Chapter 404

After I finished drinking the coffee that Ozma-san made for me, I stood up after recovering from some of my fatigue .

Just as I was about to leave the place after thanking Ozma-san…… he had something to say .

[Ah~~ Miyama-kun . ]

[Yes?]

[I know that it’s none of my business, but can I give you a little advice as your elder?]

[Y- Yes, I would love that . ]

Brushing his shaggy hair with his hand, Ozma-san looked with gentle eyes and continued .

[You are a kind, humble and friendly young man . But I want you to remember that in some cases, humility may not be a virtue . ]

[……Eh?]

[Miyama-kun, somewhere in your heart…… You’re feeling apologetic for asking someone’s help, don’t you? No, it’s not like I’m saying that it’s a bad thing . Uncle also knows that “you’re consciously trying to fix it” . ]

[………………… . ]

This was also pointed out to me by Shea-san before . That the strength of the bonds I’ve formed is also my strength……

Just as Ozma-san said, after Shea-san told me that, I’ve been trying to consciously fix my thinking as much as possible . It’s just that, unnn…… I don’t know if it’s just because my personality was originally like this or I’ve just become used to being like this…… But there would always still be a part of me that felt sorry after asking someone for their help .

[Uncle thinks you’re thinking too hard, Miyama-kun . I think it would be better if you were to just relax a little more . ]

[Become more relaxed?]

[Unnn . The people who are helping you, they’re helping you because they like you . You don’t have to think too hard about it . They like you, so they help you . You don’t think it’s troublesome to help a girl you like, right, Miyama-kun? The others also feel the same way when they help you . ]

[……I guess you’re right . ]

[Everyone has received the help of someone in their life . Whether it’s Uncle here, the Six Kings, or even God of Creation-sama…… As long as they lived wholeheartedly, someone would be there helping you . And when that happens, all you have to say is “thank you” . ]

[……Yes!]

Ozma-san gently smiled again, before patting my head a little roughly .

[Well, you will still have lots of troubles you need to face in the future . There are still a lot of people you can help, and lots of people you can ask for help . ]

[Yes . ]

[I’m sure you’ll have more worries in the future, and some of them might make you suffer . But that’s okay too…… It’s okay to try things and fail . You’re still young . The more experience you accumulate, the more charming you can be . Troublesome things like “compromising” can be learnt slowly when you’re around Uncle’s age . ]

It really was just unsarcastic advice from an elder .

He gave me gentle words of support…… . Saying, “it’s okay to worry and it’s alright to fail, because that’s how I will grow . ”

[……Or something like that . I guess serious words like these don’t really suit Uncle’s character~?]

[No, thank you very much! How should I say this, ummm…… It made me think again…… that I should try my best . ]

[I see . Well, I’m glad to hear that . ]

As he told me this, Ozma-san patted my head once more . He then moved his hand away and serenely smiled .

He then did that gesture of holding a cigarette in his mouth again . How should I say this…… He kinda looks like what a cool adult would be .

I wonder if that was the reason why? Even if it’s the brazen of me, I couldn’t help but say these few words .

[……If I have any more problems, can I ask you for advice?]

[Asking Uncle for advice…… Don’t you think you’ve picked the wrong person to ask?]

[No, I don’t think so . ]

[Hmmm . Really? Well, if you don’t mind talking about it with a worn-out uncle, you can always visit me…… I should be able to serve you a cup of coffee . ]

[Yes! Thank you very much!]

When Ozma-san, with a wry smile on his face, told me that I could visit him at any time to ask for advice, I deeply bowed once again and thanked him .

[Unnn . Well then, your next stop should be Agni-chan’s place, right? Good luck~~]

Lightly bowing my head to Ozma-san who was lightheartedly waving his hand at us, I left the place with Anima, aiming for the next arena .

Together with Anima, I proceeded to the fifth arena .

On the stamp card in my hand, there were four oversized stamps, proof that I had defeated the War King’s Five Generals . I don’t count the stamps from the attractions we participated in along the way since they weren’t counted in Megiddo-san’s place…… The next one is the fifth, the last stamp I needed .

[Master, a hummingbird arrived……]

[Unnn? Oh, it’s from Lilia-san . ]

As I was somehow feeling deeply moved by the fact that I was finally close to gathering all the stamps, a hummingbird from Lilia-san arrived .

It said that Lilia-san and the others had finished challenging Bacchus-san’s arena, and they were challenging the Five Generals in an opposite order from me…… After they challenged Bacchus-san, it seemed that they were now headed to Agni-san’s arena . She then ended it by questioning if we should meet there .

Her timing was actually just right, so I sent a reply that we were also on our way to Agni-san’s arena and decided to meet up with them there .

Since we were going to meet up there, I thought of walking faster, but I felt someone discreetly holding the hem of my clothes .

[……Eh? Anima?]

[Ahh, m- my apologies! I just……]

[No, it’s alright but…… Is something the matter?]

[N- No, ummm……]

When I asked her, tilting my head to the side, if there was something she wanted, Anima blushed and turned her head to the side, murmuring in a voice that was unusually soft for her .

[……I- I know that this is rude of me but…… errr…… ummm……]

[Unnn?]

[I- I’d like it if…… we could be “alone”…… for a little…… u- ummm… . . M- My apologies! It’s nothing!]

[…………… . . ]

It was a very unusual, no . Perhaps, this might be the first time since I met Anima…… that she had spoken out her small, modest selfishness .

She didn’t finish her words, but I still understood what Anima was asking for…… and to be honest, it made me happy .

That’s why, asking Anima to raise her head that was deeply bowed, I smiled as gently as I could and spoke .

[……I’m actually hungry from all the moving around I did earlier . I want to get something to eat . I’ll let Lilia-san and the others know that we’ll be a bit late, so can you go along with my selfishness?]

[Master…… Y- Yes! Gladly!]

[Well then, it seems like there’s food and drink stalls over there, so let’s go . ]

[Yes! Ah, ummm…… Master . ]

[Unnn?]

[……Thank you . ]

Smiling at her modest words of thanks, I headed to the area lined with stalls together with Anima .

Dear Mom, Dad———– How should I say this…… Ozma-san is like a mature man and he seemed to be very dependable…… I’m really glad to have met him . On a different note, I will now go along with Anima’s small selfishness . No, I don’t really think…… I call that selfishness huh . That is…… Yes . The thing asked for by this girl, who desired nothing for herself, for the first time———- was a cute request .

Serious-senpai: [F- Fufufu, first place…… Yes, I’m the first place! The era demands me (seriousness)! It’s time for all those days of hard work to finally pay off…… From here on out, it’s finally the time for seriousness!]

? ? ? : [No, what the era demands is the misfortunate you, so it won’t be the time for seriousness any time soon . ]

Serious-senpai: [So you have arrived, my arch-enemy ? ? ?…… However, you being my arch-enemy ends today! I’m in first place! You’re second! In other words, I’m better than you!!! Relish in the taste of the bitterness I have felt until now! Prepare yourself!!!]

? ? ? : [……Well, it’s not like the rankings have anything to do with your combat power though . ]

Serious-senpai: [Eh? Ahh…… I- I’m sorry, I got carried away…… Wait…… Calm down…… Let’s talk this ou——– Gyaaaaaahhhhhhh!?]