Author: Akashari	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Mui	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Teach…”
“Ah, hey, Stell. Already up and about—oof!”

Back at the guild after finishing my meal, a tackle with surprising force struck me right in the solar plexus. It was the last thing I expected from someone who’d just been sick; almost sent my lunch flying. Looks like her recovery’s going well.

“Teach… am I… all better now?”
“Y-yes, of course… I wouldn’t make a mistake with my concoctions…”

I had just collected the monopolized herbs and finished Stell’s treatment a few days ago. The results had been flawless—she was as lively as ever, showing no signs of sleepiness and moving about without restraint.

Most likely, the magic stone within her had nearly dissolved. At this rate, she could grow to be a formidable wizard one day.

“But… your responses are still a bit sluggish. A lingering side effect, maybe?”
“Oh, that’s… just how I am…”
“I see. Are you here alone today? Where’s your mother?”
“Mom’s… at work…”
“That’s risky; next time, bring a guard with you. You are a noble’s daughter, after all.”
“Master, aren’t you a little too nice to Stell alone?”

Momo, who’d been silently watching our exchange, finally piped up with a bit of a huff. Her mood had been sour since we’d sat down to eat; I’d hoped food would cheer her up, but she seemed quite set against leaving this town.

“I don’t believe I’m showing Stell any special treatment. Why don’t you try to cheer up, too?”
“Teach… fighting…?”
“Ah, this all started when I mentioned we’d be leaving town soon. Stell, could you maybe say something to her?”
“……Huh?”

Stell froze solid, like a stone statue. For a moment, panic surged as I wondered if her magic crystallization syndrome was relapsing, but her eyes were wide open, fully alert. No sign of drowsiness, either.

“…Teach… are you… leaving?”
“Y-Yeah. well, I’ve nearly wrapped up my tasks in this town. I won’t be leaving right away, but I do plan to head out soon.”
“…Teach, give me… your hand…”
“Hm? Like this?”

I stretched out both hands as instructed, and—where had she hidden it?—she piled them high with a mountain of gold coi-wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!

“Stell! Stell! Stell! What is this, what are you trying to do?!”
“I’ll give you money… so stay with me…”
“Okay, hold up! Let’s talk about this. For now, just put that money away! This isn’t the kind of place to flash that kind of cash!”

The mountain of gold piled into my palms had already captured the attention of everyone in the guild lobby. There were even a few people eyeing us with unsettling, glittering looks. This wasn’t safe, not at all.

“…Will you stay… with me…?”
“That’s another issue entirely! First of all, don’t walk with so much gold on you. And don’t keep piling more coins without a word! This is seriously heavy, you know!”
“……”
“Even if you look at me with teary eyes, it’s not happening, no, really! Momo! Momo, help me out here!”
“Oh, wow, Master made Stell cry.”
“Cut it out with the accusations! Stell, please stop with these troublesome jokes!”
“This… isn’t a joke…”

And then, unable to hold back any longer, Stell’s tears spilled over from the corners of her eyes, which had been holding back for dear life. Why was this happening? Her condition should have improved. I even got the quest award without a hitch.

Our relationship as ‘teacher and student’ had technically come to an end. So why?

“Master, are you sure you won’t reconsider? Couldn’t we at least stay a bit longer?”
“Momo… I just don’t understand. Why would she go so far as to cry to keep me here?”
“Master, did you even have friends?”
“What kind of question is that to ask all of a sudden?”

Momo gazed down at me with an expression that was somewhere between pity and sadness.

Friends? Of course I’d had friends! A thousand years ago, though the memories were faint, I must have had at least one or two friends………

“………”
“So you didn’t. You don’t need to say any more; it’s okay.”
“Don’t look at me with such pity! And so what if I didn’t have any friends?”
“Losing friends is a sad thing, you know. I still remember how it felt when my best friend moved away back in elementary school.”
“…That’s an exaggeration. It’s not like they’ll never see each other again.”
“But the chances of meeting again are rare, aren’t they? Besides, Master, do you even plan to come back to this town?”
“Well…”

At least for now, no, I didn’t. I planned to move to a city further inland to find a way to send Momo back to her own world. Obviously, traveling back and forth was no small effort, so the odds of running into Stell and the others again were slim.

“Stell, do you like Master?”
“Um… well, um…”

Momo crouched down to look her in the eye, and Stell, wiping away her tears, nodded. She opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t seem to find the right words, her attempts falling into quiet sobs.

“Master, sit down right there.”
“Wait, but this is the guild lobby…”
“Just do it. On the knees.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”

“Stell has been sick for a long time. You’re probably the first friend she’s ever had.”
“I… I see?”
“Not only that, but you cured her of the illness that had been troubling her for so long. To Stell, you’re an amazing person who’s done something incredible.”

As Momo rattled on, hands clasped in earnest, Stell nodded along behind her. Apparently, Momo had a better grasp of people’s feelings than I did.

“When someone that important suddenly disappears, it’s incredibly sad, don’t you get that!?”
“The wording!”

Her explanation was lacking in specifics, but I was beginning to get the gist of it.

“So, in other words… she feels uneasy if the favor is left unreturned? Stell, you really don’t have to worry; I’ve already received more than enough compensation.”
“……Master, I’m afraid this conversation isn’t over yet. Please keep sitting.”
“Why…”

And so, as promised, Momo’s lecture continued until my legs went numb. The adventurers around us no doubt cast us some curious looks. Ah, looks like there’ll be fresh rumors spreading around by tomorrow.

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