Chapter 61 - Promises to Keep [3]
"Kept you all waiting, huh?" I waved my hand at the familiar people from afar.
"Ah, Aria~! Heeey!!!" Camellia waved back enthusiastically.
Since this was a formal farewell, both Camellia and Erina were in their true appearances instead of the usual disguises.
I had suggested they wear disguises to avoid attracting attention, but they refused, which led to a crowd surrounding us.
If two beauties of high lineage were to group up in the middle of nowhere... it would obviously cause an uproar.
“Aria… are you really not aware of yourself?” Erina sneaked up behind Camellia and hugged her from behind.
“Mmm? Erina?” Camellia tilted her head, unfazed by the affectionate gesture.
Curious about Erina’s comment, she turned to face the crowd, which continued to swell and was largely focused on one person.
“Ah… now I see what you mean.” Camellia’s expression shifted to a more serious one, as if she had expected this as well.
Like Erina, she looked out at the crowd and noticed that their attention wasn’t directed on them…
—but rather on me.
Wait, me? Seriously?
“Whoa… she really is as cute as the rumours said.”
"Yeah, you think I have a chance?"
"No, dude, were you not there during the trial?"
"Doesn't matter. Makes it better."
"Waaah! You're so cute! Aria!!!"
Their voices were filled with a mix of praise and the reactions I had expected.
To determine if their enthusiasm was genuine, I looked back, curious about their response.
"Hmm...?"
"Ah, is she looking at us...?"
"Wait, is she?!"
Confirming that their attention was indeed on me, I decided to act before I made a mistake.
"Hello, everyone~!" I waved my hand and mustered the cutest smile I could.
The response I received was an uproar that even I hadn't anticipated.
—Cheer!!!
"WHOAAA!!!" The crowd went wild, shouting my name as if I were a celebrity.
"W-What the...???" I was taken aback, wondering what kind of reputation I had that would cause them to cheer for me like this.
"C-Camellia, did you do something?" I asked her, a bit frightened, as I grabbed her sleeves and hid behind her.
The crowd seemed to get even more excited at that moment.
"Seriously, you really underestimate how cute and pretty you are," Camellia said, shaking her head, a hint of envy in her eyes.
"There are still rumours about you being a Morzen Cultist, but the fact that you are close to two members of the Historia family, ruined Vincent's career—who everyone disliked—and returned alive from Arcadia, even using the Knowledge Cube... do you still think you're normal?" Erina listed all the things I have done that have led to my reputation today.
"Ahaha... no."
I can’t say I’m surprised, really; I’ll have to get used to this sooner or later.
Kleinford, Entrance Gate.
Heavily reinforced walls surrounded the city, guarded at all times. The towering gates loomed high above.
We hadn’t intended for such a giant crowd to gather, but it was inevitable with the presence of important figures, not just Camellia and Erina, but also Orion and Scarlett.
"Hey, Aria, have you been doing well?" Orion bent down to greet me at eye level, extending his hand for a handshake.
"I’m doing great... well, I have to be considering I'm going back to hell," I replied, shaking his hand and appreciating all the help he had given me.
"Haha! That’s true, little one." Orion placed his rugged hands on my head and gently patted it.
It felt like a father saying goodbye to his daughter as she goes off to school. The difference, of course, was that I wasn't going to school—but back to hell once more.
"...Aria, are you really going to go?" Erina asked solemnly, looking at me with a serious expression.
She didn’t need my response to understand my answer; she nodded her head slowly.
"I guess this is goodbye, then." I scratched my head, attempting to lean in for a hug.
But since many eyes were watching, I held myself back.
Can't do anything before we make weird rumours about the two of us.
"Indeed..." Erina took off her glasses and looked at me with a resolute gaze, as if she didn't care about anything else.
Wait, don’t tell me she’s going to…!
"E-Erina, we're in public-"
"—I don't care."
—Plop!
Without an ounce of shame, Erina hugged me tightly, even going so far as to nuzzle her head against my chest.
The crowd, already buzzing without end, grew even louder.
Erina, the head of the Historia Family, was hugging me with an affectionate gaze.
The one who remained eerily silent was the person behind me, whose killing intent I could feel—Camellia.
'Erina…?"
“Look, Camellia, this isn’t what it looks like.”
I searched for an excuse since Camellia had never seen Erina be this clingy with me.
Usually, when the three of us were grouped together, Erina would act as if she barely knew me.
For her to hug me so openly in public...
"Give me more huggies…"
Ah, it's over.
“C-Come on, Erina! We shouldn’t be doing this… here, ah.” I tried to pry her away from me, but I stopped when I caught a glimpse of Erina’s eyes.
She didn’t want to look me in the face because if she did, she would cry harder if I let her go.
"Erina…" I wiped the tears from her cheeks, which were overflowing with sadness.
—Voom…!
"A-Aria?!" Camellia exclaimed, trying to come closer but arriving too late.
Unable to control the situation any longer, I formed an Ichor barrier around us, preventing anyone from seeing us—including Camellia.
I didn't want anyone to see Erina like this.
"So you're really going, big brother..." Erina hugged me even tighter, calling me "big brother" like she used to.
"…Mhmm."
"Do you really have to go?"
"…Yes, I have to." I smiled and caressed her cheek.
“Once I come back, I’ll bring those two runaways with me, got it?" I said with a smile, mentioning Bellerose and Anemone.
Seeing my reassuring smile, Erina smiled through her tears and nodded.
“…Alright.” She took hold of my hand and pressed it against her cheek.
Together, the two of us hugged in silence, appreciating each other's warmth.
I didn't know how long she needed to be with me in this bubble, but just for once, I'll spoil her as much as she wants.
"...Thank you, Aria." Erina bowed her head and adjusted her glasses again, her face still red from crying.
Aside from her irritated eyes, she reverted to her usual deadpan expression.
"It's fine, just always count on me, no matter where I am, okay?"
"…Mm, I'll keep in mind."
"Good, I'll lift the barrier now…"
—Ving…!
After a few minutes, when the barrier was lifted, everyone had disappeared except for Orion and Camellia.
It seems they were kicked out after the crowd grew too large to handle.
"Aria, Erina! Are you two okay?" Camellia rushed over to Erina, taking her hands in hers.
"I'm fine, big sister." Erina nodded.
'Just a few seconds ago, you were bawling your eyes out…' I thought.
—Smack!!!
"Ow!" Erina stomped on my shoe, clearly forgetting that she could read my mind.
"Erina, you'd better explain to me what was happening there." Camellia's expression was that of a demon; she looked possessed.
But Camellia was right—it was inappropriate for Erina to act that way in front of everyone...
I can't say I didn't expect Erina to be this bold.
"Ahem! Orion, are you sure you aren’t coming with Aria?" Camellia asked Orion in an attempt to change the topic.
"I still have some business to attend to for the next few months. I'm sure she's ready for the task she has given herself." He smiled like a ray of sunshine.
...
...
...
'…Ah, what youth…' That’s probably what he was thinking right now.
"That's rude," Erina said from behind me, continuing to hit me.
She could've used her ability to communicate through telepathy, but she chose not to.
"I see..." Camellia looked at me next. "Sigh... there's no point in trying to convince you, huh." She sighed.
Walking up to me, she extended her hand. expecting a high five.
"Break a leg for me, would you? For everyone." Camellia told me with a fiery smile on her face.
—Clap!
"Just count on me," I responded in kind, and we shared a high five.
—Tinkle…!
"Huh?" I stopped and looked at the palm of my hand.
It was something familiar, something I didn't expect her to give me.
An Azure Blossom trinket, but this one was brand new and decorated in deep, dark red.
For her to give me something like this... it felt unfair.
"Go, I'll be waiting for you—hueh!? W-What are you doing?!" Camellia jolted when I hugged her from behind.
"Giving you a big hug, hehe." I chuckled, as words couldn't express how happy I felt right now.
—Vroom…!
"Aria, it's time to go," Orion called out, as my ride was already here.
"I'll be there." I nodded my head and let go of Camellia.
As I stepped into the vehicle, everyone I had met was lined up, bidding me farewell.
"Take care... Aria," Erina said, her voice trembling.
She was on the verge of tears again, but held back as much as she could.
"I wish you the best of luck, Aria. Just watch out for a big worm," Orion waved goodbye.
The last part of his farewell was ominous, but I decided to ignore what he said afterward.
—Vrrm…!
The car's engine roared, and it began to drive away.
The distance between us increased, except for one thing—
"ARIA!!!" Camellia screamed, and I could hear her from where I stood.
"COME BACK ALIVE, YOU HEAR ME, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!" Camellia cursed in front of everyone and flipped the middle finger.
Normally, I would be annoyed by this, but this was the Camellia I knew.
A big-hearted person who could be insensitive at times, yet was a kind and free spirit.
"THEN GET STRONGER SO WE CAN STAND SIDE BY SIDE, BECAUSE IF NOT…!"
Up until now, I had hesitated to call for help, convincing myself it was my responsibility to clean up my own mess.
But I didn’t have to be alone anymore; I wasn’t just a settler in this world... I belonged here.
"I'LL TELL EVERYONE YOU WERE A CRYBABY BACK IN ARCADIA!!!" I shouted boldly at the top of my lungs.
—VOOM!
Only to find myself ducked in time when she threw a pebble that seemed to fly at the speed of sound.
"Y-Yikes..." I gulped, pressing a button I wasn't supposed to.
"D-DON'T SAY THAT!" she retorted, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Though I couldn't hear them, I could tell everyone on the other side was laughing, surprised by what I had said.
It was a lively farewell from both sides.
For once, instead of being consumed by guilt for being the cause of this world's end,
I wish to put everything aside and relish this moment.
"And she's gone, just like that."
Camellia and Erina watched as Aria trekked further away from them once more.
“…Yeah," Erina nodded, refusing to elaborate.
...
...
...
The two sisters stared at each other in silence.
Erina looked at her sister in the eye and was reminded of her role as the younger sister.
She shuddered, feeling that if she didn’t run away at this moment, she would face severe consequences.
Camellia's emotions were intense, almost as if they were about to explode.
To put it in human terms, she's furious.
"Ah, I think I have to go—gufuk…!" Erina exclaimed as Camellia playfully pinched her cheeks.
"Care to tell me what that was about?" Camellia teased, continuing to pinch her cheeks like clay.
"Mgahuhg... mughu...!"
The noises she made were muffled as she tried to find and make an excuse that would satisfy her.
“I… the head of Historia… being treated like this…” Erina tried to use her position to escape the situation.
‘Do you think I care?!’ Alas, it didn’t work.
‘This must be karma,’ she thought, regretting the mistake of publicly embracing her older brother without warning.
“Gguguggu… you…!" Camellia continued to mess with Erina, leaving her cheeks crimson red.
Their little sibling banter brought some calmness to the moment, and they were happy to finally be together again.
...
...
...
"Hey, big sister Camellia."
"…What is it?"
"I'm glad you're home."
"…Me too."
Throughout the whole farewell, Camellia struggled to hold back her tears, determined not to cry in front of her sister.
Things only got worse when that idiot loudly pointed out that she was a crybaby.
The three of them had bitter memories from the past.
But now was not the time to dwell on them; it was time to move forward.
…
…
...
"Erina."
"What?"
"Where's Scarlett? Wasn't she beside us a moment ago?"
"…Ah, right. I forgot," she replied, shaking her head as if she were trying to clear the thought from her mind.
"She said she wanted to fulfill her duty of protecting the one she couldn't."
...
...
Hmm.
"Why are you here, Scarlett?" I asked her as she knelt before me.
"To serve and protect you, Mistress," she replied without hesitation.
I couldn't see her face because she had her head bowed at a 90-degree angle.
However, judging by her behaviour, she seemed extremely guilty—after all, the person she was trying to kill was the very one she was supposed to protect.
"Sigh… look, you should go back and—"
"Please…! Give me a second chance to serve you, Lord Kuro—no, Mistress!" she exclaimed loudly.
"That just makes it worse! And how the hell do you know who I am?!"
…I'm so fucking tired.
