Redgarde came to visit that day as well.
…and that day became a memorable day.
“Excuse me! Please give me something to wipe with!” (Fay)
“Here.” (Tougo)
I handed him a towel at the door and he thanked me and began to wipe himself.
…So.
“Oh no, it’s raining! It just came pouring down so suddenly.” (Fay)
Today is the first rainy day since I came to the otherworld.
Come to think of it, this is the first rainy day since I came to this world. It’s been sunny all this time, so the rain feels really refreshing.
When I was staying outdoors it didn’t rain even once, which was really nice.
“That’s something. Did you put a roof over the horses’ head too?” (Fay)
“Yes. I drew it in a hurry when it started raining.” (Tougo)
When it rained, the horses got wet and I felt sorry for them, so I quickly made a roof next to the bathing area so they could take shelter from the rain.
…The reason why I built a hut next to the spring as a bathing area is that Redgarde has been coming to visit often. Yes, he comes suddenly, and if I am not ready, he could see me. …well, it’s quite embarrassing to be seen after all.
“I’m happy for them, too. They get to stay dry during the rain and have a comfortable place to stay.” (Fay)
Come to think of it, this area has become a playground for Pegasi and Unicorns. I noticed that a rather ridiculous number of them were gathering. It looks like I could run a ranch.
And since such a ridiculous number of horses were coming, I decided to build a larger place for them to take shelter from the rain. Yes, it was a big deal. It was very tiring to materialize something so big.
But I guess that means I have grown up. If I had painted a roof of this size before, I would have fainted, but now I feel fine.
…I’m glad it didn’t rain until now.
“Come to think of it, doesn’t it rain much around here?” (Tougo)
I noticed that it hadn’t rained in over a month, so I asked.
Then,
“Hmm?” No, I don’t think that’s the case. …Well, the last time it rained was a little over half a month ago, huh? Yeah, there certainly hasn’t been much rain recently.” (Fay)
…Redgarde replied with such an answer.
What is it? When you say a little over half a month ago is that when I met the bird? Or was it a little earlier? Well, either way, it was around the time I was camping out in the field, but I don’t think it rained then.
Maybe it didn’t rain only in the forest? No, no way…
“So, Tougo. I’m sorry, but can I stay here tonight? It doesn’t look like it’s going to stop raining…” (Fay)
“Yeah. Please do.” (Tougo)
And with that Redgarde decided to stay the night. I don’t mind, actually.
…I noticed, if I did not “materialize what I draw” but “reflect what I draw”, it is easy to build more guestrooms. So, I made a guestroom. With this, Redgarde can take it easy. I can practice drawing people as much as I want. Yippee!
“Oh, damn, I can’t wait for it to stop…” (Fay)
Redgarde scratches his head, looks out the window, and sighs.
“Do you hate the rain?” (Tougo)
“Hmm… I don’t like it much… Especially when I’m on the road.” (Fay)
I see. He does not like the rain when traveling. I understand that.
“What about you? Do you like the rain?” (Fay)
“Yes.” (Tougo)
I like rain. Although my paints don’t dry well and my laundry doesn’t dry well, I like to look out the window and see the rain falling softly. I really like it.
I also like the quietness of a rainy day. All the sounds around me disappear and become the sound of the rain. This area is in the forest, so it is quiet, to begin with, but even so, the atmosphere is different on a rainy day. The white mist and the distant trees look like pale greens and grays. Oh, I want to paint this forest too. I have to draw it in a more abstract way so that it would not be materialized when I drew it
I started painting the forest at the eaves of the house. Redgarde is relaxing inside the house.
Come to think of it, I don’t know much about him…
He doesn’t seem to hesitate to talk about himself, but I don’t talk much about myself, so I feel like we are not giving an equal exchange, and I’m mostly the one who’s listening. I think we only know each other as acquaintances.
But I do know that Redgarde seems to be having a hard time at home these days.
He said he’s having a hard time cleaning up after the poachers.
I heard that his family is the lord of this area, which means that he is a nobleman.
And because of that, I heard that he has a lot of difficulties. He is exempted from socializing because he is the second son, but he is made to do things like policing misbehavior in the territory because he is the second son. Yeah, I am not really sure.
…Well, I mean, when Redgarde comes here to visit, it’s usually when he wants to take a break.
It’s quiet here, and I think it’s a nice place. And the horses are here.
But… the only thing that makes me wonder is how Redgarde got here.
I asked him how long it would take to get to his house from here, and he said, “If I didn’t know where I was going, it would probably take a little over half a day. But if you know where you’re going and you move fast enough, it’ll take you about an hour. I wonder what I have to do to make a half-day walk into an hour.
…There is one more thing I am wondering about.
I am wondering how Redgarde saved me from the poachers when he rescued me.
I don’t know because I fainted immediately, but I wonder how many poachers there were who came to capture us. If everyone I had tied up with ropes at that time had slipped through the ropes and were chasing me, there must have been more than 10 people.
And Redgarde alone dealt with all of them? …but he doesn’t have anything particularly weapon-like with him.
Hmmm… Well, never mind. I guess there’s no point in even thinking about it. If it really bothers you, I’ll ask him again next time.
I stopped wondering and started concentrating on the forest painting again.
The forest on a rainy day is still beautiful. But drawing rain is so difficult.
…I had seen an oil painting of a rainy forest before. There was a forest and a river, and then it rained and had a white blanket, but it was not fog, it was rain.
If I could, I would like to paint something like that. I have only been using watercolors since I came to this world, but I think it is time to start using oil paints. I’m sure oil paints will come out if I paint it. Well, my memory of them is not that great, so I will have to work a little harder to remember…
The forest was a little cold on a rainy day. It was a little chilly in the forest on a rainy day, wearing only a shirt and pants that I had roughly drawn.
I get goosebumps under my shirt. Yes, it is cold after all. I’m the type of person who likes to close all the buttons up to the first button, so it won’t get any warmer than this.
I wonder if I should prepare something to wear, but for now, I think I’ll just use a blanket. It is raining now, so I want to paint a rainy forest. I don’t have time to draw clothes.
…So, I got up and thought, “Well, I’ll bring a blanket.”
The horses neigh.
As if they were scared of something.
I looked into the distance. I am sure that I can see something approaching in the rain…
It was a few people in hooded cloaks, wet from the pouring rain, but definitely coming this way…
And… it was a huge serpent, made of water.
