I want to protect you in this hand.

"I should have gone to see you, too."

Bran said it was pompous.

"Is your mother gone with a man too?"

"Nico, too. It wasn't like we were talking to each other. Still alive, I can't even remember my face anymore."

"I didn't want to be looked for, so I guess I threw it away. I can't believe you didn't want to be dumped, you couldn't even afford to think about it. I wonder what happened to the adventurer who took us from Old to Merrill."

"I don't know, I don't even remember the name. You're ungrateful, us."

"He was a bad kid."

"Well, now I've fulfilled my brother-in-law to Old"

"Right, let's look ahead"

I'm supposed to be in Old for longer than I was, but it's time to move. What is best for international students in the few days that remain.

"I want to see as many towns as possible. In the Empire, I had only seen territory and imperial capital. Especially I want to go to a town with sea views."

And Aloys says, Theodore,

"I'm Nash. I want to see the town of magicians and the slime"

I said. They say Abel can be anywhere. I decided to go around in the order of Nash, Cece, and Merche and Merrill. Even in the cold of the middle of winter, the carriage journey with your companions is fun. Laughing at Theodore, surprised by the slime at Nash, he ate Nash grill, met orphans and friends growing up well at Cece, was welcomed by the guild chief at Merche, and reached Merrill at the end of the month of 1. Theodore told Cyril.

"This is your town..."

"It's a border, but it's a town of beginnings for us."

The town of Merrill spreads at the foot of a loose hill. There is a lamb house on that hill.

"Hey, you guys, you haven't been home in a long time."

"Guild Leader!

The same guild leader.

"I'm an international student from the Empire."

and referring to

"Well, what, dive tight into the dungeon"

I said that with my head in trouble. On that day, in the welcome seat of my long return, I told my lord and guild chief about our imperial study abroad and the imperial dispatch of Erko and Blanc.

"The truth is, Merrill took care of me, and she wants to go back."

And I say, my lord,

"Oh, my God, I didn't push your backs for Meryl. It was just funny how young people grow up. Besides, with Zash, his son and daughter-in-law, who were acting as lords in the King's capital, will also return. I don't have any worries about Merrill right now."

I said.

"I already know how much you guys have contributed to Merrill. Factories and employment have increased and are not as busy as the border. As a result, more young people are born, and the babies are born one after the other. Even if they are born one after the other, there are places where mothers work and there are mechanisms to educate their children"

"Even the guild. Hey, growing luggage keeps getting more and more young adventurers. I have so much trouble with more of my work. You guys are Meryl's pride. Go confidently to the Empire or anywhere!

From there it was a busy feast.

One step outside, the mid-winter air is tight. If you look under the hill, it's still pounding and lit.

"Nico."

"Maria."

"You're not going back?

"For a busy seat, I don't think it fits"

"Stupid."

"Stupid, I guess."

"Well, here I am, too"

"Maria looks great wherever the sun shines"

"You want me to stand there alone?

"Huh..."

If you stare, there's Maria standing quietly, lit by the moonlight. My light. Reach out and it's going to reach you. That way, I'll be in the sun too...

"Stupid."

"Stupid, I guess."

"You're in the middle of the day."

I guess. I always looked a little further away. Arsh and Mal laughing fun. Deceitful brothers, Cyril and Will. Nostalgic Maria and Sophie. Bran is laughing. What's so strange? Don't say it like every other person? Look, look, you, you're laughing. Stand in the middle.

Oh, me, you were already in the middle of the day. Then Maria,

"I honestly don't know if I'll be back from the empire in two or three years"

"Yes."

"Once I've determined the fate of the little ones, I'll be sure to come back"

"Yes."

"Until then, can you wait"

"Regards, my little sisters"

"I know, it's my sisters too"

"Nico."

"Maria."

"Waiting"

Under the midwinter moonlight, the two shadows leaned in gently. Nico, 15, Maria, 16, of the month of 1, is the promise of the end.