I reincarnated as a losing heroine, the hero’s childhood friend who lost to the main heroine, so I switched jobs to alchemist

Chapter 16: Reunion with my childhood friend

--Tomorrow, Lucas will come to the capital to visit me.

A few months after becoming an apprentice of the Alchemist Master on the Royal Academy.
The days that had been hectic and unfamiliar were finally starting to settle down.
When I wrote about it, Lucas replied that he wanted to see me, so I had been adjusting my schedule for the past month or so.

At the same time, in the past month, even after hearing Lina's story, Arnold often came to visit me.
However, there is no way that I can ask him the true meaning of the rumor.
It's not that I don't want to know or I don't know how to ask, as in the past.
The problem is I don't know if I should do it... I'm afraid of finding out something I would have to worry about on the future... and I had some unsettled feelings about it.

But only for today, those worries have been relegated to a corner!
Tomorrow, Lucas is coming to visit me in the Royal City!　
And that is in part the reason why I'm so happy today.

"Oh, Laura, you're in a good mood."

As I was cleaning up afterwards, Lina-sensei pointed it out to me.

I was a little embarrassed to know that someone noticed, wondering if she was thinking that there's clearly a reason for my good mood... but I replied with a smile on my face.

"My childhood friend is coming to see me tomorrow."

It's been a few months since I've seen Lucas.
I was very happy that he frankly asked in a letter about seeing me again, and I was also very happy that he didn't hesitate to say that he would be going to the Capital himself - in a letter, to be precise - when I replied that I wouldn't be getting a long break for a while and that it would be impossible for me to visit the village yet.
It was Chelsea who reacted to my words.

"Ohhh!! What's she like?"

"Huh?　Hmm, no it's not.... it doesn't .... what kind but .... a girl you say...."

I am troubled by the words that typify Lucas.
Come to think of it, I haven't had the opportunity to introduce Lucas to others until now.
He had greeted Arnold and Miss Mercedez himself, and the people in the village would recognize me and Lucas on the spot.
But...
What's he like, Lucas?
The image of my childhood friend comes to mind, the Lucas in my memory were always smiling gently, he's such a sweet kid who helped me out always without thinking twice.

"He's a sweet kid. He's a boy."

... A sweet kid, it's a very bland introduction.
But the adjective "gentle" suited Lucas better than anything or anyone else.

In the not-too-distant future, Lucas will become the brave hero.
I'm going to be an excellent alchemist so that "the gentleman Lucas" is not hurt even a little, even if it's a high-risk mission, given his position as a brave hero that's for sure possible.
Yes, it was a new goal of mine.

In the past, I had chosen to leave the village to pursue a career for my own good...
But now that I already have the career I wanted, have come to believe that there is nothing better than being able to help those who are important to me.

　*******

　Next day.

　*******

I found him standing alone under a large arch at the entrance of the Chevalier of the Royal City.

"Lucas!"

"Laura!"

My childhood friend found me right behind him by the sound of my voice, or perhaps he had spotted me out of the crowd from earlier already, but a smile was drawn on his face.
We hugged each other, as if confirming how pleased we were because of this reunion.
It's only been a few months, but he seems to have grown taller again, I broke the embrace and looked up at Lucas.

"I'm sorry you came all the way here, I wish I could have gone back to the village..."

"Don't worry about it. I told you! I wanted to come and I'm sorry making you take a day off."

I'm not sure what to say now, but I'm sure it was a good idea of his part.
I noticed that the same weeping dog eyes, as years ago, were staring at me.

"Not at all!　I'm glad you're here."

As I smiled, and Lucas, who was sad, smiled modestly in response.

He supports me in my pursue of my dreams, coming to see me when I couldn't go to see him or... like this, just seeing that smile makes me feel happy and relieved.
I'm very grateful for my childhood friend, even though I realized it when we were separated by a long distance.

As I was lost on my thoughts, Lucas noticed "it".

"That's!! ...what you're wearing...."

"Huh?　Oh, this?　It's like a good luck charm."

"I'm glad you liked it."

"That" was the bracelet he had given me two years ago when I visited the Royal City with him, to accompany Arnold to take his entrance exam.
It's a very simple design, so it doesn't feel childish when worn now that I'm over 14, and I wear it all the time.
So it got pretty dirty, though.

When I checked the wrist of Lucas, the matching bracelet was worn on it, his was also somewhat muddy.

"Lucas's wearing it, too."

"Of course."

We showed to each other our bracelets and laughed again.
The busy days of the last few months seem to have gone somewhere far away, I felt so at ease with it.
Lucas will stay at an inn in the Royal Capital tonight and take the carriage back to the village of Emme tomorrow...
Thinking on that, I took Lucas's hand and ran out, hoping to enjoy these two days to the fullest, albeit briefly.

　*******

Lucas insisted on seeing the recovery potions on the Royal Capital Market, so I showed him the stalls that line the boulevard.
Arnold taught me that these stalls are better at preparing potions than the Big Tool Stores, here you can actually hold the recovery medicine herbs in your hand and select what medicine you need to be made.

I chose a stall that was opened by an old man who seemed to be a good person, but also had other customers.
Because I don't want to be treated badly, if it's found out we're just watchers with no intention on buying.
Lucas... the two of us sat quietly in the storefront and peered into the overflowing boxes of recovery potions and herbs.

"Is there a recovery potion in here that Laura made?"

"No way!　I'm still an apprentice, so I'm not going to sell it."

I shocked the head at Lucas's words, but suddenly understood why he wanted to see the recovery potion sold here.
Apparently, he wanted to see the recovery potion I had made.

In response to my reply, Lucas raised his eyebrows slightly in regret, and asked, "Why, is there a problem? But Laura's recovery potions were amazing, right?"

"I'm glad you're saying that, but who told you that?"

"Miss Berta."

At Lucas's words, the smiling face of Master flashed through my mind.
For some reason, I think that person has a tendency to think that Lucas is my 'Personal Knight'.

He smiled bitterly and stood up from the spot, it seemed to be no more reason for watching the work on the stall.

As the two of us walked down "Main Street", this time I asked the question.

"Master... and everybody else, how is everyone in the village?"

Of course, I've sent letters regularly not only to Lucas, but to my parents, to Petra and the others.
No matter how little time I had, never neglected to send a letter to my beloved ones.
I didn't want to cause any unnecessary worry to the people who were supporting my dream.

They all replied, and from the way they wrote it, they seemed to be good and without big problems.
However, it can be faked as much as it is in writing.
It wasn't once or twice that I wondered if they were really all right while reading the letters.

"I'm fine. Petra and the others were wondering how Laura was doing, but you sent them letters, didn't you?　"

Hearing that, I was relieved.
From the look on Lucas's face, he wasn't lying.
That's how close we are to each other as childhood friends.

It's a good thing, because I can see through him and be confident in the veracity of his words.

"Laura's father and mother also said that they hadn't been feeling well since she was gone, but now they were looking forward to the next letter you send. ...ah!　I was forced to bring this for you. I'm sure you'll find out by yourself after seeing this.

What he offered me was a basket with sandwiches, that only my mother would prepare for me.
So-called as "Mother's special taste" by me, with its abundance of ingredients can eclipse a mountain, I happily accepted the sandwiches offered to me.

"Thank you!　Let's eat together later, there's a nice place on the outskirts of the town."

With that suggestion, we turned off the main street and went into a side street.

Every free day I've, come down from the Royal Castle to the Royal City.
Chelsea and I would have tea for two, and sometimes we would walk around by ourselves.
It was during those days that I found a bench on a small hill outside of town that I truly loved.

The road to this place is well maintained, but there are not many people because you have to go up a reasonably long staircase.
Sitting on a bench overlooking the royal city, I spent my time in silence, forgetting any worry I had.

"We've to go up the stairs here."

As we did so, I looked at Lucas's back as he led the way, until we reach the place.
I thought he was going to smile and nod his head after seeing it, but he was looking at me with a more serious expression than ever before.

"....there's one thing I need to tell Laura."

... What topics is going to be talk about with that look on his face?
And such voice, too, lower than it had ever been.
What Lucas is about to utter - it's definitely bad news!!

"Lucas...?"

I approached him, who was standing still.
Then he smiled just for a minute to reassure me, and...

"...the other day, the village was attacked by a demon."

"　What? " I said.

The crest in Lucas's left eye twinkled, I saw it.

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