Chapter 127 Interacting With Friends
"Why are you here?"
After being wrapped in a traveler's cloak that smelled of flowers, and having a fire lit for me, Lukas asked me that when I finally caught my breath.
From his perspective, he was searching for a spirit stone when suddenly his childhood friend appeared from the spring. It didn't make sense. But honestly, I didn't understand it either ―― so I gave up trying to explain it clearly and just told him what had happened to me.
"Well, Wentle-sama came to the village, and then he told me he wanted to learn about Flaria's Spirit-sama... and then I realized I was here."
Lukas reacted strongly to my answer, whipping his head around. There, a green glowing orb was floating, drawing an "∞" shape in the air.
"Wentle You eavesdropped on our conversation, didn't you?"
'It's not like I was eavesdropping or anything... I just happened to overhear it.'
The green glowing orb, Wentle-sama, was floating in the air, drawing an "∞" shape.
I was surprised by Lukas's reaction and the way he questioned Wentle-sama, but I realized that Wentle-sama had been planning to bring me here in secret.
"Didn't Luka and the others plan to bring me here... or something?."
"No way! If we did that, it could put Laura and Elvira-chan in danger, couldn't it?"
So, it seemed that the innocent Wentle-sama had eavesdropped on Lukas's conversation and secretly planned to bring me here. I was surprised by Lukas's desperate expression, but I was relieved to see that my childhood friend was still thinking about us.
Just as Lukas was about to say something to Wentle-sama again, Diona suddenly joined the conversation.
"Shouldn't you go back to the city and change your clothes? If you stay like this, Laura-sama might catch a cold...."
Arnold nodded in agreement with Diona's calm suggestion.
"That's right. My magic can only dry your clothes to a certain extent."
'Can't we ask Avour for help? He's a fire spirit, after all!'
Hahaha, Wentle-sama is always so innocent and carefree, it's like his anger just melts away.
The green light orb that flew in front of me, Arnold brushed it away with his hand. And then, he let out a deep sigh.
"You're going to burn out Ampère, stop it."
* * *
I intruded upon the Hero's party at their inn, where they were divided into 2 rooms, one for the men and one for the women. I entered the women's room and borrowed Diona's clothes for the time being. Although they were a bit loose due to our height difference, I didn't have the courage to borrow Marta's revealing outfit. Besides, Marta is taller than me, so either way, the size would be too big.
"I told Gina that Laura-sama is here."
As Marta was wiping my hair, Diona entered the room, saying that. I must have worried her by suddenly disappearing from the village. I'm really glad we have that "tool" now.
As I was drinking the red tea Diona had brewed and letting out a sigh of relief, Marta threw a question at me.
"Hey, hey, didn't you find that water that can cure anything, Laura? The one I was searching for earlier?"
"Huh?"
"I heard it from Lukas and the others. Um... The Drinking Water of the Spirits?"
Ah, I remember now ―― Marta visited Flaria earlier because she heard rumors about The Drinking Water of the Spirits.
"Well, it's not like I found it, but rather, we all discovered it together."
When I nodded vaguely, Marta exclaimed, "Nnmu!" and turned around.
I couldn't help but smile at her childish expression, which was so unlike her mature age. That's so Marta.
"What's with the secrecy? Tell me! You're Hero-sama's childhood friend, and you made a groundbreaking discovery If you had told me, I would've cooperated even more!"
"Hahaha... we just found it, though"
My answer made Marta slump her shoulders in disappointment. I've never seen anyone around me express their emotions so dramatically, so it's kind of refreshing. As someone who knows Marta, it's also nostalgic.
"You're really cautious, aren't you? Dee-chan is like that too, never dropping the honorifics!"
"Dee-chan?"
The person Marta was looking at was Diona. So, I figured "Dee-chan" must be referring to Diona. But I didn't think they called her that in "Last Brave", and I tilted my head in confusion.
"There are only 2 girls in the Hero's party, right? So we started calling each other nicknames to get closer. Dee-chan, Na-chan, Kirakira-chan..."
"Kirakira-chan?"
"Because Diona's powers sparkle when she uses them!"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the ridiculously casual nickname. And at the same time, I remembered that in "Last Brave", Diona and Marta were close, but they never dropped the honorifics.
What's different from 'Last Brave' is that there are fewer women in this party. Elvira's position has been replaced by Arnold, so the balance of men and women is off. That's why Marta is trying to get closer to Diona this time around."
"Diona still uses honorifics with me, too."
When I said that, Diona smiled wryly.
"It's just a habit, I guess..."
"Yeah, so at least drop the honorifics, okay?"
Marta still looked dissatisfied. But I agreed with her too.
Somehow, I've started calling Diona by her name without honorifics, but Diona still calls Laura "Laura-sama". It's just not natural.
"Ah, I agree. The honorifics and all that are a bit of a hassle."
"See? Two against one Majority wins!"
Marta seemed to gain confidence now that she was in the majority, and she began to press Diona. Diona, cornered, took a few steps back while looking at me with pleading eyes. However, I had just agreed with Marta a little while ago, so I smiled wryly and responded to her gaze.
Diona looked troubled, furrowing her brow ―― and then, she seemed to give up. After taking a few deep breaths, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Uh, um... Laura, and, Marta"
Marta turned around with a delighted expression. Her face was overflowing with joy, and I couldn't help but laugh.
Although it's possible that new members might join Hero's party in the future, for now, there are only 2 women. Even if they're traveling companions, there are things that only women can understand. I wanted Diona and Marta to deepen their friendship.
As I watched the 2 of them with a smile, the door suddenly burst open. I reflexively replied "yes" and the door slowly opened. Standing there was ―― Arnold.
"Are you done changing?"
"Ah, Arnold, what are you doing, barging into a lady's room like that!"
Arnold glanced at Marta, let out a sigh, and then ignored her as if she were invisible. He walked past her and looked down at me, sitting on the chair.
"If you're done changing, that's good. I want to talk to you."
"Ah, yes"
Marta puffed out her cheeks behind Arnold, looking upset, but Arnold himself didn't even flinch. Instead, he said "let's go" and turned around, and I reflexively stood up.
Marta, who had been ignored until now, seemed to have given up. She closed her mouth and followed me out of the room.
The back of Arnold's head, walking ahead of me, somehow felt nostalgic. At the same time, I felt a pang of sadness, and I couldn't help but call out to him.
"Uh, Elvira-chan is doing well. You must know since you see her face every day, but she's become like an older sister in the village."
Twitch, and Arnold's back stiffened. Then, as if he had pulled his right foot back half a step, he turned around halfway.
"I'm not just worried about her, I'm worried about you too. I'm not concerned about myself."
――With a rough tone, yet with a reliance that was placed in him, it was somehow embarrassing, but not unpleasant. So, without realizing it, he was smiling.
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