Volume 1 Chapter 49 Friends
"Mel-san, is she okay...?"
Fatina said with a lonely expression as she sat at the dining hall table.
Her usually perky beast ears were drooping more than ever before.
After returning to Trasverum with Chester's Teleportation Magic, we were graciously given rooms in the mansion owned by the merchant guild, thanks to Elliot, who is Chester's father and the head of the Clow Merchant guild.
It was said to be a gesture of gratitude for protecting Chester from the wraith that appeared suddenly in the upper layer.
As night fell, we all moved to the dining hall to have a meal together.
The food served was extravagant, typical of what the head of the merchant guild usually has, but everyone seemed down and not very hungry.
Fatina looked to the chair right next to her.
There was no sign of Mel, it was empty.
During mealtime, Fatina went to call her, but she didn't come out of the room, saying she had no appetite.
"Well, maybe she's tired both mentally and physically after suddenly fighting an A-Rank monster, especially a wraith. The priest said there was nothing particularly wrong with her body."
Just to be sure, Chester thoughtfully called a high-level priest who works for the merchant guild to check on her, but there were no issues like injuries or illnesses.
"Well, it's understandable to be surprised if you encounter a wraith in the upper layer. According to someone who went to check on the Adventurer's Guild, they are currently considering how to deal with it."
Elliot said, with a serious expression on his face as he took a sip from the glass in his hand.
He said that in Trasverum, there has never been an event like today before.
"And, it might be rude to say this, but Mel-san doesn't really look like an adventurer. I can even feel elegance in her gestures."
Elliot seems to have a feeling that she comes from a noble background. As they say, he is a merchant after all.
"Um, is there anything I can do?"
"For now, it might be better to leave her alone for today."
"I see..."
Fatina seems to be particularly worried about Mel.
"Anyway, when things like this happen, we can't afford to get down. If we don't eat, our minds won't work properly and we won't come up with good ideas."
When Elliot encouraged her like that, Fatina smiled awkwardly and started to eat her meal little by little.
Both Chester and I followed Fatina's lead and had our meals.
After the quiet meal, the three of us went back to our rooms.
I went to my room on the second floor of the mansion and sat in a chair, closing my eyes for a while.
I wonder how much time passed.
Suddenly, I decided to leave the room.
The lights in the mansion were completely turned off and it was dark.
In the midst of that darkness, I saw a bright light shining through the hallway floor from outside, so I walked towards it.
Standing there was Mel.
She had come out onto the balcony in the middle of the second-floor hallway, placing both hands on the railing and staring out at the sea.
Eventually, she noticed me and turned around.
"Ark-san..."
"Are you awake? How are you feeling?"
"Yes. I apologize for causing you trouble."
"No, neither Chester nor I thought it was a bother. More importantly, I'm glad you're not injured."
In reply, Mel lowered her eyelids and averted her gaze.
"Are you really okay? Are you pushing yourself too hard?"
"Yeah, I just got a little tired from walking for so long. It's nothing... ah..."
While talking, tears suddenly overflowed from Mel's eyes.
"Oh, why... ugh..."
She desperately tried to wipe away the tears with her hands, but the amount of tears kept increasing.
"Are you okay?"
"I-I'm sorry... I... ugh..."
Mel turned away from my gaze as if trying to avoid it.
"I... I've been deceiving Ark-san and Fatina-san..."
Deceiving? What could she have been deceiving them about?
"I'm not angry, so if you're okay with it, I'd like to hear. What happened?"
"I... intentionally didn't tell you what I knew and guided you into the Aquaflow Cavern..."
"I see."
Mel hadn't told us anything about the contents of the ancient documents she took from the castle until now.
I didn't try to ask her from here, but I thought she would eventually tell me if there was any important information.
I decided to wait without saying anything until she calmed down.
It was late at night, and the only thing I could hear on the balcony was the quiet sound of waves repeating.
After regaining her composure, she turned back and spoke again.
"In the ancient documents, it talks about the terrifying guardians of the key. But when I thought about telling you, I suddenly became afraid to speak if you two said you would stop going."
Was that the reason she intentionally didn't say anything to us?
Looking back now, she came to Voltana alone to stop her father, King Cretia.
There were no trusted maids or knights to help her by Mel's side. And by chance, she entered the dungeon for the first time and witnessed the terrifying wraith.
For young Princess Mel, it must have been really tough. And surely, she felt lonely.
"And today, when we met the wraith, I thought to myself, 'Am I trying to sacrifice everyone for my selfish wish?'"
That was her greatest fear.
"But I won't trouble everyone anymore. I'll go back to the castle."
Mel's way of thinking... it reminded me a little of myself when I was in Voltana.
"I was just like Mel not too long ago."
"Me... the same...?"
"Yeah, I used to fight all alone. I thought I had to defeat everything in front of me by myself. That's why Fatina said to me, 'Are you trying to solve everything on your own?'"
Those were the words she said to me during the battle with the Shadow Chimera.
"Even though we're in a party, she said it's not a party if I go alone to dangerous places."
And maybe, it is true.
Not only Fatina.
Gail, Gaston, Ryuin.
Thinking while recalling the people I've met so far.
I still don't really understand.
But maybe that's what it means to be a companion.
Mel stayed silent, just listening to my story.
"I'm just a mere adventurer, but I consider Mel as my companion. So, let's go together, no matter how dangerous the place may be. That will never change."
After saying that, Mel opened her eyes wider than she had ever shown before--
"Thank you. Ark-san..."
She clearly expressed those words.
The sorrow that had been visible on her face until now had completely disappeared.
"I will tell you everything I know."
And then, Mel shared various information she had obtained from ancient documents.
The guardians of the key that exists deep in the dungeon.
The methods to destroy the key.
And the methods to proceed to the hidden lower layer of Aquaflow Cavern.
She will tell all this information to Fatina and the others tomorrow.
"Thank you, I understand a lot and appreciate your help. Let's continue tomorrow."
Since it will have an impact tomorrow, I decided to end the conversation and leave it for tonight.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Mel asked me, so I turned around.
"Ark-san, why did you say that you also need a key? "
"To become stronger."
"Why do you seek strength to the point of facing such danger?"
I remember the day I first visited Voltana.
It all started that day when I went to the Adventurer's Guild.
As the weakest adventurer, I vowed to become the strongest in that forest. In place of someone similar to me.
"--Because of a slime"
"A slime... like the monster?"
Mel looked puzzled.
Of course, she couldn't understand the meaning.
But she tried to interpret it in her own way and fell into thought for a while without saying anything.
When she finally looked up, our eyes met.
"I might sound weird saying this, but I think it's cute. Slime."
"...I see."
As we walked down the hallway together, I wondered if there were others who thought that way.
I have no idea why the people from the past made this key, leaving behind something troublesome.
"Being a princess must be tough."
"It is tough, but I have reliable friends now."
Saying that, Mel smiled brightly at me.
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