Chapter 82 Rocco'S Sibling
On a holiday morning, a knock sounded at the door of the dorm room.
Chelsea and I exchanged glances, wondering who it could be, and then we heard a voice from the other side of the door.
"Laura Ampère."
Elvira's voice came through the door.
Chelsea and I were puzzled because Elvira and I were not exactly friends. Nevertheless, I smiled and opened the door. As expected, there stood Elvira, looking up at us.
I invited Elvira inside the room and asked,
"Elvira-chan, what's up?"
"Try this."
She said, handing me a container of healing potion. Even though she didn't explain, I could tell it was a healing potion she had made.
I took a sip, and then she asked,
"...How is it?"
"Good, perfect."
Upon hearing my answer, Elvira's face lit up with relief. She seemed pleased, but she didn't show it openly.
In response to my unintentional smile, Elvira looked up at me again. I felt a pang of guilt as her strong black eyes seemed to reprimand my smile, and then she unexpectedly asked,
"Do you have time today? If you do, could you come shopping with me?"
――She lowered her eyebrows anxiously, and looked up at me with a prying look. Feeling uneasy, I couldn't refuse her request, and I found myself nodding reflexively to Elvira's words.
* * *
The royal capital was as crowded as ever on the holiday. To avoid getting separated, Elvira and I held hands as we walked along the main street.
However, she hadn't mentioned the details of our shopping trip to the city.
"By the way, Elvira-chan, what are you buying?"
"Wrapping paper and some small items."
"Small items?"
"I haven't decided what to buy yet. Even if I ask what I want, my big brother says he doesn't need anything..."
Big brother. After Elvira uttered those words, I had a feeling she was planning to give a gift to him.
"A present for Arnold-san?"
Elvira nodded quietly. There was a deep shadow on her downturned face.
"I've just been causing trouble for my big brother all the time..."
Her words trailed off, but it seemed that she had thought of giving a gift as a way of expressing her gratitude. It was quite cute.
Unable to resist such a beautiful sibling love, I stopped and squatted down, meeting Elvira's gaze.
Then, looking into her slightly anxious, wavering black eyes, I asked,
"Is wrapping paper for wrapping healing potions? If so, wouldn't it be better to get a specialized case?"
Regular wrapping paper wouldn't protect it from impact. Although not extremely sturdy, there were specialized cases available in larger stores that perfectly fit the shape of the container.
Elvira seemed surprised at the existence of these cases, but then she slowly nodded. Taking it as her agreement to my suggestion, I took Elvira's hand and led her toward the renowned tool shop in the royal capital.
The tool shop that came into view was obviously large and luxurious. It boasted the best selection of items out of all the tool shops in "Last Brave".
We entered the store and looked for what she needed. It took a little bit of effort to find the item I don't usually buy, but eventually, we found the container of the healing potion placed in a corner by the wall.
"There are plenty of them."
"It's good to choose your favorite design."
As I spoke to Elvira, who was looking up at the shelf, she lowered her head.
I panicked, thinking I might have said something wrong, and peered into her face, and she lowered her eyebrows, looked very sad, and spoke in a tone of regret.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know what my brother likes. He has always been away from home since a long time ago."
Elvira's words startle me.
――To cure his younger sister's serious illness, Arnold became an alchemist's apprentice at a young age and has dedicated everything to her ever since. All for his beloved sister. But as a result, the time he spends with her has drastically decreased.
It can't be helped. Elvira knows this very well, which is why she says this in a hushed voice and doesn't cry or complain.
"If I gave him something he doesn't like and he didn't accept it, I would be sad. That's why I thought I would bring Laura, who spends a lot of time with my brother, with me."
Looking down at Elvira, who had lowered her head, I think.
Elvira must have been lonely. And she must have been desperately trying to endure it.
Elvira glanced up at me, perhaps worried about my silence. Her black eyes brought me back to my senses, and I smiled at her. And then,
"...Honestly, I don't really understand Arnold-san's preferences either."
When I honestly expressed that, Elvira clearly slumped her shoulders. I liked her honesty, so I continue speaking.
"But I know that Arnold-san really loves Elvira-chan."
――I know the kindness in the voice calling her "El," and the gentle look in his eyes as he gazes at his sister. Arnold's strong declaration that he couldn't die for Elvira resurfaces in my mind.
Elvira doesn't doubt her brother's love, but she's not mature enough to hide her loneliness.
My words gradually soften Elvira's tense expression. However, it seems she's still not fully convinced, her adorable lips tightly closed. I decided to speak my true feelings.
"If Elvira-chan decided on something for Arnold-san after thinking it through, I'm sure he'll be happy."
Elvira gave a small but definite smile and nodded. Then, from the various cases lined up on the shelf, Elvira carefully chose one design.
Later, we visited a general store to pick out a small gift to go with the healing potion. After getting advice from the clerk and spending a lot of time deciding, Elvira finally chose a beautiful black fountain pen that matched her brother hair and eye color.
* * *
The next day, as the sun was starting to set, there was a gentle knock on the dorm room door.
When I opened it, there was Elvira, looking worried, just like yesterday. The difference was she was holding a big bag this time.
"Elvira-chan, what's wrong?"
"My big brother isn't in his room..."
Elvira looked down as she spoke.
The bag she was holding probably had the healing potion and fountain pen we prepared yesterday. She must have gone to Arnold's room to give them to him, but he wasn't there.
"Um, so what about the synthesis room? Maybe in the library or something..."
"I searched everywhere with Mel, but he wasn't anywhere."
"If that's the case..."
It seems like she has searched most of the royal castle. But if he's nowhere to be found ―― maybe he is in my Mentor's inn.
Having this in mind, I took Elvira's hand and left the royal castle. Then, with the setting sun on my side, I stepped into the inn. I was about to go up the stairs in front of me, but then I suddenly thought that Arnold and the others might be having an argument about self-destruction disease, So I temporarily asked the familiar landlady to look after Elvira.
I climbed the stairs and stopped in front of the room where my Mentor was still staying. She had been staying for quite some time, but I was worried that the lodging fees might be piling up. Despite that, I knocked on the door in front of me.
"Mentor, excuse me."
When I called out, I received a lackluster "Yeah," so I opened the door. And there――
"Huh, he's not here."
I looked around the room, but Arnold's figure was nowhere to be found.
My mentor, who was sitting on the bed reading some documents, asked me, eyes widening slightly at the sudden visit of her disciple.
"What's wrong, Laura?"
"I'm sorry for the sudden interruption. I was looking for Arnold-san..."
"Oh, he was here until just now."
It seems my intuition wasn't wrong. It seems I was just a little late.
I dropped my shoulders and sighed.
"So I guess we just missed each other..."
"No, he said he was going back after getting some fresh air, so he might still be wandering around."
I had no idea where Arnold might be wandering around in the capital, so I figured it would be better to give up looking for him there. It might be easier to just wait in front of his dorm room at the royal castle.
I turned to leave but then my mentor suddenly asked me a question.
"Elvira is learning about healing potions from you now, right?"
Did Arnold tell her? I was surprised, but since it wasn't a secret, I nodded honestly.
"Yes. She wanted to give a healing potion to her brother. Also, if her Self-Destruction Disease comes back, it might help if she knows a bit about it."
My mentor seemed satisfied and nodded a few times. She might have thought the same thing when she heard about Elvira.
I noticed some books piled up on the table. I could only see the cover of the top book, but from the title, it seemed to be about potion-making techniques. It looked like something my mentor wouldn't need anymore, so I tilted my head in curiosity.
"What have you been up to lately, Mentor? I see some books here..."
"Oh, a cheeky little girl has been coming by on a whim. She's spoiled, but she reminds me of you when you were younger. A genius, really."
She looked at me with a smirk, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. To avoid eye contact, I kept looking at the books and asked again.
"So, you've been teaching this girl?"
"Not exactly. You haven't been around much lately, so it's just a little pastime for me."
My mentor sounded a bit sulky, and I couldn't help but look at her.
My mentor came to the royal capital of her own volition, and even now, it is of his own volition that he remains here. I did not force him, but the beginning of it all was to teach Arnold and me about the Self-destruction disease. Even though there have been no signs of Elvira's Self-destruction disease recurring recently, I might have neglected my mentor.
"I'm, I'm sorry. I've been quite busy with various things."
"I've heard from Arnold. Seems like you're busy mentoring the two juniors."
My mentor raised her voice and laughed at my sudden fluster. I finally understood that she was teasing me.
Feeling my cheeks slightly flush, I turned to my mentor again and then,
"Next time, if you're okay with it, please let me introduce your juniors."
Surely, it would be a rare and valuable experience for Iris and Basilio-san as well.
In response to my words, my mentor smiled somewhat mischievously and nodded.
After that conversation, I left the room. When I returned to the inn's reception, Elvira was relaxing on the sofa in the waiting room. The innkeeper noticed me and, with a wry smile, glanced at Elvira's face.
Wondering what was wrong, I hurried over, only to find Elvira there ―― rowing a boat in her sleep, as if she was tired herself out looking for her brother.
With a wry smile, I spoke to Elvira in a subdued voice,
"Arnold-san, it seems like he came after all. But he went out a little while ago. It might be quicker to wait for him at the royal castle... For now, shall we search for him on our way back?"
"Yes," Elvira, nodding slower than usual, did not open her eyes. It was as if she was about to embark on a journey to the world of dreams.
"Are you feeling sleepy?"
In response to my question, she nodded again ―― thought she seemed to, she swayed and fell towards me. Managing to catch her, Elvira breathed peacefully in her sleep.
I exchanged a wry smile with the innkeeper. It seemed that I had no choice but to carry her back to the royal castle.
"Shall I take the young one with me? It'll be quite a task for Laura-chan to carry her all the way to the royal castle."
"No, it's okay."
Declining the innkeeper's kind offer, I carried Elvira on my back. In that moment, I unintentionally groaned at the weight, which felt heavier than I had imagined.
"I" tended to think of Elvira as a small girl much younger than me, which wasn't entirely wrong, but I myself was still a 15-year-old girl whose body had not fully grown. Considering that, it was quite a heavy burden.
Even so, it wasn't an impossible weight to bear. I reassured myself that I could manage somehow. I asked the innkeeper to put the gift Elvira was carrying a bag and then left the inn.
(Elvira has grown up too, hasn't she?)
Feeling the weight on my back, I couldn't help but think of something like being Elvira's grandmother.
Self-destruction disease is still a precarious situation, and a new problem has emerged: being targeted by monsters. However, since coming to the royal capital, I feel that we have been spending relatively peaceful days.
If only Elvira's self-destruction disease doesn't recur, I think she might be able to accompany Lukas on his journey. That's the future I've been hoping for. However, recently, I've come to realize one factor that might hinder that future.
(Will Arnold allow his sister, who has been suffering from a serious illness, to go on a journey?)
The existence of an overprotective older brother. He cannot possibly send his precious little sister on a dangerous journey to defeat the demon king without strong opposition. No, on the contrary, it seemed only natural to oppose it.
Even though the major problem of the self-destruction disease has temporarily subsided, there are still many problems. It feels like I will only be able to relax and take a break after Lukas defeats the demon king, and just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
As I sighed quietly, Elvira almost slipped off my back. In a hurry, I tried to carry her again, but at that moment...
"What are you doing?"
The weight that was lightly pressing against my back disappeared. At the same time, the voice of the person I had been searching for shook my eardrums.
I turned around in a panic. And there, I met Arnold, who was holding Elvira in his arms.
"Arnold-san!"
"Why are you and El here?"
"Elvira-chan was looking for you."
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and answered. From the few words, Arnold seemed to understand the situation, and his eyebrows furrowed.
"...Seems like I've been causing a lot of trouble. I'm sorry."
He apologized with a voice that seemed choked, and I reflexively shook my head.
"Please don't worry about it. I've told you that before, haven't I?"
Although I said that, Arnold's expression didn't brighten much, and we continued walking to the royal castle with a heavy atmosphere.
I stole a glance at Elvira, who was sleeping in Arnold's arms. She had buried her face in Arnold's chest with a relieved expression.
(Elvira must be tired from working so hard on the synthesis of healing potions.)
As I recalled Elvira's figure, desperately learning synthesis from Iris and Basilio-san, we arrived at the royal castle in no time.
After bidding farewell to Arnold, who still had a troubled expression, I was about to return to the dormitory when I remembered the weight on my arm. What should I do with the present Elvira was going to give to her brother? If I were to give it to Arnold now and say, "It's Elvira-chan's package," he might see what's inside.
After thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that I should keep it myself.
I hurriedly searched my pocket, but there was no note or pen. In that case, I had no choice but to ask Arnold to deliver a message.
"Um, when Elvira-chan wakes up, could you tell her that I'm keeping the package?"
"Elvira's package? Then I'll keep it."
Arnold looked at me with a puzzled expression, and I forced a smile.
If there was a package from his sister, it would be natural for him to keep it. However, if he were to see the contents of the package, Elvira might be sad.
"No! Elvira-chan specifically asked me to keep it."
My voice trembled slightly, but it shouldn't have been too unnatural. Arnold stared at me as if trying to probe further, but he didn't pursue it any further.
I let out a sigh of relief and prepared to say goodbye once again.
"Well then, I'll be here..."
"Ah, I'm sorry."
How many times has Arnold apologized like this? Lately, it feels like he's been apologizing all the time. Seeing the exhausted figure of my senior, my heart can't help but ache.
Please don't push yourself too hard, it's as simple as just saying that. However, it's been clear for a while now that Arnold won't abide by those words. It's also difficult to ask him to take a break and go meet Elvira-chan.
As a mere junior, the only words I can muster for Arnold are――
"If there's anything I can help you with, please feel free to tell me anytime."
Arnold didn't nod, but he gave me a faint smile.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)