v2 Chapter 20: Departure Day

The next morning, Haru's Guild account indeed contained three years' worth of hunting compensation. It was a far larger sum than Haru had expected, but according to Dred, it was still only compensation as an apprentice, not a full magician.

“You could probably argue your results and squeeze out more, but...”

“No, I received my graduation qualification and enough funds to start a new life, so this is enough.”

Haru replied to Dred with a clear, refreshed expression. Then, after immediately withdrawing travel funds, she returned the money she had borrowed, wallet and all, to Shouko. Shouko took the money out of the wallet and handed just the wallet back.

“The wallet is a present. Leatherwork is popular in the Deep Forest, you know.”

“Thank you.”

Accepting the wallet with different feelings than yesterday, Haru put the withdrawn money inside and clutched it tightly.

Once that was done, all that remained was to return to the Deep Forest.

“Linus-san, thank you for everything.”

“Haru, it was the people from the Deep Forest who did it.”

“No. In a country where no one paid me any mind, only Linus-san truly saw me. Thanks to you, I can start over.”

Looking straight at Linus like that, Haru no longer bore any trace of the girl she was right after her injury. Linus instinctively reached out, and Haru allowed herself to be gently embraced.

“Take care.”

“Yes.”

Just as she was about to board the carriage, two young people in academy uniform robes approached from the direction of the Magic Academy. One seemed to be injured, with the other lending a shoulder. Seeing them, the High Priest frowned. The injury hasn't fully healed? Foolishness.

“Terry, Fia. Why...”

“The young man from yesterday?” Leon murmured.

Leon and Falco casually stood beside Haru and Shouko. Given yesterday's momentum, they might try something again today. They could just leave immediately, but they didn't want to depart with lingering worries.

The pair came up beside the carriage, and Fia stepped forward, removing her hand from Terry's support. Terry's expression was stern, but yesterday's fierce emotion had vanished.

“Haru.”

“Fia.”

It was the first time they had called each other by name.

“I heard you graduated and are being taken in by guardians from the Deep Forest, so...” It seemed rumors had flown around the academy all day yesterday. “Before you leave, I wanted to apologize.”

“Apologize?” Haru tilted her head. Terry, she could understand; he had said terrible things yesterday. But Fia, why?

“Your role... it was the aspiration of the young magicians.”

“No way.” That terrifying, lonely job?

“The job of launching the magic signal for the hunt more brilliantly than anyone else,” Fia elaborated. “The joy of defeating monster after monster that gathered without even searching. We knew you were getting injured, but that potions would heal it. Entrusting such an important job to the junior group... every magician confident in their magic capacity was irritated by it.” For magicians wanting to achieve results, it was apparently a job they desired desperately.

Hearing that now didn't change anything. Besides, even if she had known that from the start, Haru probably would have refused if she could have.

“It wasn't that great,” Haru told Fia dispassionately. “It was always terrifying when the monsters gathered. Even when injured, I wasn't supplied with potions. More than anything, even though most of the injuries were from allies' magic, no one helped me.”

“I didn't know,” Fia admitted. “The terror of the monsters gathering in droves when the magic was brilliantly launched. The fear of running out of magic power. And the magicians, supposedly colleagues, who fired magic without even looking my way. Being left injured until the hunt was over. Everything.” So nothing changed, even when Haru got hurt.

“If you get injured after using up all three potions you carry, and it doesn't fully heal, you're immediately dismissed,” Fia smiled sadly. “I should have been able to participate in proper hunts in just one more year. But now, it's only rear support. It's frustrating, but it can't be helped. But...” Fia looked firmly at Haru and said, “Yesterday, I heard this idiot childhood friend of mine went to complain to you. It was pathetic, and I couldn't help getting angry at both Terry and myself. Haru.” Fia made a face that was somewhere between crying and laughing. “I'm sorry for not trying to know. I'm sorry for leaving you alone. And for not knowing how terrifying it is to be abandoned by your allies. I can't do anything now, but I just wanted to see you off.”

It was too late now. For empathy, for sympathy. Still, she could depart the Lakes with one more bright feeling. Haru simply nodded and went to board the carriage.

“Wait just a moment,” Shouko said, stepping forward instead. She glanced back at the High Priest, who nodded firmly.

“Fia, hold out both hands.”

“You, what? So suddenly...” Fia was bewildered, and Terry hurriedly said,

“Hey, if this is revenge for yesterday, do it to me!”

Shouko looked at Terry with cold eyes, and he instinctively took a step back.

“Can't you see this yellow sash? There's no way a healer would take revenge.” Shouko's eyes seemed to say, Are you stupid?

“Come on, Fia.”

“But...”

“No 'buts'. Fia.”

The small apprentice healer's words carried a strange weight, and Fia hesitantly held out her hands.

“I'm going to channel magic.”

“O-okay.”

“...Your left knee has a slight shadow. That's putting strain on the right side too. Did you fall? There's a wound behind your left shoulder. Okay, this might feel a little hot.”

“Huh? Ah, it's hot...”

“Endure it! People from the Lakes are really bad at receiving healing!”

The injuries weren't that numerous. She was able to heal them without as much difficulty as with Haru.

“Don't rely only on potions,” Shouko advised. “Even if you're not injured, visit the church diligently for check-ups.”

“O-okay, I understand.”

“Fia, are you okay?” Terry asked, concerned.

“Y-yes.”

Falco approached the worried Terry. “You.”

“W-what is it?” Being looked down upon by the imposing hunter, even knowing he wouldn't be harmed, was frightening. Terry somehow managed to squeeze out the words.

Then Falco said, “My Shouko doesn't fail at healing. Got it?”

“G-got it.”

“You.” Falco lowered his voice. “Yesterday, you said 'My lover,' didn't you?”

“So what?”

“She said 'childhood friend'.”

“Gh...!”

Terry took the biggest hit of the day. Indeed, to Fia, Terry hadn't yet left the bounds of being a childhood friend. Falco made a 'Hmph' face and boarded the carriage without looking back. The guy who shoved my Shouko. There was no way he'd forgive him.

Despite that brief scene, the group from the Deep Forest, taking Haru with them, departed.

“Right, I'm going to properly speak up too.” Yesterday, when the townspeople heard about Haru's incident and came to check on her out of concern, Fia finally realized for the first time that she had become dyed by the Magic Academy and had mistaken the purpose of being a magician. Helping the townspeople. She had forgotten that and desired only her own gain. “I'll start over as rear support.”

“Fia.” Terry called out to Fia, who was walking briskly away.

“What is it? Hurry up and come on.”

“Your leg.”

“My leg?”

“You're walking. Normally.”

“...It's true. That small healer from before!”

Looking back, the carriage had already turned the corner of the road and disappeared from view.

“Healers heal freely at any time. Even a child that small understands the healer's principles. I too, as a magician, will strive for the sake of others! Let's go, Terry!”

“O-okay.”

The two headed toward the Magic Academy. Terry stopped and looked back once more. I don't have Fia's resolve yet, but I have to at least try my best so I can stand beside her.

“Terry!”

“Okay!”

Terry hurried quickly towards Fia. So he wouldn't blame someone else and run away anymore.