When I opened the door and entered the building, it was quiet inside.
“Kagali-sama, are you there?” (Suzuran)
I asked in a quiet voice from the doorway.
Where is she?
The first floor has the kitchen, warehouse, etc., so she should not be on this floor.
I went upstairs. There were several rooms upstairs. She might be in one of these rooms.
When I thought so, I heard a voice from above saying, “I’m hungry!”
That was Kagali-sama’s voice.
I ran up the stairs.
“I should have gone with them. When is Suzuran coming?” (Kagali)
I can hear it coming from that room. It seems that the voice was leaking out because the door was open.
“Kagali-sama, I apologize for the delay.” (Suzuran)
When I entered the room, Kagali-sama was not there……. What was there was a little girl with golden hair.
“Suzuran?” (Kagali)
The little girl said my name.
How did she know my name?
I approached the little girl.
She’s a very beautiful girl. But I feel like I have seen her somewhere before.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Suzuran. Make me something.” (Kagali)
“You know who I am?” (Suzuran)
“What are you talking about?” (Kagali)
The girl looked at me curiously.
I looked at the girl carefully. This beautiful golden hair, this face. Could it be?
“Could it be you are Kagali-sama’s daughter?” (Suzuran)
“……!”
The girl looked surprised.
“I didn’t know Kagali-sama had such a lovely daughter.” (Suzuran)
Why didn’t they tell me?
I lift up the girl.
The girl I lifted up is light. She’s so cute.
“Etto, what’s your name? Where is your mother? I came to see her.” (Suzuran)
I asked the girl, and she raised her arm and smacked me on the head with a pop.
“What are you talking about? I am Kagali. Are your eyes blind?” (Kagali)
“… Kagali-sama?” (Suzuran)
I look again at the girl in my arms.
“That’s right, I am Kagali. I used up too much magic power in the battle with the Orochi and ended up like this.” (Kagali)
I cannot believe it. I’ve never heard of someone taking on the form of a child because they’ve used too much magic.
“Are you really Kagali-sama?” (Suzuran)
“What, you want me to tell you something that only I know? Like, about how you failed at cooking, or how you got lost in the woods and cried?” (Kagali)
“You know that?!” (Suzuran)
“Of course.” (Kagali)
“Then is it really you, Kagali-sama?” (Suzuran)
“That’s what I’ve been telling you for a while now.” (Kagali)
Tears streamed down my eyes.
The moment I recognized that Kagali-sama was in front of me, I burst into tears.
“I’m glad you were alive.” (Suzuran)
“I’m sorry to have worried you.” (Kagali)
Kagali-sama puts her hand on my head with her small hand.
“Kagali-sama.” (Suzuran)
I hold Kagali-sama, who had somehow regressed into the body of a child.
She’s really alive. As I hugged Kagali-sama, her stomach made a small “kruu” sound.
When that happened, Kagali-sama and I saw each other’s faces, and we smiled.
“Well then, I’m going to cook now.” (Suzuran)
Let’s make Inari, which Kagali-sama loves so much.
But can she wait until then?
I went outside to the carriage.
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Author’s Note:
While Yuna and her friends were in town, Kagali-san and Suzuran met safely.
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