episode_0202

Looking at the Gifts I Received

“Hehehehehe…. A precious treasure Zeke-nim obtained through effort….!! A gift here, a gift there…!! Hehehehe….”

That night, while enjoying Dikalam and resting in the lodging provided by Alten, Aria was lying on the bed, gazing at the brooch and Rainbow Leaf I had given her, grinning widely. I, who was sitting at the desk writing, merely chuckled and watched Aria rejoice. Was she truly that happy? Just a while ago, she had been gloomy because she couldn’t shoot her bow, but now she was joyful enough to shake the world. Yet… *inhales sharply*…

“…Still… it’s not comparable to your handmade items, you know?”

“Whaaaat?! What do you mean by that?! This brooch, made from a slime’s magic stone, was given by Zeke-nim! Isn’t this also Zeke-nim’s handmade creation?! And… although I’m not wearing it now, the black saintess robes I wore before! Zeke-nim personally mended and dyed them, so how can you say they’re not comparable?!”

Aria flared up, asking why I would say the brooch I gave her was not comparable to my handmade items, especially since it was my own creation, and the black saintess robes she used to wear were also made by me. I couldn’t argue with her. Come to think of it, Aria was right; I did make handmade items for her. It’s true that Magnod’s Tears and a slime’s magic stone aren’t really comparable, but it seems Aria doesn’t care about such things. *humming*… Now that I think about it, I remember all the gifts I’ve received so far…

“Hmm… How about we take out all the gifts we’ve received so far and reminisce about the past? Aria, do you want to look for them too?”

“Ah, yes! I’ll get my backpack right away!”

As I rummaged through my backpack to pull out the gifts I had received, Aria shot up from the bed, placed her backpack on the desk, and started rummaging through it just like me. Come to think of it, this backpack has been a huge help. I’ve been using this backpack ever since Todrua, and it’s because of it that our journey went smoothly. Of course, that’s a separate story from the enemies we’ve met so far, though. Oh, this…

“Aria. Look at this. Do you remember this scale?”

“Huh? A scale, you say? *Humming*…!! Ah! I remember! Isn’t that a gift Protega-nim, the dragon, gave to Zeke-nim?! I recognized it because the scale is black.”

When I pulled a scale from my backpack and asked if she remembered it, Aria realized it was black and immediately thought of Protega and Bivi, answering yes. It truly brings back memories. Protega-nim gave it to me as a sign of gratitude when I saved Darune. I wonder if Protega-nim is doing well… Just as I was looking at the scale, worrying about Protega, Aria pulled out a white scale from her own backpack and said with a grin:

“*Chuckles*… Bivi-nim said… If I keep this scale, Bivi-nim would help me connect with Zeke-nim…”

“…What? You two talked about that?!”

“Huh? Oh… Oops…! I got caught… But it doesn’t matter…! I might be able to make it happen soon anyway… *chuckles*…!!”

I was greatly astonished to learn that the secret conversation Bivi and Aria had behind Protega’s and my backs was about Bivi helping Aria and me connect. Aria, however, just grinned widely, saying that it didn’t matter if I knew, since she might make it happen soon anyway. What… what is that incredible confidence?! It almost makes me want to keep a little distance out of fear…?!

“Anyway… it’s been a while since I took out a dragon’s scale, so it brings back nostalgic memories… I’ve been too busy to take them out lately… Hmm, what’s next? Oh, this is the eternal snow Yuria gave me.”

As I reminisced about the past, looking at Protega and Bivi’s scales, I rummaged through my backpack again, anticipating what would come next. Then, my hand touched the eternal snow Yuria had given me, and pulling it out, a nostalgic smile unconsciously spread across my face. However, as soon as I took out the eternal snow crystal, Aria scowled and complained:

“Tch. That crystal still hasn’t melted? When will it finally melt and leave Zeke-nim’s side…!!!”

“…Yuria said it wouldn’t melt. By the way, I wonder if Yuria and Dio V Runner are safe… Do you remember when Dio V Runner-nim gave us this generator? We can’t use it because it’s broken, though.”

“Ah…!! I remember that spherical generator. The one that generates electricity if you put fire inside? Speaking of which, my camera is also a memory now…”

As I pulled out a palm-sized spherical generator from my backpack, Aria smiled in delight, saying she remembered it. Then, as she took out a camera from her own backpack, saying it too was a memory now, I instantly felt an ominous chill down my spine. No… I was certain… I knew what this feeling was…

“What? Ca… camera?! Give it to me for a second!!!”

“Huh?! Woah?! W-wait a minute!”

With that certainty, I frantically snatched the camera from Aria’s hand. Aria, greatly flustered by my sudden, startled grab, tried to stop me. But I was already in shock from what I saw inside the camera…

“These photos… they’re from just yesterday…? And I was sleeping…? These photos… uhhh…”

“Ah… Ahahahahaha… I wonder if the camera has a will like Trahan does… Hahahaha… The camera, honestly… taking pictures of Zeke-nim secretly… That’s…”

“Ariaaaaaaaaa!!!!”

Learning that Aria had secretly taken my photos again despite my previous warnings, I exploded in rage at Aria, who tried to gloss over it. A moment later, Aria knelt down and raised her hands in a punishment pose from my outburst. I continued checking the photos and sighed deeply as I said to Aria:

“Is this why you used to hug me all the time…? But seriously, when did you take these photos? There are photos taken when I wasn’t even sleeping… And from a distance where I should have noticed… But there was definitely no sound, so how…?”

“*Whimpers*… I found a function before that allowed silent shooting… *sniffles*… Please, please don’t delete them… They’re my most precious treasures…!!”

“…*Sigh*…”

Aria confessed that she had found a silent shooting function before and used it to secretly photograph me, pleading with me not to delete the photos, saying they were all her treasures. *Sigh*… To have taken so many until the storage was almost full… Wait… Aria must have been bothered by me having other women’s items, right? In that case…

“Alright. Then, in return, don’t complain about me having other people’s gifts. And don’t even think about showing these photos to anyone else…”

“How could I carelessly show those treasures to others!!! Even if they were Zeke-nim’s parents, only I would see those photos!!! But not complaining about Zeke-nim having other women’s gifts… That’s a difficult… *groans*… Still, the photos come first… I understand…”

Aria adamantly declared that she would never show my photos to others. Then, when I added the condition that she shouldn’t complain about me having other people’s items, she pondered for a moment before finally deciding to agree in a small voice. At that, I felt greatly relieved that Aria wouldn’t get angry even if I kept other people’s items in the future.

“Alright… What’s next, I wonder…? Oh… this book and the fangs…!! These were given by Tess and Pertia, weren’t they?”

As I pulled an old book and a finger-sized beast’s fang from my backpack, I remembered that these were gifts from the people I met in Kartun and greeted them fondly. Aria also seemed to recognize them, as she looked surprised and asked me:

“Oh my. Didn’t you decide to read that book after visiting Kartun?”

“Ah… I already learned Kartun’s history from the beastfolk there, so there was no reason to open it… And I did open it once before… but it was all information I already knew… Hmm, what’s next? Ah, these are the dolls Tiavel made of us, aren’t they?”

“Oh my~! It’s been so long since I’ve seen our dolls! I asked you to put my doll in Zeke-nim’s backpack because I wanted it to be with Zeke-nim’s doll…”

Rummaging through my backpack, I found two fist-sized dolls and fondly remembered that Tiavel had made them in our likeness. Aria also fondly recalled how she had previously asked me to put her doll in my backpack with mine. Wow… Every time I take something out of my backpack, memories come flooding back. So many things have happened… I almost died, and I almost ignored someone who was hurt… Truly many things have happened.

“This is a wing fragment of former Chief Akada, given by Chief Kelly… This is a phoenix feather given by Alten… This is a fragment of Cecilia’s soul… And these are the Snow Woman’s Tears given by my parents…”

“*Humming*… Seeing those Snow Woman’s Tears makes me want to meet Zeke-nim’s parents as soon as possible. I want to officially introduce myself to them.”

“Isn’t it a bit too early for that…? Hmm…? Oh, this is a lump of slime given by Esti-nim? And this is…”

“…? Huh? These are items I haven’t seen before…? What are these, Zeke-nim?!”

As I started taking items out of my backpack, Aria was bewildered by the unfamiliar objects emerging and asked what they were. A bottle containing a lump of slime, a bottle containing monster powder, and even a white wing feather. With three unfamiliar items appearing, Aria was bewildered, and I, realizing I hadn’t explained these items to Aria, scratched my head and explained:

“Ah, these… I forgot to mention them. They were given by Esti-nim, Riera, and Merzel-nim, respectively. They were given as a sign of gratitude.”

“But why were these in Zeke-nim’s backpack?! I remember all the items in Zeke-nim’s backpack, so why?!”

“Ah, these… they were at the very bottom. So, it wasn’t easy to find them… But judging by how carefully everyone handed them to me… it seems they were all afraid of you…”

“These… these damned foxes!!!!”

When I explained that everyone had given them as a sign of gratitude, and that it seemed they had secretly given them to me because they were afraid of her, Aria flared up in anger. I gave an awkward laugh and continued searching for more items in my backpack. Then, at that moment…

“Huh? Was there such a long item in my backpack?”

“A long item? *Humming*… What else was in Zeke-nim’s backpack…”

“Ah…”

As I pulled the long item out of my backpack, we instantly wore somber expressions and sighed with regret, realizing what it was. It was Raskal’s black arrow, the one for which he sacrificed his life for Aria. Knowing Raskal’s death better than anyone, we couldn’t help but become solemn before that arrow. Saddened by Raskal’s black arrow and our heavy hearts, we decided to go to bed early. As dawn broke the next day, we began to pack our belongings.

“If you’re ready, let’s head out immediately, Aria…”

“But are you really leaving after enjoying yourselves for just one day? I heard Dikalam is an event that lasts up to three days.”

“I know, but if we stay here, the cult might attack Proserpina as we predicted… Although we’re leaving early now, I hope we can truly enjoy it thoroughly later.”

When Aria asked if we were really leaving so early, despite Dikalam being an event that could last up to three days, I replied that the current situation left us no choice. *Sigh*… I’d like to enjoy it more if I could, but the damned cult is ravaging the world, so what can we do? As I sighed with great regret, Aria pulled out a map from her backpack and said to me:

“I also hope the cult falls as soon as possible. I want to go to the place marked on the map I received from Rapien-nim and spend leisurely time there with Zeke-nim. But where do you plan to go after leaving this place, Zeke-nim?”

“We’ll stop by Grovel, and then head to Croa Spring. After that, I’ll check on the others to see if they’re safe, and also find out if there are any forces resisting the cult, as we predicted. I don’t know when this will end… but once the cult falls, we’ll truly be able to explore freely. Together with you.”

“…!!” “Of course, we should do that!!! Or should we head straight for the mountain range where the cult’s headquarters are? I think destroying all the saintesses and priests there is the best way…!!”

“That would be fast, and dangerous. I’ve told you several times, no. Anyway, for now, let’s leave before the other elves wake up… I left a note.”

When Aria made another dangerous suggestion, I flatly refused it and told her to leave immediately, looking at the note on the desk. I felt sorry for Alten and Veronica… and everyone in Proserpina, but we couldn’t rule out the possibility that we might be dangerous, so it would be better for them if we left. With a lingering sense of regret, I left the lodging with Aria and headed towards Proserpina’s exit. Of course, through the back door Alten and Veronica had shown us before. However, upon reaching the back door, we were startled to see Alten and Veronica there. Veronica, as if she had anticipated our reaction, chuckled and said:

“See, Captain Alten? I predicted they’d leave early, didn’t I? Did you really think we wouldn’t know your personality, Zeke?”

“Alten… Veronica… I… I’m sorry, but…”

“Don’t worry, Zeke. We’re not here to stop you from leaving. Veronica predicted that you would leave because of your anxiety that your presence here might put us in danger. So, we came to see you off… This feels somewhat similar to a previous situation. Although the worries are different…”

Veronica explained that Alten and she had come to see us off because Veronica had predicted we would leave this place. Then, Alten recalled how we had also sneaked out through a back door before and mentioned it, which made us feel a strange yet nostalgic sensation. However, unlike before, we were now leaving after having a pleasant time, so our hearts were filled with regret. We wished we could have played more, enjoyed more, and talked more… The regret was immense, filled with such desires. But there was nothing we could do.

“I’ll come back, Alten. When the world is stable… then we’ll explore the world again. So, I’m sorry for now, but…”

“You don’t need to be sorry, Zeke. I understand your concern for Proserpina. Just come back next time. You must come back with Aria. Whether five years pass, or ten years… we will wait for you.”

“Otherwise, Proserpina might open completely, and we might meet you outside… Anyway, everyone…”

“…!!”

When Alten said they would wait for us no matter how many years passed, Veronica, on the other hand, said that if they came out, they might find us. Then, she suddenly approached us, embraced Aria and me at once, closed her eyes, and said:

“Everyone… you have to be safe… Understood?”

“U-uh… O-okay…”

“…How dare you hug Zeke-nim…? Do you want to die, Veronica…?!”

“…Ah.”

As Veronica genuinely worried about us, I promised we would definitely be safe. However, Aria, more concerned that Veronica had hugged me than touched by her words, began to rage. At this, Veronica turned pale and froze, while Alten chuckled from behind, watching us. Receiving Alten and Veronica’s farewell, we left Proserpina and began walking the same path we had walked before.

“This path is nostalgic too… We unexpectedly ran into Grovel later, didn’t we?”

“Ah… Having to see that filthy demon, my stomach feels like it’s twisting.”

When I mentioned Grovel, Aria felt a strong disgust that made her stomach churn at the thought of having to face Cecilia later. At Aria’s reaction, I gave an awkward laugh out of bewilderment and worried about Cecilia. Cecilia… I wonder if she’ll really die if Aria hits her a few times with her staff… As I worried about Cecilia and continued walking forward, two people in black robes suddenly appeared from behind a tree and stood before us. I was startled, and Aria was surprised and gripped her staff with both hands, saying:

“W-what is it? I didn’t sense any presence at all…?”

“What…? You couldn’t sense them with your divine power…? And people in the Kriton region…? Are they elves…?”

“Ah… I found her. Black Saintess Aria Rit…!! *Giggles*~!”

“…?!”

Just as I was greatly bewildered that the suddenly appearing figures hadn’t been detected by Aria’s divine power, one of the two smaller figures suddenly laughed, saying they had found Aria, and rushed at her. And the moment I blinked, the person who rushed at Aria and Aria herself vanished in an instant. I stared blankly at where Aria had been, bewildered.

“A-Aria…?”