Chapter 55
Maki and Chiharu were taken to a proper guest room, not to the room they had been locked in .
There, they had been put into comfortable clothes and were now sleeping peacefully . Thankfully, they did not seem to be in any pain . Aeris sat by them and did nothing else .
“Aeris . You’ve been here all of this time?”
“Yes . I keep thinking they will disappear if I let them out of my sight . ”
“But you said it yourself . No Saintess has ever returned . ”
“Still, I am worried . ”
Aeris softly touched Chiharu’s hair . Kaider sat near him and watched over Maki .
“They faced those monsters with such thin frames . It looked like they were saying something…”
“‘See you again . ’ I think . ”
“Hmm?”
“They were saying goodbye . ”
“What?”
Just then, Edwy and Nyran entered .
“You must be very tired . ”
“How are Maki and Chiharu?!”
“They’re resting . ”
They sighed in relief .
“I explained things to the Adventurers and soldiers . Grudo . Surely you know what had happened . You were close to them . ”
“Yes . I’m not sure where I should start…”
Grudo put a hand to his chin and thought .
“It seemed like Maki and Chiharu understood what the monsters were saying . ”
“Do monsters even have hearts?”
Kaider said darkly .
“Adventurers often die . Monsters attack them and suck the life out of their bodies . How can you do that and have a heart?”
“Well, perhaps they are like babies . ”
“Babies?”
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“Their lives are like a circle . They were able to see the outside world, and so they wanted nothing else . And so they allowed the gentle hands of Maki and Chiharu to turn them into magic stones . That’s what it looked like to me . ”
“I can’t believe that . Monsters are resources left by God . But it is hard to gather them . That’s why there are Adventurers . I can’t suddenly see them as babies . ”
“We can just do things as we always have . ”
Grudo looked gently at Maki and Chiharu .
“I just think these two are exceptions . ”
Edwy muttered,
“The Adventurers asked me this . If they could erase monsters, why not do it in the beginning?”
“What! What a thing to use the Saintesses for!”
“I think they were only asking because it would come up later . However, if this is the cost of them facing the monsters, I don’t want them near a dungeon anymore . ”
“That is good . Perhaps the monsters were happy to see them . But it seemed very painful for Maki and Chiharu . ”
Even after their faces had been wiped, you could tell the two had been crying .
“Later, I will send men into the dungeons to search the place . It will take 4 to 5 days . Unless Maki and Chiharu wake up before then . ”
“I will stay . ”
“Aeris . ”
“At least, Edwy, Kaider, and Nyran have to make reports and send the soldiers back . We’ll be going to the elf lands next, and that will be in the south . In other words, Nyran must contact them in advance . ”
Nyran nodded .
“It will be faster by boat then to go through Midland . After making a report at the dwarf castle and Midland, you will have to go back to the south and then to the elf lands . You will be very busy, Nyran . ”
“You’re talking as if you are not going to come too, Grudo . ”
“Why do I have to go? I only came to help smooth things out in the dwarf lands . Also to find Maki and Chiharu . The young people should go to the elf territories . ”
Grudo said with a snort . The three young ones glared at him . But Grudo ignored them .
“Hey, Aeris . Let’s stop by at Corail on the way back . ”
“A good idea . Hotsprings . I can help take care of Maki and Chiharu’s glimmering hair . ”
“And we can drink every night like back at the health resort . ”
“Yes . With our adorable Saintesses . ”
“Th-that’s not fair, you two!”
“Aren’t you a little too old to be giving in to such vices?”
Edwy and Kaider were very angry now .
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“It’s because we are old, that we can indulge . ”
“At least, we will not be spying on them as they bathe . ”
“Th-that wasn’t…!”
Just then, Chiharu began to move .
“She’s saying something . ”
“Hm?”
Aeris put his ear closer .
“…‘You’re the worst . ’ She said . ”
Kaider became quiet . It wasn’t clear if she had really said that .
The two of them slept for the entire day and woke up at night the following day .
“An unfamiliar ceiling . ”
“Maki…”
“But…”
“I wanted to say that first . ”
They rolled on their beds and laughed .
“Huh? There’s something heavy here . ”
A head with white hair was lying on Chiharu’s blanket and breathing gently . It was Aeris . He must have been watching over them all of this time . Chiharu reached out and touched his head .
“Mmm…”
“Aeris . ”
He suddenly got up . Chiharu’s hand fell .
“Chiharu! Maki!”
“Yeah . ”
He picked up Chiharu’s hand and pressed it to his forehead .
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“I’m so glad… I was afraid you would never wake up . ”
“We’re fine . If anything, I feel really good . Right, Maki?”
“Uh, yeah . ”
And with that, Maki sat up and stretched her arms .
“Maki . You shouldn’t move so suddenly . You’ve slept for an entire day . Please, please be careful . ”
“Uh, yeah . But I really do feel good . Chiharu?”
Chiharu also got up . Aeris supported her as she rotated her arms .
“Huh? My shoulders aren’t sore anymore! They were so sore ever since we came here!”
Just then, the door opened .
“Maki! Chiharu!”
“Edwy . ”
Edwy rushed inside .
“Thank god . How do you feel? Yes, you look much better now . ”
And then he tore away Aeris, who was still holding Chiharu’s hand .
“I don’t care how old you are . ”
“Oh, sorry . ”
Then Grudo, Kaider, and Nyran entered and celebrated with them .
Grumble .
“Ah . ”
“Oh . ”
Chiharu and Maki held their stomachs .
“Your stomach is more honest than you are . ”
Said Kaider .
“It would have been polite for you to ignore it . ”
Maki retorted .
“Haha . I see you really are back to your old self . ”
“Yes, I am . But thanks for worrying about us . ”
“Uh, of course . ”
Kaider and Maki looked away awkwardly . Chiharu watched them with a chuckle .
“Now, let’s go eat . For Maki’s sake . ”
Edwy said .
“No, wait . Chiharu’s stomach was grumbling too . Why does it look like I’m the hungry one? That’s not right, is it?”
“Can you walk? Maybe I’ll carry you . ”
“I would prefer to eat here . ”
Chiharu said with a blush .
“Huh? Chiharu? Why are you pretending to be ill? This is ridiculous . ”
“Well, you said it yourself, Maki . Romance only comes to those who can appreciate a romantic setting . And I happen to find this romantic . ”
“I suppose… Tsk . To think you would win like this…”
Maki said as her shoulders drooped .
“What are you two talking about…?”
“Ehehe . ”
“Ehehe . ”
“Now, I’ll have the food brought to you . ”
“Thank you . ”
“Thank you . ”
And with that, the darkness was lifted and the mayor’s mansion became a cheerful place .