39 Chillin' with Kaili (4)

The flyball match was between two equally skilled teams. While they had their own team names, for convenience sake I just thought of them as the blue team and the red team because of the colour of their uniforms.

Blue team was the first up for defence so they had four people on the field: a pitcher, a catcher and two fielders. Unlike the baseball that I knew, there didn't seem to be any bases so I guessed that flyball was more dependent on homeruns.

The members of both teams were rather random in terms of race, but not a single one looked weak.

The first one to bat for the red team was a big four-armed man with a horn, a high ogre. The pitcher facing him was of similar size but since he only had two arms, it was just a normal ogre. Even so, they seemed to have the same amount of strength so it would mainly be a matter of skill. Additionally, magic and active skills were banned so I didn't think this part would be much different from what I remembered.

Boy, was I wrong.

I noticed another anomaly when I saw what they were using for a ball. It was a baby beholder that seemed to have been petrified. Beholders that could take humanoid form were considered demons, but the ones that were just flying eyeballs with tentacles were monsters. However, I couldn't help but wonder if it was okay to treat it like that.

Still, since Kaili didn't see anything wrong with it, I threw away my concern and regained my focus on the match.

Foosh.

"Strike!"

'...What was that?'

I could see it clearly, but I had to wonder for a moment why the sounds I heard weren't matching with what I imagined. While I knew of birds dying from being hit by baseballs, I was pretty sure that the speed of that pitch could easily pierce through an adult man. No, even weaker demons would likely be killed by it.

'This is a family-friendly sport, right?'

"These guys rarely throw dead balls but I wonder if we'll get to see any."

"That would be nice."

I wanted to believe in the sportsmanship of this game, but the voices of nearby spectators were making it really hard.

'When they say dead ball, they mean literally, don't they? Don't tell me that counts as a strike too.'

I was starting to think that this was also a bad choice, but I didn't have enough of a reason to wipe that joyful smile off of Kaili's face.

'It'll be okay, it'll be okay. The two teams are evenly matched, surely there won't be any surprises.'

From then on, even though I wasn't rooting for a particular team my heart raced during every pitch and I only felt relief when I heard the 'ball' make contact with the mitt.

At first I was also relieved when the bat made contact too, but then I imagined what would happen if the ball had too much force behind it and hit a fielder.

'What a dangerous game. As expected of demons.'

Luckily, by the last inning there were no dead balls on the field. However, a different type of dead ball almost happened.

As the batter from the blue team swung at the ball moving at near sonic speed with a sharp break, instead of hitting it forward, the bat made the ball come towards us. In other words, a foul.

And it was at this time I understood what an 'open' seat was. It meant that there were those of the audience who agreed to the risk of getting hit by a foul-type dead ball.

Instead of me or Jeanne who would be able to endure it, the ball was heading towards Kaili who hadn't even noticed it.

I was capable of reacting to supersonic speed, but since I wasn't the target my response was a little late. Nevertheless, Kaili's safety was guaranteed.

When it was just about a metre away from us, the ball stopped in midair and fell into the hands of an unsuspecting demon.

"Huh? I got the ball! I got it!"

If it was any closer it would have collided with Jeanne's barrier anyway, but since I had the leisure I stopped it with Poltergeist.

As a crowd gathered around the lucky man with the ball in hand, Kaili murmured.

"I wish I got it..."

'Not if you want to live.'

Overall, watching the flyball match ended without incident. Afterwards, Kaili was inspired by the game and so we went to the nearby park to play catch. Surprisingly, the park was rather normal so I didn't feel worried as we entered it and found a good spot to play.

I wasn't being cheap, but since this was just for fun I didn't buy a mitt and just made one using nature magic. Not only was it biodegradable, it also resulted in zero cost and could change colour on demand. A 10/10 item that I would definitely recommend.

As for the ball, I used magic to form a snowball that was firm and wouldn't melt easily, but would still only result in a soft impact.

"Okay, here I go."

I managed to hold back enough to gently throw it at the full speed of a normal professional pitcher. She was a little stiff, but thanks to her natural ability Kaili caught it in her mitt and showed a bright smile.

"Nice, nice."

While that smile spread to me, she threw back the ball and we continued to play catch until a loud, cute growl came from Kaili's stomach.

"Oh, hungry huh? I guess we should go eat then."

I could feed off of natural mana due to my improved dragon factor, and Jeanne didn't need food either so we were late in realising that it was about that time. She seemed a little embarrassed but she still eagerly nodded in response.

Rather than a specific restaurant, we spent time walking around and eating at whatever stalls caught our fancy. I won't deny that I got more reluctant to spend money after each time we stopped, but as an adult I knew that I had to restrain that side of me. I wasn't being cheap, I was just used to being conservative.

"~🎶And the way~"

During our lunch stroll, Kaili's attention was caught by the beautiful singing voice coming out of an musical hall that seemed to function like a live house.

"Do you want to check it out?"

As she seemed really interested, I asked if she wanted to enter the small building that the singing came from.

"Can I?"

"Yeah, seems like a nice place to take a break."

"Then, okay."

After, another, fee that had to be paid, we were led to a room where all of the light was focused on the one on stage, while the audience sat in darkness. Not that, it would pose a problem for most demons.

Once we were in our seats, we could fully appreciate the music.

In my past world I was exposed to many types of music, though I never got the chance to delve in deep into any of them. Even so, I knew the difference between average and amazing. With just a piano-like instrument to accompany her, the blue-haired succubus on stage performed a song that captured the hearts of these innately violent demons.

At first, I thought it was Charm, but as I continued to listen I realized that it wasn't. This was completely her.

'So this is what talent sounds like.'

As I nodded my head in admiration of her gift, I looked beside me to check on Kaili who had ended up in sleepy land before I knew it.

'Weren't you the one who wanted to come here?'

I found it ironic how she was the one to fall asleep, but when I saw the tear that slipped out from her eyelid, I knew that she gotten the comfort that she came here for.

After one more song, I picked her up and went back to the hotel with Jeanne. Or at least, that's what I thought we would do.

"Hmm, hngh?"

With the hotel in sight, Kaili rubbed her eyes and tried to wake up.

"You can keep sleeping you know, we're almost back to the hotel."

"Mhm, mhm, hmm?"

She drowsily nodded her head, but then her eyes were drawn to an accessory stall by the road.

"You want one?"

If she was properly awake she would likely pretend to say no, but in this state she only nodded. Since buying an accessory would also work out for me, I got a bracelet for her. However, as she looked at it in a daze, I covered it with my hand and enchanted it with simple effects. A skill I learnt from dabbling in alchemy.

As the bracelet released a faint light, I put my forehead on hers and whispered.

"Kaili, if you ever want to make a wish, pour your heart into this bracelet and it shall respond."

In her dazed state she might not remember clearly, but I was sure it would come to her if the time was right.

After this we spent our second night at the hotel, and by the time Kaili woke up again, everything was in motion.