Chapter 44

"Sorry for always barging in so suddenly, both of us."

"Hmph, you always come in without my permission, doing as you please, but today you're unusually reserved, aren't you?"

The clan leader said this while fidgeting.

Clearly, he was restless. This person is still the same as always...

"I want to enter the library... I might need to borrow some books for a long time. Is that okay?"

The clan leader's library had been very helpful for my magical research.

The thought of not being able to use it for a while was honestly a bit regretful.

If possible, I wanted to borrow a few books that had caught my attention.

However, I had no idea when I could return them.

"...The books here are valuable."

"Then, as I thought..."

"Therefore, you must return them."

"Yes, that's fine..."

Thank you for always letting me have my way.

"By the way... is Philo out right now?"

I looked around the room.

Usually, even if the clan leader tried to drive her away, she would come to check on things.

Since today might be the last time, I wanted to see her face.

"Mm... Philo is a bit down right now. It's better to leave her alone..."

At that moment, the sound of someone hurriedly running down the stairs could be heard.

Then, the footsteps suddenly slowed down and stopped.

I turned my eyes to the door where the sound was coming from.

The door swung open, and Philo appeared.

"...I thought it was someone else, but it's just Abel."

She exhaled and lazily tilted her head.

Her long white hair swayed with the movement.

Indeed, she didn't seem to be in a good mood.

"What's wrong, what happened?"

"...Nothing, I'm just the same as always."

Despite her words, it was clear that she wasn't her usual self.

She clearly lacked energy, and her eyes were a bit harsher than usual.

I felt a bit uneasy.

There was also something that caught my attention.

"Why were you running down the stairs so fast just now, but then walking slowly in the hallway?"

"There's a reason for that! What are you talking about, you! It's not like I was looking forward to seeing you or anything! I just slipped and couldn't stop myself!"

Good, she's still the same as always.

"...By the way, a, apparently, the ceremony is in three days."

"...Apparently, yes."

I couldn't help but repeat it parrot-like, as if it were someone else's business.

"Hmph, just like you to be so impatient! I can imagine you rushing around, excitedly preparing! When you get interested in something, you can't think of anything else! Really, you should consider the feelings of those around you who have to adjust their schedules for you!"

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Mostly, it's my father's fault.

Well, if it's because of my lack of trust, that's true.

"Besides... besides, it's... it's sad to be told so suddenly... You don't think of your sister that way, Sevy said..."

Philo spoke in a lowered voice, her words trailing off.

I had sensed that Philo cared for me to some extent.

Her bad mood was probably due to hearing about the marriage.

"Philo..."

I didn't know what to say to her.

I couldn't reveal that I was planning to run away at night.

I didn't intend to get married, but I didn't plan to return to the village for a while.

I instinctively turned to the clan leader for help, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Looking around the room, I saw the clan leader quietly leaving.

When our eyes met, he awkwardly looked away and closed the door.

That guy, he ran away.

Well, I understand why he felt awkward!

Don't run away, leaving the young ones to deal with it! I can't say anything in my position!

"...You're always complaining, aren't you? Before the celebration, you're bringing down the mood, and you're really a bad person. Maybe I've been a bit off lately. There are other things I should be saying."

She said this with sobs, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

It wasn't the kind of atmosphere where I could tease her for crying as usual.

"...Abel, congratulations on your marriage."

Philo awkwardly smiled and said that.

Then she covered her face with her hands and quickly ran out of the room.

...I feel so guilty.

I'm planning to run away at night.

It's getting harder and harder to leave.

When Giselle and Philo find out I've run away tomorrow, what kind of faces will they make?

If I forgot something and came back to get it, I might be beaten to death.

I entered the library and started stacking books on bio-magic and alchemy.

There were many things I couldn't get in the village, so I wanted to make golems, chimeras, magical items, and homunculi when I go to the city.

While driven by guilt, I couldn't help but think about these things.

Since it would be difficult to carry everything, I compared and selected the essentials.

If I need more, I can buy them in the city.

I don't know the city's currency, but I should be fine with a load of incense leaves.

Since I couldn't carry everything myself, I decided to borrow the clan leader's othum again to transport them home.

On the way back, I saw Noswell from a distance.

He was carrying a quiver and walking with two followers.

It seemed he had just returned from the forest.

After the incense leaf war, Noswell came to me alone.

But it seemed he wasn't abandoned by his followers. I felt a bit relieved.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Even if he was invited to come to me at that time, the two followers would have refused, not wanting to be abandoned.

I waved at him when our eyes met.

The two followers waved back, but Noswell shouted and ran into the forest.

The shorter follower chased after him, while the tall one watched with a yawn.

...Am I some kind of monster?

I brought the books home and went to bed after enjoying the last family gathering.

In the middle of the night, I got up quietly.

I felt Giselle's gaze, but she was sound asleep. It's fine.

Even if she wakes up, I can say I'm going to the bathroom.

If I keep being so nervous, I won't even be able to make an excuse.

I took out the preparations I had stored in the warehouse and loaded them onto the othum cart.

Incense leaves, dried meat, bread, Abel drinks, books on bio-magic and alchemy.

Then, the rare minerals, maren stones, my best othum creations, and the first othum Giselle made.

I didn't need to bring water since I could produce it with magic.

I thought about reducing the load because it was too heavy and unbalanced, but everything was too precious to leave behind.

It's fine. As long as there's no accident, there shouldn't be a problem.

There's no need to rush on the way. I just need to drive carefully and safely.

When I actually got on and moved it with magic, I felt a bit of discomfort.

That's strange, wasn't the flow of magic like this?

But I couldn't take it apart and check it now.

Well, it should be fine.