Chapter 31: I Don’t Understand
The next morning, Shou prepared breakfast for five. She considered it a good practice run for their time in the Northern Forest.
By the time Falco came downstairs, his usual expression had returned. Shou exchanged a glance with Leon and nodded. He's back to normal.
She had assumed magicians were the type to stay up late and sleep in, but both Dred and Lyla woke up on time. Lyla joined Falco and Leon for sword practice. Meanwhile, Dred…
Just watched Shou.
Since morning.
What is this?
“Uh…”
“What?”
“Do you need something?”
“Not really.”
And that was how their morning went. When breakfast was finally served—
“Wow, this is amazing!” Lyla exclaimed in delight.
Maybe she was a good person, after all.
“Lyla, you’ve stayed at my place. Isn’t it about time you left? We’re heading to the Northern Forest in ten days.” Falco asked directly.
“Well, about that…” Lyla hesitated. She should know he wants her gone. Anyone else would.
But Lyla was completely oblivious.
“We’ll be staying a little longer.”
What? The one who answered wasn’t even Lyla—it was Dred. And he didn’t phrase it as a request. It was a decision.
Lyla simply shrugged. “He doesn’t listen once he’s decided something.”
Neither does she, apparently.
“Today, I’ll go with the Little Healer.”
Excuse me?
Lyla gave Shou a sympathetic look. “If he’s interested in something, he sticks to it until he’s satisfied. That’s what happens when you start talking about magic.”
But I just said normal things!
“First, let’s start with this ‘cold water magic.’”
“Wait, I have to go to the junior hunting group.”
“Then I’ll go there too.”
He’s coming with me?!
Shou turned to Falco and Leon for help.
“Well, if he’s at the junior group, at least the townspeople will be around to keep an eye on him,” Leon said with a look that clearly meant just accept it.
Falco…?
“Then I’ll go too.”
“You’re coming hunting.”
Leon dragged Falco away, and Lyla followed them.
Shou trudged toward the junior hunting group, now with a towering green-haired magician in tow.
“Who’s that?”
Cain was the first to confront them.
“Dred. He’s a magician. He’s from the Lakes and doesn’t see hunters often, so he wanted to observe the junior group.”
“I—”
“Alright! Let’s start hunting slimes!”
“Yeah!”
Not letting him get a word in!
Despite everything, Dred navigated the rocky terrain with ease and watched the slime hunting with interest.
During their break, Cain piped up.
“Hey, show us some magic.”
Without hesitation, Dred conjured a fireball and incinerated a slime.
Whoa! The juniors erupted into applause.
“Slimes don’t need flipping.”
“Slimes, no. But most of the monsters Falco hunts are low-bodied lizard types. Wouldn’t flipping them make them easier to kill?”
“You did mention targeting their legs.”
“Use wind magic, but direct it at the ground to reflect upward.”
Dred spotted a nearby lizard. He cast his spell—
Boom!
The lizard didn’t budge.
“Your spell is too wide for a single target. Make it smaller and stronger.”
“Hmph.”
Snap!
This time, the lizard flipped onto its back, struggling helplessly. Dred looked smug.
“But fire is still easier.”
“If you burn it, there’s no meat left. And the magic stone is more valuable when intact.”
“Hmm. The stones do take some damage from fire.”
“Slimes suffer too. When burned, they release acid, and their stones turn gray. If you have to use fire, make it smaller and hotter.”
“Smaller is fine. But hotter?”
“Like the white-hot flame in a blacksmith’s forge. Compress the fireball.”
“Like this?”
Sizzle.
It worked. As expected.
“Fire is much easier to adjust.”
“You can’t just rely on your favorite element.”
“Hmph. Now show me this cold water magic.”
It was a hassle, but the junior hunters enthusiastically taught him the cold water and cold wind spells. Surprisingly, Dred absorbed the lessons quickly, following their instructions without complaint.
By the third day, everyone had come to watch. Even Leon and Falco were surrounded by the junior hunters, enjoying the spectacle.
Lyla watched them with a smile.
“Hey, Little Healer.”
“It’s Shou.”
“Shou.”
Lyla addressing her directly? That was rare.
“Why do you always understand what Falco is thinking?”
“Because I watch him?”
“I don’t understand him.”
What did she mean?
“People like Dred are easy. He says whatever he wants. But Falco never says anything. Even when I ask him, he just says, ‘whatever’s fine.’”
Hmm.
“Say you wanted to eat black rock lizard for lunch, but Falco wanted regular lizard ham. If someone told you to pick one for the table, what would you do?”
“Obviously, I’d insist on black rock lizard. If Falco wanted something else, he should say so.”
“Listen.”
Shou explained patiently.
“This isn’t just about what you want to eat.”
“What do you mean?”
“Falco is kind. He’s happier letting you eat what you want than getting what he wants.”
“I don’t need anyone to worry about me. I can speak for myself.”
“Even so, isn’t it easier when someone listens the first time instead of arguing?”
“…Yes.”
“Falco spent all those years making things easy for you.”
“So he stayed silent for my sake?”
“Probably.”
“I never asked for that…”
“If being argued with annoys you, it means you don’t want to argue. Didn’t it frustrate you when Falco disagreed with you?”
“…Yes.”
“Falco could tell—even when you didn’t say it.”
Lyla pursed her lips.
“Why does Falco understand me? Why do you understand Falco?”
“Because we love him. And when you love someone, you want to understand them.”
“I love him too… If he just told me, I would have done anything for him.”
Shou sighed.
“Love isn’t just about words. It’s about listening.”
