Battle with the spider, and a brief farewell

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Crinkle——— Crinkle———
 
 “Guh…!”
 
 Purple lightning ran through Theo’s entire body.
 While enduring that pain, he kept gathering his own magic power in both his legs.
 
 I, on the other hand, sent the bears magic power, using all my might to suppress his waves of magic power.
 
 “-…! Gu…-!”
 
 Each time the purple lightning surges, Theo’s entire body jerks up.
 Even with suppressing the 『waves』, I won’t be able to do any precise work if things stay like this.
 
 In order to hold down his moving body, I pressed down on the spider with my left elbow.
 
 — Snap!
 
 The moment I came in contact, the 『waves』 of magic power attacked me.
 
 “-…! Let’s begin.”
 
 While enduring the numbness in my left arm, I held the magic soldering iron and Mistreel wire in both hands, and brought them near the spider’s leg.
 
 A dull silver line peeked out from the joint of the leg.
 
 That part had been scratched off beforehand with a knife, the coating scraped off.
 
 All that’s left is to attach the extension line that’s in my left hand.
 
 “Kuh…”
 
 The waves of magic power attacked intermittently.
 
 While enduring the pain, I brought the tip of the extension line in contact with the spider’s line, and changed the wavelength of the magic soldering iron pressed against it.
 
 Shoof-^[1]
 
 A teensy bit of smoke rose up, and the metal wire liquified for just a moment.
 
 In that instant, I immediately removed the tip of soldering iron.
 
 “Ha-, ha-…”
 
 I pulled the extension line, confirming its strength.
 The wire was properly attached, returning a reliable resistance.
 
 “S-, success…!”
 
 Numbness has already spread throughout my entire body, and I could barely stand.
 
 However, I had no time to rest.
 
 The sensitivity of the spider’s sensors were only reduced while generating the 『waves』.
 
 If I don’t attach the other end right away and the sensor sensitivity rises, the trap will get triggered.
 
 I looked at the pocket watch at my side.
 
 The duration of the 『waves』 were exactly 3 minutes.
 Exactly one minute had passed at this point.
 With the two remaining minutes, I would attach the other end.
 
 “Tsk…!”
 
 I pushed my left elbow against the spider once again, and pressed the Mistreel wire against the spider’s joint.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 As for the result, the procedure was somehow complete.
 
 The instant I attached the second tip just barely in time, I unconsciously plopped down on the spot.
 
 The 『waves』 which came attacking me from my left elbow made my entire body numb.
 
 Both of my hands were shaking.
 Both of my legs had no strength.
 
 Theo’s convulsing body and the numbness from the 『waves』 hindered precise treatment.
 
 In fact, when I was attaching the second one, I got so numb that I had to start it over.
 
 Moving away from Theo, I readjusted the magic power within me, and eased the numbness.
 
 Then when confronting the second try, I finally succeeded in attaching the other end of the extension line.
 
 “A-, are you alright Letty?!”
 
 Even though it was likely painful for him too, The reached out a hand that had yet to recover from the convulsions from atop the bed.
 
 I too somehow raised my arm, and touched his hand.
 
 “——— that was, a bit tough, huh.”
 
 I replied back while breathing roughly.
 
 Like that, we entwined our half-senseless hands together.^[2]
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Noon, two days after the first treatment.
 
 Having installed extension lines to a total of four legs, we did the last of the finishing touches ——— the treatment of ripping the spider’s abdomen biting into Theo’s skin.
 
 “Guh… Ugh!!”
 
 Theo grit through the pain.
 
 From memories before the redo and prior medical examinations, I knew that the spider was attached to Theo’s chest with a Mistreel-backstitch^[3].
 
 That stitch is momentarily liquified, then promptly pulled out.
 
 Though it’s easily said, the procedure will bring the patient a great amount of pain.
 
 In addition to the pain of the 『waves』, the pain of the needles must be considerable.
 Theo endured the two pains well.
 
 “-…!!”
 
 I applied the magic soldering iron to the tip of the spider’s abdomen, and changed the wavelength.
 
 “Guhhh!!!!”
 
 Along with Theo’s groan, I promptly pulled out the needles.
 
 With the needles pulled out, a hole was opened in his skin, and blood began to flow.
 
 “Anna, water and gauze!”
 
 “Yes!”
 
 I took the cup and gauze from Anna who was ready beside me, rinsed off Theo’s scar and covered it in gauze.
 
 “-…”
 
 Theo’s face contorted in pain.
 
 “Sorry, I know it stings.”
 
 When I called out to him, Theo shook his head side to side.
 
 “This is, no big deal. Rather, the 『waves』———”
 
 I nodded at his words.
 
 “From here on, you won’t suffer from those seizures.”
 
 “———-!!”
 
 I looked at Theo’s chest once again.
 
 
 
 I turned the needles from the spider’s abdomen around and held them up in the air.
 
 Occasionally, the needles crackled with pale sparks flying off of it.
 
 With this, this repulsive magic tool would never again cause Theo anguish.
 
 From one of Theo’s eyes, a tear silently fell.
 
 Over this past year, how hard must it have felt for him, I wonder.
 
 Not only was he tormented by seizures each day, but his family also distanced themselves from him because they feared he might 『explode』.
 
 Thinking about that, I couldn’t even carelessly mention his tears.
 
 I waited for Theo to calm down, then asked him a question.
 
 “So… what’ll you do now, Theo?”
 
 “——— Hm?”
 
 “Shall we remove the remaining head and leg needles now as well? Or else, should we do that on another day?”
 
 Hearing my words, Theo hesitated for a bit, then raised his head and looked this way.
 
 “If it’s not too much of a burden for Letty, I’d like to do as much as possible now.”
 
 There was no hesitation in those eyes of his.
 I nodded.
 
 “Got it. We’ll take it all out, and get this thing thrown thrown out right away!”
 
 Saying so, I pumped my fists.
 Seeing this, pfft, Theo burst out laughing and wiped away his tears.
 
 “Thanks. I’m counting on you, Letty.”
 
 And thus, I began removing the remaining head and eight legs.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Three days later.
 
 Having safely completed the treatment, we left from Marmaldia that day.
 
 Theo and his escort Fabio, and also Viscount Kessel who manages the Southern Royal Villa, came all the way to the porte cochere to see us off.
 
 “Thank you for your hospitality this time.”
 
 Expressing my thanks, Sir Kessel smiled.
 
 “If you had a pleasant stay, then that’s more than enough. I look forward to the day you come visit once again, Lady Ainsworth.”
 
 “Me too, Sir Kessel.”
 
 Saying so, we both bowed to each other.
 
 Next, I shifted my gaze to Fabio who was next to him, and the large-built knight quickly got down on one knee.
 
 “Your Highness Count Ainsworth. On this occasion, you’ve undone the curse upon my master, so truly, truly, thank you very much!”
 
 While still kneeling, Fabio expressed words of thanks in a loud voice.
 Seeing that knight like that, I flusteredly called out to him.
 
 “Uhh, uhm… please stand up, Fabio. I simply carried out the imperial command from His Majesty the King, Conrad. Fabio-sama needs not kneel.”
 
 But Fabio refused to change his posture.
 
 “No, even so. Your Excellency has accomplished what countless magicians and shamans^[4] had failed to. Thanks to Your Excellency, my master’s smile returned… as a vassal, I couldn’t be more pleased!!”
 
 Saying so, tears spilt from the large-built knight.
 
 “Ehm…”
 
 Wondering what to do, I unconsciously looked at Theobald, and he frowned and banged on the knight’s back.
 
 “Look, get up, Fabio! You’re troubling Letty.”
 
 “Ah! I’m sorry!!”
 
 Fwip^[5], Fabio stood up straight.
 His face was wet with a large amount of tears.
 
 “Seriously… you always get so exaggerated.”
 
 “Ah! I’m sorry!!”
 
 The giant knight said so, bowing his head with a bang.
 
 
 
 And finally, I turned to the boy younger than me by a year, who fought this past two weeks.
 
 “…-”
 
 As if reflexively, Theo looked away.
 He peeked a glance this way, and pouted.
 
 “You’re going?”
 
 Hearing him murmur those whispered words, I felt reluctant to leave.
 
 “I really would like to stay till you returned to your own country, but… I have things that I’ve got to do.”
 
 I’ve neglected the territory’s transfer work, and there’s the matters with the Royal Capital Workshop and starting up the Magic Armoury’s^[6] magic rifle mass production.
 
 Both of them will have gone well on their way by my father, but the final check will have to be done by me myself after all.
 
 Hearing my words, Theo clenched his fists.
 He hesitated for a moment about something, then opened his mouth.
 
 “We’ll, see each other again?”
 
 “Of course.”
 
 “Really?”
 
 “We’re comrades who fought together, aren’t we?”
 
 “Come over and visit.”
 
 “… if the time allows.”
 
 When I said this, anticipating that it’d be quite difficult to take time off for a while, Theo looked unhappy… like he was about to cry.
 
 “Then, I’ll go to Letty. ——— That’s fine, right?”
 
 “Theo… Got it. I’ll be waiting.”
 
 “It’s a promise.”
 
 Theo held out his hand.
 
 “Yes. Let’s meet again.”
 
 I took his hand, and squeezed it back strongly.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 Thus, our fight at Marmaldia ended.
 
 Theo was liberated from the spider’s curse, and I got revenge for my 『blunder』 before the redo.
 
 I think I can call that a great win.
 
 But on the other hand, new mysteries came out as well.
 The magic communications device and the spider which used non-standard magic stones, and the pirates.
 
 ——— how can I figure out more?
 
 As I looked at the fading sea from the carriage window, I vacantly thought of that, when
 
 “For Ojou-sama, was this trip a good one?”
 
 Anna opposite from me said that and smiled.
 
 “I suppose so.”
 
 Recalling the days where she and Theo would face-off, I unconsciously let slip a wry smile.
 
 “The bad bugs are also gone now, and I can finally sleep in peace.”
 
 With a huff, my attendant pumped her fist as she blurted that out.
 
 “Anna…”
 
 In the end, those two remained like that till the last.
 
 (I wonder, what’s going to happen if Theo comes to visit…)
 
 I sighed, smiled, then once again looked out the window at the sea, imprinting it to my eyes.