Goodbyes are Just a Part of Life

(What happened)

Serge wondered. Something happened. There was no mistaking it. However, he didnt understand exactlywhat happened.

Right now, their group was heading to Maals hometown.

Thinking that they would be separating soon, Serge was a bit lonely.

But, as though compensating for the loneliness, Shizuna was being friendly.

To be exact, her stinging attitude toward Ria had disappeared.

What happened in this short time?

It seemed like she was seriously contemplating the words said in the ogre village. It was like shed turned into another person.

I think its a good trend though?

Shizuna seemed to have grown as a human.

So, he had to brood on it alone.

On a day like that, they were on the evening before the day they would arrive at Maals hometown.

Since he called that out to Ria, they separated a bit from the rest of the group into the woods.

Naturally, he asked in Japanese.

Ria nodded with a hmph.

[I wouldnt be talkative about it, but I will absolutely keep the promise if Im told to not saying anything.

[Were comrades that have trusted our lives to each other. Cant best friends talk with each other?]

Since they were speaking in Japanese from the start, you might think they were talking about an extraordinary secret.

[This is an absolute secret. In truth, I slept with Shizuna in the ogre village.]

[But I though Valis said]

She swallowed back her saliva.

[Ah~, thats]

[Though I thought that I might be able to turn back into a man if I really tried]

Ria told him.

[Youre the worst.]

[No, but, I didnt think shed be so cute]

Hearing the whole story, Serge consented. There was no helping it.

[So, you went with the Shizuna route?]

Actually, youd have sex with them! You would spend time in happiness together from then on! Stuff like that didnt happen in reality.

Ria was telling him that she didnt know what to do, but since even the God Dragon-sama couldnt answer, neither could Serge.

[Well, now I understand why Shizunas seemed incredibly happy recently.]

She folded her arms.

If you were to think about the worlds common sense in general, it was natural for a man and woman to be together. There were the eyes of other people, and they couldnt make children.

She wanted to make Shizuna happy. Thats what she felt.

He would have to match up to Vargas, or hed probably have to surrender himself to her fathers fury.

[Well, Shizunas calmed down, so thats good. Maal will be leaving soon though.]

Their group would arrive at Maals hometown the following day.

Although she felt lonely, Ria wished for that strongly.

The beastkin village was supported primarily by hunting.

The village went into an uproar when they saw a group that had a hellhound, but calmed down when they saw Maals figure.

While calling out her acquaintances names, Maal ran into the group of people.

Before long, beastkin of the same breed as Maal ran out of the inner part of the village.

Aah, they hurried a bit too fast. They fell down.

The beastkin that seemed to be her mother embraced Maal tightly.

It was a kingdom of soft fluffiness.

(Welcome home, Maal.)

She was happy.

That day, Maal returned to home for the first time in a long time. Rias group was taken to the village chiefs house.

So suddenly, its hard to believe

Yeah, I understand.

However, they wanted to express their gratitude. For that reason, they provided them with dwelling.

The message wasnt to submit under their rule.

It was a request to fight together.

The villages in this area are all angry about Cordovas slave hunting.

Cordova was a country of human supremacists. They looked down on everything that wasnt human, removing people that disagreed.

It was inhuman, but it was a powerful nation. That was Cordova.

From here on Rias group would visit and speak to the dwarves.

Their physical robustness was not at all inferior to, or maybe even surpassed, the ogres. Still, they didnt think to build nations that took up large areas.

However, if I can turn the dwarves into comrade, I want you to prepare the beastkin race as well.

If you can make those crusty dwarfs your comrades, we beastkin will join as well.

After this, well be going to Manesh. They oppose Cordova as a human country, so we should go there first.

The nations capital was attacked by a wicked dragon before, two percent of its citizens were killed in a single breath.

The princess that survive was turned into the present queen, the [Queen of Dragon Eyes] Guinevere Sarion Manesh.

No one know where they came from, [Nanashi], the anonymous John Doe mage.[]

If she met John Doe, shed probably quip about him being a reincarnator at full strength.

She wanted to add their power as an ally by all means.

The next morning, Maal stood in front of Rias group as they were leaving village.

Maal was wearing in travelling attire.

Thirteen years old is already old enough to be an adult for beastkin. I want to stay with Ria-chan, cant I?

Ria embraced Maal tightly, lifting her up and twirling in circles.

Continuing until Maals eyes were spinning, she finally calmed down and spoke.

Maals family were happy with her proposal as well.

To return their gratitude, they wanted to respect their daughters feelings even if they were painful.

However, they wanted to stay together even if it were just for a little longer.

Maal-chan, are you staying?

So she proposed again. To be together with Irina, to learn this worlds common sense.

Onee-chan and Maal-chan, which should I choose?

It was a problem.

Although it was a rare thing for Irina to brood about something, Ria decided to leave Irina there.

Alright, were off then.

The two waved their hands, and were waved back to in return. Their group departed from the beastkin village.

As for why this was the right decision, that was a story for a bit later.

Its said that goodbyes are just a part of life.

Though you could meet people you bid farewell once again.

While she felt a little lonely, Ria kept on her journey with her chest filled with anticipation for their reunion.