373. To protect yourself




 I'm in a bit of a bind.

 In the morning, in front of the transporter room.
 I'm being held onto by Eri.

 While my friends are using the transporter room one by one to go to work in the dungeon (...), Eri is clinging to me as I'm trying to use the transporter room as well.

'Eri.'
...... (pulp)

 Clinging to his feet, Eli looks up at me, tears in his eyes.

 Don't go to work, Dad.

 I can almost hear those hallucinations.
 I squat down and bring my gaze level with Eri.

'I'm just going to go for a minute. 'Do you know Eli, Prumbum? I have to go see her every day because I promised her I would.
......

 Eli stared at me for a moment, then blubbered, tears welling up, and clung to me tighter.
 Oh boy. It's nice to be needed, but this is not good enough.

 I can't shake it off and go to see Plumbum, and I can't just not go to see him.
 I've promised Prumbum that I'll be there.
 I'll just go for a quick visit while he's asleep, like yesterday.

'Eri, why don't we go take a nap in your room?
...... (pulp)

 I was being f*cked with a tremendous amount of force.
 If I hadn't said anything, I might have been able to do it, but this situation, this situation, I'm putting him to sleep and in the meantime - he seems to have seen through it.
 I've seen kids in the same period of time do the same thing, for better or worse, and that means Eri is back to being a kid.

 If you're a kid--

Mr. Yoda, what's going on?

 Emily came carrying a huge hammer.
 It looks like she's about to be in a dungeon too.

'Emily, could you ask for Eli for a moment? I'll meet you in Prumbum and quickly tell you what's going on.
I see.

 Emily came up to us with her hammer up against the wall and squatted down beside Eli.

'Eli, you're going to play with me for a little while,'

 Emily Smile.
 Emily's smile, full of motherhood and soothing just by being with her.

 I thought - this would be it.

...... (purpure)

 Eli, who still shakes his head and clings to me more.

'Not even Emily?'
Yes, but I can't help it.
Is that a problem?
'For Eli, Yoda's side is the place in the world where he feels the safest and most secure. No one else can replace it.
I see.

 Eri has made the dungeon itself dedicated to protecting himself.
 That's where I left all hostility behind and reached the room of the spirits without regard to the danger.
 I'm the one who trusts me and entrusts me with my custody.

 I see, that's what you mean. ......

"Yoda-san, I'm going to Nihonium-san's place.
Nihonium?
'I'm going to borrow Meeke for a bit. With Meeke's help, Yoda will take Eri to Mr. Plumbum's place.
Well, I guess I'll have to do that.

 I look at Eli.
 He hasn't rejected the suggestion to go with me with Meeke's help.
 He seems to think that if he's with me, that's fine.

 I go with Eri to Plumbum's place - the dungeon.
 Combined with my own magic cart by the transporter room, I felt like a wolf with a child.

''Then please,''
Yes, sir.

 Emily used the transporter room that was left open to get to Nihonium.
 A transporter room that was left open because it was difficult to open the gate.

 After Emily entered, she waited with Eli.
 Soon Emily came back with Meeke.

'I'm sorry to keep you waiting,'
Emily told me about it, and I'll do my best!

 Meeke, the unique monster mini-sage that Emily had brought back, was quite enthusiastic.

'Sorry, I asked you to do something extra for me,'
'No! I'm so glad I can help!

 Meeke is getting more and more enthusiastic.

'All right, let's go then. Eli, hold hands with Meeke.
......

 Eri looked at me and Meeke in turn with a troubled look on her face.
 I can imagine what she's thinking, so to reassure her, I hold her hand and put a little more force into it.

'I'll keep you connected,'
...... (nationally)

 The action I took to reassure her was working properly.
 Eli held hands with me and my other hand with Meeke.

'Thank you Emily, I'm off.'
Have a good day.

 A smiling Emily sent me off and I used the transporter room with Eli and Meeke.

 We set our destination in Plumbum's room, and as we walked through the gate, we were surrounded by light, as usual, and flew to our destination in an instant.

'We've been waiting for you. Hmm, you have a big group here today.

 Plumbum looked at me and tilted his head slightly.
 I was surprised, but a little relieved to see that there was no rejection.

"Thank you, Meeke.
'No! You're welcome!
Eli and Plumbum never met--what's up with that?

 She tried to bring the spirits together, but she noticed that Eri was very surprised by things.
 She compares this space with Meeke in turn.

'Oh, you're surprised that you've crossed the borders of a normal dungeon(,)'
...... (nationally)
'This is Meeke's ability. As long as I'm in contact with him, I can cross the border.
......

 Eli was even more surprised, then turned his straight face and stared at Meeke.
 Eventually, he gently held out his hand and touched Meeke from Eli's side.

 As I wondered what was going on, there was a visible change.
 Meeke's body began to glow, and the light crossed over to Eli through the hand that touched it.
 It crossed, but Meeke's body remained glowing.

 A copy.

 Circumstantial, the word popped into my head.

'What did you do, Eli?'

 I ask, but Eli doesn't answer, he clings to me.
 Clinging, I point to the gate that came, the light vortex.

'...... maybe. Sorry Prumbum, I'll be back once.
That's all right. I'm looking for a familiar sight.

 I headed into the vortex with Eli as a laughing Prumbum sent me out.
 Then I stepped into the gate, rather hesitantly being taken by Eli, who jumped into the vortex without hesitation.
 I was surrounded by light, the next moment.

'You're home - that? Meeke, are you not here?

 I came back to the mansion, and I saw Emily's surprised face.
 I was surprised too, I looked at Eli.

 Eli clinging to me more and more.
 Immediately after, Meeke came back alone.

'...... did you copy that for your own safety?'

 Several possibilities ran through my mind, and I tried to utter the conclusion that felt most correct.