Chapter 338 – Memories of the Eastern Country

The magical lights hanging from the ceiling illuminated the dining table in Mother’s house with a warm glow. We all gathered around the large wooden table, where dishes brought by the Count’s servants were arranged. White bread, salad, and stew. Pasta, herb-stuffed turkey, and salt-grilled river fish. And since we had harvested fruits from Mother’s house, they were also placed on the table.

“Quite sweet. Delicious.”

Sheila shared her impression after tasting the fruit.

It was a fig fruit, black or rather dark purple in color.

In short, Mother’s house was a giant fig tree. She must have put a lot of effort into it – using Wood Magic to accelerate its growth, creating living space inside…

“We harvested at just the right time. Any later and the birds would have eaten them.”

“With this much sweetness, they’d make good jam.”

“I used to make it in the past. Shall I make some jam for you to take back later?”

Grace smiled at Ashley’s words.

“This fruit seems to contain magical power. It could probably be used as material for Magic Potions.”

Rosemary murmured with admiration after tasting the fig.

“Hmm. I never noticed before, but you might be right.”

It was similar to Tephra’s hot spring and the pumpkins grown with Noble Leaf. They probably had effects like enhancing natural healing ability or replenishing magical power.

“At this rate… wouldn’t it only be a matter of time before it awakens as a powerful wood spirit?”

Tephra, with Seraphina perched on her shoulder, laughed cheerfully.

“It certainly meets the conditions for a spirit to gain power and manifest.”

Claudia closed her eyes and smiled quietly. …It was a plausible story. Coming from Tephra, a spirit herself, it had high credibility. With a core symbolic great tree and everyone holding images of it, a spirit could manifest.

The dinner was in full swing. Dominique the Harpy, having tasted the fruit wine, sat by the window and began singing cheerfully. The dining table was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

“A spirit… it would be wonderful if one appeared.”

Marlene nodded happily at Princess Stephania’s words.

“The bathroom also has a view of the starry sky, this house is delightful.”

“The view from the guest room was beautiful too. With the skylight.”

“The beds are insufficient, aren’t they? I thought staying overnight on the ship docked at the lakeside would be nice… but it’s quite difficult to decide.”

Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana were consulting with serious expressions like this. Well… it’s good that Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana were thoroughly enjoying their travels.

With so many people, Mother’s house alone couldn’t accommodate everyone. Some would have to sleep crowded together, so it was decided that someone would stay overnight on the Sirius, also serving as night watch.

We were going to decide later who would stay, but both Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana seemed torn, unable to choose between the options.

“In that case, how about postponing the day we head to the Marquisate of Broderick?”

Malcolm, who had been listening, made the suggestion.

“Will that be acceptable with Marquis Broderick’s schedule?”

“A delay of one day would be no problem at all. Rather, since we didn’t know the airship’s speed, we’ve prepared to be ready to welcome you whenever you arrive.”

Hmm. From Marquis Broderick’s perspective, since he didn’t know the airship’s speed, he had made arrangements to allow for some flexibility. I see.

“Then… if you don’t mind, let’s delay our departure slightly.”

It was a minor schedule change… just spending a little more time at Mother’s house. It shouldn’t be a problem for us either. Since Malcolm had offered, it would be rude to refuse his consideration.

“…Well. We’ve overstayed quite a bit. Before it gets too late, we should return to the mansion.”

Father quietly stood up, apparently judging it was about time to leave.

“Count Gartner, thank you for the delicious meal.”

“You honor me too much.”

“Let me escort you on your way.”

After exchanging greetings with Princess Stephania, I followed Father toward the doorway.

“That’s reassuring.”

Father smiled wryly.

“Haa…”

I soaked in the bath up to my shoulders, looking up at the steam rising toward the starry sky, and let out a deep sigh.

I had escorted Father and Malcolm to the Count’s residence and returned to take a bath.

The bathroom in Mother’s house was characterized by being able to see the starry sky and distant scenery while soaking in the tub. Since you could see the lake from the high elevation, the view was beautiful even during daytime baths.

Right now—I could see the Sirius docked by the lakeshore. Even at night, the white hull stood out.

“Excuse me.”

While I was relaxing, Grace entered after changing into her bath robe in the changing room. Today it was Grace’s turn to bathe with me.

Her white skin and bath robe were softly illuminated by the magical lantern. Her lustrous golden hair and blue eyes seemed to reflect the light, sparkling.

Hmm… Still as devastatingly effective as ever, that bath robe. Grace’s development recently has been, well…

…Yeah. Better not think too much about it.

“Let me help you.”

“Thank you.”

I washed the largely exposed back area and slowly poured warm water over her with a bucket.

After washing her hair, I entered the bath again with Grace… and let out a quiet sigh at the warmth of the water.

“The stars are beautiful.”

“Yeah.”

Because the air was clear, the starry sky was very beautiful. Countless stars spread across the night sky. When I dimmed the magical lights, they became even more visible.

Quiet water sounds tickled my ears. The faint sound of Irmhild and the others playing music from downstairs, along with the chirping of insects, seemed to enhance the quietness of the night, or rather, the peaceful atmosphere.

“Being like this brings back memories. It reminds me of bathing with Lady Lisa and Theo.”

“That… I don’t remember much…”

“It’s from when Theo was little.”

Grace smiled under the moonlight. Then she looked with slightly distant eyes. So I asked suddenly.

“Grace… are you okay with going east?”

“To the Marquisate of Broderick? I’m fine. Thinking back now, after entering the Kingdom of Verdugal, I was always running away, keeping my distance from human settlements, so nothing particularly happened to me in this country.”

The place where Grace first met me and Mother was in the forests of Gartner County… but she had fled from further east. Everything that happened to Grace before meeting Mother took place outside the country…

Grace said her memories were somewhat vague since she was young at the time, but apparently she had been fleeing westward.

“My father was a Vampire, but he fought other Vampires to let my mother escape—and lost his life doing so. I was young so I don’t remember much about my father… but I do have the memory of him disappearing while still holding my mother’s hand.”

…Virginia, the Vampire I encountered when fighting Gardinis, had shown considerable hostility toward Grace too. For Vampires, mixed-blood children are enemies, and Grace’s father, who tried to protect her, was probably treated as a traitor.

“Sorry. Did I make you remember something painful?”

When I asked, Grace shook her head and smiled.

“No. I know you’re concerned about me… and that makes me happy. Now I have Theo and everyone else with me.”

“…Yeah. That’s right.”

“Yes.”

Saying that, she leaned against me lightly, as if drawing close.

I reached around Grace’s shoulders and head, pulling her closer. The feel of her soft hair and Grace’s body temperature.

Grace had lived hidden in the mountains with her mother… but eventually their existence became known to the nearby village, and they were driven from their home.

Even as a mixed-blood, or perhaps if they were Termwills, they might have been accepted. Grace’s mother had apparently headed west with that hope.

In the end, since Grace met Mother and Father allowed her to stay in the territory on the condition of the Cursed Tool, it was probably the right choice.

Additionally, considering the current situation, King Melvin granted Grace a knightly rank knowing she was a Dhampir. That could only mean Verdugal would accept her as long as the problem of bloodthirst was resolved.

Both King Melvin’s stated policies and my personal views… and even from the perspective of being the Otherworld Ambassador, our goals aligned. You could say the environment to protect Grace was in place.

So if… something harmful were to come to Grace because of her origins or past. And if Vampires became enemies. I would simply stand ready to face them all.

Looking up, the yellow moon shone in the night sky. Staying close to the peacefully smiling Grace, the night quietly deepened.

Thank you always for reading my work!

As announced in the activity report,

a special site for “Boundary Labyrinth and the Otherworld Magician”

has been opened on Overlap Co., Ltd.’s website!

Also, with the publication of the books, the pen name has been changed to Eiji Onozaki.

On the web, it will be displayed alongside the previous pen name,

but I look forward to your continued support. <(_ _)>