Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy
Iris
On my cheek, I felt a slightly moist and soft touch, which brought my consciousness back.
“Ugh…”
With great difficulties, I managed to pry open my eyelids.
As I faintly opened my eyes, the first thing that came into view was a small leg covered in white fur.
Shifting my gaze slightly upward, I saw the Sirius cub peering at me with a worried expression.
It seemed that the sensation on my cheek from earlier was due to her licking it.
Moreover… besides that, I felt enveloped in something warm and fluffy.
“Where am I…?”
“…Thank goodness you’re awake. This is the garden of Rolandia Castle, you’re completely safe here.”
Leonhardt-sama’s voice could be heard overhead.
Somehow managing to move my neck, the scenery I had grown completely accustomed to over the past few days came into view.
He must have carried me back here when I was unconscious.
“Where did everyone go…?”
“Saul-sama and Reiji-kun have yet to regain consciousness, so they’re resting in their room. Miss Aini is currently attending to them, so let’s entrust them to her care. Captain Walter immediately set off to pursue the ‘Death Serpent’ after bringing you back here.”
It’s extremely unlikely that we’d find any traces of him… Leonhardt-sama concluded.
“That’s right, I still have to treat those two…”
Both of them had sustained severe injuries. Even without “Sanctuary”, I must treat them.
…But no matter how hard I tried to get up, I couldn’t muster the strength in my body to do so.
“Stay still, child. You can’t do that yet.”
Something caught around my collar, and I was gently placed back into the warmth and fluffiness as it was before.
Then, a solemn voice echoed from behind, solemn yet seemingly on the verge of disappearing.
“Ah… You, what are you doing…?!”
It was at this moment that I realized what’s happening.
A cold and dreary sensation, accumulated within me like sediment, began to dissipate from within.
In sync with its dispersal, strength gradually returned to my body.
It felt as though the poison within me was being drawn out, sucked away.
I quickly realized that what was happening to me wasn’t purification.
It was merely the miasma accumulated within my body being extracted and transferred elsewhere.
And by elsewhere… it was the mother Sirius’ body, of which I was lying on top like a cradle.
“This is the only way to completely purge the miasma from your body. I don’t have much time left, so pardon me if there isn’t much room for a conversation.”
“But if you do that, you’re going to…!”
Although she was a Phantasmal Beast much stronger than humans, she was already nearing the end of her lifespan, not to mention being grievously wounded herself.
I didn’t want her to suffer any more than that, but I still couldn’t move my body properly, and most importantly, she showed no signs of stopping.
“…I wasn’t long for this world to begin with, so it wouldn’t change anything for me.”
“But…”
“With what little life remains of me, to be able to save you, the child left behind by that girl… there’s nothing more I could wish for.”
Her gaze directed towards me was gentle, and that alone rendered me unable to say anything.
“Thus… I’d appreciate you letting me fulfill my final duty to her. And do not apologize to me, will you?”
“…Thank you… for saving me…”
“Yes… That will do…”
The mother Sirius then fell silent, seemingly to fully focus on extracting the miasma from me.
Time passed for a while in silence.
“…Blanche.”
“…Eh?”
“That’s the name Lilith gave to me. When we first met, it was daytime, so she named me after my white fur. Quite the mundane reason, don’t you agree?”
Blanche-sama smiled wryly.
However, I could tell from her tone that she really cherished that name.
“…But I digress. I truly wanted to talk to you so much more, though it seems that’s already impossible.”
I shook my head at that. She’d already done so much for me, without me able to repay her kindness. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I ask too much from her.
“At the very least… I shall leave you a clue as to where your next destination is, should you want answers for your questions.”
“A clue?”
“Yes… if you head further north, past the capital of this continent, beyond any large human settlements, there lies a forbidden sacred peak… where a dragon resides.”
Dragon, the king of mythical creatures, often revered and considered divine.
“He’s older than myself many times over. He can no longer soar in the skies, sustaining himself merely with meager offerings from his believers dwelling at the foothills… It’s said that he’s been alive since this world’s creation.”
“This world’s… creation?”
So how exactly was this world “created”?
If it was a planet being born, it wouldn’t have made sense, since it was impossible for life to exist at that point.
“If you feel inclined, it might be a good idea to pay him a visit… Lilith, too, talked to him once. Perhaps you could learn something…”
“…I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good… Here, it’s finished.”
While we were talking, she had finished extracting the miasma from within me.
When I tried to sit up, although feeling considerable fatigue, I could move without any issues.
“How are you feeling? Any issues using your power?”
“Please wait a moment, I’m going to try it.”
Without any issue, I chanted a spell and touched the healing light in my hand into the mother Sirius.
I watched anxiously as her body was enveloped in a phosphorescent glow.
“How does it feel…?”
“Ah… this warmth… and this sensation… it’s very much like Lilith’s.”
“Is that so…?”
“Though, if I have to say, your light is more on the tender side. Lilith, on the other hand… she was too much of an airhead, so she couldn’t maintain the stability.”
“I-I feel like my image of her is starting to crumble…”
To me, she was an image of a serene and gentle saintly figure, calming those around her… was she actually quite tomboyish in reality?
“…Were you expecting her to be like a saint? At first glance, she might look like one, but she was actually a prodigy who loved stirring up the surroundings.”
“That’s… unexpected.”
“Indeed, there’s a serious gap between that girl’s appearance and personality.”
Saying so, Blanche-sama narrowed her eyes.
Her demeanor seemed serene, and her discomfort seemed to ease a little but…
“The wounds… aren’t healing at all.”
It’s like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it.
…So this is the end.
With her life force all but nonexistent, her wounds wouldn’t heal anymore.
At this point, all I could do is bid a peaceful farewell.
The Sirius cub seemed to be aware of this as well.
She was staying close by, silently gazing at her mother.
Seeing this, Leonhardt-sama approached and gave Blanche-sama a respectful salute.
“…Then, I shall take my leave here. Thank you for the service you’ve done to this city for centuries.”
“What are you thanking me for… I’ve always been aloof to humans, and yet, it’s your kind that’s provided me with a quiet and peaceful final resting place for generations… It’s I who should be thanking you.”
“Please, it’s too kind of you to say so.”
Leonhardt-sama bowed and departed.
Left behind were only me and the Sirius cub.
“Sacred Daughter of this generation. If you consider that you owe me a debt, could I ask you for one final favor?”
“If it’s something I can do, please tell me.”
“I’m entrusting my child to you. As it’s a little early for her to stand on her own, please allow her to grow up and learn by your side.”
“Yes… I understand. I’ll take responsibility and look after her.”
“Thank you… My child, do you hear me?”
The Sirius cub sitting beside me lowered her head with a droop.
“…This is farewell. From now on, you shall stay by her side…”
Upon hearing those words, the Sirius cub lifted her head and let out a small whimper.
With a satisfied expression, Blanche-sama slowly closed her eyes and laid down.
“…Blanche-sama?”
There was no response.
“Thank you, Blanc. For helping me until the end.”
I heard a voice.
A really, really nostalgic voice.
“…Lilith… Is that you…? Thanks to you… it was a good life… Let’s meet again on the other side…”
“About that… I’m sorry? I’m not there yet, so I might keep you waiting for a while longer.”
At those words, my heart skipped a beat.
“I see… so that’s how it is for you…”
Ah, I suddenly felt like I didn’t want to go just yet, Blanche-sama thought.
To her, if only she had a little more time, she could have conveyed these thoughts to that somewhat unreliable Sacred Daughter and that overly overthinking idiot who’s always running amok.
Nevertheless, after living a hollow life for several hundred years since losing Lilith-san, it must have been the biggest relief for Blanche-sama to know that Lilith-san was still alive.
“I guess… I don’t have to worry about… you using me as a pillow all the time anymore… do I?”
Blanche-sama let out a weak chuckle and teased.
Somehow… it was a very nostalgic atmosphere to me.
“Rest well, Blanc. Until we meet again, have pleasant dreams.”
“Ah… you needn’t rush… I might… just enjoy basking in the sun for the time being… The sunlight in the heavens must be delightful… So, take your time coming… I’ll be leisurely waiting…”
Then, her eyelids finally closed.
I felt as though I heard a song.
Amidst the familiar lullaby… her consciousness gently slipped away into a quiet, deep slumber…
The last of its strength faded away from the colossal body wrapped in white fur.
“…She’s gone, isn’t she?”
I pulled the Sirius cub into a tight hug. In my arms, she let out a short, quiet wail.
Blanche-sama closed her eyes with such a serene expression, as if she was just sleeping peacefully…
…Only this time, she would never awaken again…
APM - Translation 