It turned out that the person I’d happened to meet by chance was one of the legendary party members who had once traveled with Noin-san—the Sage of the Forest, Falce-san.
Honestly, I was speechless. What was with my encounter rate? At this point, it had moved beyond mere surprise. I was starting to wonder if there was some kind of underlying cause for all of this.
"Um, just to confirm... You’re definitely one of the companions who traveled with Noin-san, right, Falce-san?"
"Yes, there is no mistake. Ah, but how nostalgic. I haven’t seen Noin in quite a while. That idiot Laguna frequently comes to drag me out when I’m cooped up. I wonder? Should I be happy that I have a good friend who looks out for me, or should I lament that I’m being hauled around as an excuse for her to ditch tedious meetings? Friendship is a difficult thing. Especially since, you see, I am shy and soft-spoken. Being taken away by force is quite a trial..."
"Huh?"
"Yes?"
I thought I heard something impossible just now. Who was shy and soft-spoken? ...Must have been a hallucination.
"No, it’s nothing. M-More importantly, aren’t you supposed to be meeting Laguna-san?"
"Now that you mention it, that is true. However, it is painful to admit, but I am currently very much lost. Well, considering this is a place I don’t know at all, getting lost could be called an inevitability. Certainly, I should be blamed for my lack of foresight, but at this rate, I don’t feel like I’ll ever reach this Central Square."
The Central Square was right in the middle of the city. I felt like she could reach it easily if she just walked toward the Central Tower...
"What time is your meeting with Laguna-san?"
"The time? Nine in the morning. Well, considering my current situation, it is utterly unclear how much meaning that specific time factor holds."
"Um, I happen to be heading toward the Central Square myself, so would you like to go together?"
"What, are you a saint!? I hear the number of young people today who possess the compassion to reach out to those in trouble is on the decline, but it seems you don't fit that mold. Ah, my apologies. It isn't good to measure an individual like you by statistical information. Please forget my previous remark."
"Y-Yes... Anyway, let’s keep moving while we talk..."
If I kept entertaining Falce-san’s machine-gun talk like this, I was going to be late for my own meeting, so I decided to get us moving quickly.
That said, there was a significant difference in our stride lengths, so I was careful not to walk too fast.
"Dear me, I’m causing you trouble again and again. As I said before, I believe I understand the meaning of etiquette. I will certainly repay this favor. For starters, how about this? I know a shop that serves very delicious eyeballs..."
"I appreciate the thought, but no thank you."
"Hmm, do young people these days dislike eyeball dishes? My apologies, I’m not very sensitive to trends. Then, there is a shop that offers quite a diverse range of insect dishes..."
"I’ll pass. I-I’m not helping because I want a reward, so your feelings are more than enough."
That wasn't a reward; it was a penalty game! Eyeball dishes and insect dishes... I didn't want to eat those from the bottom of my heart.
Did Falce-san usually eat things like that? Well, they say everyone has different tastes, but unfortunately, the day I’d ever be able to empathize with her would never come.
While harboring those thoughts, I gently told her that a reward wasn’t necessary, and Falce-san’s expression changed to one of admiration.
"My, you really are humble. It’s a cliché compliment, but it’s truly wonderful. However, hmmm. My pride won’t allow me to leave it at that without any compensation. That said, I can’t immediately think of a reward that would satisfy you. It’s regrettable, but I’d like a little time. I’ll think of something extraordinary for you."
"I-I see."
"Ah, that reminds me, I once researched magic related to cooking..."
Falce-san’s machine-gun talk continued incessantly until we reached the Central Square.
Once we arrived at the vast square and I looked around, I couldn’t find Laguna-san, but I was able to spot Noin-san and Fia-sensei right away.
Falce-san was an old acquaintance of Noin-san’s and had mentioned wanting to see her, so I approached them first.
"Sorry, Noin-san, Fia-sensei. I kept you waiting..."
"No, we just arrived way too early. Are those little guys Miyama-kun’s pets? They’re both so cute!"
"Good morning, Kaito-san... Oh? And the lady with you is?"
When I called out while apologizing for being late, Fia-sensei gave a gentle reply first, and Noin-san followed with a greeting before turning her gaze toward Falce-san, who was standing behind me.
"Oh, Noin! It’s been a long time! Is it about thirty years? I’m happy to see you looking well."
"Eh? Um... 'Who might you be?'"
Both Falce-san and I tilted our heads in confusion at Noin-san's reaction.
Wait, they were companions who traveled together, right? Given Noin-san’s personality, I didn't think she was joking... what was going on?
"Oh my, what sad words. Even I’m shocked. To be forgotten by a companion I traveled with and shared joys and sorrows with... Certainly, humans are creatures of oblivion. The act of forgetting may be a privilege granted to many living things. However, even so, don't you think there are certain things that should not be forgotten?"
"T-That hair, those eyes... and that incredibly tedious way of speaking... C-Could you be... Falce?"
"What, so you do remember... Your personality has turned sour too. You didn't use to make jokes like that in the past."
"No, wait? Is it really you, Falce!?"
"Hmm? What else do I look like?"
"Whaaaat!?"
It seemed Noin-san remembered Falce-san, but even so, she hadn't imagined that the person in front of her was her old friend.
What exactly did that mean?
"W-Why have you shrunk!?"
Shrunk? Falce-san?
"My, my, why are you so surprised?"
"N-No, I mean... Falce, weren't you taller than me? And weren't your breasts bigger, too!? Why do you look like a child now?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, that’s right. I completely forgot. I think it was about fifteen years ago? You know how in a large group, there are people whose presence is strangely thin even though they aren’t doing anything special? I tried making a Medicine to Diminish Presence using that as a reference... and interestingly enough, it wasn't my presence, but my body that became small. Hahaha!"
"Don’t 'Hahaha' me!! Why were you drinking such a nonsensical medicine!?"
"What are you saying? I am a humanitarian researcher. It’s only natural that human experimentation is basically performed on my own body, right? Well, failures happen! Of course, medicines that are life-threatening are a different story. Or rather, I don't make those to begin with."
Finally, I understood why Noin-san was so surprised. Apparently, Falce-san’s original form had been an adult woman taller than Noin-san.
But when they reunited after a long time, she had a body that was only about 130 cm tall. No wonder she didn't recognize her.
"Wait... fifteen years ago? Can’t you change back?"
"No? I’ve kept all the recipes for the medicines I’ve made, so I could easily make a medicine to return to normal."
"Then, then why..."
"This form is convenient in its own way. I can get by with small meals, and it’s a truly energetic body. On top of that, interestingly, I haven’t actually gotten younger. My magic power remains the same... In fact, two lumps of fat that were nothing but a nuisance disappeared, and my stiff shoulders were cured. It’s a drawback that it’s hard to reach things in high places, but I can manage that with a stool or magic. The physical body is merely a vessel of meat; I don’t mind it at all."
"Haa... You really are..."
Noin-san slumped her shoulders, looking exhausted from the bottom of her heart. I couldn't blame her; Falce-san’s character was way too strong. Dealing with this person was incredibly tiring.
Dear Mother, Father—It seemed Falce-san was the type of person who performed human experimentation on her own body, and Noin-san was quite appalled as well. Though her direction was unique, Falce-san was undoubtedly—a mad scientist.
Apologize! Apologize to the God of Space-Time who has nothing to do with shoulder pain!!