Chapter 105 Troubled Maiden
Leaf Chemists has infiltrated the base of faceless monsters.
Aerial, caught by the approaching flesh walls, was easily rescued by Leaf.
The tension that had been building up until now suddenly snapped...
Aerial burst into tears.
The story continues a few minutes later.
Leaf and Aerial find a side tunnel and take a break there.
Tai-chan says she'll keep watch around the area and leaves. Now, it's just Leaf and Aerial.
Leaf takes out a magic stove from the magic bag, boils water, and brews tea.
When Aerial sips it... she instantly feels calmer.
"Delicious..."
The turbulent emotions that were raging just a moment ago quickly subsided.
Now, Aerial is wearing the pants Leaf had brought for her.
"That's good."
"......"
Aerial had been hiding the fact that she is a girl.
But just now, her lower body was seen, and on top of that, she was told that he knows she a girl from the beginning.
"Um... sorry, Leaf-kun. For showing you such an embarrassing sight."
"No! It was beautiful!"
"T-Thank you..."
Even though praised, it didn't make Aerial happy at all, even when her femininity was appreciated.
"..."
Although her mood calmed down, the uneasiness in her heart still lingered.
No, it was getting worse instead.
"Why do you look so gloomy?"
Leaf asked with concern.
She couldn't say that the cause was him... the person who saved her life, and a child at that. She couldn't act so immaturely.
Instead, Aerial voiced her concerns.
"Hey, Leaf-kun. How can I obtain the monstrous strength like yours?"
"Huh, I don't have monstrous strength like that?"
...Do you hate me? Am I hated? No, but a young person with such pure eyes couldn't possibly be hateful.
Perhaps, he doesn't really think he is strong.
Then... what does it mean to be strong? How can one become strong?
"I... want to become strong."
No matter how hard she tries, she can't become a truly strong person.
Like Black Silver the summoners or Leaf, who possess strength from another dimension.
...She tried her best. To become stronger, to embody the strength befitting of her title.
But, this is the result.
Saved by a child, showing a pitiful sight, sulking.
...Suddenly, a certain thought crossed her mind.
"Hey... Leaf-kun"
Weakly, Aerial murmurs.
"I want to become strong. Yes... give me the medicine that makes me strong."
...What is she saying?
What's the point of telling that to Leaf?
Taking it out on others is one thing. And besides, there's no way a drink can make her stronger...
"Here you go."
"There is!!!!"
In Leaf's hand was a potion bottle.
Inside, there was a bright red liquid that looked like blood, bubbling and boiling.
It emitted a hissing white steam, along with a smell similar to sulfur.
"I-Is this... a potion?"
"Yes. It's a potion that makes you stronger when you drink it!"
"I-Is it safe to drink?"
"It's not safe!"
"It's not safe at all!!!"
Why would he take out something like that...?
"If you drink it, you will indeed become incredibly strong. But you'll lose your reason, go out of control, and eventually wither away like a dead tree."
"Scary! I don't want to drink such a dangerous potion!"
"I agree. This potion is one that gains strong power at the cost of life."
Leaf put the potion bottle back into the magic bag.
"...What are you trying to say?"
She initially thought it might be harassment. But looking into Leaf's eyes, there was no trace of such malice.
With a very serious expression, he said,
"Strength isn't something you can easily obtain. That's what I want to say."
Saying that, Leaf reached out his hand.
There was nothing held in it. Just an open palm... no, that's not it.
"This is..."
Approaching, she gazed at Leaf's hand. Despite its delicate appearance, his hand felt rough.
The skin on his hand was quite thick and tough. Calluses were visible. He must have practiced swinging a sword repeatedly. Not just calluses from holding a sword.
His hand bore several cuts and discolored areas. Perhaps from handling medicinal herbs, there were many greenish parts.
His hand held a history. It was evident that he had undergone long and hard training. The marks of his efforts were clearly visible.
Without using words, she can tell by looking at his hands. He has been through a lot. But always putting on a carefree face and offering a cure-all potion...
He has put in a lot of effort to get to this point. It's all accumulated to this moment.
"...I'm such an idiot."
Tears start to fall. It's embarrassing. How foolish she was.
She mistakenly thought Leaf was a genius, someone who became strong without any effort.
"You've... put in effort too, haven't you?"
Aerial lift her head. Leaf smiles, takes out a handkerchief, and wipes her eyes.
"There's no such thing as a genius in this world."
If she hadn't seen Leaf's hands, those words wouldn't have reached her ears. But now, things are different.
Because he has experienced hardship, there are words that resonate with jer.
"You're strong. It would be a waste to give up here, I think. The door is already starting to open, after all."
"The door...?"
"Sure. You can become one too. Just like the person you admire."
Leaf held her hand and smiled. Looking at his face, Aerial's heart skipped a beat, catching her off guard.
Maybe it was because he saw her vulnerable side and listened to her complaints.
Now, she felt closer to him than ever before.
And she found herself wanting him... Her suppressed feminine side seemed to surface.
"No, I can't. I... I've abandoned being a woman."
"Huh? But you are a woman."
"No, not in that sense... I mean denying the woman within me."
"Why? You are still you, no matter what. Why deny that part of yourself?"
He said with a puzzled expression.
"If you deny yourself, you can't move forward. Old man used to say that too."
Aerial was taken aback.
It felt like she had grasped something. And then...
"My lord! The enemy is attacking!"
Tai-chan rushed back in a panic.
Leaf put on his magic backpack and gloves.
Aerial also stood up. There was no time to crouch down in a place like this.
...Thanks to Leaf listening to her worries, her heart cleared up, and then...
And she felt like she had grasped something.
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