After a harmonious lunch, we resume our journey. Quickly finishing the cleanup, we climb into the carriage.

　We sit down in the same window position as before and let out a breath of relief.

　The whole family came to the meadow with a great view and ate a delicious meal.

　........isn't that enough already?

''Let's go back to the mansion.

'What are you talking about, Al? It's not a picnic, I'm not leaving.

　I said with a satisfied look on my face, and Dad Nord sat down next to me on my right with a look of dismay on his face.

'Yes. We're going to go out for a seafood dinner now, okay?　There's no point in leaving now.

'No, Erna. It's just that it's slightly different too.

　Father Nord thrusts at Mother Erna, who sits to my left with a clear expression on her face.

　Normally, Erna would have happily agreed with me.

　But this time, she agrees with Nord-Dad, though for different reasons, probably because of the fresh seafood.

　d*mn you, traitor.

"We have a joint training session in Silford County, so there's no point in going home.

Because that's what Sister Elinora wants.

　I'm just here to deepen our friendship.

　And don't turn it into a joint training session.

But Al is going to be there.　Then it wouldn't be one of your goals.

'True, but I have an overriding objective of building friendships with Eric.

It's a lot easier to learn with a sword then.

　Why do we have to strike swords together when we're trying to deepen our friendship?

　Is that it?　Is it the kind of thing that only people who love to fight can get through to each other?　Unfortunately, me and Eric don't have that kind of savage relationship.　

'Don't put me with the brainiacs who think a meeting of swords will make our friendship stronger.

'That too. Al and Eric had to use tongs, you know.

　When I deny it while letting out a sigh, sister Elinora says with a mysterious look on her face.

　What's with that face like she's trying to understand me and Eric.......

''It's not like that,''

'But you and Al and Eric, you got along because you crossed tongs, didn't you?　I heard Al say that.

..........

　As I'm denying what Sister Elinora said, Mother Erna interrupts me from the side.

　No way, I myself am a brainiac theory. The words I just said become a boomerang and pierce my heart.

　I can't respond to this and I shut my mouth.

　It's a poor quality to bring in words from the past now.

　And it's even worse because it's the exact thing that pierces the other person's heart.

　It's tough when you're dealing with two women. I'm going to use my right to remain silent without wriggling.

　Although sister Elinora and mother Erna look at me as if I were making fun of them, I don't pay attention to them and turn my head towards brother Silvio.

　Words like "escaped" leak out from the two of them, but I don't care. This is a strategic retreat to make the wound less severe.

''What does Brother Silvio want?''

　When I ask, Brother Silvio smiles bitterly, as if he understands the situation, and replies lawfully.

'I guess I'm going to get on a boat and look at the sea.

I love the view of the ocean from the boat.

　My heart is also unintentionally soothed by brother Silvio's dusty purpose.

　That's right, this kind of leisurely thing is fine for the purpose. It's not that you need to cross swords with each other, but just spending time together as normal will deepen your friendship.

''Well then, let's get going!

　My brother Silvio and I continued to talk about the ocean in an amicable manner, as if to escape from reality, even though we understood the training that awaited us in the future.



　◆



　The constant thumping and shaking intervals were abruptly interrupted. This caused his consciousness, which had sunk to the bottom, to unexpectedly rise to the surface.

　Slowly, he opened his eyes and saw the ceiling of the carriage and a rounded, mysterious object. And oddly enough, it was soft under his head and smelled good. It was something familiar and reassuring to smell.

　I'm not sure what the current situation is, but it's so cozy that I close my eyelids again.

　With that in mind, I slowly try to sink into consciousness, and then my body is shaken.

'Al, you need a break. Get up.

　When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mother Erna's face behind the mysterious object, looking down at me.

　Hmm?　I thought it was a strange situation, but as I jerked lightly I noticed my thighs under my head.

''Well Mother Erna must have given you a knee brace.

　So the mysterious object is Mother Erna's chest. I didn't know what it was for a moment because it was enough to cover my vision when I looked at it from below. The disparity between her and sister Elinora is terrible.

''I wonder if my lap pillow was comfortable to sleep on?''

Yeah, it was good.

　She replied honestly to Mother Erna who asked her with a soft smile.

　That's how comfortable Mother Erna's lap pillow was. The slime cushion is also quite good, but it's still no match for my mother's lap pillow. A lap pillow and a gentle smile. I can feel her motherly nature strongly today.

Yes. Then, when the break is over, do you want me to do it this time?

'What?　No, Erna, your mother is big, and it's hard to lie down like I--

What do you mean it's a big deal?

　Mom Erna smiles and does an iron claw on my head.

　It's supposed to be just as gentle as the previous one, but I can't help but feel the awesomeness.

''S-Sorry!　Hey, my head hurts a little bit!　Let's get the contents out!

　I can hear the sound of it just barely tightening from my head.

　When I scream at the pain, Erna's mother may have come to her senses and loosened her hand.

　But she is very cautious about never taking her hands off her head.

'Al should choose his words to women a bit more.

From now on, I'll be more careful.

　Why didn't the schools in my previous life teach me how to use and choose words to avoid offending women? If they had taught me respectful and humble language, they should have taught me those words along with them. That way, I wouldn't have had to struggle with it in my past life or even now.

　As I'm vaguely thinking about such things, Erna-mom taps me on the shoulder with a pat on the shoulder.

'Come on, it's time to get up. I've been sitting down to kneel Al for so long that I need a break too.

　I suddenly look around and see no one in the carriage, and I hear sister Elinora's voice in the distance.

　Apparently they've all gotten out while I'm mulling around here.

　The carriage has an open door and fresh air flows in from it.

　There's a beautiful lake in the distance, and sister Elinora and brother Silvio seem to be looking at it in good company.

''........hmmm, can't we just stay here a little longer?''

　Mother Erna's lap pillows are cozy. It's soft and the height is just right, and I want to watch the view outside from here.

　I ask her to look up, and she gives me a difficult look.

''Well if you want to stay put, that's fine.

　I know that Mother Erna wants to take a break, too, since she's been sitting there for a long time to do my kneeling.

　I can understand, but for some reason, the words and the look on her face seem to indicate that she made a hard decision.

　Was that how tired Mother Erna was?

　I move my body on my thighs, trying to get a better look at Mother Erna's expression.

　Then, Mother Erna's body jumps, "Hee! I scream.

　I'm wondering about Mom Erna's odd behavior when, with a gulp, an iron claw flies by and my head is pinned in place. It doesn't hurt because it's not strong enough, but I'm surprised at how fast and powerful it is.

'What, Mother Erna?'

I told you to stay put, didn't I?

What?

　When I call out to her timidly, I hear a serious voice from Mother Erna.

　The faintly visible expression on her face seems to be enduring something.

　It's an expression I've seen somewhere before. Specifically with Kagura.

　I poke my finger a bit on Erna-mother's thigh to try it out, "Ick! An anguish escaped me.

'Hahan?　Erna, my mother, my feet are numb--dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadad!

　I say with a hefty laugh, and then Mother Erna's fingers increase in strength and I feel a cutting pain in my head.

　It hurts twice as much as it did earlier!　This is a bad one!　

　He writhes in pain for a while, and then suddenly his fingers weaken.

'Jeeze a bit. Then slowly raise your head, okay?　Do you understand?

Yes.

　I responded honestly to Mother Erna's awesome voice.

　Motherly Mother Erna was no longer anywhere to be found.