I’m an Appraiser, But What the Heck is a [Divine Eye]? ~I Want to Live Freely as the World’s Best Beginner Class~ - Episode 124: A Life in Another World that is Far from Free 59

Episode 124: A Life in Another World that is Far from Free 59

The Arata that came out from inside was completely different from the image I had in my memory.

His cheeks were hollow, his eyes vacant, and his once-straight posture was now hunched.

…Is this really Arata, the captain of the kendo club?

“…Ah… It’s really you, Mihiro.”

“Arata…..”

“…Do you want to come in?”

“Oh, yeah.”

His voice lacked strength and was very thin.

I was surprised. But I followed his lead and entered the room.

I saw Arata was weak and unsteady on his feet. He sat at the edge of the bed and I took a seat on a chair.

“…..Are you okay?”

“…..I’m fine.”

“What part of your current state is fine?”

“…..That’s true. I can’t eat anything. Even when I put food in my mouth, your face, along with Sensei’s, Yachiyo’s, and Kondō’s, come to mind.”

“Our faces?”

“Yeah. …Your dead faces.”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

Could it be that Arata had been suffering ever since we were exiled?

He must have been tormented for a long time… even after becoming a puppet!

“……Since when?”

“……I don’t know anymore. I can’t even tell when I stopped being myself.”

“……I see.”

……What can I do? Is Appraising his condition the only thing?

“Appraisal: Arata’s Health Improvement.”

“Mihiro?”

……Damn it, is that all it is? Is there really nothing I can do?

“….Arata, look at me.”

“….What are you saying, Mihiro?”

“Just look at me! Does this face look like a dead face to you? I’m alive, Arata!”

“I-I know that. But this is a problem in my heart—”

“Then overcome it! The Arata I know was the captain of the kendo club, a man who held the team together, a man of integrity, and someone who could overcome any hesitation!”

“…….You’re overestimating me.”

“Then so be it! If my words can change something within you, I’ll say it as many times as it takes! I don’t care if it ends up being in vain; you can change! You should be able to return to the dignified person you were back then!”

Our relationship isn’t that deep. We hardly talked at school. But when we met outside, we’d chat a little about light novels. A small connection.

Still, just as Arata had worried about me, I had been worried about him too. If that feeling can reach him even a little, something might change.

“…Yeah, maybe one day I can overcome it.”

“Not one day, overcome it right now!”

“…That’s impossible, Mihiro. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been plagued by this nightmare?”

“I don’t care about that!”

“Then don’t say it’s easy to overcome! At that time, I couldn’t save you! Not Sensei, not Yachiyo, not Kondō!”

“But everyone is alive! No one is dead!”

“I know! I’m listening… but the nightmare still doesn’t leave me!”

“Then you need to break away from it! That nightmare isn’t Maria’s doing; it’s a problem in your heart! I can’t do anything about it… So look at my face, and overwrite your dead face with my living one!”

Is Arata raising his voice because he thinks he can’t do it even if he wants to?

However, I believe that he can. It’s just a gut feeling, but I don’t think the spirit of Arata, who obtained a special-class profession, is that weak. There must be some meaning to him getting that special-class profession.

…Though, I don’t think my spirit, being a divine-class profession, is strong either.

“It’s not just me; Sensei, Madoka, and Yuria. Overwrite their dead faces with their living ones! No one is dead; we’re all alive!”

“——! …Yeah, that’s right. Everyone is alive.”

“That’s right, we’re alive! So look at my face! When Sensei comes, look at Sensei’s face too! Yuria is here; you should be able to meet Madoka later too! So overwrite everyone’s faces!”

“…Mihiro.”

I don’t know if my words got through to him. But in Arata’s gaze, there was a glimmer of strength.

This was the usual face of Arata I had seen all along, a man of integrity.

—Click.

“Hey! Mitsurugi-kun, Mihiro-kun! Have you got…ten…bet…ter……——huh?”

……Huh? No, no… Don’t look at us like that! This is obviously a BIG misunderstanding!

“So that’s how it is!”

““It’s not!””

Thank you for the grand misunderstanding! You just ruined the tense atmosphere from a moment ago!

“…Huh?”

“…What?”

“Hahaha!”

“……Arata?”

“Mitsurugi-kun?”

……Did Arata just smile?

“…I’m sorry. It seems I was saved by you and Sensei. When such a fun moment suddenly arrives, it’s natural to laugh.”

“…So, are you okay now?”

“…I don’t know. But it’s certain that I don’t feel as gloomy as I did a moment ago.”

“Um… Sensei, did you do something?”

…Well, I guess I’ll just consider it a happy ending. Yeah!