Chapter 22 The GodSlayers (5)
At the restaurant……or rather, the dinner hall ant for the masses where Aya and others were waiting had very few other custors.
The number of wooden tables were many and were also well maintained. There was also a big piano but it wasn’t being played right now so it was pretty quiet right now.
At the counter, a girl of the sa age as Aya was taking orders and behind that counter, inside the kitchen, 2 adults, probably the girl’s parents were making food.
The atmosphere felt very cosy and comfortable as we 4 sat around a table and looked through the nu. By the way, Aya sat in front of and Souichi and Yayoi were on the sides.
“It’s a restaurant with a pretty great atmosphere. Do you guys co here often?”(Renji)
“Yeah. It’s filled with students of our age in afternoon but the number of custors at night are scarce. Since we’re quite famous, we co here quite a lot of ti for dinner.”
“It sure is tough being famous eh?”
“Also, the food here is really delicious. Quantity served is good as well.”
[Houu.]
“No, why the hell are you getting amazed for? You don’t even have a mouth.”(renji)
[Muu……]
But, I guess that makes sense. I moved my gaze towards the few custors here but they were all young. They’re probably not even 20 yet.
It’s probably because they don’t serve much alcohol that its not popular with the night crowd. As I looked at the nu while listening to Souichi, I saw that only a few beverages were ntioned.
Even rural villages have 1 or 2 more than this. Thinking that this restaurant is probably aid at minors—-students, it makes much more sense.
In this world, there’s not really a age limit for drinking. As long as they drink moderately and don’t cause trouble for others, anyone except small children are allowed to drink.
The fact there are no alcohol bottles behind the counter, or any place visible, they must be appealing towards the student crowd.
“But then, don’t you have trouble going shopping normally as well?”(renji)
“It’s not that much of a problem, right?”(souichi)
“It’s probably because brother doesn’t really go shopping too much anyway….If you go to so big rchant’s store, we do stand out.”(yayoi)
“Eh, really?”(souichi)
“Yeah….Souichi doesn’t really care for his appearance and pretty much stays ho all the ti and only goes to small stores so you probably don’t realize. Our faces are pretty famous.”(aya)
“……I see.”(souichi)
“Souichi, don’t you go to shopping with your girlfriend or soone?”(renji)
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Saying that, he dropped his shoulders. And I could only feel surprised at that.
“Really?”(renji)
[Unlike Renji, he should be popular with won though.]
Ignoring Ernhilde’s words, I looked towards Aya and Yayoi-chan. Aya, sowhat vaguely and Yayoi with a happy expression, nodded.
So he really doesn’t have one.
I looked at Souichi. Androgynous, if I have to change my words, his face is what you’d call pretty for n. His height is slightly shorter than boys his age but I doubt that should be a problem.
His personality is an easily likable one, he is skilled and strong. In my opinion he should be considered superior to others but is he lacking in so specs from this world’s point of view?
Or maybe they think he’s dating Aya? They’re both GodSlayers after all. They both journeyed together and are of the sa age. It wouldn’t be weird if there were so who thought like that.
Even I think that it would be a natural relationship for them.
The closeness of Souichi and Aya is very vague. Closer than normal friends but a little distant to be lovers. They both call each other childhood friends or close friends but I feel it’s slightly different. And it’s not like they aren’t conscious of each other either.
Well, I have had neither any childhood friends nor such best friends so I don’t know what’s the correct answer.
“Since you’re famous, do they get nervous while talking to you?”(renji)
“Sothing like that. Since I am a hero, a God Slayer after all. The only ones that co to chat are girls from famous noble families whose nas I don’t even know.”(souichi)
“Isn’t that fine? You’ll get to live in luxury after all.”
“Not really interested. I want to beco an adventurer after graduating anyway.”
Is that so? I looked at him.
“Just like Renji-niichan, I want to look around the world. With my own eyes.”
“Well that sounds fun. But you shouldn’t try to live like exactly.”
[Yeah, you shouldn’t really. If you were to start living like that as well, Renji would probably get buried by Yuuko.]
“……..That’s a very plausible future, so really, please don’t.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
That kind of hand-to-mouth livelihood. Earning reward from the guild, eating and then sleeping. After collecting a bit of money, move to the next village.
‘Freedom’ sounds great but it’s a life with no savings whatsoever. There are no guarantee what’ll happen once I beca old.
If Souichi actually was to copy that lifestyle, what would the mother-like Utano-san do to ……. Just like Ernhilde said, I’ll get buried—-it’d be nice if it would end with just that actually.
“Being an adventurer doesn’t suit you, brother.”(yayoi)
“Right. For starters you lack that adult maturity and the awesoness of an adventurer you need. It’s over for an adventurer if you get underestimated you know?”(aya)
“…..thank you for your frank opinion, Yayoi, Aya.”(souichi)
[Awesoness?]
What do you want to say? I lightly struck Ernhilde inside my pocket. While I was doing that, Souichi was feeling down from the two’s comnts.
Since he looked amusing, we three started laughing.
“Now then, what should we eat? Have you three decided?”(renji)
When I said that, all three said the nas of the dish they wanted.
Leaving aside Aya, Yayoi-chan eats quite a lot. I was surprised. Probably because I didn’t really have such an image of her when we travelled together. In fact I was worried that Aya wasn’t eating much. Souichi, contrary to his looks, eats quite a lot but Aya also ate a lot .
“What happened, are you not feeling well?”(renji)
“Eh?”(aya)
“No well, didn’t you eat more before?”
“Uu……..”
When I said that, she hid her blushing face behind the nu. Ah, she’s embarrassed, I finally realized.
I ended up saying sothing lacking delicacy. Deciding not to say anymore on the topic, I called the waiter to give our order.
Souichi and Yayoi’s shoulders were trembling as they tried to conceal their laughter and then Souichi alone suddenly fell flat on the table. Probably, he was hit underneath the table by Aya.
[Children should eat more or you won’t grow you know?}
“You should shut up for a bit.”(renji)
[….wha. Renji that’s rude.]
“Pfft.”
Ernhilde, you’re the one that’s rude.
And Yayoi finally was unable to hold back and burst into laughter and then a small dull sound resounded. Probably, Souichi was kicked again since his body shivered for a mont.
I could only scratch my cheeks.
“Nostalgic, isn’t it?”
[That’s true.]
As expected, no matter what I say, this atmosphere is really fun to be in.
Souichi and Aya would cause ruckus, Yayoi would laugh looking at that. After coming to this world, we 13 were connected with a weird relationship. Even though they were strangers, they were ones we’d trust the most. Even though we are not connected by blood, we are like a family.
That’s why I felt—–that it was nostalgic.
.
.
.
While eating, we talked about various things. Their school life, my travels, what we did in the past one year, what others were doing right now.
Before we realized, we had eaten everything and then ordered dessert.
As expected, the amount she ordered didn’t satisfy her since Aya ate quite a lot of dessert instead. Well, I’m not insensitive enough to actually point that out loud though. It was mature of to act like I didn’t see anything, I think. Souichi who did point that out loud had to fall flat on the table again.
“Really, the beard doesn’t suit you.”(yayoi)
[So Yayoi thinks like that, what about Aya?]
“Eh, um…….well, yes.”
“I think it looks manly though.”(souichi)
And for so reason, the topic shifted to my stubble.
Is my beard really worth becoming a topic of conversation? Also, seeing Ernhilde happy to get more comrades against is also irritating.
And it seems my stubble is unpopular with both Aya and yayoi-chan. And remaining Souichi, I wonder if he realises that saying it like that changes the aning behind the sentence quite a lot.
“When I’m in this sloppy look, I look like a normal adventurer so it works in my favour.”(renji)
“Aa, I see. So it’s like a disguise.”
Not just that, it’s a pain to shave cleanly as well. This world doesn’t have things like shaving cream and shavers so you have to use a knife to do it. That’s very dangerous on its own. Many tis I had ended up cutting my own cheek or neck instead.
When I started being cautious of that, shaving started feeling like it’s a pain and I ended up with this stubble instead. As a result I realized that I was started to be accepted as a normal adventurer.
[I think that he just finds shaving a pain though.]
It is correct. You really do know well.
Well, I don’t intend to accept its true out loud though.
“Even I think of various things Ernhilde.”(renji)
[I wonder how much of that is true…..or rather, it should be normal for a person to take care of his own personal appearance.]
“…….I can’t refute that.”
Aya and Yayoi didn’t like it after all, maybe I should shave properly from now on.
I still find it a pain but the feeling of not showing the children a sloppy is greater. Since I have been living lazily for the past one year, maybe I should use this as a chance to better my own lifestyle or rather, at least my appearance. I started feeling like that while looking at the kids.
Is the effect of the energy of the youth? While taking to these 3, I also felt a bit more energetic.
“Well, I’ll try to be more proactive.”(renji)
“That’s a ‘will not do’ flag isn’t it?”
“Trust a bit more, Aya.”
“I, I do…. tr, trust you.”
Was there sothing in this conversation to make her embarrassed?
As she averted her gaze and hid her face, I could only tilt my head in confusion. This ti I really don’t understand. Looks Souichi was the sa since he made a puzzled face when I looked at him.
Yayoi-chan alone was grinning happily though.
“Why don’t you try and grow a beard as well Souichi? You might look more manly.”(renji)
“Re, really?”
When I said that, the Brave-sama looked up at happily. Will a beard even fit his androgynous face?……On imagining, nope not possible. I averted my gaze from him. There’s a limit to how much a beard can’t suit a man’s face.
If Souichi were to grow a beard, Utano-san won’t just stop with getting buried.
While thinking such things, I beca slightly scared. That person really goes all out when she does sothing. Utano Yuuko-san is that kind of a person. They say a person’s na often matches their nature but that’s definitely not true. (T/N: Yuuko basically ans gentle child)
“It’ll definitely not suit brother at all.”(yayoi)
“Yup, definitely not.”(aya)
[Souichi has a pretty face after all.]
And once again he was completely rejected.
Since I who ca up with the idea thinks the sa as well, I couldn’t support him either. Sorry Souichi, also, Ernhilde my partner, “pretty face” is not a complint for a guy.
.
.
.
After finishing our dinner, we left the diner. The scarlet moon was at the zenith which showed that it was quite late already.
As I breathed out, I realized that my breath was slightly warm.
It’s not like I was feverish. But, maybe a little bit of the kids energy was shared with . I felt like that.
Was it fun? Yeah, it was. I had fun.
Without thinking about anything stupid or useless, I simply chatted and ate with my comrades, with the kids.
I was reminded that it could be this much fun. The ti where we don’t have to think like a Brave or a Hero could be so calming, we were reminded of that once again.
“Did you eat to your heart’s content?”
“Yes. I ate a lot.”
“Then, it’d be nice if your height grew a little as well.”
“Yes…….”
Answering energetically, then soon answering in a small voice, I laughed at such a Souichi.
“Thank you very much Renji-oniisan for treating us.”(yayoi)
“As you’d expect, it’d be embarrassing to share the bill with kids after all.”
“fufu.”
“After graduating when you get a job….then I’ll have you guys treat .”
“Sure.”
Yayoi-chan, as usual, sounded the most mature even though she was the youngest.
“………..”
And Aya was silent while hanging her head.
She beca like this soon after when I said that we should go back. Seriously this girl. I began to think.
“Oi Souichi.”
“Yes?”
Calling him, I threw Ernhilde to him.
He panicked a bit due to my sudden action but did sohow catch it properly with his both hands.
Probably because he’s living at school now, he’s grown slightly relaxed/careless. Well, that should be normal though.
A life where you’re cautious 24/7 would break you sooner or later. That’s why, this is fine. For that reason, Utano-san sent these kids to school I think.
[What happened Renji?]
“I’ll be back after walking a bit with Aya. I’ll co with you guys properly to your dorms later so don’t worry.”
“As usual, that ca out of nowhere Renji-niisan.”
“Don’t mind it, it’s usual right.”
Saying that, I started walking. Ernhilde was saying sothing but I acted like I didn’t hear. On glancing back a little, Yayoi-chan was giving a thumbs up. What are you doing? I sighed.
“………”
“………….”
Silence.
But there was no complaint against what I said suddenly either.
When I glanced at Aya walking beside , she was looking properly forward like walking now.
Fuyou Aya. Childhood friends to the Amagi siblings and probably the greatest and strongest magician of this world.
I—cannot understand this girl. Why did she co to talk to , what did she expect of .
Back then, I had saved her quite a few tis. From monsters, accidents, diseases. From back then, I feel like she has matured a lot.
Just one year. But it was enough for a girl to grow up a lot, I think. Her height has grown from being around my chest to coming close to my shoulders. Her hair has also grown longer and expression has also beco more adult-like. Even though she laughs childishly when talking with Souichi, right now her expression is calm.
“Did you grow taller?”
“Only—a bit.”
The conversation ended.
I am good at continuing conversation with people but I think I suck at starting a conversation myself.
It’s different if I have an objective but like now when there’s no such objective in my mind I think I’d be satisfied with just walking around like this. I’d think there’s no really need for conversation.
Moving my gaze away from Aya, I looked up at the night sky while walking beside her.
“Your uniform really suits.”
“Thank you very much.”
It’s not like I had anything to talk about.
But I felt that Aya had sothing she wanted to say to .
That’s I waited patiently for Aya to talk . Care freely, while gazing at the night sky. The walk with no destination felt great.
People who live in this world sleep early. That’s because they have nothing to do. The most they have for enjoynt is either alcohol and gambling. But even casinos exist only in the area where nobles live. And even that’s not an actual legal one. Those who like such things might be awake till late but it’d be only us who’d take a walk at such a ti.
There was no one around. A quiet ti. Walking at such a ti really felt great.
“Renji-san.”
Aya’s legs stopped.
I looked at her and our yes t.
“Are you sad?”(aya)
“Yeah.”
Why? She doesn’t ask that. There’s no reason to ask a question to which you already know the answer.
Aya’s talking about what happened during the day.
4 dead. And they were adventurers who fought with . Lives I couldn’t protect.
“I think I’m sad.”
“…….I, am not sad.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Do you find such an Aya to be cold-hearted?
I don’t. I can’t. In fact I feel that it’s better this way.
If soone of us 13 died, if soone close died,…..Aya would definitely cry.
But, she won’t be sad from the death of 4 whose nas or faces she didn’t even know. Even if those were n who stood on the sa battlefield as her.
And that’s normal. Because if you don’t think like that, you’d be the one to die next. Yes, because we understand that a battlefield is that kind of a place.
They were not sensitive like the 18yr olds of our original world. But, it’s sothing natural for this world. I’m sure Aya is worried of the fact that she doesn’t feel anything even on soone’s death.
“I was glad that Renji-san was alright…..I was very happy.”
“ as well. I was also happy that Aya—-Souichi and others were safe as well.”
But I, at the sa ti, was also affected by the death of those 4. I had made sure to not show it either on my face or in my actions but I guess they realized it. Or maybe, I simply have not matured from one year ago.
It was as simple as that. It’s my bad that I just can’t be satisfied.——-I’m sure that if I stood on the battlefield right now, I’d probably get injured. Without any reason. I’m sure of it.
“Um—-”
Aya’s voice resounded in the stillness of the night.
“Thank you for saving .”(aya)
“Don’t ntion it. I said it at that ti as well but I promised you, didn’t I? That if you were in danger I will save you.”
I feel like it was a night like this that ti as well. I don’t rember properly, but it was a calm, still night. In front of the fire, I had promised her so.
That I’d protect the world’s greatest and strongest magician.
“You rembered it. The promise.”(aya)
“Well, it was an important promise after all.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
I will protect my promises. That was normal, obvious. And so I, obviously, protected my promise, that’s all.
“Renji-san is the sa as always.”(aya)
“I just don’t want to break my promises. At least from my side.”
It’s difficult to keep promises. Even after coming to this world, I broke many of promises.
But, except for in extre cases——I make sure to not break the promises I make.
Even if that promise is sothing very small. Even if that is an unbelievably precious promise.
The wind blew and gently made Aya’s hair sway in the air. In the darkness of the night, under the light of street lamps shining from magical energy, a pale light non existent in our forr world, shone her figure.
“nee, Renji-san.”
18 yrs old.
But even so I felt so kind of charm in her expression.
“Thank you very much.”
“Yeah.”
“I was once again saved by you.”
“—-that’s true.”
Though I couldn’t protect those 4, I saved her life.
I’m sure that’s what she wants to tell . I’m minding the death of those 4 too much. Those words co because she’s worried for . Those words so were gentle, and warm that I ended up smiling naturally.
And then breathed a sigh. This won’t do. I’m being worried for by a child. I fail as an adult. I ended up smiling wryly.
What did she think as she saw like that, Aya smiled like a mischievous child. It was not the fascinating smile like before, it was more of a smile that suited a girl her age.
“Don’t cry, alright?”(aya)
“I won’t.”
She started giggling.
I heard similar words at a very different place once. From a very different voice.
One year ago—-the place I last cried.
“Yeah, I promised Ernhilde after all.”
That’s why, I won’t cry.
Even if my comrades die, no matter who dies, no matter what I lose.
—–because I promised so.
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