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Chapter 201: Pouring Water
Abel led us to a small building, which appeared to be her home within the sky garden.
While it was meticulously clean inside, there were no signs that anybody lived here. It seemed that the elves who worked here must sleep elsewhere.
"Make yourselves at home."
Abel gestured to a modest yet elegant table set. However, her gaze was directed at me.
"…Al, help me with my work."
This must be part of his idea of "spending time together." Hearing her say it that way honestly made me happy.
"Following my master is a disciple’s duty. I’ll gladly assist you."
When I said that—
"Phe too! Phe will go with Niita too!" Phe called out, clinging onto me.
"It wouldn’t be any fun if I were left alone," my mother added, tagging along as well.
I guess this was inevitable.
"…"
Abel fell silent after hearing Phe and Mom. Surely she must have known it would’ve ended this way?
"…Why?" the High Ancestor Arch Elf muttered under her breath.
Don’t ask me.
And so, our usual group set out together.
Since I felt a bit bad for her, I reached out to take her hand—
"Niita!"
But right then, Phe slid down my back and wrapped herself around my front, intending on being carried. Now, both of my hands were occupied.
Well, nothing to be done about it this time. My little angel, comfortably nestled in my arms, looked up at me with a satisfied grin.
After leaving Abel’s house, we arrived at another building.
It seemed to be a storage room, containing work tools, medicines, and such. In the back room—or rather, hall—was the bottle of water that was the inciting incident the other day.
The water from the Sacred Lake was precious, so it seemed the idea was to take only as much as needed from here. The jar was placed on a floor etched with some sort of spell formula, clearly positioned with the protection of the lake water in mind, prioritizing it over convenience.
(Still, that’s huge…)
The jar was easily twice the size of an adult man. It looked like one of those massive barrels you’d see in a sake brewery.
And there were multiple jars of this size.
I suppose it’s only natural; if they’re going to Kishkud only once a year, they’d need a substantial supply.
"…Mm."
Abel pulled an empty water jar from her dimensional box and set it in an open space. This must have been the spot where the broken jar had been.
Man, that dimensional box is really handy. I’d love to have one myself.
"Al, we’re going to fill this jar with water. Help me out."
"It’s finally time."
It seemed we’d be dividing up the work, pouring water into the jars from the dimensional box. This was my first time using it, so I was looking forward to it.
I was taught how to use the dimensional box here, which was an unexpected bonus.
"Abel, Abel! Let me try too!" my mother said excitedly.
"Phe too! Phe wants to try it too!" Phe added, raising her hand enthusiastically.
"…Jeez."
Abel sighed, but she was kind enough to show them how to use it too. She’s a very patient person.
"Hehehe! Pouring water is fun! Phe likes it!"
Phe exclaimed joyfully. She’s really a child who finds delight in everything she tries.
But I had to admit, watching the endless flow of water streaming from the dimensional box was strangely mesmerizing, almost like staring at a grand dam. Though, of course, doing it continuously would probably get boring.
"Abel-sama, may I have a moment?"
As our whole family continued pouring water, an elf entered the hall.
"Mm. They’re here?"
"Yes."
I wondered what was going on. They weren’t saying much, but from the exchange, it sounded like we had a visitor.
(In a place floating in the sky?)
Then again, it didn’t have to be a person. Perhaps a messenger creature, like the letter-carrying bird used in Henriette-san’s correspondence with I-chan, had flown in.
"…I’ll step out for a moment. Put the work on hold."
Abel instructed us briefly and then stepped out.
"Nii-ta, pouring water is so fun! Do we have to stop?" Phe asked, looking disappointed.
"It would be terrible if we messed up without Abel around. Let’s do as she says and wait until she’s back."
"Alright… Then Niita, stroke Phe’s hair?"
I closed the dimensional box as Phe pressed her silvery hair against me, smiling sweetly.
Not sure what she meant by "then", but asking to be petted is just like her.
Whenever she asks, I’m happy to oblige.
"Your hair’s gotten quite long, Phe."
"Hehe. Mom said Phe should grow it out. Because girls can try all kinds of hair styles!"
Phe, who loves to run around energetically, wouldn’t have surprised me if she’d preferred short hair, but she chose to grow it out.
"Your hair’s really beautiful, Phe."
"Really?! My hair is beautiful?"
"Yep, very beautiful."
Phe started trembling with excitement in my arms.
I backed away.
"Yayyyyy! Phe, Phe got praised by Niitaaaaaa!!”
"Hehe, that’s wonderful, Phe-chan" my mother laughed.
Just as I’d expected, she leaped up in excitement.
Good thing I stepped back, or she would’ve hit my chin with her head.
"Hehehe! Uhihihihi! Phe loves Niita!"
She was absolutely thrilled. I guess my compliment made her day.
Even as little as she is, she’s still very much a girl…
I braced myself for the impact as Phe crashed into me with a big grin, happily burying her face in my chest as I stroked her hair. Just then, my mother raised her voice.
"Oh? Abel?"
My dear mother was looking out the window.
It was on the opposite side of where Abel had gone out, so she must’ve looped around.
"Mom, did you see Abel?"
"Yes, though it was just a glimpse… I’m pretty sure it was her."
Hmm.
What could she be doing outside?
Just then, Phe, who was in bliss from having her head stroked, tilted her head cutely.
"The one outside isn’t Abel."
"Huh? You can tell, Phe?"
"Phe’s a girl who can tell differences!"
She declared it with a confident grin, like some kind of "awareness expert."
Well, our little angel isn’t one to lie about trivial things, so she must have a reason to think it isn’t Abel.
"Abel hides her mana all the time. Phe can’t see her soul either. It’s hard for Phe to notice her."
Abel is always guarded, concealing her magic power and soul presence, making it difficult to locate her without seeing her directly. Though, on rare occasions, like during the festival when we met those characters Handsome-chan and Bubbly-chan, she does let Phe sense her so she won’t get lost.
"But the one outside—Phe can’t see their soul, but the mana is nothin like Abel’s"
What could that mean?
If they’re not suppressing their magic, that’s one thing, but if Phe can’t see their soul, that would mean they’re warded against soul detection.
(Oh… well, if it’s an elf, that wouldn’t be so surprising, would it?)
Given the elves working here, many are skilled in specialized plant magic. It wouldn’t be strange if someone else besides Abel could block soul detection.
"Hmm… did I see it wrong, then?" Mom mused, tapping her chin.
Suddenly, her face lit up as she clapped her hands together.
"Oh, then how about we go take a look? She was very close, after all!"
Mom’s curiosity was written all over her face.
Since Abel would be back soon, I figured we could just ask her then.
"Oh, come on, let’s go check it out, shall we? Okay, Al-chan?"
And with that, she took my hand and started walking.
