Chapter 157: A debt to big to repay as well as Family Precept ※Rifreyas POV (1/2)

It seems like Flora had fallen asleep eventually, I could hear her rhythmical breathing.

I fix up her bed and watch her slightly worn out side-profile.

If not for her disease, she would have been enjoying her youth as a templar right about now. The small and cute Flora was popular in her generation, but since the time she caught the chaotic magic disease, even the friends that came to visit her have barely come now.

The chaotic magic disease is apparently a disease that was thought to have occurred from being hated by the Spirits.

According to the doctor, that’s complete superstition, and it is totally different from the Hated Ones that are born that way, but there’s still a lot of people in the city that believe that superstition.

There’s even people who think the chaotic magic disease is infectious.

Because of this, even guests coming to the house to visit have decreased since Flora got ill.

If I were to pass the templar exam, I would have to support this household as a templar.

Get a husband, just like my mother.

I am the eldest daughter, and I have to look after my little sister from here on and forever.

When I was with Hikaru, I put that at the corner of my mind, but…that’s reality.

Hikaru said he couldn’t be with me and I was against it, but I myself had circumstances that made me have to return.

It is because of that that I didn’t want to go back.

If I were to go back…and see reality, I wouldn’t be able to return.

I wouldn’t be able to abandon my family.

“Hikaru…I…what should I do…?” (Jeanne)

I sat at the corner of the bed and muttered this.

Even though I wouldn’t have anything to hesitate if I had been an explorer with nothing binding me…

Would Hikaru come to me instead?

If he were to come here, it would all be resolved though…

(It would be impossible…) (Rifreya)

He is a Loved One.

My house is right by the side of the Great Church. The Great Light Spirit-sama hates men, but it should be an exception for Loved Ones.

“Haah…” (Rifreya)

A sad sigh leaked out, and I drowned in the ocean of thought for a while, but I heard a voice from the lower floor, and I was brought back to reality.

The voices steadily grew closer and the door was knocked on. The maid Sasha showed her face.

“Rifreya-sama, Flora-sama’s doctor has come.” (Sasha)

Being told this, I stand up.

The doctor that comes to visit has researched the chaotic magic disease for a long time, and is a person that has been travelling the whole continent searching for medicines. The treatment expense is pretty high, but their skill is the real deal.

Well, even with that, the state of my little sister is barely showing signs of getting better, but that she isn’t getting worse either is proof that the treatment is working.

The chaotic magic disease is one that hinders the growth of the person, and it steadily makes it harder to move the body more and more.

“Hello, Rifreya-san. It has been a while.”

“It has been a while, Sensei.” (Rifreya)

“Now then, let’s get right to it. We will have Flora-san wake up to—”

Sensei was about to take a seat by the side of the bed in order to do their check-up, but they stopped moving.

Their gaze was fixed on the unwilting flower that Hikaru gave me.

“…Eh? T-This flower… Why is this here…?”

“Is something the matter with this flower?” (Rifreya)

“C-Can I see this for a bit…? It properly has…its roots too…”

Sensei was confirming something with trembling fingers.

Not only their fingers, but even their voice was trembling. Even the nurse by their side is covering her mouth with watery eyes.

(W-What’s going on…?) (Rifreya)

At any rate, this is not normal.

“There’s no doubt… This consistent light, the Spirit Energy circulation… This is the Mallow Moon Silver Flower…”

As if worshipping an idol, they held the flower Hikaru gave me with both hands respectfully, and were making an ecstatic expression.

“Rifreya-san! Is this something that you got, Rifreya-san?!”

“Y-Yeah. More accurately speaking, it was something given to me.” (Rifreya)

Delight showed in Sensei’s face.

“You were given it?! Who?! N-No, where?! Where did they get it?! Even though I went through the places where I might be able to obtain it, it was to no avail.”

“A-As I said, I was simply given this by someone…” (Rifreya)

“Did that person not know the worth of this?! N-No…did he give you this knowing the disease of Flora-san?!”

“W-What is it? Please explain!” (Rifreya)

Sensei had their whole face flushed and was getting excited all alone, but I don’t get what’s going on at all.

“The roots of this flower can serve as a cure for chaotic magic disease! Flora-san can be cured!”

“Eh?!” (Rifreya)

“Moreover, with a share this splendid, you could save 10 chaotic magic disease patients! Please give me this! Of course, I will pay you! Please!”

I couldn’t hear the latter half of Sensei’s words.

…Cured?

This flower, the cure?

My little sister’s disease… The chaotic magic disease that is said to be incurable…can be cured?

“S-Sensei…are you kidding? There’s no way something like that can be done with a gifted flower—” (Rifreya)

“I am not joking! This flower…the Mallow Moon Silver Flower is the only thing that can cure the chaotic magic disease!”

“T-Then my little sister…Flora can be just like before…?” (Rifreya)

“She can be cured. She definitely will. Soon… She should recover in a few days.”

“No way…”

That last one came from my little sister.

It seems like she had at some point in time woken up and was listening.

“It isn’t a lie. It is thanks to Rifreya-san. You can be cured. I have been travelling around the world in search of this plant, but to think that your sister would be finding it. This must be the blessing of the Spirit King-sama.”

“I-I…can be cured…? Really?” (Flora)

“Really. You have a great sister.”

On that day, I heard the cries of my little sister for the second time. This time, not from sadness, but joy.

◇◆◆◆◇

After that, it was pretty hectic.

The unwilting flower apparently would wilt if the roots were to be completely gone, so only a part enough for one person was cut off to have Flora drink it.

Sensei took out tools from their bag, and chipped the cut root finely. This time they placed this chipped root into a small kettle, heated it, and a peculiar sweet scent covered the room.

“Nice scent, right? It is said that this scent is the same one the Spirits smell from Loved Ones. I kind of understand why the Great Spirit-samas would want Loved Ones.”

Sensei’s slight chit-chat.

Does Hikaru have this kind of scent too? I should try smelling him next time.

We have Flora drink the well boiled liquid medicine.

According to Sensei, the circulation of her Spirit Energy should be steadily returning to her.

“Now then, I would like you to please give the remaining 9 times to me.”

Sensei wrapped things up and said this.