A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

But Redup remembered that there used to be a girl who liked to say that.

Sadly, that girl has already returned to his side forever.

When Redip was a lifeguard, the girl would often say that she was very good.

Redip himself is proud of this.

"—Redip, you're amazing!"

"Wow, that's amazing! You've saved someone!"

"Redip, you are a true hero of the sea."

The familiar voice echoed in his ears, and Redup couldn't help but close his eyes.

For that girl, Redip vowed to become a maritime hero revered by all.

However, all of that is in the past.

Redip is now a man who has given up on himself.

Redip knew very well that there was nothing to be proud of indulging in self-degradation.

However, when indulging oneself, one must admit that it is indeed possible to forget many things.

Numbing yourself allows you to temporarily ignore the pain.

"Thump—" Something took the bait. Redup skillfully reeled in the line and threw the hooked creature into the bucket.

Redup took a breath, and the sea breeze rushed towards him.

"Ah! I caught one!" Dove's adorable voice rang out beside me.

"It's a shrimp!" Dove looked very happy. Although it was just a shrimp, it was enough to make Dove feel a sense of accomplishment.

Dove carefully placed the shrimp into Redip's bucket.

Several times along the way, this tiny shrimp almost got away.

"So many interesting things!" Dove said, touching the fishing rod in his hand.

“I really want to see more interesting things, Redip.” She brushed her slightly messy blue hair aside.

At first glance, Redip thought this rather Mary Sue-esque hairstyle looked pretty good.

As the sun was about to set, the dim afterglow intertwined with Dove's short, light blue hair, the deep blue strands of which adorned the scene like stars.

“Haven’t you seen this before? It’s interesting.” Redup asked Dove beside him, looking at the sea.

"Yeah, I've hardly seen any. It's the same thing every day."

"All I could see was the sea, and the people coming and going."

"I have never tried anything, nor am I allowed to try anything."

Dove said quietly, and then became dejected.

Redup glanced at the sparse fish scales on Doffin's arm and fell into a moment of contemplation.

“Don’t you want to go back?” Redip asked.

"No," Dove gently shook her head.

“Really? It looks like you’re a runaway girl,” Redip said to Doffin.

“I… I did run away from home.” Dove lowered his head, not daring to meet Redip’s gaze.

"Is Redip trying to persuade me to go back?" Doffin looked at Redip with some nervousness.

She really didn't want to go back to where she used to be, and there were just too many reasons.

In short, Dove had absolutely no intention of going back.

Dove did not leave because of a willful act.

But upon closer reflection, I realized I wasn't anyone to Redip, and Redip had no obligation to take care of me.

Young Dove unconsciously drew circles on the ground with his right toe.

"Don't send me away."

"Redip, Dove doesn't want to leave."

"Let Dove continue to live with you."

"Dove will work very hard."

Dove dared not speak her thoughts aloud, for she did not know how Redup would respond.

Dove really likes Redipple, but how can Dove be sure that Redipple wants to stay here?

Thinking about it, Dove gradually felt like crying, but she held back her tears.

“No, I had no intention of persuading you to go back,” Redip replied in a nonchalant tone.

“It makes no sense to me,” Redip added.

"Whether I stay here or go home tomorrow, it's fine."

"It doesn't matter."

"I don't know the kind of person who would earnestly persuade a runaway girl to return home."

People who say such things are going against the majority's beliefs.

Generally speaking, when you see someone running away from home, you should always try to persuade them to go home first.

But Redip doesn't think so.

There are countless reasons to leave home; it might be out of spite or willfulness, but it could also be for more profound reasons.

Besides, Redip isn't the type of person who likes to persuade others.

Redup would rather not waste his breath on something.

"Go back whenever you want."

"Thump—" Redip caught another crab.

While chatting with Dove, Redip also had the leisure to go fishing.

"Huh?" Dove looked up in surprise.

"I said you can come back if you want, or stay if you want, it doesn't matter."

"... "

"You said you wanted to see a lot of interesting things, right?"

"Hmm..." Dove responded softly.

"If there's a chance, I'll take you to see it for a bit." Redip remained in his fishing posture, unchanged.

His expression remained blank, without even a smile.

But to Dove, this expression seemed very gentle.

But other people probably wouldn't understand, right?

"Hmm." Dove grinned.

"I can't wait!" Dove threw the fishing rod on the ground and hugged Redip.

Redup glanced sideways at Dove, then continued fishing.

"Drip—" A drop of water fell in front of Redip.

Redup stood on a lake as bright as a mirror.

Yes, we are standing on the lake.

Water droplets fell onto the lake surface, creating ripples.

The sky was as bright as the lake beneath our feet.

Redip even believes that this so-called "sky" is also a lake.

This pale blue space, nestled between two lakes, is filled with a wondrous atmosphere.

Redup looked around.

Then a ball of azure light danced in front of Redup.

Redup could clearly perceive what was flowing within this ball of light.

It is power.

He didn't know why he knew, but Redup understood how gentle and elusive this power was.

Instinct compels Redup to approach the ball of light.

His intuition told him that the power contained within this ball of light could do anything.

But Redup grabbed his right hand, which was trying to touch the ball of light, with his left hand.

After calming down, he even slapped himself.

After completing a series of impressive maneuvers, Redip took a deep breath.

"What a nuisance." Redip felt nothing but disgust for the ball of light dancing in front of him.

What would he do with the power he gained? Redip had no goals.

---

"Drink!" Redip suddenly sat up in bed, covered in sweat.

Dove, on the other bed next to him, rubbed his eyes and looked at Redip with a puzzled expression.

The sky is just beginning to lighten.

“Redip?” Dove yawned and looked at Redip strangely.

Redip's face looked very pale.

"It's nothing, just a nightmare," Redip said, rubbing his forehead and panting.

Everything is normal; it seems Redip was just dreaming.

But is it possible to have a dream that you can remember perfectly clearly?

I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad thing.

Let's just take it as a good omen.

Redup kicked off the covers and got out of bed.

"Let's start work ahead of schedule," Redip muttered to himself as he stretched.

"Redip, are you alright?" Dove was a little worried when he heard that Redip had a nightmare.

“It’s just a dream, no need to be so nervous,” Redip said casually.

---

Because I got up early, Redip's stall opened much earlier today.

With his small cart loaded with odds and ends, Redip prepared to leave his cabin.

But he was stopped after taking only a few steps.

Dove tugged at the hem of Riddle's shirt.

"Hmm?" Redip frowned and looked in the direction Doffin was pointing.

"Who are you looking for?" Redip asked the other party.

Standing near Redip was Bray and his group.

Of course, Lux, Virginia, and Blanche weren't there.

School members naturally have their own activities, and there's not much for outsiders like Bray to participate in.

Bray came to this place, of course, with his own purpose.

“Some people said there are places to rent here, and they’re very cheap,” Bray said, revealing his purpose for coming.

"Rent a place to live, huh?" Redip's dead fish eyes swept over Bray and the others.