“Fwahhh...”
One crisp autumn morning, Naden the black ryuu glided lazily through the clouds. The warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze were so pleasant that I let out a big yawn as I rode on her back.
“What, Souma? Didn’t get enough sleep?” Naden asked telepathically.
“Uhh... Yeah. My schedule’s been brutal lately. With the summit coming up, there’s a ceremony for the new carrier, and a charity event hosted by Maria and Juna with Roroa cosponsoring. I’ve been wrestling with mountains of paperwork and only managed to finish in the middle of last night.”
“Well... Good work on that.”
“Yeah. It really wore me down this time...”
I hadn’t been this busy in ages. Lately, I felt exhaustion piling up faster than it used to. I was over thirty now, and I no longer had the stamina of my late teens and early twenties to power through endless desk work. The next generation was coming along nicely though, so I hoped I’d be able to pass the crown down to Cian before too long.
Maybe I’ll abdicate in another five years or so, I thought with a sigh, when...
“W-Well, you can relax at that girl’s house today. You can probably take it easier there than at the castle, right?”
Naden deliberately made her telepathic voice sound cheerful for my sake. The castle was both my home and my workplace, which made it hard to separate duty from private life. Even on days off, bureaucrats would come knocking if something urgent came up.
“I’m sure glad to have a home away from home.”
“I can hear it in your voice... But isn’t that how weird rumors about you get started?”
“Huh? You mean the eighth wife stuff?”
“It’s just dirty speculation, and they’ll never get close to the truth, but doesn’t it bother you?”
“If that’s all the rumors amount to, let them talk. They gossip because they don’t have enough stimulation, and that lack of excitement is proof the country’s at peace. Besides...it’s not like I can completely deny the rumors. Better to leave it at that than make half-hearted excuses that spark even wilder stories.”
“Hmm... Well, if you’re fine with it, then okay.”
As we talked, we reached the skies above our destination, a town just beyond Parnam Castle’s walls. Though it had no fortifications of its own, it sat along the highway, so all the major trade guilds kept branches there, and the place was reasonably bustling. On a hill overlooking the town stood a single house.
Naden quietly landed in the woods near the house. Because her black ryuu form stood out too much, the royal family had claimed this forest and built a hidden landing site so we could come and go unnoticed.
For that same reason, the Black Cats were stationed in the town at all times. They kept people out of these woods, which were now considered forbidden ground.
“Okay, I’ll be back tomorrow morning to pick you up,” Naden said after setting me down and shifting into her human form.
“Got it. Thanks, Naden.”
“Well, at least try to get some rest today. Bye.”
With that, she changed back into her ryuu form and soared into the sky. I waved until she was out of sight, then turned towards the nearby house. As I approached, I circled around to the back door, because I knew that was where she’d be. Sure enough, just as I expected, the lady of the house was humming as she strung laundry between two trees.
“La, la, la...”
Wearing an apron, she cheerfully hung up children’s clothes. Beside her, a round little figure passed her the laundry.
✦ ✦ ✦
✦ ✦ ✦
“Heyyy!” I called out as I approached.
“Hmm? Oh, welcome home,” she said with a smile.
At that, the roly-poly figure dashed over to me. It stood barely two heads tall, with its head wrapped in white silk and a basket strapped to its back. It wasn’t carrying its usual weapon, the naginata.
Did that round body belong to Dora*mon? Or maybe President Ar*a? No, it was Little Musashibo.
I placed a hand on Little Musashibo’s head and reclaimed the consciousness I’d implanted there with Living Poltergeists. It wouldn’t have been a problem to leave it, but when my main body was nearby, having two versions of myself in the same place got confusing.
As soon as I did, she pointed at Little Musashibo, now just a lifeless kigurumi.
“Mister Musashibo was telling me you were busy with work. Did it go all right?”
“I sure was, let me tell you... I just barely managed to get through it. It was exhausting, though...” I said, recalling the mountain of tasks I’d only just finished yesterday.
“Well, good on you for sticking it out. Once I’m done with the laundry, I’ll have to reward you for all that hard work.”
She snickered as she said it. She hadn’t changed one bit from the easygoing girl I’d first met.
I walked over, picked up the laundry basket Little Musashibo had been holding, and said, “I’ll help, Juno.”
“Oh! Thanks, Souma.”
And so, Juno and I hung the laundry together.