CH 171

Sarge suggested, and we landed near the entrance to the town. Surprised by Sarge, they didn’t make a big deal of it, since the dragons living in our house were well known through the class competition. 

“Oh, we have found Luciel! So you can disperse.”

“Ohhh! Good ……”

“I’m sorry, but I’m taking these children home, so could you please pass the word?”

“No problem! Hey, they’re here!”

I called out to one of the vigilantes who was just inside the gate and told him that Luciel was safe, and he ran to the people outside. Trusting that the teachers would take care of the rest, we made our way to Bryon Trading Company.

“Let’s go home, Sister!”

“Yes.”

Luciela, who had regained her energy in the basket, held hands with Luciel and went down the street with light steps. She’s a little wobbly, so I called out to her.

“Luciela, are you okay?”

“…… Yeah, I’m fine! Lars saved me, right? Thank you.”

“Well, if my friend was in danger, I’d go for help.”

“…… Right. That’s the kind of guy you are, after all.”

“?”

Luciela laughs with a troubled face and walks forward with Luciel. When I was confused about what she wanted to say, Ryuuze spoke to me.

“…… Yeah, well. Nobody’s perfect, right?”

“What?”

“Lars-kun is too dull! Wait, Luciel-chan!”

Kudelica walked past me, pouting, and walked towards the two of them …… Well, I understand what she means. After a short walk, we arrived at the Bryon Chamber of Commerce.

“I-I’m back ……”

“I’m home!”

“Luciel! And Luciela!”

“I-I’m glad you’re safe ……”

It is usually dark when the store is closed, but the lights are still on, and when we walk in, Sorio-san and Tiana-san run up to both of them and hugged them. At the same time, Sorio-san slapped Luciela on the cheek. 

“Oh!?”

“Shh!”

Patty gasped and moaned, but I put my finger over her mouth to stop her. I’ll be watching to see what Sorio-san has to say about this.

“Ouch ……”

“Luciela, I heard you ran out after I left. Why didn’t you wait for here?”

“…… Of course because I was worried about Luciel. I thought my skills could catch up with him at that time ……”

Luciela looked away with a pouting face and muttered to herself. It was the bomb that Luciela had been carrying around in her heart all her life.

“And I’m sure Dad and Mom would be happier if Luciel stayed rather than me, right? You’re always obsessing over Luciel! I like Luciel, you know? But Dad and Mom won’t be–.”

“!?”

“Luciela ……!”

Tiana raised her voice, and Luciela squeezed her eyes shut, thinking she was going to be hit.

And then–

“Sorry …… I’m sorry …… I’m telling you that because you were the older sister, and you didn’t complain, so I thought it was okay …… No, I assumed it was ……”

“Mom ……”

When Tiana heard how Luciela really felt, she burst into tears and hugged her. This time it was Luciela herself who said what Tigre-sensei had said to her. Then Sorio-san put his hand on Luciela’s head and said.

“I’m sorry. We have been tormenting you for a long time. But I want you to understand, there are no parents …… who are okay with the loss of their children. You are our precious daughter.”

“Dad …… I …… I …… I’m always lonely …… Uwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!”

“Sis ……”

–Our precious daughter–

The only thing that would have saved Luciela’s heart would have been if she had just said that one word earlier. Luciela might have noticed if she had just said she was lonely instead of holding back.

If the differences persist, they will one day become poison. If they continue to grow up just like that …… they will probably end up like me in my previous life.

The only difference between me and her is that my parents were kind and my sister and I were close despite my bad side.

I’m living happily now, but when I look at Luciela, I wonder if anything would have changed if I’d gone on a rampage back then.

“Let’s go. Let’s leave her alone with her family.”

When I said that, everyone smiled and quietly left the store. Jack opened his mouth, softly enjoying the night breeze.

“Hmmm ……! It’s getting late now, isn’t it? Well, I guess we should go home too …… wait, that’s not it!? We’re supposed to go to the blacksmith shop, right!?”

“Oh! T-That’s right! Can we go now?”

Jack shouted with his thighs, and Kudelica grabbed Sarge’s tail and wagged it up and down. Ryuuze and Patty shrug their shoulders, and I answer with a wry smile.

“It’s not that kind of day anymore. Luciel and the others can’t make it, and everyone is tired, right? Let’s all go together again some other day.”

Sarge also told Jack and Kudelica to tell them off, and they nodded in agreement, though a little unhappy. 

“It can’t be helped then! Well then, let me stay at Lars’ house, it would be a shame to go home like this, wouldn’t it?”

“Sure. Let’s have some fun, since we’re at it already.”

“Uh, that’s a shame …… but it doesn’t mean we’ve lost our chance! I left my luggage too, so I’m staying too.”

“I-I could really use a big bath again ……”

“Mmm, can I come too? I’ve been experimenting a lot lately and haven’t taken a bath.”

“That’s dirty …… It’s okay, though ……”

Ryuuze, Jack, Kudelica, and Patty were at my house on their way to the blacksmith’s, so he suggested that we spend the night talking. Reiss wanted to come for reasons that made her a little unapproachable, and I had no objections, so I agreed and called out to Makina, who was smiling beside me. 

“Makina’s coming too, right? I thought I’d better use my mother’s medicine.”

“What? Ah, y-yeah. I’ve left a change of clothes there and so I plan on coming.”

“You’ve been a great help to me at Sarge’s case and today. Thank you.”

“T-That’s just a coincidence …… And I like Lars-kun, after all ……”

My heart thumped in my chest when I heard that.

Like Luciela said earlier, verbal communication is a way of conveying what you are thinking. We can’t see inside people’s heads. That’s why we have words.

If you don’t say what you’re thinking, you won’t get it across …… And when she told me clearly that she “like” me, I was like–

“What’s wrong, Lars-kun!?”

“Eh? What?”

“Why are you crying?”

I realized for the first time when Kuderica told me that I was crying. I wipe it off with my hands over and over again, but it just keeps flowing. I don’t know why I think it’s similar to the time when my dad got mad at me in the hospital room.

“A-Are you okay? I-It’s because I said something weird ……”

Makina put her handkerchief on my face and tried to wipe away my tears. I stopped her gently and opened my mouth. 

“It’s not that. I was probably just happy.”

“Haha, probably you say, isn’t it about yourself.”

As Ryuuze taps me on the shoulder, his expression is worried and apologetic, and then Reiss opens her mouth 

“…… heart and head are two different things, huh? That’s interesting. I mean, I said I like you too, but isn’t it unfair that it’s always about Makina-kun?”

“Even if you say so ……”

I take Makina’s hand and run with a faint voice.

“Reese doesn’t sound serious, maybe. Now, let’s hurry up and get home! Dinner might be cold, though!”

“Wha!? You’re running too fast, Lars-kun!?”

“Oh, wait, Lars!”

“Won’t you accept my love, too!?”

And so, in a flurry of activity, we made our way home.

At home, my dad and brother welcomed me, and I took a bath again, enjoyed a reheated dinner, and despite the fact that they told me they’re going to play, they all went to bed immediately.

“Fuh~ …… It’s a bit tiring to deal with Aina, but she’s so cute that I can’t help myself. It’s a good thing that Makina’s injury is almost completely gone, so that’s a relief, I guess?”

And, I was relieved and I probably think that I like Makina. I don’t know if it’s love or not, but I’ve been nervous just being with her since I got home. I think I need to think about it seriously, and I also closed my eyes.

I wonder if Luciel and the others are asleep by now? Or could it be that Luciela is talking as if she’s letting off some steam?

I’m really glad that she survived.

I wonder if Luciela will ever be able to be honest with her parents? I couldn’t help but hope so–

One case settled, which doesn’t seem to be quite settled ……

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“Until the next chapter?”

A few more chapters! It’s all coming at once, so please enjoy!