Chapter 280: 280

Early on the morning of my fifth day in the Hydra Kingdom, I came to where I met the grandpa before again to talk to him .

[I see, you’re leaving this evening huh . ]

[Yes…… Ahh . but I’ll come back to visit from time to time . ]

[Fuhahaha, you really are quite the honest one, aren’t you? Even though I asked you, I didn’t expect you would come to visit me here everyday, you know?]

[Ah, now, well, I had plenty of time to spare anyway……]

Incidentally, I’ve been coming to this place where I met this grandpa every morning since I met him .

It seems that this grandpa has some work he needs to do, so we weren’t able to talk for that long, and we just had some light conversation .

[Ohh, that’s right! Since this is the last day of your stay here in Hydra Kingdom, how about we go drink some tea?]

[Unnn? Ah, yes . ]

[I have an acquaintance who eats unusual sweets, and this one is my favorite . ]

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[……Is that a rice cracker?]

[Umu, I think that’s what it’s called . ]

The grandpa is still advancing the casual talk as usual, and I noticed that the topic of conversation had switched already, but I don’t particularly care about that as I’ve gotten used to it over the past few days .

More importantly, I didn’t expect to see rice crackers in this place…… I wonder if this grandpa’s acquaintance is someone who held the role of Hero back then?

[I can’t get enough of this rice cracker and green tea…… Here, let’s eat together . ]

[Thank you . ]

With a grin on his wrinkled face, the old man offered me a teacup with green tea and some rice crackers, which I accepted and ate with him .

How should I say this…… We’re currently eating on a coast, but I feel like I’m eating on the veranda…… It somehow reminded me of my grandfather, and I feel a bit nostalgic .

I haven’t seen them much since my parents died and my other relatives took me in…… I wonder if they’re doing well?

[Hmmm . This is good . ]

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[Yes, and the sea breeze also feels nice . ]

[Ohh, you can understand huh!? The wind here is really great!]

It’s good to relax while looking at the sea like this once in a while .

While I was thinking about such things and taking a bite of the rice cracker in my hand, the grandpa suddenly spoke with a calm tone in his voice .

[However, you are quite the good man, aren’t you? You aren’t even showing a hint of displeasure on your face even when this old man is talking about worldly matters . ]

[I enjoy talking to grandpa too, and I also learned lots of things from you . ]

[Hahaha, I see! You really are a pleasant young man…… I don’t mean to badmouth the youngsters these days, but most of them are always pressed for time . It couldn’t be helped, for our time in this world is limited but…… I don’t like having such thoughts that much . ]

As I grew up in Japan, I feel that people in this world are using their time wisely, but from the grandpa’s point of view, they seem to be in quite a hurry .

What the grandpa is saying certainly is right, time is limited for humans…… You can’t reverse the time that has flown past . No, well, I certainly know a few people who might be able to overturn that law but……

[Are you saying that because we have a limited amount of time, it’s better to use that time for your heart’s desires?]

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[Ahh, there’s nothing wrong with rushing things or being impatient about things . However, if we live our lives pressed for time, we would be stuck in a vicious circle, wouldn’t we? Sometimes, it’s important to take your mind off things, and look at the grand sceneries of the journey you’re traveling in . ]

[That’s really deep . ]

[Foufoufou, if that’s what you think about such words, then you’ll be alright . ]

I don’t know if it’s because of all the experiences he had accumulated, but his words sound like he had lived much longer than I have . Trying to etch those words in my mind, I thought about making sure that I didn’t forget to keep some leeway in my mind .

Well, I’m fortunate enough to be blessed with people . There are plenty of people who would admonish me or reach out their hands to me when they find out that I’m in a hurry…… And I’m really grateful and happy for that .

[Well, putting those things aside…… I’ll be repeating myself but, young man, you’re a good man . ]

[Huh? E- Errr, thank you?]

[Umu, what do you think? How about you become my husband (muko)?]

[Eh? Ummm…… Are you talking about me marrying your grandchild?]

[U- Umu…… O- Oohhh, that’s right!]

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(T/N: Muko means two things, it could mean being your husband/groom, which the King here asked Kaito . The other one is son-in-law, which is what Kaito thought, since someone with the face of a grandpa said that . )

It feels like he was caught up in his words in the latter half of our conversation, but I’ll just obediently take that as a compliment .

[……Errr, well, let’s leave that conversation for another time……]

[I was rejected huh~~ No, that might be the secret to being popular……]

[Is that how it is?]

[It is what it is . ]

[……Pfft . ]

[……Fuuu . ]

[ [ Ahahahaha . ] ]

I don’t know if it’s somehow because the way he said those words or not, but I feel like the atmosphere around us was amusing, as the grandpa and I looked at each other and laughed .

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He’s a really cheerful and energetic grandpa, and it’s as if I was infected by his cheerfulness . As expected, having a conversation with a mood like this wouldn’t be difficult…… No, having such conversations is fun instead .

[……Whoa there, this is no good . It’s already time huh……]

[You need to go to work?]

[Umu, there are some very annoying people back in my place…… they’re really working this old man too hard . ]

[I’m sure that shows how much they’re relying on you . ]

[Uumu, I’d really like to retire already though…… Well, let’s get going then . ]

[Yes . Thank you for the meal today . ]

Looking at the grandpa as he lightly scratched his head while standing up, I thanked him for the rice crackers and green tea before standing up as well .

[Umu . Keep yourself healthy…… Come visit and talk with me again . ]

[Yes . I’ll come again . Take care of yourself too, grandpa . ]

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[Yeah…… Well then, till we meet again . ]

[Yes . See you then . ]

With a bright smile on my face, I see him off as he walked away, carrying his fishing rod, and I took a quick walk along the beach in the early morning sunshine before returning to the inn .

Now then, since I told the grandpa that I’m going back to Symphonia Kingdom, this should be the end of what I need to do in the Hydra Kingdom…… but that’s not the case at all .

In fact, this wasn’t included in my plans, but this was something decided after I went with the flow .

When I went out of the inn at around noon, I found the person I had an appointment with…… . Shea-san .

Shea-san asked me before for something she can do as an apology, to which I replied that she could buy me a meal, so she’s going to treat me to lunch today .

Shea-san is still wearing her black robe and sailor uniform, and although I knew that this would be the case, she isn’t making eye contact with me .

[I’m sorry, Shea-san . Thank you for waiting . ]

[……I don’t mind . I’m tied up in this dastardly ruse now anyway . ]

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[N- No, we’re just going out to eat today…… right?]

[!? You’re trying to tell me that’s not enough huh…… How low can you be……]

Stop right there~~! Can someone please remove the negative filters on this person’s mind!? She’s making it sound like I’m the big bad guy here!

[……Let’s get this over with . ]

[Yes . By the way, what did you plan for us to eat?]

[Kuhh…… “Can you even find a shop that satisfies me?” is what you’re saying huh…… I’ll let you have your composure for now, for that thought will soon disappear . ]

[…………………… . ]

……We’re just going out to eat lunch, right? Why the heck does this conversation sound like we’re going to have a duel?

This woman’s no good . Anything I say is automatically translated to a negative direction . How haughty and arrogant am I in this person’s mind?

Dear Mom, Dad———– As agreed with Shea-san before, I’m going to have dinner with her . It seems that Shea-san’s negative filter is in perfect form today, as for some reason, the words that I tell her———- They were automatically translated to a wrong direction .

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The Hydra Kingdom Arc ends with the next chapter .

And a few chapters later, Alice’s arc will begin .