The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

Dinner with a new collaborator, Neah.

Néa, who lived in a village near Samariat, seemed to know Samariat's famous cakes and was beating her little wings against me with squeals of delight over the large portion of cakes.

But, as I expected, she had eaten so much that she couldn't move, and I was so disgusted that I stopped Eva from adding more cake to her plate, not realizing that she had eaten too much.

......I'm beginning to wonder if Nair's getting on with herself is her thing.

I tell her, lying on the desk in her owl form, "Of course not! She says angrily, "Of course not!

And then night. When everyone was probably asleep, I was looking at my notebook, which had information about the previous heroes, by the small light of a candle.

"...... no good, I can't read it at all".

I cannot understand the whole sentence at all, perhaps because it is worm-eaten in some places.

I've been trying to read through my notebook like this to find the connection between the evil dragon and Eva's curse, but I haven't made any progress.

Even Nair said, "I don't think there is any connection at all. Even Nair says, "It doesn't matter at all, does it?

"Whew, whew... ......"

"Why is he occupying my bed in the first place?"

I would like her to sleep as an owl, but of all people, she is sleeping in her original form---a girl with black hair.

I didn't even have time to stop her.

I sigh as I pull the covers over her, wondering what she's dreaming about, and she gives me a lazy smile.

"Well, it was really nice of you to come."

I'll tolerate it for today.

I can sleep sitting up. He sits back in his chair and reads his notebook again.

"According to what Nair has deciphered, there were many casualties before the previous heroes slayed the evil dragon.

Others say that some Samaritans were buried alive in the rubble until the battle was over.

That does not have anything to do with the curse, so this is not relevant either.

"...... I really think Nea is right, it may not have anything to do with it."

It might be better to discard the connection between the evil dragon and the curse and look for other causes.

Tomorrow, I'll ask Nair to tell Aruk and Amako about my situation and Eva, and then I'll ask Eiri and others about it.

I'll do what I can, since Nair is the one who depends on me for magic.

"Amako, he will be angry.

Maybe he's already angry.

She's scary when she's angry. ....... It is similar to the law that people who rarely get angry are afraid when they lose their temper.

When Neah hears about my story tomorrow, she will be very upset.

I wonder if Mr. Aruk will laugh it off?

Either way, I know I'll have to apologize for worrying her the next time I see her.

"...... huh?"

I've been worrying too much myself.

He puts his notebook on the desk and covers his eyes with his hand.

"I think I'd better go to bed. ......"

My eyes are getting tired and I have morning practice tomorrow.

He stands up languidly and picks up his work clothes that are hanging on the chair.

I'll at least hang them on the wall before I go to bed, I think, and as I'm moving to the wall, I stop by a window I pass.

"Hmm? ......What's that?"

Someone can be seen at the moonlit window.

At this hour?　Is it a ghost?　My heart suddenly starts to beat faster, but when I look closely, I realize that the figure is someone I know.

"Eva ......?"

Why?　She would have been asleep by now.

She is sitting in front of the pond in the boundary with a somewhat melancholy expression on her face, staring intently at the surface of the water.

......I have to admit, I'm kind of scared.

She would never break her own rule of going to bed early and getting up early. When she is out at this hour of the night without telling Eiri, it is safe to assume that something strange is going on.

To be more specific, she is being manipulated by ghosts, or something in the occult direction.

As long as there is a concept of soul in this world, we cannot deny the existence of ghosts.

Should we go to ......?　Wait a minute. Neah,......, that's right, Neah."

He moves from the window toward the bed where Nair is sleeping.

Two people. Having Neah, who is strong in soul relations, is a godsend. Only for vampires!

...... I'm losing my cool, I'm losing my cool.

"Nair, hey, wake up. Wake up."

"...... hihi,hihi......"

I shake her shoulders and try to wake her up, but she is sound asleep and shows no sign of waking up.

Rather, she wrapped herself in the futon I put on her and moved to the edge of the bed as if she would not wake up.

You, you... .......

In a movie, you'd be the first one to be attacked by a ghost.

Ghosts can't hit you, so you can't fight them off.

"...... It's no use. I'll go alone. ......"

Nair won't wake up like this.

Then I'll just have to be hungry too.

Eva might just be out at this hour because she couldn't sleep. There's no need to be so uptight.

Remember what she's done in the past, what she's done.

If there's a reason, she'll do it, that's who she is, Eva Urd Samaritan.

I think this over and over again, as if in my mind, then I put on my troupe uniform and open the door.

I left my sword still attached to my uniform.

As I wipe myself off, I notice the small sword that I had left attached to my uniform so that it would not get in the way, and I think to myself, "Oh no, I'm not going to do that. But if I go back to my room at this point, I am afraid that my firm resolution will be shaken, so I decide to go on.

But why in the world is Eva outside at this hour?

Is something wrong? ....... Even without the occult, I'm worried, knowing what I know about curses.

It was surprisingly bright outside, thanks to the full moon overhead.

I get out of the house and walk slowly to the place where I can see Eva from the window.

With some nervousness and fear, I move to a position where I can see the back of the house where the pond is located... and I find Eva in the same position as before.

Her profile, staring intently at the surface of the pond, does not give the impression that she is being manipulated or unconscious, but instead..,

"...... Eva?"

"Usato-san ......"

--- I was crying.

She was crying as she looked at her reflection in the surface of the pond.

"......!"

She was stunned to see my face, which must have had a look of surprise on it, but when she noticed tears running down her cheeks, she wiped her tears in a panicked manner as if she had just made a mistake.

Crying alone in a place like this is not normal. Worried about Eva, I walk up to her and slowly crouch down.

"I'm sorry."

In a small, thin voice, she apologizes without a trace of context.

Why should I apologize?　She has done nothing wrong.

"I knew you were coming, Usato-san.

"What?"

You knew?

That I would come to you outside?

"Your room had a light on, didn't it?"

...... I see, that's how you knew I was awake.

Looking at the second floor where my room is located, there is indeed a small light from a candle flickering outside. That way, it's obvious that I'm awake.

Is that an apology for making me come all the way outside .......

"So why were you crying at this hour?"

"......That's ......"

She turns over as if to say something, then slowly sits down on the ground and holds her knees.

I sat cross-legged so that it would be easier for her to talk to me, and continued to try to ask her questions.

"Did something sad happen to you?

"Nothing sad. ....... I have my father, Eiri, Usato, Nea, and even the people of the ...... castle are kind to me. That's why I'm so happy right now."

"Then why?"

"That's ......."

She glances at me and opens her mouth as if determined.

"I had a dream. A very scary dream. ......"

"You dreamed ......? If it's a scary dream, I can understand why you might want to cry."

I've heard a lot of stories about people having nightmares. I once had a dream that Rose from training came into my dream, and I was doing push-ups on the bed in my sleep.

There is nothing more eerie and terrifying than a nightmare that you don't remember.

The feeling of not knowing what to be afraid of, of not knowing where the fear is coming from, coming out of the depths of your chest, is very frightening.

"A lot of people are angry around me."

"Do you see angry ...... faces?"

"No, they are all black figures and everyone is angry with me in the middle ...... and it is a dream that goes on and on."

"That's a scary dream. But who's going to be mad at you? You haven't done anything wrong."

As Master Lucas said today, Eva is a good girl.

She is not the kind of person who would want to hurt anyone, and there is no one who could talk to her that way in the first place.

Eva's lips trembled as if she wanted to say something to me.

I was a little concerned about that, but soon she started to speak, so I listened to her.

"I have this dream when I forget, but every time I have it, I'm here, near your mother. I feel that if I am here, I am not alone. ......"

"So that's why you were here. ......"

Even if there is no one inside, that grave is still very important to her.

I can see that you really care about your mother's grave.

"But today's dream was somehow different. I was still scared, but there was someone who protected me, you know?　A lot of them."

"Oh, someone who protected me in my dream. That's nice."

Since dreams are the realm of the unconscious, does the fact that they change mean that something in her psyche has changed?　Either way, it's good to have someone to protect you.

"That's the thing. To my surprise, one of them had the same face as mine. But was he a little bit taller?　I couldn't see their faces, but they stood around me and protected me when I was crouched down.

"The same face ...... as you?"

"I'm sure because I saw it here. I've seen my own face for years, there's no way I could mistake it!

For some reason, Eva points confidently at the surface of the water and smiles as she says this.

I see, that's why I was staring at the surface of the pond earlier.

"Well, scary dreams don't happen so many times in a row. Next time you go to bed, you will have a pleasant dream. I can't ...... guarantee that, though."

"Hmph, I hope so ...... really ......."

Eva giggles.

Now that you're smiling, I guess it's all right, huh?　I'll stay with her a little longer, and when she gets sleepy, I'll send her back to the house.

I think about chatting with her and killing some time until then, when I notice Eva has stopped smiling.

"......Usato-san, you're going to leave here in a few minutes, aren't you?"

"Well, yes. I have some things I have to do.

In a few days I have to leave for the next country.

I want to do something about Eva by then, but time is running out and I have to give up.

I want to save Eva, but I have the important task of delivering the letter and the mission to heal Amako's mother.

I cannot neglect them.

Eva looked sad at my answer and clasped her hands around her knees.

"......I probably won't see you again, Usato-san."

"What do you mean by that?"

"...... I'll be gone soon."

If you're going away ......, you're talking about a curse here.

Not so unexpected. There is no way that she who is cursed is unaware of the curse.

It is rather natural.

"You already know that, Usato-san. I am cursed. Just like your mother, I am the one who will eventually disappear without a trace.

Disappearing.

I cannot imagine how much intention was put into those words.

I can barely offer words of comfort to her words of sorrow.

"You might still make it, right?"

"It's impossible. ......I know, I can feel myself fading away. And I..."

She releases the hand holding her knees and removes a white long glove bag from her right hand.

I am puzzled by the white hand that I saw when I picked up Néa during the day---a plain, ordinary hand---but Eva finally realizes that something is wrong with her as she holds up her right hand as if holding it up to the moonlight.

"......, this is ......."

"Do you understand?"

My hand is transparent ......!

When she flips her hand to the ground, only the shadow of her right hand is gone, from the elbow to the end.

Disappearance of existence---this was the first time I came to understand what I had vaguely recognized.

This was not just a curse, but something as terrifying and mysterious as Nair had said.

"It's only my right hand now. But eventually my whole body will become like this... and in the end I will disappear as if nothing had happened ......... that's the kind of curse it is."

Finally, I was able to see the curse that consumes Eva.

It was far more cruel than I had imagined.

When I heard that existence disappears, all I could imagine was the faint disappearance of a person. But this is something worse, a visible change.

You acted as if nothing had happened in front of me even though this phenomenon was happening to you. .......

I should have been scared to death.

I should have been filled with the desire to cry.

She kept smiling.

I look at her face, stunned.

She smiled sadly and stood up with her right arm hidden, then turned to me and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry."

"......Why are you apologizing?"

I can understand why I would apologize for being so blunt, but I don't understand why you're apologizing here.

She raised her head, looked down a little, and said the reason.

I am a bad girl after all. Even though I'm convinced in my head, in my heart I'm trying to keep you here. I wanted to keep this happy life going,...... and I was trying to take advantage of your kindness,...... by showing you this disgusting thing to get your sympathy,......."

"Eva ......"

"I deserve to be abused for trying to put my own feelings first."

Sure, I felt sorry for him.

I wanted to help.

I wanted to do something.

But that's just what I thought, and your feeling is natural for a human being, isn't it?

That's not true.

"No, sir."

You have done nothing wrong. It's natural to want to be kind. No one can be alone when they're in pain or when they're sad.

"Then will you stay here?　Will you stay with me until I disappear?　Can I take advantage of your kindness?"

She looks down at me, her eyes shaking.

To be honest, my response is obvious. There are too many things I have to do to fulfill her wish.

Sitting up, I turn my body toward Eva, put my hands on my knees and bow my head.

"......Sorry, I can't do that. I have to continue my journey."

"...... head up, please."

I raise my head at her words.

I was prepared for any kind of reaction, but when I looked up, I saw Eva bowing more deeply than before.

"Thank you very much. Thank you for your honesty. ...... Now I can give up."

"......ッ"

When she looked up, she had the expression of a doll with a smile on her face.

Alarm bells ring in the back of my mind.

Was the answer she had just given so important to her ......!

"I knew it was true. I knew I shouldn't keep you here because of my selfishness. But when I heard what you said, I finally came to my senses."

"...... wait, Eva."

"I'm fine now. I'm sorry to keep you up this late."

With that, she turns around and heads back inside.

I can't let her go.

Should I just tell her that I am working to help her?

But, if we haven't even found a clue to the solution, we might give her unnecessary hope.

No, whether I reveal or not, I have to stop her now!

You rush to your feet and reach out your hand.

Eva!

"Eva!

His outstretched hand grabs her right hand.

She looked back at me with a tear-stained face, and just as I was about to say something to her, the small sword at my waist suddenly began to tremble.

"What?

------v,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh,gh!

Ugh!

A familiar, terrifying roar echoed in his head along with a headache.

The roar is much louder and fiercer than I remember.

The headache soon subsides, but I notice that Eva's hand, which I am holding, is unusually cold.

I look up and see that she is holding her head with her left hand as I am.

"Eva, it's okay..."

"Usato,san...... away,......"

"Get away from me. .... ...?

"---"

She tries to channel healing magic from her right hand, but her head drops and her strength slips away.

As soon as I tried to get close enough to her to hold her, her body floated up without warning.

"What the ...... hell is going on?

"---I won't allow it."

Eva!

I won't forgive you and neither will the king.

Her tone is unlike her.

I am convinced that I hear her voice coming out of her mouth, a voice with many layers of eeriness.

"You're the one with the curse."

"Ah, brave one! Why did we have to die? Why did they abandon us? Why did you not save us, O foolish king, addicted to power? We would still be alive.

"...... can't you understand a word I'm saying?"

"So we will not forget. We remember our anger, our fear, our despair, our hatred. We curse eternity.

As soon as someone or something controlling Eva says these words, her body, which had been suspended in mid-air, slowly lands on the ground.

But at that moment...

"But the suffering of hundreds of years is coming to an end. Here, in the presence of a hero and a king, we are finally free."

"What?

--- Something jumped out of her body, bound to a translucent chain from the ground.