”
“...she’s gettin’ sleepy.”
“Whoooa, y-you’re going to sleep?! Y-You’ll drown, you know?!”
“If it looks like Yume’s drownin’, Master, save her, would you?”
“I-I’ll save you! No, don’t make me save you, okay?!”
“Why not?”
“I-If I have to save you, that means I’d have to go in there, and if I do, you’re in the bath, so, uh, I’ll see you like that, and that’s really not good. I mean, I’m your father, no, that’s not it... H-Hey?! Yume?! You’re awake, right?!”
“Mewww. Yume’s awake.”
“...Y-You are? Good. How’s the water? It’s not lukewarm, right?”
“It may’ve gotten a teeeeny bit hotter.”
“You sure you haven’t been in there too long? Maybe it’s time you got out.”
“No way.”
“You’ll boil your brains!”
“But still!”
“What?”
“Once Yume gets out of the bath, it’s over, right?”
“Wh-What is?”
“Her basic training with Master.”
“What’s the problem with that?” he retorted. “It’s finally coming to an end!”
“Weren’t you enjoyin’ it, Master?”
“Um... er... enjoying it? Not me. This isn’t the time for fun and games. I’m your father, you know.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, Yume had fun. Oh, and though she’s not sure what it means, Yume’s becomin’ a volunteer soldier after this, right? A trainee.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Yume wonders a little—just a little, mind—what’s gonna happen to her.”
“Well, it’s not strange for you to feel uneasy.”
“Not uneasy, exactly.”
“You’re not worried?” Master asked. “I was pretty worried. It was a long time ago, so I don’t fully remember, but I think I was.”
“Hmm. Which could it be? Yume, she doesn’t really know if she’s uneasy or not.”
“That’s so like you,” Master sighed.
“Oh, yeah? It’s like Yume?”
“That’s just what I think. We’ve been together seven days. I know you a little, at least.”
“Master, you’re tryin’ to understand Yume?”
“A-A little, okay? A little. Just a little...”
“Y’know, that makes Yume kinda happy. Yume, she can’t put things into words that well, though. She doesn’t remember anythin’ from before, after all. But still, she was with you, doin’ basic trainin’, right? So, she’s not sure what to say.”
Yume pursed her lips. It was frustrating, not being able to put it into words. She wished a more suitable word would float up into her mind.
“Yume,” Master put in.
“Huhwah? Whaaat, Master?”
“Come back anytime.”
“Nuh...?”
“If anything happens. You’re welcome to come back any time. I’m your father, after all. So, basically... you can think of me as a father figure. I’ll be here for you.”
“Ahhhhhh.”
“...What?”
“Yume just got it. That’s what it is. Master’s Yume’s home.” “Home...” he said softly.
“Is that wrong?”
“...No. If that’s how you feel, that’s fine. I’m like a house to you. If so, come back if you’re in trouble.”
“Yep. Yume’ll do that.”
“Also, so long as they have a mountain or forest, a hunter can survive.”
“Yep, yep!” Yume said. “The White God Elhit-chan is there. And the animals. And lots of trees and grass. Oh, and Master, too!”
“...Yeah.”
“Master?”
“Hm?”
“Yume, she’s gonna become a great hunter.”
“You’re a bit hopeless with the bow, though.” Master sounded like he was smiling just a little. “But knowing you, you can do it. You’ll be a good hunter.”
“Hee hee!” Yume giggled. “Master, Yume loves you.”
 
 

10. The Two
With her basic training complete, Yume met back up with Ranta, Haruhiro, Shihoru, Manato, and things happened so fast.
She was surprised Ranta was a dread knight when he was supposed to have become a warrior, but Moguzo, who she thought had joined another party, popped back up, and they were able to recruit him, so the problem was solved.
The first day they were attacked by pit rats, and they had nothing to show for it, but thanks to Manato, they found a place to stay, and things were good.
In her bed in a pitch dark room, Yume whispered to herself, “Were they good?”
“Huh?” Shihoru, in the bed next to her, had apparently heard her. “Did you... say something?”
“Hmm... Did Yume?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Yeah. Yume did, huh?”
“Um...” That was all, and then Shihoru fell silent.
Yume was waiting for her to say more, but then she started getting tireder and tireder.
As she was drifting off, Shihoru opened her mouth. “U-Um... Yume? Are you asleep already?”
“Nuh uh. Not asleep yet.”
“You’re tired, huh?”
“A bit, yeah.”
“I... I’m sorry. G-Go to sleep. I won’t get in the way anymore...”
“Just now, Yume woke up, so it’s okay to talk, you know?”
“Erm... uh... it’s nothing... really... important, though.”
“Oh, yeah? You’re a hesitater, aren’t you?”
“H-Hesitater...? M-Maybe...”
“Yume, when she’s got somethin’ she wants to say, she tends to blurt it out.”
“I... I’m grateful for that, though. I, uh... I’m not so good at talking, so...”
“Oh, yeah? Well then, Yume and you’re gonna have loooots of chances to get closer, huh?”
“I-I’d... like that... I think. If you don’t mind... that is.”
“Yume doesn’t mind.”
“O-Oh, good. I was feeling u-uneasy... If Manato-kun hadn’t been there... who knows what would have happened?”
“Ohhh,” Yume said. “Manato, huh? He’s a quickie, and a fresher, too.”
“...He’s quick, and his personality’s refreshing?”
“Maybe that was it?”
“H-He’s so reliable, isn’t he?”
“Super reliable, yeah.”
“He’s a good guy. Really.”
“Hey... Shihoru?” Yume asked.
“Wh-What?”
“Listen, you mind if Yume sleeps with you?”
“Huh...?”
“You can say no if you don’t wanna. Yume, she’s feelin’ a bit lonely.”
“I-I don’t... mind?”
“Yippee!”
Yume immediately moved over, lying down next to Shihoru. Their hands happened to touch when she did, so she sort of held Shihoru’s hand.
Shihoru slowly gripped her hand back.
“Shihoruuu,” Yume said. “How was your trainin’?”
“W-Well... stuff happened, but it went okay. It was hard, though... I guess.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“What about you, Yume?”
“Um, well, Yume had looooads of fun!”
“...Oh, I see. Good for you.”
“Yume’s master, he was so nice,” Yume said happily. “He taught her all sorts of things. He stayed with her the whole time. Oh, and the wolf-dogs were cute, too.”
“My teacher was... a grandpa, though.”
“Ohhh. Shihoru, you had a grandpa?”
“N-No, that’s not it... I mean an elderly person. He was over a hundred years old...”
“Over a hundred, huh? That’s super old, right?”
“But he was still, how should I put this...? A deviant.”
“A deviant, huh?”
“It means a weird person. He was a handful. He was a great man... and I learned a lot from him, but... I don’t know whether he can be trusted or not.”
“Shihoru, did you like that grandpa?”
“I don’t think I... hated him. He had a lot of bad points, but if you were to ask if hated him...”
“Well, then. It’s fine like that.”

Chapter end