Chapter 207: Chapter 208: Precious (1)

They say you might not notice when someone enters, but you always notice when they leave.This certainly rang true.I’m not sure when it began, but my daily life had apparently been filled with Naru’s chatter.Tales of butterflies fluttering in the garden, discovering pretty pebbles, stumbling upon a candy store while wandering the streets.

Without Naru’s constant chatter, the Junk Mansion felt half as lively.Suddenly, I wondered if the mansion might be too spacious for its current occupants. It was odd to realize anew just how vast this house was.The atmosphere had quieted in many ways.But that didn’t mean everyone was simply gloomy.

“Naru, can you hear me?”

Cecily whispered softly to Brigitte’s belly.Naturally, Naru wouldn’t respond.Cecily persisted.

“…Naru, if you can hear me, visit my dream tonight!”

Brigitte, napping on the balcony’s long chair, frowned slightly. Was Cecily’s voice disturbing her?

Soon after, Cariote appeared from somewhere and lifted Cecily by the waist, carrying her off.

“Brigitte and Naru need their rest now.”

A few days had passed since Naru’s disappearance.We were all adapting to the changing atmosphere in various ways. Brigitte, in particular, was quite enthusiastic.She had set up a cradle in Naru’s former room and hung dreamcatchers from the ceiling, preparing for the day she’d meet Naru again.

Sifnoi also made an effort.

“Mwehehe…, since ancient times, nymphs have played crucial roles as midwives, nannies, and friends to mothers…! This Sifnoi will work tirelessly to ensure baby Miss Naru is born safely…!”

I wasn’t quite sure what she was working hard at, but it was nice to see her bustling around the mansion.In the past, I might have found it annoying, but now, having someone cause such a busy commotion was quite comforting.

“Perhaps I should hire a few more nymph housekeepers.”

While pondering this, I spotted Hina through the window, absorbed in something in the garden. Watching closely, I realized she was drawing.

Scribble- Scribble- Scribble-Hina was sketching in a book using various colored crayons. It looked like a child drawing other children with crayons.

“What’s this?”

I asked.

Hina showed me the drawing and answered shyly.

“…Naru…Hina…Cecily…Molumolu…”

I see.It seemed Hina had drawn her sisters.She was also creating various other pictures. Naru frolicking with raccoons in the forest, Naru spitting water at a sphinx in the desert, and so on…

“If I draw pictures like this…I’m sure I’ll be able to remember later…! I’ve drawn lots of pictures of Cecily and Hina’s stories too…!”

Several sketchbooks were filled with drawings.The crayons she had received as Christmas presents were already worn down to stubs.Thinking about it now, I don’t recall ever using crayons until they wore down when I was a child.My crayons would either get lost, break, or fade from my interest - one of those three.In that sense, Hina had a diligent side.

Swish-At that moment, Salome appeared by my side.It was a weightless movement, even though she had jumped down from the second-floor balcony.

“We should start preparing too.”

Pat- Pat-Salome stroked Hina’s head.That gesture seemed somewhat refreshing yet tinged with a slight wistful regret.

“…Wait!”

Hina dashed hurriedly into the room.She reappeared with a large bag on her back.Putting her sketchbook and crayons into it, Hina announced.“I’m ready now!” �

# # #

We roamed the streets again to buy things for Hina to use.Unlike Naru who had chosen her own things, Hina preferred to leave it entirely to Salome or me.

“Judas, look at this. It’s baby clothes. They’re so tiny and pink, aren’t they? Don’t you think they’d suit Hina well? Hey, why are you looking at that tin robot!”“Hina might like tin robots too.”

Shopping for Hina’s things took a bit longer. We had to use our own judgment to figure out what items would be good for a newborn baby.

I wonder if all couples go through this process?I guess Naru choosing her own things was the unusual case.

“Hina, should we choose this rattle? I’ll shake it in front of you. Is that ok

Hina just nodded at whatever item she saw.It was rather challenging because she didn’t seem to have any particular preferences. We couldn’t just buy anything Hina nodded at.We should select the best and most suitable items, after all.

So when our deliberations took longer, Hina would Scribble- Scribble- draw Salome and me shopping after much heated discussion in her sketchbook with crayons.Time passed like that, and before we knew it, it was lunchtime.

“All that’s left now is the baby blanket and cradle.”

Salome sat on the mat and stretched, Stretch-.Soon, she took something out of her bag.It was a lunchbox wrapped in cloth.Inside were a few sandwiches, and they looked quite decent.

“Salome, did you make these yourself?”

I asked.Salome snorted.

“I’ve lived alone for quite a while, you know? Of course I can cook. I just don’t do it at the mansion because Brigitte takes care of it all.”

I wondered how they would taste.They were decent.The crisp lettuce with tangy dressing, cheese, and ham blended well together.It was a bit odd that there was avocado in the sandwich, but otherwise fine.

It felt like an ordinary, cozy family outing.Was this really okay?I thought perhaps we should be doing something more meaningful.

But Hina shook her head.

“…I like ordinary! That way…we can live in ordinary daily life…and suddenly remember today’s events…!”

It was quite profound for a 6-year-old.

“Sometimes I wonder if Hina is really my daughter. I wasn’t this mature at her age.”

Pat- Pat-As I was gently patting Hina’s chin and forehead, Salome suddenly frowned.

“Are you implying that Hina isn’t your daughter, that I cheated on y

No, why is that coming up here? Women sometimes try to pick fights over incomprehensible things.Salome said.

“Listen. I haven’t let any other man touch even a strand of my hair except you. Hina is definitely your daughter. She’s just deeper in thought and kinder than others because she takes after me. Right?”

Salome picked up Hina and rubbed their cheeks together.The mother and daughter certainly bore some resemblance.

Anyway.After finishing lunch, we wandered all over Freesia looking for a cradle that Hina would use for quite a long time.But Salome’s taste was quite picky, and we couldn’t find anything to her liking until the sun began to set.

Then we discovered an old antique shop.It seemed to sell old furniture, but to me, there didn’t appear to be any particularly good items.Could Salome, who wasn’t satisfied even with the luxury furniture from 3rd Street, find a satisfactory cradle here?

We entered the shop.Inside, there was a scent of dry wood and varnish.An old, stern-looking man wearing a beret was dozing off, nodding his head without noticing the customers had arrived.

“Shh…”

I thought about waking him, but Hina shook her head.Moving quietly without disturbing a sleeping person was, well, an easy task for us thieves, so while we were looking around the shop, Hina suddenly ran towards something, Pitter- Patter-

It was a cradle made of brown wood.The unusual thing was that leaves were growing here and there on the cradle.

“Hina likes this!”

This bizarre cradle?It was the first time today that Hina had expressed an opinion about liking something. But as I was feeling perplexed by this strange shape, someone spoke from beside us.

“The little one has good taste. This is the ‘Eternal Tree.’ It’s a tree that grows eternally in any form. Despite its appearance, this tree is still alive.”

It was the explanation from the old man who had been sleeping.

Hina trembled as if startled, Shiver-Well, it’s hard to believe that this cradle split into wooden boards is still alive.

“Is it really…alive…?”“Yes, it is. Some things never change their essence no matter how their appearance changes. This ‘Eternal Tree’ is like that. This tree changes from a tree to a cradle, from a cradle to a rocking horse, from a rocking horse to a chair, becoming a companion throughout a person’s life.”“Something that doesn’t change its essence…even if its form changes…”

Hina kept muttering those words as if she really liked them. Did she think it was exactly like the situation she was about to experience?Soon, Hina asked.

“…Can this cradle be made into a staff later…? A big staff… like the ones magicians use…”“The process of making furniture and tools using the ‘Eternal Tree’ is quite tricky. But I can do it. So, do you like the cradle I made? This might be the last cradle of my life.

Hina nodded.Then she finally hugged the cradle tightly, Hug-At that moment, I felt like I saw flashes of images before my eyes: a baby lying in the cradle, a child riding a rocking horse, someone swinging on a swing, and a woman grasping a staff.

In the end, we bought this curious wooden cradle.

“See you again, small and peculiar little miss.”

The old man who had carefully packed the cradle in a box waved at us.Now it was evening time, and we were on our way back.

Salome asked.

“So how much was it? From what I heard, it sounds like quite an expensive piece of furniture.”

Is she asking about the price of the cradle?Why is she asking me?

“Salome, didn’t you pay for it?”“…I thought you had paid, Judas? And Hina couldn’t have paid either. Did we just take the item without paying?”

We had unintentionally committed theft.We returned to where the shop had been.The spot where we had been browsing just 10 minutes ago was now completely empty. There was nothing but vacant land, Whoosh-

As both Salome and I looked around at this strange situation, Hina said.

“How Mysterious!”