My body is tired after the intense barrage of questions in the alchemist guild, but it gets better as I walk back to the home.
As I get close to it, I hear the voices of the kids cheering.
Chris and I both turn towards the other, and when we go in, we see the dolls I left with Hikari moving… I guess I can say, beautifully?
Eventually they stop moving and fall, and I hear applause.
I get a glimpse of a rare, proud looking Hikari, but when she notices us, her expression goes back to normal.
The kids start chanting ‘more’ at her, but Filo stops them and gives them instructions, and some leave to do things like clean.
“Good grief, thank you Hikari, for entertaining the kids.”
“No problem.”
“You two are back. Rurika and Sera just came back too, and started cooking right away.”
Apparently they’re cooking with the kids that can cook.
“Oh, and do you have a moment, Chris? I remembered something.”
Filo leads the way into the room she’s been using.
“Is this…”
“Yes, the room that Morrigan used. I’ve been doing things like paperwork here. And…”
She takes out a pendant hidden underneath her clothes, and uses a key in its tip to open a drawer.
There’s a small box inside, and inside the box, is a pendant with a beautiful ornament attached.
Chris gulps when she sees it.
“Morrigan used to leave it with me when she went somewhere. She asked me to give it to you if something happened to her.”
Back when Chris and Rurika became adventurers and left this town, they still thought Morrigan would return, but it’s been close to four years since then.
And now that Chris and Rurika are back, she figured she should hand it to her now.
“I kind of forgot about it too. It all came back to me suddenly.”
She says, sounding apologetic.
“No, it’s clear that you have been having a lot of trouble lately. But I don’t think I should take it… I’m planning to leave again.”
“I heard about that from Rurika and Sera. It’s about Eris, right? Take it anyway. Morrigan specifically told me to hand it to you, so there must be some meaning to it.
Although, maybe it’s not my place to say that, since I forgot all about it. Hahaha.”
Filo says as she puts the pendant on Chris.
She whispers something in her ear too, and I can see Chris’ face turn red.
◇ ◇ ◇
“See you later big sister Hikari!”
“You too big sister Mia!”
The kids say when it’s time to leave.
I get Hikari, but why Mia? Oh, I guess she’s been sewing with some of the kids, like patching up clothes with holes.
The number of people here is also an issue, but since even used clothes cost money, it’s common practice in this world for people who can’t afford them to use old clothes until they’re falling apart.
And even then, they tend to use the parts that are salvageable as patches, or maybe as house-cloths.
But since not a lot of people can do that, Mia’s been helping.
“Do you need new cloth?”
“…I was thinking about buying them some used clothes…”
Mia says we shouldn’t give them too much. Even if it’s good for the present, it won’t help them in the long run.
This is a problem that the country or the town have to fix.
“Also, I heard that people who used to live here make contributions.”
Mia looks at Rurika and Chris, and Rurika looks away, seemingly embarrassed.
“I wish we could donate more, but…”
“Filo said no. She said we might still need it.”
Says Chris, and Rurika explains further.
She says that since they’re going to look for Eris, they need proper equipment to continue traveling.
Not to mention that Filo is worried about the dangers they might face. In reality, more than one or two of the kids who became adventurers after leaving the home have lost their lives.
And there’s also the fact that no matter how much time passes, Filo still sees them as troublesome kids.
“Then what if I spend some money to buy just a little something? You did do a lot for me when I was just starting out. Used clothes… Maybe stuff like sheets would be better?”
I’ve heard them talking about sleeping cuddled together when it’s cold.
“We can’t let them get sick. I’m sure she would accept that.”
Mia agrees, so maybe we’ll do that tomorrow.
“And by the way, maybe it’s a good idea to start getting ready to move on… We have to stop our stay here at some point, or we’ll end up staying forever.”
Says Rurika and despite looking reluctant, Chris and Sera nod.
I’m sure they wouldn’t have to feel so troubled if they found Eris, but they still haven’t accomplished their goal.
But what about when they do? Are they going to live in this town?
What about me?
I feel like when one problem gets solved, another one is going to show itself.
I think about that, but stop, and turn away from that reality for now.
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Thanks for the treat.
“lost their lies” should be “lost their lives”