Published: January 22, 2026
As I approached near Log’s room, I happened to catch him just as he was stepping out.
“Log.”
“Oh, master…”
He responded to my voice, but with a darker tone than usual, clearly feeling down.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“No, not really. I just thought I’d get some fresh night air.”
“I see. Well then, why don’t you keep me company for a bit?”
“Sure. I don’t mind…”
I took Log with me and left the mansion.
“We’ve arrived. This is the place.”
I had come to a certain famous restaurant located in the city.
This restaurant has several branches both domestically and abroad, and it’s considered a high-end establishment targeting the wealthy.
“This place? It looks really expensive…”
Log seemed intimidated by the atmosphere, but when I stepped inside, he followed closely behind me.
Once inside, a staff member greeted us and led us to a private room we had reserved.
Even if there hadn’t been any trouble today, I had planned in advance to bring Log here and made a reservation.
“Um… master…”
“Log, today I’m treating you, so order whatever you like. Don’t worry about the cost.”
I spoke to Log, who still seemed restless as we sat down.
“Ah, thank you. —But that’s not the point…! Why only me…?”
“Today is September 1st, right?”
“Eh? Y-yes, that’s right.”
Log nodded hesitantly at my sudden change of topic.
“September is your birth month. That means today you turn fifteen — you’re an adult now. Becoming an adult doesn’t change much for explorers like us, apart from being able to drink alcohol legally. But it does mean you’re officially part of adulthood. I wanted to celebrate, even if just a little.”
“……”
“I heard from Luna about what happened between you and Carole today. You might not be in the mood, but could you indulge my selfishness a little?”
“September… that’s right, I’m an adult now.”
“It probably doesn’t feel real yet. I understand, I felt the same way. Want to try some alcohol? That might help it sink in a bit.”
“I’d like to try drinking.”
“Alright. Let’s start with something easy to drink.”
We ordered drinks and food, chatting casually as we enjoyed the meal.
◇
“Master, I was just an ordinary person.”
Some time passed, and perhaps because of the alcohol, Log began opening up about himself.
“It’s embarrassing, but until recently I thought I was a genius. But that wasn’t true. Among the twilight moonbow, I’m by far the least talented.”
“...Why do you think that?”
“You probably already know. Sister Ru doesn’t quite fit into our party, and Carole and Sophie are growing so quickly. Compared to them, I haven’t grown at all.”
He had a lot to say, but I remained silent and listened carefully.
I wanted to understand what was on Log’s mind.
“Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m a shadow more and more.”
“...A shadow?”
“Yes. I sometimes felt that way since I was little. I can’t explain why, but I feel like a shadow. As those two grow brighter and brighter, my shadow only deepens.”
That’s not an expression I hear often.
Indeed, Carole and Sophie’s recent growth has been remarkable.
Log is definitely growing too, but compared to them, there’s a noticeable difference in pace.
He sees them as the light and himself as the shadow— but is this just a metaphor?
Or maybe Log is — no, it’s not the time to think about that now.
“I get what you mean. But isn’t it too soon to judge?”
“...Huh?”
“When explorers first start out, it’s easy to say, but honestly, they’re just doing their best to get through each day. But when someone like you starts to gain some breathing room, your perspective widens. Then you start to realize how vast the world is, and compare yourself with others, thinking ‘I have no talent.’ Everyone goes through this.”
“You did too, master?”
“Of course. Just before I switched to being an enchanter, it was terrible. I felt my limits but couldn’t bring myself to give up and kept struggling.”