When I woke up, I seemed to be in a hospital room. Why am I in such a place? When I tried to recall the answer to this question, I heard a voice.
"Good morning, Amane-san."
"…. Eh?"
Hearing the voice, I turned my head sideways and saw Claire was sitting there, peeling an apple and making it into the shape of Wolven, not a rabbit. How skillful— Wait, that's not it!
"How was everyone?! Is everyone sa—!"
Recalling the series of events leading to this point, I tried to ask Claire. But, at that moment, severe pain assaulted my body, making me fall back onto the bed. And looking at this, Claire hurriedly said.
"Please calm down, Amane-san. Right now, Amane-san's body is worn out, so you shouldn't move. And everyone is safe, thanks to you, Amane-san."
"…. I'm glad."
It seems I managed to protect everyone. Knowing that, I stroked my chest in relief.
By the way,
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"About 3 days"
"3 days?!"
Looks like I have been unconscious longer than I had imagined. Or rather,
"Why did you peel the apple even though you didn't know when I would wake up?"
"In any case, Yui-san and the others who come to visit could eat this, so I thought why not?"
Yui and the others seemed to be fine enough to come to visit me. Then, I guess it's fine.
Now, let's get into the main topic.
"Can I ask what happened after that?"
"Sure. After the dungeon disappeared, just in case, everyone went to the hospital to undergo a check-up. Besides that, some people who had fainted due to the strong magic power emitted are now well."
"I see. Then, regarding that guy…"
"…. I have reported the information about the man who called himself Cain and the existence of another world. But due to some circumstances, it will not be announced to the public until the timing is right. Until then, only some top-ranked adventurers are informed about it"
"Well, that is to be expected."
There are too many things that we still didn't know about dungeons. It can even be said that it is a global-scale problem. Because of that, if people suddenly knew the existence of a different world or an entity that intentionally threatened their lives, the world would be in turmoil.
"May I also ask a question to Amane-san?"
"Aa"
"After I had gone, I heard from Rei-san and the other two that you used Cursed. Is that true?"
"That's true. Or rather, it's all thanks to that sword that we are saved, you know? If I hadn't had the magic power supplied by this sword I would have run out of MP after all"
"—–Eh?"
For some reason, Claire opened her eyes, surprised. Etto, did I say something wrong?
"Perhaps it was bad to use that sword without permission?"
"N-no. If that helped Amane-san, then that's good. Please don't worry about it."
"? Okay…"
To be honest, I was pretty curious about that, but as it seems it won't be good to ask too much, I will stop here.
Thus, at the very least, we have talked about the important things, making a silent atmosphere dominate the room. As the comfortable silence goes by… Suddenly, Claire spoke.
"Amane-san"
"N?"
As my name was called, I looked at her face and lost my words. Because I was spontaneously mesmerized by that somewhat sad and ephemeral, yet beautiful smile of hers.
"Truly, thank you very much. It would have been impossible to save everyone without you."
"Is that something that Claire has to thank me for?"
"…. Certainly, it might not. Nevertheless, I still thought I had to say it."
That melancholic look that she showed me right now reminds me of a week ago. Because her figure was very similar to the one she showed at the café at that time.
That day, she said that it's her duty to protect everyone. That is why, perhaps right now, she was feeling frustrated about not being able to do that. And thus thought she had to thank me for protecting everyone instead of her.
If that's really the case, then it all makes sense. However, I felt like something was off when I saw this figure of her. And I felt I had to confirm it.
"Claire–"
"Well then, I think it would be a nuisance if I stayed here longer than this. I guess I will excuse myself soon."
But sooner than I could ask her, Claire stood up and turned her back to me. Seeing this, I recalled the figure of her when she insta-killed Ifrit. Because the figure, which should have been stronger than anyone, seemed to overlap with the one that I see right now, who is frustrated over her own weakness.
And I couldn't help but to be concerned about it.
If, supposedly, the ‘duty' that she said was the origin of her power, which could even make her able to overcome everything by herself…
In addition,
『Ee, I am sure it is true. And I wish, at the end of that goal, I too, will….』
That day, when she asked me why I wanted to become an adventurer, if the thing that Claire wanted to say was the something that I expected it to be…
In that case, there is something that I have to tell her.
No, that's just an excuse.
I just wanted to tell her.
That is why.
"Wait, Claire."
"… Amane-san? You shouldn't mo-!"
"Don't worry. If it's just something like this"
Having stopped her, who was about to open the door, I got out of the bed. At the café that day, I couldn't say anything after stopping her. However, it's different this time. Because I already know what I wanted to say to her.
What kind of burden did she carry? To be honest, at this point of time, I still don't know. Even so, at least I can convey my feelings.
"I'm the one who should give my thanks to you, Claire. At that time, we were saved because Claire came– And to be frank, I yearned to have an overwhelming power like yours, that is far stronger than mine."
"My power, huh…."
Hearing that, Claire displayed a troubled expression on her face. That is natural. I'm sure she has received such praises from many people until now. However, that wasn't the thing that I wanted to convey to her.
"— That is why, I wanted to catch up"
"…. Eh?"
"I wanted to be stronger. I wanted to have strength to protect everything. If I had to have a strength like Claire if I wanted to do that, then I will definitely catch up to you– No"
Not just that. That is still not enough. In the past, I vowed to be the strongest in the world. In that case–
"In the end, I will definitely overtake you. That's why, wait for me, Claire."
"—–"
I'm sure it must have sounded like a selfish declaration. And although not really, it was indeed not a statement that was made for Claire's sake. But that is exactly why it reached her heart.
Claire opened her twin blue eyes widely, which seems to be moistened even if it's just for a moment, before she displayed a smile and said.
"I am sorry, but I think that declaration will never be a reality. Because I, too, will keep getting stronger"
"Then, I just have to go beyond that and keep leveling up."
"I see…. then, I accept your challenge. It's a match, Amane-san."
"Aa, just like what I wanted."
In the hospital room, lit by the sun, we made a pledge. Indeed, we still didn't know much about each other. But that's fine. Because we both know, more than anyone else, that the words we have just said are something from the bottom of our hearts.
However, even if by chance there is still something lacking… then, we could just slowly get to know it. Because,
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