Chapter 128 – Elixir

It took an hour to calm Stella, who kept muttering she’d rather die.

During that time, Pina and Yurasia were busy getting rid of the impurities and the smell that had come out of Stella’s body.

After almost two hours had passed, right when I started considering knocking her out by hitting her on the back of the neck, Stella finally settled down.

“Hic, hic…”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“…I, I don’t… I don’t know what that was…”

“Yeah.”

“…Even though it came from my body… it’s not mine.”

“Right.”

“I… I feel wronged.”

“Well, people can feel that way sometimes.”

I gave Stella a half-hearted pat and thought about all the impurities that had come out of her body.

It was a lot.

I’m not trying to tease her, there was honestly an absurd amount.

There was even poison mixed in.

I have no idea why there was poison.

And I don’t know why that poison never left her body.

Yurasia, Pina, and even Stella herself hadn’t realized there was poison, but I recognized it right away.

Someone tried to kill Stella.

The fact that it hadn’t disappeared and had changed color inside her body meant it had been there for at least ten years.

And judging by the amount… if she’d ingested just a bit more, she would have died.

Ten years. Before Stella’s mother disappeared.

And before Stella cut ties with her family.

The timing is strange.

Who gave her the poison?

Should I say something?

I looked over at Stella.

She was still steeped in shame, looking like she might burst into tears if I so much as poked her.

Of course, even without that face… just remembering the looks she’s given since leaving the Labyrinth, I figured it’s better not to tell her yet.

‘…Ha.’

Why am I like this?

Why am I worrying so much about hurting Stella?

Compared to my previous life… I really have softened a lot.

Is it the body? The environment…?

“Why, hic… why are you sighing? Is it because I’m dirty…?”

“I’m sighing because I’m tired, not because you’re dirty, you brat. Do you know how hard it is to help you like this?”

“I don’t know…”

Mumbling, Stella fidgeted with her fingers and rubbed them on her freshly changed clothes.

Then she slowly approached and wiped the sweat from my face.

“Still… thank you.”

“Of course you should be grateful.”

“Hmmm…”

“Is it ‘hmph’ or ‘hmm’? Pick one.”

“Both.”

Stella answered primly and giggled. She handed back the elixir she hadn’t taken yet.

“I’ll save this one for later, then.”

“No. It’s easier to get everything over with while you’re already suffering. Sit back down.”

“…Will I be okay?”

“Yeah. You take yours, then Pina, and we’ll be done.”

I sat down and patted the spot in front of me.

Still moving hesitantly, Stella gulped and sat down in front of me.

“There’s not going to be… that kind of stuff coming out this time, right?”

“No, nothing dirty will come out now.”

“Don’t call it dirty!”

“Then would you call that clean?”

“Still!”

She looked ready to cry again, so I shut my mouth.

“This one is an elixir that could kill you if you mess up, so focus.”

“Ki, kill? No, no. Actually, that’s better than going through that again.”

Somehow, Stella seemed braver now.

With a determined look, she nodded. This time, she didn’t even ask the name and moved to take the elixir.

“You’re not asking the name this time?”

“You said it’s not important.”

“Yeah… that’s true.”

I smacked my lips.

I do know the name of this elixir.

…I kind of want to tell her.

When the time comes to reveal who I am, I’d like to tell her the backstory of the elixir she took today.

Well… that can wait for another time.

She’ll never forget today anyway.

After expelling that much impurity, how could she?

I put my hand on her back, looking forward to how she’ll react when she learns the elixir’s story.

“Don’t chew it, just swallow.”

“What? How am I supposed to swallow something this big? What if I choke and die?”

“Weren’t you just saying you’d rather die?”

“S-still!”

“You won’t die. Just think about swallowing it and it’ll slide right down.”

“…Really?”

I nodded. Stella nodded too and put the round elixir in her mouth.

Then she flinched.

Looks like it went down her throat, so I immediately sent my Mana into her body.

“Don’t fight my Mana, just follow its flow. It might be hard to control because your meridians are opening, but do your best.”

Instead of answering, violet Mana burst out of Stella.

* * *

After Stella, it was Pina’s turn.

In Pina’s case, there was nothing for me to help with. Her natural constitution and her connection to Sparkle led the absorption of the elixir all on their own.

So now, she’s off in the corner playing with Sparkle.

From now on, her connection to the Spirit Realm should be strong enough that she can always keep Sparkle out.

And as for Stella, 

She absorbed 70%. That’s really impressive.

Maybe it was because she expelled all her impurities first and then immediately took the elixir.

She absorbed almost everything she needed without waste.

She even seems so energetic that she’s firing off spells all over the place, smiling like nothing happened.

Looks like she’s already forgotten about dumping out all those impurities just a little while ago. What a simple girl.

“Amazing!”

“It should be amazing.”

“W-what is all this?”

“What do you mean, what is it? It’s the Mana you’ll be using from now on.”

“Amazing… Amazing!”

I figured as much, but… it seems this is Stella’s first time taking an elixir.

She didn’t seem estranged from her family as a child, so did they never give her elixirs even back then?

Well, it’s not something to worry about right now.

Now, it doesn’t matter anymore.

“At this rate, I might reach 5th Circle soon!”

“That’s good.”

“Hmph! Eliaernes! That means I’ll finally be on your level! Watch out!”

“What’s the point if it’s just the number? The class is different. Don’t brag until you at least reach 6th Circle.”

“Ugh…”

I grinned at the frustrated Stella and walked over to Yurasia, who was cleaning up.

“How are you feeling, Yurasia? Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes! It’s just… the output is so different, it’s hard to get used to, but if I keep practicing today, I should adjust by tomorrow!”

“Good. Then starting tomorrow, we’ll train properly.”

“Huh? Train for what?”

“What do you think? We’re going to train until you can handle all the weapons I gave you properly.”

Yurasia’s mouth opened and closed, and she made a tearful face.

“…I’m still having trouble handling Aura, though…?”

“That’s something you should keep training every day except when you’re sleeping. Tomorrow’s focus is on physical training. They’re totally different. Do you know how long and short twenty-four hours can feel? Are you going to spend it all just practicing Aura? What if your Mana runs dry and you can’t produce Aura? I always tell you, training your body’s internals is important, but ultimately, mind, energy, and body. The harmony of those three.”

“Uwaaaaah. Okay! I’ll do it!”

“Seriously? What, you think I’m just nagging? All this advice is precious for you, Yurasia, you know?”

As Yurasia shrank away in dismay, Stella came over, frowning.

“You’re lecturing her again, aren’t you?”

“What?”

“Pina just nods along no matter what, and I never listen, so you always end up lecturing Yurasia!”

“…That’s not true? I really care about Yurasia. Besides, advice only matters if someone actually listens. Why would I waste my breath on someone like you who never listens? Just a waste of energy.”

Yurasia might complain, but…

She always tries to remember and put my advice into practice.

That’s why I keep giving her tips.

Stella’s reaction is odd.

“Sometimes I wonder… Eliaernes, you’re really, how do I put this… like a professor in their fifties at the academy. Not like a new professor who’s all fired up, but not like an old-timer who has no passion left, either… Just, awkwardly in the middle?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

It stung a bit.

Fifties… If you add my age in my previous life to my current age, maybe that’s about right.

Probably.

“Anyway, stop bullying your big sis so much.”

“When have I ever bullied Yurasia?”

Clicking my tongue, I picked up a broom that had fallen on the ground. Sparkle flew over and landed on my shoulder.

“…What is it?”

I decided to use formal speech for now.

When Sparkle first popped out, it tried to call me Ronan, so I knocked it out cold.

After waking up and seeing my glare, Sparkle figured out the situation and started using formal speech.

And… Sparkle keeps clinging to me just because I’m a Eustetia.

It’s an unbeatable excuse that works on anyone, anywhere.

[Huh? Uh? Ahaha! It’s just comfortable here!]

After an awkward laugh, Sparkle stopped smiling and whispered in my ear, or rather, spoke directly into my mind.

[There’s something strange outside.]

‘Something strange?’

[Yeah. It’s not a Demon, but… how do I say it, something kind of like a Demon? Somewhere between a Demon and a human…]

‘…A half-breed?’

[No. It’s different from a half-breed. It feels more… artificially made.]

Artificially made…?

I glanced at Stella.

Yurasia, Pina, and Stella were chattering away, laughing brightly together.

Stella… couldn’t be, right?

Sparkle didn’t sense anything strange from her.

So then… who?

[It’s getting closer…!]

‘Are they waiting at the door?’

[No, that’s not it. They’re walking this way. Now that they’re closer, I’m sure of it. It’s a really… strange presence. They accepted Magi into their body, but they’re not a Black Magician, not a Demon… How do I put it. Like a puppet? That kind of feeling?’

‘Hide in my clothes for now.’

[Got it. Just in case, be careful!]

Hearing the word puppet, I wondered for a moment, but didn’t think it could be. I opened the door, just in case.

And then.

“…Oh? Junior?”

I came face-to-face with the very person I’d suspected: Ophelia.