Healer in the Abyss – Chapter 4

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4. Immediate Goal

In the abyss where no light can reach, Lexia survived. No, it may still be too soon to claim that she survived.

Somehow, having found a place to hide, Lexia hid with Lochness.

The purple ore only illuminated the surroundings, but it did not change the darkness.

Before she knew it, the pain in her body was completely gone. She hadn’t been able to walk or even talk until a few minutes ago, but now she was back to normal. It was not as if she had done the treatment herself.

Lexia glances again at the girl sitting in front of her—Lochness.

When she’s not in her sword form, she’s a girl with no clothes on. Even though she is at the bottom of an empty abyss, it is indeed awkward to walk around with her naked.

Therefore, Lexia gave her own robe to Lochness.

Now, she is wrapped up in it, hiding her bare skin.

　

“What’s wrong? Lexia, you’re looking at me like that.”

“! U, uh, it’s, nothing. Um, Lochness… have you been here, all this time?”

“Un, probably.”

“Probably…”

“This whole time, it was like a dream.”

“A dream…?”

“Yes, a dream.”

　

At Lexia’s words, Lochness stands up and answers.

　

“I dream of being in a dark, cold place, alone all the time. I really feel like I’ve been alone for a really long time.”

“Alone…”

――Lo, Nly…

　

Lexia remembered the voice she had heard earlier.

It was uttered by Lochness, but apparently she had not been fully conscious at the time.

If she were really alone this deep underground, ‘lonely’ would not be the word to describe it.

Lexia felt sorry for her, but asks one more thing that bothers her.

　

“Before you said … Lochness, as in 《Lochness the Weeping Cat》, right?”

“? Wee, ping? What is that?”

“Huh…? Oh, I see. It’s the name we call you on our own…”

　

Lexia, who was nodding her head, was convinced.

Lochness must be her name.

However, “Weeping Cat” is just a moniker given by humans.

　

 (Huh…? But then the name “Lochness” must also be ――)

“Hey, Lexia.”

“! Wh, what?”

” What are you going to do now, Lexia?”

“What will I… ah.”

　

When asked by Lochness, Lexia is once again faced with reality.

This is the unexplored abyss ―― no one will come to her rescue.

Besides, Lexia was abandoned by her companions and dropped here. Hugging her knees, Lexia falls silent as she crouches down.

Even Meik said she didn’t need Lexia. Even if Lexia is gone now ――she may not come looking for her.

　

“Lexia?”

“…… I don’t even know, what to do.”

“Why?”

“Why… Because, I was abandoned by my comrades and dropped here…”

　

When asked by Lochness, she answered bluntly.

There is no place to go back to and she doesn’t even know how to get back from here.

Instead of surviving, Lexia may have simply failed to die.

　

“Comrades… was Lexia abandoned by her friends?”

“I don’t mean friends, but fellow adventurers. I had a friend with me, but…….”

“Yes, did she abandon Lexia too?”

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t even know how to get back from here…”

“Go back, up there?”

“Yes, I think we’re too deep…”

“Hmm, I don’t know how deep we are either, but if you want to go back, you can just go up, right? If Lexia wants to go back, let’s go up.”

　

At Lochness’ suggestion, Lexia rolled her eyes. But she immediately shook her head.

　

“I can’t do it. Because I couldn’t have defeated the Kushna by myself.”

　

It would be difficult for Lexia alone to defeat even one of the monsters in the vicinity.

Lexia had no means of attack, she was always only protected.

Looking back, perhaps the party members were kind enough to allow Lexia’s presence.

　

“I’m here for you now.”

“…… Huh?”

　

Lochness reached out to Lexia who was mopping.

　

“With me here, they wouldn’t be any worthy enemies, right? I told you. It’s not just my power ――it’s Lexia’s power too.”

“B, but—”

“So, do you want to stay here forever? I don’t mind staying here as long as Lexia is here”

“!”

　

Lexia choked up again.

She doesn’t want to be here ――but she doesn’t know where to go.

　

 (Because, I…)

　

―― She wanted to be useful to Meik. At first, she was glad that she needed her.

So, even knowing that she might be a liability, Lexia agreed to Meik’s request.

As a friend, she wanted to support her, the one called “the Hero”.

　

（…… ah)

　

Then Lexia realizes something else.

In front of her is the King of Demons – Lochness.

One of the enemies of humanity that adventurers, including Lexia, have been searching for and trying to defeat.

However, she doesn’t show any hostility towards Lexia, in fact, she even wants to be with her.

If this Lochness is willing to cooperate… they might even be able to save the world.

　

 (But, I can’t… besides, even if I could go back, what could I say to her…)

　

Lexia didn’t know how to explain her, even if she could go back.

If she is Lochness, then she must be an enemy who has killed many people.

Even if she cooperates with Lexia now, it doesn’t mean she will be accepted easily.

　

“Lexia”

　

Again, Lochness calls her name, and Lexia looks up.

She was looking straight at Lexia.

　

“What do you want to do, Lexia? I have acknowledged Lexia as my Lord.  So I’d like you to tell me what you want to do.”

“What I want to do…”

　

She couldn’t answer right away.

But she couldn’t deny it.

　

“I don’t want to be here.”

“So, it’s settled then. Let’s get out of here, Lexia, and go up.”

　

At Lochness’ words, Lexia nodded in agreement.

The immediate goal ――to start by getting out of this abyss.

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