Chapter 66 Such Days Without Fighting (2)
The sun had begun to set. Under the dusk coloured sky, sitting on a bench in the central park, I shivered from the cold.
The cold here isn’t as severe as in Japan but it was still winter right now. It’s still pretty cold.
I tried to bear the cold by covering myself with my mantle but it didn’t seem to be very effective. If it was going to be like this, I should have kept at least Mururu or Solnea with . After all, it would have been much warr if even a single person was with you. You can also talk with them, and walk with them.
As I sighed feeling lonely after separating from my comrades, who had been with till a while ago, a voice resounded in my head.
[Why are you sighing now?]
“Nothing. It’s just so cold.”
[Well, it’s winter after all.]
That’s all my partner said. I wish she’d try to keep the conversation going a bit more.
That’s very like her but it also made feel cold and ,lonely again. I know these are such cheap troubles but I can’t do anything about it either.
While sitting on the bench, I began observing the people passing by. Kids with their parents, or lovers, holding arms with each other, an old couple, young brothers, and n who were waiting for soone, like . Everyone were laughing, worrying about what to eat for dinner, hurrying back ho; everyone had a different expression.
While I continued gazing at this wave of people, a familiar person walked towards from the crowd. And due to the cold wind, she was holding her robe close to her body and holding down her hair from swaying too much. She looked to be even colder than .
“Sorry, did I make you wait too long?”(aya)
“Nah, I got here just a while ago as well.”
[Really?]
Ernhilde destroyed my try to make a normal greeting instantly. Even Aya looked at with a difficult to explain expression. Since Aya was pretty tall, and I was sitting, she was looking down towards making it all the more awkward.
Hmm, making such a voice I stretched my stiffened body only to see Aya start laughing.
“What?”(renji)
“It’s nothing, don’t worry.”(aya)
She said that but her expression seed to be really cheerful and happy, and due to my partner who can still never read the mood, I dropped my shoulders feeling slightly embarrassed. Maybe she noticed my feelings as Aya cleared her throat and combed back her slightly disarrayed hair due to the wind.
“Well then, let’s go, shall we?”(aya)
“Hm? Ah, yeah.”
Even as I stood up, once again, It really is cold, eh? I spoke up
When I said that, she agreed and started walking beside . A few gazes gathered towards us inside the park. And every gaze was that of a young man, because that’s how attractive Aya’s appearance was.
“So, has Rin-san returned already?”
“Kudou? Nah, her house was locked.”
I recalled the house made of stone and concrete. It was on a whole different scale, making feel amazed at how she didn’t mind living there. She didn’t even try to slightly blend in with the surroundings like Toudou’s restaurant. It was clearly a house from a different world.
“……..You sure she wasn’t just asleep?”(aya)
“No, Mururu said that she couldn’t sense any human presence, so it must be true.”
“fuumu, I see.”
[What, did you need Rin for sothing?]
‘Ah, yeah. Well not really. I was hoping we could get her help for the Griffin subjugation as well.”(aya)
For sothing she spoke so casually, the matter wasn’t that simple. It’s not sothing you should be talking about at a perfect date spot and in the evening, right? Well, I’d be troubled if she started talking about romantic things as well though.
“What, did you accept a request or sothing?”(renji)
“No, not really but I was hoping to prepare beforehand so we could move as soon as the request cos.”
[…….Right, Aya is really diligent after all.]
It’s almost as if you’re implying that a certain soone isn’t diligent in his work? Well, not that I actually think of myself to be diligent though.
Dagram was the one gathering the necessary people required but true, it’d be more relaxing if Kudou was here as well. Even as the [Item Creator], she has more physical ability than and is also good at making decisions on the fly. She’d be fine even when fighting on the front lines against an Arch Griffin. But then, I’d totally look like nothing more than a burden though.
But I guess that’s usual as well. How sad, or should I say, pathetic. Even though I have already abandoned any hopes to actually be a Hero, I still can’t let Aya or Kudou fight alone.
“A Griffin likes corpses of animals and……….what was it, it was a weird nad grass.”
I should ask Feirona and other elves and Dwarves in rdiore about it. Since Griffins have a good nose, you can lure a Griffin with the sll of blood and that peculiar grass. It’d be easy to get it trapped as well. Since it’s a bird, it’s also easier to take one in the dark as well. While recalling the thods of dealing with Griffins I had been taught, I decided to be of use by using my brains more.
“Oh right, where are Mururu and others?”(aya)
“I had them both go back to the inn.”
“Is that so? I thought it’d be fine to introduce them to Enomiya-kun as well.”
[Yeah, but Renji bought Solnea a chess board so they had to go back.]
“Eh? Chess?”
Why are they related? Aya tilted her head in confusion.
“Ah, I had her play chess during noon and she seed to be interested in it so I bought her a set due to which she beca interested in playing it with Ms Francesca as well.”(renji)
While I was giving her a tour, she asked multiple tis if Ms Francesca would co to the inn or not. Still without any expression though.
She never directly said that she wanted to play but I’m pretty sure that was what she ant. It probably was not my imagination that her footsteps looked light as she walked back towards the inn with Mururu.
“Oh is that so…”(aya)
I didn’t do it without any intent behind it that could make feel guilty and purely out of good will, hoping she could truly enjoy this world, but Aya didn’t seem very convinced. Well, I know she isn’t that narrow minded but sohow her words still felt a bit cold. Or could it be? That she was anxious that I gave only Solnea a present? Looking at her, she was looking at suspicious half open eyes. Even her walking speed rose and it ended with walking slightly behind her. The setting sun cast a shadow behind her as she walked with her hair swaying at every step she took. It looked so much like a good painting that I wondered how many people were there in the world who had such a disposition.
“I want her to co to like humans and learn to enjoy all sorts of things, you know?”(renji)
“Fuun. Oh really?”
To my excuse, Aya replied without turning back towards . I’m sure she was pouting right now. As she walked while joing her arms near her waist, she really looked like a sulking child. While finding it pleasant, I thought of how to fix her mood.
Now if this was Mururu or Solnea, buying a skewered grilled at would suffice though. While thinking of such rude things, I continued walking.
[If you’re going to et Yuuichirou, how about buying at least a few flowers first?]
“yeah, you’re right.”
Since we were in a great date spot, there quite a few flower vendors in view. She heard Erenhidle as well as Aya stood beside silently and looked at the flowers. Looks like even if the world is different, it’s still common sense to give flowers to your lover or offering so at a person’s grave. In Japan though we use chrysanthemum but in this world, they tie small lovely white flowers together in a bundle when leaving so at a grave. Since white was close to silver, and silver was the symbol of the Goddess, it was ant to lead the souls of the dead to the Goddess apparently. Getting a bundle of flowers from the florist, I paid the expenses.
After finishing buying, the florist looked at and Aya with a knowing gaze. She must be letting her imagination run wild in his head I guess. The florist was young girl after all. She must really enjoy love talk. Looks like that doesn’t change in any world as well.
“Now then, we got this as well, let’s get going.”(renji)
“Yes.”
It really must be my imagination that her voice still sounded flat.
Did she want so flowers as well? I thought but to travellers like us, flowers don’t have much aning. Even if you decorate it sowhere, you don’t know when you might have to leave again after all. And for the sa reason, it’s useless trying to grow so by yourself as well. But still wanting flowers is, I guess, what makes her a woman. In our previous world, giving flowers as a gift might be acceptable but in this world, gifts to an adventurer need to be more practical and pragmatic………or am I the only one who thinks that?
While gazing at Aya who was walking slightly ahead of while sulking, I ended up smiling. It’s very adorable to see her like this when she’s usually more Adult-like, or maybe this was more like her. In any case, I prefer this Aya more I think.
“Aya, don’t sulk so much.”
“I’m not really sulking or anything.”
I am sure she enjoys such ti as well. She was pouting as if angry but her voice sounded really happy.
Adventurer. Monster hunts. After getting summoned here, she received inhumane power and abilities. Yet, we still don’t know when we might die. We never think that we’ll die, living our life till the very end of our life span and it’s doubtful that we’d get to die happily lying on a bed. That’s why, such small things are so precious to both and Aya.
[You two sure get along well.]
“When Eru says it, it feels more like sarcasm though.”(aya)
She turned around to say that but her lips were still pouting but her expression looked more fed up than angry. This’d be fine if Ernhilde had an actual body, but she’s just a dal. I end up as the one taking her gaze.
“You were with Renji-san alone for a whole year after all.”(aya)
[I felt more like a babysitter though.]
I had no words for my partner who replied with that instantly. I don’t recall causing so much trouble but, it must be true if she says it. Looking at blankly for a second, Aya burst into laughter. Seeing her smile ward my heart and even though I had been just told sothing heartless by my partner, I still ended up smiling.
“I told you when we were travelling to rdiore as well but I really did spend the last one year just relaxing after all.”(renji)
“But that’s fine, isn’t it? As long as we can talk and laugh like this. Even though we may still be very far from true peace, it’s still a peaceful ti right now.”(aya)
“………I guess so.”
I didn’t deny her. I just couldn’t.
Because I feel the sa. As long as we can laugh, while relaxing like this, I’m sure, that’s the happiest thing to ever exist.
Without the threat of monsters, demons or the Demon God, if I could travel around this beautiful and rich world,—–I’m sure that was what Eru’s wish was as well.
That’s why, when I also laughed at her words, Aya looked at blankly again. And then gave a truly happy smile. As we continued walking while talking like that, the crowd beca slowly lesser and lesser. The number of buildings also reduced and instead, barren trees with leaves fallen on the ground as per the season ca more and more into our view. Along the side of the path, which was most probably a flower bed, there were no flowers growing right now. This path with only withered trees around gave a quite desolate feeling.
Going further ahead, we reached a place surrounded by an iron fence.
Probably because this place was at a point even higher than the residential area, you could clearly see the sea from here. It was a cetery truly fitting one that would exist in a port town, you could say. It wasn’t that big and the number of graves were less than even hundred. Rarely is a body left intact after losing to a monster and most of the tis, that body is often taken away by the monsters as food anyway. There are many cases where not a single piece of body is found and you have to treat them as missing. But, after a battle……..if you can’t find soone even after a few days, the chances of them actually living are considered very low. Such corpse-less individuals only have their nas carved on the gravestone.
“It should be obvious but, it’s such a lancholic place.”
“I know.”
Answering Aya’s mutterings, I saw a figure standing at the cetery gates. Thinking it might be Yuuichirou, I looked at the figure but their height was shorter than Yuuichirou’s. It’s been a year since I’ve seen him but I’m sure he was at least 170cm but the figure in front of was maybe even lesser than 160cm from what I could tell.
For soone who ca to visit a grave, it’s weird that the person is standing at the gates. Were they waiting for soone? Thinking that we walked closer when the person gave a bow. Reflexively both and Aya did the sa as well but I didn’t sense much friendliness from the person. Just a formal greeting. With dark purple semi-long hair and a dignified expression that felt sowhat cold, she was wearing a tunic and a ankle-length long skirt. As we headed into the cetery while I confird her appearance with a sidelong glance, my side got elbowed.
“Mouu.”(aya)
“What, I was just confirming who that was!”(renji)
[Oh I wonder about that.]
How much o they distrust my relationship with won? Oniisan will get really sad, you know?
While talking stupidly inside my head, we headed inside the cetery. Knee high graves had been made in a uniform pattern and all were very well maintained as well. And as if surrounded by the nurous stone graves, under the setting sun, a single man dressed in all black was holding sothing like a long broom stick and was cleaning a grave. Even though the sun’s setting, he really must be a zealous man. And in front of him was a big grave. Bigger than both and the black clothed man, it was a grave ant for all the ones who didn’t have a corpse and the black clothed man seed to be just staring at the grave in a daze.
“Yo, Yuuichirou.”(renji)
To the black clothed man’s back, I called out. His clothes were black, the long coat he was wearing was also black. And his boots and gloves as well. Even his tanned skin looked on the blacker under the setting sun. And among all this black, only his grayish hair stood out. In the past one year, his hair really have grown a lot. It was long before as well but right now its as long as a woman, while tied very simply behind his back. But his body looked much smaller than even us. The reason was Yuuichirou’s left arm. He didn’t have one. In a battle long ago, he had completely lost it. The empty sleeve swayed in the wind.
Reacting to my voice, the man turned around. He really must have grown accustod to living peacefully in rdiore as he didn’t sense even after we ca so close to him. It’s sothing that would have been unimaginable before.
“Ah.”
With a slightly surprised voice, his violet eyes opened slightly wide.
“Huh? Yamada-san and Aya-chan, why are you guys here?”(yuu)
And with a leisurely, almost stupid sounding voice, he tilted his head in confusion.
“Long ti no see Yuuichirou. We are on a journey and have made a stop here. How are you? Been doing well?”(renji)
“It’s been a long ti, Enomiya-kun.”(aya)
“Un. Yeah, it’s been a long ti both of you. You two seem to be doing well as well.”(yuu)
“Yeah.”
With a smile, he gave his greetings as well. That gesture of his looked much more mature than a year ago.
“Have you been visiting the grave everyday?”(renji)
“No way, not everyday. Right now, I co only once a week.”(yuu)
“…….I see.”
Saying that, I stood beside Yuuichirou and placed the yellow flowers we bought a while ago. As I joined my hands to pay respects, Yuuichirou gave his thanks.
Here lie everyone of those who had no corpse left to bury. People attacked by monsters, adventurers who never returned after going ona job. And travellers who got lost forever mid journey. Among those, Yuuichirou’s lover, Celestia-san was also included. She travelled with us, and died. And we…….couldn’t bring her body back with us.
“But still, it’s rare to see both of you together here like this. Did sothing happen?”(yuu)
“About that, let’s talk about it later in detail Enomiya-kun.”(aya)
“Sure. How’s Souichi?”(yuu)
“Way too energetic. Renji-san is the sa as well.”(aya)
[umu. He was staring at won even at the cetery entrance.]
Even though we t after such a long ti, is that really what you want to talk about? Yuuichirou laughed seeing getting slamd by both Aya and Ernhilde.
And after so ti passed with getting teased like that, Yuuichirou took deep breathes to stop himself from laughing too much.
“Are you guys in rdiore for a while?”(yuu)
“Yeah. We’ll be heading to Elfreim soon though.”(renji)
“I see.”
By the ti we stopped talking, the sky had already gotten quite dark. The air beca colder and Aya shrugged from the cold.
Looking at her, both and yuuichirou exchanged glances.
“Well then, I’ll co see you guys next ti.”(yuu)
“Don’t mind it. We’re totally free so we’ll co again.”(renji)
“Sure. Next ti, let’s properly sit down and talk.”(yuu)
[Yeah, that sounds nice.]
Another cold wind blew. Aya’s robe and skirt blew up and she gave a small shriek.
Since we’re close to the sea, the wind is pretty strong here. I think in sumrs the wind would feel really nice. And the scenery is incredible as well. Though I doubt the cetery is a good place to be enjoying the scenery.
“Now that I think about it, it’s rare to see you two alone with each other like this.”(yuu)
“Hmm?”
Was it really?
Being told that, I tilted my head in confusion. I recall quite a lot of instances where I was alone with her though? During the journey, we did spend a lot of ti as night guards together. We went buying stuff together many tis as well. Well, I think what he ans is probably it’s rare since Aya beca more conscious of . Back then, I think she didn’t really mind the differences between n and won.
“Well, I guess.”(aya)
Before I could say anything, Aya spoke that puffing her chest with pride. Even though she was blushing like crazy when getting teased by those drunks about this, she seed fine when Yuuichirou says the sa thing. In a way, she’s gotten used to it perhaps?
Afetr a slight gap of silence, Ahem, I cleared my throat. Well that doesn’t an she doesn’t get embarrassed anymore. Unlike her previous pure smile, her current proud expression looked really amusing.
………when I thought that, Aya stomped on my foot. Since it didn’t hurt I guess she held back. And Yuuichirou laughed again. Seeing him like that, it feels like he’s laughing a lot more as compared to a year ago. And he also seed to have gotten used to laughing as well. And it’s not a deceiving or secretive smile either, it’s simply a bright pure smile.
Recalling Celestia-san, his thoughts always seed to go towards the negative. But still if he can laugh like this right now, looks like he’s settled matters with his heart as well. Or maybe he’s trying to move on ahead. Aya also gave a laugh and wiped the tears welling in her eyes. Those tears are probably not because of laughing to much but due to being happy to see Yuuichirou laughing happily like this.
At that mont, a rustling sound ca to us.
“Yuuichirou-san.”
Before I could turn to look, a calm voice ca to us. Looking towards the source of the voice, the woman who had been standing at the entrance of the cetery was standing their silently.
“Cela-san.”(yuu)
Calling her na, Yuuichirou gave a curt bow. So her na is Cela.
I looked towards Yuuichirou asking to introduce us when Yuuichirou’s expression was not the cheerful one from before, instead he was giving a more mature looking smile. And then, he walked towards her side. And she didn’t seem to mind that as if it was a very natural action. In fact, she seed to step in a little closer to Yuuichirou.
“This is Seravi Gernia. Celes-san’s younger sister.”(yuu)
“……..Nice to et you.”
And she gave a bow again. Seeing her, both and Aya exchanged glances for a second.
I had never heard of her having a younger sister and she seed very different from Celestia-san as well. Celestia-san was lively, vigorous, always leading and pulling us along with her. But her younger sister standing in front of us seed silent and slightly gloomy. Maybe that made her expression look slightly dark as well. It might sound really rude, but she was nothing like her older sister.
Since Celestia-san always left such a strong impression, I ended up comparing the two. I do feel that it’s bad of to do that and I know it’s very normal for sisters to have completely opposite personalities.
“We are currently living together.”(yuu)
But the next words made my heart almost jump out from surprise.
“What?”
I was lost for words and Aya looked at Yuuichirou with a black expression.
The boy called Yuuichirou is a very quiet and calm boy. Introverted, he rarely speaks up his own thoughts. It might sound bad but he’s the type that gets flown around by his surroundings…….that’s the kind of boy he is.
He would sotis agree with soone even though he’s of the completely opposite opinion and then would get stressed about it as well. And the one who encouraged and lifted him up was Celestia-san and Yuuichirou was captivated by her and worked hard to change so that she might co to like him as well.
And hearing that he was now living with Celestia-san’s younger sister honestly surprised . It’s not like falling in love again is bad or anything. In fact, I feel like really supporting him if he’s trying to move ahead.
But, I always thought that Yuuichirou preferred lively won like Celestia-san that’s all. Also, there’s also a rude part of thinking that he was a late bloor.
“Nice to et you, Seravi-san. My na is Renji Yamada.”
“Oh my, how very polite of you. I’m Seravi Gernia. Yuuichirou has told a lot about you.”
“Eh, um, Nice to et you as well, I’m Aya Fuyou.”
Greeting each other, we three gave a bow. It might look really surreal from Yuuichirou’s point of view who was still standing.
“Are you done with your work and talk?”(sera)
“Un. Sorry to have kept you waiting Sera-san. What will you two be doing? If you like, we can take dinner together…….”(yuu)
“Ah, no, no. We’ll pass for today. Right, Renji-san?”(aya)
“I guess. Yeah.”(renji)
“Really? Then since you’re in rdiore, we’ll invite you again so other ti. Then, let’s go ho, shall we Sera-san?”(yuu)
“Yes.”
Saying that, both of them gave a bow to us, who stood there stiff, and left together. She stood to the left of Yuuichirou and seed to walk as if supporting his now nonexistent left arm.
………Seriously?
“Renji-san, did you know?”(aya)
“Nope, I didn’t.”
I pinched my cheek but yeah, it hurts. This isn’t a dream.
In this world won have a strong sense of virtue and it’s almost taboo for a woman to show her skin before marriage. It was the sa for cohabitation as two people who were neither family were children living together would be seen by the society as having ‘that kind’ of relationship.
And since it’s not just Yuuichirou who is from our world, and also a woman who is originally from this world………..i’m pretty sure they are in that kind of relationship. The one between man and woman.
It’s a happy thing to be honest but the fact that none of us knew that made it complicated. He could have told us beforehand geez.
Well, in this world where there’s no internet or phones, it could take months for just one letter to reach and it’s impossible to write a letter to soone who’s always travelling so I can’t really complain.
“Yuuko-san, did she not know as well……….”
“Who knows.”
Her voice seed as if she was muttering to herself and even my own reply seed to lack the strength in my voice.
That’s how shocking that was. Yuuichirou. THAT Yuuichirou was living together with a woman!
That kid, though this might sound really rude, but he’s too naïve when it cos to thing concerning romance. He’s the type who’d forget to tell his own feelings because he couldn’t say it once.
[Why the hell are you grinning like that. Looks disgusting.]
“……….You really show no rcy, do you?”
Now that I think about it, I forgot to tell him about the Griffin subjugation in the end.
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