Who is Alstroemeria?


    She is the girl who saved my life when I was attacked by a devil.


    She is the girl who cheered me up when I was down at the day after I was attacked.


    She is the girl that gave me a clear reason for me to give my best.


    She is the girl who treats me dearly and delicately.


    But who is she to me?


    I never thought about it.


    She has done many things for me but I can’t sort out my feelings of how I see her.


    .


    .


    .


    Right now, Alstroe is standing there. Her power is going violent.


    She is showing a smile that’s so gentle but it’s unfamiliar to me.


    This isn’t…


    “Asagao, what the hell is this?!”


    Master shoutsat me. Even I don’t have any idea.


    But it’s the truth that I made her like this.


    “Asagao, can you turn Alstroeback like what you did to me?”


    “I think I can. No, I have to. I need to.”


    To Higan’s query, I answered that, but I can’t help butstare at Alstroe’s state.


    Her expression is so unnatural.


    This isn’t…


    “Asagao, Hurry up!”


    “Un.”


    I try to focus my mind. I imagine pulling the power out of her…!


    There’s a resistance to it. I can’t pull it out. Alstroeis resisting. Does it really mean that…


    This isn’t…


    “Master, can we get closer? Alstroe- is resisting it. I can’t pull the power out ofher.”


    “I guess we don’t have much of a choice! I’m going to use barrier myself so deactivate yours!”Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    I deactivate my own barrier and Master activate his. It is a transparent red barrier. It looksstronger and its range beats mine. He moves forward while maintaining the barrier.


    I kept trying to pullthe power out ofher but the resistance isn’t weakening. Suddenly…


    “ASAGAO! HURRY UP! WE ARE CLEARLY GOING TO DIE!”


    “Asagao, please stop Alstroe!!”


    That’s right Alstroe- made a stance like she is going to punch. Even I myself feelthat this punch will pulverize us up to our bones. Not to mention we are going to catch it point blank.


    I tryand tryand try.


    I got scared, I am really scared.


    But I am not scared of the thought of dying. I am scared that the smile I am used to seeing, even though I always show a grumpy face, won’t be returning.


    This isn’t the Alstroemeria that I know!!


    I clenchmy fist! I grit my teeth! I gather air to my lungs!


    “ALSTOE, YOU’RE A BIG IDIOT! YOU DUMBASS! YOU BLOCKHEAD!”


    She suddenly twitchesatthose words. She lets her defense down and I was able to pull the power out of her.


    Unlike the case of Higan where I pulled the power slowly, I pullthe power all at once in Alstroecausing her to fall down and lose consciousness on the spot.


    Everything that happened earlier was like a dream.


    The surrounding is in a sorry state. But I don’t mind it. There is someone more important that I need to go to.


    I make master let go of my waist and I startwalking.


    Then I jog.


    Then I run as fast as I can to approach Alstroe.


    I got to the place where Alstroe- was lying.


    I gently sat down at the spot. I lift her head and put it on my lap. She is breathing normally like she is just sleeping. I brushher hair. It is smooth and silky.


    It gives a fragrance that calms me.


    I continuously caressher head.


    This is actually the first time that I noticeit.


    Noticing what is Alstroe for me.


    Who is Alstroe for me?


    Nonsense. The only answer I can give is…


    “Alstroe-nee, you are someone really precious tome.”


    Higan is my friend and she is also precious tome. But right now, I just realizedthat Alstroeis precious tome too.


    Her idiotic smile.Her idiotic, and sun-like smile that I am used to sseeing Her warmth that calmed me when I was down. Her strength I admire.


    Before I know it, I amhugging her head, and tears spills from the corners of my eyes.


    Shouldn’t I have realized it sooner? Who is the idiot one here?


    Both of us actually, but Alstroe, even though she know it herself, she is sensitive to other''s feelings.


    She actually stayed awake all night to hunt down devils maybe because she knows how much traumatized I am to them. Alstroe will always smile for me.


    What I did was make a grumpy face asshe mentioned it herself. I hugher head tightly and I start to sob loudly.


    I just realized it myself, how important she is tome.But I am already someone dear for her,and someone she wanted to cherish right from the start.


    “Alstroe-nee *hic* please… smile for me and for everyone.*hic*”


    I don’t want to see her like that again. I don’t want her to become unapproachable like that ever again.


    I love this Alstoemeria, whatever happens!


    I want her to be one of many people I love! I want her to be one of the people who are precious for me.


    Higan and master arrive. Higan sits down beside Alstroe and holds her hand, startsto sob too.


    I see, for Higan, Alstroe-nee is someone precioustoo. Master is notsoheartless astointerrupt us, he just watches us warmly from the background.


    “Alstroe-nee, please, open your eyes now.”


    “Alstroe, you made us cry so please, wake up now and say sorry!”


    We plead, we already know that Alstroe-nee is not in danger, but we want her to smile at us and say “I’m fine” herself.


    I want to reassured that she isn’t like that herself fromearlier. We want the Alstroemeria who is idiotic and whimsical, but nevertheless, fun and loving.


    Her eyes are trembling, after a while, her golden eyes are in view. She surveys her surrounding and realizes something.


    “Asagao, Higan, It seems I made you two worried. I’m sorry.”


    “A-A-Alstroe-nee!!”


    “Alstroe!!”


    We hugher from both side. She is baffled. Then she patsour head to reassure us and she saysto us…


    “Don’t worry now, I’m fine.”


    .


    .


    .


    After we sobbed for quite a while, Alstroe-nee told us what happened.


    “I wasconscious the whole time when I got the enhancement but…”


    “But?”


    “I don’t have any idea why wasI doing it.”


    It seems she wasn’t in control of her body but she knows what she was doing. I wonder what does that mean. Master then speaks.


    “Okay. I somehow have an idea what kind of power Asagao has,but, you see, I need to consult and confirm it to a friend of mine in the fairy kin continent.”


    “Um…master, I thought—“


    “I have decided. I will guide Asagao and Higan in magic while travelling to the demon capital to ensure that you two can defend yourselvesand no more buts. After I do my business there, I shall personally take you to the human capital! I can take you there in just one day you know!!”


    “Then master you—“


    “But we are going to do a detour at the fairy kin continent.”


    “Eh?”