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Sylphiette's home was located almost at the northernmost part of Buena Village.
When they first chose the location, it was for the convenience of Laws, who was a hunter and needed easy access to the forest. When Laws's wife, Norda, was about to give birth, the two of them had discussed moving closer to the center of the village for the sake of their future child's social circle.
"If we stay on the outskirts, won't our child have to walk a long way to play with friends?"
That was Norda's suggestion.
Laws naturally agreed.
Buena Village was large, and there were plenty of vacant spots to build a new home. Besides, the knight who oversaw the village was on good terms with Laws, so he would likely help out.
With this hope in their hearts, the child was born.
The moment Norda saw the child, she froze.
Laws also paused for a moment, but then he excitedly exclaimed in a tone he rarely used, deliberately overjoyed.
"My child is so adorable~ Let's name her Sylphiette!!"
Norda, held in Laws's arms, cried and nodded.
"Okay."
Sylphie was indeed adorable, with smooth hair that shimmered a beautiful emerald green in the sunlight.
Norda thought so.
Laws thought so too.
But the suggestion to move closer to the center of the village was never brought up again, as if by unspoken agreement.
Sylphie was a very sensible child.
At the age of four, she softly suggested that she wanted to contribute to the family—by delivering lunch to her father when he was on guard duty at the edge of the forest.
However, she would often return home soaked after lunch, muttering excuses like accidentally falling into the irrigation ditch and ruining the food under Norda's concerned gaze.
At first, Norda would just hold her and cry. But later, she realized that showing such vulnerability only made Sylphie more anxious, so she stopped crying.
Instead, she forced herself to comfort Sylphie with a gentle demeanor.
After Norda changed her approach, Sylphie's anxiety noticeably lessened.
This gave Norda some peace of mind.
But on countless nights, she would still look at Sylphie's sleeping face and silently shed tears.
This child...
She rarely smiled.
Why...
Was it like this??
——
Norda blinked her dark eyes, pulling herself out of her memories. She looked across the table at Sylphie, who was sitting upright under the candlelight, writing in her diary with a gentle smile on her lips. Her emerald-green hair, which Norda had deliberately kept short, now reached her shoulders.
Norda smiled sincerely.
In the blink of an eye, Sylphie was almost seven years old.
Since last spring, Sylphie had started to smile.
That was wonderful.
The door opened, and snowflakes drifted into the room from outside. Laws stepped inside, brushing the snow off his shoulders. He exchanged a smile with Norda before looking at Sylphie, who had lifted her head to gaze at him.
"Writing in your diary again, Sylphie?"
Sylphie subtly pulled the diary closer to her chest and nodded.
Laws smiled, not minding her action.
Children grow up, and it's natural for them to have their own 'secrets,' right?
He glanced at Norda, and the two shared a somewhat helpless smile.
It's just that this 'secret' wasn't much of a secret at all.
Laws walked past Sylphie, who didn't turn her head but instead looked out at the snowstorm, her brow slightly furrowed.
This subtle expression was strikingly similar to someone's demeanor over the past year.
The old father exchanged a wry smile with his wife and shook his head, about to walk further into the house. But just as Sylphie's expression was about to disappear from his sight, Laws's eyes flickered, and he turned his half-turned face back.
He looked at Sylphie and smiled.
"Sylphie, by the way, we've been preparing to clear out the monsters recently. There are a lot of them this year, so we'll probably be out from morning till night. You can come with me in the morning, and I'll take you to the Greyrat house. Then I'll pick you up in the evening."
Sylphie was stunned for a moment before suddenly turning to look at Laws, her eyes shining.
"Really?!"
"Why not? Before, we didn't let you go out because we were worried about you going alone in a snowstorm. But if I go with you, there's no need to worry."
Sylphie's face broke into a radiant smile.
Bang!
The wind outside was too strong, slamming the window open.
The family scrambled to close it.
The winter wind swept into the room, flipping through the pages of the diary on the table.
January 31st.
Spring has come.
I finally saw Allen again.
After not seeing him all winter, his hair has grown a bit longer. His expression is still the same as before the snowstorm last year—he likes to smile and squint when he looks at people.
But whenever he sees the knight and his wife, I feel like there's something off in his eyes.
But when I look closer, it seems like it's just my imagination.
March 21st.
I feel like Allen has been frowning a lot these days.
What is he worried about?
June 17th.
Summer is here, and it's really hot.
Allen's head is always sweaty.
Today, while reviewing magic, Allen suddenly suggested that we go to 'settle the score' with Somar for bullying me last year.
Although I was a little happy, I also felt it was a bit strange. After all, Somar has been avoiding us for the past year...
When we got to Somar's house, he wasn't home. Allen went inside but left me and Rudy outside.
Rudy kept pulling at me, saying, "Let's go, let's go! This isn't something kids should hear!"
I didn't want to pay attention to him. He always says weird things.
Soon, Allen came out, looking terrified. He grabbed us and ran home.
Mrs. Somar called after us.
She said, "Allen, wait!"
Allen ran even faster.
It was all very strange.
But... I felt a bit uncomfortable, though I couldn't say why.
September 16th.
Allen says autumn is the season of harvest.
It's the perfect time to eat wild boar.
What does that have to do with anything??
We went to the edge of the forest to find Father.
Well...
The wild boar meat was delicious.
September 17th.
The wild boar meat was delicious.
September 18th.
The wild boar meat was delicious.
September 19th.
Today, Father looked a bit flustered. He said if we keep eating like this, we might run out of wild boars. Wouldn't that disrupt the forest's ecosystem?
Allen paused and said we should indeed be careful.
September 20th.
The wild boar meat was delicious.
October 1st.
Recently, Rudy has been a bit lazy. A while ago, he proudly showed off to Allen that he had received a letter from Roxy.
Of course, I received one too.
We each got one.
But when Allen heard about it, his expression became strange, and he didn't say anything.
I think he also received a letter from Roxy.
So I asked him how many he got.
He stammered, looking at Rudy, whose expression was gradually stiffening, and said something like, "Just one, I guess."
But Rudy got anxious. He didn't believe it and insisted on seeing Allen's letters.
Allen had no choice but to open his drawer, which contained six letters.
He was the first of the three of us to receive a letter.
Since that day, Rudy has been slacking off, even neglecting his magic studies.
Hmm... But I kind of understand him. Besides the letters, Allen also receives gifts from Roxy every time.
Suddenly, I had a thought... I wonder...
Maybe Allen has been frowning so much because he misses Roxy?
I don't know if I'm right.
Roxy is amazing, and Allen is amazing too.
I want to be as amazing as them.
Ah... I guess I really miss Roxy too.
I want to receive gifts from her.
Allen is so sneaky.
November 21st.
It's snowing again. The annual snowstorm season has arrived.
Last year, Father was worried about me and refused my request to go to the knight's house to study magic during the snowstorm.
This winter, I might not see Allen again.
Lately, I've been feeling something strange about Allen.
This feeling is completely different from how I feel about Rudy.
I always want to look at him.
Is it because he saved me last year?
I'm not sure.
But Mother told me that I'll naturally understand in the future.
I guess so.
Allen also said that.
What happens tomorrow will be known when tomorrow comes.
I think he's right.
But there's one thing I don't need to wait until tomorrow to know.
Tomorrow, the day after, and every day after that...
I want to keep looking at him.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 125 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 30 power stones I will publish the next chapter.