“That’s the story of my past,” I said.
Olga remained silent. His expression was hard to read. He probably wasn’t sure how to respond—what to say.
“I don’t need any consolation,” I said. “I didn’t tell you any of that to garner any sympathy.”
“Oh, uh, okay,” said Olga. “But wasn’t it hard for you?”
“Huh? Are you stupid all of a sudden? Of course it was hard. It was excruciating.”
If I’d felt nothing at all, I wouldn’t have been human.
“Oh, right. Yes, of course. But, ouch?!”
“Wipe that sad look off your face. It’s annoying me.”
“What did you just do to me?!”
I’d flicked a little healing bullet at him. Now, however, I crossed my arms and let out an exasperated sigh.
“Go home, Olga,” I said. “If you keep moping around looking like that you’re only going to kill the mood around here.”
“I suppose so. In which case, yes, I’ll return home. Ururu will likely spend the night, so please look after her.”
“I will if she behaves herself.”
Olga laughed and headed for the door.
“Then I’ll hope for the best,” he said, turning around as if remembering something. “Oh, by the way.”
“What?”
“How do you see Usato?” Olga asked. “What is he to you?”
I was at first surprised by the question but relaxed into a smile.
Olga always has a few questions up his sleeve to surprise you with.
“He’s a disciple and he’s a handful,” I said. “I’ve still got a lot left to teach him.”
“Well then, he’s got a tough road ahead,” said Olga, chuckling.
Olga looked happy as he bowed politely and left the room.
“A handful,” I muttered to myself. “Yep, that’s what he is.”
I turned my gaze from the door to the window.
At first, I’d thought of Usato as just a brat—just some kid with no special qualities who got wrapped up in the hero summoning. But when I heard that he had healing magic, I decided I would try to train him. Somewhere inside of me, I had decided that he would be my last try.
No healer had ever been able to endure my training. They had all spat their venom at me and disappeared. I’d had hopes for Olga and Ururu, but even they hadn’t made it. I had come to believe that I would never find a healer like me. That was when I met Usato.
With Usato, some part of me, long frozen, shattered and began to move again. He did not fold, and he did not give up. He fought through my training as if his very life depended on it. So many times, I saw flashes of Aul in him. I saw them in the way he talked back. I saw them in his unyielding spirit, his stubborn attitude, and his need to win. He was just like Aul. His development was startling.
Usato sped through the battlefield saving lives, even going so far as to save the very heroes he had been summoned with. At the end of the battle, he said, “I’m glad I met you, and I’m so glad I could help . . .”
I cannot describe how that felt.
“Your life too has saved my own,” I said.
Usato was out there doing his best to accomplish his mission. I knew that he would face hardships on that journey, but I also knew he would overcome them.
“He’s earned my stamp of approval.”
He would climb any wall he faced and would return home.
Your home in this world is here, Usato. The rescue team.
I did not have to speak the words aloud, and so I went on looking at the night sky.