Chapter 55 - Seia's Resolution
-
"Mother!"
Seia shouted in emotion and quickly approached the person whom she calls her mother.
"Wait Seia!"
I who finally realized the situation pulled Seia at the back of her clothes. In response to my actions, Seia impatiently squirmed in order to get away.
"!! What are you doing Sai? L-let me go...!" Seia told, vexed.
"Calm down Seia...!" I pointed my finger at her grandmother. "Unfortunately, what you're currently looking is just a hologram."
"Ehh?"
When Seia tried again to see in front of her properly, she noticed a panel beneath her grandmother. Finally realizing the situation, Seia slowly stopped her squirming.
Seia was probably overwhelmed by emotions that she just carelessly approaches the hologram in hope that her grandmother was still alive. Even if just a tiny bit chance that your loved ones is alive, you'll leave no choice but to approach it denying the fact that death can never be resurrected again.
In this case, Seia who finally realized the reality she's currently in is probably hurting her more than I can imagine.
After a brief moment, her grandmother who is in a form of hologram started to talk again.
"This is a hologram I've recorded to properly say my goodbye to my loved granddaughter. If you found this place instead of my daughter, heed no mind to what this old woman was about to say." Seia's grandmother paused before continuing. "Seia, I'm sorry for leaving you alone in this world while you're still young. You see, I'm feeling weaker and weaker as the day passed so I've made this in hope that I suddenly left you alone without saying my proper farewell."
No one made a sound or anything, the three of us just quietly listens to Seia's grandmother. Just the time I also felt Seia is trembling a little since I'm still holding her at her back.
Seia's grandmother continued. "Seia, thank you for staying in this grandmother of yours. I know you already know this but I'm a type of person who easily get lonely. That's why I'm very thankful that I have a very caring granddaughter who we're always with me." Seia's grandmother paused for a moment. "I also wanted to apologize to you since it's because of me that you didn't have the chance of playing with other because you're always taking care of me. If you're seeing this, you probably had a hard time talking with other, do you?"
Seia's grandmother let out a chuckle. Seeing her grandmother and hearing her voice, Seia is gritting her teeth—enduring as tears started to flow down her cheeks.
"Ah, looks like it's already time. Seia, I really hope you find someone that will accept you no matter what you do. If you've found that someone, don't ever let go of them." Seia's grandmother paused again. "You're probably getting bullied by students in the academy, right? It's unfortunate but I'll mow them if I were in my prime. Unfortunately, all I can do is to trust you to your actions." Seia's grandmother paused again, this time she was thinking of something. "Seia, I'm reaching my limit and will leave you soon. Again, I hope you forgive this old hag of yours and live a happy life. Become kind to everyone Seia, but don't let others belittle you. I teach you the way of a gunslinger so you'll at lease have a head start. You'll probably be alone after I'm gone but please take care of yourself." Seia's grandmother waves his hands. "This is it Seia. I'm really thankful that I became your granddaughter" She paused for a moment. "I love you, Seia. Goodbye" poof! The hologram had finally disappeared.
Seia who can't endure it anymore shouted her peace of mind. "That's not true, mother. I should be the one to thank you. It was because of you that I live happy life together with you. It was because of you that I felt the feelings of a true family" Seia started to sob. "I'm taking care myself every day and I've also have many friends that will accept me. I am currently living the best of my life, so you don't have to worry about me! I... I...."
Overwhelmed in emotion Seia dropped into the floor and let out her emotions.
"WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Seia bawled, ear slumped, remembering all the memories she has with her grandmother.
(Seia, have you eaten yet?)
(Seia, would you mind helping this grandma of yours?)
(Take care of yourself, Seia)
(Seia...)
I hastily catch her midway before she dropped on the floor. Seia was tugging my clothes, so I folded her in my arms and embraced her. It's the only I can think of doing into her right now.
Seia embraced me back and buried her face on my chest crying. While I feel her vibrations coming from her weeps, I realized, she currently felt very fragile. As if, she was about to break if not taken carefully.
"Mhm, let it out. Everything" I gently whispered.
She just kept continue to cry. No response or anything, but it was enough to at least remind her that there are someone that can be with her through her weakest moment.
"Akari" I called Akari who had her shoulder slumped, affected by the situation. "Would you mind if you kept watch on the outside?"
Akari paused for a moment. "Of course, Aruji-sama"
While she slowly went outside, she first approach me and whisper something. "Aruji-sama, please take care of Seia."
"Leave it to me" I gave a firm nod.
After that, Akari left the cabin which leaves me with Seia who still crying while I embraced her fragile body. Looks like it will take a while...
I gently caress her back and went silently for the whole time. Then I suddenly remembered.
In the original timeline, Seia was already dead and never saw her grandmother's proper farewell for her. It might be minor in the original game but now that I'm experiencing everything in bare flesh, it was enough to also affect me through Seia's sadness. Remembering those time, which was supposed to be her original ending, I tighten my hug at the bawling Seia.
After a while, Seia started to calm down and is only sobbing still tightly hugging me as if saying not to leave her. She then raises her head and look me straight into my eyes.
Her face was stained with tears and her eyes looks like a mess. After a brief moment and she went and buried her face into my chest still embracing me.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
"Mhm..." Seia murmured.
"I won't understand if you don't answer."
After a moment, Seia started to talk. "Hey, Sai..."
"Yeah...?"
Seia paused for a moment. "The thing is, when I was a kid... No, even now... I wanted to become like my mother..."
"Mhm..." I nodded.
"Everyone thinks that it's just my childish fantasy but..." Seia paused, then continued looking for an answer. "Do you think I can become the best Gunslinger just like my mother?"
"Of course." I replied without any ounce of hesitation.
"R-really...?"
"I'm saying the truth. I can even help you with that. But of course, you must also work hard to attain it." I replied.
"I see" Seia removes her arms in my body and slowly rose into the floor. She rubs the tears away from her face and look at me straight into the eyes.
"I want to be like my mother."
Haha, there it is. The word I wanted to hear for a long time.
"I will work hard to attain it. For my confidence, and for my mother whom I want to continue her legacy." Seia continued. "I will become the strongest gunslinger. Please help me, Sai."
I rose into the floor with my blood pumping with excitement. Looks like Seia is okay now, so I don't need to worry about her.
"It's a plan then?" I smirked.
"Yeah" Seia gave a firm nod.
Everything looks okay now. Seia had finally calmed down and is surprisingly looking like a person full of resolve. Even though she's just crying earlier... Perhaps she also has a strong willpower just like Luna. Anyways, I called Akari who was waiting outside.
"Akari, you can come now" I called.
After a brief second, Akari hurriedly approached us inside the cabin.
"I'm here, Aruji-sama?" Akari then approaches Seia. "Are you okay, Seia?"
"Yep. I've calmed down now. Sorry for such embarrassing sight" Seia replied.
Akari shakes her head. "As long as you're okay then everything's fine."
Suddenly, a loud sound was heard outside the cabin. It was a sound of a heavy object that fall into the ground. The three of us looked at each other in bewilderment and went outside to check where the loud sound came from.
"That's..."
A large wooden chest can be seen outside the cabin. By the looks of it, the chest was emitting a bit of mana which can be recognized as [Dimension Chest]. A furniture similar to 『Magic Pouch』. It was probably where Seia's grandma is hiding her treasures.
When we approached the mysterious chest, a small paper with a writing on it can be seen attached at the head of the chest.
[This is my farewell gift for you Seia. I don't have any girly thing I can give you so forgive me for it. I just thought it might help you so please accept this grandmother's gift for you]
After Seia read the letters, she let out a gentle smile. putting the letters at her pocket, Seia opened the chest gifted by her grandmother.
"T-this is...?!"
I was left dumbfounded seeing the contents inside of the [Dimension Chest]. One of the items inside the chest are a dozen of 『Life Essence』 13 to be exact. There are also some materials that you can't just find easily which is a pair of 『Ability Scroll』.
I tried to use ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill to check the contents of those Scrolls.
One of them is called ⟨⟨Lock and Load⟩⟩. It was an ability which will reload your gun instantly. A skill perfect for Seia who is a gunslinger.
Lastly is called ⟨⟨Gunslinger⟩⟩. Huh...? Isn't this...
Apparently, the ⟨⟨Gunslinger⟩⟩ is a passive skill which will give the person their own 『Exclusive Weapon』. If the person attains their 『Exclusive Weapon』. It will increase their offensive stats by a huge margin.
Does that mean, Seia will have her own exclusive weapon as the Heroes and Heroines in the story? Talk about OP.
"You're kidding...…" I mused in astonishment.
"Hm? Did you read the contents of the items with your appraisal skill?" Seia asked.
"Yeah, it was perfect for you. What a gift from your mother...…." I replied.
"I was also very surprised by it," Seia let out an awkward laugh. "Even if I don't know much about these items, I can see that they're considered one of the best."
She is right though. There are also some accessories that made me widened my eyes in surprise. One of them is called 『Thunderboots』 which is the 3rd upgrade from my 『Hermes Boots』. It has an appearance of a brown boots with a golden stripe on it. Aside from its unbelievable speed, the wearer can now do a ⟨⟨Triple Jump⟩⟩ from these boots.
The last Accessory left is called 『Magic Holster』 a case accessory that can carry any gun of its size. It has an appearance of leather belt and strap that can store at least 3 guns in its possession, both sides of the hip and one for the back.
"There's so much of it..." Seia said dumbfoundedly. "There's so many items that It kind of making me excited."
"You'll often have that same feeling from now on I assure you. You'll start to explore and be curious into something new to your eyes so expect something in the future." I chuckled. "Even I am getting excited right now."
"I'll take your word for that" Seia replied, looking jolly.
"I suggest you use everything in that chest right now" I remarked.
"Eh? Can't it wait later?" Seia replied, seemingly bewildered.
"Regrettably not. We'll have a guess after this."
Seia who's looking at me and felt my weird behavior started to equip all the items in the chest. She put the 『Thunderboots』 and put the 『Magic Holster』 through her body.
Just looking at her, she now looks like a full pledge Gunslinger appearance wise.
"It looks good on you" I stated. "You look adorably cool."
Seia just giggled at my compliment. It kind of made me sad but we have more important to think rather than this.
Next is the 『Ability Scroll』. Without any hesitation, she placed both the scroll at the ground and put her hands on both papers, receiving two abilities simultaneously. Too efficient if I must say but not bad. I also can't wait to see how this girl will dominate everyone with her current gear.
Lastly, she took all the 『Life Essence』 in the chest and smash it in her hands one by one. Once she smashed the last piece of 『Life Essence』 she emitted an uncanny pressure that made me agitated in a brief second.
Similarly, Akari who was beside me looks at me pertaining if I also felt that vibe from Seia.
"Yeah, but I think it was because she already accomplished it" I replied, then used my ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill to look into Seia's status:
『Seia』
『HP: 400/400』
『MP: 200』
『DEF: 19』
『AGI: 572-1144』
『DEX: 130』
『Endurance: 300』
Skills:
⟨⟨Gunslinger: 0/3⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Lock-and-Load⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Triple Jump⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩
Throughout the circle of friends, right now, Seia is the first one to finally reached the maximum HP of 400. Just seeing her stats made me tremble in uncontrollable excitement. Not to mention the items she's currently have possession of will made him hard to fight even for me.
"What a monster..." I mumbled, grinning.
"Aruji-sama…" Akari looks at me with a frightened expression. "You're scaring me..."
"Oh! I-I'm sorry... I just got excited..." I replied, laughing it off.
While I apologize, scratching my head with a strained smile, I noticed a gun whom I think Seia didn't notice.
"Seia, that thing," I pointed my finger at the gun inside the chest. "won't you take that?"
"Eh?" Seia made a surprised appearance and looked at the chest. "You're right, But I didn't saw it earlier..."
A bit puzzle, Seia took the gun inside the chest. And when she touched it, an aura started to surround Seia for a brief moment. Don't tell me...!
"This is weird..." Seia mumbled to herself. "It's giving me a familiar vibe..."
Yeah, no kidding. Right now, Seia is currently holding her first 『Exclusive Weapon』 that has never mentioned in the game. In response to such situation, I was left nonplussed to one after another surprise that is happening since we've come into this place.