[#CreativeAwards2025 #FantasyNovelCategory] Maaaaaam! Episode 15
Episode 14 is here
It's a long way to the next village... and of course, that's when we can't find any wild Oyachai or Ochakana herds. We're almost out of our stockpiled dried Oyachai. Bon acts cheerful, hiding the anxiety she feels inside.
“We’ll be at the field hospital where Dad is soon!”
“Mom, why did the hospital where Dad is move?”
“It must be hard for the injured people, right?”
Bon had indeed found that strange herself. When a man who claimed to have been with Agu on the battlefield came to deliver a letter from Agu and the address of the field hospital where he was admitted, Bon had headed there immediately. However, when Bon arrived, there were no injured or sick people at all at the location where the field hospital was supposed to be.
“They said the place Mom went to was just a temporary hospital. They explained that he had been moved to a hospital equipped with the necessary facilities for treatment, but...”
She tells the children this, but Bon isn't convinced either. If he had just stayed there, they wouldn't have had to travel as a whole family and could have lived happily.
Snap!
“Maaaaaaam! Why did you break our precious cart!”
When Yuki points it out and she looks, the handle of the cart is in Bon's hand. It seems she had put too much strength into it when she felt angry at Agu.
“S-sorry.”
“I’ll fix it, but make sure to get it properly repaired at the next village.”
Saying that, Yuki quickly began to repair the handle.
“Big brother... that’s amazing...”
Zou is watching his older brother with a look of admiration.
Until about four years ago, that was how Yuki used to watch his father Agu's handiwork.
Yuki's dexterity was inherited from Agu. Agu was a man with nimble fingers who could easily fix little things around the house. Bon loved that dexterous side of him, just as much as his kind personality. A sense of loneliness suddenly crept into Bon's heart.
“Whimper...”
Pess came over and licked Bon's leg. Fortunately, the children were too absorbed in Yuki's repairs to notice Bon's feelings.
“I can't beat Pess, can I...”
As Bon was stroking Pess while watching the children around the cart...
“Who’s there!”
Bon spun around and took a fighting stance. In a deserted place like this, anyone standing behind her could be nothing but a bandit... Sliding her right foot back, Bon prepared to throw a punch. Peth also bristled his small back and let out a low growl.
"W-wait a second!"
A tall man called out in a flustered manner. He held his hands out in front of him, waving them back and forth to signal that he was not an enemy.
"You're not a bandit?"
"I told you, I'm not! I'm a traveler!"
Hearing the commotion, the children came running toward Bon.
"Hey! Our Mom is strong, you know!"
Zou shouted loudly.
Yuki held up his repair tools, though his legs were shaking slightly.
Sato clung to Bon.
Yuta tried to intimidate him, saying, "No! Mom strong! No!"
Seeing this, the man's eyes widened in surprise.
"A woman and four children! Could you be Bon?"
"That's right, why?"
Bon looked at the man suspiciously.
"Are you Agu's wife, Bon?"
"That's me! You got a problem with that?!"
Having been asked so many times, Bon snapped and shouted back instantly, but
"Wait, how do you know Agu's name...?"
she asked, looking blank.
"Forgive my late introduction. I'm Saku, and I was in the same platoon as Agu. I'd heard about his family from him, so I thought it might be you..."
"I see..."
At that answer, Bon's guard lowered.
"Actually, I'm on my way to the field hospital where Agu is right now."
"Is that so? We are too!"
Unable to suppress her excitement, Bon shouted with flushed cheeks.
"We heard the field hospital had relocated, so we're on our way to pick up my husband!"
"In that case, would you mind if I joined you?"
"Yes! Absolutely! It's reassuring to have an adult man with us!"
Contrary to Bon, who was delighted, the expressions of her four sons and one pet were less than enthusiastic.
"Maaaaaam..."
Episode 16 continues