Chapter 170: Farewell and the Things Left Behind
[space_man][space_man]The next morning, when Eld woke up, the other members were already up and preparing breakfast.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I slept through the night, huh?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He stood up while loosening his stiff body and washed himself with water magic. When he finished and disposed of the used water by sprinkling it on the surrounding trees, Marie’s voice echoed, announcing that breakfast was ready.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Morning. My body feels incredibly stiff, do you know anything about it?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Who knows? I don’t think anything in particular happened. You didn’t eat last night, what do you want to do? Have it in a pot or a plate?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No, a deep plate is fine…… I don’t have the courage to eat it from a pot. I’ll have seconds if it’s not enough.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie nodded and served the soup into deep plates. Al and the Degraded Demons were sitting a little distance away.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Morning. You’re awake, Al. And the Magic Sword Trio are still here.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Seems like I caused you some worry.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Al said with a wry smile.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Don’t lump us together with that weird name.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Tempera said, sounding exasperated.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ahaha. I didn’t know what else to call you, so that was the only easy way I could think of.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As they were talking, Moira and Layla served the food. Marie put out the fire and joined them, and they began to eat breakfast.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”By the way, Trio, how long until you return to your original forms?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Who knows~? They said by morning, so maybe it’ll be soon?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Meteor said that, but even after they finished breakfast, cleaned up, and Eld and Tempera had a light sparring session as exercise, their forms hadn’t changed.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Moira took out her watch and checked the time.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Let’s see, around this time yesterday was when we subdued the 20,000 monsters and Aleamia-sama started heading here.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]About 20 minutes later, the bodies of the three Degraded Demons began to glow.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”So it takes a whole day. What was that about ‘by morning’……?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Meteor said, sounding displeased. Beside him, Healing was hugging Moira.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I won’t be able to hug you like this anymore.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Healing, even when you return to being a magic sword, we’ll always be together. We can talk, so don’t be sad.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Healing hugged Moira tightly, and Moira gradually disappeared into her embrace.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, the food was good, Marie.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that all you have to say?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Meteor awkwardly scratched his face.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’m not good at this kind of thing. You’re going to use me even after I return to being a magic sword, right?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”That’s true. But we won’t be able to talk like this anymore, so you could at least say something at the end.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah~ well…… It’s a request, or rather, please try to use me even after I return to being a magic sword. Even if we can’t talk, I’ll still be somewhat conscious.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Hmm…… that might be difficult~. When I use you, I remember your second name.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie replied with a smile. Meteor didn’t react to her words and just laughed.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’ll give you this.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld looked at what Tempera handed him.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”What’s this, a stone?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It’s a part of my body. Maybe it will become a magic sword together with me, but if not, use it to make a blade.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I see. That might be good. It’s not glowing, so there’s a higher chance it’ll remain.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld put the stone Tempera gave him into his pocket. They fell silent.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Eld, don’t you have anything to say? We won’t be able to talk anymore.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie nudged him and whispered.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”If it were a normal farewell, I’d have things to say, but I’m a bit at a loss when it comes to the situation where we’re still together but can’t talk.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I don’t have anything particular to say either.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As Marie was looking dumbfounded, the light from the three Degraded Demons intensified.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It seems it’s about time.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Healing released Moira.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”See ya, Marie.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Meteor laughed loudly.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……Eld…… It was only a day, but…… it was fun……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As Tempera said that, the three Degraded Demons turned into light and returned to being magic swords. Eld caught Tempera, which was floating in the air.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”You’re not honest at all.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]He said, then checked his pocket to make sure the stone was still there.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Isn’t that the same for you? You probably have things you want to say……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Not really. We’ll still be together, so my feelings will get through.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld stored Tempera and the stone in his subspace. Al and Layla, who were watching from a distance, approached.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It seems it’s over. Well then, shall we return to the fort once? We can discuss the Demon King after that……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”We probably can’t go back.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld interrupted Al’s declaration of returning.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”See, the barrier Aleamia put up is still there. We can’t move like this.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Al went to the edge of the barrier, confirmed that they couldn’t get out, and came back.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”See? It’s no good, right?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld said with a wry smile.
[space_man]
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]After lunch, while relaxing and drinking tea, Eld used fire magic to soften Tempera’s stone and shape it. When it took the form of a blade, he started polishing it with wind magic, and Al came over to watch him work.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”You’re surprisingly skillful.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I’m offended that you find it surprising.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld checked the polished part to see if it was bent or chipped.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Eld often makes ice sculptures and such when he’s free.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie joined the conversation.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, yeah. My mother taught me that it’s good practice for magic manipulation.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld started polishing again.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”But when will the Goddess return?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Al lay down and looked at the sky.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, let’s wait patiently. Aleamia must be struggling because of who she’s facing.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]After finishing polishing the blade, Eld took out Tempera and attached the two together. They fit together perfectly, as if they were originally one.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Can’t you pull it out anymore?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie grabbed the blade and pulled, but it wouldn’t come out of Tempera.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”No, I can pull it out. But there’s not much need to, right?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld pulled out the blade once and then inserted it again.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”More than that, I want a scabbard. But I guess I can’t do that without going back. I’ve never done leatherwork before~……”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”A scabbard? You need a scabbard even though you store it in subspace?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yeah…… I’m thinking of carrying it around from now on…… along with the other sword.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Marie thought for a moment.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”If you like, I’ll make it. The scabbard. I know a little about leatherworking.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Eh, really?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I don’t know how to make it exactly, so I’ll have to go and learn, but if leather is okay, I’ll make it.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld took Marie’s hand. Marie’s face turned red.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Hey, can you guys stop flirting when someone’s sleeping next to you?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]At Al’s voice, Eld let go of Marie’s hand.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Oh, right, you were there, Al.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”You’ve always treated me coldly, haven’t you?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It was you, Al, who said to treat you as an equal when we entered the academy.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]As usual, Eld and Al started bickering, and Moira and Layla came over with the tea snacks they had been preparing. The five of them enjoyed the snacks and relaxed.