Chapter 69 Elmer of the Arcanopharmacist
The shock hit me out of nowhere, and even though I knew he was a guy, I threw my hands up and tried to dodge, all on reflex.
"Hey! Long time no see, Momota. I missed you, you know!"
Mr. Elmer went up on his tiptoes, just a bit shorter than Luka, and brushed his cheek against mine──super quick, barely a touch.
That's how folks from the west greet their close friends.
While I was frozen stiff, he slipped an arm around me under my armpit and pulled me into another big, tight hug.
"Uh──wait, um..."
"Showing up out of nowhere with no warning──You seriously don't change, do you?"
He mashed his head against my chest, practically grinding it in.
His light green hair smelled like the same hair stuff Yuruyana uses.
I never thought he'd be this in-your-face with the hugs, but yeah, no doubt, this is Mr. Elmer.
"How long's it been? Yuruyana told me you'd died and I got suuuper depressed, you know. That was a real mean prank! Don't tell me you're a ghost or something now?"
He didn't care his hair was all messed up; he just kept looking up and patting me all over like he was checking if I was really real.
"Um..."
"I only sent Yuruyana since Junce said you were looking sick, you know. You always act tough when things get serious. But honestly, you look younger? Well, the bags under your eyes are skipping out of control, but──are you feeling okay now?"
He kept rattling on so fast I couldn't get a word in, no matter how hard I tried.
I just let it happen, and suddenly his thumb brushed against my cheek.
"Huh? Did you always have this mole here?"
He tilted his head and traced his finger along my face, finally stopping all movement.
Now's my chance.
"Sorry, but──I'm not Momota."
Mr. Elmer froze, mouth hanging open, while I carefully peeled his hands off my face.
"I'm Tsukumo, his grandkid. Yuruyana never mentioned that?"
When I said Yuruyana's name, his eyes went wide, then wobbled a bit.
He paused, gave me a huge nod, took a few steps back, and stared right at me all over again.
"...I get it now. So you're Tsukumo. Yeah, Yuruyana told me. And Momota, too."
You could tell──he was fighting back tears.
He probably didn't wanna believe my grandfather was really gone.
That's gotta be why──even if I look completely the wrong age──she just wanted to believe I was him.
"Come on in, have a seat."
Mr. Elmer took a deep breath, trying to get it together.
He turned on his heel and gave a quick sniffle.
"You two back there, come on in too. Kinda rare to see a soldier who uses magic, you know."
He didn't even look twice──just nailed their deal right away.
Luka and Thomas shot each other a look.
The place we got invited into... total chaos.
Weird geometric tapestries, carved little figures, creepy dolls──you name it.
All just... stuck wherever, or tossed around like someone stopped caring.
"If you'd let me know, I would've at least picked up a little. Watch your step though, it'll hurt if you step on something."
Mr. Elmer shuffles off──barefoot, slapping on the floor.
No wonder it hurts, geez.
He led us into the living room.
There was a rectangular table and I plopped down on the single sofa at the short end.
Luka and Thomas took the long couch on the side.
"You all have dinner already?"
"Yeah, no need to worry about us."
"You sound just like him. Talking all proper with that face... Feels kinda strange, honestly."
He smiled, his brows drooping.
Still looked kind of worn out, honestly.
He got some tea ready, then sat down across from me.
Crossed his legs under this long loose skirt, kinda like what Yuruyana always wears.
"We've got a lot of catching up to do, but you didn't come here for small talk, did you? Let's hear it. Something happen to Yuruyana?"
This guy catches on quick.
I mean, a total stranger showing up alone──not with Yuruyana?
He probably figured something was really wrong.
I nodded and gave the rundown, step by step.
"...I see. So the time's finally come, huh."
"Huh?"
Even when I told him Yuruyana got snatched because of his background, Mr. Elmer just stayed totally calm.
"You... already knew?"
"Ever since he first told me his name, I knew the whole story. It was a long while ago, but I even lived in Lilicheska for a bit. And just like you look like Momota, I knew a person back then who looked just like Yuruyana. It was a girl, though."
That hair and those eyes──yeah, those are totally passed down the family, no doubt about it.
"Wow, so you guys have been a family of beauties for generations, huh?"
Luka teased, grinning.
Mr. Elmer nodded big and proud.
"Oh, absolutely! None can match my charm, but they're not far behind, I assure you!"
Standing tall with a totally flat chest, Mr. Elmer basically held himself up as the model of beauty.
It kinda screamed "well-trained ego."
"That's why I was so shocked when I met Yuruyana. I figured he was from some random offshoot, y'know? And then──bam, turns out he's from the main line. Go figure."
He plopped his chin onto his hand, propping his elbow on his knee, and let out a long sigh.
"Guess that one's on me. Should've told the kid first."
"So... why didn't you?"
"Thought I'd get around to it, honestly. But when he said he wanted to be an Arcanopharmacist and all, I figured... if he could go on living without knowing, maybe that'd be alright too."
Yuruyana had just chosen her own path.
No reason to throw more confusion on her at the worst time.
That was Elmer's own kind of parental love, in a way.
"Plus, c'mon──I raised him all the way to adulthood myself, and then outta nowhere, some rando relative comes barging in acting all family? That just rubs me the wrong way, you know?"
Elmer made a show of acting tough, but somehow, it felt like his real feelings were elsewhere.
"Well, not like whining about it's gonna fix anything now."
I wondered──Elmer hardly ever changed, moving through the years so damn slow... How does it feel, watching everyone you get close to outrun you and go gray and die?
And even knowing that, he never left the humans behind.
Geez, maybe this guy's a lot lonelier than he lets on.
"And hey, when it comes to politics, what can one measly Arcanopharmacist even do? The army's already on the move. All that's left for me... is to mix up whatever medicines Momota's grandkid needs, I guess."
When Mr. Elmer smiled, eyes crinkling slyly──it was almost a dead ringer for Yuruyana.
But for him, the word "alluring" fit way better.
I wondered──if Yuruyana got a little older, would she end up like that too?
That mental image gave me the shivers, not gonna lie.
"Did you hear about this from Yuruyana?"
"Yup. Sent me a letter with all the details──seems you, Momota's grandkid's, in trouble, so she asked me to help. Gave me a whole write-up on the symptoms, even suggested a prescription. I tossed in a couple of tips for how to tweak it, too."
Speaking of which, Yuruyana had this troubled look on her face while reading a letter that smelled like medicine, sometime ago.
"So, has the symptoms improved a little bit compared to when it was at its worst?"
"Yes, a little."
Even though my sleep is still light, I feel like the nightmares have changed a little.
When I told him that I could taste salt again, he picked up a book that was lying around and started jotting down notes in the empty space.
Seriously, so messy.
"Don't worry about the fee. Momota told me. 'If I die, Tsukumo will pay the bill,' you know?"
"The bill?"
"I haven't paid for the equipment in this house yet. I thought if I finish paying it off, I won't have an excuse to meet Momota!"
Mr. Elmer laughed out loud, not at all ashamed.
I thought it was strange that it was cool in here, but it seems they also installed an air conditioner.
"And, there's a present I was going to give to you when you, Momota, comes. I'm sure you'll like it."
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