Wishing You All the Best on This Blooming Summer Night’s Journey Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

Akira: A, A wrapping cloth…? No, they wouldn’t have that in this world right? Looks like something’s inside.

Mitile: Maybe its owner let it carry some snacks with it…? Wait, humans rarely ever come here, and that’s sort of weird on its own…

Akira: We do have that protection barrier on…ah, it’s swimming in circles around the leaf boat. I guess it likes it?

Mitile: Wow, it is! Hey, I made that you know.

As if it understood his words, the duckling looked up at Mitile.

And with the same ease like it were on land, stood up straight on its legs atop the water’s surface. 

Mitile & Akira: Whaaat?!

Akira: I-It’s standing on water?! There’s no way you’re just some regular duckie!

Ignoring our surprise, the duckling flapped its wings and stopped the boat’s swaying. Perhaps to get on, it put one foot on the edge of the boat. 

However, the palm-sized duckling was much too big for the slender boat, and couldn’t get on. It continued its efforts though, tilting its head as it did.

Mitile: It’s playing like a little kid…it might be an intelligent magic being. This lake surrounded by nature is where the King of Water lives, after all. 

Hey buddy. You want to get on the boat, right? Then I’ll take this bigger leaf and…like that…

…Done! You can try this one now.

What Mitile had made was another leaf boat like the last one but two sizes bigger. Delighted, the duckling climbed on the new boat.

Akira: Ahaha, it’s flapping its wings. Someone’s happy!

Mitile: …Oh, it got off. Aah, it wants to push it around now! Ehehe, you’re so cute.

After enjoying some boat playing for a while, the duckling then gripped the leaf boat, and brought it to Mitile. It blinked its round and cute eyes, as if trying to ask something.

Akira: …Could it be that it wants to make its own boat?

Mitile: You might be right! If it’s you, I’m sure you can learn it.

Okay, look closely now. First, you fold this part here…

He prepared his own leaf, and in front of the duckling’s eyes explained slowly how to make a leaf boat.

Copying him as he watched was the duckling who smartly used its own beak and legs to mimic Mitile. Eventually, it made its own tiny tiny boat.

Mitile & Akira: Wow, you did it! Amazing!

We gave it a round of applause. Pleased, the duckling turned around and shook its butt in dance.

Akira: Ahaha, it loved hearing our praise! Just adorable. 

Mitile: I’m glad you’re happy, little duckie! I'm even a little happy too now. 

With a tiny boop, Mitile patted its head with one finger. 

The duckling then gave a small bow, taking the boat it made into its mouth, and swam away smoothly.

Mitile: Oh, it’s gone…see you later, duckie!

Riquet: Mitile, Master Sage!

Riquet came running to us from the cottage with splashes in his steps. 

Riquet: Faust’s afternoon class is ready to start. Let’s go back to the cottage, you two!

Mitile: Ah, yes!

Riquet: We’re going to be drawing magic circles using the whisker of a black cat! He said it would sharpen our ability to see in the dark. Sounds like fun!

Riquet cheerfully spoke. There was ice cream stuck to the corners of his mouth, like he had just eaten his fill of dessert.

Smiling at that sight, a thought then floated into my mind.

Akira: (Riquet is really enjoying this vacation to the fullest.)

Yesterday, while Mitile became a little nervous upon seeing Arthur’s flower, it instead made Riquet more excited for his. 

Akira: (It’s not that the two are opposites, though. They’re friends close in age, with their own handful of similarities. When it comes to studying, they both do their best.)

(Then…I wonder where this optimism and straightforwardness of his that enables him to enjoy the vacation comes from.)

Riquet took Mitile’s arm.

The droplets of water that splashed from the steps he took glittered in the sunlight like jewels, and within moments shattered and vanished. 

Riquet: Let’s hurry, you guys!

Snow: Now now, today marks the third day of our sleepover-study meet! Our turn has finally arrived.

White: “Playing and Studying!” is our tagline today and the class shall be…a treasure hunt!

Riquet: A treasure hunt…! So basically, an adventure!

Snow: Right you are! We twins have hidden ten treasures of varying sizes within the lake and in this forest.

Your only clue is the presence of our magic. Trace our magic, and find the treasures. And of course, with no teachers helping you!

White: Though we teachers will still be watching over you, just with our true presences hidden. 

Know that we will rush to your aid right away should anything happen, so you may search your hearts out for these treasures as best you can!

Arthur: Understood! Let’s do this, guys!

Mitile & Riquet: Yeah!

Mitile: I heard that if you concentrate hard enough, it shouldn’t be too hard to sense someone’s magic…I’m gonna work my hardest for you two today!

Snow: O Sage. As we discussed the night before, you may join the treasure hunting team as well.

We believe it is much more fun to be participating in this sort of event rather than spectating it. 

Akira: Thank you! Everyone, I’ll do my best. 

White: Now then…let the treasure hunting, begin!

The moment he said it, a wind blew, and whether they hopped on their brooms or made themselves transparent, the twins disappeared.

Mitile: Oooh, my heart won’t stop pounding! Just where could they be hidden? Do you think we can find them all?

Riquet: They said it would be hidden within this forest or the lake. How about we start with this area first?

Akira: Sounds good to me. …Uhm, Arthur?

Arthur: Everybody, over here. I can sense their magic this way!

Mitile: Wha?! Prince Arthur, you can sense them already?

Arthur: Yeah! Follow me, everyone!

Mitile: …! Now that we’re this close, I can sense it too! I can feel something strange coming from that tree…

Riquet: You’re right! It feels weird, though. Like the presence is getting farther and closer…

Arthur: It must be their doing. To test us, they might’ve casted some kind of spell on it. 

Whether it was a spell to mask its presence, or magic to let it fly in the skies….aah, I wonder what it will be! We’ve got to find these treasures quick!

He excitedly examined the surroundings. I can’t help but smile at the wise and calm prince showing us a new side to him. 

Akira: We’re relying on you, Arthur! You kinda look like an adventurer right now exploring a new land.

Arthur: Do I? That makes me happy! I remember telling Lord Oz about my dream of becoming an adventurer when I was young.

The Lord Twins would often play treasure hunt with me too, though not for practice to become one.

Seeing Arthur sweetly reminisce about his childhood warmed my heart. And with a clunk, something bumped into my head. 

Akira: Ow…! W-What was that, a kabuto beetle?

Riquet: No, over there! It’s a tiny round gem that sprouted wings! So…

Arthur, Riquet, & Mitile: It’s treasure!

The moment we let our shouts out, the winged gem hopped away with vigour.

Mitile & Riquet: Nooo, it’s running away…!!

Arthur: I’ll chase it on my broom!

Riquet: Wah! S-Such speed…!

Mitile: He’s as fast as my brother!

Arthur: Wait for me! I won’t let you get away!

Not fearing the trunks of trees, he flew through the air without care of watching where he went. 

That figure of his was that of any rowdy adolescent.

Chased by Arthur at exceeding speed limits, the flying gem suddenly changed direction, to the upper level of a large tree with thickly closed leaves and branches.

Mitile & Riquet: What!?

Arthur: Over there…!

Arthur didn’t stop, nor did he slow his speed.

He kept his fierce pace, and burst through into the treetops.

Mitile, Riquet, & Akira: Woaaah?!

Just as we shouted, a large and pure black bird at great speed came flying towards us.

Akira: Eek?! What the?! An eagle!? A hawk?!

Riquet: Oz!

The large bird transformed into Oz holding his staff.

Not even glancing at us, he pointed his staff to the tree that Arthur plunged into.

Oz: Vox…

Arthur: Look! I caught it!

As he was about to cast a spell, Arthur hopped down from the tree branches, leaves stuck to his hair and a wide smile plastered on his face.

In the hand he raised triumphantly, he gripped the sparkling blue gem. 

That innocent and proud figure of his was brighter than the gem itself.

Mitile & Akira: It’s a relief you’re safe!

Riquet: Good job, Prince Arthur!

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