'Hey, is the man walking next to Master Eric a nobleman visiting our village?

Isn't that right?　Because I have a maid with me. I'm sure the Silfords' maids weren't dressed like that.'　

　As we were walking down the village road with Eric, I faintly heard the villagers having such a conversation, as if we were unusual in being unfamiliar to them.

'There's something odd about the way they're looking at us, isn't there?　Are we being watched?

'Well, yes. The one that stands out in particular is Meena.

'What?　Is it me?

　When Meena nodded her head curiously, Eric opened his mouth.

'It's no secret that the House of Throwlett is in our territory. If I had an unfamiliar maid and child in tow, you would know that they are of the House of Throwlett.

　After all, we passed this way in a carriage with a decapitated dragon emblem on it. The maids of Eric's family may come to the village to shop, but even the same maid's clothes are very different in design, and even their faces won't be familiar to you.

　If that were the case, it would be natural for the villagers to guess that it was a nobleman of the Slaulet family who came from outside.

''But when I went to the royal capital, I didn't get that much attention, but...''

'It's a place where all sorts of nobles come together. No one cares if there are maids and nobles walking the streets.

''Well, it could be that Meena was so excited by the atmosphere of King's Landing that she didn't care...''

I can't help it!　It was my first time in King's Landing back then!　I mean, Master Alfried was a little excited about it too, wasn't he?

I was calm enough to notice those kinds of looks and stuff.

　It's the neutral European architecture and huge castle that overwhelmed me, but I didn't flail around like Meena did with so many people.

'Goooooooo, it's frustrating that I can't deny that it's different here.

　Phew, it's not like I've been through the rush to work in my past life.

Well, from the point of view of the people of this village, we're just a rare thing, coming from outside. If we leave the villagers' voices alone....

'Is that the nobleman of House Thurlowett?　Are you the Dragonslayer's son?

"I've heard rumors that Master Dragonslayer's son is handsome and beautiful, but...

Hey!　What's the rest of the story?!

　I involuntarily turn around and shout, and the female villager slinks away in surprise.

'I thought you didn't mind, Alfried-sama?

'No, you care about that one!　You must be wondering!

　People in this world tend to be more ballsy or free than those who live in rural areas. Am I the only one who has such a tendency?

　I was just thinking about that as I tilted my head back, when Eric put his hand on my shoulder and half-smiled.

"...be strong, Alfried.

Shut up, punk.

　The moment I said that, Eric grabbed my chest.

'What?　You have eyes like a dead fish!

'Oh!　You said it yourself!　You have a habit of hanging out in the hallways all morning just to play with me!　I know this because Meena told me about it!

Oh, no, it's not possible!　Who would want to play with you?

"Oh?　Is Master Eric fighting with you?

"Is it true that you are not on good terms with the noblemen of House Sowlett?

　Me and Eric were arguing with each other and something about it, and before we knew it, we noticed that a lot of villagers were looking at us.

　When we were unintentionally freaked out by the number of people gathering, Meena came up beside us and said in a small voice, "Hey!

'Hey! Hey!　Both of you!　Wasn't the purpose of this trip to show friendship to those around you!　Your parents will be mad at you if you fight with them and start rumors of a disagreement!

...Oh, yeah, that's right.

　If I don't do this, I'm going to be told that the Silfords and the Throwettes don't get along with each other again, and I'm going to be scolded by Father Nord and Mother Erna.

　As expected, the second time is not a good idea. It should be the same for Eric.

　Eric and I instantly make eye contact and nod at each other.

　Then Eric's hand, which was holding my chest, slips around my shoulder.

''Hee!　That's disgusting!

Shut up. I don't want you to be the one to do it.

　I let out a faint scream, and Eric immediately retorted.

　It can't be helped. Eric's arm seems like a snake wrapped around me, but I'll hold back here.

'Yes!　It's a beautiful day for it!　I've been waiting to invite you to join me and take you to the village!

　For a moment, I didn't know who the guy talking next to me was, but the guy in my vision was unmistakably Eric.

'What the hell, you should have just woken me up if that's the case!　You're paying attention in the weirdest places!

'Hahahaha!　Well, time spent waiting for a friend is a fun thing to do!　By the way, Alfried, would you like to go to the river?　We have a bridge as magnificent as any city out there!　I'd love to show you that!

'Oh, really!　I'm interested in that!　You must take me there!

　Me and Eric walked shoulder-to-shoulder in a friendly manner while exchanging such a white exchange.



　◆



Hey, are we done here?

Yeah, there are no other villagers around, so that should be enough.

　Me and Eric walked for a while, and then we said it and instantly let go of our shoulders, which were clasped together.

'That didn't happen earlier. It's the best thing for me and Eric to do.

Yeah, I know. So I'm not going to mention it, never mind.

　Me and Eric nodded at each other. I wiped my uncomfortable neck area.

　Then Meena got a complicated look on her face.

''........I don't know if they are close or not. But somehow watching them reminds me of the relationship between Thor-kun and Alfried-sama.

　Well, Eric is already in the bad friend category, just like him. It's not surprising that Meena would feel that way.

''Hm?　Who are you talking about, Thor?

Next time you come to the village, you'll know.

　No matter how much I try to talk about Thor as a person, I can only describe him as a bad boy or a scum. It's far easier to meet him and have him have a face-to-face conversation than to say something so sterile.

　I have no idea what kind of chemical reaction would occur when you bring Eric and Thor together, though.

'Besides, that's the bridge you were talking about earlier, isn't it?

"...Hey, I thought you weren't going to mention what happened earlier?

'No, that's not what I meant by this, and I don't blame you.

　I did say I wouldn't touch it, but I couldn't help what came out on the spur of the moment, and I couldn't find the words to say anything other than that.

'Well, fine. That's right. That's the biggest bridge in our village.

　Eric pointed to a large river, and another large bridge was built over it.

'It's amazing. It seems so much bigger than when I saw it from the carriage window.'

　Meena was right, it looks more magnificent up close than from a distance in a carriage.

　It's wide enough that three carriages side by side would be no problem, and it continues all the way to the other side of the river at the far end.

　The use of red bricks and the decorative arches on the pillars give it a fantasy-like feel.

It's amazing. How long is it?

Father says it's about a hundred and fifty meters.

　Oh, it's amazing that a bridge of that size is in the village.

　It's no wonder Eric insists that it's as big as any other bridge in town.

　Once we've taken a look at the big bridge, we head directly to the bridge to walk on it.

　Walking to the middle of the bridge is a pain in the ass, so we stop at a moderate point and lean against the fall prevention fence to take in the view. We could see the ocean in the distance, and the river was endlessly blue and beautiful. It's a beautiful day and the wind is moderate, so it looks like there are a few boats out on the water.

'Ah!　I think that's the ship that Lady Erna and the others are on!

　When I looked at where Meena was pointing cheerfully, I saw a familiar ship coming back towards the harbor.

　Gathering the magic power in my eyes to try it out, I saw Nord Dad and Aegal-san talking happily on the ship, and Brother Silvio seemed to be being cared for by Erna Mother and Natasha, who seemed to have gotten drunk after all.

'Yes, it's Mother Erna and her friends. Maybe Brother Silvio got drunk and turned back early.

How do you know that?

　When I explain the situation, Eric nods his head curiously.

''Because if you gather magic power in your eyes, you can see pretty far.

'What?　Can you see this far away?　Something about it scares me a little.

　Meena, I don't know how you feel, but please don't make me feel like I've pulled that little bit out of my system. I desperately want to explain myself, but I have a feeling that saying so will only lead to a quagmire, so I decide not to say anything.

　However, Silvio-san has gotten drunk again.

　As I was moving my gaze around thinking about this, I suddenly felt my eyes meet with Nord Dad's.

''Hmm?''

　Is it my imagination?　I think I just saw my eyes on Nord Dad perfectly... no, no, no, I must have imagined it. I'm sure he was just casually gazing at the village that he could see because he was back near the village, right?　

　There are too many places where we can look at each other, even if it's a place like the sky above the King's Landing, where visibility is good and visibility is obvious. It's a good thing that they're all in the same boat.

　I've been thinking about this for a while now, but I'm blown away when my dad smiles and waves to me.

　I couldn't help but look at Erna's mother, who was waving her hand with a soft smile on her face.

　At any rate, I waved my hand back in response as she waved at me.

''Alfried-sama, who are you waving at?''

"Father Nord and Mother Erna.

Don't tell me those two can see us too, by collecting magic power in their eyes or something?

Maybe.

　And I don't think those two can't do that much. Meena's body tenses up a bit the moment she realizes that she's being watched.

　Even if she didn't do anything wrong, it makes her nervous when she knows she's being watched by someone who is her boss, right?

''And for now, I'll wave to them too.

I don't know about this, but I'm gonna dump him, too.

　Me, Meena and Eric waved good-naturedly at Dad Nord and Mom Erna in the distance.

　I think this shows a little bit of good friendliness.