Magical Journey: The Other Shore Blooms on the Other Shore

Late at night, a man and a broom stared at each other in bewilderment.

"Can't sleep? Then I'll tell Lady Elena a story." The broom was put together with both hands.

“This isn’t something that can be solved by telling stories,” Elena yawned. “Besides, I’ve probably heard every story you tell with a broom. After all, I’m your master.”

"Oh." The broom felt inexplicably disappointed.

It failed to help Lady Elena; it's a terrible thing to have it as her item.

“But Lady Elena seems quite troubled,” the broom said. “Is she still thinking about what happened during the day?”

"Because of the influence of dream magic, these things linger in my mind," Elena said truthfully.

“Actually, it’s not just the influence of magic.” The broom said thoughtfully, resting its finger on its chin. “I think Lady Elena’s attitude towards Lady Jean is different from that of many others, especially compared to how she treats other men.”

"Where?" Elena asked in surprise.

"Yes, there is. Perhaps Elena used to only have female friends, and Lady Qin is the first man who can make her feel at ease. Also, when Elena was sick that time, when her subconscious took over her body, she was extra relaxed towards Lady Qin."

"Have it?"

"Think about it, if Lady Elena thought that Lady Qin was someone who was not good or worth getting along with, would she be so relaxed and unguarded?"

She didn't seem to be thinking that much about it subconsciously at the time, and didn't even take any precautions before going to sleep. Oh, well, she did take some precautions, since there was a broom to keep an eye on her.

Perhaps, he is indeed different in my heart.

Elena admitted that what the broom said made some sense.

In the past, almost every other man she had met had looked at her with a kind of covetous desire.

Qin's gaze, however, was always utterly empty, never showing any emotion, which was quite unusual.

If it were any other man, he probably would have shown lecherous expressions towards Elena countless times, or even considered making a move on her countless times.

Such explicitness would only lead to Irene's strong aversion and rejection.

This difference is perhaps one of the main reasons why I gradually felt relieved and at ease back then.

Perhaps this is what it truly means to consider him a friend.

Speaking of which, just as the broom said, Qin really is an oddball among her many friends. She's surrounded by mostly girls.

It is precisely because we are friends that we feel reluctant to part ways.

Is that why I feel a little sad right now?

But...do we really have to separate? Can't we continue traveling together...?

Elena shook her head, trying to shake the thought off; she didn't know why she had suddenly had this idea. Maybe she was just too tired.

Traveling with him was an accident in itself; now that the accident is over, what reason is there to continue traveling together? What can I offer him, and what can he offer himself?

"Does Lady Elena still wish to travel with Lady Qin?" the broom asked.

Huh?

Is it so obvious?

So I really do wear my heart on my sleeve?

“I just think it’s nice to travel with him,” Elena admitted.

At least, I really don't mind having one more person on my trip.

This kind of trip was quite enjoyable.

"Then why doesn't Lady Elena extend a travel invitation to Lady Jean?" said the broom. "He's going to continue traveling anyway, so wouldn't that be perfect?"

Is it really possible?

For some reason, Elena felt a little uneasy. This was a disturbance, and besides, he might not even agree.

No normal person would refuse a beautiful girl's company on a trip—but Qin might not; he's not normal.

How embarrassing it would be to be rejected. Elena tried to find an excuse to escape.

“If Lady Elena hesitates, then I shall go.” The broom patted her chest. Because her hair color was different from Elena’s, her chest remained completely still when patted.

Upon seeing this, Elena unconsciously looked down at her chest, and then a nameless rage surged within her.

But since we've already talked about brooms to this extent...

“Then let’s give it a try,” Elena said with a sigh.

Since I don't mind having another person traveling with me, why not give it a try?

Even if I'm rejected, at least I can put my mind at ease.

……

The next morning, Elena prepared to go and see where Qin was. If Qin had already left the kingdom, then the travel invitation would have to be cancelled.

Logically speaking, finding such a living person in such a vast kingdom is already a difficult task.

But the zither is truly different.

"This homeless man is so pitiful, let's give him some money."

"Waaah, Mom, he's so pitiful, he's sleeping on the street."

"What is the government doing! People are in such dire straits, where is the basic assistance?!"

The crowd gathered around a spot, discussing the matter animatedly.

No way? No way? Elena thought of a possibility, and it was very likely, which perfectly matched Jean's character. He couldn't really be sleeping on the streets, could he?!

Elena pushed through the crowd and, sure enough, saw Qin lying flat on the ground in a "big" shape. Next to him was a small broken bowl, and inside the bowl were many silver and copper coins.

"The world is going to the dogs! I'm going to write a complaint letter to the government. How can the government be so inactive!" the crowd clamored.

No, so this is how you sleep when you're alone?! Even though I knew he didn't like sleeping in a bed, seeing this was still quite shocking.

Before, he lay on the hotel floor because he couldn't be too far from Elena; now, he's really sleeping on the street.

"Qin? Wake up." Elena said as she came to Qin's side.

"Huh—who called me?" Qin opened her eyes groggily. "Oh, Elena, you're still here?"

"Get up and come with me."

"Oh."

Although it was a little awkward, Elena left the place with her harp, and incidentally, she also packed up the broken bowl that had held the money.

She also attracted stares and whispers from passersby.

"How do you take care of people? Letting them sleep on the streets." "Bad woman."

Thanks to Tochchen, this reputation is truly devastating.

How did I even become friends with such a weirdo? I must be crazy myself.

"Is there anything else you need?" After walking a short distance, Qin slowly spoke, "Oh, I still have a wish for you that I haven't fulfilled. Do you know what I need to do?"

desire?

Oh, that birthday wish I owed him—I was just joking back then, I didn't expect him to actually do it. After all, I didn't think of it then, and naturally I don't think of it now.

But I never expected that he would still remember it to this day.

"Never mind that for now, where are you going on your next trip?" Elena asked.

"I don't know," Qin said.

“That means there’s nowhere you want to go,” Elena said.

"Yes."

“Okay. Broom, you go—” Elena transformed the broom into a person.

The confident broom girl winked at Elena, indicating that she would take care of it.

A girl who looked just like Elena gripped Qin's hands tightly: "Qin-sama."

"What? You have a wish you want to come true? I'm not a magic lamp," Qin said, yawning.

"I like you," the broom said seriously.

"Huh?" Qin and Elena both stared at the broom without blinking.

No, what are you trying to do?

"The moment you saved me, I fell in love with you at first sight. From then on, I was deeply in love and couldn't extricate myself." The broom said with great emotion, looking just like a young girl who had fallen in love and couldn't extricate herself.

"But you're a broom," Qin retorted.

"True love transcends species!" the broom declared firmly. "My love for Lady Qin is as clear as the sun and moon."

It's a cloudy day today, with no sun. And since it's daytime, there's no moon either.

I can understand if it's unrelated to species—but you're a broom... that can't be considered a species, can it?

"Therefore, please travel with Lady Elena, so that I can always be by your side." The broom concluded her moving speech.

Elena almost applauded her.

What's with the clapping? Even novels don't write things like that. When you go out and introduce yourself to other objects, don't say you're the Gray Witch's broom; it's embarrassing.

"Are you telling a popular joke?" Qin asked speechlessly.

“I love you,” the broom said.

"Oh, but I don't plan to be in a relationship right now, sorry."

"Waaaaah... I got rejected."

That was such a good performance... Elena couldn't bear to watch any longer and simply turned the broom back into its original form and put it away.

So brooms have always been such good actors? I never realized before that she had such a talent for humor.

"So, what exactly did you come to me for?" Qin asked.

“Let’s travel together,” Elena said. If she had known the broom was so unreliable, she would have preferred to do it herself; now things were even more awkward.

I got goosebumps.

It's all the broom's fault.

"Oh, may I ask why?" Qin remained expressionless as always. Knowing why he hadn't shown any expression, Elena found his behavior quite natural.

"There's no particular reason. You're going to keep traveling anyway, so you probably won't mind continuing to travel with me."

"I really don't mind."

"Then you agreed?"

"As you think."

It was easier and simpler than I had imagined—for some reason, I suddenly felt much lighter when he agreed.

What have I been afraid of all along...?

Just then, Elena remembered that she wanted Qin to fulfill one of her wishes. This inspiration came very suddenly.

“You’ve reminded me, I have a wish that I need you to fulfill,” Elena said.

"You said."

"Please be a normal person."

"I don't understand, I think I'm perfectly normal."

"If you don't think it counts—by my standards, I'll help you."