Episode 6
First things first: Teresia is a good person.
That is an incontrovertible fact, an absolute truth beyond any dispute.
Not because she’s a saint — she was already that kind of person, a creature made almost entirely of goodness, back when she was just a childhood friend to me and nothing more.
Or perhaps it’s precisely because she was that kind of person that she became a saint.
And at the same time — it is equally true that she doesn’t always do the right thing.
She gets lazy sometimes. She even jokes around on rare occasions.
She’s not someone who goes out of her way to do wrong, and she would never act against her conscience.
But she doesn’t always do the right thing.
She lies. She conceals truths for her own sake.
Teresia is that kind of ordinary girl — the kind you could find anywhere.
So when I found myself feeling left behind during the exchange between Teresia and Monica, I immediately understood it wasn’t just because I’d been asleep for a while.
To begin with, I didn’t know what Teresia had reported to the royal family.
And beyond that — I hadn’t even fully grasped what had happened to me.
Why was I still alive?
…Whether I was even allowed to still be alive.
I simply didn’t know enough. There were too many things I didn’t know.
For the time being, though, we’d returned to the inn and were having dinner.
The owner’s recommended stew soup was as good as it always was.
The way the slightly salty, creamy broth went with a torn piece of bread was just right.
A well-worn thing to say, but it was the kind of taste you could go on eating forever.
“Yurina.”
Teresia, her spoon still untouched beside her bowl, called my name with a tentative air.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, I just — …no. I was thinking that you’re always so kind, Yurina.”
She smiled, a little helplessly, and I found myself smiling back.
“I’m not kind, not really. But I do want to always be kind to you, Teresia — that part’s true.”
“I suppose there are things you want to ask me about. Quite a lot of them. But the fact that you haven’t pushed me to explain… I’m grateful for that.”
“I know there’s a reason you’re finding it hard to explain. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll listen properly.”
“……”
I said it simply, and Teresia let her gaze drop. “Yurina,” she murmured.
“Having someone like you — it makes me very happy.”
“That makes me happy too.”
“Enough that I’d be willing to fight the whole world for you, I think.”
“Please don’t think of it that way. Take better care of yourself.”
“But—”
“Consider it a personal request from me.”
“Yurina…”
She looked like she had something more to say, but seemed to think better of it and let out a long breath.
“That’s why I call you kind.”
“Anyway — just to check — should I be involved in the business with Monica-san as well?”
“…I’d like to say you don’t need to worry about it, but I think I do need to sort things out properly. I’ll explain later.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
“One thing in advance — please, don’t do anything reckless. That’s a promise between us.”
She said it with an unusual firmness, and I thought: fair enough, really.
When I actually stopped to think about it, I had, circumstances or not, driven a sword through my own chest.
Of course she was going to warn me not to do anything reckless.
“S-sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. Just please — don’t put yourself in danger.”
“I know. I promise. If something comes up, I’ll talk to you about it properly.”
“Thank you.”
And at that, Teresia finally picked up her spoon and began to eat.
The moment she tasted the stew, the tension that had held her face softened at last.
“The stew at this inn really is wonderful.”
“It is. Since we’re here, maybe I should ask for the recipe — then I could make it for you sometime.”
“Hm, I wonder. Surely a recipe like this would be a closely guarded secret?”
“Well, I’ll try asking anyway.”
We fell quiet after that and finished our meals in comfortable silence.
When we’d both eaten, Teresia said she’d head back to her room to prepare for something, and I — true to my word — went to find the innkeeper and ask about the recipe.
“Oh, a guest? Is something the matter?”
“I just — I think your stew is really wonderful.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Is there any chance you might share the recipe…?”
“I’m very sorry. The recipe isn’t something we make public, I’m afraid.”
Of course not.
“That said — I’m glad to see you’ve recovered, miss. You seemed quite drained for a while after you came back.”
“Not at all. I’m sorry if we caused you any worry.”
“Your companion bought quite a large supply of mana restoration potions, by the way. Would you be able to tell us what to do with the unused ones?”
“…I’m not really the one to ask about that, I’m afraid. Could you ask her directly when you have the chance?”
A large supply of mana restoration potions.
What had she used those for?