IPDT 53

The grip on Yul’s fingertips, which held my hand, tightened. Since there was no particular reply, it seemed he was saying he roughly understood, right? Having successfully reassured Yul, I got to the main point.

“And Yul, you know, I think we have to go to the village that kid mentioned.”

“Of course.”

The answer came not from Yul, but from somewhere else. When I turned around, a pale-faced Jibril was there. As I stared at him, he seemed to feel guilty for no reason and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

“We’re going to the village right away, right?”

Jibril, having wiped his lips to his satisfaction, asked me. I nodded my head.

“Yes. But you come separately.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

At my added words, Jibril’s eyes went wide. It seemed he hadn’t expected me to suggest going separately. Hmm, this is a pain, but do I have to explain? After a moment of thought, I decided to graciously add on.

“I’m going to the village. Because I want to know what on earth is happening in the village that kid stayed in. But if we go to the village with that kid, we’ll be suspected, won’t we. So the child is on hold. Yul is the Hero, so he’ll go with me, and you’re the only human left to take care of the kid.”

“…Is that how it works out?”

“Yes. So you take the child and go around to the remaining flower beds. When you finish purifying all the flower beds and come back to the village, Yul and I will finish things up.”

“No, I was going to take care of the child without you telling me… But more importantly, how do I purify the flower beds without you?”

There was one way to purify the flowers even without me. I looked inside my hood. I felt Fleabag’s body flinch.

「…Master, don’t tell me?」

「Fleabag, you can do it, right?」

Until now, I had desperately hidden Fleabag. It was because I thought if Fleabag’s existence were revealed, I would be found out for not being a familiar. But in the current situation, where a suitable justification and excuse had arisen, I didn’t have to hide him.

I put my hand inside my hood. A resigned Fleabag climbed onto my hand. As I took the fluffy-furred Fleabag out, Jibril’s eyes widened.

“What’s that rat? Is that also a bug that was watching us… or something?”

“You insolent human! Comparing me to a bug?”

Fleabag, who had been sitting quietly on my palm, jumped up. Jibril also jumped up, in a different sense.

“Ack, damn it! The mouse is talking!”

“A mouse, you say!”

Thoroughly provoked by Jibril’s words, Fleabag’s fur stood on end. I gently stroked Fleabag’s head, meaning for him to calm down. At that, Fleabag, feigning indifference, relaxed his demeanor.

“He’s like an extension of myself, so if you go with him, you can purify even without me.”

“…A familiar has something like an extension of itself?”

Jibril, who had been looking at Fleabag dubiously, asked as if questioning. Feeling a pang of guilt for no reason, I glanced at Yul. He wasn’t paying close attention to Jibril’s words, was he?

But fortunately, Yul was just watching us without any particular change in expression. I swallowed a sigh and furrowed my brow deeply.

“What do you know about familiars? The only thing you know is what’s left in Nassir’s records. Don’t act like you know.”

“That’s right, for a mere human, you talk too much!”

As Fleabag backed up my words, Jibril’s expression progressively soured.

“You said he’s an extension of you, and you two talk just alike…”

“Stop with the useless talk and serve me at once!”

As Fleabag shouted, Jibril held out his hand in a fluster. Fleabag leaped from my hand to Jibril’s, then looked back at me with moist eyes.

「Master… To call this Fleabag an extension of yourself. I will do my best not to tarnish your reputation!」

「Fleabag, I’m counting on you.」

「Yes!」

After finishing a tearful farewell ceremony with Fleabag, I snatched the map that was hanging from Jibril’s waist.

“I’m borrowing the map.”

I immediately crouched down in front of the child. Then I spread out the map and showed it to him.

“The village you were in, where is it?”

“It’s here.”

The child pointed to the edge of the Eastern Continent without hesitation. I rolled up the map again and placed it on the ground, then put my hand on the child’s forehead. The child, who had been blinking with unfocused eyes, suddenly slumped over with a thud. Jibril, who was struggling with Fleabag on his hand, opened his eyes wide.

“…It’s nothing serious, right?”

“Yes. He’ll be back to normal when he wakes up.”

Jibril let out a sigh of relief. I straightened my crouched knees and reminded Jibril of the plan again.

“When you’re done purifying the flower beds, tell Fleabag. Fleabag will contact me on his own. Then Yul and I will purify the village, and at that time, you can gather the villagers and rebuild the kingdom.”

“Alright. But… who’s ‘Fleabag’?”

“He’s on your hand.”

Jibril looked at Fleabag, who was standing on two feet with his hands proudly on his hips, with a strange expression. Regardless, I stroked Fleabag’s head once and returned to Yul.

“Yul, let’s go!”

Yul stood next to me. I walked a few steps with him and then asked carefully.

“But Yul, can I hold your hand?”

“Yes.”

Yul held out his hand to me. I smiled brightly and took Yul’s hand in mine. We set off on the road, taking one horse with us.