The Skill Collector

"Long time no see, Mr. Carrerinulia"

"Pfft, you're here. Collector."

I'm standing next to the bed right now.

Lying in a bigger bed for sleeping alone, old woman.

This is the bedroom, until just now my family was gathered, but when I visited, the old lady told my family to leave.

A man who was unfamiliar to his family suddenly arrived, alarmed and about to be expelled, but he was immediately convinced and relieved that the old woman would teach him calmly.

"This was your favorite flower, right?"

Before I come here, I will be allowed to live the flowers I bought from the flower seller girl who has made me purchase them several times, along with the vase I removed, at the window.

"You remembered. Mmm, smells good."

He closed his eyes and inhaled the scent all over his chest, narrowing his eyes satisfactorily.

The age and wrinkles have increased, but the look of the mundane moment is not as different as it used to be.

"You don't look the same as you did when we first met. Pink black eyes with glossy dark hair like crow feathers. And a gentle, gentle face"

"I mean, just a mediocre face that seems to be everywhere."

"Heh heh, I love that face"

"Thank you"

Mr. Carrerinulia, whom I haven't seen in decades, is still a soothing man. Even though death is approaching just around the corner, such a bare gesture doesn't even show fine dust.

"You're here, which means my life will soon run out."

"Yeah...... yes. As promised previously, we have been working to recover the skills we gave them."

"Thanks to the collector, it was a pleasant life. Thanks to luck and wellness I bought from you."

As proof that the word is true, there is a crisp smile on her face that regrets can't even feel fine dust.

"I also took care of 'life expectancy' and 'young making', which I bought from Mr. Carrerinulia. I never thought the elves would sell it."

"That's when the collector was surprised, hehe."

I never expected anyone to let go of their skills' life 'and' young making ', which are also symbols of elves.

But I didn't buy out all two of them at a high level. I only bought the numbers I wanted by adjusting the levels.

- according to the age required by Carrerinulia.

"I wanted to be old with someone who liked me, too. I wanted to grow old with my husband...... That's all."

Elves are not only of the same race, they can also have children with humans.

There are also elves that rarely fall in love with humans and marry.

In that case, only the human companion will grow old year after year, and the elf will look after the other person while he is young. That was unbearable. Is that all...?

"Then you buy back 'luck' and 'health'. Should I give the price to your family?

"Yeah, it's a funeral and a legacy, all in all."

"Ha, right. Well, let me color the buyout amount a little bit."

"Please."

Smile at each other and gently grip to support the lean, thin hands stretched out towards me.

A hand that feels old with all the bones and skin. This is the result of selling 'young making' and 'life expectancy'.

I felt 'luck' and 'health' penetrating my body. Her breathing gets rough and her eyes go blank as soon as possible.

I guess the loss of 'health' skills has pushed death all at once.

"I have one last skill I want you to buy out."

"I don't know..."

"Uh, it's a skill called 'serenity'"

"Oh... that sounds like a collector to the end. From the amount you just bought…… can I pay……"

"Yes, it's a deal. I'll call your family, then."

The wrinkles between my eyebrows disappeared and my breathing calmed down.

I turn my back on her and put my hand on the door knob, understanding that my life can only last a few minutes.

"At the end of the day... tell me your name, please... okay?

Looking back at his weak voice, there was Carrerinulia waking up her torso and staring at me.

I don't name anybody, I pass them by a collector. I've never taught her, either, that we've been friends for a long time.

It's not like it's for her dying, but it would be okay to tell me.

Turn your heels back and stand by the bed again and gently close your mouth to her ear.

"Oh, that name... that's what you mean.... so many skills..."

"You can't tell anyone, can you?

Wink and ask her to stop talking.

I was surprised when I opened my eyes, but when I narrowed my eyes slowly, I put my hands on my mouth.

"I'll take it... to the afterlife."

And return the same tea-eyed wink you used to have.

That was the last word I ever had with her.

I sat in the village until after her funeral and I decided to move to the next village.

He seemed to explain me to my relatives at the time of his death, and I was able to spend my days peacefully until today. Thanks to Carrerinulia for all this, too.

The impression I had the first time I saw him was he was a natural, little, disturbing elf to watch. Elves loved nature, they were high pressure on people, beautiful and noble images... but they were overshadowed.

Her nostalgia and her laid-back personality. I guess they had a good influence on a lot of people and liked it. The funeral was visited by people from all over the village and they were grieving.

Both children and grandchildren have the face of Carrerinulia and are delighted that her blood has been passed down. Watching them soothes just a little loneliness.

A lot of people leave me behind.

It's a sight I've seen over and over again.

Remove the 'immortality' that remains in your skill slot and I will pass away the same way.

"One day, I wonder if such a day will come"

I offered the flowers she liked before the grave, and I left the village behind.

Because I have to go to a friend whose life expectancy will run out in a few days.

How many more times will it be left behind?

I don't get answers when I ask myself.

Will we be able to reach where she and her people are one day?

Does an end point exist at the end of this long journey?

Take a step forward with no answers.

Just because you can't see the end point doesn't mean you can stop walking. If we don't move on, we'll never get there.