Chapter 84
－Chai's Perspective: Mistaken for a Dog－
Master is harvesting alongside the golems.
Honestly, it's a strange sight.
The golems are here to work on Master's behalf.
It is unusual for Master to work alongside them.
Until recently, Master seemed a little unwell, and everyone was worried.
We were all wondering whether Master had used too much magic power.
We made sure someone was always nearby to keep watch in case Master collapsed.
Master looks much as before, when there was nothing wrong.
Master's magic power must have settled down as well.
That's good.
But what happened a few days ago startled me.
A vast amount of magic power suddenly burst forth from Master.
To think I would see that much with my own eyes.
The amount wasn't the only thing that surprised me; the quality of Master's magic power did, too.
Magic power of remarkable purity, without a trace of murkiness.
Master never ceases to surprise me.
But that was not only surprising—it was frightening as well.
Losing a huge amount of magic power all at once can put one's life in danger.
For a moment, my mind went blank as I thought, Surely not...
While everyone else was gathering at the river, Master calmly emerged from it and drank some water.
Master seemed to be lost in thought, but was surprised on seeing us all gathered there.
I suppose it was because everyone in the den had gathered.
For the next several days, no one except those who went hunting left the den.
Everyone was worried, after all.
But little by little, we're returning to our old routine.
Master, too, is returning to the way things were before falling ill.
The magic power flowing through the barrier is as calm and gentle as ever. It seems safe to say there are no problems.
I look at Master once more. Everything should be all right now.
The balance was probably thrown off because something—expanding the barrier, perhaps—required a huge amount of magic power.
I don't know what caused the massive release of magic power, but if it restored the balance, perhaps it was necessary.
Well, Master is doing well here and now, so there's no problem.
...
Today, I'm going hunting with Core-san.
As usual, we swiftly hunt several prey animals and head back to the den.
"Master isn't sending us any images."
Core-san was the first to meet Master.
After Core-san, it was Core-san's companion from that cave, and then me.
In the beginning, Master sent us images a few times.
We couldn't understand Master's words, and Master couldn't understand ours, either.
That must be why Master sometimes conveyed important things to us through images.
Those became less frequent day by day, and now we've switched to communicating through gestures.
It's not that I'm dissatisfied.
"It must be Master's kindness. Forcing images into our heads would burden the ones receiving them."
That's true.
"It's true that when an image is sent without warning, it feels like a burden—or even causes pain."
Even so, I didn't mind.
"Chai, it doesn't mean our connection has been severed."
...Core-san can read my thoughts.
Even though the images only went one way, I felt a strong connection through them.
With them gone, I felt lonely—or maybe sad.
"I know, but..."
"Well, I am a little lonely too."
Core-san lets out a deep-throated chuckle and starts running, keeping the prey floating in the air.
Even as I chase after it, I can't get that thought out of my head.