Dad has returned from the deserted island.
Chapter 7
Gold coins.
The first thing that caught the eye was a pile of gold coins, glittering in the morning sunlight.
Beside them lay a fist-sized ruby radiating a brilliant glow, and next to that were an emerald said to hold the power of healing, a sapphire, and a diamond that shone with a blinding light.
Even to Vivian, who knew nothing of the value of jewels, these were clearly extraordinary things.
Jean picked up the largest gem and handed it to Vivian. It was nearly half the size of her face.
Seeing Vivian look surprised again, saying the jewel was heavy, Jean laughed and teased her playfully.
“This is all for Dad—no, it’s all ours, Vivi. I can buy you all the chocolate you want. So, you don’t have to save it.”
“Wow, it’s huge, Dad!”
“Right? Isn't it huge?”
“Yes! It’s so pretty! Where did you get something like this, Dad?”
“I brought it back from a deserted island~”
“What’s a deserted island?”
“A deserted island is an island where there isn't a single person.”
When Vivian tilted her head, Jean pretended to cry and pulled the child into a hug.
“Boo-hoo-hoo, Dad was trapped there for 2 years, so I couldn't come to see my little princess.”
Gasp. Vivian’s mouth fell open in shock.
“Really, truly? Was there really not a siiiingle person there?”
Vivian’s face quickly crumpled into a pout.
Even with Ron, Mary, and Peter in the house, she had felt so lonely. Sometimes, she was so scared that she was even afraid to go into her room.
With a soft whimper, Vivian hugged her father’s neck tightly.
Jean’s large hand patted Vivian’s back. Even so, he didn't stop his dramatic complaining.
“Yeah. I almost forgot how to speak. All that was on the island were monkeys and birds.”
“What’s a monkey?”
It was a name she had never heard before.
In Vivian’s village, there were dogs, cats, horses, and sheep, but no monkeys. In fact, they weren't common animals in the Empire, either.
“Hmm, a monkey is an animal that looks a bit like a human. Sheep and dogs walk on 4 legs, right? Monkeys can use their hands like we do. And also, the sound they make is—”
‘Ooh-ooh-ah-ah!’
“Ooh-ooh-ah-ah?”
This time, it was Jean’s mouth that fell open.
“Huh? That’s right! Vivi, how did you know?”
“That egg made that sound!”
“Egg? Where is there an egg in there?”
“This one!”
Vivian, who had climbed down from Jean’s arms with a grunt, rummaged through the treasure chest and pulled out a particularly round, black stone. It was almost the size of Vivian’s torso.
“This isn't an egg, it’s just a round jewel.”
“Oh, come on! Dad, can’t you hear it? It’s being so noisy, saying it wants to come out and asking to be let out!”
“Is that so? I can’t hear anything. It must be a fairy that only talks to little children!”
Recalling how Vivian used to say she had a fairy friend when she was 4, Jean assumed the child had simply created a new imaginary friend.
“Is that so? Fairy? Are you a fairy?”
The sight of the child, who had already lost interest in the treasure chest and was talking to the black, round jewel—the egg—was cute, but at the same time—
‘Vivi, have you already forgotten that Dad was trapped on a deserted island?’
He thought this, feeling rather immature. Goodness, Jean let out a dry laugh.
‘I really am something. It’s not like I’m pestering a child to acknowledge my hardships.’
Then, he began to tidy up the jewels Vivian had scattered inside the chest.
‘Fairy, my foot. I am a being far more noble than some fairy!’
“Then what are you?”
‘I am, I am! This body is... Ugh! I told you to get me out of here first!’
If he had known that what Vivian was holding was truly an egg, and that the egg was actually speaking, he wouldn't have brushed it off so easily.
Unfortunately, the egg’s voice could only be heard by Vivian.
“How do you want me to get you out?”
‘Give me your power!’
“Good luck!”
Vivian clenched her fists and cheered, but the reaction wasn't very enthusiastic.
‘Ugh! You foolish human! Not that kind of power!’
Something inside the egg was furious. It must be a very ill-tempered fairy.
Vivian stood up abruptly, clutching the egg.
Her worry for her father, who had been lonely and trapped on a deserted island, had long since been pushed to the back of her mind.
This was an irresistible force.
A talking egg.
Could there be any child who wouldn't be interested in this?
Vivian certainly wasn't one of them.
“What’s your name?”
‘I don't have one.’
“You don't have a name? Why?”
‘Because no one ever gave me one.’
“Why?”
‘Because I was on a deserted island... Ugh! Enough with the 'why, why'! Stop asking!’
“You have a personality just like Peter.”
‘You just insulted me, didn't you?’
It was a sharp-witted egg.
Vivian rolled her eyes and flopped onto the bed while hugging the egg. It seemed she would need a little more time to get used to the soft mattress.
“Why can’t Dad hear your voice? He doesn't believe me.”
Vivian had long since realized that Jean was just playing along with her.
She just stayed quiet because she didn't want to argue with her father, whom she had finally reunited with, about why he didn't believe her.
The egg replied indifferently.
‘Your father doesn't have any power. Do you think just anyone can hear my voice?’
“Then do I have power?”
‘Yes. It’s strange. You’re clearly just an ordinary human, so why do you have this power? ...Anyway. You have the power to wake me, so you must wake me up! Being trapped inside an egg is incredibly stifling.’
“Mm. That’s true. It must be stifling. But I don't know how to do it.”
As the egg’s voice turned pitiful, Vivian’s eyebrows drooped immediately.
Seeing that Vivian was likely to grant its request, the voice quickly turned cunning.
‘You just need to share your power with me. I know the method, so don't worry. You just have to keep holding me. You can give me power just by being near me.’
“Really? Is that all I have to do? That’s easy! Okay. I’ll help you.”
‘Really? No backing out! Wow, finally I’m escaping this tiresome egg! Good, little human. If you really get me out, I’ll specially share my abilities with you. I swear it.’
“Abilities? What kind of abilities?”
‘The power to communicate with animals.’
“What’s communicate?”
‘You stupid human.’
“I’m not stupid! I’m just... I just haven't learned it yet!”
‘Fine. You human who has so much left to learn. Communication means that, just like you and I are talking now, you will be able to understand what animals say. Of course, animals will be able to understand you, too.’
“Mm. I see.”
The egg was actually taken aback by her lukewarm reaction.
‘What? Why are you reacting like that?! Do you know how incredible this ability is?’
“Is being able to understand what a sheep wants to eat a great ability?”
To Vivian, who had grown up in a simple rural village, the ability to communicate with animals was only useful to that extent. The egg, which had been boasting so much, completely lost its steam.
‘What did I say to you... Forget it. Forget it. I was going to give you other abilities, too, but you wouldn't need them.’
Vivian shook her head vigorously.
“No! I need them. It’s better to take whatever I can get.”
‘Where did an underdeveloped human learn something like that?’
“Well... because if I didn't take what was given, they’d take away even what I already had.”
‘...What kind of life have you lived? For such a young human. Fine. Then I’ll give you the ability to make plants grow well, too.’
“Wow! Then does that mean I can grow beans or carrots to eat whenever I’m hungry? That’s amazing!”
‘Beans... carrots...’
Vivian was jumping up and down on the bed with joy, but the egg seemed utterly dumbfounded.
Still, when Vivian pressed a kiss onto the surface of the egg and hugged it, it didn't seem to dislike it.
“Okay! I know. I’ll hold you tight until you wake up!”
‘H-Hmph. It’ll be heavy for you to carry around, so let’s see if you can handle it!’
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