The Bonds We Formed, Like Magic | Chapter 3

[healingbonds]

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4


After preempting their attacks, Oz forces the two of them to sit down.
Mithra acts like nothing has happened at all. He sits back, crossing his long legs as he continues talking.

Mithra: That’s correct. I loathe removing fish bones.
I can use magic, but focusing my attention on such a petty task is nothing but a waste of time.
But you see, the bones of larger fish tend to get stuck in a rather grotesque fashion.

Rutile: I was surprised the other day, you were coughing up blood after eating the fish you caught.

Mithra: It was an awful bone. But the fish Nero catches don’t have bones.

Nero: I don’t catch them. I fillet them into three pieces.

Mithra: Huh? What are you saying?

Nero: It means I remove the bones so you’ll have an easier time eating them.

Mithra: Oz.

Oz: ........

Mithra: You’re fired.

Oz: ........

Riquet: Oz. You were fired before you even uttered a single word.

Mithra: Nero. Your job is to remove the bones from fish.

Nero: ....I have to replace Oz.....?

Nero runs his hand through his hair as if he doesn’t want to be here.
The long-lived wizards don’t fear Oz due to their fortitude. And the younger wizards don’t fear him due to their youth.
Nero stands between them, properly on guard when he’s dealing with Oz. Faust laughs teasingly.

Faust: Congratulations on finding a new job.

Next to him, Bradley, who had given up resisting Oz’s magic and was brushing pieces of ice off his body, flashes a provocative smile.
As if to warn him.

Bradley: Huh. So you’re gonna take the job just like that.

Nero: ..........

Bradley: Well, that sounds right for an Eastern restaurant owner.

Nero: I’ve never worked for a Northern wizard, so my heart is pounding.

Mithra: The kings will be Rutile and Mitile.

Mitile: Eh, are you sure!?

Rutile: Can two of us be kings at once?

Mithra: In my kingdom, yes.

Rutile & Mitile: Ya~y.
....Woooah!?

Their carefree cheers sharply turn into screams. Because Mithra made their chairs float into the air with a flick of his finger.
They rise high above the meeting table like kings, their chairs twirling around in circles.
Arthur looks up at the two of them joyously and crosses his arms.

Arthur: I like this idea. If I ever reach my limit during a meeting, I’m going to let loose and do that.

Riquet: I can’t say that’s good behavior, but if something makes you throw a tantrum, Prince Arthur, it means they certainly deserve it, so I will allow it.

Mithra: As for the other wizards, your job is to protect the two of them. Owen and Bradley, you two in particular have to protect them.

Bradley: What, you want me to babysit?

Mithra: It’s not babysitting. What was it called again.... Like... When you protect someone as your job....

Owen, who had been sulkily removing the pieces of ice from inside his hat, raises his head like he has the answer.

Owen: A knight?

Mithra: That’s right. Isn’t that nice, Owen? You get to match that man in eyeballs and job.

Owen: Hear that? We match, Sir Knight.

Cain: I’m a knight of Central Country. So if you’re going to be a knight in Mithra’s country, we don’t match.

Riquet: Is Mithra’s kingdom even on good terms with Central Country?

Mithra: What’s Central Country?

Murr: That would be where we are right now.

Mithra: ............

After gazing at his feet for a while, Mithra raises his head.

Mithra: I wouldn’t mind getting along.

Murr: You wouldn’t mind? By the way, as of now, the Kingdom of Mithra owns no territory. Where are you going to take it from?
Will you engage in a military occupation? Or will you take the political marriage route?

Mithra: Hm? Do I not have a country?

Chloe: Uh, I think we can just say you have one!

Murr: But for the sake of realism....

Shylock: Murr. Shut up.

Heathcliff: But wow, a kingdom ruled by the Flores brothers, where there are workers who remove fish bones, and Bradley and Owen are knights.....

Lennox: And it’s on good terms with Central Country; this actually sounds like a nice place to live....

Mithra: Also, I work as the ferryman who carries the dead by boat, so I’ll need you to kill a couple of people every day to prepare corpses.

Heathcliff: And just like that, we’ve been thrown into a reign of terror....

Lennox: Peace was short-lived.....

Mithra: Figaro. Your job is to prepare corpses.

Figaro: Hold up, hold up, hold up. Doesn’t a scary job like that seem totally out of character for me?

Mithra: It’s very you, Figaro.

Owen: It’s very you, Figaro.

Bradley: Sounds just like you, Figaro.

Figaro: You three really get along, talking in sync like that.

Mitile: I think they just don’t know what a doctor does. Doctors help cure diseases so you don’t die.

Figaro: Yes, yes, yes, yes. I’m a Southern wizard, so I absolutely refuse to make corpses.

Mithra: Then I’ll ask Shino to do it.

Shino: Me?

Mithra: You have a big scythe, right? It looks rather murderous.

Shino: I refuse. I belong to the Blanchett family.
If you want me to do your bidding, bow to Heath and ask for his permission.

Mithra: That’s the king’s job. Rutile.

Rutile, who had been floating around on his chair this entire time, smiles and asks Heathcliff.

Rutile: Hey Heath. Can we borrow Shino?

Heathcliff: Eh.... Um.... I think a ferryman is an important job, but.... I don’t know about making corpses.....
I don’t want to make Shino do that......

Rutile: I thought so!
Mister Mithra, he said no.

Mithra: What a useless king. Please think about your subjects more. You’re fired.

Rutile: Eeh!?

Mitile: Nii-sama....!

Rutile’s chair drops out of the air in an instant. Lennox reaches out to catch him.
But before he can touch the chair, Faust lifts his hand and stops Rutile from crashing into the ground.

Faust: << Satillquinart Mulcreed >>

Rutile: ....Thank you! Mister Faust!

Faust: No need to thank me. Lennox.

Lennox: Yes.

Faust: I told you to use magic.

Lennox gazes at his outstretched hands, and apologizes with his head down.
Lennox is a wizard, but he’s skilled in physical combat, so he has a habit of moving his body instead of using magic.

Lennox: I apologize, Sir Faust. Mithra. Please take better care of both Rutile and the chair.

Mithra: I won’t break his neck. I was keeping an eye on him. You were fine, right?

Rutile: You surprised me.

Chloe: I’m glad you’re safe, Rutile!

Mithra: Now let’s keep this meeting running. I’m glad I have two kings. I’m counting on you, Mitile.

Mitile: I don’t think I want to be king of this country anymore....

Mitile turns pale as he sits atop his chair. Meanwhile, Shino grins happily right by his feet.

Shino: Hey, I’ve taken a liking to Mithra’s country, because it let me witness Heath saying he wouldn’t lend me out.

Heathcliff: Stop grinning like that! I thought you wouldn’t want to do the job, Shino.....

Heathcliff blushes and scrunches up his shoulders, as Shino, grinning smugly, stands beside him.
Heath doesn’t like drawing attention. Every time the eyes in the room are on him, he looks down.
And Shino gazes at him happily, as if dying to show him off.

Shino: Heath, you’re so kind. Hey, Faust, Nero. Want me to show you how nice my master is?

Faust: I see it all the time.

Nero: We see it all the time. Hey, also, I don’t like the fact that I’m the only person who’s actually working in Mithra’s kingdom.....

Riquet: Nero. I think it’s splendid how you’re diligent even when we’re merely playing house.

Nero: King, I’d like a coworker.

Mitile: Eh... A coworker for Mister Nero.... Um, then, how about Riquet?

Riquet: Me?

Mitile: Yes. What kind of job would you like, Riquet?

Riquet: Let’s see.... I would like to be a disciple of God, who guides people on the proper path to keep them from falling into corruption.

Mitile: I see! Mister Mithra, can we have him do that?

Mithra: Fine by me. But I am the god of my country, so you’ll have to be my disciple. Is that all right?

Riquet: Eh....?

Mitile: Mister Mithra, what do your disciples do....?

Mithra: ....They watch over the fish bone remover to ensure he won’t fall to corruption?

Riquet: I understand. I don’t mind taking that job.

Nero: What, so now I’m being monitored? Being a fish bone remover is one hell of a job.....

Owen: Hey, sir disciple. What will you do if Nero is corrupted?

Riquet: I shall scorn him.

Nero: I’m gonna cry.....

Owen: Fufu, this is so fun. Hey, Mithra. You should give Shylock a job too — he’s the one who said it was your kingdom.

Owen offers his suggestion with a smirk on his face. It looks like he’s given up on resisting, and is now trying to enjoy the situation to his fullest.
Owen likes watching people waste away, so he must’ve taken a liking to Nero’s reaction.
Shylock, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be bothered; he smiles happily.

Shylock: My, how thrilling. Mithra. Could you offer me a job as well?

Mithra: ....... Let’s see......

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4