The emotions that I had endured and suppressed rushed in one after another like a bubbling spring. My vision blurs helplessly, and I feel like I’m about to burst into tears.
….I must not cry!
『Rion, there’s no reason not to cry. 』
Hearing Solana’s voice, my tears started to flow. Mom rubs my back, and Lu watches over me. It’s like I’m back to the helpless me two years ago, when my father was still around.
It’s pathetic, and I know I shouldn’t cry, but it’s comforting. Peace of mind permeates my whole body.
“Thank you, Rion.”
Mom repeats herself.
I realized that this is what I had wanted. I started crying.
◆◆◆
Mom waited for me to calm down, then she quietly left the house. She went to get some water. By that time, my tears had stopped. My eyes were stinging a little.
“Lu, it’s okay, I’m fine now.”
“Oniichan, take your time. I’m going to clean up the second floor.”
Now that my sister is able to do some housework, I’m able to rest after returning from the dungeon. My training in the dungeon is supported by my mother and Lu helps on household chores.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I was alone.
『……Are you okay, Rion? 』
It was Solana. When I used my skill『Alarm』, Solana pops out of the gold coin in my pocket and moves near the ceiling. She floated in the air for a moment, then stepped down to my side with her blonde hair flowing.
I wiped my eyes and smiles at her. I am a little embarrassed.
“I cried.”
“It is okay to cry. I know you’re a strong child.”
Solana patted me on the head.
“The bond between your family is amazing.”
“……Huh?”
“You look a little more comfortable now. My blessing is powerful, but you may have carried it on your back and made you feel overwhelmed.”
She smiles like the sun.
“I also want to congratulate you. Rion, you’re an amazing child.”
Today is a heart-warming day. Perhaps because I was relieved, I was getting hungry even though I had just eaten. When I had my third walnut loaf, I realized something.
I forgot something important!
“S-Solana, you are outside….”
“Don’t worry. You are the only one who can see me now. Besides, I’ll be back in the coin soon.”
I understand that.
But until now, just to be safe, I had never “unsealed” Solana at home. It’s definitely weird if I’m talking to someone out of nowhere.
Well, Mom is not here now, and when Lu comes down after her chores are done, I just need to hide Solana I guess.
But…. what is this uneasy feeling?
“Oniichan?”
Both me and Solana froze when we heard Lu’s voice.
Then, Clang!, the tray fell from Lu’s hand.
“W-who is that person?”
Silence.
Tremendous silence.
With a jerky and stiff movement, I stared at Solana.
“Uh-huh?”
As if receiving the hint, Solana quickly moved to the right. Following Solana’s movement, Lu’s eyes darted to the right as well.
“………”
Solana jumped to the left. Lu’s eyes followed her movement.
Solana’s golden hair swayed wildly.
“……C-can you see me……!?”
G-Goddess!? I still want to hide you!
First, I tried to calm my breathing. Maybe Solana could say something clever —but I was drenched in sweat as it seemed impossible.
Lu was stunned, then she took my hand as if she had made up her mind.
“L-Lu?”
“Oniichan, come here.”
I was taken to the corner of the kitchen. The rest of the charcoal is still burning and it’s warm here. But Lu’s gaze is as terrible as a blizzard.
“O-Oniichan! That person was there when I woke up before, wasn’t she?”
This time, I was the one who was shocked. It was as if I had been hit in the head with God’s hammer.
“………Y-you saw?”
When Solana first cured her, I didn’t even realize that she saw her…….
Lu pursed her lips.
“Before I woke up, I heard my Oniichan’s voice. It looks like you don’t want me to notice her…… But I could see a little bit of her hair on your back.”
Lu glanced at Solana. She is reading the mood.
She is very perceptive—no, I have to fool her somehow!
“Uh, well, actually, I’ve told you guys that I made friends recently, haven’t I? She…… she is one of them.”
Lu stared at me for a moment. She is looking at me as if finding out what I’m hiding, she’s pretty scary.
“Oniichan, sit there.”
“Yes.”
“Look into my eyes.”
Lu brought her face so close to mine that our forehead almost collided.
“Did you spend a lot of money on me again?”
My sister grips my clothes tightly. Her face looked like she was about to cry.
“That’s…… you’re mistaken.”
“I mean, the disease that even Mom couldn’t cure was cured so quickly. …..I’ve always been worried that you asked a great magician to help you in exchange of something……”
“Uh-, p-please hear me out for a second.”
“Ahem”, Solana cleared her throat. “I’m not what you think I am. I’m an old go-.”
With her eyes darting left and right, she rephrased it,
“I was saved by your brother.”
“Oniichan did……?”
“Well, we’re now so deeply connected to each other that I can’t do without him anymore.”
“Huh? Eh, eeeeh!?”
Lu jumped up in shock.
“……Y-you mean, you two are…..”
“That’s what it’s all about.”
Solana nodded in agreement.
When she said, “That’s what it’s all about”, I don’t think she understood what Lu really meant. Well, I don’t know either.
“Oniichan, I…… I’m rooting for you!”
Lu’s eyes sparkled.
What to do?
I feel like she is misunderstanding something, but I think it’s better to be misunderstood…….
Solana smiled at Lu.
“Anyways, I’m grateful to your brother. But…… you can see me huh. That might be a skill manifestation.”
Indeed. The fact that Solana can be seen by Lu may mean that she has some kind of power. Lu has not yet received any skill from Odis-sama. However, it is natural to think that the mysterious power to see gods that should not be visible to others is related to a skill.
Solana narrowed her eyes.
“But…… If that’s the case……”
Cough. Cough.
The sound of coughing echoed out.
“Lu?”
“I’m sorry Oniichan.”
Lu coughed for a while and then she looked up. Her smile was forced.
“Lu? Do you have a cough?”
“Y-yes….…”
I could feel the blood draining from my face. I thought I already healed her with my skill.
“Solana.”
“Calm down, Rion. As far as I can see, I think she is more likely to feel magic elements. Such an ability existed in ancient times. And…… This child has more magical powers than I initially thought.”
Lu coughs again. Solana gently placed her hand on her forehead.
“Being sensitive means easily susceptible. This child must be sensitive to the presence of monsters emanating from the dungeon.”
“But….. I am concerned about her condition every day. There should have been nothing wrong with her until yesterday.…”
I held Lu in my arms and then I used my skill.
| Skill, 『Sun’s Divine Protection 』was used. Executing【White Flame】. |
White flames envelop Lu. Her rough breathing gradually subsided, and the cough disappeared.
“How is it? Are you feeling better now?”
Lu nodded slightly. Solana stares at her with a serious expression on her face.
“She might be feeling a magic influence, and if she got worse as suddenly as it is now, it should have had a strong impact on her. I hate to say it, but the monster that caused her body to collapse may have left a mark on this child.”
I wiped Lu’s sweat as I ask her,
“……Did something happen? Was there any change? I mean, you have been at home all the time, right?”
Lu seemed to have gotten tired all of a sudden. Her eyes blurred and her response were unclear.
I felt a tremendous tightness in my chest.
Solana takes over. She said, “Anything is fine.”
Her golden eyes stared at Lu. Solana bent down to meet Lu’s gaze. It was as if she was channeling magical power from her raised hand to my sister.
“It maybe something that came to your mind, or maybe a dream. That’s enough for me.”
Lu opened her big eyes slightly. She grabs her sweat-soaked brown hair tightly and opens her mouth.
“……T-this morning, I suddenly felt cold. I had a dream where a black shadow was closing in on me. I…. I was in a maze-like place, being chased by skeletons and wolves…”
I exchanged glances with Solana.
If it was a monster’s influence, I may have a clue. I am well aware of the dungeon where monsters suddenly became stronger.
“What scared me the most was…… a big man with a wolf face……”
The face of a wolf, and a body of a human being—?
I shuddered.
“Werewolf.”
I muttered.
I spoke to Lu as forcefully as I could.
“Lu, it’s okay. It will be fine. I’ll check again tomorrow. Leave it to me.”
I now have a new goal.
The recurrence of Lu’s illness may be related to the darkness that suddenly appeared in the dungeon —skeletons.
The East Dungeon has been weird lately. Monsters become stronger, they’ve started gathering in groups and traps are even activated. Obviously, the difficulty of the dungeon has increased.
As I carried my sister upstairs to her bedroom, I made up my mind.
The known boss in the deepest part of the East Dungeon is the Werewolf. That is my original goal. Even more now, I need to look into it seriously.
It’s time to go to the deepest part of the East Dungeon.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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