CH 55

Maki and Chiharu were taken to a proper guest room, not to the room they had been locked in.

There, they had been put into comfortable clothes and were now sleeping peacefully. Thankfully, they did not seem to be in any pain. Aeris sat by them and did nothing else.

“Aeris. You’ve been here all of this time?”

“Yes. I keep thinking they will disappear if I let them out of my sight.”

“But you said it yourself. No Saintess has ever returned.”

“Still, I am worried.”

Aeris softly touched Chiharu’s hair. Kaider sat near him and watched over Maki.

“They faced those monsters with such thin frames. It looked like they were saying something…”

“‘See you again.’ I think.”

“Hmm?”

“They were saying goodbye.”

“What?”

Just then, Edwy and Nyran entered.

“You must be very tired.”

“How are Maki and Chiharu?!”

“They’re resting.”

They sighed in relief.

“I explained things to the Adventurers and soldiers. Grudo. Surely you know what had happened. You were close to them.”

“Yes. I’m not sure where I should start…”

Grudo put a hand to his chin and thought.

“It seemed like Maki and Chiharu understood what the monsters were saying.”

“Do monsters even have hearts?”

Kaider said darkly.

“Adventurers often die. Monsters attack them and suck the life out of their bodies. How can you do that and have a heart?”

“Well, perhaps they are like babies.”

“Babies?”

“Their lives are like a circle. They were able to see the outside world, and so they wanted nothing else. And so they allowed the gentle hands of Maki and Chiharu to turn them into magic stones. That’s what it looked like to me.”

“I can’t believe that. Monsters are resources left by God. But it is hard to gather them. That’s why there are Adventurers. I can’t suddenly see them as babies.”

“We can just do things as we always have.”

Grudo looked gently at Maki and Chiharu.

“I just think these two are exceptions.”

Edwy muttered,

“The Adventurers asked me this. If they could erase monsters, why not do it in the beginning?”

“What! What a thing to use the Saintesses for!”

“I think they were only asking because it would come up later. However, if this is the cost of them facing the monsters, I don’t want them near a dungeon anymore.”

“That is good. Perhaps the monsters were happy to see them. But it seemed very painful for Maki and Chiharu.”

Even after their faces had been wiped, you could tell the two had been crying.

“Later, I will send men into the dungeons to search the place. It will take 4 to 5 days. Unless Maki and Chiharu wake up before then.”

“I will stay.”

“Aeris.”

“At least, Edwy, Kaider, and Nyran have to make reports and send the soldiers back. We’ll be going to the elf lands next, and that will be in the south. In other words, Nyran must contact them in advance.”

Nyran nodded.

“It will be faster by boat then to go through Midland. After making a report at the dwarf castle and Midland, you will have to go back to the south and then to the elf lands. You will be very busy, Nyran.”

“You’re talking as if you are not going to come too, Grudo.”

“Why do I have to go? I only came to help smooth things out in the dwarf lands. Also to find Maki and Chiharu. The young people should go to the elf territories.”

Grudo said with a snort. The three young ones glared at him. But Grudo ignored them.

“Hey, Aeris. Let’s stop by at Corail on the way back.”

“A good idea. Hotsprings. I can help take care of Maki and Chiharu’s glimmering hair.”

“And we can drink every night like back at the health resort.”

“Yes. With our adorable Saintesses.”

“Th-that’s not fair, you two!”

“Aren’t you a little too old to be giving in to such vices?”

Edwy and Kaider were very angry now.

“It’s because we are old, that we can indulge.”

“At least, we will not be spying on them as they bathe.”

“Th-that wasn’t…!”

Just then, Chiharu began to move.

“She’s saying something.”

“Hm?”

Aeris put his ear closer.

“…‘You’re the worst.’ She said.”

Kaider became quiet. It wasn’t clear if she had really said that.

The two of them slept for the entire day and woke up at night the following day.

“An unfamiliar ceiling.”

“Maki…”

“But…”

“I wanted to say that first.”

They rolled on their beds and laughed.

“Huh? There’s something heavy here.”

A head with white hair was lying on Chiharu’s blanket and breathing gently. It was Aeris. He must have been watching over them all of this time. Chiharu reached out and touched his head.

“Mmm…”

“Aeris.”

He suddenly got up. Chiharu’s hand fell.

“Chiharu! Maki!”

“Yeah.”

He picked up Chiharu’s hand and pressed it to his forehead.

“I’m so glad… I was afraid you would never wake up.”

“We’re fine. If anything, I feel really good. Right, Maki?”

“Uh, yeah.”

And with that, Maki sat up and stretched her arms.

“Maki. You shouldn’t move so suddenly. You’ve slept for an entire day. Please, please be careful.”

“Uh, yeah. But I really do feel good. Chiharu?”

Chiharu also got up. Aeris supported her as she rotated her arms.

“Huh? My shoulders aren’t sore anymore! They were so sore ever since we came here!”

Just then, the door opened.

“Maki! Chiharu!”

“Edwy.”

Edwy rushed inside.

“Thank god. How do you feel? Yes, you look much better now.”

And then he tore away Aeris, who was still holding Chiharu’s hand.

“I don’t care how old you are.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Then Grudo, Kaider, and Nyran entered and celebrated with them.

Grumble.

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

Chiharu and Maki held their stomachs.

“Your stomach is more honest than you are.”

Said Kaider.

“It would have been polite for you to ignore it.”

Maki retorted.

“Haha. I see you really are back to your old self.”

“Yes, I am. But thanks for worrying about us.”

“Uh, of course.”

Kaider and Maki looked away awkwardly. Chiharu watched them with a chuckle.

“Now, let’s go eat. For Maki’s sake.”

Edwy said.

“No, wait. Chiharu’s stomach was grumbling too. Why does it look like I’m the hungry one? That’s not right, is it?”

“Can you walk? Maybe I’ll carry you.”

“I would prefer to eat here.”

Chiharu said with a blush.

“Huh? Chiharu? Why are you pretending to be ill? This is ridiculous.”

“Well, you said it yourself, Maki. Romance only comes to those who can appreciate a romantic setting. And I happen to find this romantic.”

“I suppose… Tsk. To think you would win like this…”

Maki said as her shoulders drooped.

“What are you two talking about…?”

“Ehehe.”

“Ehehe.”

“Now, I’ll have the food brought to you.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

And with that, the darkness was lifted and the mayor’s mansion became a cheerful place.