Chapter 38

A few days after that news, Arnold returned to the capital with his usual composed expression. Emilianna left for Platonevna on the very day she received the news. Alek seemed to be safe, but apparently, he had suffered injuries so severe that he could barely move. When I heard that report, I was momentarily startled, but I was certain he was alive. That was enough, and life is irreplaceable.

Arnold arrived in the capital in the afternoon. It seemed he had immediately reported to the important people upon his arrival, and I met him again around dusk when the sun was setting.

—To my great surprise, he came to the alchemy room where I was assigned.

Trying not to think too much, I was engrossed in alchemy, but the sound of the door opening reached my ears. Turning around as if drawn by that sound, there stood Arnold, looking exactly the same as always.

Well, to be precise, he was not wearing his usual white coat but rather some armor. Compared to the white coat, it naturally gave off a more imposing atmosphere, but considering the powerful monsters he faced, it felt somewhat unreliable. And, one more thing—he wasn't wearing his glasses.

"Arnold...!"

His name slipped out of my mouth.

Without any reaction, Arnold took a few steps closer to me. He was safe. Thanks to the recovery potion, there were no noticeable injuries, and he wasn't limping. —He was safe.

I knew it, but seeing it with my own eyes, I felt relieved all over again.

After realizing Arnold was safe, what came to mind was...

"A-Alek...?"

My question was expected, and a straightforward answer was promptly given.

"He lost both his legs but is alive."

He lost both his legs.

I should have been happy he was safe, but those words shook my brain.

Alek Platonevna, who appeared in "The Last Brave," was a brave man with all his limbs intact. That's how I remembered him, so when I heard he was safe but had suffered injuries so severe he couldn't move, I was startled.

Recovery potions can heal even significant injuries instantly, leaving no trace. Like Veyk's right eye, if the body's tissue had died, it would be impossible to heal, but a deep cut should have been healable to some extent.

Since that didn't happen, Alek was in a state where he couldn't move.

—If I thought about it a bit more, I could have guessed. But my brain refused to accept it.

"...Did you hear from Emilianna?"

She nodded slightly. Arnold only nodded in response, as if saying, "Yes."

—Alek Platonevna, who lost both his legs. That was a difference from "The Last Brave."

An unexpected turn of events. I hadn't even considered it. I never thought the differences between the game and this world would reappear in this form.

But, I thought. Alek was alive. Isn't that enough?

Emilianna must be rejoicing at her fiancé's return. Imagining that beautiful scene, I sighed softly. It's okay; in this world, they will be happy.

Looking up at Arnold in front of me, the moment our eyes met, I remembered "it."

"There was a monster that spoke human language..."

The fact written in Alek's letter still lingered in my chest like a black mist.

Arnold's eyes widened slightly at my words, but he soon showed a bitter expression. However, without any unnecessary drama, he answered.

"Yes. It seems that monster gave the order to retreat. It declared that it would bring down Platonevna. ...That's why I was so certain about the monster attack."

It seems my guess was correct. Alek was declared war on by a monster that spoke human language.

According to "The Last Brave," that monster was likely stronger and more ferocious than the others. How many soldiers' lives were taken by that monster?

Even though I knew the answer, the question slipped out of my mouth.

"Did you... defeat it?"

"That's why I'm standing here alive now."

Arnold said it with a stern voice, a tone that seemed to imply, "Of course." Those words, more than anything, reassured me.

Finally, the tension in my shoulders eased. There were still things to worry about, like Alek's injuries, but I thought this matter was finally coming to a close—just as I thought that...

"...But, the words the monster said before dying are bothering me."

Unexpected words shook my eardrums.

The words the monster said before dying. Hearing them, a bad feeling ran down my spine. I could imagine the monster's last words—its dying declaration.

Gripping my fist tightly, I looked up at him, urging him to continue. Arnold lowered his voice and continued.

"The revival of that person is imminent."

—The revival of that person is imminent.

I didn't realize it, but a twisted smile had formed on my lips. Noticing it, I quickly looked down before he could see.

Ah, I laughed. Because this was too cliché. It wasn't just a typical plot. It was trite. I remembered that "The Last Brave" was criticized by some for being too trite. —The plot was too predictable.

"...Is that so? I wonder what it means..."

That's all I could say.

Arnold, who seemed to notice something was off with me, tilted his head slightly and looked at me. I smiled to cover it up.

"I'm glad you're safe."

—It was undoubtedly my true feelings. They were, but I used those words to cover up.

***

How much time had passed since Arnold left the alchemy room, saying he had to report to Casper again? No, probably not much time had passed. The sun had set outside the window, but it wasn't completely dark yet.

—The revival of that person is imminent.

The words the monster said last stuck in my mind.

Most likely, no, definitely, "that person" was the root cause of the threat to this world in a few years—the Demon King. He must be gathering power for his revival now. The recent monster attacks might be a sign of the Demon King's revival.

I had a vague sense of this, but being confronted with it so clearly was unsettling.

—The revival of that person is imminent.

In "The Last Brave," the Demon King's revival happens in the middle of the story. Among the monsters plotting the Demon King's revival, there are ranks, and the ones called "officers" are closer to human in appearance and can skillfully manipulate human language.

From the beginning to the middle of the story, the main battles are against these officers of the demon army. Gradually, their true purpose of reviving the Demon King becomes clear, and in the middle of the story, just as the Demon King is about to be revived, the heroes head to the Demon King's throne to seal him again. There, they fight many monsters— but fall just short, and the Demon King is revived right before their eyes.

After reviving, the Demon King escapes from the heroes' sight and rests his unstable body by possessing human bodies. To drive the Demon King out of a human body, the sacred power of the ancient girl, the heroine, is needed—

I suddenly noticed that the alchemy tools were still scattered in front of me. The training session had long ended. How long had I been lost in thought? I might have worried Chelsea.

I hurriedly started cleaning up—when the door was knocked on.

At this hour, who could it be?

I cautiously asked, "Who is it?" The voice that came back was from someone I hadn't expected.

"It's me, Arnold."

I rushed to the door and slowly opened it. There stood Arnold, holding a wooden box in both hands, dressed in his usual white coat.

"Arnold, what's the matter? Did you forget something?"

"Can I come in for a moment?"

Without waiting for an answer, Arnold slipped through the door. He entered the alchemy room as if it were his own and placed the wooden box on the alchemy table.

Surprised by his sudden and somewhat rude actions, I stood there, dumbfounded. Arnold, seeing my reaction, gestured for me to come closer with his free hand, which was now empty after placing the box on the table.

It was as if he was calling a pet, and I frowned. But I could tell Arnold didn't care about my mood. Not knowing what to do, I sighed and approached him.

When I stood beside him, Arnold opened the wooden box. Inside was a smaller wooden box, and when I opened it, a cool breeze wafted out.

I peered inside. There was something frozen in ice.

"What is this...?"

"It's the horn of the monster that spoke."

I looked closely. It was a thick, long horn of a monster, frozen in ice.

A sinister-looking horn. I recognized it. This was—

"Isn't this similar to the horn of the monster in the legend of the Platonevna region that you mentioned?"

Arnold raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded, seemingly satisfied with my observation.

"Yes, it was very similar. The color of the fur and the horn was different, though."

The design was similar, but the color was different. It was a common design in RPGs. In "The Last Brave," a similar pattern appeared where a weaker monster from the early stages reappeared as a stronger one in the later stages, with a different color and a different name, treated as a separate entity.

Similarly, the monster in the legend and the one that spoke human language were very similar. The horn of the monster in the legend was said to cure any disease when boiled and drunk. I hadn't expected to come so close to it. The convenient plot development felt like a divine event.

Regardless, it might be a valuable item to help Elvira. Putting aside silly thoughts, I focused on the horn.

"Can I ask you to help with the alchemy?"

I froze at his sudden request.

—To alchemize this horn?

Of course, I couldn't give it to Elvira as it was. I had to somehow alchemize it to extract its healing properties, if it had any. It was also possible that the horn had no healing properties. To confirm that, the best way would be to alchemize it and have Elvira drink the resulting potion.

I understood that. But being suddenly asked to alchemize it, I wasn't composed enough to not be flustered.

"...But, if I waste it..."

"It won't be a waste. If the effect isn't as expected, we'll know this monster's horn can't be used. That's a significant step forward."

Arnold said it with a decisive tone.

"Of course, I'll help with the alchemy. I don't want to interfere with your methods, so please keep detailed records and report them. Otherwise, just do as you see fit."

He looked at me intently with his black eyes. His expression and slightly stiff voice made it clear he didn't want me to refuse.

If I refused here, it would mean my resolve was fake. I had decided to help save Elvira and, by extension, the world.

I swallowed hard and said,

"I... understand."

Arnold's eyes softened slightly. Or rather, the tension in his facial muscles eased.

"Call me when you want to alchemize. Report your methods and results. I'll help with the alchemy."

He closed the lid of the wooden box and carried it out of the alchemy room.

First, I'll think of a few alchemy methods. I could start with a safe one that provides basic healing, then try something that heals status conditions, and maybe even an unconventional method.

As I was lost in thought, watching the hem of Arnold's white coat sway, he suddenly turned back and said,

"Elvira will be coming to the capital soon. I'll leave it to you when she arrives."

He said it with his back to the door.

—Huh?

By the time I looked up in surprise, Arnold was gone, and the door closed with a soft click. Left alone, I stood there, mouth agape.

Elvira is coming to the capital? The Elvira? The future hero, Arnold's sister, who suffers from a degenerative disease?

—Just when I thought things would calm down a bit.

The feeling—no, the certainty—that busy days would start again made me sigh deeply. I had planned to visit Eme's village, but it seemed that wouldn't happen.