Chapter 3-16 : The Children’s Secret Place (part 2)
「Why are you so surprised? It’s just a cloud dolphin.」(Ratz)
「A cloud dolphin? Ah…」(Kako)
Ratz’s reaction, as if that wondrous creature was very common, reminded me of what happened on the flying carriage.
I’ve certainly seen these creatures on my way to this region on the flying carriage. I only saw them from afar back then. This is the first time I’ve seen one this close.
「They live in the clouds, right? Why is this one down here?」(Kako)
I wonder if cloud dolphins can freely travel between land and the sky.
「Well, this poor fella fell from the sky.」(Torque)
「Fell?」(Kako)
「Yeah. Sometimes cloud dolphins get swept away by nimbusfalls.」(Torque)
I remember I’ve heard about nimbusfalls from the guide on the tour boat.
It’s a mysterious phenomenon where high-density clouds pour a huge amount of water to the earth like waterfalls. It seems to only occur in this part of the region.
「Not just cloud dolphins. Other creatures that live in the clouds sometimes also get swept away by nimbusfalls and end up down here.」(Torque)
「Though ‘getting swept away’ is not the correct way to say it.」(Ratz)
「What do you mean?」(Kako)
「They’re not exactly being swept away. They mistook the water falling from the clouds for a part of the clouds that could be safely explored and ended up down here before they realized it.」(Ratz)
The knowledgeable Ratz corrected Torque’s explanation.
「I see. So that’s what happened.」(Kako)
It seems that this cloud dolphin mistook the nimbusfall as a river or something and ended up in this lake.
ーSqueeak~!
「Hm?」(Kako)
As we were talking, the floating cloud dolphin descended and approached me. They then suddenly rubbed their cheek against my body.
「Awawa!」(Kako)
「Aa! Kako onee-chan, they’re asking you to play with them!」(Tina)
「Play? How do I do it?」(Kako)
「They will be happy if you pet them or swim with them.」(Tina)
「A, alright.」(Kako)
I gently pet the cloud dolphin as Tina told me.
They squinted and wriggled their body happily.
Squeeeak~!
「You’re… You’re kinda cute~!」(Kako)
I didn’t know a cloud dolphin could be this friendly toward humans.
I had never touched a dolphin before. Their body was kinda slimy, but it didn’t feel bad at all.
Squeak!
After I pet them, the cloud dolphin suddenly opened their mouth wide, revealing their many triangular, fang-like teeth.
To be honest, inside a dolphin’s mouth looked a bit scary.
「Uhh…」(Kako)
「Kako, they’re saying, “Thank you”.」(Torque)
「A, ah, I see.」(Kako)
I was confused, but it looks like it’s this dolphin’s way of showing gratitude.
After they closed their mouth, they went flat on the ground right in front of me.
「Now they want you to ride on their back.」(Torque)
「Eh? Ride on it?」(Kako)
「Un! It’s fun!」(Tina)
「Just try it.」(Ratz)
「Umm…」(Kako)
I hesitated a little, but I would probably never come across the opportunity to ride on a dolphin’s back ever again.
As soon as I sat on their warm, wet back, the dolphin slowly floated in the air.
And thenー
「Kako, hold tight. You don’t wanna fall.」(Torque)
「Fall? What do you meー」(Kako)
ーthey soared into the sky like an airplane.
「ーKYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」(Kako)
I spontaneously bent forward and hugged the dolphin tightly.
I’m flying… On a dolphin’s back…
I was flying around about twenty meters above the lake. I could see the entire area from up here.
It’s an unbelievable experience, but…
「IT’S SO SCARYYYYー!」(Kako)
「That looks so fun! I’ll be the next!」(Torque)
「No, no. Last time, you were first. I’ll be the next one this time.」(Ratz)
「Why am I always the last one? That’s not fair! Next is my turn!」(Tina)
The kids were arguing about whose turn would be next. Meanwhile, I was flying around in the sky at high speed like riding a roller coaster but without a seat belt whatsoever.
Please, someone help me!
◆◆◆
「Ugh… I thought I was gonna die…」(Kako)
After playing with the cloud dolphin for a while, we lay down by the lake.
I felt so exhausted physically and mentally…
「Hahaha! Kako, you’re exaggerating!」(Torque)
「Unlike you guys, I’m an adult. I can no longer enjoy this kind of dangerous game.」(Kako)
「You keep saying you’re an adult, but you don’t look any older than us.」(Ratz)
「Ugh…」(Kako)
「You were shouting all the time, but that was fun, right, Kako onee-chan?」(Tina)
「Well…」(Kako)
That was scary, but I can’t deny that it was quite fun.
Squeak! Squeak~!
「Fufu. They said they had a lot of fun too!」(Tina)
「It’s been a while since we played together with this dolphin. They must have been lonely.」(Ratz)
Saying that, Ratz patted the dolphin. They then rubbed their cheek against him, expressing joy.
It seems that these kids always come here to play with the dolphin, but they had been sick for a while because of the poison.
I wonder if this dolphin has been here for a long time. Could it be…
「Does this dolphin not know how to return home?」(Kako)
「Well, they can fly, but they can’t reach the clouds on their own.」(Ratz)
「So they’re stuck here?」(Kako)
「Not really. They can return to the clouds by climbing the nimbusfall.」(Ratz)
It seems that some creatures are able to climb up the nimbusfall. That reminds me, when I was on the tour boat, I saw some fish trying to climb it up toward the clouds.
「However, different clouds, different pods of cloud dolphins, meaning that even if this guy managed to return up there, they might not be able to see their original family.」(Ratz)
「I see… That’s sad…」(Kako)
「No need to be sad. Cloud dolphins are friendly creatures. They’re friendly toward other creatures, and of course, toward each other. Even if our friend ended up in a different pod, the cloud dolphins there would take care of them. There are thousands of cloud dolphin pods up there, but they’re like one big family.」(Ratz)
Apparently, cloud dolphins view their own kind as family. They seem to be good at communicating and much more mentally resilient than I thought.
「Speaking of family, guys, I think we should head home now.」(Ratz)
「Eeehhh? I wanna play a bit longer.」(Torque)
Torque groaned in dissatisfaction at Ratz’s words.
「We have just recovered. Our moms said we should come back early today. You know how scary they are when they’re mad, especially your mom.」(Ratz)
「Ugh… She would turn into a demon… Alright, let’s go home then.」(Torque)
Apparently, these mischievous brats are scared of their mothers.
Honestly, I want to go back too. I’m too tired to continue playing…
「Well then, we’re going home now. Let’s play again next time!」(Torque)
「See you.」(Ratz)
「Bye bye~!」(Tina)
Squeeak~!
After we waved goodbye to the cloud dolphin, they immediately returned into the lake.
Right after, Torque and Ratz grabbed my arms and pulled me toward the water.
「W, wait!」(Kako)
I knew what they were trying to do, but it was too late. Tina pushed my back as I tried to resist.
My clothes were about to dry, but now they’re all wet again.
Just like before, they put me into the water and carried my body.
「Umm, guys, can we go slowly this time?」(Kako)
「Slowly? No way!」(Torque)
「The way home is downstream after all. We can’t slow down.」(Ratz)
「Kako onee-chan, hold tight!」(Tina)
「Waiー」(Kako)
「ーReady… GO!」(Torque)
ーWOOOOOOOSHH!!
「Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyyyyー!!」(Kako)
We broke a new record on our way home…
◆◆◆
「Oh, you’re finally back.」(Roan)
I went to the village square as soon as I got to the village, while the children went to their homes.
Roan was still there waiting for me.
「I’m back…」(Kako)
「You look tired.」(Roan)
「Never thought playing with children could be tiresome…」(Kako)
「Hahaha! I can understand.」(Roan)
Not just Roan, but I noticed he was with someone else.
There was an old woman next to him. She seemed to be older than the village chief.
She looked more like a mummy than a mermaid.
「Roan-san, she must be…」(Kako)
「Yeah, as you might have guessed, the old lady, who looked like a dried fish, over here is Granny.」(Roan)
So she is Granny, the village herbalist. She’s older than I thought.
「Who the hell did you call dried fish!?」(Granny)
SMACK!
「Ouch!」(Roan)
Feeling insulted, Granny hit Roan’s head real hard.
She might be old, but she seemed to be stronger than she looked.
「What an insolent brat calling a young maiden dried fish!」(Granny)
Eh? Young maiden? Where?
「Young maiden my ass. You must be so senile that you forgot your own age.」(Roan)
「Shut the hell up!」(Granny)
SMACK!!
「Guha!」(Roan)
She hit Roan again, in the stomach this time.
What an aggressive old lady…
While Roan was groaning in pain on the ground while holding his stomach, Granny moved her eyes toward me and slowly headed this way.
I couldn’t help but swallow, feeling so nervous.
I need to be careful not to hurt her feelings, or else I might end up like Roan…
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