Overlimit Skill Holder (Web Novel JP)

Overlimit Skill Holder Vol 5 Chapter 56

Translator: Saitama-sensei

Vol 5: Chapter 56

Why did Asha return to her kingdom when she said she wanted to go on adventures with me?

No… Somewhere in my heart, I had a feeling this was going to happen.

She is a High Elf royalty, a princess, Her Highness. The world in which she lives is clearly different from mine.

What she wanted was only a “temporary adventure”, like how people long for adventures in story books.

「Ah……」

As the sound of waves crashing against the shore registered in my ears, I finally realized that my legs had carried me to the harbor.

There were not a lot of people around. The blowing wind carried the scent of the salty sea.

The outline of the magic airship on which Asha was aboard was getting smaller and smaller as it flew further away.

「Haa……」

A sigh escaped my lips as I felt a sense of helplessness and disappointment in myself.

Just as I decided to sit on the spot–

「Booooo~~~~~chan!」

「Uwaah!?」

Zerry-san suddenly hugged me from behind.

Her high body temperature felt warm, and her breath smelt like liquor.

「Oh? Normally you would be able to tell when I am approaching you, but today you seem to have left yourself defenseless.」

「Is there something you need?」I asked.

「Hmm? Can’t I just come hang with you for fun?」

「I’m not in the mood today.」

I pushed away the drunkard with both hands.

「Hoho… I get it now. Did you get rejected, bochan?」

「……Huh?」

「Well, a High Elf is like a star beyond the clouds which you can see but never reach for, so you should forget about her.」

「What… no, Asha isn’t like that. I mean, Asha is not someone I can forget so easily either.」

「Oh? Is that so? Then is it a forbidden love for your sister?」

「What!? Lark!? What kind of stupid things are you saying!?」

「Hey, your cheeks are blushing red… Which means she’s the one your heart desires…」

「N-No, that’s not it! I was just surprised!」

「But you aren’t related by blood, right? Then it’s okay! Nahahaha!」

「It’s not okay… Besides, Lark told me she doesn’t want to see my face again.」

「What happened?」

「About that……」

I hesitated for a moment, but decided to talk to Zerry-san about removing Lark’s skill orb, how it would have killed her if I didn’t, and how she threw a fit of anger because of it.

I have been with Zerry-san for a long time, and I trust her a lot… though, I haven’t forgotten that she used me as a shield in the Umibozu battle.

「Ahhh, the fault lies with you, bochan.」

「So you think I should have talked to her about it beforehand, too?」

Zerry-san is a classic example of a person who speaks offhandedly, but I guess even she would be delicate in matters pertaining to women.

「That’s not it… Lark-san is a woman who strives to put on the image of a “strong, reliable woman”. So, if the man she loves prods her weakest part, she would naturally feel embarrassed right.」

「……Come again?」

「Lark-san is indeed strong, but that’s only because she is forcing herself. It is clear as day to me.」

「No, no, not that… What do you mean “the man she loves”? Who are you talking about?」

「Haaaaaa…」

Zerry-san heaved an intentionally deep sigh.

「Bochan… I knew that you weren’t emotionally as mature, but to think it is this bad. I am talking about you, of course.」

「Huh?」

…Wait a minute, what is she saying?

「Lark is my sister.」

「Well, that’s because she can’t get close to you unless she acts the part of a sibling. Lark-san doesn’t seem to have proper emotional growth as well. Where did you two grow up?」

As slaves in a mine.

「Bochan, surely Lark-san must have done something wrong in the past and ran away, right? That’s why she can’t convey her feelings to you. Because she doesn’t want you to get involved.」

「That is……」

「And as you continue to say that she is your sister, she thinks it is better to keep the distance between you two. Moreover, she doesn’t want to cause worry for you, bochan. Which is why she escaped from the Lev Magic Empire without telling you. Everything makes sense if you think she did it for the sake of the man she fell in love with.」

That’s…

I knew that Lark considered me precious to her.

Furthermore, Lark never called me “Reiji” but only “little brother”.

「Haaaaaa…」

Jerry-san sighed intentionally again.

「But the man she loves has robbed her of her only source of strength – the skill orb. Which leaves Lark-san with no foundation to stand upon. If I was Lark, I would be angry and embarrassed. I would be enraged.」

「…She was indeed enraged.」

It makes me irritated to look at Zerry-san’s “told you so” face, but I feel there is truth in her words.

「I will return the skill orb to Lark.」

「You better not.」

「…What? Why? If I’m in the wrong, I have to apologize.」

「You just don’t understand a woman’s heart, do you, bochan?」

「I don’t want to hear that from a drunkard who drinks during noon…」

「Sake is a woman’s taste.」

I hate that shit-eating grin on Zerry-san’s face.

「Just think for a second, bochan. Lark-san has probably calmed down and remembered what she had just done. She flipped out at you for having her best interests in mind. She must be feeling deeply embarrassed and just wants to disappear.」

「…You speak as if you had seen it.」

「It’s your fault for not understanding these things.」

「Ugh.」

「And what do you think will happen if you go and apologize now?」

「…She will feel even more embarrassed.」

「That’s right.」

Zerry-san crossed her arm with her chest puffed.

…I feel that Zerry-san is correct this time around.

「Then, what should I do…?」

「Give her some time. This is a chance for Lark-san as well. A chance for her to be honest with you, bochan. But that takes time. To become a “strong woman”, you have to acknowledge your “weakness”.」

「I think……I understand.」

It pains me to not meet Lark for a while, but I think we both need some time to calm down.

「So, please go to the “Third Forest”, bochan.」

「Understood— wait, what?」

「Isn’t it you who has to talk to the High Elf lady? This can only be done by you, bochan.」

「No, but… What about Lark?」

「——Won’t you leave that matter to us?」

A voice came from behind.

Turning around, Non-san was standing there.

Behind her were Dante-san and Mimino-san.

「My dad, Mimino-san, and Zerry-san will go see the “Sage of Medicine”.」Non-san said.

「But this is regarding my sister, so…」

「Reiji-kun.」

Non-san approached closer.

Although the height difference between Non-san and I had decreased, Non-san was still a little taller.

「Actually… I was contacted earlier by letter, and it seems that my master, who taught me magic, is coming to Zackerhafen. Since she is a genius in【Healing Magic】, she will help Lark-san’s recovery.」

「…Will it be fine?」I asked.

「Of course.」

Non-san reached out her hands and placed them on my shoulders.

「You don’t have to hold everything inside you, and don’t assume that you have to do it all alone. Rely on us. We belong to the same party and are like a family. If Lark-san is your family, then she is also our family.」

「Non-san…」

Non-san’s gentle smile melted my stiffened heart.

I was pushing myself too hard.

I had to save people’s lives, and so I had to keep doing my best for that.

However, the person whom I want to acknowledge my deeds has not done so – Lark.

That’s why I feel helpless. It feels painful.

「I will be here, too!」Mimino-san said.

「As will I.」Dante-san said.

「And the ever-reliable myself will also be here. I’m expecting a reduction in debt, bochan.」Zerry-san said, with a wink..

「Okay!」

I wiped the tears in the corner of my eyes with my sleeves.

「Thank you for your help!」

The moment I said that, my body—even my heart, truly felt lighter.