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“Congratulations, Sis. You finally got the Chief’s approval.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you leaving the village soon?”

Law asked, well aware that Merc intended to leave the village to become an adventurer.
　
However, based on his expression, he didn’t appear to be overjoyed about it.

“That will depend on Master. I still haven’t finished my training after all. However, she has mentioned that I am nearly finished and that it should be any day now.”
“I see…”

Law said, lost in thought. Merc decided to shake his shoulders suddenly in an attempt to get rid of Law’s odd expression.

“You don’t have to seem so sad simply because I’m leaving. Just because I won’t be here doesn’t mean I’ll stop being your sister.”
“I-I’m not worried about that, nor am I sad!”
“Really? Your tone says otherwise, though.”

Merc said this while holding down Law, who was attempting to escape her hands, and pressing her index finger to his cheek. Law, clearly infuriated, stomped on Merc’s foot.

“Ouch!”
“Sis, I’m not stupid! I’m just…”

Following his escape from his sister’s clutches, Law lifted his index finger and said angrily.

“I’m just… I’m just worried about you, Sis. I heard from Father that elves have a hard time finding a place in human communities. That’s why, despite his work with humans, Father returns every day.”
“Well you’re not wrong…”
“In addition, I’ve never heard of an elf becoming an adventurer. Adventurers, unlike Father, meet new people and travel to new places every day, isn’t that right? Wherever you go, you’ll be the talk of the town! You wouldn’t like that, right?”
“Well…”

The expression on Law’s face gradually changed from one of rage to one of concern. Merc knew exactly what he was trying to say.

He was simply worried about her.

Merc was well aware of everything Law was attempting to convey. She’d never met or heard of an elf adventurer, even in her previous life.
　
The elves, by nature, rarely left their village, and a huge portion of them spent their comparatively long lives without ever seeing the outside world.
　
Even if they did leave, no elf would choose to live the life of an adventurer, which necessitated frequent interactions and cooperation with humans.　

Ordinary elves despised standing out. This was especially true when they were surrounded by humans.

Well I guess that only applies to elves who haven’t lived as humans.

Merc’s consciousness, however, was that of a human, not an elf. Furthermore, it was the consciousness of a renowned adventurer who had traveled to a number of locations without staying in one place for too long, all with the goal of broadening his horizons.

Merc has been graciously given a second opportunity. She wanted to go places she hadn’t been before and do things she hadn’t done before.

She’d started studying healing and decided to become an adventurer solely for that reason.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Law. However, I’m well aware of everything you said. Taking all of this into account, I’ve still chosen to leave the village and become an adventurer.”

Law dropped his head low after hearing his sister say that. He raised his head and spoke in a trembling tone shortly after that.

“Even if it involves abandoning Father, Mother, and me?”
“Who said anything about abandonment? Didn’t we just discuss this? Even if I go, that doesn’t mean I’ll stop being your sister, or that I’ll stop being Father and Mother’s daughter. For starters, didn’t you say you wouldn’t mind it if I leave?”
“I would…”
“What?”
“I would mind it! I don’t want you to leave home and go somewhere far away! I don’t like it! Of course I wouldn’t like it!”

Law yelled, attracting the attention of the elves in the area; nevertheless, Merc seemed unconcerned about the others.
　
She was solely concerned with Law’s eyes, which were filled with tears.

“Law…”
“… for sure. I for sure thought that you wouldn’t be able to do it. I was sure that you wouldn’t be able to leave the village and become an adventurer. Despite the fact that I’ve watched you overcome numerous impossibilities, I was still hoping that you wouldn’t be able to achieve your dream of becoming an adventurer.”

Law said, trying hard not to blink so he wouldn’t cry. Merc felt as if something was clutching her heart because of his appearance.

“Sis, please don’t. Please don’t become an adventurer and stay in the village. Let’s just live as a family, Father and Mother, myself and you.”

Law said as he closed in on Merc and grabbed her sleeve with both hands. It was as though he was attempting to convey that he would not allow her to leave.

Merc closed her eyes for a brief moment and then placed her left hand on her brother’s shoulder.

“Law. Do you remember what we talked about a while ago?”
“What?”
“It was around three years ago. When we discussed it, you were still eight years old, and I was swinging my wooden stick as usual.”

When Merc suddenly brought up things from the past, Law blinked in bewilderment. As he did, the tears welling up in his eyes began to fall down.

“You came to watch me train at the time, which was unusual for you… You actually tried swinging my wooden stick and was close to tumbling, come to think of it. I was quite scared at that time you know…”
“I-I’ve already forgotten about it! Besides, why are you even bringing it u…”
“At that time I asked you what you’d do once you became strong. Do you remember?”
“I do…”

Law nodded slightly, as if he remembered something, or perhaps he had known all along but was simply pretending to have forgotten.

“At that time you didn’t answer me. Rather, you couldn’t answer me. It was probably because you didn’t know what you wanted to do when you became strong. Is it the same now?”
“That’s… I guess so.”

Law was still eleven. He hadn’t discovered a reason to be strong because he had lived in peace.

“I also told you back then that if you became strong enough, you could do whatever you pleased, even if it meant compromising others. You see, Law, no matter what I don’t want to see you doing that.”
“I won’t do something like that!”
“Then could you let me go?”
“What?”
“You see, your tears scare me far more than a Ghezo Velche. That’s quite unfair of you, don’t you think?”
“…”

Law swallowed the feelings that rose up in his throat when he heard his sister say that. Law dropped his head, still grasping Merc’s right sleeve, as if he didn’t care about the tears streaming down his face.

“Y-You’re the unfair one, Sis…”
“Did you say something, Law?”

The words Law whispered with his face to the ground, for better or worse, did not reach Merc’s ears.

Law then abruptly let go of Merc’s sleeve and stepped back two or three steps, lifting his head towards her.

“Fine then! I’m done! Sis, go wherever you want!” Law yelled out just like a kid having lost his temper.
“Law!”

With a troubled expression, Merc said to him. When Law heard his sister say that, he glanced at her again, but this time with a smile hidden behind his tears.

“That’s right, Sis… you can go wherever you want. If I feel like seeing you, I’ll just come by, wherever you may be.”
“… Now that’s more like you.”

In all honesty, it would be impossible for Law to venture outside the village to visit Merc with a half-hearted determination.
　
However, he had just now declared that he would do it. He would go to her, wherever she may be. If such were the case, Merc would have no choice but to support her brother. If he would come to meet her, then she would wait for him.

You’ve gotten stronger, Law.

Merc thought as she watched Law wipe his tears away with his sleeve.

When Merc thought about it, she realized that Law was now the same age as what her self-proclaimed rival had been.