Behind Coco, whose under-eyes had gone dark as if she had not slept, stood a line of people dressed in all kinds of clothes. Even at a glance, there seemed to be at least ten of them. When they saw Ren, they looked slightly startled. Judging by the way they were each muttering to themselves, they did not seem close to one another.
Before Ren could even demand what they were doing this early in the morning, a familiar face suddenly wedged himself in beside Coco, who was trying to shove her way inside.
“Ren!”
“Kirky!”
“It is truly unfortunate to meet you again under circumstances like this, but at the same time, I am so very glad! I knew I would meet you again, Ren! Hehe. Have you been well? Have you met the mechanical man in the royal castle? Please do not worry about your illness, because this Kirky is here! As for me, I am the chief priest’s direct discip—mmph! Mmmph!”
“Please be quiet, Kirky! We’re not here so you can chatter!”
Coco, who had been listening in silence, finally seemed unable to endure it any longer and snapped like lightning.
“Coco. I’m dying of sleepiness... I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but let’s do it after lunch.”
“No.”
“Coco.”
“No!”
Standing on tiptoe, Coco stretched her hand up high to clamp Kirky’s mouth shut, then glared at Ren. The rims of her eyes were red, probably because she had cried over Ren yesterday.
Ren gave up.
“Who are those people?”
When he trudged back to the bed and perched on it, Coco looked satisfied. She removed the hand covering Kirky’s mouth, warned him with her eyes, then gestured politely to the people standing behind her. Following Coco’s lead, they entered the room. The people who had been standing in the hall came pouring in.
The people standing behind short little Coco were strange at a single glance. They had nothing in common at all, making Ren wonder what kind of people she had brought here. Their appearances, ages, and clothes—nothing overlapped.
“They’re mages.”
“Mages?”
Ren’s eyes went round.
“Wh-what mages? You gathered this many mages?”
“Hmph.”
Coco gave a short, smug snort. She seemed to have interpreted Ren’s dumbfounded expression as admiration.
“Then may we examine him?”
“Can I speak now?”
“This is terribly stifling! I will treat the young lady with all due respect and courtesy, but I would appreciate it if she understood that we mages are special people as well!”
“Oh, how fascinating. Mages think of themselves as special too! But could you possibly be as special as I am? I, you see, am the chief priest’s direc—”
“Please remain quiet until the young lady speaks. You too, Kirky.”
A soft, low voice sounded, and when Ren looked, Hugh was standing at the very back of the mages. When their eyes met, he smiled faintly and greeted Ren with his gaze. Ren unconsciously smiled a little in return, then stiffened his mouth.
‘What are they doing this early in the morning!’
Ren regretted it. He should have lifted the burden from Coco’s heart much, much later. Then he could have enjoyed a long, lazy morning sleep!
But regret always came too late, and Ren had no choice but to be tormented by Coco.
“Hello? I am a ma— from the mysterious village of Meribory...”
“Good to meet you. May I touch your body once?”
“Haah, Ren. I want to see you right now too, but Lady Coco says my turn is last. Isn’t that terribly cruel? Last time, I said Ren’s health was fine, but then you confessed to being ill, so she is quite angry with me. But this Kirky knew all al—”
The mages crowded tightly around Ren, who ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) was sitting on the bed. They did not even keep turns as they greeted him one after another and examined him here and there. Each of them cast their own magic; some summoned firebirds, while others swept the light gathered at their fingertips over different parts of Ren’s body. Watching clusters of white and yellow light burst around him, Ren had to bite down hard to endure his irritation. In his heart, he wanted to throw them all out, but when he saw the emotion on Coco’s profile as she turned away, he simply could not.
However, enduring Kirky, who stuck right beside him, even bending at the waist to whisper constantly into his ear, was truly difficult! Drained by the sound of his soul-scattering chatter, Ren barely managed to open his mouth.
“Kirky.”
“Yes, Ren!”
At that bright answer, Ren wondered if it was really all right to say this, but he hardened his heart. First of all, he had to survive!
Meeting Kirky’s shining eyes with a blunt stare, Ren opened his mouth.
“Can you please be quiet? You’re so loud I’m going to die.”
“H-how could you say such a thing!”
Kirky gasped, staggered back, trembled, and clutched his chest. Anyone could tell he was clearly wounded. Ren looked a little sorry, but that was the end of it.
Watching them, Coco wore a speechless expression before finally letting out a small laugh.
Because they had been separated on their own journeys for a while, she had forgotten for a moment, but Ren had always had a sharp mouth!
Look at that face. He might feel sorry, but he had no intention of taking back what he said!
When Coco chuckled, Kirky’s face crumpled as if he were about to cry. Ren turned his head and pretended not to notice, and Hugh also smiled faintly.
It was a bustling morning, but not a bad one.
“You’re here, elder.”
Veron was holding something in his hands. He looked around the room packed full of all sorts of people, then turned to Coco.
“Mages, I see.”
“That’s right. They may be able to identify the cause of Ren’s illness.”
Her tone said she was not expecting too much, but Coco’s face was flushed. Veron nodded quietly. Among the people casting this and that magic, a man who had been silently examining Ren’s energy flinched and turned. His slanted gaze went precisely to Veron, then he hurriedly lowered his head.
Hugh, who had been watching the mages while exchanging sparse words with Coco, approached the man.
“What is the matter? Is there a problem?”
His voice was warm, as if spring sunlight had seeped into it, but his eyes flashed sharply. The man whose arm Hugh had caught hesitated, then shook his head. Then he glanced at Veron again and again. Whether Veron knew of that gaze or not, he was looking only at Ren.
“N-no, it’s nothing. It just seems to be beyond my ability. I apologize, but I think I should be going now.”
“Beyond your ability? What is that supposed to mean?”
Coco, barely suppressing her anger, strode over and stood in front of him. The hem of the dress she had deliberately dressed up in fluttered heavily.
Even under the glare of her purple eyes, the man could not focus on Coco. His eyes met the person he had been staring at, and he hurriedly lowered his head.
“The truth is, I am not such an outstanding mage. My skills are no more than those of a lowly creature. I believe there is already someone more than sufficient here.”
“What does that mean! Explain yourself properly. Do you think I paid a fortune to bring you here for this!?”
At Coco’s shriek, the chattering mages closed their mouths. The suddenly murderous atmosphere felt precarious, as if it might shatter.
“Coco.”
“You be quiet! I don’t need you comforting me!”
She did not want to be comforted by the person who would be hurting the most. Ren looked troubled.
“Old man? When did you get here?”
“I just arrived. I bought the snacks you like.”
“Wow!”
“Old man...”
The man muttered after Ren’s words, stealthily raised his head, then hurriedly dropped it again. At some point, cold sweat had even formed on his forehead.
“Why does he like snacks that much? It’s so annoying I could die. The mages I worked so hard to gather...”
Without even saying goodbye, Coco whipped around and left.
“Ren. I’m sorry. I’ll go after her. Everyone, please return to your rooms as well.”
Hugh sent the mages out, then left a greeting for Veron and Ren. He followed after Coco with long, almost running strides.
Just as quickly as they had entered, the mages left the room. They did not seem very interested in Ren’s condition.
‘I heard mages are interested in oddities. Then I guess my illness isn’t that unusual?’
Should he call that fortunate, or not?
Ren was briefly confused. As he was seriously pondering it, someone beside him tapped his shoulder.
“Why... Aah! What are you doing!”
When he turned his head, a long finger poked Ren’s cheek. Kirky smiled happily at Ren, whose face crumpled.
“It’s squishy and soft!”
Kirky raised his hand and shouted.
“Why are you poking someone else’s cheek without permission?”
When Ren snapped while rubbing his cheek, Kirky drooped as if hurt. Seeing him, Ren’s heart weakened again.
“What is it? Why did you call me?”
Lowering the hand that had been rubbing his cheek, Ren asked, and Kirky suddenly began asking very seriously whether he was ready to hear him out.
“You will listen too, won’t you, Veron?! You must listen seriously.”
‘What is he about to say?’
Kirky gave him no chance to ask. He suddenly began reciting a prayer. His large sleeves swayed, and a warm breeze blew through the room, then a shape like blooming flowers appeared. A pure white light resembling Kirky rose and vanished, and when he opened his eyes, it looked as if some image had settled inside them.
