I'm tired of .......

　When the mixing process was tentatively complete, Mark sat down outside the tent and exhaled deeply.

　In the end, since then, Mark had powdered a head-strong amount of ingredients compared to the adventurers.

　It was probably because he was somewhat elaborate.
　While he was performing one task after another that he was entrusted with, before he knew it, he was piling up a large amount of artifacts.

　Thanks to this, the muscles in his right arm were complaining of a tense pain.

　Both Erica and the patient were pleased with their work, but I wondered if this pain was really an appropriate compensation for their achievements.

　Since we just had a pharmacist here, let's have him prescribe a remedy for this responsibly as well - as I was rubbing my arm while thinking of a request I didn't actually plan to make, a wooden cup was gently held out to me over my shoulder.

'Thanks for your help,'
The Medicine Man's ......
'It's not as potent as a potion, but it's a drink that helps with fatigue. It's pretty sweet and delicious.

　Mark looked a little confused before sipping his cup.

　To his right, roughly across the distance of one human, Erica slowly sat down, holding the hem of her skirt.

'Right hand, please give me your right hand. I've made you a poultice.

　Not expecting to actually bring the cure, Mark was taken aback and rolled up his right sleeve as he was told.

　A rectangular piece of cloth lined with a paste-like medicine was stuck to his right forearm, which was sore and feverish from moving it too much, giving him a cool sensation.

'I'm sorry about earlier. I guess I got excited and used weird language. You're a knight, so you'd better get it right.
'No, ...... you can just talk in an easygoing way. It's easier that way.

　Mark narrowed his eyes as he rubbed the poultice on his arm.

　To be honest, being awed by someone who is more useful than he is, makes him feel miserable and despicable.

　-- or more accurately, I feel like I'm being confronted with that fact once again.

'Really, it's great. You're a big deal for being so young. Isn't he more skilled than the medical officer of our Knights ...... Purple Jade Order?
Don't exaggerate: ...... I'm just starting out!

　Erica smiles shyly and embarrassingly.

　From the looks of it, this girl's age is fifteen or sixteen.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world. That wasn't a good time to be reluctant to help,
No, no. I ended up getting the most help from them. But it's still ...... ahh, I'm really sorry if I'm being rude, but ...... is also because I don't like manager Luke.

　Mark couldn't help but reply as the words were spun in a reserved manner.

'...... How did you come up with that?'

　The statement itself and the interval leading up to it spoke more eloquently than anything else about Mark's state of mind.

'Because, you see, you helped me carry my stuff.　I explained that it was for a pharmacist's job. But he refused to take it, so I thought, "What the hell is he doing?　I thought. When I thought about it calmly, I realized that it was a finger from the head of the store ...... that made me reluctant to do it.

　Erica chooses each word carefully, listening for Mark's reaction, choosing her expressions, but the content itself boldly cuts to the essence.

　Oh, yes, that's right. You are absolutely right.

　The fact that he proclaimed something unbecoming of a rookie knight, such as not wanting to listen to anything other than specific orders - although it is also true that he was allowed to demand so - is all due to that man ( Luke) stems from my disgust for (Luke).

　That's why I feel like I'm a miserable, despicable thing for dragging such a thing out despite the emergency.

'What if it's ......?　Do you despise me?
No, no, no, no!　I don't know, I just thought I'd like to go to ...... to get to know them.
............

　My thoughts stopped at the unexpected surprise.

　It was as if I didn't understand what process would lead to such an answer.

'Because, you see. The fact that you don't like it or that you were reluctant to do so means that you ended up helping me out in the end, even though I didn't like it, right?　And a lot of them. I wondered if I could do the same thing: ......
...... You don't get along with your immediate family either?
Well, yeah. My parents and I were at odds with each other over my so-called dreams for the future. I'm not sure if I want to go back to my hometown. The question of whether I would go back to help my parents if something happened to them is: ...... yes.

　Erica giggled with a mixture of awkwardness and self-deprecation.

　Mark, on the other hand, looked at the girl's profile in a way he had never before, as he was bombarded with perspectives he hadn't considered.

'...... My parents were respectful people. They were the mayor of my home village and the villagers trusted them.

　After many thoughts flashed through my mind, what came out of my mouth was a story about the past that I hadn't been asked about.

I'm sure you've heard that the Commander left his hometown fifteen years ago, right?　At that time, five years had passed since His Majesty's accession to the throne, and the project of continental unification was beginning to accelerate at a rapid pace.

　I was prepared for the pretense of disinterest, but surprisingly, Erica seemed to be listening to the conversation with a serious look on her face.

''No matter how well known His Majesty is for his good government, it is impossible to reduce the burden on the people below to zero during a massive war. Around the time of that man's departure from the village, his parents' busyness also increased steadily.
...... I wasn't even old enough to remember anything yet.
At the worst time, I was seriously worried that I was going to collapse from overwork. And I thought to myself, as a child,

　I gingerly tighten my fists on my knees.

I wondered why my brother didn't come back to me when my father and mother were in trouble. And when I'm fifteen years old, I'm going to help my dad and mom. ......
............
'But the irony is that by the time I was about to turn fifteen, the war was completely stable and my parents' busy schedule was back to normal.

　Mark had no way of knowing at the time, but the unification of the continent had progressed so quickly that the home village had quickly moved away from the front lines.

'I tried to channel my empty enthusiasm in another direction. It was about time that the recruitment of knight candidates from the common people had begun, so if I became a knight and received the territory, I could reward my parents as much as I wanted .......
So I couldn't very well accept Manager Luke, who didn't return to your parents anytime soon: ......
By the way, when your dream comes true and you become a knight, you're ahead of me.　It's the Lord Commander, Lord Commander.　And my parents are happy about it too!

　One after the other, all the things that have been pent up in my mouth are pouring out.

　The feeling of being told the reality of the situation is heartbreaking, even as I recall it now.

　A man who had only thought he had abandoned his parents and his hometown had overtaken his own desire to repay them, and was now in a position to support them much more powerfully than he had.

　I am not human enough to be able to enjoy this honestly.
　If it wasn't for the overly attractive fodder of being an Eastern man, he wouldn't have been able to shake his head no matter what.

　Mark shouted his frustration out loud, and as he did so, he took a slow breath and shook his cooled head a few times.

'...... sorry, I'm distraught,'
Don't worry about it. I'm the first one to tell you how much I disagree with my family.

　I wanted to say that it was probably because I asked, but Erica didn't have time to continue with her words.

''I mean, why don't you just throw the whole thing to the manager?
...... for the Commander-in-Chief himself?
That's right. It's a good idea to make sure that you're aware of what's bothering you, or else they won't understand. It's a good thing that you're able to do that with your parents.

　The bullish face turned into a troubled face, then a deceptive smile.

　But what Erica was saying was definitely correct - that's how Mark felt.

　Whether what awaits after that is reconciliation or bankruptcy, if you don't tell them what you think, you won't be able to move on.

...... And you're lucky to have someone to blurt it out with. Like Sakura's parents, it's too late to even talk to them anymore. ......
'Shiranui Sakura's parents?　You don't think your parents are unhappy?
What ......?

　Erica's face tightens as if to say she put it away.

''Are you sure you didn't hear me?　From the man himself, not at all?
'I've been avoiding talking about my immediate family because I've been avoiding it on my end: ......
Well, then!　Not that one!　Nah, I'm not supposed to be the one to tell you that!

　Erica is confused and distraught.

　It's not just the sunrise, it's the morning sun.

　Of course, it's not the morning sun.
　It's not the sunrise, but the brilliance of a furious pillar of fire that rises beyond the hills.