Chapter 46

---

One morning, it was Petra who invited me, still half-asleep, to her house. When she suggested we should play together, I felt a chill despite having nothing to feel guilty about.

Still, I was genuinely happy to be invited by a friend, and I also felt the need to talk to Petra one-on-one. Ever since I received that letter, I had been struggling to gauge the distance between Petra and me.

It's sad when a slight awkwardness creeps in and distances you from a friend. I wanted to have an honest talk with her, but even if we did, I wasn't sure what I should do.

Petra would most likely bring up Lucash. I want to support Petra's love. It's a genuine feeling, but knowing Lucash's future, I can't help but think that cheering for her might be cruel—

With these jumbled thoughts, I visited Petra's house. As the daughter of the village chief, her house was more impressive than the others. The room I was invited to was much larger than mine.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw the snacks and drinks that had been prepared. Everything was ready.

I sat down in the chair as I was invited. Then, she asked the first question:

"Hey, Laura, what does Lucash think of me?"

It was a difficult question to answer.

I was glad I hadn't taken a sip of juice. If I had, I probably would have choked.

"Well... I don't really know..."

"Yeah, I guess..."

To be honest, Lucash and I had never talked about Petra, and even if we had, I would have hesitated to bring it up. From Petra's perspective, I was the girl closest to Lucash. A casual word might have trampled on her heart.

"Do you have a crush on anyone in the capital, Laura?"

"Huh?"

"Well, Radmila is still young, and Yuria is getting married, so I don't have anyone to talk about love with."

Petra's smile seemed innocent, but her words made me realize something. Yuria's marriage would change our dynamics, and while I felt a bit guilty about Radmila, I could understand. Radmila isn't much younger than us, but her childish tone and behavior make her more like a little sister than a friend.

So, Petra probably saw me as the only one she could talk about love with—though there might be girls her age where she works. However,

"I don't have anyone... To be honest, I'm not really in the mood for love right now."

Unfortunately, I had nothing to offer in terms of a topic. Then, Petra asked a hesitant but straightforward question.

"What about the magician?"

"...Arnold? He's been taking care of me, but..."

This conversation felt like déjà vu. Thinking about it, I remembered that when I first became an apprentice alchemist, I was often misunderstood about my relationship with Arnold.

The only men Petra knew I was involved with were Lucash and Arnold, whom she had met briefly. So, it made sense that his name came up. After all, the only boys I knew well were Lucash and Arnold—

Realizing this, I felt a bit sad as a young woman, but I smiled and told Petra, "He's just a senior."

"Hmm, really..."

Her voice had a hint of disappointment, and I felt compelled to say something to cover it up. "Not having a crush and wanting to talk about love" isn't a very interesting combination. I needed to make an effort to expand the conversation.

"To be honest, I'm not really in the mood for love right now. I'm all about alchemy, you know?"

I laughed, but Petra's lips remained tight.

It was better to steer the conversation back to Petra rather than prolong my own. Desperate to break the awkward silence, I blurted out the question.

"By the way, why do you like Lucash?"

"Wh-What!?"

Petra's face turned bright red instantly. Her reaction made me regret my words for a few seconds.

She frantically shook her head and hands, as if she didn't want to tell me. I was about to apologize and retract the question, but Petra spoke softly.

"...There wasn't a specific moment that made me like him."

I nodded, and Petra looked up at me, gauging my reaction. I smiled gently, and she relaxed, her lips curling up.

"I just always thought he was a bit different from the other boys in the village... You know, the other boys are all... very energetic."

I thought of Yuria's fiancé and the village boys who used to tease Lucash.

They were indeed more active compared to Lucash. In a village deep in the mountains, they were probably more "normal," and Lucash was the "different" one. They ran around the fields and lived energetically. They might have been a bit too wild, but in such a remote village, nature and each other were their only playmates.

But their energy wasn't appealing to Petra. She was a quiet girl, and rough boys might have scared her.

"I'm not good with boys... But I could talk to Lucash naturally. I think it's because of his calm personality."

I had seen Petra and Lucash talking a few times. Lucash, with his calm demeanor, might have found Petra easy to talk to as well. Thinking about it, their gentle emotional fluctuations seemed somewhat similar.

As I listened to Petra, I pictured the face of my childhood friend.

"Over the past few years, he's become more mature and strong... When the monsters attacked the village, he stood up to protect us, even before the adults."

Petra gazed into the distance, her cheeks flushed, clearly thinking of her crush.

"And... I've always thought he was cool, and I found myself following him with my eyes..."

She had fallen in love.

Her love story was cute, but thinking about how it would end in a few years made my chest tighten.

According to the Last Brave, Lucash was destined to fall in love with an ancient girl. I wanted that future to happen—mainly because it would save the world—and I was working to cure Elvira's self-destruction disease for that future. In a way, I was hoping for Petra's heartbreak—until I realized something.

I had assumed that Lucash and the ancient girl's love was a fixed part of the story. But then I thought about the differences in this world:

- The missing fountain square.

- The character Arnold, who didn't exist in the game.

- Elvira's self-destruction disease.

- Alex, who lost his legs.

- And Laura Ampere, who chose the path of an alchemist.

This world wasn't exactly the same as the Last Brave. There were differences. So, Lucash's future with the ancient girl might also change.

Maybe, in another timeline, a future where he ends up with a childhood friend from the village was waiting for the hero!

I hadn't considered this because Lucash and the ancient girl's love was a crucial part of the story—how their strong feelings were a light in the darkness the Demon King inflicted on humanity. I had subconsciously assumed that this wouldn't change, even if I found differences in this world.

But it might. If their love changed—into a deep friendship, a familial bond, or if the ancient girl never appeared and another character took her place—there was still a chance it could be the light that saves this world. There was a chance.

So, Petra's love might have an unknown future. Just like any other love. Maybe I could support her as a friend.

I wasn't trying to force them together or keep them apart. I just wanted to watch and see. It felt like a passive approach, but it made me feel more at ease.

"That's how it happened. ...Petra, you have the look of a girl in love."

Feeling a bit lighter, I spoke my true thoughts. Petra's face turned bright red, all the way to her ears. The change was so obvious, it was like a scene from a manga.

"Stop it, Laura! Don't tease me!"

"I'm not teasing! You really like Lucash, don't you?"

I laughed. It felt good to joke with Petra like a friend, without feeling intimidated.

I realized that when it came to Lucash, I was still heavily influenced by my past life and the Last Brave.

I didn't think it was a bad thing. If things went as I remembered, this world's peace was assured. I didn't need to justify it to anyone, but I hoped they would understand my desire for that future.

"Can I talk to you about this again?"

"Sure, anytime."

"Thanks! ...Unlike the capital, this village doesn't have much to talk about or do, right?"

Petra's eyes drooped with a hint of sadness. I could tell she wasn't entirely satisfied with village life.

It was a village that was too inconvenient and lacked entertainment for a young girl. But it wasn't easy to leave, as the village lacked the wealth or status to do so. Living in such a closed-off village was a common, albeit cruel, reality.

But it wasn't a life to be dismissed. Who said ordinary life wasn't the happiest? Marrying someone from the village, having children, and continuing the lineage was a respectable life. I understood that, but I couldn't help but feel grateful for my path as an alchemist.

Since the day my memories returned, I hadn't found a way to leave the village. If I had stayed in Eme's village, what would I have become? I might have lived a happy life, but I might have become a living corpse, just going through the motions.

"Who knows what the future holds. Maybe next year, you'll be in a completely different place."

I looked up at Petra and smiled playfully. She pulled back for a moment but then smiled back.

I wondered what she thought of me, the one who left the village first. Every time I returned, I felt the time difference between me and Petra. Yuria's marriage was the most obvious, but Petra starting her work outside the village also highlighted it. Even though I chose my path, I felt a sense of loneliness being so far from my village friends.

I understood it was inevitable. Living in the village and living in the capital would change one's perspective. But I hadn't abandoned Eme's village. It was still my beloved hometown, and Petra and the others were dear friends.

"Tell me more about your love story. You can even write me letters."

Petra's eyes widened, and she tilted her head, making me realize something.

Ah, right. The word "love story" didn't exist in this world. I had forgotten.