Chapter 99

I said I would be fine on my own.

So, I asked the mayor, who is also a senior member of the church organization, Riviera, to talk to Mimi and Non—while I returned alone to the inn where Lark was staying.

Now, I have to persuade Lark.

I have to return the天赋 of the "Shadow King Sword Technique" to her and get her to agree to destroy it.

I considered doing it while she was sleeping, but that would be too cowardly, and I thought of it as a last resort if our relationship completely broke down.

For Lark, the "Shadow King Sword Technique" was the power to escape from the mine, and I knew that the天赋 bead was much more important to her than to me. To her... the "Shadow King Sword Technique" was a part of herself.

How difficult it would be to make her give it up.

"...But, I can't hesitate."

I entered the inn.

The counter, past breakfast and check-out time, was unmanned, and when I looked towards the dining room, I saw Cook, Lark's companion.

"You—"

"Good morning. I finally returned."

"...Did it not go well with your party members?"

I must have looked serious, because Cook asked me,

"Ah... No, they're all fine. Everyone returned safely."

"Is that so? Then, the talk with the Sage...?"

"...I was able to learn how to restore Lark's body."

"What!?"

"But it's a bit difficult... Can I talk to Lark about it?"

"Alright. ...Sorry about that."

"Why are you apologizing? I only have gratitude for you, Cook."

I hardly know how Lark made Cook and the others her companions after leaving the mine, but I am grateful to Cook and the others for being there for her when she was lonely. There's no need for her to apologize.

"We were saved by the young lady. We were prepared to risk our lives if anything happened to her, but we couldn't do anything."

"That's not true."

"I feel regret for leaving everything to a little brother like you..."

When it came to meeting the Sage, Cook and the others also wanted to go, but someone had to stay with Lark, and in terms of pure combat ability, they couldn't match "Silver Scales," and there was no time, so I asked them to stay. I might not have had the presence of mind to consider all that.

"...Then, I have a request."

If I tried to comfort the young boy, it might only hurt his pride more.

"What? If there's something we can do, just say it."

"Thank you."

Lark really has met some good people.

"I want to do everything I can to heal Lark's body. When that happens, Lark might cut ties with me."

"What... What are you planning to do?"

"I can't say yet. But... if Lark cuts ties with me, please be there for her. I'm asking you."

"That's no problem."

"Absolutely. Absolutely, stand by Lark. If necessary, throw a stone at me."

"You..."

If I take the final step, Lark might cut ties with me, and I was prepared for that.

No, I should say I'm just now prepared.

If Cook and the others are there, Lark will be fine.

Even if I'm cut off.

"...I've only lived a miserable life. I can't be dismissed as a necessary evil, I've lived by stealing others' property and threatening their livelihoods. But since I met the young lady, I've changed a lot... Still, there are things I understand because I've lived that way."

Cook reached out and patted my right arm.

"Living a good life is painful... The fact that you're suffering shows that you're upright and a true good person."

"...I'm not that good a person."

"I promise. If the young lady throws a stone at you, I'll also harden my heart and throw a stone at you. But after that, no matter how long it takes, I'll clear up her misunderstanding. The one who cared for her the most and loved her the most was none other than you—Raiji."

That was enough. Just hearing Cook say that, I was able to let go of my last doubts.

"I'm going."

"Alright. Go ahead."

I left the dining room and went up to the second floor of the inn.

It was quiet, either because there were no other guests or because everyone was out and about.

Sunlight streamed in through the open window, and I could see dust particles floating in the air.

I stood in front of the room where Lark should be and knocked.

"—What is it, Cook? I'm not that hungry, so bringing bread won't help."

I heard a voice.

Rough and completely lacking in femininity, it was Lark's usual voice, not the anguished cry we had argued about before.

(Ah... She's getting better. She's out of the worst state.)

Just thinking that made my chest feel full, and I clenched my teeth, reminding myself of what I had to do.

"It's me. Raiji."

I could sense a gasp.

"Can I... come in?"

As I was about to say that, the door opened outward, almost hitting my face—there was Lark.

She was in a thin, linen nightgown, barefoot. Her skin, pale to the point of being sickly, had a slight flush—indeed, it was Lark.

"Little brother... Are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah."

This reaction was so unexpected that I could only give a blank response.

"..."

Lark's unfocused eyes showed that her vision had not yet recovered.

But when I thought her eyes were moist, she lightly punched my chest with her right fist.

"Idiot... You keep doing reckless things for me..."

She leaned forward, her forehead resting on my chest.

"...Sorry, little brother. I wasn't a good sister... I got the power of the 'Shadow King Sword Technique' to protect you, but I mistook it as my own and put you in danger... I just wanted you to be alive and well."

Hearing that, I forgot all the words of persuasion I had been thinking about.

"Sorry, Lark. I was an idiot too. My family is only you, Lark, but I tried to impose what I thought was right."

"...Do you still think of me as your sister...?"

"Of course."

"Thank you..."

Lark whispered my name softly.

It went more smoothly than I expected, to the point where I wondered what my resolve and the talk with Cook were for. But, as they say, "Worrying is easier than doing"—I was desperate at the time, so it couldn't be helped.

"You, it's you. I've already gathered everyone."

When I was sent back to Lark by Cook, he said this in a carefree tone and greeted me as I returned from the second floor.

Scout, Keyman, and Engineer were also there.

"Um... That..."

"It went well, right? I thought it would be fine."

"...Is that so?"

"But you looked so serious, I didn't want to dampen the mood, so I went along with it."

"..."

Seriously.

I feel like I was the only one who wasted my resolve...

"Don't be so disappointed. You were thinking of the worst-case scenario, right?"

"That's... well..."

"Then, you should be happy it turned out well."

"...You're right."

Scout and the others were also laughing, saying, "That's good, that's good."

This is fine, I guess.

"Then, is the young lady healed?"

"No, it's not done yet."

I explained what I was going to do.

When I told them about destroying the six-star天赋 bead, even Cook whistled, and Engineer said, "O, o, o, o... If it's to save the young lady, it can't be helped... Can't, yeah..." with a wandering gaze.

The six-star天赋 bead is that valuable.

But Cook handed me the "Shadow King Sword Technique" that was stored in a leather bag.

"I have one more request—"

I didn't know how the "Orb Destruction"天赋 would work, so I asked Cook to accompany me to the "Orb Destruction Shop" under the pretext of "checking."

The "Orb Destruction"天赋 is a "Unique Trait," and registration with the government is required for acquisition and use. While it's less rare than "Orb Attachment," it still needs to be managed.

"...So, it seems to be like this. Is it okay?"

"Yes."

I watched the process of destroying the "Strength Enhancement★"天赋 that Cook had, and I was confident that I could do it with "All Things."

"Then, I'll take Lark."

"Oh... We'll, we'll be in the way, I guess."

"No, not at all. I'll come back as soon as it's done."

"Ah."

Back at the inn, I told Cook and the others this and headed to Lark's room.

I can't explain that I can learn天赋, so I need to pretend to take her out.

"Lark, I'm coming in—"

When I entered her room, Lark was on the bed, changed into her usual clothes.

A shirt and pants, the kind of outfit that's easy to move in, like the clothes she wore as a sky pirate.

Lark doesn't need to go to the battlefield anymore, and she can live in town.

But I can talk about that later.

"..."

"...Your hair is messy."

"Aah..."

The destruction of the天赋 bead, which she agreed to earlier, seemed to make her nervous, and her expression was dark.

But if her condition improves, her mood will surely change too.

I combed Lark's hair with a brush, tying it into a single braid. Even when we were in the mine—when we were eating a poor diet—Lark's hair was beautiful, but now it was dry and lifeless, with split ends.

(But that will... return soon.)

Tying it with a ribbon, it looked a bit better.

"...Sorry. I never cared about my hair. Riviera, who came to treat me, kept telling me to 'dress up' and 'hair is a woman's life.'"

As Lark tried to stand up from the bed, she wobbled and almost fell. I supported her with my arms,

"Lark, just bear with it until you can see."

"...Huh? Hey, little brother!?"

I picked up Lark in a princess carry.

"Idiot, stop it, it's embarrassing."

"You can't see now, so it's not embarrassing."

"That's not the point!"

Lark complained, but she didn't have the strength to escape from my arms.

As we went down the stairs, Cook and the others in the dining room looked at us with wide eyes.

"Whew, that's good, the young lady is a proper girl when you look at her like this."

"Scout, remember that later."

"She must be recovering if you can say that."

We left the inn amidst whistles and applause.

Well—

"Lark. Let's go."

There was no need to go to a shop to destroy the天赋, and it would be troublesome if the shop owner had something like "Orb Vision," so I headed to a hill.

I was probably carrying Lark, but people looked at us as if we were a touching sight, and I ignored it and kept going.

It was sad that Lark was so light that I didn't even need to use "Support Magic."

The hill was technically within the town, but it was a place where you could overlook the town, and there was nothing special there.

There were almost no people on the hill during the day, and I brought Lark to a grassy area with a good view.

I could see a cape jutting out into the sea, a small hill, and a lighthouse.

The wind blew, and the smell of grass filled my nose.

I put her down on the grass.

"What is this, a grassy place? What are you doing?"

"I have something to tell you that I haven't told you yet..."

"..."

When I said that, I felt Lark's back straighten a bit.

"But first, let's heal your body. The 'Shadow King Sword Technique'... I'll put it in."

"A, ah."

I pressed the six-star天赋 bead, taken from the leather bag, against Lark's hands.

I can also give天赋 to others because I have learned the "Orb Attachment"天赋.

"Mm... Ah, ah, aaaaaaaah!!"

The天赋 bead, which was sucked into Lark's body, was being absorbed by her—simultaneously, the colorless eyes of Lark regained their light.

"...I can see."

She looked around.

Below was the town of Zuckenhaven, and in the distance, the port with the sun reflecting off the waves, and seagulls flying by.

"Little brother... No, Raiji."

"Uh-huh."

"Did you think I would use this power to escape after you returned the天赋 bead?"

"I didn't think so."

"Why? You know how much I wanted the 'Shadow King Sword Technique.' I might have lied to get it—"

"I didn't think so. Lark wouldn't do that."

"Why?"

"Because Lark is Lark."

"..."

"Because Lark has always been Lark. Because she's my sister, Lark."

"..."

Lark's amethyst-like purple eyes, which had been looking at me, suddenly turned away.

"...I can't win against you, little brother. Ah, no, Raiji..."

"It's fine, 'little brother.' I'm Lark's little brother."

"..."

Lark's ears, which she scratched, were bright red. Increased heart rate, increased body temperature—Mr. "All Things," I don't need you to tell me that.

"Then, I'll destroy the天赋... "

"Ah."

This time, Lark looked me in the eye and responded as if it was nothing—like it was no big deal.

She closed her eyes.

Was it that easy for her to let go?

Considering how much she needed the天赋.

I didn't even explain how to destroy the天赋.

Or was it because she trusted me and left everything to me?

(This is how it feels...)

I closed my eyes and held Lark's hand, and I could see a strong light inside her body. This must be the天赋.

It had a rough texture, but when I applied force, it gave a crunching sensation and then shattered like glass—like a snowball, the light scattered and dissolved into the darkness.

"...It's done."

When I opened my eyes, Lark had her eyes slightly open.

Could she tell that the天赋 was gone?

"How's your vision?"

"I can see. I feel fine..."

The wind blew, rustling Lark's long hair. She looked at the town and the sea.

There seemed to be more words after "I feel fine." "But" perhaps.

But she didn't say it. If she didn't say it, I wouldn't ask. There was no point in asking.

As the Sage said, her condition had improved—though she was still far from being healthy, she could gradually get better from here. At least, she wouldn't be bedridden anymore.

"...Lark. I have something to tell you. It's a bit long."

"I'll listen. I have a lot of time now."

I sat down next to Lark and told her everything that had happened.

Even after hearing the secrets of her birth and the天赋, Lark didn't seem particularly surprised or emotional.

When she finished listening, she reached out and ruffled my hair.

You've worked hard, little brother.

When Lark said that, her face was the same as when we were in the mine.

Sister and brother, we finally understood each other.

It took so long...