episode_0156

Time in a dreamlike state always flows by so quickly. The time spent floating in the sea swiftly passed, and before we knew it, the sun had begun to set on the beach.

As I stepped outside during the sunset, I looked at Veronica standing next to me, wringing out her soaked clothes as if she were wringing out laundry. Veronica, with her dripping wet hair tucked behind her ear.

“Splash.”

“Splish-splish.”

When our eyes met, laughter burst out unexpectedly. Well, it was no wonder, considering that Veronica and I were holding onto the fish we had caught, which didn didn’t quite fit the situation.

Certainly, up until halfway through, the main focus was on swimming in the sea. Watching the squirming sea anemones on the seabed or observing schools of passing fish were truly fascinating and beautiful experiences in themselves.

However, at some point, the main objective shifted to hunting for dinner. As time passed, sensibility diminished, and appetite took its place. The fish swimming by, tempting us each time they passed…

The problem was the plump, oily fish that seemed to be practically begging to be eaten as they swam past me. How delicious would they be if we grilled those fish over a fire?

Grilled over the fire, the oil would drip off, the skin would become crispy, and with every bite, a satisfying sound would fill the mouth. Filling the mouth with more than just sound.

With each bite, it was clear that the plump, well-oiled fish would have a satisfying elasticity. Moreover, chewing the white flesh, with oil flowing, would surely fill the mouth with juiciness, much like chewing on beef.

“It must be delicious…”

After such thoughts, I grabbed Veronica’s hand and began hunting the fish we would eat for dinner. With each catch, despite being underwater, I could feel my mouth watering.

Normally, I couldn’t have a decent warm meal due to being a prince or noble or whatever. That’s why, among all the foods I’ve eaten in this life, fish grilled hot over a campfire would undoubtedly be the most delicious.

The four fish we caught while diligently swimming in the sea were all plump and well-fed. Now that we’ve made it out of the water, all that’s left is to cook and eat these little guys.

After tidying up a bit, I grabbed Veronica’s hand and started running along the sandy beach. We needed to gather firewood to make a bonfire and prepare the fish.

“Veronica, hurry! Hurry!”

“…Who’s the kid here?”

*

The crackling sound of the fire spread across the sandy beach. I was gathering firewood nearby, while Veronica’s cleaned fish were sizzling deliciously over the bonfire.

Sitting on a spread-out mat with my knees pulled close, I gazed absentmindedly at the flames and the fish cooking on the bonfire. My stomach rumbled, but the biggest problem was—

“Are you sleepy or hungry?”

“…Both.”

My stamina was completely drained from wandering the sea during the day. My eyelids kept drooping, and I fought desperately, determined to eat before falling asleep.

Watching me shake my head vigorously, trying not to doze off, Veronica chuckled softly. Then she handed me a skewer of cooked fish.

“You really wanted this. Eat and then sleep, even if you fall asleep while eating.”

“I won’t sleep well…”

Taking the skewer from Veronica, I blew on the hot fish to cool it down, then took a big bite.

Yum yum—

“It’s delicious…!”

“Is it?”

Veronica smiled happily as she watched me enjoy the fish. Then she also took a big bite of the well-cooked fish.

“It’s really good.”

“Isn’t it?”

I smiled back at Veronica. She then wiped the corner of my mouth with her palm, as if she had been waiting, and her hand brushed against my lips before pulling away.

Veronica wiped the corner of my mouth and showed me what was on it. When I saw the black smudge on Veronica’s palm, I felt my face flush without realizing it.

“You have a smudge on your lip.”

“…T-thanks.”

“Is it so delicious that you’d get it smeared on your lips like this?”

I nodded in embarrassment for some reason.

The grilled fish was exactly as delicious as I had imagined, even more so. It was a bit inconvenient with the bones, but even considering that, the fish grilled over the fire was truly, incredibly delicious.

The fish wasn’t heavily seasoned, yet there was a sweetness in the flesh. A subtle sweetness and a savory taste. The chewy and flavorful fish meat felt satisfying as I bit into it.

Chew, crunch—

When I came to my senses, all that was left in my hand was the fish bones. As I brought the next fish to my mouth from the fire, Veronica once again began to wipe my lips with a sly smile.

Veronica’s palm enveloped my cheek, and she leisurely wiped my lips with her thumb. It felt like being treated like a child, which I didn’t particularly like, but…

“Really… Who’s stealing bites?”

Veronica seemed a bit off today. It was hard to explain in words, but she seemed a little different from her usual self. So, for now, I decided to let Veronica do as she pleased.

After wiping my mouth, Veronica gave a bright smile and showed me her palm, which was now covered in black smudges. She shook her hand back and forth, grinning at me as if to mock me. Was my face really that dirty? I felt my face burn with embarrassment.

To hide the boiling embarrassment and shame inside, I pushed Veronica’s palm away and pouted, scolding her in a murmuring voice.

“Really… Stop treating me like a child. I can wipe it myself.”

“Haha, sorry. You just looked so cute.”

“Cute…!”

The word “cute” made me feel so embarrassed that it felt like a tickle on the top of my head. Titania and Veronica never used the word “cute” with me.

They had warned me not to treat them like little children. So, they only called me cute when they patted my head or hugged me, but neither of them had ever said the word “cute” to me.

Was that why?

The moment I heard that word, I felt incredibly embarrassed.

“I should change the subject quickly. Otherwise, I might die of embarrassment.”

Unconsciously, I let out a deep sigh, feeling a tingling sensation on my back. Then, I looked at Veronica. She seemed a bit different today.

I don’t know exactly what’s different or why I feel this way, but it must be because I want to play alone with Veronica. I met her gaze and spoke.

“…So, what is it that you want to tell me? You created this situation because you have something to say to me, right?”

Surprised by my question, Veronica widened her eyes, then lowered them and smiled wryly. After looking up at the night sky for a moment, she sighed and replied.

“…You always catch on to things like this quickly. But in other respects, you’re completely clueless.”

“…Isn’t it strange that I didn’t notice?”

“Is it? Well, maybe it is.”

Smiling slyly, Veronica looked down at me. From her slightly sad smile, I could vaguely sense that the story she was about to tell wasn’t a pleasant one.

The warm atmosphere we had just shared vanished in an instant, like a dark night sea. The mood sank deeply, like the depths of the sunless ocean floor. It felt like I was suffocating.

After pursing her lips, Veronica spoke after a brief silence.

“Vivian, if I were to leave your side, how do you think you would feel?”

“What?”

As time passed, Veronica felt herself getting closer to being a fairy. Because of that, she knew. She didn’t have much time left.

At some point, she could use magic even without the dwarves, and her human side began to diminish. It felt like her body was becoming more and more blurred.

She could be sure that soon, with a little more time passing, she would become a complete fairy. In the end, she would likely lose her “humanity.”

Before that happened, she had to use the fairy’s egg to return to being a complete human. She had to use the fairy’s egg to fully engrave her body in this world.

Perhaps by chance, after the “curse” contained in the fairy’s egg was transferred to Vivian, the process of purifying the magic contained in the fairy’s egg became incredibly fast.

In an instant, enough magic had gathered for the “experiment.”

Once the magic had gathered, Veronica had no reason or time to delay the experiment any longer. Now, if she truly started the experiment, that would be it.

However…

Veronica smiled wryly as she gently stroked Vivian’s cheek. With her fingertips, she carefully traced Vivian’s face as if trying to remember it completely.

“Surely, once the experiment begins, I won’t be able to see this face anymore.”

Returning to being human wasn’t just a matter of one or two attempts. It involved overlaying the information of oneself in this world and creating a new body. No matter how powerful the “fairy’s egg” might be, it was a task that took just as long.

Moreover, being pursued by the witch Morgana meant the experiment had to be conducted in secret. She had to hide and ensure she wasn’t caught. That meant it would take even longer.

“It could take 20 years if it’s fast, or 50 years if it’s slow. After 50 years, you’ll be 80. Will you still be alive when I return after the experiment is over?”

In truth, Veronica hadn’t planned to ask Vivian in this way. She was just planning to inform her.

That she would leave her side.

That it couldn’t be helped.

To take care of herself along with Titania.

But…

She kept wanting to stay by her side.

If possible, she didn’t want to leave her side.

Finally met you at the end of repeating regression.

I guess I don’t want to let go.

Even if it means giving up my lifelong wish.

“…Vivian, if I were to leave your side, how would you feel?”

This question was a cowardly desire to be by your side, a cowardly plea for you to hold onto me. It was a question filled with a cowardly intention to stop me from leaving and keep me by your side.

Vivian seemed shocked by my cowardly question, her eyes widening. After trembling slightly, she breathed out in disbelief and replied.

“…What?”

You know, Vivian.

If seeing your shocked expression at my question made my heart race and lifted my spirits somehow…

Am I weird?

Huh? Vivian?