GalaxyTL
I slowly walked, hand in hand with Ludo-sensei, down the path lined with gravestones. The path was paved with white cobblestones, emanating a solemn atmosphere. Small white flowers were planted along the path, swaying gently in the breeze. Like they were saying, “Welcome.”
And though I think only those who can use nature magic can see them, there were spirits floating here and there. The white lights were spirits dwelling here, and the other colored spirits I saw occasionally… I immediately realized those were spirits who’d been attached to those who’d passed away. Because it felt… lonely and gentle.
When I told Ludo-sensei, he smiled faintly, saying, “It’s safe here, if we’re being protected by spirits.” He still looked sad.
“…Here it is.”
We finally arrived before an especially impressive, pure white gravestone. Gravestones in this world are usually white, but this one seemed particularly white. Apparently, the mechanism is such that it reflects the beauty of the heart, in life. When I first heard that, I thought it was a scary mechanism. I wondered if mine would be black.
Well, that’s why, seeing it whiter than the other stones, I immediately realized that Dr. Ludo’s mate must have been a truly kind person.
“It’s so beautiful…”
“Is that so? Thank you. I also want to… sleep here someday, but I worry that it might… taint this beauty if I’m added, it’s a bit of a shame.”
When I unintentionally muttered that in front of the gravestone, Ludo-sensei said those words with a self-deprecating smile.
“That’s not true! Ludo-sensei’s a wonderful person! I’m sure the stone will stay beautiful!”
“I’m happy to hear you say that, but… I’ve seen a lot of ugliness in people, because of my job.”
Ugh, he has a point! But if that’s the case, then there would be very few pure white gravestones, wouldn’t there? Even in this graveyard, almost all the stones are white. I don’t think the beauty of the heart would be tainted by something like that.
“Knowing ugliness and having a kind heart… those two are unrelated! Ludo-sensei’s definitely fine! Because… even after losing your important person… you didn’t hate Father-sama…”
I’d asked Gil-san a bit before we left. That Dr. Ludo’s mate had died during the monster rampage, during the dark ages. So that means during the time Father-sama’s magic power was going out of control, right? And yet, Dr. Ludo had never said anything about hating him. There’s no way someone like that has a tainted heart.
That’s why I blurted it out without thinking, but… maybe he struggled with it and actually did hate Father-sama. I don’t know the truth, but at least he didn’t show it. It makes me think that maybe he thought it was wrong to blame Father-sama. That maybe he endured it…
“…Thank you, Meg. I’m feeling a bit better now.”
I was hanging my head, thinking that I might have said something unnecessary, but Dr. Ludo gently placed his hand on my head and said that. I don’t know who’s comforting whom now. I really am still a child. Sigh.
Now, pulling myself together, I started by cleaning the tombstone. I helped out here too. With the help of Shizuku-chan and Fuu-chan, I washed the tombstone nice and clean. I cleaned it by hand with a cloth.
Of course, we could clean it in an instant with magic, but I’ve been told that cleaning a place like this with your own two hands has a deeper meaning. And it makes sense. In Japan, it’s like washing a gravestone with an automatic cleaner. You wouldn’t do something so disrespectful.
And while you’re cleaning, you’re supposed to have a conversation with the deceased in your heart. It felt nice, sincerely talking to them in your heart.
After it was clean, we decorated it with flowers. Ludo-sensei took out a bouquet of orange flowers from his storage magic tool and placed it in front of the gravestone. The type of flower isn’t set in stone. I wondered if they had something like “butsudan” flowers (flowers offered to the Buddha) here, but it seems the equivalent is those small white flowers blooming everywhere. So you can bring whatever you like, flowers the deceased liked or flowers you like.
“Um… can I also… decorate with flowers…?”
“Did you bring some? …That makes me happy. Please do.”
So I took out a small, hand-made bouquet from my storage bracelet. Actually, these are flowers I picked when we went on a picnic before. We go there every now and then, it’s a place they took me to a long time ago. Because the flowers are so beautiful, I always pick some and bring them back. And I often take them to Leo-jii’s grave.
“I didn’t have anything else prepared because it was so sudden…”
I regret not having a bouquet prepared since this visit to the grave was so sudden. But the flowers at that place are all beautiful, and I personally like them very much. It’s just that I wanted to pick flowers that matched his mate’s.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s a bouquet filled with memories, for you, isn’t it? Sierra’s a lucky girl to receive something so precious.”
Sierra-san. That’s her name. I asked if it was okay for me to call her that, and he said of course. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I’ll call her that.
“Sierra-san, nice to meet you… I’m Meg. Um… I’m incredibly indebted to Ludo-sensei.”
And then, and then… I frantically searched for words in my head. The things I want to say, my feelings, they’re all overflowing, and I can’t put them into words. I wondered if there was a way to do it.
“I wish… I could have met you, Sierra-san…”
What I said… was something that couldn’t be helped. Ugh, why am I like this! That’s not what I meant, um…
“So I’ll come again! Next time… I’ll make a bouquet with you in mind, Sierra-san!”
Yeah, that’s it. It’s a bit far, but I can ask someone to bring me again. Or I can come on my own once I’m older. We have a lot of time. I wish I could see what she looks like, but they didn’t have magic tools for photographs back then, right? I’ll at least ask about her features.
“Sierra, you’d love her, wouldn’t you? She’s kind. And she’s Ortus’ precious daughter.”
After I finished my greeting, Ludo-sensei crouched down to match my height and then gently hugged me and spoke to the gravestone. His eyes were so gentle… it was like Sierra-san was standing right there.
“…I’m sure she’s saying to bring you again. If you’re okay with it, Meg, should we come again next year?”
“Is that really okay!? I’d love to!”
What, another visit’s already been decided! I added that I also wanted to stop by Annulus and see Rune and Goot. Of course, Ludo-sensei agreed without any complaints. He really is kind. I love him!
And so we continued to talk for a while, and then left the graveyard before sunset. As we passed the beast carriage, the person in charge called out to us in surprise.
“Ludo-san, are you going somewhere today?”
“Yeah, I can’t very well spend the night at the graveyard with her.”
I was the one surprised now. Don’t tell me… he usually stays here, the whole time!? When I looked at him, my eyes asking that, Ludo-sensei said this with a guilty look,
“It’s hard to leave. I always end up getting back to Ortus late.”
I see, it’s hard to part ways. But, because of me… Just as I was thinking that, the person in charge said, “Don’t worry about it.”
“You always have this end-of-the-world look, but today you’re smiling. Every year, we worry that you’re going to disappear, so I’m actually grateful she’s here.”
“Eh, that much…?”
“Sadly, it’s true. My heart just… couldn’t recover. I always make everyone at Ortus worry. They’re always saying, ‘It’s a good thing he came back,’ when I return.”
Hearing that, I remembered. It’s true, he’d go somewhere once a year, and then everyone would excitedly welcome him back. I’m so naive, I just thought they’re all such good friends, they must be happy he’s back because it’s rare for him to go out. It really makes me realize how carefree I am. I hate how stupid I am.
That’s right, when I decided to go with him, when they saw us off, they all looked worried, didn’t they? They weren’t just worried about me, but also about Ludo-sensei.
“This is the first time… I’ve visited the grave and felt this calm and peaceful. It’s thanks to you, Meg.”
But I was happy he was smiling as he said that, and I instinctively embraced his arm. I can’t fill the emptiness left by Sierra-san’s absence, but I hope I was able to lessen his loneliness, even just a bit.
“Please… come with me every year… child.”
“Okay! I will!”
So I decided to go with him every year, not just next year. The day might come when he gets tired of it, but still…
Because no matter what, I’m the one who’ll live longer. So while I’m alive, I want to make choices I won’t regret.
“That’s reassuring.”
“Fufufu, leave it to me!”
Because if possible… I want all my favorite people to be smiling.
The next evening, when we arrived back at Ortus, everyone was incredibly surprised that we’d returned early, and we were given a grand welcome. When I declared that I’d accompany him every year, everyone agreed. I could see just how much everyone loved Ludo-sensei.
“As expected of Meg. I believed… that you’d somehow… be able to do it.”
Maybe what made me the happiest… were Gil-san’s words. And that relieved look in his eyes. I’m sure even Saura-san… Even though she didn’t say anything, she’d given me a mission.
To protect Ludo-sensei’s smile.
And I was able to achieve it without even realizing it! I’m going to complete this mission every year! Oh~!