Chapter 7 'I' Will Change My Future
'I've seen Mercedes' cheerful face, maybe I should head back tomorrow.'
Those were the words of my mentor this morning. It seemed like she didn't plan to stay long in the first place. Just seeing Mercedes' cheerful face seemed to satisfy her.
But those words made me anxious. I needed to ask Arnold by the end of today. Last night, I couldn't sleep well, so I was thinking of a lie to make the most of my time and ask him about Elvira. I had thought of a lie about wanting to hear about siblings since I was about to have one soon, but I couldn't feel it yet.
I had thought about it, but I wasn't mentally prepared yet. However, time was running out. I had to make up my mind.
Now, how should I invite Arnold? It would be reassuring if Mercedes could come along too.
While imagining my ideal scenario in my head, I was struggling to come up with a good plan to get closer to that situation.
Then, out of the blue, Mercedes-san made an unexpected offer to me,
"Laura-chan, would you like to come to the herb garden with me and Arnold?"
I enthusiastically agreed to the invitation and headed to the herb garden with the three of us. I've been waiting for a chance to talk to Arnold since earlier, but I couldn't quite take that final step.
However, determined not to leave things as they were, I gathered my courage and approached Arnold.
"Arnold...san,"
I called out, mustering up my bravery. And then, after a pause, he responded,
"...What is it?"
The other day, based on his own words and the actions he showed that evening as told by Mercedes, I think Arnold might see me as a rival. Maybe he's too full of himself. Anyway, he must have some kind of interest and feelings towards me. However, I can't see it at all. It doesn't show on his face. My throat is dry from nervousness.
The voice I spoke with in that state sounded somewhat hoarse.
"Does Arnold-san have a little sister or something?"
I wonder what expression he has as he hears my question. I can't see Arnold's face.
I kept my gaze fixed on the herbs in my hand and continued speaking.
"I might have siblings soon. But I don't know how to interact with younger brothers or sisters... I've been asking various people what it's like to have siblings..."
"There's no need to answer."
After spending the whole night thinking and crafting a lie to naturally bring up Elvira's existence, it was bluntly dismissed. Since then, silence fell between us.
I no longer have the courage to initiate a conversation again――
"――Arnold has a cute little sister, you know."
"Master!?"
Breaking the awkward silence was not me or Arnold, but it was Mercedes-san. Arnold was taken aback by the sudden appearance of his mentor.
I was surprised too, but more than that, Mercedes-san's words made my heart skip a beat.
Arnold has a little sister.
"Even though Laura-chan went out of her way to talk to you, you don't want to answer, huh? You're always so shy."
"What...!?"
"Yesterday, I said you were unfriendly out of consideration for your own pride, but you're just shy. It's embarrassing, but I'd be happy if Laura-chan approached you first."
"Mentor!"
It seemed like Mercedes-san was like a saintly figure, but now she's teasing her young disciple with a mischievous smile. Arnold, who used to have a poker face as if he was artificial, now has his eyebrows and the corners of his eyes raised sharply, his face turning bright red.
――Both of them seem quite different from before. Is this their true selves now?
While Mercedes-san continues to smile mischievously, she pushes Arnold's back, bringing us closer together.
"Come on, you need to talk properly. Arnold, you have a little sister, right?"
"...Yes, she's turning 5 soon."
――A little sister who will soon turn 5.
"I" desperately try to recall. The future Hero-sama will leave the village just before his 17th birthday. Lukas is currently 9 years old, so that's about 8 years from now. Arnold's sister is currently 4 years old. By simple calculation, when Lukas leaves, she will be 12 years old.
Elvira was a genius girl. She was the youngest among the party members. Though I can't remember her exact age, judging from her appearance, she seemed to be around 12 years old.
"Um, what's her name?"
I asked with a trembling voice.
After a moment of hesitation, Arnold's mouth started moving.
The movement of his mouth overlapped with "my" memory as Hero-sama.
"Elvira."
Everything stopped, both movement and thoughts.
――Elvira.
Elvira Rocco.
One of the companions in "Last Brave," a genius girl with immense magic power hidden in her small body. The boy in front of me, rumored to be Elvira's brother whose capacity was reduced due to some reason, was he also a character cut from "Last Brave"? ――Well, it's still too early to draw that conclusion.
Certainly, regardless of the truth of the rumors, it is certain that it did not appear in the story. However, there is also the possibility that it existed as background information but was not mentioned. In that world where "I" journeyed as the Hero, he might have been alive as well.
Let's put that thought aside for now and continue the conversation.
"She has a cute name. Are you two close?"
"Well..."
Arnold, as if hiding his red face, quickly lowered his gaze. His behavior was cute like a boy his age, but I was not focused on that.
"He really dotes on her, you know? He boasted to me about her talent in magic."
"Hey, wait!"
Having talent in magic was the final confirmation.
Without a doubt, Arnold Rocco's sister is Elvira Rocco.
Understanding this, I didn't know what to do next. Just a slight clarity in my mind, more questions arose than before I knew that.
Is Arnold Rocco a character that was cut from "Last Brave," or was he simply a character in the background setting that was never mentioned in the story? Is the world of "Last Brave" that I know different from the world I live in? Is there a possibility that by interacting with him, I could influence the future of this world? Can I deviate from the role of being the childhood friend of the Hero-sama that was assigned to me?
With the unexpected series of events that have been happening since the other day, my head was filled with confusion. I thought and thought and thought... until I gave up on thinking.
It's not a problem that can be solved by thinking. So, thinking is just a waste of time. I will walk the path I believe in and have chosen. This is my life. Life as Laura only happens once.
Let's stop relying on "me" memories. Past lives are past lives, present lives are present lives. It's not strange to have some differences. This is not a world created meticulously by human hands like in a game. The future can change as much as people's wills allow.
I am here now to change my future.
"What have you been blabbering about since earlier, mentor!"
"Oh my, what's wrong with telling the truth?"
I watched the two who were still arguing with a calm feeling. My thoughts are clear, I have no more doubts - or at least I want to believe so.
The two arguing suddenly noticed my gaze. Mercedes-san blinked for a moment, then opened her eyes wide, and then smiled with compassion.
"Hehehe, sorry about that. I got a little carried away."
"Looks like your mask is slipping, mentor."
According to what Arnold said, the Mercedes-san from earlier might actually be the real Mercedes-san. The beautiful and compassionate Mercedes-san was someone to look up to, but the friendly big sister-like Mercedes-san from earlier seemed easier to talk to personally.
As Mercedes-san covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled, I couldn't help but think that. However, I couldn't naturally say such a thing, so I responded with a smile to Mercedes' evasive smile.
An awkward silence. Trying to escape that atmosphere, Mercedes-san started saying something like "You two are young, so..." sounding like a matchmaker from somewhere.
As she seemed to be walking away, I couldn't help but call out.
"Um, excuse me! Has this herb garden been here for a long time?"
Even though I had decided not to care, my weak will made me curious after all.
Mercedes-san turned around and, with a puzzled expression, answered me.
"Huh? Oh, that's been around since before I was born."
Elves live a long time. There's a good chance she's much older than she looks. So, Mercedes-san might have been born long before I even think.
Even though I don't know the exact years, it's certain that this herb garden wasn't created in the past few years.
I had a pretty good idea, but in the world of Sittenhelm where I currently live, it seems that the fountain square, unlike the Sittenhelm of "Last Brave," doesn't exist.
As I gathered my thoughts, I noticed Mercedes-san looking at me with a curious expression. She seemed to want to ask what was wrong.
I hurriedly continued speaking.
"I-It's amazing, isn't it? To have such a large herb garden in the middle of the city..."
"Yes, it is. But that also means it requires a lot of maintenance."
Mercedes smiled wryly and then naturally moved away from us. This left Arnold and me alone together.
The two of us didn't pick herbs silently side by side. As I decided to quietly move away from here and stood up,
"...I hope they are born healthy."
Arnold next to me muttered as if talking to himself.
Frozen in a half-standing position, I couldn't believe he said such words.
But unfortunately, I have no siblings expected to be born. My goal - to find out about Elvira - had been achieved, and thoughts of imaginary siblings had vanished from my memory. Arnold, however, might have been waiting for the right moment to say those words.
I instinctively thought he was a good older brother.
Mercedes-san also mentioned it, that he cares a lot for his sister. I didn't doubt those words were lies, but Arnold's words made me believe it even more.
Arnorld looked suspiciously at me, then glanced up at me. Our eyes met, and he smiled naturally.
I felt sorry for lying, but at the same time, I was happy about the kind words directed at me. I was happy to know that Elvira, who will likely save this world in the future, has a kind big brother.
"Thank you."
――Perhaps in the future, if I continue on this path, I will become deeply involved with Arnord. Even so, I thought I might be able to handle it well.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)