Chapter 178 Epilogue
The door to the synthesis room was knocked on. I stopped preparing the materials and replied "come in." Then, a woman with tea-colored hair entered the room.
Her name is Mira. She's a city alchemist working at the Flaria branch here.
――It's been 2 years since the demon king's defeat. I, who became a regular Royal Alchemist, started working at the Flaria branch this spring.
During my travels, I found my dream of "supporting the city alchemists." To make this dream a reality, I requested a transfer to a local branch office. After working in the royal capital for a year, my juniors Iris and Basilio-san have also become capable individuals this spring. My request for a transfer was finally approved.
I've been talking to my boss, including Kasper-san, about supporting the city alchemists, and as a result, I got transferred to the Flaria branch this year. I think it's because this city is close to the royal capital, making it easier to keep an eye on things. Anyway, I need to achieve some results here before I can move forward.
Mira handed me several letters.
"Laura-san, you have some mail."
"Thank you."
I received 4 envelopes and one postcard.
I flipped them over to check the senders' names.
(It's from Chelsea... and this one's from Lina-senpai)
Lina-senpai became a regular Royal Alchemist at the same time as me and got transferred to a branch near her hometown. Since the demon king's wounds still haven't healed, Royal Alchemists are being sent to more branches. The demand for healing potions is still high.
Chelsea passed the promotion exam this spring and is now taking care of the juniors in the royal capital. The recruitment quota has increased since Iris's generation, and she's surrounded by many juniors, living a busy but fulfilling life.
I've been exchanging letters with them on a regular basis. Today, I got a letter saying something like, "This happened today," "I found this amazing synthesis method," or "Let's have tea together again soon" ―― our exchange is still going strong.
(This is about Basilio-san and Iris...)
Basilio-san and Iris, who are my juniors, are currently living in the royal capital. Both of them have been appointed as instructors for junior students.
I've heard that Basilio-san's knowledge of poisons is highly valued among the Royal Alchemists. On the other hand, Iris is still doing her own thing, and it seems she has no intention of taking the promotion exam anytime soon. She says she doesn't want to lose her freedom if she becomes a full-fledged Royal Alchemist.
I'll read the 4 letters I got after work, and respond to them slowly in my dorm.
Finally, I'll reach out for the postcard. The landscape painting on it, done in a soft, watercolor-like touch, is unmistakable even without looking at the sender's name.
(It's Luka!)
――I haven't seen Lukas in 2 years, but he's been sending me postcards from his travels around the world, depicting the scenery of the places he's been to.
The message attached is short: "Take care of your health."
But that's enough. If my childhood friend is doing well, that's all that matters. The only problem is that Lukas keeps changing locations, so I can't send him a response.
The postcard depicts a cityscape I've never seen before ―― an old-fashioned, harmony-style city. It's probably not in Ostria.
"What a wonderful postcard. Who sent it?"
When I'm asked from behind, I proudly hold the postcard next to my face and smile.
"My proud childhood friend."
The moment Mira tilts her head, saying "Childhood friend?", the clock in the room chimes, signaling 3 o'clock.
It's not snack time, but study group time.
I hurriedly put the documents on my desk into my bag.
"I'm off to study group!"
The synthesis room I've been assigned to is on the second floor. The study group is held in the synthesis room closest to the entrance on the first floor. I rush out of the room.
――Study Group. It could be said it's a regular lecture where we gather the alchemists from the city and surrounding areas. It's one of the ways I'm supporting the city's alchemists, a dream I've always had. I started this right after I arrived at the Flaria branch.
First, I visited the nearby cities and villages to gather participants. At first, many alchemists looked puzzled, but after persistent efforts, we now have around 4 or 5 alchemists attending the study group regularly. Today, we're going to learn about identifying herbs, mainly through lectures.
I ran down the stairs and entered the room where the study group is held. There, 5 alchemists welcomed me. Four of them were familiar faces, and one was a new face I'd never seen before.
Carmen, the veteran from Vetti Village, brought the new girl to introduce her.
"Laura-san, thank you again for today. And, we have a new member joining us..."
"I'm Aina, an alchemist from Bumala Village."
Aina, the girl who introduced herself, smiled softly.
It's not yet famous, but the existence of this study group is slowly spreading among the alchemists in the surrounding cities and villages. Now, we even have people coming from faraway villages.
"I'm Laura. Thank you for coming today, Aina. If you have any questions or need advice, I'll do my best to help."
I extended my right hand for a handshake, and she returned it with a firm grip. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and she seemed to have a strong will to learn.
After they took their seats, we began today's study group.
We've only had a few sessions so far, so the content is still very basic. We're starting with identifying herbs and the fundamentals of synthesis. These self-taught alchemists have biases in their knowledge or have developed their own synthesis methods. Interacting with them, who aren't bound by traditional knowledge, has been a great stimulus for me as well.
I used the materials I created to study in class, and then we went to the herb garden to observe real herbs. We also answered questions. Before I knew it, two hours had passed.
Fuuh, I let out a sigh, and just then, the bell signaling the end of work rang. It's 5 o'clock. I have to send them off before the sun sets.
"Let's disband here for today. It's already this late."
The alchemists thanked me, bowing their heads, and began preparing to leave. I hope today's study session was of some help, I thought, as I started cleaning up too.
Thud, thud, the alchemist who came for the first time today, Aina, rushed over.
"Um, Laura-san, I have a question――."
Just as I was about to answer, the door to the synthesis room opened, and
"I heard Laura Ampère-dono was here."
A familiar voice shook my eardrums.
I hastily turned around towards the door. There was a black-haired man—
"Arnold!?"
I couldn't help but rush over to him. Then, he slightly softened his expression.
――Arnold Rocco. As an excellent alchemist, he was currently in a position to lead young alchemists in the royal capital, similar to Kasper-san in the past. Why was he in Flaria?
"Why are you in Flaria?"
"I had some business with the branch chief, and I heard about the study session at the reception desk."
In other words, he came to observe the situation.
Flaria and the royal capital. Although they're not far apart, it's been a while since we last met due to our busy schedules. The last time we met was when I visited the royal capital on business――that was about 3 months ago, I think.
Back then, I celebrated my 18th birthday with Arnold and my friends in the royal capital. In this world, 18 is considered adulthood, and Diona, Elvira, Marta, and even Lukas, who sent a 3-page celebratory letter, came to celebrate with me. It was a truly memorable day.
I tried to calm my excited heart, which was about to jump for joy at our reunion after 3 months. But our study group wasn't over yet.
"Can't we do the cleanup later?"
"Yeah."
After getting permission, I turned to Aina, who had come to ask me a question earlier. She was blushing and shaking her head vigorously.
"N, no! Don't mind about me!"
"I came on my own. You're the one who should be prioritized."
Arnold said this in a slightly higher tone than usual, trying not to intimidate her.
He was now a dignified adult man, having recently turned 20. The thin lines on his face from 2 years ago were gone, and he even exuded an air of confidence. His hairstyle, with one side of his bangs raised, made him look even more impressive. He had changed his hairstyle to avoid being looked down upon as a young alchemist, but it seemed unnecessary.
I managed to coax a question out of Aina, who was too afraid to speak, and finished explaining everything. Then, she thanked me and quickly left the synthesis room, almost as if she was afraid of Arnold.
It was understandable, but I couldn't help but smile at the thought that I was trying not to intimidate her, yet she was still scared. After all, it was the first time I'd heard Arnold use the polite term "kimi (you)" to address someone!
"Hehehe."
"What's so funny?"
"It's just that Arnold using 'kimi (you)' is hilarious!"
Arnold let out a sigh and crossed his arms, tapping his right arm rhythmically with his index finger.
"...I thought she'd be really intimidated by my appearance. If I had called her 'omae,' she might have even cried."
There were wrinkles between his eyebrows, a habit of his.
It was probably due to his habit that he often got headaches, which he had complained about 3 months ago. As a person in a position of responsibility, it was no wonder he often worried about things.
I mimicked Arnold, tapping my own eyebrows with my finger.
"You can't get rid of those wrinkles, no matter how long you try."
"That's just my personality. Even Chelsea said my wrinkles have become less noticeable."
"If Chelsea says so, then maybe it's true."
Chelsea used to be unable to speak to Arnold properly. It was unclear whether it was out of respect or plain fear, but she had become able to talk to him directly, which meant Arnold had also mellowed out.
From what Lina-senpai wrote in her letter, he was greatly feared by the newcomers. They called him a "demon boss" or a "demon instructor" behind his back. However, in the same letter, Lina-senpai also wrote, "He's become quite gentle, hasn't he?" Those who knew his past would all say the same thing.
I laughed and ended the conversation, then resumed cleaning up after the study group. Since we didn't do any synthesis today and only had a sit-down lesson, there wasn't much to clean up anyway.
I stacked up the documents and was about to pick them up when Arnold suddenly snatched them from me.
Ah, I thought, but in an instant, he had already started reading the documents he took from me, muttering to himself.
"...I heard the city's alchemists are doing well under your guidance."
"Not yet. I've just started, and we're all still feeling our way around. If we can't make it work here, we won't get official permission. Honestly, my expectations were a bit too optimistic..."
Ever since I came to the Flaria branch, I've been painfully aware of my own naivety.
The study group is expanding smoothly, but to be honest, I can only handle about 5 people on my own. Preparing for the study group takes time and encroaches on my sleep, and if we don't create an environment where city alchemists can study together soon, I might end up breaking my body. While I can provide a venue, I'm thinking of proposing a study group without me, but we still need to prepare tasks for everyone to work on together, and...
I said it myself, so I can't make excuses. But sometimes, my cowardly heart still shows its face.
"But I'm definitely making progress, aren't I?"
That's when Arnold always gives me strong words of encouragement.
"...That's right. You might as well go all out and do it with your lives on the line."
Fuuh, I let out a sigh and tried to laugh it off. However, Arnold didn't laugh back, and instead, he looked down.
"I would've helped if I were in a more carefree position."
He said it with a tone that was even more downbeat than before, and it was so pitiful that I couldn't help but laugh.
He must be really thinking that from the bottom of his heart. He's a serious and kind person, after all.
"You've been promoted, so it's impossible now. You won't be able to organize the royal capital's alchemists properly if you did that."
When I said that, his eyebrows scrunched up, and his mouth twisted into a scowl.
But this expression of Arnold's wasn't anger, it was pouting. So, I added some consolation to my words and spoke again.
"I'm just happy with that feeling."
Then, Arnold finally relaxed his expression.
――After that, Arnold carried the documents all the way to the synthesis room. He said he had business with the branch head, so I received the documents from him at the door and saw him off as he headed to the branch head's room. He promised to visit my synthesis room again after he was done.
I had to finish up before then, so I hurriedly entered the synthesis room. Miria was waiting there to help me, so I took advantage of her kindness and we started cleaning up together.
"Laura-san, you're in a good mood, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
I was caught off guard, and my cheeks turned bright red.
I must have had a really obvious expression on my face. It was embarrassing. But just as Miria said, I was in a good mood right now.
I brushed it off and we continued cleaning up.――And after about ten minutes, I heard the sound of the door opening behind me. Then,
"Laura."
I was called out before I could even turn around. It was Arnold's voice.
I didn't stop what I was doing, but I turned my face towards him and asked,
"Are you done already?"
"Yeah."
It was surprisingly quick. I thought Arnold would come out and chat with me for a bit longer, but...
It was clear as day that there was still unfinished business, so Arnold called out to me, "Want some help?" I turned him down, telling him I needed a bit more time, and shot him a glance ―― only to notice Miria's sparkling eyes right next to me.
Before I could even ask what was going on, Miria's voice trembled as she asked,
"Ah, you're... you're that Arnold-san?!"
"Huh?"
Arnold's face twisted in confusion.
He was a celebrity, a renowned alchemist and one of the Heroes. His handsome appearance only added to his charm, and I'd heard that women would even visit the royal capital just to catch a glimpse of him. But don't worry, Lina-senpai wrote to me in a letter right after I arrived at the Flaria branch, telling me not to bother with him at all.
Miria, who was usually calm and collected also older than me, was getting excited in front of the famous Arnold. I couldn't help but think it was cute.
"Laura-san is dating him, isn't that true?!"
The bombshell dropped.
"What?! Oh, Laura!"
Arnold's face turned towards me, looking flustered.
I waved my hands wildly in front of my face.
"Wait, I didn't say anything I didn't even mention his name!"
"...That's a pretty weak excuse."
Arnold's name was too well-known. If I let it slip, it would only lead to trouble. That's why I tried to avoid mentioning his name as much as possible. I could use other terms like "senpai" or "acquaintance" instead.
So, I rarely mentioned that I was dating Arnold. Only people like Chelsea, Lina-senpai, and Diona knew about our relationship. So, why did Miria know about us?
"No, no, it's a famous story among us! The genius boy and the genius girl are a couple, after all!"
The genius boy and the genius girl. The familiar terms made me exchange a bitter smile with Arnold.
"...Kasper-san, huh?"
Kasper-san used to think I was Arnold's girlfriend. Back then, I wondered why he had such a misunderstanding, but... who would've thought that misunderstanding would become a reality?
Our boss, Kasper-san, was supposed to be informed by Arnold, but since our workplace isn't that strict, we didn't need to get permission for our relationship. However, hiding it felt kinda awkward.
We weren't hiding the fact that we're dating, we just didn't actively announce it to others. It's not like it would cause any trouble if people found out, but... it's just embarrassing. That's all.
I quickly finished my tasks, glancing at the sparkling Mira, and we left the Flaria branch together.
"I finally understand why people look at me weird whenever I mention Laura's name..."
"Haha... it's just too much for me too."
I nodded in agreement with Arnold, who let out a deep sigh. It seems like people around us have figured out our relationship.
I wonder how far the rumors about the genius-kun and the genius-chan have spread... even the people at the Flaria branch might know.
"By the way, did you meet Diona when she visited the royal capital the other day?"
I quickly nodded at Arnold's attempt to change the subject. A few weeks ago, Diona and Marta came to visit me.
Now, they're both traveling freely, without any urgent business. They stayed in Flaria for a few days, and we had a lively and enjoyable time.
"Yes, they stayed for a few days. Marta was with her too."
"...but when Diona came to visit me, she was alone."
Arnold said with a hint of suspicion. Since Marta heard rumors of a "great treasure" in Flaria, she probably didn't go to the royal capital and instead rushed to the treasure's location.
I smiled wryly and asked about the people in the royal capital.
"Is Vake-san still the same?"
"Ah, yeah. Olivelle-dono was sighing, saying that even as the head of the Knight Order, he doesn't seem to be settling down at all."
"That's so like Vake-san, isn't it?"
Vake's domestic travels seem to have finally come to an end after 2 years, but he's still visiting various places during his downtime. There are still cities that need time to recover. In that case, if the head of the Knight Order directly visits, it's bound to boost people's morale.
As a citizen, it's a welcome move, but from Vice Commander Olivelle-san's perspective, it must be tough to be the assistant to a commander who often disappears on his own. You can't help but feel sympathy for her.
Suddenly, Arnold exclaimed, "That's right!" as if he remembered something.
"Vake heard rumors about Julius in the city. He's doing pretty well as a bodyguard... mercenary."
Julius. I widened my eyes at the mention of his name.
I haven't seen him even once since that day. After the funeral in his hometown, he's been traveling around. Marta, who visited Flaria the other day, said she ran into him on her travels and they've been meeting up occasionally, but Diona said she hasn't seen him. I guess he's busy as a mercenary.
Anyway, if he's doing well, that's good.
"Is that so? Marta said she meets up with him sometimes..."
"Maybe they get along well."
"Yeah, maybe."
It's a comfortable relationship, like having a bad friend, where you can tease each other lightly. For Julius, who lost his hometown, having someone like that is a big deal.
I felt relieved, thinking, "Good for him," and the next face that came to mind was Elvira, a girl who walks alongside Arnold. The last time I saw her was 3 months ago, at my birthday party. She was still a bit childish back then, but she's growing into a beautiful woman.
"Is Elvira-chan still the same?"
"Yeah, still running around everywhere for spirit research. I heard she's in Megana city now... I heard Akari's been following her around lately."
A hint of anxiety crept into Arnold's eyes. No matter how powerful a hero he was, to Arnold, Elvira was still his cute little sister who hadn't even reached adulthood yet. He had opposed her traveling alone until the very end, and even now, he couldn't help but worry.
However, Elvira wasn't alone. A very strong presence was with her. ――That's right, the water spirit Akari.
"Yes. The water spirit become quite good at chatting."
Now, Akari could have smooth conversations like a kid around ten years old. Akari, who was like a hometown friend from Flaria, would sometimes come to visit me through the entrance to the spirit's dwelling.
"She wrote in the letter that she'll be stopping by the royal capital again soon. If the timing works out, please show your face."
"Hehe, looking forward to it."
As our conversation came to a close, I arrived at the dormitory in Flaria where I was staying.
I invited Arnold to my room, which was similar to the one I used in the royal capital. Please have a seat and I'll make some tea, I said, and placed the letter I received today on the desk.
Arnold sat on the sofa as I instructed, and seemed to have found "that" in the letter on the desk. He asked me, without turning around, as I prepared the tea.
"Is this postcard from Lukas?"
My gaze remained on the teacup, and I nodded without confirming. The answer was already decided the moment Arnold mentioned the postcard.
I carried 2 cups with steam rising from them and approached Arnold, who was sitting on the sofa. As expected, he was holding the postcard Lukas had sent.
I sat down next to him and handed him a cup.
"Where is this... I think it's probably outside Ostria."
"What a wonderful drawing. He still sends me sloppy drawings, though."
――So, Lukas has been sending Arnold postcards regularly, but they don't have beautiful scenery on them. Instead, they're more like scribbles. I saw one when I went to the royal capital, and it had some kind of animal-like thing drawn on it in black ink, all messy and rough. I couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be.
I asked Arnold if he was okay with getting these kinds of scribbles, and he said they had a fight the day before he left. He didn't tell me what the fight was about, but it seems like they still haven't made up.
"Still not made up?"
"He's just being stubborn on his own."
Arnold had a sulky expression on his face, too.
He and my childhood friend were supposed to be close, but somehow they just didn't click. It was like their buttons didn't match up. You could tell they cared about each other, but... that was just how they were.
"...It's been 2 years since we last met."
He muttered, and then Arnold put his cup down on the table and looked at me.
"Is it really 2 years since you last saw each other?"
"Yeah. It's really lonely, isn't it? I never thought we'd go this long without seeing each other."
It's been 2 years since they last met. Lukas must have grown up a lot by now.
It's lonely. But if my childhood friend is following his own path, then that's the best.
Arnold looked down, his long eyelashes trembling.
"Yeah, I'm lonely too."
"...Honest."
I blurted it out in surprise.
Arnold glanced at me sideways and then gave a thin, self-mocking smile.
"My mom's been threatening me lately, saying I need to be more honest or I'll end up running away."
I blinked a few times and then tilted my head.
The conversation wasn't making sense.
"Running away from who?"
"Who else but you?"
Is he saying he'll run away from me if he's not honest?
――So, even now, I sometimes get teased by Lina-senpai, asking if I'm really okay with Arnold. Like, "Are you sure you're fine with him?" It's true that he's not exactly the ideal boyfriend, being a bit rough around the edges, inconsiderate, and clumsy. He's definitely not the typical ideal partner people talk about.
But over the past 2 years, I've never felt strongly dissatisfied with Arnold as a partner or as a person. I've thought that if he just improved a bit, things would go more smoothly, but it's not a problem that can be solved just by saying it out loud. Besides, he's self-aware, and as I saw earlier with Aina, he's been making an effort to change, little by little.
In other words, I've never gotten tired of Arnold over the past 2 years, and I've never felt the urge to look at someone else. The idea of running away never even crossed my mind.
For me, he's still the only one.
"Are you not going to run away? I already know Arnold's not straightforward, so..."
When I said that, Arnold's cheeks turned a bit red. He looked down, avoiding eye contact, and continued.
"...But, yeah. I was told to take advantage of Laura's kindness."
Honestly, it didn't quite hit the mark, but it made me happy that he was thinking about me seriously. I was worried that he might not understand, but I decided to be honest and see how it went.
So, I thought about how to get out of this situation, and an idea popped into my head. It seemed like a great plan.
"How about we practice being straightforward, then?"
"Practice?"
This time, Arnold tilted his head.
I nodded and continued.
"Like, once a day, we can try being honest with each other, no matter who it is."
Arnold's eyes widened in surprise, and his expression changed.
I thought my idea was great at first, but now I'm getting a bit anxious seeing him like this. Is he really that shocked?
"Was that childish of me?"
I looked up at Arnold, furrowing my brow. ――And then, without warning, he took my right hand.
Arnold's fingertips brushed against the stray hair on my forehead, gently tucking it behind my ear. Then, without changing his expression, he softly stroked my cheek once, twice.
My face drew closer. Our breaths intertwined. Through the lenses of his glasses, his dark eyes pierced through mine. And then,
"――I love you."
The words were whispered at a distance where our lips almost touched. Ah, I thought, as I felt the heat of his lips, and quickly pulled away.
――He said "I love you" and kissed me.
When I realized what was happening to my body, my cheeks flushed. I glared at Arnold, who was smiling smugly in front of me.
"You're so destructive, please warn me next time..."
I was the one who said it, but Arnold's destructive power was truly terrifying. The usual stern expression on his face would suddenly soften, and it was a moment that would never get old.
However, it seemed I wasn't the only one who got hurt. Arnold's face, right next to mine, was also red. I had set the trap and ended up getting caught myself Ah, it was ridiculous. It was lovely.
"Laura."
He called out my name, as if scolding me. Even at this close distance, I wasn't afraid of his glare at all.
I bumped my forehead against his, and smiled.
"I love you too."
If we both turned bright red up to our ears, it was clear we weren't suited for love or romance.
I wondered when we would get used to it. But there was no need to rush; we could take our time, just like us. There was no need to hurry, because we had plenty of time.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he tightly hugged me back. Arnold, who had gotten used to being hugged by me, wrapped his arms around my back and held me close, just like usual.
* * *
It was a sunny day.
Before the bell rang, I was preparing in the synthesis room when Mira called out to me with a hint of hesitation.
"Laura-san, the alchemist from Essen Village wants to meet you. They're waiting for you at the reception desk."
Mira told me, and I rushed to the reception desk. There, waiting for me, was a girl with hair the same color as mine.
She gazed at my figure, her red eyes sparkling.
"I'm an alchemist in Essen Village I heard that the Royal Alchemist here teaches synthesis..."
Her hand tightened, grasping her chest. She must be nervous.
To reassure her, I forced a gentle smile.
I extended my right hand, intending to shake hands. However, the girl bowed her head deeply before I could.
"Please, make me your disciple!"
――Her figure overlapped with my own from the past.
I, too, had once become a disciple with a single-minded determination. She must be feeling the same intense nervousness as I did back then.
Make me your disciple. Now that I'm on the receiving end, I realize for the first time. It doesn't feel bad at all to be begged like that. My mentor back then must have been happy, too.
I smiled gently, accepting her words as I had been accepted before.
"Please, come in. Let's talk in my synthesis room first."
The girl's face lit up. Then, she exclaimed.
"Mentor!"
――Mentor.
Who would have thought that I'd be called that someday?
It's strange, and it makes me happy, and I can't help but laugh.
"Haha! Being a mentor is nothing grand, but..."
I turned to face the girl again, and asked.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Roura. Uh, that is..."
I saw her stumble over her words, and I realized that I hadn't introduced myself yet.
I took a small, deep breath before opening my mouth.
"I am――."
――My name is Laura. Laura Ampère. I'm from Emme Village, a small, secluded but warm village.
Age, 18. Occupation, Royal Alchemist. My dream for the future is to support alchemists all over the world.
Born into this world with the blessing of being Hero-sama's childhood friend, I live in this world, and I will die in this world.
The opening bell rings. For the girl in front of me, I wish this bell would become a blessing bell.
――Now, a new day begins.
And so, Laura Ampère's life will continue from here on.
With many new encounters to come.
THE END
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