Episode 52: “Helena’s Answer”
“…So that’s what I’m thinking — I’d like to decline this commission. It would be better for the family to move away from this village before a king rat ever shows up.”
She’d expected Yuria, so fond of children, to agree readily — but instead, Yuria shook her head firmly.
“If you start thinking like that, there’s no end to it. Even if they moved to the royal capital, monsters could still attack there too.”
“But it’s safer than this village. There’s a Magic Corps garrison stationed nearby. The people here barely have any real knowledge about monsters, and none of them can even use magic.”
“Even so, that boy said he loves this village and wants to protect it.”
Yuria kept pressing the point, but it was obvious he didn’t have the strength to protect the village on his own.
“Fiine. Is Lux the kind of shop where the owner gets to turn down a customer’s request on her own judgment?”
“…That’s…”
“Whether we take the commission or not was always going to depend on Helena-san’s answer today. Backing out on our end now, after everything, would damage Lux’s credibility.”
As if to say the conversation was over, Yuria stood up.
(Yuria’s right, of course. Besides — if this village ends up attacked by a king rat after the commission’s done, that’s not really my problem anymore…)
Even if Adam’s family moved away, the danger facing the rest of the villagers wouldn’t change. It wasn’t possible for every single person to relocate.
(…Figuring out what to do about that isn’t my job.)
She couldn’t save everyone, all on her own. That was exactly why, on that day, Fiine had run away.
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“Thank you so much for coming.”
Visiting the house, she was greeted by a Helena dressed differently from the day before.
A pale pink dress layered with multiple tiers of lace, clearly meant for going out, her face carefully done up with makeup, her hair neatly braided.
Just from that appearance alone, Fiine already knew her answer.
“Fiine-san. I’d like to formally place the commission. Please — bring my husband, Kevin Hügler, back to life, even if only for a single day.”
There was no way to refuse. At her nod, Helena smiled, visibly relieved.
“Could I have one of his keepsakes? Something he was especially attached to, if possible. I should let you know in advance, though — it can’t be returned to you afterward.”
This much had already been explained on the flyer.
Helena handed over a ring she’d apparently prepared beforehand.
She wore an identical one on her own left hand — almost certainly, this was their wedding ring.
Fiine accepted the ring, set with a small diamond.
Helena stared at her fixedly, her eyes full of both hope and anxiety.
(Maybe it wasn’t really Adam who needed Kevin-san the most. Maybe it was Helena-san, all along.)
Adam had said he wanted to bring his father back to life, but what he’d truly been looking toward was the future.
Right now, though, Helena was unmistakably looking toward the past instead.
“…Please wait just a little. I’ll go bring Kevin-san back.”
“Can I come along too?!”
Adam, who’d been standing behind Helena, burst forward.
Now, now, Helena said, taking his hand and pulling him back.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not something we’re able to allow.”
Adam lowered his head, clearly disappointed. Yuria gently stroked his hair.
“It’s okay. Fiine-oneechan will bring your dad back soon enough. Let’s wait together until then. When your dad comes home, let’s show him just how reliable you can be, okay?”
“Okay! I’ll make sure to tell him — ‘leave Mom and Mary to me!’”
“That’s the spirit. With a son like you, your dad must be so proud.”
At Yuria’s signal, Fiine bowed her head and left the house.
Adam had wanted to come along, but that wish couldn’t be granted.
(Better that he doesn’t see it, obviously. Making a person out of earth isn’t something a child should watch.)
She’d already checked his magic capacity earlier — it was close to zero.
He had no talent for magic at all. All the more reason to keep him from knowing what actually happened.
(…If I’d never been able to use magic, I wonder what kind of life I would have lived instead.)
A life without Burkhardt taking her in. A life without ever meeting Yuria.
Just imagining it, she was certain it would have been an unhappy one — and yet, she still couldn’t bring herself to say, with any real pride, that being able to use magic had turned out to be a good thing.