Volume 1, Chapter 45 – Departure

“Shishou, Ma’am, it was only a short time, but thank you for everything.”

Under the somewhat strong early summer sunlight—though much cooler compared to Japan—I express my gratitude to Shishou and his wife, who have taken care of me.

“…Hmph. You’re still only half-baked. Hurry up and become a Magic Apothecary, and then show us you can be a splendid Saint.”

“Fiene-chan, you worked really hard these past eight months. Listen, even though you’ve graduated, this place is your home in the Royal Capital, okay? You can come back anytime.”

“Yes. Shishou. Ma’am.”

Something hot wells up in my chest. My vision blurs just a little.

“Silly girl. What are you crying for? Listen, Fiene-chan. No matter what anyone says, you’re like a daughter to us. You shouldn’t cry when you’re growing up and leaving the nest. When you leave the nest, you should be looking ahead, sparkling with joy.”

“…Ma’am.”

Even as she says that, tears are welling in Ma’am’s eyes too.

Shishou is also staring slightly upward.

“Yes, I’m off!”

If I stay here any longer, my tears might spill over.

And I might end up stopping, reluctant to leave the warm time I spent with Shishou and his wife.

The promise when I became his apprentice was to stay until my Alchemy Skill Level reached 3.

And the other day, my Alchemy and Herb Appraisal Skill Levels both reached 3.

Thus, having officially graduated as Shishou’s apprentice, I changed my Sub-Class from Apothecary to Enchanter to become a Magic Apothecary.

Also, yesterday, Ma’am went all out and prepared a feast.

I have nothing but gratitude for these two, who were so kind to a Vampire like me and treated me as if I were their real child.

If not for them, I’m not sure if I could have grown so fond of the Royal Capital.

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That’s how truly, truly grateful I am.

That’s precisely why I can’t keep relying on their kindness forever.

I have to show them the Magic Apothecary I’ve become someday, and tell them it’s all thanks to them.

I offer my deep thanks in my heart and leave the familiar Jez Herbal Apothecary.

Of course, Chris-san is by my side.

The first person I met in this world, who has been good to me ever since.

The person who lets me drink her blood even though she doesn’t believe for a second that I’m actually a Vampire.

She’s a muscle-brain, but straightforward, genuinely kind, and someone precious to me.

——Ah, but I hope her sense of money has improved…

We head for the stagecoach depot.

At the depot, Char and the others—those I’ve been stuck with ever since that terrifying experience—have come to see us off.

“Fiene, you’re really setting off on a journey, aren’t you? I shall be lonely.”

“Yes, Char. I plan to aim for the Far North.”

Somehow or other, Char and I get along well enough.

“It is a place where your roots may lie, is it not? I pray for a favorable outcome. Since it is I, the next Saint, who prays, it shall surely be effective, yes?”

“Yes, thank you.”

While the decision to journey was mine, aiming for the Far North was Chris-san’s suggestion.

This is, of course, because Chris completely took the King’s words—”You have the blood of the Silver High Elves who dwell in the Far North”—at face value.

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For my part, I want to learn about my Unique Skill, Spirit Summoning, and when I think of spirits, I naturally think of Elves.

So, I decided to go meet the High Elves known to reside in the Far North.

“Lady Fiene. I am indebted to you. I deeply thank you for saving my master. May fortune be upon your journey.”

“Hugues-san, thank you.”

I don’t really remember doing anything beyond getting involved by chance, but I don’t mind being thanked.

“Fiene, I may become the Saint while you are traveling, you know?”

“Fufu. I look forward to it. When that time comes, I’ll lend you my strength too, so let’s do something together.”

When I answer like that, Char’s face turns bright red and her mouth opens and closes soundlessly.

Watching her, I remember the haughty attitude she had when we first met and feel oddly nostalgic.

While we’re talking, the wagon heading north arrives. A perfectly ordinary covered wagon.

“Char, thank you for coming all this way to see me off.”

“Hmph! I-I just happened to have business over here, so it was merely convenient!”

“Fufu. Even so, thank you. I’m happy Char came to see me off.”

Then her face turns bright red again, and her mouth opens and closes.

“Well then, I’m off.”

We board the wagon, and it starts moving with a rumbling sound.

Char and the others, waving vigorously, gradually grow smaller.

I also wave back with big motions from the wagon so the two can see me.

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“They’re out of sight now.”

“Yes. Fiene-sama. Are you… lonely after all?”

Asked that, I suppose I do feel a bit lonely. My odd friendship with Char has become a precious memory, for better or worse.

“I am lonely, but if I spend all my time making disinfectant, my Level isn’t going to go up.”

Chris-san simply says “Yes,” and smiles.

Glancing outside, I notice many people lining the roadside, waving at the wagon.

“Fiene-samaaa, have a safe trip!”

Ah, that’s—! Dale-kun and Dan-kun, and their older sister too! And the children from the orphanage I visited for healing, and that’s Count Tasord! Ah, that person is from the hospital I delivered to. Over there are people I treated during the Mummy Disease outbreak too!

“Everyone, thank you! I’m off—!”

I wave and shout loudly.

It seems that, before I even realized it, I’d come to be loved by so many people in the Royal Capital.

The corners of my eyes grow hot.

Though I’m reluctant to leave, the wagon carrying us advances inexorably.

The wagon arrives at the North Gate.

When it stops for the inspection at the North Gate, who should come to see us off but the Pope, Priest Laurent, and others from the Temple I was involved with.

“Lady Fiene, I pray that your journey in search of your roots will lead you to a bond with the spirits.”

“Pope, thank you.”

Ah, really now! What wonderful people!

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“I will definitely return to the Royal Capital. I want to repay the kindness of all the warm-hearted people here.”

“We shall await you. May God’s Blessings be upon Lady Fiene!”

“May God’s Blessings be upon her!”

And finally, Boon saw us off with a Jumping Dogeza.

Not just the Pope—everyone else earned a perfect ten too.

On top of that, the timing was completely synchronized—it was perfect.

We also perform a small Boon-style dogeza from atop the wagon.

We can’t pull it off as perfectly as the Temple folks, but strangely, I find myself accepting this prayer pose too.

This must also be a sign that I’ve grown accustomed to the Royal Capital, and to this world.

The wagon, having finished the inspection, passed through the city gate and began rumbling forward again.

Carrying those warm feelings with it, the wagon rolled onward.

Rumble, rumble.

Rumble, rumble.

I kept gazing, for a long, long time, at the Royal Capital growing gradually smaller in the distance.

Translator Note

We don’t receive many yuri scenes in this volume… Well it’s fine, I hope you can stay patient until we have more yuri~

Such a long journey~