| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
The next day, when I checked with Teacher Anais about dark matter, it turned out that small amounts could be collected and used by individuals within a research framework. However, both the collection and use are regulated by the government, so I had to take two exams: one for “Dark Matter Collection Permit Holder” and another for “Dark Matter Handler.”
The exams were not too difficult; being affiliated with St. Salaius Elementary School exempted us from the specialized training1, so we only had to take a written test2. Both Alfe and I passed, which made me feel relaxed. However, it seemed that students obtaining this qualification was unprecedented3 since the school’s establishment, which greatly surprised teachers Anais and Lionel.
Upon reflection, since eligibility for the exams was linked to exemption from specialized training, it seemed more like a qualification for educators rather than students. Nevertheless, with our newly acquired qualifications as “Dark Matter Collection Permit Holder” and “Dark Matter Handler,” we were officially allowed to collect dark matter.
Teacher Lionel provided us with goggles, gloves, and containers for handling dark matter. He emphasized the importance of wearing gas masks and gloves to prevent health hazards and asked briefly about the reason for our procurement.
Of course, I decided to keep the matter of “The World of Truth” confidential from the teachers. While that was the ultimate goal, success in synthesizing Darklight was the immediate priority. I explained to Alfe that we needed to proceed step by step and emphasized that the goal of this endeavor was solely the synthesis of Darklight.
Even teachers Anais and Lionel were surprised when I mentioned my interest in synthesizing Darklight, so it was definitely wise to keep the true reasons to myself. They would never imagine that I planned to use it to journey to “The World of Truth” and obtain the grimoire left by the alchemist Glass Dimelia. Since I didn’t know what triggered the taboo of the goddess, I had no intention of revealing that I was Glass’ reincarnation.
The following weekend, Alfe and I obtained permission from each other’s parents and set out on Arkecius to search for dark matter.
Until now, leaving the city meant simply boarding a landship known as an intercity vessel, so it was our first time venturing outside on our own, even if it was nearby.
In this world, cities were scattered like oases in the wastelands, typically surrounded by high walls. Beyond the city limits dwelled ferocious beasts known as “magic beasts4,” so people rarely ventured outside unprotected.
Normally, we would use intercity vessels cruising between cities, but for nearby trips, steam vehicles or subordinate units were also options. Since our goal was to collect dark matter, we decided to use Arkecius, which we could operate ourselves.
“Hey, Leafa. Do you think I look strange?”
Alfe approached me as I conducted the final checks before departure, near the harbor district on the east side of Torch Town.
“Not at all, I think you look fine.”
I checked the aether tank connection and then glanced at Alfe. Alfe, usually hiding her ears under her hair, was now absentmindedly playing with them, wearing a vague smile.
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Tying up your hair suits you sometimes.”
Alfe usually let her long hair down, but today, knowing she would be riding on Arkecius, it was neatly tied up to avoid any interference. The hairstyle she used to wear before suited her well, just as I remembered.
“Um, Leafa…”
Alfe, while touching her ears, closed the gap between us slightly.
“My ears… do they look strange to you?”
“Not at all. They’re cute.”
Choosing words that would likely reassure Alfe, I responded. It was the first time she had asked about her ears, but I didn’t see anything odd about them.
“Are you sure they’re not strange?”
Looking at them again, Alfe’s ears were slightly pointed and cute. I wondered if there was something bothering her since she’d been touching her ears since earlier.
“…Does it hurt somewhere?”
“No, it’s not that… I just want you to take a good look.”
“I’m not a doctor or anything, so I don’t know much.”
“It’s okay.”
Alfe said so, then brushed aside her side-swept hair and showed me her ear. I didn’t really understand, but I compared Alfe’s ear to mine while touching it. That’s all I could do, but I could certainly feel some individual variation.
Perhaps Alfe’s slightly pointed ears were just part of her uniqueness. It was interesting that even her cartilage was pointed.
Touching someone else’s ears was an experience I never had neither as Glass nor as Leafa, so I became a bit curious. Especially when I was checking the upper part of Alfe’s ears for any differences, she started to fidget.
“Is that part… strange?”
“Oh, no. Sorry, that’s not it.”
“Can I touch yours too?”
“Sure.”
Alfe reached out as she said this, so I lifted my hair to make it easier for her to touch.
“…Your ears… they’re not… pointed…”
While carefully touching my ears, Alfe murmured quietly.
“They’re a bit different from yours. But that’s all.”
“Yeah.”
We continued touching each other’s ears for a while, but Alfe showed a subtle reaction and looked down. She seemed a bit down, so I wondered if it was okay for us to go out together.
“Did something happen, Alfe? If you’re not feeling well, we can do this some other time—”
“Hey, Leafa.”
Interrupting my words, Alfe lifted her face.
“Our Secret… Can we talk about an absolute secret between us?”
Alfe’s voice contained an unusual urgency. I didn’t know what she wanted to talk about, but I felt like I had to hear it now, so I nodded, looking into Alfe’s eyes.
“If that’s what you want.”
“Um, you see… I’m apparently a half-elf…”
“Oh, so that’s why you were concerned about your ears.”
A sense of understanding rather than surprise welled up within me, and it just slipped out.
“Yeah…”
Alfe seemed slightly surprised by my reaction, but she blushed and awkwardly smiled.
So, the unusually high aptitude for magic was due to having elven blood mixed in…
As I realized this, I couldn’t help but find it a bit funny and chuckled. I had always strived for Leafa’s life to be “normal” up to now, but neither I nor Alfe, whom I used as a reference, were anywhere near ordinary. But that wasn’t a bad thing.
In the Empire, elves were rare, and with the incident regarding the Pure Eye, Alfe might have been worried about being teased by someone like Gutenberg if her ears started to point.
“…Leafa, aren’t you surprised or anything?”
“Why? To me, you have always been just you. Nothing has changed.”
She told me she was a half-elf, but that’s been the case since birth, and that felt more natural to me, so I responded that way.
“…”
But upon hearing my response, Alfe suddenly burst into tears. Tears streamed down from those beautiful eyes of her, one unshielded by the contact lens. Alfe cried uncontrollably, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand.
“…Was my answer not good enough?”
“…No, it’s not that. It’s just… you said the same thing as Mom… I’m just relieved that you didn’t come to dislike me…”
Alfe managed to wipe away her tears and looked at my face. Even as she met my gaze, tears continued to overflow from her eyes.
“Me? Hate Alfe?”
“…Yeah. I was scared of it… and couldn’t… hic… couldn’t tell you…”
Ah, I hadn’t realized that the incident with the Pure Eye had caused Alfe so much pain. There was no way I could ever hate Alfe.
“Being a half-elf is something you’re born with, so just because I learned that doesn’t mean you changed. I can’t see any reason to hate you.”
I tried to explain my thoughts as simply as possible for Alfe to understand. It was only after saying all this that I realized how much I liked Alfe5.
“…So you can rest assured.”
Still, I felt like it might be a bit too early to say those words directly to her face.
“Alfe, I love you.”
“…Me too.”
So, for now, showing my agreement to Alfe’s affection was the best I could manage. It might not be the same ‘affection’ Alfe mentioned, but I did like her. I just didn’t have the courage to put it into words and convey it to her directly.
