Again, looking down, it's pretty expensive.

It's true.

　Meena said that, so I looked down as well, and it was quite high.

''.......how many meters is it?''

I'm pretty sure we're a dozen feet above water.

Wow!

'Oh, my God!　What is it?!

　Just as I'm thinking about how many meters I'm going to be, I freak out and scream when Eric suddenly calls out from behind me.

　As if caught by my scream, Meena also raises her voice in surprise.

'.........what's with all the sudden shouting?

Don't rush to the back. You're going to make me think you're going to drop me.

'Who would do such a thing? And what do you think the fall protection fence is for?

　No, that's true, but it's also scary, even though you know it.

　Or perhaps I should say that years of experience have taught me to understand that anyone who comes around behind me in a situation like this is not a rogue.

''Well, for that matter, I was going to lightly push the two of you back, but........''

　See, I knew I was thinking of a rogue thing. The guy who comes around behind me in these situations is not thinking about a rogue thing.

　But I can't blame him outwardly because we have the same heart to do it.

　For now, Meena and I silently take some distance from Eric.

''The water seems to run fast here in the river.

'Yeah, it looks like a gentle current from a distance, but up close it's pretty fast. Plus it's deep enough that no one's going to swim here.

Well, there's a safer ocean ahead of us.

　A short walk away is a safer, more expansive ocean. To the villagers here, the sea would seem more attractive enough to them than the river here.

'Oh, there's a bunch of kids gathering over there.

　If you look at where Meena is pointing, you can see kids hanging out on the riverbank.

　You don't think they're trying to get into the river to play or something, do you?　I'm worried about the topic I was just talking about.　

'Let's go!　Torya!

'Wow!　Tornell, that was awesome!　The stone bounced three times!

　I looked with concern and saw that Tornel was there, showing off his draining skills and bringing the kids to a boil.

''........What is it, Tornel is just draining the water?

　If you look closely, you can see not only Tornel, but also Quina.

　I'm sure it's because of Tornel's harpoon equipment and Quina's large basket that she is returning from collecting materials for her ornaments.

''Are you acquainted with Alfried-sama?''

'While Meena was down with brother Silvio. We built sand castles together and all that, and we got to know each other.

Alfried-sama is a very good communicator, isn't he?

'Well, this guy doesn't have an aristocratic air about him. He's probably easy to relate to.

Oh, I see!

Hey, are you two trying to pick a fight?

　I'd like to have a more commanding vibe too, but with this face, there's nothing I can do about it. Setting aside the structure of my face, this sleepy look in my eyes is not good enough. But it's innate and it can't be helped.

　Even if you try to dress it up, it looks hopelessly out of place on me.

''Ah!　Master Alfried and Eric!　Hey!

　As I was thinking about this, Tornel noticed me and waved at me.

　He is smiling innocently, lavishly exposing his missing front teeth.

　Quina also noticed us, and when she noticed us, she put her bags down and bowed her head in a bow.

　The little kids around her are scowling, as if they don't know what to do.

　We wave back to Tornel and walk towards him.

　But Eric, who has a long history of being a loner, stops and is frightened.

'Oh, hey, are you going over there?'

'Tornel and Quina know each other, so why not? I'll be at their shop later, and it will be easier for them to talk to you if you give them a quick word.

Oh, yeah. That's true too.

　I'm sorry to see the commoner children enjoying themselves, but we also have business with Tornel and his friends.

　Well, if they seem too annoying, we can just have a light conversation and leave.

　When Eric agreed with that, he walked on with a relieved look on his face.

'Hello.'

　As we come to the riverbank, Quina greets us politely and the kids follow suit, belatedly.

'Hello. But like I said the other day, just keep it light.

Yes, sir.

Yeah!

　I say that, but Quina seems to be still not used to it and is polite. However, Tornel doesn't seem to mind at all. They are still the opposite siblings, as usual.

''He's a nobleman too, right?

'Oh, yes!　He's the one who built the big sand castle on the beach with me. I can build a little bit of a castle with magic.

"Yikes!

　Tornell introduces me to the sandcastle as an example, but the kids don't seem to believe it at all.

'It ain't true! It's not a lie!　Hey, Master Alfried!

　Tornell asks for their consent, but the children's eyes are full of suspicion.

　They are skeptical children for their innocent age. Is it the influence of the adults around them, or is it that they don't trust Tornel?

　I knew that this was not going to be communicated through words alone, so I invoked my earth magic.

　I raised the soil on the ground and recreated the Misfirito Castle, which was about a meter high.

''Whoa whoa whoa!　Awesome!

　If you actually made them, the kids stopped their skeptical eyes and quickly turned to innocent eyes.

　It's a great handful.

　The kids gather in a straw to observe the castle made of dirt.

'I knew you were lying because that's what Tornell said!

I've been telling you I ain't lying.

Well, if I told you that I built that sandcastle with my friends, you wouldn't believe me.

　Meena says with a wry smile as she watches the kid and Tornel argue.

　Well, if you can't use magic, it's hard to make it that big by any stretch of the imagination.

By the way, are Master Alfried and Master Eric going for a walk?

Yeah, are Tornel and Quina back from collecting materials for the ornaments?

Oh, I've been diving in the ocean all morning!

This is what I found today.

　Tornel replies, and Quina smartly brings out a basket containing the materials from today.

　Inside the basket were colorful materials such as a gorgeous colored shell, large pieces of magical stone, brightly colored coral-like objects, pearls, and demon fangs.

　The materials shimmering in the basket were beautiful, like a jewelry box in the sea.

''Wow!　It's so beautiful!

'Oh, this is beautiful. It must be hard to collect all this stuff.

Yes. Especially since many of them are in good condition today. Dad and mom will be happy with this one.

　I don't know much about the ocean, so I can't say for sure, but I heard that what we caught today was a pretty good material.

　No wonder it's so beautiful. We were lucky to see something like that.

You're going to process it and make it into something decorative, right?

Yes, I can decorate necklaces and bracelets as well as sandals and hats if you ask.

　I ask, and Quina casually shows me the sandals as she explains.

　There was a light blue transparent glittery thing embedded in the back of my foot.

'Oh, those glittery things on your sandals are so beautiful!

It's true. Is it a piece of magic stone?

Yes, I have it embedded.

　Wow, it's amazing that you can not only make bracelets and necklaces, but also sandals like this.

Tornell, do that thing again!

　As I was admiring Quina's sandals, one of the kids said that and tugged on Tornel's arm.

　Apparently, he was tired of looking at the sandcastles I showed him. Well, that's what most kids do.

　Even I, as a kid in my past life, would get bored within minutes of seeing the temples and shrines we went on field trips to. It's impossible to look at them all the time unless you're genuinely interested in the history associated with those structures, or genuinely cool buildings.

'Huh?　Yeah, okay.

That was a drainer, wasn't it?　Mix me in.

'Oh!　Great!

　I've done quite a bit of work on the river in the village of Coriat, so I'm a bit confident in my ability to drain the water.

　However, my sister Elinora, who was a beginner, passed me by in a few minutes, but that was an exception.

　Me and Tornel walked around properly and looked for a stone suitable for draining.

　I pick up a nice, flat-looking stone, and Tornel seems to be all ready to go, as if he had already found it. In the palm of my hand is a stone that is as flat as I am.

　As expected, he can drain the water and seems to know the appropriate stone.

　Me and Tornel smile wryly at each other and get into position so that the stones we throw don't collide.

'Then let's see who bounces more.

Yes.

　I responded to Tornel's voice and silently held the stone in place.

　Then Tornel did the same.

Let's go!

　He gave the signal, and I threw the stone in my hand into the river.

　Okay, the stone spun around nicely and steadily. I saw that it bounced quite a few times, according to my experience so far.

　The stone that me and Tornell threw landed in the flowing river. It doesn't sink, but bounces as it slides across the surface of the water.

　As I watched the bouncing stone, I saw that Tornell sank on the fourth time and my stone bounced seven times before landing on the water.

'I guess I win,'

What did you say?

　I guess he didn't expect to lose to me, but Tornell opened his mouth wide and shouted.

''Oh!　Noblesse oblige!　He's better than Tornell!

　The children are thrilled by my draining of the water, and they give me glittering gazes.

''I didn't expect to be defeated by the nobleman Alfried-sama.......''

'Huh, you underestimated me as just a nobleman's boy, didn't you?　These guys once played in the village river, draining it until dark. We don't want them to lick us.

'Godd*mn it!　Again!

　I give him my fullest throat, and Tornel looks for the stone, saying in frustration.

'Haha, why don't you try Eric next time?

'Humph, what fun is it to throw a rock in the river?

　I proceed to do so, but Eric crosses his arms and turns away.

'You can't make friends because you're perched so high up like that.

What?

You're going to have to drain me.

..........

　I pick up a new stone and offer it to him, and Eric freezes, staring at it.

'Oops, Eric. Don't tell me you can't drain it?

Pull it out. Just throw a rock at it and let it bounce.

　I say it like I'm an idiot, and Eric gets pissed off and takes the stone to scratch it off.

'Tornel, next time you play me,'

'Oh?　Oh, I get it!

　Not surprised by Eric's entry, Tornell takes the win.

　Then Eric and Tornell both get into position.

'Let's go then!　That's right!

　At Tornel's call, the two of them threw the stone almost simultaneously.

　In my field of vision, I saw the stone Tornell threw land on the surface of the water and bounce. Eric's, on the other hand, didn't bounce on the surface of the water, but sank with a thud and a splash.

''What?!''

　Eric would be surprised, but rightfully so. His throws were outrageous and there was little to no lateral rotation. As it turns out, Tornell won four times and a crushing victory.

'Eric-sama, you suck at it!

Hey, hey!

　The children around them paled at the words spoken by a small child who didn't know much about aristocratic affairs, and Quina covered her mouth.

　The joyful atmosphere has changed, and it's as quiet as if the water had been struck.

　The only sound in the area was the sound of the river running.

　Stunned, Eric slowly turned around and

Mm, so you'll be good at it then?

　He asked in a soft voice with a smile on his face.

　From my point of view, it was an awful, awkward smile, but I'm not sure I could tell that Eric felt well enough to know that he wasn't angry.

'Yes!　I've jumped a maximum of three times!

I'm sorry, can you tell me what's going on?　How do I bounce off the surface of the water nicely?

Well, it's just that if you take a flat stone and slide it across the side like this...

　The other children and Quina let out a breath of relief when they saw the exchange between Eric and the small child.

''Haha, Eric-sama wouldn't get angry like that,''

Uh, yeah, I know.

　Tornell laughed vigorously, and Quina and the kids laughed in relief.

'Hey, I'm throwing it like I said, but it's not bouncing?

'No, Master Eric!　He said this from here!

How's this coming from here?

　After taking the child's advice in this way, Eric threw the stone with a slightly more modest form.

　Then Eric's throw bounced twice on the surface of the water.

'Oh!'　He took a bounce!　He bounced twice!　You see that!

　It's hard to believe he's the guy who was saying, "What's the fun in throwing rocks in the river?" earlier.

　Perhaps attracted by Eric's innocent joy, the other children also gather around.

"Eric-sama, next time you'll play with me!

I'm in.

Oh, great!

　Well, I'm glad you've taken a small step forward.