Kuishinbo Elf - CH 57

Friends

After that … we returned to the campsite and I thought about telling everyone about myself.

Even if I don’t say it myself, they would ask me anyways.

「Ed … I’m thinking about properly explaining myself to everyone.」

I, for once thought that Ed would refuse.

Edward simply smiled and said 「Yeah, do what you want to…」

I don’t know about the others, but I don’t want to hide anything from friends that had risked their lives to fight alongside with me. Besides … hiding something from them feels like I’m betraying them. Maybe because I think that way, that’s why….

Therefore, I thought about having everyone properly know about me.

… That’s why, everyone is probably tired and hungry, I should make something. Something like a soup … no, let’s go with pork soup. Even though it is the summer, it is cool during the nights.

Everyone is sitting in front of the bonfire exhausted. Gurysine was waiting for everyone to return, so the fire didn’t extinguish. The warmth … provides comfort for our exhausted and cold bodies.

There were even some of us that had fallen asleep. Let’s leave them alone for awhile.

I headed towards the tent where Gurysine and Hulitia are. I quietly peeked inside. Hulitia can be seen sleeping peacefully inside.

That’s great. It seems that her critical conditions had passed now. Should I talk about myself tomorrow? Right now … I’ll let her sleep.

「E, El-chan. What  a relief! Y, you were fine! !」

「Gurysine … I’m back.」

If we talk here, there is a chance that we might wake Hulitia up … so we exited the tent. Then, I reported what had happened to Gurysine.

Gurysine’s expression gradually collapsed …. And at the end, she started crying.

「U… uu, why … I, I thought that I can play with e, everyone again tomorrow… 」

Sorry, I wasn’t useful enough….

I didn’t say anything sensible or make any excuses. Instead, I tightly hugged Gurysine.

「Uu… E, El-chan… !」

That was all I did for awhile. Eventually, Gurysine stopped crying a seperated from me.

「So, sorry. E, even though it should be mo, more painful for E, El-chan…」

Gurysine is kind … but, I’m fine.

It is true that Hermit Crab-kun isn’t here anymore. But… he became one with my soul. Someday … we would meet again.

I forced a smile. A smile … is it like this? I don’t have any confidence…

「I’m fine, Gurysine. Leaving that aside, you’re probably hungry. Do you want to cook together? Everyone else is probably also hungry.」

Ahh … that’s right. Even when we’re sad, or happy we still get hungry. That’s why … let’s eat.

In order to connect our lives and cheerfully walk forward…

「I’m thinking about making pork soup.」

Gurysine readily answered to my suggestion. For a while, the sound of a kitchen knife cutting vegetables and water boiling resounded. It was a really quiet cooking.

Thanks to Gurysine who study cuisines, the pork soup is readily being made. Well, it is a relatively easy dish. If you got the knack for it, then it is easy.

「Now … it’s done. Let’s give it to everyone.」

「Y, yeah. I’ll go bring the bo, bowl.」

Gurysine and I brought the finished pork soup to everyone. It is quite heavy, but with Gurysine, the two of us can manage.

「Everyone, are you hungry? Let’s eat.」

I handed out the freshly made pork soup to everyone.

At first, everyone was saying that even though we just lost an important friend, but after feeling the warmth and the fragrance of the pork soup, one at a time, they started to eat.

There were some of them that are crying and eating at the same time.

That’s right … eat.

Eat… eat for the ones that can no longer eat.

I had also decided to eat.

「Let’s eat.」

It’s normal pork soup. A pork soup that is nothing special. I drank one sip of it.

… It’s warm.

Tears started to come out.

Being able to live … and being able to eat this, is all thanks to Hermit Crab-kun. If possible… I wanted to eat this with you… ! !

The ingredients are potatoes, carrots, onions, and Butch Rabi ribs. It is simple … but more than enough. The sweetness of the soup spreads throughout my body. Ah … Right now, I am alive.

「*Sip* *sip* … *nibble* *nibble* … *swallow*.」

It’s delicious.

Ahh … even though it is just a normal pork soup.

「Thanks for the meal.」

Words of gratitude for the ones that had become ingredients.

For my current self … those are heavy words.

Even though I had made a lot … all of it was eaten.

Everyone seems to be satisfied.

… That’s great.

「… Everyone, listen. It is about myself.」

Everyone’s eyes gathered at me.

Normally, this would be the time where I fool around … but right now I don’t feel like it.

「Firstly… let me apologize to everyone. Sorry. I was deceiving everyone. 」

「E… El-chan? About what… ?」

Linda had a puzzled expression. That is natural. After all, I suddenly said something like that.

「There probably are some of you that are aware, but … my affinity for healing magic is … S rank.」

No one said a thing. Since there were all there, everyone probably understood. They saw me casting an abnormal amount of heal…

「And my full name is Eltina Ranford Etil.」

This time, there was a clamor. It is a name that people who know about it recognize.

「Do you know … about the rumors regarding the Saint?」

「Yeah … the one that descended during the war against the demons … could it be! ?」

Folbert was surprised.

My ears hurt. That’s right, it’s me.

「That’s right, the one that can’t even save one of her friend. I’m that Saint…

Sorry … I’ve been deceiving everyone until now! Even though all of you called a dropout like me a friend.」

I wasn’t intending to cry.

But … it came out without permission.

There is no end.

「Don’t blame yourself … didn’t you just save a lot of your friends?」

Edward… but! I couldn’t forgive myself!

I can use healing magic better than anyone else ! !

If I …. If I was more… ! !

「If I … was more … proficient at healing magic … then Hermit Crab-kun! !」

「Stop blaming yourself. Could you alone had done something about 40 people ! ? You had done more than enough.」

Rioto … a friend who had overcome despair with me.

Sorry.

I’ve show a miserable appearance.

That’s right, there is a limit to one person.

That’s why … friends are necessary.

Thank you. I had just realize it this late in time.

However…

「… I’ll speak about the rest.」

Senpai’s calm low voice came out of my mouth.

It seems that everyone was curious.

About Peachy-senpai…

「My name is … Peachy-senpai. I’m someone like a counselor for Eltina.」

After that, he explained about Peachy-user and Soul Fusion to everyone.

However … he didn’t say anything about Peachy power.

As expected, he couldn’t say that it uses the soul.

「El, you… 」

Edward looked at my face.

His eyes are serious, something that I had never seen before.

「Ah… he’s a dubious and eerie guy, right?」

And Edward grabbed both of my shoulders.

「I’m not talking about something like that! I, have never seen someone that is as generous as El before! !」

Edward was crying.

What’s wrong? Ed… ? Won’t you smile as you usually do?

「El … please don’t blame yourself. Everyone knows that you’re always trying your hardest. You had show you bravery to stand up to despair anytime. Despite being weaker than everyone else.」

Edward grasped my shoulder even harder as he spoke.

… It hurts, Edward.

「You gave everyone hope and strength. Who would dislike someone like you… ? You are loved by everyone. It’s not just people, the animals … also love you. Right, you should’ve been entrusted of his soul.」

Ahh … that’s right.

What was I doing?

Something like this would be laughed at by Hermit Crab-kun.

「What we want to see … isn’t your crying face, please smile … Eltina.」

Edward wiped away my tears.

Ed, you…

「Ed… 」

I forcefully made a smile.

There are probably many parts that are twitching.

「That right … this is fine.

This should be how… my, no… our El should be.」

Everyone’s expressions were gentle. To think that I would have friends that are this open hearted…

I’m glad that we spoke.

I feel like we had became friends in the truest sense now.

「Everyone… thank you! !」

On that day I had obtained friends that would encounter and overcome various difficulties with me…

The lifespan of races. Because of it, eventually we would say goodbyes with each other.

Even so … I will not forget.

My 40 irreplaceable friends…