"So? You knocked on my door in the middle of the night and pulled me out just to come to the pub to drink?"
Nanahoshi sat in front of me, ordered wine and skewers with a snap of his fingers, and then said
"There's been a lot of good things lately, right? As your best friend, what's wrong with going out for a drink alone for me?"
"Of course it's okay to go out drinking with good friends, but it's not okay to come in the middle of the night. After all, I have a wife now."
"Oh ho~ Is that red-haired girl behind you just now Eris?"
"Yeah"
"She's so beautiful, but she looks a little fierce."
"If you hadn't come in the middle of the night, Eris probably wouldn't have that expression."
Nanahoshi raised his eyes slightly, held his chin and smiled
"I really don't know why they like you so much"
"Hmm? I'm quite confident, but I don't even know what my strengths are."
Nanahoshi shook his head and changed the topic.
"Would you like to guess why I asked you to come out for a drink?"
Things about Nanahoshi are very easy to guess, or in fact there is no need to guess.
I smiled and said
"Is there any progress on the teleportation array?"
"Yes! With the help of your sister, I successfully teleported things from the earth."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, I also became a little curious.
Is it really possible to travel back in time? Or can we only teleport things from the earth?
"What is it?"
"A plastic bottle and a can"
"It's making great progress..."
While we were talking, the boss brought everything he ordered to the table
Nanahoshi didn't care at all about what he was describing, so he picked up the wine and drank it down in one gulp. After letting out a long sigh like an uncle, he immediately put the skewers into his mouth.
I took a sip of wine in a funny way
When I was about to reach out to grab a skewer, I noticed Nanahoshi looking at me with some disgust.
"What's wrong?" I picked up the skewers and asked.
"Rudeus, can you be more generous when you drink?"
"I don't want to be told by a high school student that drinking is not cool enough."
Nanahoshi slammed the wooden wine glass on the table, quite like an uncle
"Actually, my body just hasn't changed, my actual age... um...? I forgot"
"A body that doesn't grow... maybe that's not bad either."
Hearing what I said, Nanahoshi's expression became a little funny
I don't know if I'm laughing at myself or laughing at me.
"Although it won't age, this body is too weak. This weakness seems to come from the malice of this world towards outsiders."
As she spoke, she raised her right hand with various rings on it and a necklace around her neck.
"Orsted discovered my unusual weakness and gave me these magic props to help me resist diseases. Otherwise, I would have died of a small cold."
By the time she finished speaking, she had finished the second glass of wine.
"So, with such a poor body, you still force me to drink every day?"
"Being drunk is not considered a disease. Orsted didn't say anything when he found out, so he should be fine, right?"
I ate the skewers in my hand in one bite and took a sip of the wine in the glass.
"I hope so"
"Ah! Don't change the subject Rudeus, you haven't finished your first glass of wine yet."
"I'm getting married the day after tomorrow. It's not good to get too drunk. Besides, who will carry you home when I'm drunk?"
Hearing this, Nanahoshi thought for a while, coughed and cleared his throat.
Just when I was curious about what she wanted to say, I was a little surprised when she spoke.
That's bad Chinese
"[People live for one lifetime, and grass and trees fall for one autumn]. Don't have so many restrictions, don't you think so?"
After saying that, Nanahoshi stood up and patted my back
I was stunned for a long time, mumbling and repeating what Nanahoshi said
"[People live for one lifetime, and grass and trees fall for one autumn]...? Oh, that's the case..."
"Oh! It feels completely different when you say it!"
"Of course the standards are different. Do you want me to teach you?"
"Yes! I like this sentence very much, so I learned it when I was in school, but I never know whether I am up to par or not."
Drinking wine, eating skewers, and teaching a few proverbs that Nanahoshi may be interested in from time to time
Our cocktail party passed in this atmosphere
Several times I was about to get completely drunk, but fortunately I retained the last bit of sanity and used detoxification magic on myself.
Looking at the drunk Nanahoshi, I shook my head
After paying the money, I carried Nanahoshi on my back and walked towards my home.
Every time I carry Nanahoshi like this, I feel like she and I are both abandoned in this world, but in fact, only Nanahoshi is abandoned.
I have a lover, a family, and people around me who value me, and Nanahoshi...
Maybe it's out of pity, or maybe it's because this is my only friend. I always respond to Nanahoshi's requests. I hope she can be happy, I hope she can return to the earth, and I hope this innocent girl can truly feel at ease.
"Rudeus..."
Drunk Nanahoshi murmured softly
"Huh?"
"What if... if you can't go back in the end..."
Nanahoshi suddenly stopped talking, instead he put his hands around my neck and put his head on my shoulders.
"If I really can't go back... I hope I die before you..."
I stopped and was a little dazed
What kind of mentality did she have when she said this?
The experiment went smoothly, didn't it? Why did she say this?
I didn't know how to respond, so I chose silence
I don't want Nanahoshi to be so pessimistic. Maybe she just said this because she was drunk, but I just don't want her to have such thoughts.
And Nanahoshi seemed to know what I was thinking, so he added
"It's not a pessimistic thought or anything like that... I just don't want you to die before me... It's just that..."
My lips moved slightly, and after thinking for a while, I made a sound
"I will stay with you"
Although it is a bit irresponsible, I still said this
Just to make her feel at ease, just that
Nanahoshi said these words... is it because he is afraid of being alone?
At least that's what I understand
"Well..."
She seemed to really feel at ease. I could feel Nanahoshi behind me relaxing a lot.
When I started walking again, Nanahoshi spoke again
"Rudeus... You are my only close friend in this world. Even in my previous life, I didn't have such a good friend as you. I am really grateful to you..."
"Me too, I'm very lucky to meet you in this world. Although I always complain about your drinking, in fact, I always feel relaxed every time I go out for a drink with you."
"Hahaha, I know you always pretend to be reluctant. After you get married, I'm afraid you won't be able to go out and drink whenever you want like before, right?"
"I have a high status in the family. I can come out whenever I want."
"I hope so"
After the conversation, Nanahoshi was quiet for a while
I don't know if she fell asleep or something, but she was walking so quietly
Just when I was about to get home, Nanahoshi pinched my cheek
"Look at the sky"
Hearing this, I raised my head
The sky is full of stars. I am somewhat used to seeing them in this world.
"Why didn't I pay attention before? The starry sky in this world is so beautiful..." Nanahoshi murmured
"I thought the same thing when I first watched it"
Nanahoshi raised his hand and reached towards the starry sky
"Where I used to live, if it weren't for the countryside, there wouldn't be many stars, let alone something like this... the Milky Way."
"Yes, the same place where I used to live"
Nanahoshi smiled
"Perhaps, coming to this world is not all bad. At least it allowed me to see such a starry sky and get to know you."