72 71. Lauravia Fire.txt (1/2)

--Sworn ......?　What ......?

Slowly open your eyes and pick yourself up.

I move my heavy head and check my surroundings.

'Is this ......?'

It was a place I didn't remember. It was a small wooden private room with only the minimum amount of furniture.

There was only one open window, through which a cool breeze came in. It was a simple but relaxing room - or so I thought.

And in the chair included in that minimal furniture, a man sat alone.

A man with a fearless face, I believe his name was - Palinclone.

It's Palinclone Legacy, the man who saved my life (・・・・・・).

''--Oh. You're awake, Kanami. Just as well, your sister (・・・・・) just woke up. Let me show you around.

Seeing me awake, Palinkron closes the book in his hand.

He then tapped me on the shoulder in a friendly manner and then walked out of the room.

He said he was going to show me around, and I was trying to follow him - my body went rigid.

I felt like something important was being misplaced and my body wasn't moving well.

It was as if I had wired it wrong.

It was as if the doll's limbs had been reversed.

It's uncomfortable, strange, a discrepancy.

-- something is wrong.

But as much as that clinging discomfort, there was also a refreshing sense of freedom for me.

It's as if there was a hole in my heart.

Thanks to this, I feel as if my body has become lighter.

Kanami, come on!

'Eh ....... Oh, oh!　Okay, Palinclone!

All those doubts were erased by Palinclone's rushing voice.

First, I feel a sense of duty that I should follow Palinclone, the man who saved my life, and I leave the room without thinking too much about it.

I look at the corridor and realize where I am.

This is the headquarters of the guild 'Epic Seeker'.

The room I saw earlier is the guild's medical office.

When I woke up, I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't noticed it.

But I can't just wonder.

I walk down the corridor that should be familiar but feels new to me.

As I walk, I make sure I'm not in the right shape. It's dull and dreamy, as if I've been asleep for days.

Shaking my head repeatedly, I follow Palinclone as he walks ahead.

Then I continue down the corridor and up the stairs to a certain room.

In front of the door of the room, Palinclone stops and urges me to go inside.

I open the door as he prompts me.

The room was larger than the infirmary, and a fresh breeze was blowing through it.

At a cursory glance, it was about five times larger than the doctor's office. A large number of bookshelves lined the room, giving it an intelligent look. And there was one large bed at the far end. A girl was sitting on that bed, looking out the window, feeling the breeze swaying the curtains.

A dark-haired girl with bandages on her eyes.

Ah, yes.

This girl -- that girl -- that vow --

My sister, Maria, is safe. That's great, Kanami.

From behind me, I heard Palinkron's voice.

'Sister' --?

...... That's right.

She's my sister.

She is the most important and must be protected with her life.

The sister my dead mother asked me to protect, her name was ...... Maria.

My head hurts.

'Oh, oh ....... That's good. I'm glad to see that Maria is okay.

”It was a big fire, but everybody survived. Not a single casualty.

My staggered consciousness gradually awakens.

At the same time, I start to remember what happened in this other world one after another.

Maria and I had experienced a huge fire and were rescued by Palinkron.

This is the second time that Palinkron has saved us. The first time my brother and sister and I wandered into this world and were rescued in the labyrinth was the first time. And this was the second time when we were rescued from a huge fire in the city.

Surely I can remember the sight of the house burning to the ground. I can remember.

But I'm surprised there were no casualties.

I think there were one or two dead .......

”--brother (...)?　You came?

Maria noticed our arrival and turned her head towards us.

'Yeah, it's me. You look fine, Maria.

No, I can't say I'm okay with it. ......

Me and Maria exchange words.

Then I was filled with a sense of relief.

It was an unusually deep sense of relief.

'Are you hurt anywhere?'

'No, I'm not injured, but ....... For some reason, my head hurts .......

Then Maria put a hand to her head.

But it was a common occurrence.

Her sister had been physically weak since she was a child and had spent a lot of time in the hospital. That didn't seem to change even if she came to another world. No, it might have gotten worse due to the sudden change in environment.

It was then that I suddenly noticed an ornament on Maria's arm.

It's the 'bracelet'.

This is what Palinclone has prepared for us as a solution to our inconvenience as 'gentiles'. As long as you wear it, Maria and I will be able to adapt to the environment of this other world, and we will have no trouble speaking the language. It is said to have the effect of stabilizing our magical power, which tends to run amok.

It's two halves for me and Maria.

I'm sure it's not inexpensive, even if I asked Palinkron about the price, but it's definitely not cheap.

When I saw the bracelet, I had to work harder for Maria and to repay Palinkron for his kindness. I have made up my mind.

Maria,” I said, ”if your head hurts, you should take it a little slower. If your head hurts, you can take it a little slower.

I walked up to Maria, stroked her head and laid her body down on the bed.

'Yes ....... Thank you, brother .......

Maria's cheeks were red and she lay down as she was done.

I'm still not feeling well.

You look like you have a fever. It seems that she has always had a chronic fever.

Holding Maria's hand, I worry about her body.

As I was doing so, Palinclone's voice interrupted me from behind.

'Is that enough of the smiling sibling love?　I've got a lot of work to do today.

To do?

'Yeah, today was the day you were supposed to join Kanami's guild, Epic Seeker, right?　I almost forgot about it because of the fire, but Kanami looks like he's got five bodies, so we'll do it with no problem. I've got the guild members waiting, so no carryover.

'Oh, oh ....... It was.

It reminds me again.

I had to earn money to pay for Maria's medical bills in front of me. So Palinclone introduced one job for me.