Chapter 132 A Dreamy Conversation
As I spent my days making antidotes, I couldn't help but think about something. It was about whether we could attack the monsters through the soil or not.
If things continued like this, it would be a cat-and-mouse game until Lukas and the others returned. Although the circulation of the toxin was slow for now, we didn't know when something would happen. Instead of being on the defensive, I thought, couldn't we interfere from our side?
If I had the time to think about such things, I should be making more antidotes. That's why I decided to consult with Avour-sama, who was setting up a barrier with Flaria, about not thinking unnecessary things during synthesis.
During lunch break, I called out to Avour-sama in one of the rooms at the inn where we were staying.
"Avour-sama, may I ask you something..."
'What is it?'
"Likerland-sama can purify contaminated soil... which means he can purify poison, right?"
'That's right.'
I reconfirmed Likerland-sama's power as a prelude. Although I believed it, his confident tone gave me a sense of relief.
"Will the trees infected with poison also recover?"
'Ah, yes. He's interested in healing polluted lands.'
The hobby of healing polluted lands is extremely welcome to us humans. From Avour-sama's tone, I wondered if he had seen Likerland-sama heal polluted lands before.
I wasn't doubting Likerland-sama's power, but it was reassuring to hear him say it so confidently.
I let out a sigh of relief, and then asked another question. This was the main topic.
"The root cause of the monster is a plant-type monster, and it's likely rooted in the soil. Can Likerland-sama's power track down its roots?"
'What's the point of tracking it down?'
"For example, we could create a special medicine effective against the monster, and then use Likerland-sama's power to inject it directly into the roots, defeating the monster..."
Avour-sama was silent for a few seconds in response to my question. After thinking for a few seconds, he honestly muttered, "I don't know..."
'I wonder if it's possible to limit it to that extent, but surely you can at least get them to take the special medicine you've got ready, even if it's just a symbolic gesture.'
I nodded in agreement. My idea seems to be almost feasible, but developing the "special medicine" might be difficult. After all, it needs to be harmless to the trees in the forest and only exhibit attacking properties against monsters.
Couldn't we just use Hero's power to seep into the ground as is? That's the strongest power against monsters. If that's too difficult, then maybe we could use the prototype we used to expel the demon king from Elvira's body. It's in liquid form, so the possibilities seem higher than using Hero's power as is.
"The raw material is The Drinking Water of the Spirits, so the great tree won't have a rejection reaction or anything, right?――"
"Y-yes, excuse me for a bit."
I was muttering to myself, thinking about this and that, when I heard Marta's voice coming from the other side of the door. I hastily stood up and turned towards the door. There, I saw Marta and Arnold, who was leaning on her shoulder.
For a moment, our eyes met, and then Arnold stumbled away from Marta and collapsed onto the bed in the inn, looking like he was about to pass out. He looked terrible, and I couldn't help but gaze at him with concern. Marta then placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I brought him here because he was about to collapse from sleep deprivation and overwork! Sorry, but can you take a look at him for a bit?"
I let out an involuntary cry of surprise. But, as I thought about it, Arnold had been overworking himself for a while now. It was only a matter of time before he collapsed from exhaustion.
I pulled a chair over to Arnold's bedside and sat down. When I peered at his face, he looked unusually worn out.
At a time like this, the one who's most to blame for Arnold's condition is Arnold himself. So, I don't intend to say anything, but still, he's been working himself to the bone and almost collapsed.
I glanced at my watch. We still have a lot of time before lunch break ends, so if we borrow the inn's kitchen, we might be able to whip up something like porridge. ――Whether it'll be delicious or not is a separate issue.
"Well, he has been synthesizing during the day and keeping watch at night, so it was only a matter of time before this happened, yeah..."
I looked at Arnold with wide eyes as I heard Marta's words from behind me.
After synthesizing during the day, if we were sleeping at night and he was keeping watch, when did he ever sleep?!
"...Are you keeping watch at night?"
"It's just that I'm a light sleeper."
Arnold replied with a nonchalant tone, his attitude implying that it was no big deal.
"Hey, I heard he has been going on night patrols with the Savila Knight Order every night?"
Every night. I finally raised my voice and asked Marta, who had been poking holes in his story.
"Are you kidding me, you haven't slept at all!? "
It's a wonder he didn't collapse earlier. If he had just said he was keeping watch at night, he could've reduced his synthesis workload during the day. But he didn't say a word, just went to his room after finishing his daily tasks――now that I think about it, he must've been preparing for his night watch in his room.
I stared at Arnold in disbelief. He avoided eye contact, looking uncomfortable.
From behind me, where I was sitting on a chair, Marta peeked out and glared at Arnold.
"I've been thinking this for a while, but if Arnold keeps going like this, he'll die young. He's always getting hurt trying to protect his friends, and he's taking on too many night watches. It's not my place to say this, but..."
Marta's words gave me a glimpse of the "traveling Arnold" I didn't know.
"Self-sacrifice isn't beautiful, you know. You should tell him that, Laura. I know he won't listen to me, so..."
Leaving those words behind, Marta left the room, saying she was going to get a healing potion. I handed her a note asking her to bring one back for me and saw her off.
As the silence flowed between us, Marta's words from earlier kept echoing in my mind. Self-sacrifice. I couldn't help but nod in agreement with Marta's words about Arnold.
Devotion and selflessness, that's what people say. Arnold's talent has led him to be summoned all over the place, and he's relied upon everywhere. It's become so natural for him that he's developed an arrogant attitude, and he's too careless about wearing himself out.
"...How did it come to this? I, who have been saved by Arnold-san many times, shouldn't be saying this, but I think you're overworking yourself."
Arnold didn't answer. Maybe he didn't want to.
It's not like I can force him to talk, so if he doesn't want to answer, there's nothing I can do. I got up from my chair, thinking I might as well make some tea.
"If I focus on something, I won't have time to think about unnecessary things."
Arnold muttered and sat back down in his chair.
Then, I waited for his next words.
"I don't do anything, and I'm alone, so I think about unnecessary things. It's been like that since I was a kid. If I don't scold myself with strong words, I'll crumble to pieces."
His voice was smaller and weaker than usual. I wonder why, but Arnold, who was lying on the bed, looked really small.
――I somewhat understood what Arnold was trying to say. His beloved little sister had a difficult disease that could take her life at any moment, and he was terrified of losing her suddenly. When he had free time, he thought about unnecessary things. That was terrifying, and Arnold didn't give himself time to think about it.
Elvira's self-destruction disease had been cured, but now he was facing the problem of the demon king. For Arnold now, there was no need to think about unnecessary things――he didn't want to create that time.
"I hate myself more than anyone. I'm pathetic and weak."
Arnold covered his face with his arm, muttering, "I'm more of a coward than anyone."
Maybe, even back when I thought he was arrogant, he was fighting against unknown fears all by himself. And even now.
I think it would've been better if Arnold didn't have any talent. If he didn't have the talent for synthesis, if he didn't have the talent for magic, he wouldn't have been able to corner himself like this. Because he can do so many things, he also has many ways to hurt himself.
What a clumsy person he is. Why――
"...what's with that face?"
Before I knew it, Arnold was staring at me, muttering to himself. Was I making that kind of terrible face?
I opened my mouth in surprise.
"What, what should I say? I don't know"
"You don't have to say anything. I'm just talking to myself"
Saying that, Arnold let out a sigh and closed his eyes. His face was pale.
If Arnold wasn't here, if Arnold hadn't done all this, there would be many things that couldn't have been done. Thanks to his excessive efforts, many things were accomplished. I knew that, but still, I thought...
"Even if Arnold-san has his own thoughts, as my honest opinion, I wish you wouldn't push yourself too hard"
That was my genuine feeling. Even if Arnold was told this, he would still push himself too hard and wear himself out. But I couldn't help but say it.
I wanted him to have a peaceful time after all his struggles since childhood. I knew that was my selfish desire, but I couldn't help but wish for it.
"――then, won't you talk to me about something?"
"Huh?"
"So I won't think about unnecessary things right now"
I was taken aback by Arnold's sudden words. It was true that now might be a time when Arnold would think about unnecessary things, but I didn't have a rich conversation topic, and I didn't think I could have a fun conversation to cheer him up.
"What should I talk about..."
"Anything is fine. Talk about your hobbies or your dreams"
Saying that, Arnold opened his closed eyes and looked at me once. However, he closed his eyes again soon after.
It's embarrassing to say, but I don't really have a hobby. I'm not the type to have big dreams either. I've never had a dream that's interesting enough to share with others.
Something... I was desperately thinking of a topic to talk about, when suddenly "Last Brave" came to mind.
Come to think of it, I've never told anyone about my "past life". I don't plan on telling anyone in the future either, but... I think I wanted someone to hear about it. The story of my impossible "past life" that suddenly came back to me when I was a kid. The story of a world that could have been, that I've been carrying with me all this time.
Before I knew it, my mouth had started moving.
"...I had a strange dream. The people in it were the same, but the world was similar yet slightly different from reality."
Yeah, this is a story about a dream. A dream I had when I was a kid, with a surprisingly realistic feel to it.
"In the dream world, Lukas was the Hero, and he was on a journey to stop the demon king's revival. His companions were Diona, Vake-san, Marta, and... Elvira-chan. And there was one more young man I'd never met in this world."
When Elvira's name came up, Arnold opened his eyes slightly and looked at me.
"In that world, I wasn't an alchemist, but was waiting for Lukas to return in Emme Village."
Laura Ampère, the sad girl who didn't become an alchemist, waiting for Lukas to return in the village. I'll never walk the same path as her again, but I hope she finds her own happiness.
"Arnold-san wasn't in the dream, though..."
Marcedes-san, Olivelle-san, Kasper-san, Chelsea, and Lina-senpai weren't in that world either. And neither was Arnold.
A world without them is honestly lonely, I think. If they weren't there, the Laura Ampère I am today wouldn't exist. And I wouldn't be able to spend this peaceful time with Arnold, even if it's just temporary. So...
I felt Arnold's gaze and turned to look at him, and he was staring at me with an interested expression, his black eyes fixed on me. I felt embarrassed, thinking I had said something weird, and quickly changed the subject.
"It's about that weird dream I had."
That's the end of it.
I smiled as if to deceive myself and stood up from my chair. I'll go make some porridge now.
I left Arnold with the words "I'll make something" and reached for the doorknob. Then, with a creak, I opened the door.
"If you hadn't aimed to be an alchemist, maybe there would have been a different world like that."
――In an instant, Arnold's words shook my eardrums, and I turned around involuntarily. However, he didn't look at me, keeping his eyes closed.
I've wondered many times what would have happened if Laura Ampère from this world hadn't aimed to be an alchemist. Would I be standing here now, or would it be someone else? Or would the entire development have changed? But it's something I can't understand no matter how much I think about it.
There are countless worlds that could have existed. However, "I" chose this world. Since I chose this path myself, I have no choice but to keep moving forward.
(First, let's focus on recovering Arnold's strength)
If he collapses for a long time, it becomes a problem not only in terms of synthesis but also combat power. I want to help him recover his physical condition as soon as possible, so I ran to the inn's kitchen.
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