42.Departure

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

It was early in the morning, when the eastern sky was just beginning to turn white.

I put on the brand new “Clarte Iris” and wore a cloak on top of it as usual. My nightgown was neatly folded and stored in my magic bag.

…No longer was there anything to do in this room.

“Iris-sama, you didn’t forget anything, right?”

“Of course. We went over everything last night.”

One last time, I looked back at the room where I had been sleeping for the past month and a bit. Since we were aware that it was only a temporary accommodation, we didn’t add anything bulky to it. Therefore, we only had to do some sweeping and dusting to clean up the room, and overall, the room wouldn’t look very different after we were gone.

But the room, completely cleaned up, sheets and bedding folded, was no longer a place to return to. Perhaps because of this state of mind, I felt a sudden chill… the very room I was standing in was no longer the room I once knew.

“We should get going. Your brother and the others are waiting for you downstairs.”

“…Yeah, let’s go.”

Shaking off the sense of regret and loneliness that still gnawed at my back… I walked away, leaving the room behind for good.

The morning air was chilly enough for my breath to turn white.

It was still early in the day, so not many people came to see us off, but I could recognize some familiar faces among them, like the families whose daughters I had healed.

“Thank you all for all you have done for us in the short time you have been here. We will never forget the many things you have done for this town.”

“It’s us who should be thanking you for all the accommodations. Everyone in this town has treated us well, and we’re grateful for that.”

 A short distance away, mayor Rudolf said his goodbye to Nii-sama, who represented us. Then, I…

“Thank you… Thank you for everything…!”

I think my voice was trembling a little. Was I going to cry after all? No, I should hang in there. It’s better to say goodbye with a smile than with a crying face, after all.

“I’m going to miss you, you know… Stay strong out there. I think you should take this.”

Auntie Miranda handed me a considerably thick book that resembled a bundle of paper put together.

“This is…”

I flipped through it, and what I found on the first page I opened was a recipe for a dish. As I flipped through the pages, I found many recipes for dishes and medicines handwritten on them.

“Auntie Miranda…”

A recipe book, not printed, but filled with newly handwritten notes. I wondered how much time and effort it took to write all this down.

When I looked up, auntie Miranda was smiling, scratching her cheeks in embarrassment.

“I really wish that I could teach you more… and I hope you could take it along in your travels.”

The unexpected gift from the kindly smiling lady was too much for me to bear. The tears I had been trying to hold back for so long reached their limits and began to spill. I clutched the book in my chest and jumped into her bosom. I heard a slight panic in her voice, but I couldn’t stop myself anymore.

“I… I’ve already… learned so much from you…! This is the first time… I’ve ever… felt like my mother was here with me again…! I’m… I’m so glad that I’ve met you…!”

My mother had been gone since I was little.

As an older brother, even if “I” had to rely on others because of my crippled legs, I couldn’t afford to show such a weakness… especially in front of Ayame, I couldn’t say that “I felt lonely” in front of her. However, this feeling must have accumulated at the back of my mind before I even realized it.

When auntie Miranda was teaching me things, I must have subconsciously thought of her as the mother I had lost. To me, it was like experiencing an opportunity that should have never come. That’s why I enjoyed it so much.

I understood very well that it would be a nuisance for everyone if we remained here. But parts of me didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to say goodbye!

Those feelings must never be spoken. Instead, I was held in her bosom for a while and cried. There was no rejection. A hand was gently placed around me and patted me on the back.

I kept crying like that for a while until I gradually calmed down and merely sniffled… Then the shame of having done it began to creep up on me, and I hurriedly pulled my face away… I didn’t let out any snot while I was crying, did I?

“S-Sorry for causing you trouble, please pardon me… Kyah?!”

This time, it was auntie Miranda who pulled me into a hug.

I gently looked up and saw a sad smile on her face. She was also crying, albeit slightly.

“I’m glad that you feel that way toward me. Don’t say that you caused me trouble, you’re always welcome as my cute daughter. Come visit me again whenever you feel like… Because as this child’s older sister, you’re always welcome here.”

“……Eh?”

The words suddenly jumped into my ears, and I involuntarily raised my tear-stained face. Auntie Miranda was holding her own lower abdomen area with one hand…

Wait, does that mean…

“Hahaha… No matter what we did, we were still unable to have children… but at last…”

“To be honest, I’d already given up halfway through my 30s… I’m sure it’s all thanks to your blessing.”

Behind me, the mayor scratches his head in embarrassment, and auntie Miranda remained lightly holding me with her other arm.

The meaning of this conversation was slowly percolating through me.

“So… the reason you haven’t been feeling well lately is…”

“Looks like I’ve made you worried… That’s right, do you want to touch my belly? With your blessing, I have a feeling that this child will be born healthy.”

“Y-Yes, I’d love to!”

Wiping the tears with my fingers, I gently touched her still unchanged abdomen without prompting, praying for the child growing up inside.

…I still didn’t know how it feels like to touch a pregnant belly. But I couldn’t help but think about the mystery of life when I thought about a new life growing inside it.

And it is a bodily function that I should eventually acquire in the near future, even if not now. I don’t feel it at all now, but I wonder if one day I will carry a new life in my belly like this and become a mother.

“Amazing…”

“One day, you’ll become a mother, too.”

“Erm… actually, I can’t imagine that time ever coming at all… but this is still amazing regardless…”

I felt like my vocabulary was declining, which is shameful, but I couldn’t come up with any other words.

“Just take it easy for the time being. On your travels, you should meet a lot of people, see a lot of things, and eventually find the person who is really important to you… Just remember to take care of yourself, okay?”

“Yes…”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll do fine in that regard.”

“……?”

When I looked where auntie’s eyes were looking with a question mark above my head, I saw Nii-sama smiling bitterly and Reiji-san scratching his head while looking the other way… and why was everyone else looking at me so warmly?!

I instantly felt embarrassed and quickly took off leaving. It was an unladylike thing to do, especially when many people were here to see us off, but my emotions were running so high…!

Fortunately, Reiji-san moved toward me and tapped on my shoulder to calm me down before I died of shame, though not after letting out a chuckle at my expense.

“Well then, everyone, have a safe trip. If there’s a next time we meet, you’re always welcome in this town.”

“I hope you come back someday… the three of us will be waiting.”

At these words, I made a smile as best I can on my face, which had yet to stop crying. I didn’t want to cause them any more worry.

“Yes… Someday, I’ll come back to see your child’s face! By that time, I’ll make sure to master these recipes and cook for you, auntie! It’s a promise…!”

“Well then, please excuse us… Let’s go, Iris.”

At Nii-sama’s prompting, we started walking out of the town, where the merchants and mercenaries were waiting for us. I could hear warm voices filled with gratitude coming from the people around us.

I found myself impulsively removing the hood of my cloak, which I basically wore all the time when I was outside in public. My hair, glistening in the morning sun and shimmering in a pale rainbow glow, fluttered in the air at the edge of my field of vision. Next to me, Reiji-san and Saul-niisama looked surprised… but even so, I wanted to express my gratitude with my own will at the end, not through the hood, but with my bare face.

And as soon as I turned around, all eyes were on me at once.

For once, there was no fear.

I gathered strength in my stomach and spoke as loudly as possible.

“Everyone! Thank you for everything!!”

I bowed deeply, and after a few moments of silence, the crowd started to send cheers back to me… uh, I could hear a “Please marry me” mixed in somewhere! Who did it?!

I couldn’t help but let out a laugh at that.

With that, I looked up, smiling as brightly as I could, and then we left.

After leaving the town and meeting up with the merchants and mercenaries, Reiji-san and I were sitting next to each other in a corner of the carriage seat that was kindly provided to us by the merchants. Somewhat off to the side, Lenny-san, who seemed to have been asked to take care of me, sat quietly, as inconspicuous as possible.

We were currently sitting in the merchants’ carriage, positioned in the middle, flanked by the carriages of the mercenaries who were escorting us. I, who could use healing arts, was unanimously assigned the safest place, with Reiji-san and Lenny-san as my escorts.

Now that I had been given special treatment in this way, I must do my best when something happens. It is best, however, that the time for something to happen doesn’t come. A healer is never too busy.

Meanwhile, Nii-sama was accompanying Walter-san in the rearmost carriage because he had a meeting with the mercenaries, alongside Milly-san who was also assigned there due to the distribution of forces.

…Initially, there was some dispute over who got to sit with me (mainly from Nii-sama, Milly-san and Philias-san, who all claim ownership of the hug pillow named Me), but Walter-san quickly put a stop to that nonsense and gave a seat to Reiji-san, who had been the least nosy, with a single word, and the rest had to accept taking turns after each break. So, except for the occasional curious glance from the merchants who were allowed to ride with us, the ride was quiet.

“…They’re good people.”

“…Yes. They really are…”

To be honest, it would not be an exaggeration to say that I had suffered a lot in the past month. So many wounds. So many painful experiences. But there’s still warmth in this world. Mayor Rudolf, auntie Miranda and the other townspeople had treated us so well. That’s why I was so reluctant to part ways with them.

I wondered if to travel means to repeat these goodbyes…

As if sensing my anxiety was about to act up again, Reiji-san placed his large hand on my head as usual. The warmth and loneliness I had felt earlier, mixed with feelings too complicated for me to process, seemed to calm down just from that single gesture, and I leaned myself on his sturdy arm.

It wasn’t until I experienced my first separation in this world that I suddenly realized something.

I had little to no lingering attachments to my “original” world. The only person who could be called a relative was Ayame, and the only person who could be called a friend was Reiji. But what about Reiji, who left his family behind? What about Ayame, who, unlike “me”, was supposed to have friends on the other side?

“…Reiji-san.”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“…It’s nothing. Forget I asked.”

I couldn’t ask him. No, I was afraid to ask. I wondered if he missed his family on the other side and if he felt any resentment at being involved in this situation.

As if he could see through my doubts, he lightly tapped me on the head.

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m staying with you until the end. Maybe Saul too.”

“Yes…”

The horse-drawn carriages that proceeded along the road, which was maintained as a distribution route for lumber and was surprisingly clean and neat for its remote location, did not sway as much as expected and transmitted only rattles and gentle vibrations.

The Kingdom of Nordglacier, linked to us by fate.

Three days until we reached its border.

(TL Note)

It’s Old Choked Memories ~ BEGAN time.