Chapter 87 - The Two Deepen Their Bond
"Nn, nnn..."
A while after laying Flora down on the bed in the bedroom.
As I sat in a chair I'd brought to the bedside, Flora slowly woke up.
I felt relieved to see her emerald-shining eyes appear. It seemed Zoack's Antidote and Kurune's recovery magic had taken proper effect. Her complexion had returned to its usual healthy state.
Flora's eyes darted around, and she slowly sat up.
"A-Aldo-sa—"
Flora's mouth stopped as she tried to call me Aldo-san as usual.
She must have remembered the words she heard from Zoack earlier.
That my real name is Aldred.
"............"
Flora opened her mouth slightly as if to continue speaking, but her open mouth closed immediately.
I couldn't say anything due to the shock of not being called by my name as usual and the guilt of not having told Flora my real name.
After a while, Flora began to take deep breaths.
"...I have many things I want to ask, but I'll ask what I want to know first, okay?"
"Yes, I'll speak properly."
When I answered without averting my gaze from Flora's direct stare, she showed me her usual bright smile.
Just seeing that smile made me feel relieved.
"Is the matter with Zoack-san settled now?"
"Yeah, it's all over. No one other than Flora was caught up in it, and no one knows about it except for Kurune, who helped me."
"...I see. I'm glad no one else was involved."
Flora let out a sigh of relief, placing her hand on her chest.
It was just like Flora to worry about other victims first.
Then, Flora looked at me as if gauging my reaction,
"And... I'm glad Aldo-san is safe too."
"Yeah, somehow. I sustained some injuries, but Kurune healed them with recovery magic—"
"Eh!? Where!? Please show me properly!?"
I tried to tell her I was fine because I'd been healed with recovery magic, but Flora cut me off with a loud voice.
She even started fumbling over my body as I sat by the bed, checking for wounds.
"No, I'm fine! I was properly healed by Kurune's recovery magic!"
"I know magic is amazing, but I'm still worried! Please show me your body properly!"
I tried to calm her down by placing my hands on the shoulders of the panicked Flora, but for Flora, who wasn't familiar with recovery magic, it seemed she couldn't quite trust it.
Well, I trust it because I've been indebted to it many times, but I was half-doubting it the first time I was treated too.
Seeing Flora trying to take off my clothes to check with a serious expression, I decided to let her undress me quietly.
Part of it was because I was happy to be excessively worried over by Flora right now.
Flora took off my top and moved her gaze meticulously.
"Where were the wounds?"
"E-Err, pretty much all over my body?"
"T-That sounds like a very serious injury!? Are you really okay!?"
Weren't you looking to confirm that, Flora-san?
While thinking that, my upper body was thoroughly checked by her gaze and hands.
After a while, perhaps finding it strange that not even a scar remained,
"...Did you really get injured?"
"I did. It just means Kurune's skill with recovery magic was that good."
"I-I see... there really is nothing wrong."
Perhaps because she had never seen recovery magic, Flora seemed a bit unconvinced.
I had my combat clothes, which were torn and covered in blood, as evidence, but there was no need to show her such things and cause unnecessary worry.
"Is that enough?"
"Yes. It's fine now. Since there don't seem to be any injuries."
Flora had been touching my thighs and legs as well, but she calmed down once she realized there wasn't a single injury.
"You should worry about your own injuries more than mine."
"Ah! Don't look!"
Remembering because of my words, Flora covered her left shoulder with her right hand and turned her back.
Surprised by the sudden rejection, I guessed Flora's feelings.
"By any chance, do you think the wound on your shoulder remains?"
When I asked timidly, Flora nodded while keeping her back turned.
"The wound on your shoulder was also cleanly healed by Kurune's recovery magic, so there's no problem."
"I-Is that true?"
"I'll turn around, so try checking for yourself."
Saying so, I turned my back, and I felt the presence of Flora moving timidly.
"...I-It's true. It's like I wasn't even injured at all."
I heard Flora's voice, sounding relieved from the bottom of her heart.
I've heard that a woman's skin and hair are her life. I've even heard stories about men taking responsibility and marrying a woman if they cause her an injury. Skin must be that important to a woman.
And yet, I was pathetic for letting Flora get injured.
"Even though it's healed, I'm sorry for getting you involved in something that caused you injury, Flora."
Flora was a bit flustered by my sudden bow and apology.
Then she fell silent as if thinking for several seconds.
Only the sound of our breathing flowed through the bedroom.
In my heart, the worst-case images surfaced—that I might be berated by Flora, or that she would hate me and tell me we're breaking up.
The short silence felt heavy.
"...Please raise your head."
Even so, when I kept waiting with my head bowed, Flora spoke in a gentle voice.
When I slowly raised my face, Flora was there with a slightly sad expression. The moment I saw that expression, I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
Even so, I didn't avert my eyes and met Flora's gaze properly.
"Is Aldo-san's real name Aldred?"
"That's right. The A-rank adventurer, Aldred. That was me before I came to this village."
"If I recall, that person is the adventurer who defeated a dragon, right...?"
As expected, even the rumors of the adventurer who defeated a dragon had reached this far-off Nordende.
"That's me."
"I-I see... I thought Aldo-san was a highly skilled adventurer, but I didn't think it was to that extent."
When I stated it clearly, Flora wore a complex expression, looking both surprised and sad. Either way, I had kept a secret from her. Flora's heart must be filled with sadness.
"...Why did you keep your past a secret?"
"Because I didn't want to cause Flora unnecessary worry, and I didn't want to get you involved. No, I already got you involved though..."
I said it awkwardly, but Flora just watched me silently.
Looking into those pure eyes, such superficial words felt terribly shameful.
"No, the truth is, I think it's because I didn't want to be hated by Flora. I've completed various quests in my life as an adventurer. Monster subjugation, gathering, and bandit culling. Some of them were a bit gray. Even if the country or nobles were the backers, I've killed people in things bordering on war. I was an orphan from birth, so I haven't exactly lived a clean life. I was scared of Flora knowing that..."
I said it. I'd gone and said it. Even the parts I didn't need to say.
What a pathetic excuse. They were words that made me want to punch myself.
As I was tormented by self-loathing, Flora took a deep breath.
"I would never hate Aldo-san for something like that!"
It was a shout from Flora like never before.
At that voice filled with emotion, I raised my face in a daze.
And there, there was Flora, shedding tears sadly.
Flora was crying. Not tears of joy, but tears of sadness. So much so that it was painful just to watch.
"...Am I not enough to carry Aldo-san's past? Am I not worthy of supporting Aldo-san?"
"N-No! That's not—"
"Then! Please tell me more about Aldo-san too! I want to know more about Aldo-san. I want to understand Aldo-san and share our feelings together. I want to be by your side..."
Flora cut off my words and hugged me.
They were words filled with more emotion than ever before.
She affirmed even my pathetic parts and embraced them. That made me incredibly happy.
Ah, I thought, this is what it means to truly share emotions with the person you love.
If this was how it was, I should have opened up sooner, just as Kurune told me.
Flora hugged my body tightly while shedding tears and sobbing.
"...I'm sorry, Flora."
I gently hugged Flora back as she was against my chest.
"Sniff... Aldo-san is an idiot. There's no way I could hate Aldo-san for something like that. I've loved you for nine years, and we've finally been united, you know?"
"I'm really sorry. I'm the one who, even if I were hated, couldn't have left you..."
Living my life with Flora is already an absolute.
As long as Flora is in my purpose for living, there's no way I could let that go...
I squeezed Flora in my arms tightly. Then, as if responding, Flora tightened the strength in her arms.
We held each other like that for a while. Once she had calmed down, Flora raised her face from within my arms.
"Can I hear stories about Aldo-san's past? I want to know everything about the person I love, after all."
"Yeah, me too. I want to hear what kind of things Flora thought and how you spent your time."
There are still many things we don't know about each other, but we can talk about them thoroughly from now on.
A-Rank Adventurer's Slow Life is now on sale as a book!
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It looks like the second arc is finally about to end.