“So you want me to entrust this necklace to me?” [Ryouma]
“Yes.” [Elia]
“…But this is something precious to you, right? Are you sure you’re okay leaving this with me?” [Ryouma]
“I wouldn’t have offered it in the first place if I wasn’t. Please give it back to me 3 years later.” [Elia]
Mu… If she puts it like that… Not to mention that it’s a custom for reunions… And if this is really what she wants, then…
“I understand. I’ll take care of it for you in the meantime.” [Ryouma]
“Really!?” [Elia]
“In exchange, I’ll absolutely give it back to you.” [Ryouma]
“Of course.” [Elia]
I accepted the box and stored it into my Item Box
I shouldn’t lose it if it’s inside my Item Box.
“Now then…” [Ryouma]
Since we’re following custom, I should give the ojousama something too.
…But what precious possession do I have? Money? Pelt? Stuff like that would just weigh her down. Building stones, ingots, waterproof cloths? Erm… I don’t think I have anything decent.
Because of my hunter lifestyle, I’ve adopted a way of thinking where I prioritize getting the ingredients or components of things I need. Unfortunately, these things can’t really be considered as precious.
Hmm… Don’t I have anything?
After thinking for a while…
“Dimension Home.” [Ryouma]
I took out a heal slime and a scavenger slime from my Dimension Home and handed them to the ojousama.
“Ryoumsan?” [Elia]
“I couldn’t think of anything good to give you, but after considering what’s precious to me, I figured I could give you my slimes instead. These two will surely be of help to you. Please take them with you.” [Ryouma]
The ojousama was speechless for a moment, but then in the next moment, she had her hands over her mouth as she did everything she could just to keep herself from laughing.
I guess it was weird, after all. Sigh… Why did I have to give her a slime anyway?
I know I didn’t have anything eels, but can you really give a slime as a gift?
Maybe I should’ve thought this over a bit more…
“Fu fu… Sorry, Ryoumsan. I just thought giving a slime was very much like you. Thank you. I’ll be sure to watch over them in your stead.” [Elia]
“Really? Thank you very much.” [Ryouma]
“No, thank you. Thank you for entrusting me with your precious monsters.” [Elia]
I placed the heal slime and the scavenger slime on the ground, then I removed our contract and allowed the ojousama to form a contract with them.
“Contract complete. I’ll be sure to treasure them.” [Elia]
“I’ll leave them in your care.” [Ryouma]
After that we chatted about slimes and magic, and then we ended up training magic.
“This is the ice magic I frequently use.” [Ryouma]
“‘The Ice Cube’ spell I can use, but I still can’t use your ‘Cooler’ spell.” [Elia]
As the name implies, Ice Cube is a spell that creates a cube of ice to be placed inside one’s glass, while Cooler is a fusion spell of wind and ice that summons a cool wind to freshen one up. Both spells are particularly useful for summertime.
“Mist Wash” [Sebasu]
“Ah, you did it.” [Ryouma]
Even Sebasu-san joined in on the topic of water magic. I tried teaching him Mist Wash, and as expected, he learned it after just a few tries.
“…Ho. The mana expenditure is a bit high, but it might just do well for removing stubborn dirt.” [Sebasu]
If he can use that, then he can might be able to use even harder spells.
Thinking that, I taught him Water Cutter, which was the true form of Mist Wash.
Ah, but although I say ‘taught’, all I really did was show it to him by casting the spell at a nearby a rock.
Sebasu-san looked curiously at the spell.
“Like this? ‘Water Cutter’. Hmm… Not enough. ‘Water Cutter'” [Sebasu]
After trying the spell out 5 times, Sebasu-san was able to execute the spell masterfully. He was already better than me right on the first try, but after the fourth try, the power behind his ‘Water Cutter’ was clearly a cut above mine. On the fifth try, he straight up went and cleaved the rock.
So this is what happens when a master water mage uses the spell.
After doing this and that, dusk eventually came, and we went back via dimension magic.
As I looked at the stores along the path back to the inn, I saw the adventurers that went to the marsh before and some doctors carrying some foul-smelling bags. They had gathered into a crowd and were quite lively.
“Welcome back, Ryoumkun.” [Reinbach]
“Thanks for looking after Elia today.” [Elize]
“It’s nothing. I had fun too.” [Ryouma]
“And Ryoumsan taught me a lot of new spells. I can’t use them well yet, but I’ll do my best to learn!” [Elia]
“That’s great, Elia.” [Reinbach]
“Yes! He also lent me his heal slime and scavenger slime.” [Elia]
“Oh, really? Be sure to treasure them.” [Elize]
“Of course.” [Elia]
When we got back, everyone had already recovered from their hangover. We talked about the things that happened today, the things that happened after we meant, and all sorts of other stuff until it was late into the night.
And then…
On the day of parting.
At the stables behind the inn, the duke’s family, their servants, and their guards were all inside their carriage. They called out to me one after another through their window.
“Take care of your body.” [Reinhart]
“Don’t push yourself too much.” [Elize]
“Make sure to rest.” [Reinbach]
“If something happens, be sure to contact us.” [Reinhart]
“Drop by when you’re free, alright?” [Jill]
“Do your best, boy.” [Camil]
“Stay well.” [Zeff]
“Stay strong.” [Hyuzu]
“I pray for your good health and the success of your future endeavors.” [Arone]
Jill-san, Arone-san, and the rest of the guards had called out to me too.
“Everyone, ojousama, take care. Thank you for everything until now.” [Ryouma]
I bowed my head as I said that. It’s too bad I’m not very good with long speeches. I wish I could express my gratefulness better, but alas…
“Ryoumsan.” [Elia]
“Yes, ojousama?” [Ryouma]
“About that…” [Elia]
“‘That’?” [Ryouma]
What is she talking about?
“I’ve been thinking about it since you entrusted me with your slimes yesterday, and… We’re friends, right?’ [Elia]
Where is she going with this?
“Since that’s the case, please call me Elia.[1] My family and people close to me call me that, and besides… It’s not like you work for my family, right? …Don’t you think it’s strange for a friend to refer to me as ojousama?” [Elia]
“Ah~ …I understand.” [Ryouma]
Now that she mentions it, it is weird.
“Very well. If you’re alright with it, then please allow me to call you Elia. You’re okay with that, right… Elia?” [Ryouma]
“—Yes! Ryoumsan, until the day we meet again, I’ll be sure to work on my magic!” [Elia]
“Same here.” [Ryouma]
As Elia said that from atop the carriage, I replied.
“Do your best!” [Ryouma and Elia]
When our words overlapped, Elia and I laughed.
Soon it was the time to leave.
The first to go was the carriage of the guards, then came the carriage of the duke’s family.
As they headed toward my direction, they waved at me from the window of their carriage, and I waved back at them.
I watched as the carriage moved toward the horizon, gradually growing smaller and smaller, until it could be seen no more.
“Well then… I suppose I should get going then.”
I’ll drop by the store, then I’ll go to the mine, and there, my new life will begin.
Starting today, I won’t be living at the inn anymore, but at the mines.
The ojousama, no… Elia… Elia told me to do my best, so… Let’s do just that.
First, I’ll have to secure myself a house.
“No time to be dawdling.” [Ryouma]
As I encouraged myself, I started walking.
From today onwards I’ll be starting a life that’s a little different from what I’ve lived so far.
[1] – Specifically emphasized by the author. For those not in the know, no suffix plus first name basis denotes a greater degree of intimacy. That being said the reason for the emphasis could be something else.
Tl Note: And with this V2 has essentially come to an end. Essentially, since It’s still not completely done just yet. There’s one miscellaneous chapter. Basically a summary of sort. And then there’s one ‘Gossip’ chapter.
Also, PDFs and ePUBs uploaded. Credits go to Byggvirr and a kind reader.
Lastly, it seems there was some confusion over the previous chapter’s title and numbering. It’s supposed to be chapter 69 as pointed out in the comments, and the author himself divided the chapters into two parts, which is why there’s a part 1 and a part 2. Actually, it could’ve been better translated as first-half and second-half, but anyway…