09-24 With Hannah-Chan

“Woow, it’s wide. So this is the sea…”

Everyone had gone to the coast of Kunlun Island.

Hannah had grown in a village deep in the mountains called Kaina Village. Seeing the sea for the first time in her life, she simply stood stock still.

Jin placed his hand on Hannah’s shoulder and they walked all the way to the water’s edge.

The spring sea’s waves gradually approached them. Seash.e.l.ls were scattered about on the sandy beach.

“Oh, it’s pretty. Is it a seash.e.l.l?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Hannah was in high spirits as she searched for the small and pretty pink seash.e.l.ls that resembled cherry blossoms.

“Hannah-chan, there’s more over here.”

Elsa also joined her in collecting seash.e.l.ls.

“If it was a little warmer we could go swimming, but…”

Kunlun Island was approximately at the Northern Tropic. Unlike in Port Rock where it was everlasting summer, the water was still a little cold.

“Onii-chan, then let’s go swimming in summer!”

Hannah spoke back and Jin’s expression became softer.

“Yeah, let’s.”

Memories of swimming in the Elume River last year were brought back, and Jin thought he’d also make a new swimsuit for Hannah.

At any rate, for the children of Kaina Village swimsuits were largely the same thing as underwear, and furthermore they swam wearing nothing but the lower halves.

Although for someone like Barbara a cloth was wrapped around her chest.

“Port Rock, was fun.”

Elsa had come to Jin’s side without him noticing. Hannah could be seen making a mound out of the sand together Mine.

“Yeah. Come to think of it, that was the time I met with Elsa and Reinhardt, huh.”

“Mm. I miss it.”

Only two and a half months at most had pa.s.sed, but still it felt like something from the distant past. That was probably because of just how packed every day had been.

“Father, the sunlight on the beach is intense so please have this.”

Suddenly Reiko called out to Jin, and came to present him with a straw hat. Of course, she handed ones for Elsa, Hannah, and Mine too.

“Oh, thanks Reiko. Where did you get these?”

Jin didn’t have any memories of making straw hats.

“It appears that Mine-san made them.”

“Eh? Mine did?”

He looked at Mine’s direction and lowered his head a little embarra.s.sedly.

“Thank you, Mine.”

Jin gave his thanks and put on the straw hat. The straw hat smelled nice.

Jin was watching the sea as the salty winds blew. The waves were gentle. He then soon turned to face Reiko who was behind him and,

“Reiko, do you think one of the Hydros could come around here?”

He tried asking. Reiko nodded and replied,

“Yes, I will arrange for it at once.”

Then she contacted Laojin through her ManaCom and,

“He says it’ll arrive soon.”

She said. Just as stated, five minutes later Hydro-2 arrived. Steering it was Marine-2.

“Master, you called?”

As the beach was sandy Marine-2 beached Hydro-2 on the sh.o.r.e as it was.

“Yeah, sorry for the trouble. That was fast, huh.”

“Yes, this is because I was just patrolling around this area.”

While Jin had a conversation with Marine-2, Hannah got immensely curious about Hydro-2.

“Onii-chan, this, is this a boat onii-chan made? I wanna get on it!”

Jin smiled and a.s.sented.

“Of course. That’s why I called for it. Elsa can also come. Mine, sorry, but it’s only got room for four people so could you stay here?”

Mine smiled and said,

“Yes, of course. I will be waiting here.”

And so Jin, Elsa, and Hannah boarded Hydro-2. Reiko sat on Jin’s knee like the other day… or so you’d like to think, but she sat next to Hannah.

As the boat was for four people the front and back each had seats for two, with Jin and Marine-2 in the front. In the back sat Elsa, Hannah, and Reiko. As all three of them were small they could somehow sit there.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Marine-2 put Hydro-2’s Magi Water Jets full on reverse. The force moved Hydro-2 which had been grounded, and the boat slipped out to the sea while spraying water into the air.

And then Hydro-2 changed directions and without pausing moved ahead to the open seas. Everyone had their straw hats in hand so they wouldn’t get blown away.

“Wow, fa~ast!”

“…Amazing.”

Leaving aside Hannah for whom this was her first time boarding a s.h.i.+p, it was apparent that the s.h.i.+p’s ridiculousness sunk deeply into Elsa’s mind even though she had taken part in the golem boat contest in Port Rock.

“Not just twice. It’s three times as fast.”

The cruising speed of the boat Elsa had been on back then was estimated to be about 20 kilometers per hour. Right now Hydro-5 was going at a speed nearing 60 kilometers per hour.

“Ammaazi~ng!”

Hannah was screaming with excitement. Elsa also let herself relax, thinking that if anyone got ill she would cure them.

At that time, Jin gave Reiko a signal only she recognized. After noticing it Reiko stealthily cast [Soothe] on Jin. In other words, Jin was starting to feel seasick.

Spraying water and kicking up waves, Hydro-2 did a lap around Kunlun Island.

“Ah~, that was fun. Onii-chan, thanks!”

When they came back to the sandy beach where Mine was waiting it was precisely the time for an afternoon snack.

Kunlun Island’s exclusive maid golem Peridot-100 had the sense to bring snacks.

“Oh, how thoughtful of you.”

Jin spoke well of her and,

“Not at all, Laojin instructed me to.”

Peridot-100 quickly revealed the truth.

Laying a cloth on the sandy beach, everyone sat down for an afternoon snack.

Peeled Citran, and Citran juice.

“Wow, delicious!”

Hannah was apparently pleased with Citran which she had for the first time.

“Hannah-chan, you can have this too.”

Jin’s heart was warmed by the sight of Elsa –whose favorite food it was– sharing her Citran with Hannah.

“Let’s go swimming next time.”

“Yeah!”

While the golem horses they were riding on strolled back, Hannah was in a good mood.

Mine was riding together with Elsa on her horse.

“Elsa, it was nice of you to share your Citran with Hannah-chan.”

“Mm, Hannah-chan is so cute after all.”

“Eheh, so you also can act like an elder sister, can’t you?”

Mine had the look of a mother on her.

As they returned restfully while making detours, by the time they arrived at the mansion three hours had pa.s.sed.

“That’s just the right time. Let’s take a tea break.”

Mine said and started making the preparations. Because Ruby-100 heated the water for her they were soon complete.

“Here you go, Hannah-chan.”

This time Teee, Egelia Kingdom’s specialty, was brewed. Sugar was put in for Hannah.

Hannah had a sip.

“Sweet~! And good~!”

She smiled sweetly. Seeing her like that, Elsa’s expression also naturally turned into a broad smile. Mine was also smiling.

“Here, have some of this too.”

Dried Bluelues were served with the tea. They were Jin’s favorite food.

“Ah~, this is also delicious!”

Jin, Elsa, and Mine. They each couldn’t help wanting to see Hannah smile.

After that they went to the mansion’s hot spring. The three women entered the bath at the same time.

“Ya~y, there’s a hot spring here too~!”

Hannah was the first one to rush into the bath.

Used to the one in Kaina Village, Hannah properly washed herself before entering the water.

Then Elsa and Mine followed.

“After getting all sticky from the sea breeze, the hot bath feels good, doesn’t it?”

Mine said as she stretched herself out in the bath.

“I’m a little worn out after the horse ride.”

Hannah then circled around to Mine’s back and,

“Auntie, I’ll ma.s.sage your shoulders.”

She said.

“Eh, it’s fine, you don’t have to.”

Mine turned her down, but Hannah didn’t acknowledge that.

“It’s alright. You see, I ma.s.sage granny every day too.”

Hannah said and began ma.s.saging Mine’s shoulders half-forcibly. Where she felt worn out were the waist and the b.u.t.tocks, but Mine wasn’t so foolish as to say so.

“Ah, it feels nice. You’re good, aren’t you, Hannah-chan?”

Mine said and let Hannah do as she liked.

“Right!? How is it? Is around here good?”

“Yes, it feels good near there.”

Hannah’s grip was unexpectedly strong. This was because she helped with the housework every day.

“Thank you, Hannah-chan. I have to thank you somehow, don’t I? Is there anything you want?”

Mine said to Hannah after having her shoulders ma.s.saged for a while. Hannah gave a start and a little embarra.s.sedly,

“We-well, um. You see, auntie…”

She hesitated to say something. Mine smiled gently and urged Hannah on,

“What is it? Please try to say it.”

Hannah then timidly voiced her request.

“Just for a while will do, but I want auntie to hug me.”

Mine remembered that Hannah’s parents had already pa.s.sed and so,

“Yes, alright then. Come on, Hannah-chan.”

She said and embraced Hannah with both hands.

Hannah buried her face in Mine’s ample bosom and,

“…Mom.”

She muttered with a voice so tiny it was inaudible.