Chapter 160 Family
"Laura-sensei~ Over here!"
Leon-san showed me a decent-sized family home, one that could comfortably fit 4 or 5 people.
"Feel free to use this house as you like. Berta-san is also using the same house. Ingrid-dono and Marcedes-dono are in the house to the right, and Arnold-dono is in the house to the left."
The house is more than spacious enough for me and my mentor to live in. The interior is a typical family home, complete with a bathroom and kitchen. In fact, it's fully furnished, making it hard to believe that no one has lived here until recently.
"And, I've also prepared a set of tools for synthesizing healing potions. Since Iris and Diona have the magic cauldron, if you need to contact them, just catch one of the villagers from Rustu who's usually around and have them deliver the message."
Leon-san explained all this in a hurry, making me think that he might have a tight schedule ahead of him.
"Thank you so much, I'm sorry to trouble you."
I thought I shouldn't keep him any longer, so I bowed my head to cut off the conversation.
"Is that enough clothing? If you need anything else, let me know."
"Yes, thank you."
Despite his busy demeanor, Leon-san looked concerned as he glanced at my meager luggage. I had only brought the bare essentials since I had left Emme Village and the royal capital in a hurry, but I should be okay for a while.
He smiled, showing his teeth, and nodded reassuringly.
"Take your time and rest, Laura-sensei."
With that, Leon-san quickly took his leave. I watched him go, then took another look around the house.
The room with the bed had 3 rooms. I let my mentor use the one that gets the most sunlight, and I chose the one closer to the entrance from the remaining 2 rooms and brought in my luggage.
I placed my hand luggage on the table and collapsed onto the bed like I was going to sleep. The high-quality mattress gently supported my body.
(Everyone would probably be okay...)
I must have been tired from being on edge for so long, because my consciousness was quickly consumed by sleep. I took a deep breath of fresh air, and slowly closed my eyelids.
* * *
With a yawn, I woke up. It was a refreshing wake-up without any sleepiness.
I looked outside the window. The sun's figure could barely be seen through the gaps between the distant mountains, but it seemed like it was already nighttime.
I stretched my back and got out of bed, heading towards the living room. However, I couldn't find my mentor anywhere. I wonder if she went out somewhere.
What should I do, I thought, and then I remembered Leon-san's words from earlier. He told me that Marcedes-san and Ingrid-san lived in the house to the right, and Arnold lived in the house to the left.
"...I'll go take a look."
Before I knew it, my feet were heading towards the house to the left.
There was a Rustu villager standing in front of the house, probably a lookout. He bowed his head when he saw my face and opened the way for me. It seemed like I was allowed to enter.
Inside the house, there was another Rustu villager standing guard. He was standing in front of a door, and I immediately realized that Arnold was sleeping on the other side.
"Good evening, Laura-sensei."
It was probably because Reinhardt-san or someone had explained about me, but being called "sensei" by a man I had just met for the first time was embarrassing. I smiled vaguely, and he politely opened the door for me, saying "please."
I couldn't say "I won't enter" due to his polite response, so I bowed and entered the room. What I saw in front of me was Arnold, sleeping on a very impressive bed.
I took a step forward. Brr, the cold air tickled my cheek. As I looked around in wonder, I realized that a large magic circle was drawn on the floor and ceiling. It was possible that some kind of magic was cast on this entire room.
I sat down on a chair near the bed and peered at Arnold's face.
"(Seal magic, or...)
As someone with magic talent, he didn't question the existence of this magic, but when I thought about it, "seal magic" was a terrifying magic. It could even seal the power of the demon king. If it was misused, it would be disastrous. Anyone with strong magic power could use it, right?――
I shuddered at the unpleasant thought.
"Are you feeling better now?"
I was startled by the voice behind me and reflexively stood up from the chair. The chair let out a loud creak as I pushed it back with one hand, and I turned around.
There stood a beautiful red-haired woman――Ingrid-san.
"S-sorry I didn't mean to..."
"No, I'm glad you're here. My son would be happy too. Come visit whenever you like."
I was captivated by Ingrid-san's gentle smile. She was truly a beautiful person.
Ingrid-san invited me to sit down, and I remained standing, looking down at Arnold.
"I heard about you from Arnold's letter. You're very talented and can understand people's feelings."
"Did, did he say that about me?"
"Well, he didn't exactly say it in so many words."
It was unexpected that Arnold had written about me to his mother, and it seemed he had conveyed it in a roundabout way. As Arnold himself wouldn't have told me his secret, it felt uneasy to hear it from his mother, as if I was eavesdropping.
"I wanted to invite you and your childhood friend to my house once everything was over, but unfortunately, our house was destroyed by monsters. It looks like the invitation will have to wait."
Ingrid-san said this with a bright, cheerful voice, but I couldn't help but feel uncertain, and all I could manage was a stiff smile in response.
I'm getting nervous just by looking at him, but Ingrid-san gives me a gentle smile. And then, she says.
"Really, thank you. You saved Elvira and Arnold."
Suddenly, she bows her head, and all I can do is shake my head and say "No, no, no!" I must have looked really desperate, because Ingrid-san chuckles and looks up. Then, she glances at Arnold.
"This child hasn't cried once since the day his father passed away. He also never relied on his mother, me."
That's believable. Of course, I've never seen Arnold cry either. Even right before he used the seal magic and fell into a long sleep, he was smiling. He called out to me, "Laura...".
"Is there something I can do to repay you? Anything you want, anything you'd like me to do, just tell me."
Those words bring back memories. Arnold said something similar to me before. And I was really troubled by those words.
Most people have thought at some point, "Anything is fine, just don't make me choose." I'm thinking that right now. I thought that when Arnold said it too. But I couldn't possibly say that out loud.
I'm struggling to come up with a response, looking around――and then I notice a small photo on the headboard.
"That's a family portrait of us. We had it drawn when Elvira was born."
I must have been staring at it intently, because Ingrid-san notices and picks up the portrait, handing it to me. I take it and stare at it.
The person sitting in the central chair is undoubtedly Ingrid-san, although her hair is longer than it is now. The baby she's holding is probably Elvira. And the boy standing in front of her, looking cheerful, is definitely Arnold.
――And then, there's one more person. A man with a gentle smile, standing behind Ingrid-san's chair, is someone I've never seen before. He has black hair and black eyes, and is smiling peacefully. Who is....
"This person is..."
"My husband."
Ingrid-san teaches with a gentle voice.
"If he's a human, Elvira..."
"Ah, yes. He was one of the messengers who came from a certain country to Noit Country, and he was a kind and gentle person."
When I look, the man's ears are round. Being a messenger to Noit Country ―― the country of elves ―― means he held a certain position, I suppose.
"Arnold and Elvira both have hair and eye colors similar to that person, but aside from that, they resemble me. If their personalities were similar to that person's, I wouldn't be this worried now."
Hehehe, Ingrid-san chuckles nostalgically. Then, she gently strokes the portrait of her husband with her long fingers.
They must have loved each other deeply. No, I can tell that Ingrid-san still loves her husband, and her loving gestures make me blush.
In the family portrait, my eyes are drawn to the man's round ears. While relationships between humans and elves are generally good, marriages between different species are extremely rare.
I wonder if there was opposition in their household, and my mind starts to wander. After all, they were a family that lived in a village where "A village where outcasts gather" gathered, as Arnold said.
"Is it really rare for elves and humans to get married?"
"Huh?"
"You're staring at me so intensely."
I'm caught by Ingrid-san's remark and blush. Was I staring at her that intensely?
"Um, I'm sorry to ask something rude, but... didn't you face opposition when you got married?"
I ask hesitantly. Despite the bold question, Ingrid-san doesn't show a displeased face, but rather narrows her eyes.
"When people hear our story, they assume it's a grand romance that ended in elopement. You too?"
"Yes..."
Honestly, my poor imagination didn't reach the possibility of "elopement," but if I shake my head here, the conversation might fall apart, so I nod quietly.
"Well, it's not wrong. We were both kicked out of our homes, so it's like we eloped. But we didn't have a passionate love or anything... We just needed each other, so we decided to be together. That's all."
"To each other, to each other..."
Ingrid-san looked up from the portrait and gazed out the window. Her green eyes, which seemed to see far into the distance, were calm and gentle, yet they trembled with the sorrow of having lost a precious person.
"A passionate love that burns brightly is wonderful too. A fateful bond is something I admired since I was young. But for us, that was enough."
There are many forms of love and affection. Lukas and Diona from "Last Brave" were probably destined to be together.
It's sad, but until today, I, who had only been focused on synthesis, couldn't fully understand the beautiful emotion of love that Ingrid-san held in her heart. But I thought it was wonderful. No matter what form it takes, having someone who can smile so kindly is truly wonderful.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?"
I said what I thought, and Ingrid-san laughed innocently like a girl.
"Thank you."
Life is different for each person. I don't know if someone like Ingrid-san's husband will appear in my life or if I even need that. But I've already formed connections with many people. That's enough, and it's even excessive, I think.
I placed the family portrait on the headboard. At that moment, the boy Arnold, who wasn't smiling at all, caught my eye.
I compared the boy in the portrait to the young man sleeping on the bed now. He hasn't changed, I thought. His childishness has disappeared from his facial expression, but even now, Arnold often makes this kind of face.
What will Arnold do after everything is over? Will he continue to be a Royal Alchemist, or will he quit once Elvira's case is resolved? ――I also feel like Kasper-san won't allow that.
Even if he were to quit being a Royal Alchemist, I thought it would be great if we could at least meet regularly, and just as I was thinking that, Ingrid-san suddenly spoke up from the side, saying "That's right."
"I forgot to invite you to dinner. If you can eat, let's go."
Ingrid-san smiled softly and held out her hand to me. Her slightly raised mouth corners resembled Arnold's, and I laughed and nodded, saying "Yes."
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