Chapter 175 A Cloudless Blue Sky
――Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, the ground shook. It's an earthquake. How many times has it happened now? At first, it was just a faint rumble, but gradually the ground started shaking, and now earthquakes are happening day and night without warning.
I wonder if Hero and the Demon King are facing off right now. I don't have any special power to sense that. So when I'm awake, I just clasp my hands together in front of my chest and pray for Hero's party to be safe.
Please, I just wish they'll come back safely, without a single person missing. That's all I pray for.
'――Laura'
Suddenly, I felt like my name was called, and I looked at Arnold with a start. In that instant――I noticed the black mist seeping out from behind him.
I reflexively stood up. And I called out Akari's name.
"Laura――!"
The next moment, a powerful shockwave hit me, and I fell to the ground. In an instant, a bright light flashed before my eyes. ――It was an explosion.
Even though the blast shook my eardrums, I didn't feel any impact. That's definitely thanks to Akari. When I managed to open my eyes in the dazzling light, I saw a fluffy fur right in front of me. It seemed that Akari, in its wolf form, had pinned me down to its chest.
'Laura-sama, are you okay?'
Ciello-sama's voice called out from above my head.
I looked around and realized. The black mist was drifting around the edges. It seemed that my body was protected by a barrier, so I didn't touch the black mist.
The explosion from earlier must have destroyed the barrier that was surrounding Arnold――As I panicked, Akari's fluffy body came crashing down on top of me.
"Akari!?"
I crawled out from under Akari's body. And when I stood up, I saw Akari's injured form. ――Akari must have gotten hurt because the barrier was broken.
I hugged Akari tightly, trying to protect ,
'Laura! Arnold is!'
Wentle-sama's voice made me look up with a start. And then I searched for Arnold's figure.
Arnold, who had been sleeping peacefully inside the barrier until just now, was lying on the stone bed. The black mist emanating from his body seemed like it was about to devour him at any moment.
――The seal on the magic is about to break.
I thought instinctively.
"Laura-chan?"
I heard Marcedes-san's voice coming from beyond the door. She must have heard the explosion from earlier.
――What should I do? What can I do?
In an instant, Lukas's painful face and Elvira's resolute smile flashed in my mind. Arnold's body was being consumed by the black mist more and more. There was no time left. I had to make a decision.
I gently laid Akari's body, which I was holding, on the bed and looked ahead. The black mist that was constantly overflowing would soon cover the entire bed, and I wouldn't be able to see the stone floor beyond the few meters around me, which was protected by the barrier. The barrier had been broken, and Akari was also injured, lying limp on the ground. It would be extremely difficult to re-seal the barrier in this state.
――I'll use the prototype. I'll open the holy land, release the barrier, and unleash the demon king's power from Arnold's body.
I slapped both my cheeks and shouted towards Marcedes-san and the others beyond the door.
"I can't hold back the demon king's power Before it puts any more strain on Arnold's body, I'll use the prototype!"
I took out one of the prototypes from my bag and gripped it in my right hand.
With Marcedes-san's firm response, "I understand," as my cue, I saw 2 orbs of light appear on either side of me. From their colors, I knew they were Wentle-sama and Ciello-sama.
Akari, who had been maintaining the barrier, and Likerland-sama and Avour-sama might have been severely injured in the earlier explosion.
'I'll open the door to the holy land if you give the signal.'
"Wait, please!"
I involuntarily raised my voice at Wentle-sama's words.
If I open the door now, the black mist ―― the demon king's power ―― will be released all at once. I don't know if it's harmless or not. If the black mist becomes an attack method, we'll be wiped out if we release it here.
First, we need to deal damage to the demon king's power. We can't let it go unchecked, not even a little.
"I'll take care of the prototype first. Then, open the door right after."
'...Got it."
I stood up after hearing Ciello-sama's response. Before heading towards Arnold's place, I called out to Marcedes-san and the others.
"I'll take care of the prototype, and then we'll open the door right away! Be prepared for battle, as the black mist ―― the demon king's power ―― might burst out with incredible force!"
If I can deal with the prototype and the demon king's power flees or takes damage and gets sealed again, that would be great. But there's also a possibility that the black mist will attack us or a explosion will occur ―― I don't know what will happen. Arnold and I might not make it out unscathed. But we can't afford to hesitate anymore.
I took a few deep breaths and approached step by step.
As I got closer, Arnold's figure became clearer. His peaceful sleeping face from earlier had changed, and he was now frowning, his face twisted in pain. And to my shock, his body was covered in black mist, and some of his exposed skin was blackened and cracked.
The sight of Arnold's body being consumed by the demon king's power left me speechless.
"What, this..."
What attacked me was undeniable fear. I couldn't help but freeze in my tracks.
I bit my lower lip tightly and approached with quicker steps than before. ――And, just when I was about to reach out and touch it,...
'Laura-sama, the barrier...!'
Ciello-sama shouted. And before I knew it, the barrier that had been protecting me shattered with a loud noise.
It's probably due to the demon king's power that this is happening. Who would have thought that Arnold had such immense power sealed within him?
The barrier broke, and in an instant, dark tendrils wrapped around my feet. In a flash, a sharp pain ran through my fingertips.
I bent my body in agony, and my gaze naturally fell to my feet. And then I realized. The tips of my shoes were stained black. ――Is this because of the demon king's power invading me?
'Laura!'
I heard Wentle-sama's voice from afar. Perhaps the Spirit-sama and others couldn't get close due to the evil power that broke the barrier.
The pain made my consciousness fade, and my thoughts grew dull. But one thing was certain ―― this dark energy was definitely harmful to humans. Ah, I'm glad I didn't open the door. I muttered to myself, sweating profusely.
(Arnold must be feeling this pain too)
I took a step forward, then another, in a daze. The pain spread from my feet, and my exposed knees turned black, cracking and peeling off like a flaky surface.
The pain intensified, but my legs moved on their own.
I opened the container's lid to prevent the prototype from touching the dark energy, and I hugged it to my chest with both arms. But the dark energy quickly invaded my arms, and I panicked, hiding the prototype in my mouth.
By the time I reached Arnold, my entire body had turned black. I couldn't even feel the pain anymore.
I crouched down, stretching out my hand to his black, cracked cheek. My fingertips turned black, crumbling, and the black dust fell onto Arnold's cheek.
(Arnold...)
Would my crumbling fingertips return to normal? If they didn't, I might not be able to continue as an alchemist. But even so, it was okay. My fear had already vanished.
I leaned forward, gently grasping Arnold's hand, which was black and crumbling like my own fingertips. And then――perhaps for the last time――I kissed him.
* * *
――When I came to, I was wandering in a dark, empty void. There was nothing here. Only an endless, deep darkness spreading out before me.
In my hazy consciousness, I saw my parents' faces. It was a fleeting, dreamlike scene.
They were gazing at me, tears streaming down their faces as they smiled. "Congratulations, it's a lively girl!" a gentle, female voice said.
Behind my parents' faces, I saw an unfamiliar woman's face. Her long bangs hid her expression, but I knew she was wearing a very gentle smile.
The woman floated in like the wind, and I thought she was going to kiss my forehead. In an instant, something warm spread throughout my body from where her lips touched.
With an expression like she was cherishing her child, the woman gazed at me, and then she vanished into thin air like she was dissolving. I felt a deep sadness, as if I had been abandoned by her, and I let out a loud cry. Then, my parents laughed with a mixture of worry and amusement, saying "You're full of energy!" in bright voices.
――That was the scene when "I" was born into this world as Laura Ampère.
Suddenly, my parents' faces grew distant. And before I knew it, the darkness returned. What was that scene, and who was that woman?
I didn't know. I couldn't find the answer, and I was left to wander in the darkness again――this time, I heard a man's voice.
'This child is our treasure.'
It was an extremely gentle voice. I could tell that it came from the bottom of his heart, a voice that cherished the other person.
'We want you to grow up to be a kind child who will protect the people precious to you.'
It was a heartfelt wish from a father to his child. Although it wasn't directed at me, and I didn't know who it was directed at, my chest felt full.
The man's and woman's voices grew distant. I waited, about to call out, and in that instant...
The darkness was absorbed, and the area was filled with light. My floating feet touched the ground, and I realized it.
"...Where is this?"
I narrowed my eyes, dazzled, and looked around. But there was nothing. The darkness had simply changed to light.
I took a step forward, searching for an exit, but my legs wobbled. I must have been floating in mid-air until just now. I didn't try to stand firm, and instead, I plopped down onto the ground with a thud.
Where am I, anyway?
What happened after Arnold gave me the prototype?
Am I alive or dead? I don't even know that much.
I'm surrounded by things I don't understand, and I let out a deep sigh. "Haa..." ――and then, at that moment.
"You've done something quite reckless, Ampère."
I heard a voice behind me, and my eyes widened. I couldn't turn around right away.
"――Ampère," I was called. There's only one person who calls me by that name.
Could it be? Really?
I gulped, swallowed my saliva, and slowly turned around. The person who called out to me was standing right behind me, but when I turned around, I could only see their feet, and I couldn't confirm their face.
I raised my gaze, tracing their body from their feet to their chest, neck, and finally, our eyes met.
The one standing behind me was Arnold. He was looking down at me with a stunned expression.
"A, Arnold!? Where are we?!"
Why is he here? Could it be that we both died――
I hastily stood up, asking him a question to grasp the current situation before feeling any emotional reunion.
"You're inside my own consciousness. Ampère must have gotten caught up in my sealed magic."
This mysterious space is inside Arnold's consciousness. I was caught up in my sealed magic. ――Honestly, I didn't understand the meaning right away.
Arnold narrowed his eyes, explaining further, seeing my puzzled face.
"Thanks to the prototype, the demon king's power was weakened, and I was able to seal his power again. But at that time, Ampère was too close. The demon king's power caused your body to collapse... I don't know how to put it, but our boundaries became ambiguous, and Ampère's consciousness got caught up in my sealed magic as well."
I gradually understood the situation through his calm explanation.
It seems like the prototype's formula worked out well. And the demon king's power was successfully sealed away again. This was the best possible outcome. However――my consciousness, which was right next to him, was also sealed away by the sealing magic.
I recall the scenery right before I lost consciousness, and it's no wonder I got caught up in it. Both my body and Arnold's were crumbling to pieces at the time, and the dust that fell from our bodies must have mixed together. It's easy to imagine that the boundary between my body and Arnold's was quite ambiguous.
The mysterious darkness that had been lingering until just now was likely due to the sealing magic. ――But if that's the case, then what's going on in this situation? The darkness has cleared, and we're having a conversation in this bright, spacious area.
"Uh, what's going on right now?"
"I'm in the process of releasing the sealing magic."
"Eh..."
I'm in the process of releasing the sealing magic.
That means...
"There's no longer any demon king power inside me... It seems Lukas and the others defeated the demon king."
Arnold was smiling faintly.
The demon king's power, which had to be sealed away, was gone. That means――the Hero's side won!
I was about to express my joy, but tears fell before I could. One tear fell, and then another, streaming down my cheeks.
"I'm so happy, I'm so happy... everyone!"
Lukas, Diona, Vake, Marta, Julius, Elvira.
The faces of the Hero's party floated in my mind and then disappeared. They must be on their way back to the royal capital right now. I pray that they'll return without anyone missing or seriously injured. And we'll welcome them back with a grand celebration. Our heroes.
The face of my childhood friend, which had floated in my mind, reminded me of something Lukas had told me.
I wiped away my tears with both hands. And despite our historic victory, I spoke to Arnold, who still had a cool expression.
"Lukas is really angry, so be prepared when you wake up, okay?"
"...Ah..."
Arnold finally cracked a smile. His expression seemed to hint at the bond between the 2 friends.
He released his arms, which were crossed, and looked at me.
"Thanks for saving me again."
"It's all thanks to Spirit-sama and Lukas. I just provided the prototype, that's all."
"This isn't just about today."
Arnold shook his head slightly, looking unconvinced. He said with a hint of sarcasm,
"If that's what you think, then help me out in various ways after you wake up"
I used a vague expression, but what I meant was that I wanted him to help with supporting the city's alchemist, especially with persuading our superiors.
Arnold nodded slightly, as if he remembered something.
"You said you'd guide the city's alchemist, right?"
"That's right. It seems like the preparations are going to be tough, and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. Please lend me your wisdom."
"Got it."
It feels great, I thought. A warm feeling welled up from the bottom of my heart. If I could stay by Arnold's side like this from now on, that would be great, I thought ―― and suddenly, I wondered if that faint wish would come true.
Arnold had aimed to become a Royal Alchemist to cure his sister Elvira's Self-destruction disease. His journey with the Hero was an extension of that goal, and now that the demon king's seal had been achieved, his goal had been perfectly accomplished. If that's the case, what would Arnold do from now on? Would he quit being a Royal Alchemist and live his own life? ―― or would he drift away from me?
I had to ask him now, or I'd definitely regret it later. Thinking that, I mustered up my courage and asked.
"Hey, what do you plan to do after the aftermath settles down? Are you going to quit being a Royal Alchemist...?"
"I don't have any plans to quit right now. I owe Kasper-san a debt of gratitude that spans several years, so even if I wanted to, I couldn't just up and leave."
"Haha, that's the same for me too."
The fact that I owe Kasper-san a debt of gratitude that spans several years is the same for me too. It might not be just a matter of years, either. Anyway, for the time being, I'll have to be Kasper-san's right-hand man, responding to whatever unreasonable demands come my way.
I'm not planning to quit being a Royal Alchemist, just like Arnold said. I can still work in the same workplace for a while longer. During that time, I'll face my budding emotions head-on. Whether I choose to express them or keep them hidden in my heart, I still need a bit more time.
"And then――."
Just as Arnold was about to say something, a woman's voice suddenly echoed from somewhere.
'Laura-chan@ Arnold!'
The voice belonged to Marcedes-san. Next, I heard Akari, Ingrid-san, and my mentor's voices too. It seemed like they were trying to wake me up.
While I was shocked and flustered, Arnold remained calm.
"It's almost time for the seal magic to be completely lifted. I apologize for getting you involved."
I see. So the seal magic is wearing off, which is why I can hear voices from outside now.
As I tried to avert my gaze from the black eyes staring straight at me, I shook my head vigorously. No way. I couldn't face him like I used to. Maybe my cheeks were slightly flushed too.
Even as I worried about being misunderstood, I looked down and opened my mouth.
"No. Uh, so..."
Ah, a short response echoed in my mind. In an instant, I felt a strong force pulling me up, and my consciousness drifted away for a moment.
――When I opened my eyes again, the beautiful face of Marcedes-san had flown into my field of vision.
"Marcedes-san...?"
I blinked rapidly, and then sat up, my upper body rising. How long had I been asleep? My body felt heavy.
It seemed like I was sleeping in a room in Rustu's house. I could see Mentor and Ingrid-san beyond Marcedes-san's shoulder, looking relieved. The warmth I'd been feeling at my feet was probably Akari's.
"Ah, I'm so glad!"
I was tightly hugged by Marcedes-san. After hesitantly hugging back, I met Mentor's moist eyes beyond her shoulder and smiled. Ah, I must have worried them a lot.
Suddenly, I heard a low, sleepy voice coming from the side. When I looked over, I saw Arnold sleeping on the bed next to me. Ah, at this very moment, he opened his eyes. ――Finally, he woke up.
"U, uh..."
"Arnold!"
Ingrid-san, who was the first to get up, hugged Arnold tightly. Her voice was shaking with tears.
Arnold, still half-asleep, looked uncomfortable, but he hugged back tightly. Watching this heartwarming scene, I thought, "What a beautiful parent-child relationship."
After exchanging a few words and confirming that both Arnold and I were fully awake, Marcedes-san and the others decided to leave us alone for a while. I thought I'd take another nap, but before that, I realized I still needed to talk to Arnold, who had just woken up. When I looked at him, our eyes met, and I felt a jolt.
For a few seconds, we just stared at each other, and I couldn't help but blush. I probably, maybe, have special feelings for this person.
"Oh, good morning."
"Yeah."
We exchanged awkward greetings, and the wind caressed my cheek. It seemed like the window was open.
This sky was something Lukas and the others had taken back for us.
I couldn't help but hold my breath and gaze at the blue sky.
"Wow... what great weather."
"Yeah, it's a blue sky we'll never forget in our lives."
Arnold murmured, filled with emotion.
Just as he said, I wouldn't forget today's blue sky. From now on, I'd live through the peaceful days that the important people in my life had reclaimed for me.
"Laura."
I was called out, and I reflexively turned around. Of course, there was only Arnold there.
――Did he just call me Laura?
As soon as I realized that, my heart started acting weird. I felt restless and uneasy, my eyes darting around, and I wanted to escape from this place right now.
I couldn't see Arnold's face. I gripped my mattress tightly, staring at the back of my hand――
"I love you."
"...Huh?"
I had no idea what he just said. My thoughts came to a complete halt.
――What did he mean by "I love you"?
I unintentionally looked up, and our eyes met. Arnold's eyes were incredibly kind. He was looking at me with such gentle eyes.
He chuckled and turned his back to me, lying down. It seemed like he was going to sleep right there.
"I'll hear your response later. If you get shaken up now, it'll affect your recovery."
Response? Get shaken up?
――Did he just confess to me? Did Arnold just tell me he loves me?
"Hey, wait! Arnold!"
I called out to Arnold, who was trying to sleep. He didn't respond, even though he wasn't really sleeping. It was infuriating, and I felt like crying from the mix of emotions, but――in an instant, I was hit with a wave of drowsiness.
I couldn't resist it, and I reluctantly lay down. As soon as I did, I was consumed by sleep.
The last thing I saw was Arnold's back, blurry and distant. Right before I fell asleep, I heard Arnold's voice from earlier echoing in my ears again.
'I love you.'
――The emotions that had just started to sprout in my heart were about to bloom into a grand flower, all thanks to Arnold himself.
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