Book 18 Chapter 4
Episode 127
Not only was there the cleanup from this incident, but it also seemed like both Friede and Kiesz had come down with a fever, significantly extending their stay.
Rin was quite excited.
Because during that long period, she could practically live at the <Carsico> Municipal Library!
“Are you that excited?”
Lista asked.
“Books are treasures of knowledge, and I’m practically buried in gold and jewels right now. Of course, I’m excited.”
She had merely answered honestly, but Lista laughed clearly, “Ah-ha-hat.”
Lista’s laughter was always clear.
Should one say it was so clear that even the shadow of sadness cast behind that laughter seemed merely clear?
“Anyway, I’m going to read now, so don’t talk to me.”
This library overnighter… no, the focus of her research would be on two main points.
One was, needless to say, Osarius-style runes.
The more runes one could use, the more the power of magic could be amplified.
The other was the progress in researching the magic of immortality, the Lord’s Lesser and Greater Circles.
The rune design was complete, but there seemed to be a flaw somewhere in the mathematical formula, as something was always lacking.
“Kkyu, kkyukkyukkyung!”
“What? You’ll help? No need. Magic is something you must be able to do alone.”
“Kkyu-uing!”
More than anything…
If Friede and Sval always had to be by her side, it would be meaningless.
If she couldn't accomplish it alone with her own strength, how could she present this magic to the Dean?
“Hey, what are you staring at?”
Ah, and it was probably around this time that she began Kiesz’s first language education.
[(o.o)?]
In later generations, all sorts of beautiful tales were attached to it, claiming it was an act of kindness for Kiesz’s future, but to confess honestly, it was complete nonsense.
“You said you were recuperating, but you’re just sitting on a branch, drinking all day… constantly spamming emoticons with Serwevon. Come here! You’re incorrigible.”
Rin was simply frustrated, and she felt sorry that Serwevon was being exploited for labor every time.
However… Rin would soon regret that.
Because it only resulted in making the emoticons usable with Serwevon even more extensive.
[(h_h)?]
[(nmn)!]
[(>m<);]
The words she was told to memorize, she hardly ever did, trying to converse only with crazy initial consonants. What kind of ridiculously lazy scoundrel is this?!
“Let’s observe a demonstration by a skilled assistant. Assistant Pipi.”
“Pipi, Pipi, Pipi is a parrot. Doesn’t understand human speech.”
“You crazy beast, you ate the corn, and now you’re pretending not to know? Ah, it’s running away! Sval, apprehend that guy!”
Taking advantage of Pipi’s escape, Kiesz also ran!
“Memorize this? Hey, I said memorize it! Where are you running off to!”
[(o.o)ㅗ]
“Aww, this alcoholic bastard! I’m using magic? Am I using magic? Huh?!”
[(=m=)]
“Fireball.”
The sight of Rin chasing Kiesz, even putting aside her beloved reading, was clearly visible even from the auxiliary hospital room of the city hall.
“Kiesz… when I first saw him, he was just a guy who always drank with a gloomy expression, but who knew he’d be such an emotional fellow.”
Friede let out a small laugh, a long pipe in her mouth.
Of course, being in a hospital room, she didn't light the tobacco leaves. It was simply a habitual action.
“It’s because he’s with Rin. He becomes like that when he’s with Rin.”
The one leaning back on the sickbed was Lista Alter Schurupeng. Friede approached her side and touched her hair.
“Your once lustrous hair has become dry and brittle, completely devoid of moisture, after just two years of this journey.”
“Really?”
“Why are you answering so indifferently? Your operational limit is approaching! It means your lifespan is almost depleted.”
A Faye-Quaire's life is a candle.
If burned fiercely, it shines brighter, but its wax melts away that much faster.
Over the three years it took to cross the sea, countless battles against powerful enemies had consumed Lista's lifespan to its absolute limit and beyond.
“Saying we’re staying here longer for my and Kiesz’s recuperation, that’s just a smokescreen to hide your current condition, isn’t it?”
Friede bit her lip, feeling helpless that she, a priestess of the Fire Dragon whom everyone revered so much, couldn't do anything for her friend.
“Don’t make that face, Friede.”
“Damn it… how can I not? How on earth?! My friend is on borrowed time, should I just laugh in front of her?”
“You know, after this journey ends later… I want to part ways with everyone with a smile. They say heroes don’t die; they just go missing, right?”
For Rin, she would simply disappear without a word, but…
“Much later, when Rin becomes an adult… and when Friede and Kiesz enter their old age, if someone asks what the journey of the old hero party was like, I want to be able to answer, ‘There were many ups and downs, but it was truly enjoyable’… I want a journey like that.”
“Lista…”
“So, smile for me. Don’t make a sad face. You see, I’m so happy traveling with you all right now. That’s why I can always smile. It’s not a pretense. How about you, Friede?”
Friede’s fist trembled.
How could this not be fun? How could this journey… not be happy?
So she simply laughed. It wasn't a laugh of joy, pleasure, or happiness, but one she burst out for all to see.
“Alright, I’ll smile! You crazy hero, you. From now until the moment you end the war and then secretly go find your burial place… yes, I’ll laugh to my heart’s content, I’ll laugh to my heart’s content…”