Seeker 151

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Chapter 151. Going Home

"It can't be... right...?"

I muttered in disbelief.

Alia-san was falling into the valley.

My outstretched hand couldn't reach her.

She passed through an area covered in dense foliage, during her descent. And her figure disappeared.

All I heard was a terrifying metallic screech, followed by a dull thud.

The drop from the cliff to where we stood now must have been over ten stories tall, if not more.

For an ordinary person, it would undoubtedly have been a lethal fall.

But Aria-san wasn't ordinary.

Just like us, she was an Adventurer of this world.

She has superhuman abilities.

"We need to descend into the valley immediately and search for Aria-san!"

"Yeah, you're right."

"She'll be fine, I'm sure. We're not the type to die that easily. Even from falling like this, Aria-san should..."

Yuzuki's trembling voice held hope, and I desperately wanted to believe her words.

We hurried through the cave, desperately looking for a way to get to the other side of the cliff.

To the likely place, Aria-san had fallen.

This process took several hours.

When we finally reached where Aria-san had fallen, the surroundings had already grown dark.

What we found was a heavily injured, exhausted blonde woman.

Aria-san's cherished slender sword got stuck into the ground nearby.

Not far from there, at the top of the cliff where Alia-san had fallen, there was a sharp, jagged crack running straight down.

Did she try to slow her fall by impaling her sword into the cliff?

In any case, there was only one thing for me to do.

"[Ground Heal]!"

I cast a healing spell on the fallen Aria-san.

Her severe wounds began to heal.

One casting wasn't enough, so I used the spell again and completely healed her injuries.

But Alia-san didn't wake up; she remained unconscious.

Even if her HP get restored after falling below zero and entering a state of incapacitation, it seemed that regaining consciousness took some time.

Her heart was beating, and she was breathing.

She was alive. 

She hadn't died.

I carried Aria-san on my back, and together with Kazane-san and Yuzuki, we began our journey back.

After a while, I heard a voice from the person I was carrying.

"Ugh... Where... am I...?"

"Aria-san, are you awake? We're on our way back from Dragon Valley."

"Daichi-san... Huh? Wait... I'm, I'm being carried?"

"Yeah, sorry about that. Since you didn't regain consciousness, we carried you."

"Well, um... Kazane-san, she... didn't kill me, did she?"

She has a timid voice, full of fear.

Hearing those words, Yuzuki couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hehe, just this once, we'll let it slide, Aria-san. But now that you're awake, can you walk on your own?"

"Well, yes, of course. But please don't kill me..."

"Hahaha, don't worry, we won't. After all, we went through the trouble of saving your life. But if you ever get too full of yourself and try to seduce Daichi-kun─"

"I, I won't! So please, keep your hands off your dagger!"

With Aria-san's words, laughter leaked out among us.

Thank goodness.

I was relieved that Aria-san was safe.

After Aria-san got off my back, she took out her pocket watch and looked concerned.

"It's gotten quite late. Because of me, we've lost so much time. Father...!"

Indeed, our search for Alia-san had taken longer than expected, delaying our return by almost half a day.

"But Aria-san's father was supposed to last a week, right? Even if we return now, it's only the fourth day since you left."

"No, the doctor said 'about a week.' If it worsens, it could be much sooner. Anyway, let's hurry."

There was no use assuming the worst.

We had to do what we could.

We decided to hurry as much as possible, and unlike our journey to the valley, we walked through the night on our way back.

On the way there, we were preparing for a boss battle, so it was crucial to keep our condition at its best. 

However, now that we only needed to return.

There shouldn't be any major issues even if we pushed ourselves a little. 

We managed with light snacks while walking, and whenever our consciousness started to blur, we took short naps while continuing our march, pushing ourselves to return.

Thanks to that, we almost managed to stick to our original schedule. 

On the night of the third day, since we left the city, we passed through the city gate again. 

By then, we were all on the brink of collapsing from exhaustion and sleepiness.

But we somehow managed to guide our horses back to the castle.

Awaiting us at the castle gate was the butler.

"Althea-sama...! I'm relieved to see you have returned safely!"

"Gramps... please, take this herb to the doctor for my father..."

"Oh, this is it! I will immediately deliver it to the doctor to prepare. But young lady, you seem quite pale..."

"I'm just sleepy... and tired... Please, take it to my father quickly..."

"U-understood! I'll make sure to deliver it promptly."

Afterward, Aria-san and I entered the castle together and were led to the Lord's bedroom, where we monitored the patient's condition. 

The Lord's condition seemed to have worsened significantly compared to when we had departed. 

He was unconscious to the point where he couldn't engage in conversation, writhing in pain and discomfort.

However, when Aria-san called out to him, a faint smile appeared on his face despite the pain. 

The doctor hurriedly brewed medicine from the herbs and administered it to the Lord.

"Now, it depends on the Lord's stamina. Let's observe overnight."

Upon the doctor's words, we dispersed for the time being. 

However, as we left the Lord's bedroom, we encountered an unpleasant individual in the corridor. 

It's the young man who hurriedly approached us. He's Aria-san's older brother, Elvis grimaced upon seeing his sister's face.

"Why... Why is Althea back? She was supposed to have died in Dragon Valley... I see! Haha, I got it, Althea! You must have picked up some random herbs around there. You're probably trying to show off that you did your best and brought something back! Make adventurers even lie for your grand appeal! What a bother!"

"Ugh... Oh, come on... Big brother, you're so annoying... I've been awake all night, so please, stop..."

"Wha...!?"

Ignoring her brother's clamor, Aria-san pushed past him and continued down the corridor. 

Elvis ended up falling on his rear in the corridor, abandoned.

We, too, walked past him without paying him much attention. 

Honestly, we were too tired to deal with unnecessary things.

"Well then, thank you, Daichi-san and everyone... I'll visit your inn tomorrow to express my gratitude... Ugh... Sorry... I'm really... so sleepy..."

"No worries. We're feeling pretty dizzy ourselves. Alright, Aria-san, see you tomorrow."

After bidding farewell to Aria-san, we returned to our inn and slept soundly for the night.