Chapter 389 : Diadora’s Mama
「Weikel and that boy went deep into the forest. Delica, do you know what’s in there?」(Mark)
I don’t like that Luard boy, but I can’t help but worry about them. I wonder why.
「I heard from my dad that kobolds built their nests in this forest’s deepest part. If they keep growing, they might attack the town someday, so the adventurer guild will appreciate anyone who finds a nest and reports its location to them. The guild will then send veteran adventurers to destroy the nest later.」(Delica)
「So, do you think they went to search for a kobold nest?」(Mark)
「I think so. Luard hates losing, so to make himself feel better after losing to me, he must be thinking of getting credit from the guild for finding a nest.」(Delica)
「I see.」(Mark)
I feel like I’m starting to understand what kind of guy Luard is.
「But… Hmm…」(Delica)
Suddenly, Delica folded her arms and thought.
「Knowing him, I have a feeling that he will do something more than just finding a nest.」(Delica)
「Like what?」(Mark)
「Going into the nest and trying to kill the kobolds there by himself…」(Delica)
「Really? I don’t think anyone would do that unless they’re an idiot.」(Mark)
「Unfortunately, he IS an idiot… Weikel will definitely try to stop him, but I don’t think he can stop his stubborn master.」(Delica)
Going into a kobold nest with only two people is suicide. Kobolds may be weak monsters, but they’re strong as a team, and inside a nest, there are hundreds of them, ready to attack you from all directions.
Delica frowned, looking worried. She hates that boy, Luard, but she is a kind girl. She doesn’t want him to get injured or killed.
「In that case, shall we stay here a little longer and see how it goes?」(Mark)
I’m thinking of staying here just in case. If they come back injured, I can heal their wounds with healing magic.
Besides, Diadora seems to want to play here a bit longer. She’s still running around the spring, looking so energetic despite her expressionless face.
「Yeah, let’s wait for them. Luard is a nasty guy, and I hate him, but I would feel bad if something happened to him. Leaving him aside, I genuinely care about Weikel-san. He helped me out a lot on our way back from Sadola. He and his party members protected our carriage from hordes of monsters. He also taught me some cool sword techniques when we set up camp.」(Delica)
「That’s a veteran adventurer for you. He’s not just a loud and annoying guy.」(Mark)
「Haha! Well, he’s loud and annoying most of the time, but I’m grateful to him.」(Delica)
Weikel is annoying, but he’s a caring person, and I think that’s one of many good things about him.
We decided to wait for the two to come back. We were killing time by talking about various things.
I also trained my Spirit Magic for a bit by creating some playground attractions, such as a swing and a seesaw.
Diadora and Nicola were killing time by playing together, but after about an hour had passed, Diadora started acting weird.
「Hm…? Mama… What’s wrong…?」(Diadora)
Diadora, who was playing with Nicola on the swing, suddenly muttered to herself and ran toward the spring as if she had been called by someone.
「Diadora-chan?」(Nicola)
「What’s the matter?」(Mark)
「I don’t know. She suddenly ran off.」(Nicola)
「She’s acting weird.」(Delica)
We were watching Diadora nodding a few times while looking at the spring as if she was talking to someone we couldn’t see.
After that, she hurriedly returned to us.
「This is bad… Something bad is happening…」(Diadora)
「Something bad? Mark, what is she talking about?」(Delica)
Seeing Diadora acting so weird, Delica asked me.
Diadora looked calm with her flat face, but she was actually panicking. I could feel her feelings.
「Calm down, Diadora. What do you mean by something bad?」(Mark)
「Something bad is… Something bad… Mama told me…」(Diadora)
「What? Mama?」(Mark)
「Yes… My mama… She’s over there… We were playing together while you were talking with strangers…」(Diadora)
While saying that, Diadora pointed her index finger at the spring, but I didn’t see anyone there.
She was running around by the spring while we were talking with Weikel and Luard. Was she playing with her… invisible mom…?
「Is your mom by the spring? But I don’t see anyone there.」(Mark)
「No one can see Mama… But I can feel her… I can hear her voice…」(Diadora)
「Is that so?」(Mark)
「I can’t see her either. This is weird. Is her mom some kind of spirit too?」(Delica)
「Hmm…」(Mark)
Delica and I were looking at the spring in confusion.
At a time like this, it’s best to ask Nicola-sensei.
『Nicola, do you know something? Is there really someone or… something by the spring?』(Mark)
『Yeah, and actually, I felt her presence from the beginning.』(Nicola)
『What? Why didn’t you tell me?』(Mark)
『I didn’t feel malicious intent from her, so I thought she wasn’t something to worry about. Besides, her mana felt similar to Diadora’s. I think she’s really her mama.』(Nicola)
『I didn’t know spirits have parents.』(Mark)
『Most spirits are born from nature, but some are born from other spirits. Diadora’s mama is the spirit of that spring. We can’t see her because she has become one with the natural mana in this entire area. In Diadora’s case, I think she was born from a branch of a tree that grew around here. So, technically, that spring spirit is her mother.』(Nicola)
『”I think”? So you’re not sure?』(Mark)
『It’s just my guess. You can ask Diadora herself, but I doubt she still remembers how she was born.』(Nicola)
『Hmm… If that’s really the case, does that mean this place is Diadora’s birthplace?』(Mark)
『Yeah. That’s why she’s so attached to this place.』(Nicola)
『Make sense.』(Mark)
That’s fascinating. I’d like to hear more, but I’m more curious about this “something bad” Diadora’s mom was talking about.
I can’t help but think that Luard must have done something he shouldn’t have.
「Mama says it’s coming… She told us to run away…」(Diadora)
「What’s coming exactly? Are we in danger?」(Mark)
「It’s something strong and dangerous… Mama says it’s coming this way… She put a barrier in this area so that weak monsters can’t enter… But this is a strong one… Her barrier won’t be able to stop it…」(Diadora)
So she’s saying that a dangerous monster is coming this way?
Then, should we run away as she told us?
When I thought that, Diadora moved her gaze downward and continued.
「We must run away… but… If that thing comes and pollutes the spring… Mama will lose her power… and she will disappear…」(Diadora)
「What!?」(Mark)
Seriously? We have just learned about Diadora’s mom’s existence, and she will disappear? That’s just too sad!
「But… Mama said that she will be reborn in a hundred years… She said I will be able to meet her again when the time comes…」(Diadora)
「A hundred years!? That’s too long!」(Mark)
It seems that Diadora will be able to see her mother again, but she will have to wait for a hundred years.
No, I can’t let her suffer from waiting that long.
I have to do something!
『Onii-chan, I can feel it now! Something really is coming this way!』(Nicola)
『Is it the monster Diadora’s mom’s talking about?』(Mark)
『Yeah, I think so. I can also feel those annoying duo’s presence. They’re running away from it.』(Nicola)
By “annoying duo”, she must mean Weikel and Luard.
The more reason I have to stop that ‘thing’.
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Damn Loserd, just introduced and already applying for the loser/annoyance position huh? So impatient