Master's dwelling is not a small workshop surrounded by forests and lakes in the southwest area of Haven... but rather deep within the forest. It was an elven-like residence, befitting an elf... though it felt somewhat ambiguous since the road leading to the forest from Jedo was neatly connected.
Still, thanks to that, we could take a rented carriage all the way to the forest entrance.
Seeing Cecil clinging to me with a bright smile as we boarded the carriage made me feel strangely bittersweet. When I stroked her fluffy hair, she giggled.
Her smile brought me a sense of comfort, but then...
The desire to return to my original body made me pause my stroking hand.
Currently, the most likely way for me to return to my original body is...
Neither researching Cecil's essence nor seeking out unique materials.
It would be to reverse the Alchemical Creation of Cecil.
Realistically speaking, that would be the most rational and correct decision for me to return to my original body.
But... that would come at a cost. Just like when Cecil was created.
Reverse Alchemical Creation would mean Cecil's existence disappearing. Perhaps my emotions, faintly connected to memories of my past life, prevented me from reaching that irreversible point.
...Maybe giving her a name in the first place was a mistake.
"Master Shaa?"
"...Hmm?"
"Is something troubling you?"
"...It would be a lie to say no."
Perhaps because I was feeling sentimental, I answered Cecil's question honestly, which I would usually have evaded. Cecil's eyes widened, and her expression turned worried.
"Is there nothing Cecil can do to help? Cecil is prepared to help with anything for Master Shaa!"
My stroking hand paused.
What emotion am I feeling right now?
I don't know.
I know it's not a positive feeling, but beyond that... I'm not sure. Perhaps it's because my faintly remembered past life was solitary, and this is something I haven't experienced in this life yet.
It could be called a joyless responsibility, but if asked whether I regret creating Cecil... I wouldn't say so.
"...Thank you for saying that."
That kind of thing... probably won't happen...
Feeling Cecil's body warmth, I looked across and saw Claudia gazing at me with a slightly odd but warm expression. Veronica beside her... looked somewhat bitter.
Perhaps... she knows the reason I'm acting this way.
Meanwhile, the carriage arrived, so we got off and gathered our belongings.
...Of course, Cecil carried most of it.
For now, let's forget these bitter thoughts and head to Master's hideout. Who knows, Master might have achieved some results.
Though she often appeared unreliable, Master is an elf who has presumably lived for a long time. Surely... there must be another way.
Even if she drinks and acts disgracefully... or occasionally behaves eccentrically.
It's certain that she's an outstanding alchemist.
...Though I have no idea what she's doing right now.
Watching the carriage depart, I quickened my pace. We left early, so there was time to spare, but who knows what might happen.
Walking ahead through the dense forest, memories came flooding back.
This was also where I spent my boyhood after running away from home. Though they were quite old memories, they were vivid in my mind, just faded in color.
While walking along the path of memories, an area presumed to be the boundary of Master's hideout appeared.
Simultaneously, I stopped the others. There was a reason Master's dwelling was called a hideout.
"Is something there?"
True to her exceptional adventurer nature, Claudia seemed to have sensed something. Veronica and Cecil, who had never been here before, looked puzzled.
Nodding to Claudia, I spoke.
"From here on, I'll go alone."
"Will you be okay?"
"...Probably."
The party was worried about me, but it was best for me to go in first.
After all, I likely have permission to pass.
So, it seemed better to wait until I met Master and obtained permission for the others to enter. Claudia might force her way through... but that wouldn't be a good choice.
...But wait, my body has changed—will I still be able to enter?
Or perhaps Master revoked my permission out of annoyance for not visiting...
Shaking my head vigorously, I stepped into the boundary. Waving to the party, who voiced their concerns, I told them not to worry.
I entered like a man.
Following my memories, I walked toward the hideout. Thinking nothing would happen, I assumed I could enter, but unexpectedly...
As soon as the silhouette of the hideout came into view, a vine grabbed my ankle.
Thinking I had tripped on a rock, I realized too late that it was a vine coiling around my leg.
Before I could scream, the vine wrapped around my body.
Starting from my ankle, the soft vine quickly climbed up my body and tightly seized me. When I tried to scream, the vine coiled around my open mouth, leaving only saliva smeared around my lips, unable to make a sound.
Bound, my body was lifted.
The vines, coiling around my body like snakes.
They are the guardians that deal with unauthorized individuals at Master's hideout.
...I had considered the possibility, but I didn't think they'd fail to recognize me. Still, it should be fine. They only expel intruders from the boundary; they don't kill or anything.
Of course... there's the minor issue of finding a peaceful way to enter the hideout or waiting for Master to come out, but at least I won't die.
However, the vines, which I thought would carry me to the boundary, started behaving strangely. After tightly binding me, they began groping all over my body as if searching me.
Starting with my face and chest, they fumbled around my waist and navel, then slowly crept toward my lower half. Sensing something bad, I struggled, but all that came from my mouth was copious saliva.
After a brief, unpleasant scene, the vines set me down on the ground. As the pressure squeezing my entire body vanished, my whole body tingled. The vine that had been fumbling my cheek as if apologizing had already disappeared into the forest.
"...Cough, cough."
Damn it... if you were going to do this, you shouldn't have touched me in the first place!
Swallowing the curses I didn't voice, I composed myself for a moment. My head felt fuzzy as blood properly circulated through my constricted body.
Well, it was a fortunate situation, but as they say, humans are different when entering and leaving the bathroom. While I was humble thinking I'd be expelled, actually being accepted made me feel quite unpleasant.
...Not that there was anything I could do about it.
Should I be grateful the sharp leaves didn't slash me?
Venting my frustration on the innocent ground, I walked toward Master's hideout, visible as a silhouette in the distance. Though it was a path I used to walk effortlessly, I was slightly out of breath.
It must be because of the vines.
Panting heavily, I led my aching lungs and stomach to the hideout.
Catching my breath and cooling the sweat, I looked at the hideout, and hazy memories flooded back.
Though later memories were painted over with Master vomiting or swinging a bottle while drunk...
Grabbing the familiar handle and turning it, it wasn't locked. Judging from that, Master was likely inside the hideout.
Closing the door behind me, I saw boxes that seemed to have been used for packaging. Judging by the origin being the area where I live... they looked like the boxes containing Cecil's essence.
'...Seems like she's been researching too.'
Passing the boxes, I headed first to Master's bedroom, which was closer than the workshop. There were times she'd still be asleep at this hour.
However, Master wasn't in the bedroom.
Touching the familiar bed, it was cold. It seemed she had woken up quite a while ago.
Or perhaps she hadn't slept at all.
Since there was no need to check elsewhere, I headed toward Master's workshop. Even though it had been a long time since my last visit, the path was clear. Though I couldn't help feeling it seemed a bit larger.
...Ironically, that's why I came here.
If not for that, I might not have contacted Master, but then I thought I wasn't that much of a jerk.
Lost in strange thoughts, I found myself standing before the workshop door.
Sensing a presence inside, it seemed Master was there.
Opening the door, greeted by thick smoke along with a hazy feeling. A familiar scent. The fragrance of spirit grass that Master occasionally burned.
It wasn't as harsh as tobacco, but with this much accumulation, it was uncomfortable. Pushing through the smoke, I moved toward the shadowy figure.
With a thought that it felt like a scene from a hazy past-life manga, as I approached the figure presumed to be Master, it flinched and started coming toward me.
Master's face, whiter than the spirit grass mist, emerged.
Perhaps because her face was so pale, the dark circles under her eyes looked very pronounced. Her water-colored hair was a mess, as if she had been immersed in research for a long time.
Yet, her body scent mixed with the spirit grass fragrance was pleasant.
Life returned to her hazy, deep emerald eyes, and she slowly opened her mouth.
"...Why are you here?"
Her dazed face and response made me chuckle, but then I saw something I shouldn't have on Master's lower half.
Now I noticed she wasn't wearing anything around her waist.
"Uh... why is that... hanging there...?"
It was an awkward reunion between master and disciple.
Author's Note (Afterword)
Juji