Chapter 128
It seems the children have gotten used to life here, too.
They don't cower anymore when the rock golems gather, and they've learned to greet Shuri, too.
They got used to Core's group, Chai's group, and Ai's group a little faster.
Shuri was the only one they just couldn't get used to.
Maybe it's something related to their species.
Ah, they didn't get used to Big Boss-san and the others very quickly, either.
Are they bad with insects?
No, they got used to walking sticks pretty quickly.
Well, that's in the past now. There aren't any problems with their lives here.
Now that the children's lives have settled down, I decided to give them names after all.
Calling them 'Hey!' or 'kids!' whenever I needed them was getting tiresome.
I'll ask about the names their parents gave them when the time comes.
Until then, they'll have to make do with the names I gave them.
One of them is a boy, and the other is a girl.
I'd thought they were both boys, so I panicked a little.
I had Three-Eyes quickly make some girls' clothes.
Three-Eyes was unbelievably excited.
By the next day, a whopping ten outfits had been finished.
Did Three-Eyes really want to put a skirt on someone that badly?
I returned the skirt that had been included with the boy's clothes to Three-Eyes.
I agonized over their names.
For the girl, I chose 'Usa,' hoping she would bloom gently and beautifully.
For the boy, I chose 'Kuhi,' hoping he would grasp a shining future with a warm heart.
...Yeah, my self-satisfaction is at MAX, but what do you think?
Um, they gave me puzzled looks.
I called the name again and patted the child's head.
They noticed. Thank goodness.
Ah, huh?
Was it no good after all?
They started crying... and I got a little flustered.
While I was in that state, the two of them started calling each other by their names.
The words were a little halting since the way of saying them was unfamiliar, but they seemed to like their names.
Thank goodness.
...I could use a little more composure myself.
...
I thought it had gotten quite cold, but is that snow?
Once the snow piles up, Marshmallow will be able to go outside.
Right, I wanted to check Marshmallow's hands.
Unfortunately, like Fluffy, Marshmallow had grown into a lizard.
If only I'd checked one day earlier, I could have seen them.
On second thought, it's strange that I don't remember them, either.
Maybe they used magic to float things up to their mouths.
Well, if Fluffy or Marshmallow has babies, I'll definitely check!
Huh? Are those two females or males?
How do you even tell with lizards?
...I guess I'll patiently wait until they have children.
...Huh? Is that... could it be?
While checking the snow, I noticed something interesting in the distance.
I walked through the middle of the broad field along a stone-paved path and into the forest.
...It doesn't seem to be a trick of the eye.
A river now reaches almost to the area we're developing.
I don't think it was there yesterday.
I look around.
...There are other places where I can see rivers between the trees of the forest.
Did the lake send rivers all the way here?
Ah, Big Boss-san.
The river... Um, I point at the field and the river and ask aloud if everything is all right.
After I asked if it was all right over and over, they learned the phrase.
Thank you.
All that's left is to point at the subject... and leave the rest to the listener.
It's a terribly one-sided way to communicate, but I'm doing my best.
They nodded, so it must be all right.
So that means it won't come into the field, right?
Even so, that's amazing...
I can see multiple rivers between the trees in the forest.
The trees walk wherever they please, and the lake sends rivers running freely through the forest.
...Won't this turn into a fight?
I point at the river and the forest and strike a fighting pose.
Sadly, the fighting pose has become understood at our weekly drunken gatherings.
It really is a shame.
And did they understand that this was okay, too...?
I'm a little worried, but since Big Boss-san isn't panicking, it should be fine.
Oh, an amoeba.
Is this one of the river amoebas?
Hm? Is it going to stand up and dance again?
...They're multiplying.
I let my guard down.
Thanks, everyone. You're all amazing.
They calm down when I clap.
Let's go home before the other amoebas stand up.
There are amoebas here and there all along the river.
We need to be careful.
I hope I'll be able to open the underground entrance tomorrow.