Latina was in a pinch.
「What to do…」
She looks at the people coming and going with an anxious look.
Now, where she is it isn’t the South district of Kreutz where she usually lives. She came to the East district along with Kenneth who went out for stocking.
It’s the second time Latina to the East district with this.
The first time she completely didn’t understand the language and even if the surroundings interested her, she didn’t separate from Dale.
Consequently that was good.
This time she carelessly had her attention caught by the surroundings.
Row of shops respectively exercise their ingenuity to attract the interest of those who walk down the road. The strategic point of distribution which is Kreutz, is rich in goods. It is full of various merchandises that Latina has never seen until now.
She was fascinated by the atmosphere which is different from the South district.
Originally Latina is very curious. It can be said that it inevitable that her curiosity exceeded her wariness and attention.
In the meantime, when she noticed, she lost Kenneth of sight.
(Even though I promised, I would with Kenneth properly… I wonder, Dale will angry?)
When thinking so, her already depressed feelings faded progressively.
Latina with a perplexed look, ponders what she should do.
However, helplessness won and she doesn’t know what she should do.
If she can’t return, she wonders what would be the best thing to do?
(If I can’t meet him anymore, what to do?)
She already hated to be alone.
Even though there is this much people, it can be helped that she is tormented by a strong feelings of loneliness.
She can’t stop her thoughts to wane to the worse.
( No… What to do, I have to return… I have to return…)
Her thoughts revolve upon this.
Even if she is smart nevertheless, Latina is still a young child.
It was a natural reaction to be swayed by her emotions instead of reason.
But, there is no one there who can tell it to her.
If that is the case that she is lost, it may be because she was in an environment where 『She have to do something by herself』 instead of 『Wait the help of someone』 in 『That forest』, is the reason that there was not the decision that is to wait in that place in Latina.
Latina started running in a direction that she guessed.
After, although if she would have stayed there just a bit longer, then Kenneth came back in hurry.
Latina who somehow turned at several corners, she got in an area that she never seen before for real.
「…Where is this?」
She have no way of knowing, but even in the East district the area is called craftsman district, because every house lined up served both as workshop and residence. It’s an area that appears like downtown compared to main street of the East district.
For that reason there is a lot of tangled alleys, it may feel like a maze for the people besides the residents there.
It’s also the case for Latina, even if she looks back, she doesn’t know from where she came to here anymore.
「…What to do.」
It was when Latina muttered bewilderedly.
「Who are you?」
She is startled due to a voice coming from her back.
When Latina looked back, several boys stood there. They are frowning due to the unfamiliar girl.
「You’re a kid from where, I have never seen you before.」
「…」
The child with the bigger body among the boys says while he approaches. She didn’t know what was good to answer and she moved back to maintain her distance from the boy. He looks increasingly doubtful due to her state.
「It’s a color of hair that I have never seen before, a kid of noble?」
「You’re wrong, Rudy. If she was a kid of noble, she would wear a dress.」
「That’s right. But, it’s an unusual color. It doesn’t look neither golden nor silver.」
An unassuming round-faced boy who was next to the child with a big frame called Rudy and a brown-haired boy who was behind say unanimously.
「If this girl moved house, then it unlikely that there is no rumors.」
「Then you’re a stranger?」
Latina’s body bounded again due to Rudy’s firm tone.
(Why is he angry?)
(Is Latina… a bit, strange?)
(What to do… I don’t understand, why, he is angry.)
「It’s not good Rudy, this girl cries.」
「Although I’m asking, it’s her who is silent!」
Rudy bluntly approached Latina when the round-faced boy tried to stop him. Completely panicked, Latina tried to escape while looking pale.
「Why are you running away! It’s suspicious!」
「! “＊＊! ＊＊＊＊!”」
However the difference in physique is large, Latina was immediately caught by Rudy who got around. The boys stare in puzzlement due to the shriek Latina let out the moment when her arm was grasped.
「What is she saying?」
「She is maybe a kid of a foreign country…」
The stern look already disappears from the boys and only confusion remains, but they didn’t notice the state of panic of Latina. Desperately twisting her body as she raises her voice.
「“＊＊, ＊＊! ＊＊＊＊!”」
「What are you doing!」
A girl around the same as the boys rushed out of a near house due to that shriek of Latina. She dashes between the boys as soon as she sees the pale-faced Latina.
「It’s the worst to bully such a small girl!」
「Uwah, stop, Chloe!」
「It’s wrong, it’s a misunderstanding!」
The two besides the brown-haired boy who quickly took his distance became the victims of striking fists punishment of the girl called Chloe.
The girl called Chloe was amazing to the extent that standing idle, Latina even forgot that she was panicked.
Latina in the position where she got help, it was enough to intervene.
「Does it hurt? … Are you alright?」
「It’s alright! It will get better if they put on saliva!」
「That’s what you say, Chloe.」
Squatting down before the two boys, Rudy and Marcelーthe round-faced boyー which Cloe beaten and kicked, Latina anxiously weared a gloomy look.
「I’m sorry… because I couldn’t answer properly…」
「We frightened you, it was our bad…」
When Marcel showed a wry smile, Latina looked even more sorry. And after she directs the little palm of her hands before his eyes, her facial expression neatly tenses up. She carefully forms words after moistening her lips.
「“Supernal light, fulfill my wish under my name, deign heal and cure the wounded one, 《Healing light》”.」
The eyes of the children of the neighborhood became round, due to the soft light which flowed from Latina’s palms.
Latina similarly used the recovery magic on Rudy. After that, tightly knitting her brows, she plumped down.
「Are you okay?」
「I’m alright. I’m just a little bit tired.」
Latina answered Chloe with a smile. With that as start, the boys excitedly surrounded Latina.
「Amazing! She is witch!」
「Although she is so small, it’s really amazing that she can use magic, isn’t it! Who taught you?」
「I saw magic for the first time!」
When Latina showed a frightened state due to theirs impulse, Chloe got one step ahead and stared intensely.
When the boys suddenly stopped moving, Latina showed her face from the back of Chloe.
「Amazing? I can only, use simple healing magic.」
Tilting her head, she was completely wondering.
「Is it amazing, able to use magic?」
「There is next to none who can use magic in the people of the town. Although those who work at the sanctuaries and the Lord place and the people of large trading companies are exceptions. After that is the adventurers」
Because the brown-haired boyーAnthonyー taught her so, Latina nods.
(Dale is an adventurer. So he can use magic.)
Then, she remembered all of a sudden. That she was a lost child.
「I got astray… I don’t know, way back…」
「Where do you came from, Latina?」
「The Ocelot shop.. of the south…」
The children look at each other, due to Latina answering downheartedly.
「Ocelot?」
「There ish’t such shop in the south.」
「Is it that place? The place where there is a green flag.」
「The shop for adventurers?」
Latina’s face brightens due to these words.
「Yes. A lot of, adventurers, come to the shop.」
Hearing the reply of Latina, the children reciprocally look at each other again.
The shop for adventurers is dangerous place where strangers who are doing dangerous works gather. Theirs parents are forbidding them from playing around there.
But, this is an act of kindness.
It’s by no means that they only want to go.
ーIt seems children are more interested in the things that adults prohibit after all.
A little bit before Latina was opening her heart to the children of the East district.
In the South district.
「Latina got lost!?」
The scream reverberating to the outside was arising in 『The dancing ocelot』.
Kenneth, when he noticed that Latina was not there, he immediately searched the surroundings in a fluster. But he couldn’t find her. However, after that he also had to deal with the suppliers of ingredients and the like brought to the shop. He couldn’t look for her for a long time.
He charged several acquaintances about her and came back to 『The ocelot』 at a quick pace.
He must notify the circumstances to her guardian first of all.
「Yeah. I’m really sorry. When I took off my eye from her during negotiation…」
Both Kenneth and Dale were careless.
Latina is a very smart girl.
Inadvertently, he cannot deny that he thought unconsciously that it would be all right If it’s that much.
‘She won’t waver because this child is mature.’ Such remark is a selfish excuse of an adult.
Fundamentally the viewpoints of adults and children are different. Of course the world they are seeing is different. The way of thinking of adults can’t comprehend the behavior of children.
「Oh, well. It can’t be helped. She is lost, whatever we do now it can’t be helped since it already happened. Aaaahh… for such a thing, the search magic was to keep in mind ahhhh! The past me who said that it wasn’t necessary, apologize to Latina, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorryyy… Oh, that’s right. Latina now is… what to do, what to do? That’s it, I-I’ll issue a request to the adventurers inside the city to look for Latina! 」
「Why don’t you go look for her for the time being?」
「That’s it!」
Due to Dale who was agitated to an imprudent but humorous extent, the minds of the surroundings were contrarily calmed. After Rita gave one course of actions to Dale who was at the peak of confusion, he dashed out the shop.
「Uhh… Rita?」
「The characteristics of Latina were reported with the tutelage of Dale in the town and if there is a fool trying to abduct her since there is a lot of our regulars among the gatekeepers, they can stop him at the town walls. As for this child, I have a hunch that she will manage by herself even though she is lost, certainly…」
When Kenneth saw his wife after he saw Dale off, she was very calm.
Rita can stay calm, is also largely because the place where Latina got lost, is an area where the public security is good even in the East district.
She turns her face toward several regulars who were indulging in idle talk inside the shop.
「If you take part in the search, the alcohol charge of tonight is free of charge. I’ll pay a reward in addition if you find her. Come back before nightfall even if don’t find her. How about this?」
「Well, it will kill time.」
「It’s not bad to do that guy a favor.」
Due to the words of Rita, the regulars get up from theirs seats while unanimously saying.
Latina is becoming special person for the regulars also.
Surrounded by the children of East district, It was when there was still time to sunset that Latina came back.
「Rita!」
Going through the door of the shop Latina who smiled, came running in direction of Rita, but she halted as if she was taken aback.
「Rita, I’m sorry, have gone astray… Where is Kenneth?」
「He was worried. Show him yourself.」
Indicating the kitchen, Rita says. To be honest, Rita was fed up with her husband who was worried about Latina and wasn’t able to concentrate on his work squarely.
When Latina who headed toward the kitchen with hasty steps showed her face, Kenneth dropped the pot that he had in his hand. A loud noise resounds around.
「Kenneth, I’m sorry. …I went astray, I didn’t keep my promise…」
Being meekly apologized with a piteous appearance, Kenneth can’t scold her, knowing that himself was at fault.
But, he pats her little head as feel relieved.
「I’m glad you’re safe.」
After Kenneth lifted Latina who was quietly depressed in his arms and went in the shop, the several children looked up to him. Kenneth is surprised a little bit by the existences which usually should not be in this shop.
「What?」
「These children brought Latina here.」
Rita who was speaking with the only girl among the children says.
「It must be rewarded…」
「Helping a friend is a matter of course!」
The girl raised her voice with disapproval, because of the murmur of Kenneth. Latina was tilting her little head in confusion.
「So, you became Latina’s friends. Since it’s already becoming late today… You’ll play with Latina at your leisure next time.」
Kenneth opened the bottle of cookies which were prepared in advance for the snack of Latina, while Rita smiled with a gentle smile that she usually doesn’t show. He skillfully makes a wrapping for each person.
「Thank you so much to have brought Latina back.」
After he kneeled to match the line of sight of the children, he handed over the cookies together with words of gratitude. The children who received a polite treatment from Rita who is an adult, restlessly exchanged not at ease looks, but it seemed not entirely(?).
Latina saw Chloe and the other get on their way home, waving her hand at the entrance of the shop.
Sunset approaching, when the regulars returned to 『The ocelot』, Latina lowered her head to each person.
「I’m sorry, have worried you…」
「If miss is safe, then there is no problem.」
「…Thank you, have searched me.」
Latina once again lowered her head to a regular who smiled and waved his hand.
It was Latina who show a smile at first when she came back to the shop, but now even just looking at her back, they understand that she is downhearted.
Repeatedly going back and forth to the entrance of the shop, she was depressed looking at her feet.
Not only the regulars who know her circumstances, even the customers who doesn’t know, were piling up wine-cup somehow keeping silent because the state of Latina who was different from her usual.
It was at that timing when Dale came back.
He opened the door of the shop while dripping with sweat and being out of breath.
「Rita! what should I…」
About to ask whether there is progress on information, he notices the person in question looking up to him.
「Latina!」
Large tears were her response to Dale who called her name showing a joyful look.
「!?」
Latina sheds still more tears because Dale fell on his knees without speaking in a panic.
「La-Latina!?」
「I’m… I’m sorry…, I’m sorry… I didn’t keep, my promise, I’m sorry…」
The sobbing and pleadings were words of apology.
「Dale, you angry since I bad?」
「I’m not-I’m not angry so… Aaah, I was just worried!」
Dale strongly shook his head because of the words of Latina as she cried, but Latina continued her words again.
「Okay, to be angry. Since I bad… but, I, wa-was scared. Scared that, might not return.」
Tears overflow from her big gray pupils.
When it was the first time that he saw this small child cry, just a little bit of calm part left she murmured to Dale.
「I don’t want, be alone, anymore, Dale. …I want be together with Dale, so you may scold, me…」
after Latina came back safely to 『The dancing ocelot』, she appeared to have thought a lot in her own way.
Meanwhile, remembering the helplessness and anxiety when she got lost, she was swung around by these big sentiments.
She had been washed away by that sense of unease, after she had the belief that she must apologize.
ーDale who calmed down later speculated.
At this point in time, embracing Latina was the only thing Dale who was at the peak of confusion, was able to do.
Her weeping must have become a reason to cry already.
Latina was just sobbing sometimes, without proper words.
the fight known as pacifying Latina who solely continuing to cry that Dale continued, reached its end because she was tired from crying.
The customers of the surrounding direct malicious smiles at Dale who is holding Latina who moved for a nap with an exhausted expression.
It was the moment the new conversation to accompany good liquor of this shop, called 『The wailing and dismay incident 』 in years to come.
Since that day, Latina started to play with the children of the East district.
This shop of South district have a saner atmosphere than other shops for adventurers that are open on the streets. Nevertheless it’s not an area where children play.
But even so recently Dale was querying whether he will catch sight of the children in the surrounding of the shop. Kenneth and Rita listen to the talk of Latina and eventually were convinced.
The children of the East district was coming for Latina to play together and walking her back to home. The children seemed to understand that this area of the South district is not safe, they was always moving in group.
Dale also didn’t think that it was good to keep Latina in the shop only and he also was concerned about the situation where she was only in contact with adult like them.
The existence of the children of the East district was godsend.
「I’m glad that you made friends, Latina.」
「What is 『Friends』? Dale.」
What she said was unexpected thing for him.
「Eh? Err… Latina, you don’t have friends?」
「? I don’t understand 『Friends』. Chloe also called me friend, but I don’t understand.」
Dale grumbled 「Hm Hm Hm…」 to Latina who tilt her head.
Unworried Dale thinks ‘She has not been persecuted in her hometown, because I don’t feel hidden darkness in Latina’.
But, she is 『One horned』. She is an existence that might be the subject of greatest contempt for the 『Magic race』.
He have no idea where there is a land mine.
「…Err.. Latina, didn’t, you play together with children which are about your age?」
「Play together? The family?」
「No… It’s not the family. Didn’t you play with the children of other houses?」
Latina tilted her head again because of Dale’s words.
「Around… me, it was only family and adults.」
He remembers that the 『Magic race』 was a low birth rate because of longevity race because of these words. The number of children itself is small.
「Well… friends means, people who play and talk together other than family. …In the first place, often about the same.」
He added the last words so as himself, Rita and Kenneth to not be 『Acknowledge as friends』.
「Among these people, one whom you came to like.」
He is not so sure about the society but he want to brought up this obedient child as he thought that way. Dale thinks about such thing.
「Chloe, likes, me?」
「Because I don’t think she want to be friend with someone she really dislikes.」
She, who was thinking for a while about Dale’s words, smiled.
「I also like Chloe. I’m happy, that Chloe, called me friend.」
「I see.」
Dale was a little worried while he patted the head of Latina who looks happy.
He thought if he should ask the meaning of her words earlier.
Then he chooses his words and speak.
「…Latina, what kind of people were around you?」
「I don’t understand. What kind of way of speaking is there?」
The words which he made up his mind to ask returning with a question, Dale finally realized his own mistake.
Latina fundamentally lacks 『words to explain』.
「Err… Family. Do you have siblings?」
「Siblins?」
「Among your family, children born from the same parents…A man whose age is superior is an older brother and a woman is an older sister. A man whose age is inferior is a little brother and a woman is a little sister. These are collectively called siblings.」
「…I, don’t have older brother and sister, as well as little brother and sister. I don’t have siblings.」
After listening to Dale’s explanation, Latina answers so.
「what kind of people were the adults who were around you?」
「I don’t know. I didn’t really meet other people and I didn’t talk to them. There was a lot of matters with family.」
Answering so, the face of Latina is a bit depressed. he knows that is enough now.
It was not a pleasant memory for her.
When Dale judged so and close the topic.
「That’s why now, I am happy, being a lot with Dale.」
The words which that child shyly spoke was a critical hit.
The smile that she directed at Dale, was one that didn’t lose to when she is eating her favorite sweets.
「I like Chloe, but I like, Dale a lot more.」
「I love you too, Latina! You’re really cute!」
Latina looked really happy because the words said Dale Hugging her energetically.
(If this is a reckoning to leave the conversation unsettled, it’s ominous but… If it’s a wicked girl like Latina, then it can’t be helped if I am deceived!)
Thinking about such thing, Dale might be very happy in his own way.
Latina was in a pinch.
「What to do…」
She looks at the people coming and going with an anxious look.
Now, where she is it isn’t the South district of Kreutz where she usually lives. She came to the East district along with Kenneth who went out for stocking.
It’s the second time Latina to the East district with this.
The first time she completely didn’t understand the language and even if the surroundings interested her, she didn’t separate from Dale.
Consequently that was good.
This time she carelessly had her attention caught by the surroundings.
Row of shops respectively exercise their ingenuity to attract the interest of those who walk down the road. The strategic point of distribution which is Kreutz, is rich in goods. It is full of various merchandises that Latina has never seen until now.
She was fascinated by the atmosphere which is different from the South district.
Originally Latina is very curious. It can be said that it inevitable that her curiosity exceeded her wariness and attention.
In the meantime, when she noticed, she lost Kenneth of sight.
(Even though I promised, I would with Kenneth properly… I wonder, Dale will angry?)
When thinking so, her already depressed feelings faded progressively.
Latina with a perplexed look, ponders what she should do.
However, helplessness won and she doesn’t know what she should do.
If she can’t return, she wonders what would be the best thing to do?
(If I can’t meet him anymore, what to do?)
She already hated to be alone.
Even though there is this much people, it can be helped that she is tormented by a strong feelings of loneliness.
She can’t stop her thoughts to wane to the worse.
( No… What to do, I have to return… I have to return…)
Her thoughts revolve upon this.
Even if she is smart nevertheless, Latina is still a young child.
It was a natural reaction to be swayed by her emotions instead of reason.
But, there is no one there who can tell it to her.
If that is the case that she is lost, it may be because she was in an environment where 『She have to do something by herself』 instead of 『Wait the help of someone』 in 『That forest』, is the reason that there was not the decision that is to wait in that place in Latina.
Latina started running in a direction that she guessed.
After, although if she would have stayed there just a bit longer, then Kenneth came back in hurry.
Latina who somehow turned at several corners, she got in an area that she never seen before for real.
「…Where is this?」
She have no way of knowing, but even in the East district the area is called craftsman district, because every house lined up served both as workshop and residence. It’s an area that appears like downtown compared to main street of the East district.
For that reason there is a lot of tangled alleys, it may feel like a maze for the people besides the residents there.
It’s also the case for Latina, even if she looks back, she doesn’t know from where she came to here anymore.
「…What to do.」
It was when Latina muttered bewilderedly.
「Who are you?」
She is startled due to a voice coming from her back.
When Latina looked back, several boys stood there. They are frowning due to the unfamiliar girl.
「You’re a kid from where, I have never seen you before.」
「…」
The child with the bigger body among the boys says while he approaches. She didn’t know what was good to answer and she moved back to maintain her distance from the boy. He looks increasingly doubtful due to her state.
「It’s a color of hair that I have never seen before, a kid of noble?」
「You’re wrong, Rudy. If she was a kid of noble, she would wear a dress.」
「That’s right. But, it’s an unusual color. It doesn’t look neither golden nor silver.」
An unassuming round-faced boy who was next to the child with a big frame called Rudy and a brown-haired boy who was behind say unanimously.
「If this girl moved house, then it unlikely that there is no rumors.」
「Then you’re a stranger?」
Latina’s body bounded again due to Rudy’s firm tone.
(Why is he angry?)
(Is Latina… a bit, strange?)
(What to do… I don’t understand, why, he is angry.)
「It’s not good Rudy, this girl cries.」
「Although I’m asking, it’s her who is silent!」
Rudy bluntly approached Latina when the round-faced boy tried to stop him. Completely panicked, Latina tried to escape while looking pale.
「Why are you running away! It’s suspicious!」
「! “＊＊! ＊＊＊＊!”」
However the difference in physique is large, Latina was immediately caught by Rudy who got around. The boys stare in puzzlement due to the shriek Latina let out the moment when her arm was grasped.
「What is she saying?」
「She is maybe a kid of a foreign country…」
The stern look already disappears from the boys and only confusion remains, but they didn’t notice the state of panic of Latina. Desperately twisting her body as she raises her voice.
「“＊＊, ＊＊! ＊＊＊＊!”」
「What are you doing!」
A girl around the same as the boys rushed out of a near house due to that shriek of Latina. She dashes between the boys as soon as she sees the pale-faced Latina.
「It’s the worst to bully such a small girl!」
「Uwah, stop, Chloe!」
「It’s wrong, it’s a misunderstanding!」
The two besides the brown-haired boy who quickly took his distance became the victims of striking fists punishment of the girl called Chloe.
The girl called Chloe was amazing to the extent that standing idle, Latina even forgot that she was panicked.
Latina in the position where she got help, it was enough to intervene.
「Does it hurt? … Are you alright?」
「It’s alright! It will get better if they put on saliva!」
「That’s what you say, Chloe.」
Squatting down before the two boys, Rudy and Marcelーthe round-faced boyー which Cloe beaten and kicked, Latina anxiously weared a gloomy look.
「I’m sorry… because I couldn’t answer properly…」
「We frightened you, it was our bad…」
When Marcel showed a wry smile, Latina looked even more sorry. And after she directs the little palm of her hands before his eyes, her facial expression neatly tenses up. She carefully forms words after moistening her lips.
「“Supernal light, fulfill my wish under my name, deign heal and cure the wounded one, 《Healing light》”.」
The eyes of the children of the neighborhood became round, due to the soft light which flowed from Latina’s palms.
Latina similarly used the recovery magic on Rudy. After that, tightly knitting her brows, she plumped down.
「Are you okay?」
「I’m alright. I’m just a little bit tired.」
Latina answered Chloe with a smile. With that as start, the boys excitedly surrounded Latina.
「Amazing! She is witch!」
「Although she is so small, it’s really amazing that she can use magic, isn’t it! Who taught you?」
「I saw magic for the first time!」
When Latina showed a frightened state due to theirs impulse, Chloe got one step ahead and stared intensely.
When the boys suddenly stopped moving, Latina showed her face from the back of Chloe.
「Amazing? I can only, use simple healing magic.」
Tilting her head, she was completely wondering.
「Is it amazing, able to use magic?」
「There is next to none who can use magic in the people of the town. Although those who work at the sanctuaries and the Lord place and the people of large trading companies are exceptions. After that is the adventurers」
Because the brown-haired boyーAnthonyー taught her so, Latina nods.
(Dale is an adventurer. So he can use magic.)
Then, she remembered all of a sudden. That she was a lost child.
「I got astray… I don’t know, way back…」
「Where do you came from, Latina?」
「The Ocelot shop.. of the south…」
The children look at each other, due to Latina answering downheartedly.
「Ocelot?」
「There ish’t such shop in the south.」
「Is it that place? The place where there is a green flag.」
「The shop for adventurers?」
Latina’s face brightens due to these words.
「Yes. A lot of, adventurers, come to the shop.」
Hearing the reply of Latina, the children reciprocally look at each other again.
The shop for adventurers is dangerous place where strangers who are doing dangerous works gather. Theirs parents are forbidding them from playing around there.
But, this is an act of kindness.
It’s by no means that they only want to go.
ーIt seems children are more interested in the things that adults prohibit after all.
A little bit before Latina was opening her heart to the children of the East district.
In the South district.
「Latina got lost!?」
The scream reverberating to the outside was arising in 『The dancing ocelot』.
Kenneth, when he noticed that Latina was not there, he immediately searched the surroundings in a fluster. But he couldn’t find her. However, after that he also had to deal with the suppliers of ingredients and the like brought to the shop. He couldn’t look for her for a long time.
He charged several acquaintances about her and came back to 『The ocelot』 at a quick pace.
He must notify the circumstances to her guardian first of all.
「Yeah. I’m really sorry. When I took off my eye from her during negotiation…」
Both Kenneth and Dale were careless.
Latina is a very smart girl.
Inadvertently, he cannot deny that he thought unconsciously that it would be all right If it’s that much.
‘She won’t waver because this child is mature.’ Such remark is a selfish excuse of an adult.
Fundamentally the viewpoints of adults and children are different. Of course the world they are seeing is different. The way of thinking of adults can’t comprehend the behavior of children.
「Oh, well. It can’t be helped. She is lost, whatever we do now it can’t be helped since it already happened. Aaaahh… for such a thing, the search magic was to keep in mind ahhhh! The past me who said that it wasn’t necessary, apologize to Latina, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorryyy… Oh, that’s right. Latina now is… what to do, what to do? That’s it, I-I’ll issue a request to the adventurers inside the city to look for Latina! 」
「Why don’t you go look for her for the time being?」
「That’s it!」
Due to Dale who was agitated to an imprudent but humorous extent, the minds of the surroundings were contrarily calmed. After Rita gave one course of actions to Dale who was at the peak of confusion, he dashed out the shop.
「Uhh… Rita?」
「The characteristics of Latina were reported with the tutelage of Dale in the town and if there is a fool trying to abduct her since there is a lot of our regulars among the gatekeepers, they can stop him at the town walls. As for this child, I have a hunch that she will manage by herself even though she is lost, certainly…」
When Kenneth saw his wife after he saw Dale off, she was very calm.
Rita can stay calm, is also largely because the place where Latina got lost, is an area where the public security is good even in the East district.
She turns her face toward several regulars who were indulging in idle talk inside the shop.
「If you take part in the search, the alcohol charge of tonight is free of charge. I’ll pay a reward in addition if you find her. Come back before nightfall even if don’t find her. How about this?」
「Well, it will kill time.」
「It’s not bad to do that guy a favor.」
Due to the words of Rita, the regulars get up from theirs seats while unanimously saying.
Latina is becoming special person for the regulars also.
Surrounded by the children of East district, It was when there was still time to sunset that Latina came back.
「Rita!」
Going through the door of the shop Latina who smiled, came running in direction of Rita, but she halted as if she was taken aback.
「Rita, I’m sorry, have gone astray… Where is Kenneth?」
「He was worried. Show him yourself.」
Indicating the kitchen, Rita says. To be honest, Rita was fed up with her husband who was worried about Latina and wasn’t able to concentrate on his work squarely.
When Latina who headed toward the kitchen with hasty steps showed her face, Kenneth dropped the pot that he had in his hand. A loud noise resounds around.
「Kenneth, I’m sorry. …I went astray, I didn’t keep my promise…」
Being meekly apologized with a piteous appearance, Kenneth can’t scold her, knowing that himself was at fault.
But, he pats her little head as feel relieved.
「I’m glad you’re safe.」
After Kenneth lifted Latina who was quietly depressed in his arms and went in the shop, the several children looked up to him. Kenneth is surprised a little bit by the existences which usually should not be in this shop.
「What?」
「These children brought Latina here.」
Rita who was speaking with the only girl among the children says.
「It must be rewarded…」
「Helping a friend is a matter of course!」
The girl raised her voice with disapproval, because of the murmur of Kenneth. Latina was tilting her little head in confusion.
「So, you became Latina’s friends. Since it’s already becoming late today… You’ll play with Latina at your leisure next time.」
Kenneth opened the bottle of cookies which were prepared in advance for the snack of Latina, while Rita smiled with a gentle smile that she usually doesn’t show. He skillfully makes a wrapping for each person.
「Thank you so much to have brought Latina back.」
After he kneeled to match the line of sight of the children, he handed over the cookies together with words of gratitude. The children who received a polite treatment from Rita who is an adult, restlessly exchanged not at ease looks, but it seemed not entirely(?).
Latina saw Chloe and the other get on their way home, waving her hand at the entrance of the shop.
Sunset approaching, when the regulars returned to 『The ocelot』, Latina lowered her head to each person.
「I’m sorry, have worried you…」
「If miss is safe, then there is no problem.」
「…Thank you, have searched me.」
Latina once again lowered her head to a regular who smiled and waved his hand.
It was Latina who show a smile at first when she came back to the shop, but now even just looking at her back, they understand that she is downhearted.
Repeatedly going back and forth to the entrance of the shop, she was depressed looking at her feet.
Not only the regulars who know her circumstances, even the customers who doesn’t know, were piling up wine-cup somehow keeping silent because the state of Latina who was different from her usual.
It was at that timing when Dale came back.
He opened the door of the shop while dripping with sweat and being out of breath.
「Rita! what should I…」
About to ask whether there is progress on information, he notices the person in question looking up to him.
「Latina!」
Large tears were her response to Dale who called her name showing a joyful look.
「!?」
Latina sheds still more tears because Dale fell on his knees without speaking in a panic.
「La-Latina!?」
「I’m… I’m sorry…, I’m sorry… I didn’t keep, my promise, I’m sorry…」
The sobbing and pleadings were words of apology.
「Dale, you angry since I bad?」
「I’m not-I’m not angry so… Aaah, I was just worried!」
Dale strongly shook his head because of the words of Latina as she cried, but Latina continued her words again.
「Okay, to be angry. Since I bad… but, I, wa-was scared. Scared that, might not return.」
Tears overflow from her big gray pupils.
When it was the first time that he saw this small child cry, just a little bit of calm part left she murmured to Dale.
「I don’t want, be alone, anymore, Dale. …I want be together with Dale, so you may scold, me…」
after Latina came back safely to 『The dancing ocelot』, she appeared to have thought a lot in her own way.
Meanwhile, remembering the helplessness and anxiety when she got lost, she was swung around by these big sentiments.
She had been washed away by that sense of unease, after she had the belief that she must apologize.
ーDale who calmed down later speculated.
At this point in time, embracing Latina was the only thing Dale who was at the peak of confusion, was able to do.
Her weeping must have become a reason to cry already.
Latina was just sobbing sometimes, without proper words.
the fight known as pacifying Latina who solely continuing to cry that Dale continued, reached its end because she was tired from crying.
The customers of the surrounding direct malicious smiles at Dale who is holding Latina who moved for a nap with an exhausted expression.
It was the moment the new conversation to accompany good liquor of this shop, called 『The wailing and dismay incident 』 in years to come.
Since that day, Latina started to play with the children of the East district.
This shop of South district have a saner atmosphere than other shops for adventurers that are open on the streets. Nevertheless it’s not an area where children play.
But even so recently Dale was querying whether he will catch sight of the children in the surrounding of the shop. Kenneth and Rita listen to the talk of Latina and eventually were convinced.
The children of the East district was coming for Latina to play together and walking her back to home. The children seemed to understand that this area of the South district is not safe, they was always moving in group.
Dale also didn’t think that it was good to keep Latina in the shop only and he also was concerned about the situation where she was only in contact with adult like them.
The existence of the children of the East district was godsend.
「I’m glad that you made friends, Latina.」
「What is 『Friends』? Dale.」
What she said was unexpected thing for him.
「Eh? Err… Latina, you don’t have friends?」
「? I don’t understand 『Friends』. Chloe also called me friend, but I don’t understand.」
Dale grumbled 「Hm Hm Hm…」 to Latina who tilt her head.
Unworried Dale thinks ‘She has not been persecuted in her hometown, because I don’t feel hidden darkness in Latina’.
But, she is 『One horned』. She is an existence that might be the subject of greatest contempt for the 『Magic race』.
He have no idea where there is a land mine.
「…Err.. Latina, didn’t, you play together with children which are about your age?」
「Play together? The family?」
「No… It’s not the family. Didn’t you play with the children of other houses?」
Latina tilted her head again because of Dale’s words.
「Around… me, it was only family and adults.」
He remembers that the 『Magic race』 was a low birth rate because of longevity race because of these words. The number of children itself is small.
「Well… friends means, people who play and talk together other than family. …In the first place, often about the same.」
He added the last words so as himself, Rita and Kenneth to not be 『Acknowledge as friends』.
「Among these people, one whom you came to like.」
He is not so sure about the society but he want to brought up this obedient child as he thought that way. Dale thinks about such thing.
「Chloe, likes, me?」
「Because I don’t think she want to be friend with someone she really dislikes.」
She, who was thinking for a while about Dale’s words, smiled.
「I also like Chloe. I’m happy, that Chloe, called me friend.」
「I see.」
Dale was a little worried while he patted the head of Latina who looks happy.
He thought if he should ask the meaning of her words earlier.
Then he chooses his words and speak.
「…Latina, what kind of people were around you?」
「I don’t understand. What kind of way of speaking is there?」
The words which he made up his mind to ask returning with a question, Dale finally realized his own mistake.
Latina fundamentally lacks 『words to explain』.
「Err… Family. Do you have siblings?」
「Siblins?」
「Among your family, children born from the same parents…A man whose age is superior is an older brother and a woman is an older sister. A man whose age is inferior is a little brother and a woman is a little sister. These are collectively called siblings.」
「…I, don’t have older brother and sister, as well as little brother and sister. I don’t have siblings.」
After listening to Dale’s explanation, Latina answers so.
「what kind of people were the adults who were around you?」
「I don’t know. I didn’t really meet other people and I didn’t talk to them. There was a lot of matters with family.」
Answering so, the face of Latina is a bit depressed. he knows that is enough now.
It was not a pleasant memory for her.
When Dale judged so and close the topic.
「That’s why now, I am happy, being a lot with Dale.」
The words which that child shyly spoke was a critical hit.
The smile that she directed at Dale, was one that didn’t lose to when she is eating her favorite sweets.
「I like Chloe, but I like, Dale a lot more.」
「I love you too, Latina! You’re really cute!」
Latina looked really happy because the words said Dale Hugging her energetically.
(If this is a reckoning to leave the conversation unsettled, it’s ominous but… If it’s a wicked girl like Latina, then it can’t be helped if I am deceived!)
Thinking about such thing, Dale might be very happy in his own way.
