Chapter LXXI - Story (part 2)

I thought of an idea and grinned evilly, scaring everyone else.

"If this small ball in my hand exploded right here and now, it could destroy this entire shop."

The owner of the said shop quickly began sweating. He looked at everyone else, making Valey and Cony nod.

"That's true."

"We have seen it before."

Hod's face changes even further. He started to stand up and lifted both of his hands to protect his restaurant.

"Hey, I'm just kidding. Though I nearly exploded the master's office earlier."

I said as I lowered my hand once the firebomb dissipated from my palms. Everyone else stared at me with shock and awe.

"You did, What!?"

All the adventurers respected the Office master, except me probably. After all, he had only done shit to me.

Hod was still surprised and panicked, but he sat back down. I placed my shoulder on the table and landed my chin on my hand. I toyed around with the bones on the plate. This is where things become difficult to say.

"Anyways, I landed on the ocean and floated around the surface for a whole week. My friends and allies found me on the beach, heavily wounded. And it took the doctors another week to heal me until I woke up."

"Damn... Does that mean you are only awake for two weeks on the whole mission?"

"Yeah..."

Cony shook her head when her answer arrived, everyone else was quite taken aback too.

Should I... tell them?

I probably should… but not too openly.

"This... is probably the hardest part to you guys."

They all looked confused, but I quickly explained to them.

"The emm... the doctors. They couldn't completely heal me."

"What? Then that means… you still have an injury?"

Cony asked, but I shook my head.

"No, not an injury. More like... a scar."

Seeing the expression I'm making, Valey looked worried.

"How bad is it?"

She had been staring at me for the whole day. She must've noticed the change in my behaviour. She was the most worried one, and I'm glad that she is.

I smiled at her, and slowly took off my gloves.

Everyone else stared at what's left of the skin on my palms. Now that they have realized it, I was wearing long sleeves the whole time, as well as a pair of gloves.

"You were... wearing gloves... and long sleeves... I thought that was weird. And the way you are behaving today, that's..."

Valey was paying attention today. She is the only one feeling something's wrong with me today. Everyone else was just happy that I'm back.

"Rize... can you... pull up your sleeves?"

Hod asked me, seeing how the burn mark doesn't end on my wrist. I looked around to see that there were no longer that many people here. Everyone is busy in their own conversation, and even Hod's mother is away. No one is looking, nor do they even have a glance here.

I slowly pulled my sleeves, all the way to my elbow.

"... Oh my god..."

"Rize..."

Valey and Cony looked like they were about to scream. I quickly closed the sleeves and waved my other hand.

"It's fine, it's fine. It's the cost of casting an incredibly powerful magic and… maybe creating a gigantic lake? After all, it was either dying to the lighting guy, or this. The choice was obvious, right?"

My expression must've been unconvincing, because they all still looked at me heavy.

"I mean, it's fine. I can always put on some long sleeves and gloves... It's... Fine..."

Their faces are still saying the same. They pity me.

"... Don't pity me, guys. I told you guys thinking that you guys will be able to handle it, you know?"

"How... do you think we can handle this...?"

Valey asked me with her eyes closed. She doesn't want to look at me.

"You've just lost your magic just a while ago... And you got back, and suddenly, you... lost the beauty of your hand..."

Not just my hand, more like both of them. As well as my legs.

But they don't need to know that. Just this far is too much for them. Besides, the hell beauty and skin. I never liked this body anyway. One day, I'll be going back to my old body.

Mark my words, evil gods.

"Now, now. What's past is past. For now, I'm going to look for a way to heal this. And… I was hoping you guys can help me search."

I said confidently. I raised my right fist in the air, already covered in gloves.

"I swear. I will heal this."

Seeing my determination, everyone else also lightened up. They all grinned, because I once came out from a really terrible situation where I lost my ability to use magic, and somehow I can use magic again.

I can go out from that situation, then I can go out from this.

"I conquered the sickness, I can get out of something like this. It's not like there's a ton of healing mages out there."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's find you a way to heal your hand!"

Cony said proudly. She was always the easiest to lose all negativity on her mind. Seeing Cony said that, everyone else also lightened up.

"Right. Then, until we find you a heal, you will be using gloves?"

"Yeah... It's going to be very hot wearing gloves, but I'll manage. If you guys can find me really cool looking gloves, that would be very much appreciated."

I said to Hod and the others, and all of the sudden, Valey had an Idea.

"Ah! I know! Why don't we go somewhere tomorrow? We are taking a day off right? Having stuck in a dungeon for three days and all..."

"Yeah, of course."

Hod nodded, and Valey celebrated. She held my right hand, where I showed my skin, and spoke.

"Let's go on another girls day!"

"Girls day??"

"Girls day!!

Cony shouted from the other end of the table. I can only laugh, but this might be a good chance for me to get some newer clothes. Most of my clothes are short sleeved, since long sleeves in summer are just nothing but a bad idea.

Come to think of it, the sun here is still hot even though it's been quite a long summer. Just how long will the summer stay?

"Okay. Girls day."

""Yeay!!""

The girls shouted while the boys could only facepalm. Sorry boys, I'm taking all the ladies with me.

The rest of the night is simply us talking about how weird Hod has become during the time I was gone. Like he even grew a beard. He is literally going crazy or something.

He will definitely cut that beard after tonight.

After talking for another hour, the store is finally closed, and we all decided to go back home because everyone was quite tired, except for Cony who slept somehow. 

We all split up and I went straight back home. What day is today? I have lost count on days ever since I went out for the mission. Either way, I can always check the newspaper in the room.

Entering my room, I removed the gloves and released myself from my boots. I didn't change into another pair of clothes, because I don't want to see the rest of the horrible skin, so I just slept like this.

Would be nice to have something to cover these...