Chapter 138 Purification
――After being attacked by monsters, I managed to escape the crisis thanks to Lukas, Elvira, and the newly born water spirit. Without taking a break, we asked Likerland, the earth spirit, to purify the poisoned earth.
The great tree of Fontapuune, which we had wanted to protect the most, had already withered away, but that was because it had fulfilled its duty. The earth purification was necessary for the sake of the other trees in the forest.
"Then, please."
'Leave it to me.'
The tea-colored light orb nodded and transformed into a man with dark skin, holding a vessel filled with water. He drew a circle around himself, sprinkling water as he went. Then, he kneeled down and gently touched the ground――in an instant, the trail of water he had poured emitted a faint light.
The light spread outward from the circle. The ground seemed to sparkle and shine.
As I watched with bated breath, the man, who was Likerland, stood up. And then, light emanated from his body, and he returned to his original form――the light orb.
'It's okay, now. Don't worry.'
His voice was reassuring.
Likerland's words brought relief to our group as well. Diona, who was standing next to me, let out a sigh mixed with a murmur.
"...That's amazing, the power of spirits."
"But we still haven't defeated the monster, so it's not like we can relax."
The tension that had eased up was once again tightened by Vake's calm remark. Yes, the monster that had scattered the toxic substance, the root of the problem, still remained undefeated.
While feeling sorry for using Likerland's power when he was tired, I asked him.
"Ah, Likerland-sama, can you track down the location of the monster that's rooted in the earth?"
'I can grasp everything in the earth.'
As expected of the earth Spirit-sama. If we borrowed his power, we might be able to attack the monsters hiding in the barrier through the earth.
I suppressed my excitement and asked again, more slowly.
"So, if we inject the monster's weakness, a special medicine, directly into its roots, we could..."
'...I've never done it before, but it's probably possible. However, rather than tracing the roots, I'll spread a magic circle throughout the forest, and from that magic circle, I'll give the monsters in the ground and on the surface a special medicine that'll affect them.'
Likerland is amazing. If he can affect not only the underground but also the surface with its trial products, then he should be able to attack monsters that don't have roots on the ground too. ――That is, as long as the monster doesn't have wings and isn't floating in the air, and has its feet on the ground, that's the idea.
I glanced at Lukas without thinking, and he was looking at me with slightly puzzled eyes.
――That's right, I haven't told anyone about this plan yet.
Feeling embarrassed for jumping the gun, I proposed it again to everyone. Since the monsters are interfering with us through the earth, can't we do the same thing to them?
Arnold and Marta, who had been experimenting with Flaria, didn't seem surprised at all and quietly nodded. Lukas and the others also seemed to understand my poor explanation and agreed to try it out right away.
Leaving the method to Likerland-sama, what we need is a "special medicine." that only affects monsters. This is probably where the trial product comes in.
For now, it's better to obtain The Drinking Water of the Spirits.
"Then, let's first create a special medicine using The Drinking Water of the Spirits as a material..."
"Is The Drinking Water of the Spirits still effective? I thought Fontapuune, the source of that spring water, had completely withered away."
Arnold's calm remark made me pause.
――Oh, I get it! The Drinking Water of the Spirits probably has its own special power, not just the power of a spirit. It's not like everything will stay the same just because a new spirit was born.
I was holding the puppy ―― the water spirit ―― and gazing at it. Then, as if it understood everything, it let out a "Woof" and jumped down from my arm to the ground. And with its adorable little steps, it approached The Drinking Water of the Spirits.
(What's it going to do...)
It placed its front paws on the roots of the great tree, the source of the water, and let out a distant howl.
It felt like the cute puppy's distant howl was shaking my brain, giving me a strange sensation. What could I say, it was like an echo, or like it was releasing some kind of clear power.
The howl caused the water's surface to ripple. The water spirit gazed at the rippling water's surface for a few seconds, making a "splashing" sound, and then took a step forward, onto the water's surface.
Ah, by the time I thought that, the water spirit was already "walking" on the water's surface.
The light spread from where the spirit walked, illuminating the entire area of The Drinking Water of the Spirits. The puppy, which had walked on the water with a carefree gait, came running back to me with its little legs.
"...Did the water spirit use its power?"
Arnold muttered.
"Pop.." The water's surface was already completely still. I picked up the water spirit, which was playing around my feet, and ran towards The Drinking Water of the Spirits. And I peeked in.
"Beautiful..."
The water's surface, which I peeked at, was more transparent than ever before.
The water spirit yawned in my arms. Did it get tired from using its power?
I didn't know what had happened. But it was clear that the water spirit had done "something" to The Drinking Water of the Spirits.
"Laura, want to try it?"
I didn't even notice when, but Lukas suddenly crouched down beside me and asked me a question.
I slowly nodded, and then I poured some 'Drinking Water of the Spirits' from a container. When I handed it to Lukas, he hugged the container to his chest and closed his eyes. ――In an instant, an incredibly bright light shot out of the water, making it impossible for him to open his eyes.
I blinked rapidly, blinded by the light, and exchanged glances with Lukas.
"Did this kid... strengthen The Drinking Water of the Spirits?"
I couldn't find the right words, but maybe the power of the water spirit increased the effect of The Drinking Water of the Spirits.
Lukas nodded greatly. Maybe he felt something when he poured his power into it.
I couldn't stay still and stood up with a burst of energy. When I turned around, Arnold was staring at me intensely.
"A special medicine that might work on monsters, I'll prepare it right away. Please rest until then, everyone... Lukas, Diona, can you lend me your power?"
Lukas, who was standing nearby, and Diona, who was observing from a distance, both nodded greatly.
――It seems like it's going to work out. The plan that was vague when I was alone was becoming more realistic with everyone's power.
I gently stroked the water spirit sleeping in my arms, feeling grateful. I didn't know much about this kid, but at the same time, I was being helped a lot.
We decided to return to Flaria for now, taking The Drinking Water of the Spirits to recreate the special medicine.
* * *
The monsters attacked Fontapuune-sama's great tree at midnight, and we returned to Flaria around dawn.
As expected, we decided to take it easy for the day, and since we were all sleep-deprived, I slept soundly until evening. When I woke up, the sun was already setting, and I rushed out of bed in a panic――but Marta and Diona in the same room were still sleeping quietly, so I quietly left the room without waking them.
"Laura."
It was a familiar voice that called out to me as I left the room.
When I turned around, Lukas was standing there with a gentle expression.
I couldn't help but rush over to him.
"Lukas."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, thanks to you."
As I replied, my childhood friend let out a sigh of relief. Then, with a serious tone, he said.
"I'm glad we made it in time."
His voice, mixed with a sigh, sounded lower than the voice of my childhood friend that I knew. It made me think about how much he had grown during our journey.
Today was a really critical situation. Looking back, it was like a miracle that we were saved by a series of coincidences. We were overwhelmed by the continuous developments, but when I think about it now, I still feel scared.
If Lukas hadn't given me the spirit stone, if a new water spirit hadn't been born at that timing, if Lukas and the others hadn't made it in time... I would probably be inside a monster's stomach by now.
Lukas and I walked side by side.
"There are still a lot of problems, but at least we've got one thing settled."
We've also found a pretty effective way to defeat the monsters that are poisoning the forest. It's going smoothly, so I don't think there's anything to worry about.
Lukas looked a bit thoughtful, then gazed at my face.
"That spirit that's like a puppy..."
"It's still sleeping. It might be exhausted from using its power."
When I woke up, it was curled up and sleeping beside my pillow, so I left it alone and went out of the room. It looked just like a puppy when it was sleeping.
Lukas crossed his arms and went "Hmm."
"The water spirit, what's up with that?"
"Probably. It was born from the spirit stone you gave me, and... Ah!"
That's when I remembered. I hadn't told him that the spirit stone ―― the charm ―― had broken.
I stopped in my tracks and looked up at Lukas.
"Sorry, it broke."
"It's okay, if it protected Laura, then it was the right thing to do."
Lukas smiled kindly at me and said, "Don't worry about it." But then, his expression suddenly turned gloomy.
"But... I was really fond of it, so it's a bit sad."
He said something really cute.
My childhood friend, who looked like a sulky kid, made me smile unintentionally. I was happy to know that he had really liked the present I gave him.
"Can you wait a bit? I'll look for something that can replace it."
"Thanks!"
Lukas's face lit up, and I smiled even more. Then, I started thinking about what would make a good replacement present.
Let's create a similar charm using a beautiful stone that can replace the spirit stone. Or maybe, I should make something completely different.
Hmm, I was lost in thought, and then Lukas just stopped walking out of nowhere. Next thing I knew, we were standing in front of this super famous flower field in Flaria that everyone loves to visit.
"Did Laura hear about Julius's hometown?"
――When Lukas started talking about Julius's hometown, I got really nervous and bit my lip.
This question meant Lukas had already talked to Julius and heard his wish to be friends, and must have heard about his hometown too.
"...Yeah."
I nodded slightly. Then Lukas looked down, and began to speak slowly.
"There was a village... with an altar to worship Likerland in the center... I think it was attacked when Likerland was sealed."
I didn't think that was the case. I was pretty sure about it. But when my childhood friend told me it was really true, I still felt a little surprised and unsure
I looked down, nodding, "yeah" in agreement. Lukas's hand, which had entered my field of vision, was clenched tightly.
"There was nothing left. No people, no buildings... everything was trampled by monsters..."
Lukas let out a sigh, and then...
"...it's so painful..."
He said in a trembling voice.
I couldn't say anything. I just stared at Lukas's shaking fist.
"I couldn't save them, I... I'm a hero, but I couldn't save them..."
"Luka..."
The words Lukas muttered, "I'm a hero, but..." were now a curse. It was a cruel phrase used by a kind-hearted hero to blame himself.
Indeed, Lucas is this world's Hero. But just like he and me and everyone else, he was born as a regular person. He just happened to receive some extraordinary abilities, that's all. And yet――
But Lucas, he doesn't resent the world, or his fate. Instead, he looks forward, stands up, and protects people. That's why, perhaps, even the God might have chosen him to be a Hero.
"I've been playing the role of a hero to protect the people I care about, but... I want to reduce the number of people who think like Julius, even if it's just by one."
"...Yeah."
I looked up at Lukas. He was no longer looking down.
Far away, he gazed at the horizon, saying something. His profile, lit up by the evening sun, looked strong and divine.
"I want to be a hero."
――Maybe at this moment, Lukas became a true hero. Until now, being a hero was just a job given to him, but now he wanted to become one from the bottom of his heart. This might be the moment of a hero's birth.
Lukas's expression was still unsmiling. However, I could sense a strong will in his eyes.
He'll be okay. His strong-hearted friends will support him too. But as his childhood friend, I still worry.
I couldn't help but call out to his strong profile.
"Luka, you're definitely a hero, but you're also human. Don't overdo it or sacrifice yourself."
"...Yeah. Thanks, Laura."
Lukas smiled, looking happy, and his eyes sparkled. That was the Lukas I knew.
We stood side by side, gazing at the beautiful flower field in silence. It was a peaceful time.
After a while, Lukas stretched, took a deep breath, and let it out.
"Alright! I feel refreshed!"
I smiled, feeling relieved, when I heard a "Woof!" from behind. I turned around, and there was a white puppy ―― or rather a water spirit.
"What's wrong?"
When I called out, it wagged its tail and ran towards me. It started playing with my feet, so I picked it up, and it licked my face.
"Haha, did you wake up too?"
Lukas laughed beside me. Maybe it woke up and came to find me, just like he said.
I felt a sense of affection towards the pet, but at the same time, I was puzzled. Why did it become so attached to me? I did try my best to help Fontapuune-sama, but so did Lukas and Arnold.
I asked Lukas my question, and he paused for a few seconds before...
"Maybe it think of Laura like it mom. After all, you were the first person it saw when it was born."
Huh? He started talking about things like that?
Even as a childhood friend, I couldn't help but show a slightly surprised face.
"That's like... a bird's chick or something..."
"But it seems like it doesn't want to be separated from Laura."
The water spirit, who was sniffling and rubbing its face against my chest, looked up at me. Seeing its appearance, I couldn't help but think that Lukas's hypothesis might have some truth to it.
I found a glittering blue stone in its pure white fur, and my heart skipped a beat. According to Avour, this stone embedded in the child's forehead is the new spirit stone.
That means....
(One can't enter the holy place without bringing this child along, right?)
It seems impossible to remove just the spirit stone on its head for now. In that case, the fact that this child is so attached to me is not very desirable.
Ugh, the water spirit licked my troubled cheek again with a sloppy "slurp."
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)