Book 1: Chapter 32
Book 1: Chapter 32
「This is terrible…」
There were deep burns on the face and the right half of his body. However, the left half of the body seemed to have not been affected because of the petrification.
…It’s not completely petrified, but it is resistant against burns?
It was convenient for me that the left half of the body was exposed.
「Hmm… Reiji…?」
Dante-san’s eyes wandered around the room as if he was looking at an illusion.
「Yes. I made a medicine for the petrification, so please let me apply it.」
「…I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. What did you say…? My head is dizzy…」
「It’s ok. Please go back to sleep.」
…Sorry, Dante-san. I can’t tell you about the medicine I’m about to apply.
I think Dante-san would’ve probably accepted it, but there are also many instances where things turn out for the best when people don’t know about it, right?
Dante-san must have wanted to sleep, too, as he went back to sleep before long. I got on the bed, and rubbed the discolored Mithril on Dante-san’s skin.
「!」
When the blackish Mithril was applied to the grayish skin, it gave off a slight light. And the grayish skin turned pitch black. However, looking through 【World Ruler】, I saw that the petrification was healed.
Dante-san and the others used to call petrification a “curse,” but it was a “poison.” That is why Dante-san was able to halt the spread of petrification with 【Immunity Enhancement】.
If the poison is removed, Dante-san can recover from the petrification.
「Thank goodness…」
The smell was kind of stinging.
I always knew. I knew that Dante-san is a man of bottomless kindness. I knew that he was searching for a place to die without showing it on the outside because his life as an adventurer was taken away.
And I knew that Dante-san’s daughter, Non-san, was desperately looking for a cure even while knowing her father’s thoughts.
(A world where these two people aren’t rewarded, would be a strange one…)
It took about 10 minutes for me to apply the medicine until there were no petrified parts.
I checked many times over with 【World Ruler】 – Completely cured. The petrification poison was all but gone. Dante-san’s breathing got stable, and if he endures through the burns, he should be fine from hereinafter. No, even the burns should be healed immediately because his vitality was previously taken away by the petrification poison.
It was extremely dangerous to leave behind the Mithril, so I decided to take it away with me.
I returned to the next room and packed my belongings. That said, my belongings were just the things in my small tool bag. The rest was the amount of money I got from Dante-san and the money I got from selling turmeric.
「…Let’s go.」
Staying here any longer will cause problems for everyone.
That is why I have to go.
I have to look forward to the future from here on out.
「…I don’t want to go.」
I couldn’t make myself feel positive about it. I wanted to see Dante-san, who was healed from petrification, moving around. Although Non-san might have to go back to church since Dante-san was healed, I wanted to see her happy face. Besides, I didn’t want to leave Mimino-san with the sadness of Raikira-san’s passing.
「Reiji-kun?」
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Mimino-san standing at the entrance of the room.
「Where did you go? You weren’t in bed, so I rushed outside to look for you…」
Mimino-san had a shocked look on her face. Perhaps it was because of my almost crying face, or perhaps it was my “leaving” look.
「…I am getting a really bad feeling right now… But I am wrong, right? You aren’t trying to leave, are you, Reiji-kun…?」
I had a sudden impulse to lay bare everything right then and there.
But I couldn’t possibly do that. Because Mimino-san would surely try to protect me with everything she has. But that path would only lead to ruin.
Silver Balance protected me without knowing anything about me. And today, I would simply disappear.
「I am sorry, Mimino-san. I have to leave.」
「……!!」
Mimino-san tried to say something, but closed her mouth. She closed her mouth to swallow all the words she wanted to say at that point.
「—But someday, I will be back.」
And one more thing I knew I had to say.
「I am also a member of Silver Balance, after all.」
「!!」
And I walked past Mimino-san. Even though tears formed at the corners of my eyes, I endured myself from breaking down and crying.
「…You promise…?」
I heard Mimino-san’s voice from behind.
「I promise… I will definitely be back.」
I hardened my resolve, and asserted, almost yelling.
「I will be going now!」
And I started running. I heard Mimino-san crying when I left the inn. But I thought – I believed I shouldn’t look back, and kept running.
That’s right. This is not an eternal farewell. I am just leaving the party temporarily.
I will be back someday.
I will surely come back.
At that time, I will be a stronger version of myself.
I will definitely return to Silver Balance in order to return the gratitude and kindness I received.
The morning sun had already climbed up to the sky and the city had begun activities for a new day.
Anyway, I should leave the city right away. Old man Hinga said 【Shadow King★★★★★★】 is a skill that can’t be assigned a price. They will try to catch Lark alive and pull out the skill orb from her no matter what.
There are almost no clues that lead to Lark, thus I am the most prominent lead. That is why, leaving the city is the top priority right now.
Luckily, I have money. Is there a stagecoach that I can hire…?
I got to the carriage stop by asking the way from several passersby. It was a large circular piece of land, with many horse-drawn carriages next to a sign with destinations written on them.
What should I do? Where should I go? Isn’t it difficult to cross the border? If so, should I go to a neighboring town for the time being?
「Oi.」
「Hyan!?」
I let out a strange noise, when a hand suddenly grabbed the back of my neck.
It was someone completely unexpected – Oscar, the leader of the “Eternal Star”.
His dubious smile was nowhere to be seen today. Instead, he wore a frown.
「Err, uh…? What is it?」
「You were the kid who was with “Silver GreatShield”, right?」
「Y-Yes…」
「Come with me!」
「Ehh!?」
I was pulled by the nape and taken to the back of a building.
「W-What are you doing? I’ll shout for help.」
「Stop it. Or rather, you’ll be the one to get in trouble.」
「…W-What do you mean?」
Is it about that? They found out that I stole mithril? Moreover, the proof is in my tool bag. Although, it’s in the state of the worst sushi roll in the world.
「Soldiers rushed into the adventurer’s guild first thing in the morning. They were looking for a black-haired, black-eyed kid who was seen with an adventurer party.」
「………」
「That’s you, right?」
Too fast. They’re moving way too fast.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
「I- I don’t know what you’re talking about…」
「Fool, don’t you start doubting the great me. If I was going to hand you over to the soldiers, I would’ve long since tied you up with a rope.」
I guess.
「That means Oscar-san is…」
「Being here means you want to get out of the city, right? So, I’ll help you escape.」
Oh! An unexpected collaborator!?
「B-But why…」
「My party member was saved by “Great SilverShield” when he was about to be swallowed by the explosion from the shitty 【Fire Magic】. If I don’t repay the favor, I can’t call myself a man.」
「Actually, I was going to the inn to inform you guys.」he muttered.「All the city gates are being inspected by soldiers. They are checking only for black eyes, considering the possibility that the hair may not be black anymore.」
「Wh-Wha!?」
Oh crap! What is up with this country’s information network!? If you can act so fast, you should’ve done more during the fight with the dragon!
「…Judging from your look, I’m guessing you didn’t consider that far, huh. Try riding on a coach. You’ll be found out within seconds.」
「T-That was close… But if I can’t use the exits, does that mean I have no choice but to stay here?」
「No, I can get you outside the city.」
「How…?」
Oscar-san answered with a smile.
「Follow me. “It takes a thief to catch a thief,” kind of thing.」
It was his usual dubious smile.