Star-Slaying Swordsman Chapter 3

Julius.

The sun was starting to set, and a twilight stretching across the sky began to shine.

Soone called out my na as I continued to swing the broken hoe in my hand.

It was a voice that I knew all too well.

A rather husky voice, one that belonged to my father.

Have you seen Sofia-chan?

The words that followed seed to be sowhat urgent.

Words that were filled with emotions and were not typical of my father. I wondered if sothing had happened.

No.

With that in mind, I answered with a slightly concerned expression and shook my head.

Ive seen Sofia once, at lunch earlier Did sothing happen?

Normally, my father would be already dragging back to the house for supper after dark and would rebel in response by not stopping swinging, but for so reason, today was different.

As for her whereabouts

The words ca back to imdiately.

Continuing to ask questions as he disregards mine, he seed to be in a state of frustration.

Shes probably by the sa river she usually goes to.

So shes outside the village, huh

The expression on my father's face changed to one of bitterness, him letting out a sound of annoyance followed suit.

It wasnt unusual for Sofia to go out, so why did he have such a difficult look on his face today?

Having no idea why, I couldnt help myself.

So I called out to my father, who was already about to run without a second thought.

Whats going on?

It was obvious that my father had no ti to waste, and that his business was urgent.

But I still went out of my way to ask again.

No, I couldnt help but ask.

There have been sightings of monsters outside the village.

That news is already

Old. The thing that I was about to say.

Because the presence of monsters had already been confird about a month ago.

That's why the adventurers who were commissioned to take it down were coming tomorrow, which made it hard for to believe that my father needs to be in such a hurry.

"Yeah, that's right. If the monsters had been goblins, we wouldn't have had to be in such a hurry."

I was at a loss for words.

The way my father said it, sounded as if the monsters he had seen outside the village were not goblins.

No, I'm sure he dared to include that intention in his statent.

There have been ogres spotted outside the village, apparently.

Huh?

His voice ca out reflexively hoarse.

My thoughts went blank for a mont, as I heard my father utter sothing so unrealistic.

Ogres.

Theyre demon-like creatures.

While a goblins subjugation level is an F, an ogre is said to be several ranks higher, from a C to even a B.

Its defeat rank fluctuates depending on the size of the individual, and in terms of threat, goblins and ogres have a difference in level comparable to that of babies and full-grown adults.

No matter how we looked at it, we could be just wrong.

A thought similar to a wish ca into my mind, but I quickly drowned out the thought.

Forests were where monsters usually resided.

In the villages located near the forest, people of the village were first taught the minimum knowledge about the monsters that were out there.

Goblins, orcs, and ogres.

This was because if such monsters were seen but left unattended, there was a possibility that the whole village could be thrown into chaos.

That's why I couldn't bring myself to simply assu that we were misjudging the situation.

***

***

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the adventurers are coming tomorrow If those monsters are indeed ogres, we have no other choice but to wait for them.

Fortunately, the sun hadn't set yet.

My father concluded that there was still a good chance that Sofia would co back ho.

The chances were better if, of anything, it was just goblins.

But if it were indeed ogres, no untrained villager would be a match for them.

If there was anyone who would stand up to it, they would just be seen as soone who wanted to die.

I agreed with my father regarding this issue.

But, still

What if Sofias still not back by nightfall, father?

For so reason, my dad didn't give an imdiate response to my question.

Well figure sothing out, then.

I knew right away that my dad probably ant we as with other adults, not with a kid like .

It wasnt for a child to think about.

The idea, which he included in his speech, was surprisingly easy to understand.

Hurry up and go ho, Julius. Your mom is worried about you.

If it had been who got out of the village instead of Sofia, my father might have reacted differently.

Despite the situation, Sofia was only a neighbors child to him.

Was she of other people? Or was she like family?

The difference often ca to light in situations like this.

Okay.

Sofias always been out there, but for once, I felt more or less responsible for her.

If only I had nodded my head in response to her offer.

It may have been just a matter of inevitability, but it was probably because Im in this kind of situation.

Such what if scenarios started to bug .

Im going to the village chief, and let him know about this matter.

My guess is that my father ca running to first upon hearing the news of Ogre sightings to let know how dangerous it is out there.

Head back and go straight ho. Do you understand, Julius?

I heard you.

Did he not trust at all?

My father would always keep asking to confirm things.

It wasnt as if Sofias possibility of coming back was zero; I wouldnt dare to make any sudden actions.

Hey, Dad?

What is it?

Are you by any chance thinking that Im worried sick about Sofia?

Isnt that the case?

He stared back at with a straight face, as if to say that it was a given thing.

Isnt Sofia the only one here who you get along with?

Well, yeah. Thats the case.

It was a bit of a misconception to say that we get along well.

Rather than getting along well, she was the only one who wanted to care about so dream as ridiculous as Star Slaying.

So on the contrary, Sofia was just trying to kill her boredom by taking care of an outcast like .

I didn't know why I couldn't get over the fact that people say that were good friends.

As Ive already told you

One quick preamble.

No matter what happens, just dont get too conceited about this situation.

My dad was what they called a hunter, a villager who was a bit more skilled with a bow.

Theyre villagers who sotis hunted birds and monsters for food.

There were about three other hunters like my father in the village.

However, goblins are vicious monsters that act in groups.

So being as cautious as they were, they chose to ask for help from adventurers just in case.

A sound reason.

Even though physical training is just an essential part of living as a villager, do not think that youve gotten stronger just because youve been swinging around a piece of stick for four years. Youd be making a grave mistake.

My father must have been worried.

Worried that I was going to bravely face the ogre on my own.

That I was overconfident, thinking that I got stronger.

I understand what youre saying. You dont need to tell such things.

However, his concern wasnt even necessary.

Because I knew that I, Julius, was the most self-reliant person in this world.

It was outrageous to be so overconfident.

Did I think that I was the chosen one?

Would circumstances warrant miracles?

Would God co down and help?

Was I the strongest person out there?

I rembered the life of a swordsman who wielded his sword with the utmost honesty, and there were no other people in this world who knew their place as well as I did.

Therefore, if there was ever a ti to be reckless, it was probably when you were willing to throw all reason aside for the sake of sothing.

It was when you were confronted with sothing that you want to achieve so badly.

Its all good, then.

He said as he turned his back on and proceeded to go to the village chief.

I saw a familiar back.

And yet, sohow, reflected in my eyes, my father's back appeared much smaller than it usually seed.