Lueira Episode

Did you get some good rest, Lueira?

Yes, thanks to you...

I was too flustered to greet you properly, so I should do that now.

Thank you for looking after Morgan... and for fighting for the people... for all of it.

Haha... I just did what I had to...

You're really dependable.

I'm nothing compared to you, Saintess.

S-Saintess... please don't call me that... I... don't deserve it...

...I mean it. Of everyone I've met here, you're one of the gentlest, Lueira.

If you don't deserve it, then who possibly does?

I'm serious too.

When I couldn't fully control the power of the water dragon... I once hurt people badly.

After that incident, I shut myself away in the forest, and only came out again because of an unexpected connection, but...

What I did doesn't just disappear...

...Hey.

Yes?

Looks like something's tying you up inside... but let's leave that for later. For now, how about we get to know each other?

Get to know each other?

Since we're together anyway. I'm pretty curious about water dragons.

So, about that...

A-A date...?

Ah... I-I mean, what I'm saying is...

...All right.

Huh? You mean... yes?

If I want to get close to humans, I should do things the human way.

Together? I'm fine with that, but...

If someone as pure as you wanders around, you'll get ripped off and be broke in no time.

There are lots of good people out there, but there are also plenty of villains who only think about their own gain, even if it hurts others.

Understood, Swordbringer.

Please take care of me from here on...

Four silver coins...? Why have prices gone up so much...

Mister, can't you make it two?

You think it's easy doing business in wartime? No!

Ugh...

Um... I can pay, if that's okay.

I can't do that. I'm the one who asked you to come out with me.

So you're not buying?

Fine! I'll buy it, mister. Raisin bread and sausage... I'll take it all!

I can't eat that much...

It's fine, Lueira. If there's any left, we'll give it to the ravenous Fairy Queen and it'll disappear in no time.

Phew... Morgan really is something.

What's so impressive about being in charge of food disposal?

Even though Morgan still hasn't fully recovered her power, she keeps going.

Hmm... that's true...

But I think you deserve plenty of respect too, Lueira.

Me? Why...?

Sacrificing for others... reflecting on the past... not everyone can do that.

...

That still doesn't make sad things go away...

We've been helped a lot too. Today's invite is my way of saying thanks.

So... is that why you're being so nice to me?

Not only because of that, though.

You thought I looked lonely?

I don't really know you yet... but it feels like you're carrying a huge burden.

So I thought: if you went through a lot of fun things, maybe the weight on your heart would lighten, even if just a little...

I see...

H-Hungry? You thought I looked hungry?

Morgana was blunt at first, too.

She bragged and showed off just like now, but she wasn't exactly warm with me.

It only took one pan of stir-fried meat to tear down that wall.

...Food is the best way to get close. So let's eat our fill. I'm treating you all day today!

Swordbringer... thank you.

Shall we hit the next stall?

Lueira!

Oh... you're here early?

Fishing's a hobby I really like. When you said you were interested, I started getting ready first thing this morning... haha.

I was curious. What it feels like to calm your mind and take it slow.

It's nothing special. You just rest, so your thoughts don't get tangled.

Rest?

If you stay bound to the past, no amount of time will make you feel better.

So we fish... and let our worries drift away with the water.

So that's what you meant.

Once... the person who saved me was a survivor from the village I harmed.

When I faced that reality... I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

Swordbringer.

Can I... really keep living like this?

That's true for me, for you, for Morgana too, right? What's important is doing your best now... so it never happens again.

Right now, all you need to do is focus on fishing with me.

Why wouldn't it be? The Imperial Soldiers and monsters I've put down all had lives of their own, too.

There were surely innocent ones among them. Everyone has their own circumstances.

Like the fish darting around beneath this calm lakeshore.

Swordbringer...

Don't take it so seriously. Even a fish on a hook doesn't come out of the water because it wants to.

...!

That makes sense...

Right? Fishing can be that deep.

Besides, you're a water dragon. Aren't you at home in the water?

...Pfft!

This spot's pretty good. If we keep chatting, before you know it, the basket will be full of fish.

Then shall I cook for you?

Huh? You cook?

Why are you so surprised?

Because you're a Saintess... you don't exactly seem like the domestic type...

That's prejudice. Believe it or not, cooking is both my hobby and my specialty.

Living alone for so long, I just learned naturally...

All right. Then I'll take you up on that.

A beauty cooking on the spot while we fish, where else would I get a treat like that?

I-Is that really something to be so impressed by...?

At least, it is for me. I brought you here hoping it would comfort you, but I feel like I'm the one being comforted.

...I don't need comfort.

What I needed... I think I've already realized through you, Swordbringer.

So it helped? I'm glad.

Ah! Something's on the line!

I-I should get the cooking ready. I'll start the fire.

The weather's nice again today.

Yeah. Though we'll soon be heading back to a place reeking of blood.

Are you leaving?

That's right. We still have a long road ahead.

It was nice to rest for once. Now that the sortie preparations are done, it's time to fight hard again.

I...

You don't have to push yourself, Lueira.

No one's going to demand your power like they used to.

...No.

Lueira?

I've already put down the burden of the past. Thanks to you, Swordbringer.

I see... I'm glad.

From here on, I'll fight with you. If you need my power... just say the word.

Lueira...!

Eek?!

Huh...?

S-Sorry, Swordbringer... I'm not used to things like this...

I-I'm not used to it either...

Still...

Huh? C-Cute...?

You were so quiet that I thought you'd be more uptight.

But now I know you have another side besides being composed. Honestly, you're cute.

B-Brazen...

You went along with my pushy request for a date.

That's not it... I had quite a bit of fun, too...

And I learned a lot. Even a human who hasn't lived very long can be so serene, and yet I was the one falling into despair...

It's downright embarrassing.

That's not true. I'm frustrated every time because I never know what to do either.

Thank you... too.