Chapter 147 The First Words
――At the harbor where the ship to Platonovena departs.
"No way! I'm gonna die!"
"You're not gonna die! Let's go already!"
Marta, who was making a big fuss and Julius, who was trying to drag her onto the ship, were getting some attention.
I had already boarded the ship and was watching them from a distance. When I offered to help Julius, he casually declined, saying "I've already got this."
Even when we found out we had to take a ship to get to Platonovena, Marta was making a similar fuss, but――
"You're so cruel, Julius! You're a killer! You're the worst!"
"Stop yelling so loudly! You're drawing attention!"
Julius was frowning, pulling Marta along as she struggled. Arnold passed by them, looking like a completely different person.
Lukas approached the two, who were getting attention, and gently put his hand on Marta's shoulder.
"Marta, are you waiting here?"
Marta's face lit up at Lukas' suggestion, and her eyes were slightly moist.
"You're gonna leave me here?! That's so mean! I haven't even found the treasure yet!"
Marta stood up, still angry, and stormed onto the ship.
Julius and Lukas exchanged a glance, smiled wryly, and followed her.
I noticed Marta's legs were shaking a bit, but at least we could breathe a sigh of relief. I left Marta, who was still making a fuss, behind and moved from the deck to the ship's interior. It was too cold outside.
(There were no other passengers...)
The deck was cold and windy, so it was no surprise that there were hardly any people. But even after entering the ship, there were hardly any passengers.
However, considering that monsters were going berserk right now, many people would probably be hesitant to travel. And Platonovena was a region where strong monsters lived, so unless it was extremely important, people would probably give up.
I sat down on the almost empty ship's bench, took a deep breath, and suddenly, the water spirit flew out of the bag on my shoulder. It seemed to be a signal, as Wentle-sama appeared in his light orb form and transformed into the young boy I first met.
"Yeah, let's start special training!"
With green hair and green eyes, he perfectly disguised himself as an ordinary boy. From the side, it's hard to believe this boy is Spirit-sama, and I couldn't help but think that.
Following Wentle-sama's instructions, the water spirit began its training.
The water spirit closed its eyes, let out a small growl, and created a water droplet in the air. Unlike before, when it would quickly collapse, today it formed a beautiful, stable, and larger droplet.
"Yeah, it's stabilized nicely."
Wentle-sama gazed at the floating water droplet with a satisfied expression. Was it due to his excellent guidance or the water spirit's quick learning? ——Maybe it's both.
"You're really amazing, Spirit-sama."
"That's because I've lived for a looong time!"
With a mix of admiration and envy, I spoke, and Wentle-sama proudly puffed out his chest.
As a long-lived spirit, the water spirit was born just recently, but when were Wentle-sama and the others born? They seemed to have known the previous water spirit, Fontapuune-sama....
Wentle-sama and the others, I wonder if it was born from the previous Spirit Stone like this water spirit.
"...Spirit-sama, were you born from the previous Spirit-sama like this child?"
"Huh? I just found myself in a cave."
I was taken aback by Wentle-sama's response, which was unexpected.
The Spirit-sama, who plays a crucial role when the Hero appears, was born in a cave? That's quite a rough start.
"Do you have knowledge about your role as a spirit, or what happens when the Hero visits...?"
"It was all in my head from the start!"
From the very beginning, he "existed". In other words, from the moment he was born, he knew what kind of role he had and what kind of responsibility he carried.
I gazed intently at the water spirit, who was mysteriously creating water droplets with all its might.
"Then, does this child also know its role from the beginning, just yours?"
"Probably? That's why it's following you on this journey, right?"
Wentle-sama tilted his head, gazing at the water spirit just like I did.
The water spirit seemed tired or had lost its focus, and the water droplets it was creating began to break apart. However, compared to the beginning, it was much more stable. Wentle-sama and I must have worked hard together.
I picked up the puppy that had run to my feet, wagging its tail, and hugged it. When I stroked its head, it let out a happy yelp.
It's so cute. It's genuinely happy to be pampered by me. However, the question of "why it's so attached to me" still lingered.
"But why is it so attached to me? Not to Lukas or Diona, but..."
"That's because of its own will, so I don't know But since it's a baby, I think Fontapuune's consciousness has a significant influence on it."
"Fontapuune-sama's...?"
The name of the previous water spirit came up, and I looked at Wentle-sama. The young boy was gazing up at me with his green eyes.
"You're saying you were trying to save Elvira, right?"
"That's right, but..."
It's true that I was the one who visited The Drinking Water of the Spirits the most. From Fontapuune-sama's perspective, it might have seemed like I was the one who worked the hardest. However――
Wentle-sama opened his mouth again, looking at me, who still didn't understand.
"This is just my intuition, but Fontapuune was a spirit that was really bad at fighting. So, it might have overlapped itself with Laura, who didn't have the power to fight."
"...Is that so?"
Those were unexpected words.
Wentle-sama said that spirits are existences that grant protection and blessings to that land, and fighting is not their specialty. In reality, even in "Last Brave," they lend their power during battles, but there are no depictions of them fighting in event scenes.
However, for example, Wentle-sama can counter monsters with the power of the wind. I wonder if Fontapuune-sama couldn't do something like that.
It's true that The Drinking Water of the Spirits can exhibit immense power against monsters when combined with the Hero's power, but fundamentally, it's a healing power, not an attacking one. And with water, it's difficult to become a direct attacking means like fire or wind. However――
"I always wished I had the power to fight. That's why I thought I was born with this form."
"This...?"
"This form of mine. I have claws and fangs, and I can move quickly. In other words, I have a monster-like form that's suitable for fighting... Well, I'll be able to change my form freely later, so it doesn't matter much."
――When I saw the form of the water spirit I was born with, I thought it looked like a puppy. However, it's true that a beast with claws, fangs, and quick movements has the power necessary for fighting.
Now deceased, Fontapuune-sama. They healed wounded people, returned to the great tree, and even saved Elvira through The Drinking Water of the Spirits.
I wish I could have talked to then once. What kind of person were they? What did they think when they saw me and entrusted me with the spirit stone?
"Well, it's all just my imagination, but it's also possible that Fontapuune just liked Laura, so..."
The water spirit sat on my knee, gazing up at me intently. I stopped petting its head and gazed back at it.
――And then, a voice different from its usual cry leaked out from its mouth.
"Wof, u, au, o."
"...Do you want to talk?"
The water spirit distorted its face, opening and closing its mouth to utter unclear words.
I waited patiently, not rushing. What did the water spirit want to say? What did it want to convey?
For a few minutes, Wentle-sama and I silently watched the water spirit. ――And then, that moment arrived.
"La, Ura"
Laura.
The water spirit definitely said it, calling out my name!
"It spoke "
"The spirit can talk!"
"But, but, this child, it never spoke before!"
I couldn't help but scoop up the water spirit. If I did, it would gaze at me with a delighted expression, repeating my name.
"Laura, Laura"
"Yes, I'm Laura."
――I felt a little like a parent's excitement when their baby says "mama" or "papa" for the first time.
It had been showing signs of understanding our words from before. However, it couldn't speak, and I thought it would be difficult to have a conversation as long as I lived. But to think that its first spoken word would be my name... it was completely unexpected.
It was both honorable and intimidating.
If it could speak, there were things I wanted to ask first.
"Um, what's your name?"
"Laura."
"...I guess it can only say Laura for now, huh."
Wentle-sama's calm words made me feel a little discouraged, my shoulders slumping. It seemed that even though it could speak, conversation would still be difficult.
But I didn't give up, asking again.
"What should we call you?"
"Laura."
"...Is Laura II a good name?"
"No, that's..."
No matter how much Wentle-sama suggested it, I couldn't agree to the name Laura II.
I thought I'd have to keep calling it the water spirit for a while longer, and asked Wentle-sama.
"How do you decide on a name for a spirit like you, Wentle-sama?"
"I think it's often inherited from the previous generation. I was named Wentle because I was guarding the Wentle Cave, but the name Wentle itself originated from a previous generation's name, way back when."
Which came first, the egg or the chicken? Anyway, the name of the spirit is related to the name of the land. Wentle Cave, Avour Volcano, Likerland Canyon...
If this child going to inherit the name from their predecessors, wouldn't Fontapuune be a fitting name?
"So, is this child also Fontapuune-sama?"
"Fontapuune is no longer a known place name, so it's fine to have a different name, I think."
It's true that the name Fontapuune is no longer on the map. From the spirit's perspective, there's no need for the new water spirit to be called Fontapuune.
I call out softly to the water spirit, who has been staring at me intently.
"Fontapuune-sama..."
"Uun."
"I see it doesn't like being called that."
The water spirit clearly shakes its head, and I remember doing something similar before.
I wonder why it dislikes it so much, but...
"Laura."
I gave a bitter smile when I heard my name called again.
Does it want to use a new word?
"But, that's my name――"
"You want Laura to give you the name, right?"
――Wentle-sama's words make me freeze. Me, give a name to the water spirit? As a human?
I glance at the puppy-like spirit sitting on my knee, and for some reason, its eyes seem to sparkle even more than before.
"See, it looks like it."
"No, no, it's not okay for a human to give a name!"
"Laura."
The name is called again, and I'm looked up at with expectant eyes.
――No, no, no. It's different from naming a dog or cat. Even if the spirit itself wants it, it's not something the people around us should allow. I should leave it to someone who can give a proper name, or let the spirit decide for itself.
I look at Wentle-sama for help. The green-eyed boy looks up at me and smiles brightly.
"It's not like you need a spirit's name or anything, so I thought?"
――No way, there's no intention to stop. It's like, wouldn't someone with dignity like Avour-sama scold me?
But even when I called out to him in a small voice, Avour-sama didn't show up. Is he annoyed, or does he just not want to stop? Either way, Avour-sama not opposed to it giving a name, right? If he were opposed, he'd definitely come out.
"Laura."
My name is called again. The blue gemstone buried in the puppy's head sparkles, reflecting the sunlight.
(...What do I do)
One unexpected problem has increased.
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