image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]

19) GRANDPA'S HOVERCRAFT

In the back of Wilhelm's Land Cruiser, a large, cloth-covered cargo rattled with every bump in the road. Sophia climbed into the passenger seat, buckling her seatbelt as her grandfather revved the engine, and without hesitation, they sped off.

“Off we go!” Wilhelm said, casting a quick glance at Sophia, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

As they zoomed down the highway, the world whizzing past in a blur of colors, Sophia could feel the boldness of her grandfather’s driving—surprising for a man his age. It reassured her, and yet, thoughts that had been swirling in her mind tugged at her. She needed to share the strange experience that had been haunting her, but how?

“We should hit the hill in about an hour,” Wilhelm said, his voice calm as always. “Let me know if you spot anything interesting, Sophie.”

Sophia hesitated, biting her lip before finally working up the courage. "Grandpa... there's something I need to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?" Wilhelm kept his eyes on the road, but his tone was curious.

Sophia took a deep breath. "Something strange happened the last time I was in the autogyro... it felt like a dream, but it wasn’t. I was caught in this thick fog, and I met this boy, Ardelbert. It felt real, but then, when I woke up... it was as if only a few minutes had passed."

She recounted the bizarre encounter—how her digital watch showed only 5 minutes had gone by, while the old-fashioned clock in the autogyro indicated 4 hours had passed. And how, most bewildering of all, her Chihuahua, Reinhart, had started talking.

Wilhelm’s face remained stoic, the thoughtful expression that earned him his "White King" title. "Your Chihuahua, talking? Interesting..."

"Yes, but only in front of me. Not Mom or Dad," Sophia added, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and relief at finally sharing her secret. "And... I left Ardelbert behind in that place. I can’t stop worrying about him."

Wilhelm glanced at her, his eyes kind but sharp. "You’ve been thinking about this boy, Ardelbert, ever since?"

Sophia nodded. "I looked him up, and he’s done all these incredible things. I don’t know why, but I just can’t stop worrying about him."

Wilhelm smiled gently, easing his foot off the gas. "Thank you for telling me, Sophie. We’ll think more about it later. But first, let's enjoy ourselves today!"

The car slowed as they approached a small hill, the landscape opening up before them. Wilhelm pulled the vehicle to a stop and got out. “Now, help me with the cover on the cargo.”

Sophia followed, and together, they pulled back the cloth to reveal... a strange vehicle. It had a large fan at the back and looked like something out of an adventure film.

“What is this?” Sophia's eyes widened in awe.

Wilhelm grinned. “This, my dear, is a small hovercraft.”

He attached a hose, flipping a switch, and the craft slowly inflated, hovering just above the grassy hill.

"Wow... can we ride it?" Sophia asked, her excitement building.

"Of course! We’ll race across the field on this!" Wilhelm chuckled, resting a hand on her shoulder.

With a warmth blooming in her chest, Sophia smiled. “Alright, Grandpa. Let’s ride first. Then I’ll tell you everything.”

And for now, the mysteries and worries faded as the joy of adventure with her grandfather took over.

image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]

20) GRANDPA, GRANDPA

As the hovercraft inflated and preparations were complete, Wilhelm grinned. Extending his hand, he called out,

"Come on, Sophie. Let's have a blast today!"

Sophia, though a bit hesitant, firmly grasped her grandfather's outstretched hand.

"Yeah, got it! Let's go then!" she answered energetically.

The two boarded the hovercraft, and Wilhelm started the engine. The hovercraft rose gently above the grassland, like a magic carpet. With a slight vibration, the wind brushed against their skin. Sophia couldn't help but exclaim at the floating sensation.

"Wow, amazing...! We're really floating!"

Wilhelm nodded with satisfaction at her voice and lightly pressed the accelerator.

"Now, Sophie. Hold on tight!"

The hovercraft began to glide across the grassland.

"Eeeek!"

Sophia laughed out loud. The wind tousled her hair as the grassland before her eyes rushed by in an instant. The speed kept increasing, and distant scenery approached rapidly. The hovercraft lightly jumped over small hills, hovering for a moment before descending back onto the grassland.

"This is incredible, it's so fun!"

Sophia patted her grandfather's shoulder. Though her voice was almost lost in the wind, Wilhelm seemed to hear it.

"Isn't it? A hovercraft can move over any terrain. It can even run on water!"

Wilhelm smiled, skillfully maneuvering the hovercraft. His eyes sparkled like a child's.

"Hovercraft are amazing, aren't they! Grandpa, do you always do things like this?"

"Ah, life is an adventure, Sophie. Finding new things, experiencing them, enjoying them - that's the best."

Wilhelm answered proudly.

The hovercraft zigzagged across the grassland, and Sophia kept laughing. The two felt the wind, simply enjoying the moment under the blue sky.

After a while, Wilhelm slowed the hovercraft a bit and turned to Sophia, saying,

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Well, shall we head back to the top of the hill? When we get there, I'll tell you an important secret."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat at those words. "A secret...? What's that, I'm curious!"

"Haha, don't rush. We'll talk about it properly on the hill."

Wilhelm laughed and began to operate the hovercraft again. Sophia's heart raced as she gazed at her grandfather's serious profile, wondering what he was going to tell her.

When the hovercraft returned to the top of the hill, Wilhelm stopped the engine and looked up at the sky.

"Let's take a break here. Before I tell you the secret, we should have something to eat."

Sophia nodded and got off the hovercraft.

"Yeah, I'm hungry!"

Wilhelm opened the back of the Land Cruiser, where several food items were prepared. Today there was Baumkuchen drizzled with chocolate, sweet strawberry jam, and a thermos of warm Ceylon tea.

"Wow, Grandpa! So much!"

Sophia's eyes sparkled as she picked up a piece of Baumkuchen.

"Go ahead, eat without reserve. Today is a day to play to our heart's content."

Wilhelm smiled as he poured the tea.

Sophia put plenty of chocolate on her Baumkuchen and brought it to her mouth.

"Mmm, delicious...!"

Her eyes narrowed happily at the sweetness that filled her mouth.

For a while, the two enjoyed their munching time. The sweet treats and warm tea warmed both body and soul. The Chihuahua Reinhart was also wagging his tail at her feet as if begging for a treat.

"Oh, does Reinhart want a snack too?"

Sophia took out a jerky treat and grinned.

"Here you go, Reinhart!"

Sophia lightly tossed the jerky. The Chihuahua Reinhart dashed out and caught the jerky in mid-air. However, he overshot and did a somersault, rolling on the ground.

"Pfft, what are you doing!"

Sophia burst out laughing. The Chihuahua Reinhart got up, drooping his ears a bit embarrassedly.

"Oops, I was trying to look cool."

The Chihuahua muttered. However, Sophia could clearly hear that voice.

"Huh? Wait a minute, did I just hear Reinhart's voice...?"

Sophia looked at her grandpa, but Wilhelm was tilting his head.

"Hm? Did you say something, Sophie?"

It seemed Wilhelm couldn't hear the Chihuahua's voice.

"Uh, no, it's nothing!"

Sophia hurriedly shook her head and stared at the Chihuahua. Reinhart was wagging his tail, begging for another jerky treat.

"Oh, alright, you."

Sophia laughed as she took out another jerky treat and gave it to Reinhart.

Grandfather, Sophia, and Reinhart spent a peaceful time on the hill, often exchanging laughter.

As the break finally ended, Wilhelm stood up and gazed at the distant scenery. His figure was like that of a dignified king, and Sophia unconsciously straightened her back.

"Now then, Sophie. It's time we get to the main point. What you told me, and this place... There's a secret to all of it."

Wilhelm began to speak quietly.

image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]

21) MY MAGICAL POWER

As the hovercraft inflated and their preparations were complete, Wilhelm grinned and extended his hand.

“Come on, Sophie. Let’s have some fun today!”

Though a bit hesitant, Sophia smiled and firmly took her grandfather’s hand. "Yeah, got it! Let’s go!"

They boarded the hovercraft, and Wilhelm started the engine. The craft lifted gently off the ground, gliding like a magic carpet over the grassland. A rush of wind brushed against their faces, and Sophia couldn’t help but laugh with delight.

“Wow! We’re really floating!” she exclaimed.

Wilhelm, eyes gleaming, pressed the accelerator. “Hold on tight, Sophie!”

The hovercraft zoomed across the field, bouncing over small hills and sailing through the air before softly landing again. Sophia’s laughter mixed with the wind as the landscape blurred around them.

“This is incredible! So much fun!” she shouted, patting her grandfather’s shoulder.

Wilhelm grinned. “Isn’t it? A hovercraft can go anywhere—even over water!”

Sophia beamed, the thrill of adventure washing over her. “Grandpa, do you always do things like this?”

Wilhelm chuckled, his voice filled with pride. “Ah, Sophie, life is an adventure. Finding new things, experiencing them—that’s the best way to live.”

They zipped across the open field, Sophia’s laughter ringing out in the breeze. After a while, Wilhelm slowed down the hovercraft and glanced at his granddaughter.

“Shall we head back to the top of the hill? When we get there, I’ll tell you a secret—something important.”

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. “A secret? What is it? I’m curious!”

“Patience, Sophie,” Wilhelm said with a wink. “We’ll talk about it properly when we get to the hill.”

As they returned to the hilltop, Wilhelm shut off the hovercraft’s engine and looked up at the sky. “Let’s take a break first. Before I tell you the secret, we should eat.”

Sophia nodded eagerly. “Yeah, I’m starving!”

Wilhelm opened the back of the Land Cruiser, revealing a picnic of Baumkuchen drizzled with chocolate, fresh strawberry jam, and a thermos of Ceylon tea.

“Wow, Grandpa! So much food!” Sophia’s eyes sparkled.

“Go ahead, dig in! Today’s all about fun.” Wilhelm smiled as he poured the tea.

Sophia happily devoured the Baumkuchen, savoring the sweet chocolate. “Mmm, delicious!”

The two of them enjoyed their treats and tea, the warmth and sweetness filling them with comfort. At Sophia’s feet, her Chihuahua, Reinhart, wagged his tail, begging for a snack.

“Oh, does Reinhart want a treat too?” Sophia teased, tossing him a piece of jerky. Reinhart leaped into the air to catch it but overshot and somersaulted onto the ground.

Sophia burst into laughter. “What are you doing, silly boy!”

Reinhart got up, shaking his head with embarrassment. “Oops, I was trying to look cool,” he muttered, but Sophia could hear his voice clear as day.

“Wait... Did I just hear Reinhart talking?” she blinked, looking at her grandfather. But Wilhelm didn’t seem to notice.

“Hm? Did you say something, Sophie?” he asked, glancing over.

“N-no, nothing!” Sophia quickly replied, glancing back at Reinhart, who wagged his tail, oblivious to her confusion.

As the peaceful break came to an end, Wilhelm stood up and gazed out at the distant hills. His presence, like that of a king, was commanding, and Sophia instinctively straightened her posture.

“Now, Sophie,” Wilhelm said, his voice quiet and serious, “it’s time to talk about what you told me. This place, and everything you’ve experienced—there’s a secret behind it all.”

Sophia’s heart raced as she braced herself for what was to come.

image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]

22) MY BLOOD BECOMES MIST

Wilhelm smiled at Sophia, pointing toward the mist rising into the air. "This mist—well, it’s more like water vapor—it’s tied to its owner. That’s what my wife used to say. It’s not powerful enough to do anything drastic, like take a life, but through it, you can connect with someone’s emotions."

Sophia furrowed her brow. "Really? So, if I make a wish in this mist, will something happen?"

"Why not give it a try?" Wilhelm shrugged with a gentle smile.

Sophia hesitantly reached out, letting her fingers disappear into the mist, then closed her eyes and made a quiet wish in her heart. A few moments passed, and still, nothing happened.

"...Nothing’s happening, Grandpa," she said, opening her eyes, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Wilhelm chuckled softly, scratching his head. "Well, it might not be that straightforward."

"But there’s something your grandmother used to say, Sophie. She believed a very diluted part of her blood is in the oil pressure gauge of that autogyro you love so much."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Wilhelm’s gaze softened as he looked at her. "I mean, your grandmother’s wish was always protecting you through that autogyro."

Sophia stared at him in surprise. "Protecting me...?"

"Yes. Her wish was simple, always the same: ‘Keep Sophie safe.’" Wilhelm’s voice was warm as he spoke, watching the mist swirl.

Sophia felt a sudden warmth spread in her chest, a mix of emotions swirling as she realized how deeply her grandmother had been looking out for her—without her ever knowing.

"Then... that day when I left Ardelbert behind... Was that because of Grandma’s wish?" Sophia’s voice trembled slightly.

Wilhelm nodded, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Yes, Sophie. Your grandmother’s power kept you away from danger. It wasn’t your fault."

Sophia exhaled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her, and leaned into her grandfather’s hug as he embraced her tightly.

"That’s my granddaughter," Wilhelm whispered.

For a while, they stood there, wrapped in the mist and the quiet. Even Reinhart, her loyal Chihuahua, sat peacefully beside them, sensing the comfort in the air. In that moment, Sophia’s small yet growing determination to face whatever lay ahead strengthened.

Wilhelm eventually broke the silence with a bright grin. "So, what do you say, Sophie? Shall we race across the grassland in the hovercraft once more?"

Sophia’s smile returned, wide and full of energy. "Yeah! This time, I’ll go all out!"

Unbeknownst to her, the hovercraft, filled with the same bloodline that connected her to her grandmother’s protective wish, began to respond. As Sophia thought about soaring higher, the hovercraft gently lifted, just as she had imagined.