Etude of the Melancholy Sunflower | Chapter 5

[healingbonds]

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Mitile: ....hh.....

Mitile clings to Rutile’s arm out of fear.
But when he sees Shino — who is not much older than him — completely unshaken, he grows embarrassed and lets go.

Shino: It’s just a swinging rope. Nothing serious happened. But the locals are all freaked out.
Apparently they’re pressing the local officials to burn the man-eating witch’s sunflower fields, and they’re on the verge of starting an uprising.

Heathcliff: ....Miss Bianca’s stone is said to lie under the sunflower fields.
A wizard’s stone might be valuable, but each and every person who took this stone into their hands was cursed with misfortune, so they buried it instead....
But the lord fears that if they burn down the sunflower fields, the curse will only grow more powerful.
And that’s why he consulted me through my father... I did tell him that the Sage’s wizards have yet to officially begin working, but.
He wants to solve the problem before anything terrible happens, so he’d like us to get started on the job as soon as we can.

Figaro: Judging from what Arthur was saying, it’ll probably take some time before we can officially accept any jobs.
But we’ll gladly lend you our support. Nobody wants an uprising, after all. You’ll help too, right, Leno?

Lennox: Of course.

Rutile: Heathcliff. I’ll support you as well.

Mitile: M-me too!

Shino: Oh, come on. You were totally freaked out.

Mitile: I wasn’t scared! Mister Shino, you might be a famous guide and all, but.....
I’m a fine Southern wizard too! I can help everyone too!

Shino throws a glance at the spirited Mitile and shrugs.

Shino: I don’t care. Just don’t get in my way.

Heathcliff: Stop that, Shino! Thank you, Rutile. Mitile, don’t let it bother you.

Shino: Faust, Nero. Even the Southern wizards are saying they’ll help. You’d better join us too.

Nero: Well I don’t mind, but don’t push Faust. He’s not feeling too well.

Heathcliff: ....Is that true? Mr. Faust.....

Nero is probably telling a white lie to cover for Faust’s unease.
But Faust shakes his head at Heathcliff’s concern.

Faust: No, I’m better now. I’ll be fine.

Nero: Faust......

Faust: And curses are my specialty. Let’s go to the lands where Bianca was executed.
Heathcliff, Lennox. Thank you for explaining what happened.

Faust looks at Lennox and Heathcliff, one at a time.
The two of them have shown concern for Faust this entire time. In response to their kindness, Faust nods with quiet determination.

Faust: It will be fine. Let us quiet the lands before a riot occurs.

✦✧☾✧✦

Faust: ..........

Nero: You can’t sleep? Want me to make you some hot milk?

Faust: .....I’m not a child. I just came to get some water.

Nero: I’ve got a nice bottle of wine right here. Take it to your room and have a drink.

Faust: I won’t be able to wake up in the morning.

Nero: If you sleep in, that’s fine too. I’ll take Shino and Heathcliff.
You’re a shut-in, right? You can stay in your room. Here, take it.

Faust: ....... I’ll accept this with gratitude, but I won’t drink it tonight.

Nero: ..........

Faust: Let’s have this together on another night.

Nero: You mean the two of us?

Faust: That’s right. ....Though you’re free to refuse.

Nero: Ahaha! I won’t refuse. I just never expected an invitation from you.

Faust: ........ I apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused you, Nero. I depended on you, and made you take care of me.
Bianca.... The man-eating witch was probably an old acquaintance of mine.
It’s my fault that she turned into a cursed mana stone. If anything happens, please protect the children.
If I am taken by the curse, take the children with you and run. Figaro should turn me to stone.

Nero: .......... Haha.... Guess I can never win.

Faust: What?

Nero: So you’re also the type of guy who pushes his limits at the risk of his own life, huh. Man, I keep drawing the short straw.

Faust: Also, there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you.

Nero: What now?

Faust: You’re a kind person, Nero. Thank you for taking care of me.

✦✧☾✧✦

Figaro: Faust.

Faust: Don’t wait for me in front of my room. I have no intention of talking to you. Leave.

Figaro: << Possideo >>

Faust: .......! Did you just make my door disappear!?

Figaro: You can rely on me, you know. This must be a rough task for you.

Faust: I have an excellent memory, you see. So I remember exactly what happened when I relied on you in the past.

Figaro: I won’t abandon you.

Faust: .........

Figaro: I believed that you were promised fortune and glory. That’s why I thought you didn’t need my help.
If I had known that sort of thing was going to happen to you, I would have never left your side. Please believe me. I’m telling the truth.

Faust: Do I look unfortunate now?

Figaro: Well, relatively......

Faust: And do I need you if I am unfortunate?

Figaro: ............

Faust: Too bad, then. Because I am currently at the peak of happiness.
I know what humans are really like; that’s why I can curse them. They can no longer fool me.

Figaro: You don’t have to force yourself to act all evil. It doesn’t suit you. You’re the pure and innocent type.

Faust: That’s not for you to decide. This is the real me.

Figaro: Then try spitting at me. I know you can’t do it.

Faust: Stop making assumptions! Hold on, I’ll show you.....

Figaro: ...........

Faust: ..........

Figaro: See, you really can’t do it......

Faust: Leave me alone! Give me my door back!

Figaro: Please rely on me. I won’t betray your expectations anymore. I can even promise you that.

Faust: ...........
That’s why I can’t trust you.

Figaro: ........... .....I feel like that was a pretty sincere line, you know......

Faust: You are now a Southern wizard. And I am now an Eastern wizard.
I am not the person who will live by your side, and you are not the person who will live by my side.

Figaro: ..........

Faust: Back when I was struggling with the fate of longevity — I was truly happy when you said, "Let’s live side by side."
Until you disappeared, that is. You’re the kind of man who tires of things on a whim; stop meddling with people’s lives. Give me back my door.

Figaro: .....I understand. Good night, Faust.

Chapter 4 << | index | >> Chapter 6