The hand that had been searching beneath her cloak stopped. Fremy looked at Adlet and said, “I hate you.” She averted her eyes as she spoke. But she didn’t sound upset.
“Why?” he asked.
“When I’m with you, I want to live.”
When Adlet heard that, he smiled. I won’t let you die, he tried to say. But the words wouldn’t come out, and his mouth wouldn’t move right.
“Adlet!” His vision suddenly narrowed. Fremy was slapping his cheeks. She seemed to be yelling something, but he couldn’t hear.
“No…on’t di…me……”
Don’t worry, I’m just closing my eyes for a bit, he tried to say, but his lips would move no more.
Something soft touched his lips. A stimulating liquid poured into his mouth, down his throat, and into his stomach. And then Adlet’s consciousness fell into darkness.
Epilogue
The Next Mystery
When Adlet opened his eyes, it was painfully bright. The light of the morning sun was shining on his cheeks. The fog had cleared.
“…” Adlet looked around. He was inside the temple, and sunlight streamed in through the broken door.
“So you’ve awakened.” A voice came from the direction opposite the sunlight. When he turned his head, there was Mora. “Sorry. I am not Fremy,” she said.
Sarcasm? Come on, thought Adlet. But he probably actually would have been gladder to see Fremy beside him.
Adlet looked at his body. What seemed to be a dark-green poultice was wrapped all over him. He didn’t remember Fremy using something like that when she’d treated him, though.
“Those are medicinal herbs imbued with the essence of the mountain,” said Mora. “With injuries of that sort, you should recover in two days.”
“Really?” marveled Adlet.
“The power of the mountain is the power of healing. Believe in my abilities.”
Adlet sat up. It hurt quite a lot, but he could move. The previous day, he’d been prepared for the very real prospect that he’d never be able to fight again. The power of the Saints is unbelievable, he thought.
“Adlet, I apologize.” Suddenly, Mora placed her hands on the ground and bowed her head. “I failed to realize that you were really a Brave. Truly the greatest mistake of my life. My foolishness caused you such injury…”
“What’s done is done. Go apologize to everyone else, instead.” Adlet made Mora lift her head.
Then, from near Adlet’s feet, Hans said, “She already has. She was grovelin’ and everythin’.”
“Oh…then that’s good enough.” Adlet lay back on the floor. It seemed that Mora and Hans were the only ones inside the temple. Where were the others? And where was Nashetania?
“We let Nashetania get away. Sorry,” said Hans.
“Is everyone safe?” asked Adlet.
“Of course. Chamo, Fremy, and Goldof are outside,” Mora confirmed.
Adlet breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they were all okay. They had overcome that fearsome plot without losing a single member. That was enough reward.
“Adlet, I shudder to consider what might have happened had you not been with us,” said Mora. “Nashetania would have deceived us all. How many of us would have fallen?”
“Feel free to keep relying on me all you like,” Adlet encouraged.
“Normally, I would laugh off such remarks and say, Oh, since you’re the strongest man in the world? But you are different. You really did do so much for us.”
“Hey, hey, meow,” Hans said. “Yer not gonna show me any thanks?”
“Oh yes. You did fine, too.”
“Meow! Why am I not gettin’ the same level of appreciation here?” Hans protested. “I did a lot, too. I was the first one who figured out that Adlet didn’t do it. We even beat up Chamo together. And I was the one who convinced Chamo ’bout everything and made her search under the temple.”
“I—I understand,” said Mora. “You did much for us, too. Thank you. You have my gratitude.”
“That’ll do,” said Hans.
As Adlet watched their exchange, he thought, Hans really did do a lot for us. Adlet was alive because Hans had seen the truth. Hans had also been the one to finally pin down Nashetania. “Hans, you figured out Nashetania’s plan, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, but only half of it,” Hans admitted. “I didn’t figure out where she’d been hidin’ the body.” He didn’t seem to be lying. Adlet was wholeheartedly glad that Hans was not his enemy.
“Hans, you really are an amazing guy. I’ve never met anyone else I could count on like you,” he said.
“Hmm?” Hans suddenly started acting funny. He blushed, looked all around, and scratched his head.
“I’ll be counting on you from now on, too,” Adlet finished.
“H-hey. It’s embarrassin’ when you flatter meow like that.”
“What is with this man?” muttered Mora. Adlet didn’t really know, either. Then Chamo came into the temple.
“How is Goldof, Chamo?” inquired Mora.
“He’s hopeless. He won’t talk, no matter what you say to him,” Chamo said with a shrug.
Adlet felt sympathy for him. Goldof had been cruelly betrayed by the very princess to whom he’d been so loyal. Would he be able to handle it at his young age?
“Let’s just leave him behind,” said Chamo. “He’s not gonna be useful like this.”
“No, he must recover, even if we must force him. The battle has not even begun,” said Mora.
Adlet’s cheer dissipated. She was right. Their goal was to destroy the Evil God, and they hadn’t even set foot yet in the Howling Vilelands. Adlet pushed himself up and then stood.
“Huh? Can you stand, Adlet?” Chamo asked.
“I’m just gonna go get some air,” he said. It did hurt a bit, but he could manage walking. He left the three of them behind and went outside. Basking in the light of morning, he passed through the pillars of salt. He noticed Goldof there, balled up and leaning against one of the columns. Adlet figured he should leave him alone, so he distanced himself from the younger man.
It wasn’t long before Adlet found the person he was looking for. She was a little ways
