"Why do you keep doing this, getting hurt? You should consider your age, Father. Those scars... ugh, what’s this...?"
"Hehehe! A man can get hurt a little, can't he? And scars? They’re battle marks, my dear. Glory scars. Heh!"
"Still, you should be more careful. Honestly... I think your life should co first. That won’t change, you know."
"Yeah, you’re right. But, Noah, look here."
Father rolled up his sleeves and showed
countless scars, ones I’d seen many tis before.
"When you look at these scars, what do you think, huh? What do you think of them?"
"I just... think they’re scars. I think you should’ve been more careful."
"When I look at them, I think of the people who are living well because of . People who went to school, got jobs, had their failures, started married life, sotis cried, sotis laughed... people living those normal lives."
"...I know. You say that all the ti. But isn’t it scary, jumping into a fire like that?"
"Of course, it’s scary. I’m no Superman. But, you know, when I look at these scars, I get the courage to jump in. I get the confidence that I can save them."
Father paused his speech for a mont, then opened his wallet wide.
"And when I look at this photo, I feel responsibility. The responsibility to protect them, to get back ho no matter what."
Inside his wallet was a faded, but still clear, picture of our family.
"...I should change this photo. What’s up with the color?"
"The photo? What’s wrong with it? It’s nice and cozy. Oh, and speaking of your mom..."
Father raised his opposite arm in front of .
"Look here! This scar? This is from when I saved your mom. If I didn’t have it, Noah, you wouldn’t even be here."
"...Sigh... okay, I get it. But you also have to think about the people waiting for you... Take care of your body. As I said, you should also consider your age."
"Heh, you little... I just told you. When I look at this photo, I always think of you and your mom. That’s why I always co back ho."
There was no way I could argue with Father’s words.
I just kept silent and stared into his steadfast eyes.
"Anyway, son. Don’t worry too much. I’ll get back sohow, and no matter what, I’ll protect our family."
Father patted my head.
"So, Noah, soday, just like your na, I hope you beco a hero who saves people."
"...I’ll try."
"Hehehe! Good, now put so more ointnt on. Your mom is going to scold
later."
"Father, next week... I have a day off, so let’s go take a photo. With Mom, too."
"That sounds good! Afterward, we can have so soju, just the two of us!"
"I can’t drink, I have to work the next day. Just... let's eat. Please buy so beef."
"Since you’re working, fine... We’ll just have a al, then."
I applied ointnt to the scars on Father’s back.
I hope the ointnt stays a little longer.
I hope these wounds don’t get worse.
If the scars don’t disappear, I hope they remain as symbols of Father’s glory, lasting forever.
"Noah."
Ailyn's cold voice presses down on my body.
"Yeah... yeah?"
"If you keep just pouring potions like that, do you know the scars will stay?"
"I... I know?"
"How could you do that as a girl? Look at these scars."
"Glory scars...!"
"Stop saying weird things. And I was there too, you know."
"The monsters were everywhere in front..."
"Healing ca first."
"It was too... much..."
"Sigh..."
Ailyn’s voice, once heavy, now carries a bit of warmth.
"...Why did you do that?"
"Because of the... request."
Slap—
"Yah! Ow...!"
"If you had waited just a bit longer, I could have handled it with my abilities."
"...Okay."
"If necessary, we could have run away."
"...Yeah..."
"But... why... why did you do it?"
"Ailyn... you were in a hurry... you were so busy, you couldn’t even ride the carriage..."
It’s not Ailyn’s fault.
It’s just... just the only excuse I could think of.
"Noah, are you invincible? You can’t die, can you? No... So please... don’t do that next ti."
Ailyn’s wet voice whispered in my ear.
"Look at this... how much it must hurt... it stings, it’s hot..."
It hurts.
My left arm, bitten by the wild beasts, is throbbing, and my shoulder, hit by the mace, and the leg with the crossbow bolt in it...
The rusted sword that dug into my side, the burning arrow that hit my waist, the pulled fingernails and toenails, the bones crushed in my left arm, and so on.
Ailyn’s healing and the potions have helped
a lot, but I can’t shake this feeling...
Maybe phantom pain? Sothing like that?
So, how did I fight through all this?
I don’t know!
When hunting, maybe it’s adrenaline or dopamine.
So kind of hormone that makes you feel no pain!
Instead, it makes the heat of the body feel even stronger!
But once the tension lets up, it hurts so much I could faint.
Even now, I feel like crying from the pain...
But, what can I do?
I have to fight.
I have to survive today to have a tomorrow.
Of course, I also want to fight without getting hurt.
I usually try to avoid injuries as much as possible.
But I couldn’t help it this ti...
There were many monts when I could have taken the hit for Ailyn.
So, as the vanguard, I took the hits! No, I blocked them!
Tank roles are for the vanguard!
Of course, hunting is also the vanguard’s role!
Cowardly ranged attackers should stay back and watch.
If they’re so upset, they can fight in close combat. Tch.
Anyway...
It hurts, it’s scary, it’s hard, but I’m fine.
Because I saved soone like Ailyn.
That’s why.
"I’m not in any pain..."
I patted Ailyn’s hand and gave her a grin.
Ailyn looked at
with a dazed expression, then poked my left side with her finger.
"Ahh?! Why, why?!"
It hurts! It hurts! Even screaming hurts!
It just hurts!
"Didn’t you say it didn’t hurt?"
"Well... that doesn’t an you just poke
like that!"
This is the place where I got stabbed by the spear!
You cruel woman...!
"Does it hurt or not?"
"Ah, it hurts, but... I can endure it... let’s just get up. I think reinforcents will be coming."
Wild beasts usually move in groups, so...
Their leader will probably bring more.
"That’s true... but no. We can’t. Let’s go back to Alrba village. We should—"
As I listened to Ailyn’s words, I clenched my stomach and shouted.
"No!"
I cut off Ailyn’s words for the first ti...!
I really found my courage.
"...Why?"
"We’ll follow Ailyn’s plan. I’m really okay."
If we go back after just two days, how will I face Herela?
I made my tearful goodbye!
I can’t go back!
And... I need to collect my 15 gold!
"Stop being stubborn. How will we go like this..."
I took a deep breath and stared at Ailyn directly.
Please. Please, let my strong will reach her!
Please, don’t stutter anymore!
"Ailyn, I’m really okay. Let’s go. To Cartia."
Yes! I didn’t stutter!
I spoke so well!
"Yeah...?"
Ailyn’s body pulled back.
Now’s my chance!
I grabbed Ailyn’s body and pulled her back toward .
Holding my breath, I opened my eyes!
In as firm a tone as I could muster, looking into Ailyn’s eyes even though it wasn’t visible, I spoke her words.
"Answer."
"Ugh... then... okay. But promise
one thing."
I tilted my head.
I didn’t want to talk more and risk stuttering again, so I just tilted my head...
Then Ailyn turned her face away, hiding her mouth.
"Ha... there’s a small village at the entrance to Halbion Plain. Let’s rest there for a bit. It’s a quiet village... it shouldn’t be bad."
I nodded and let go of Ailyn’s body.
Finally, I won the first victory over Ailyn!
"Hehe."
"Ha... you’re really impossible..."
While basking in my victory, I heard Ailyn’s frustrated voice.
I instinctively curled up.
Is this Pavlov’s response or sothing?!
"What, what’s wrong?"
"You. You. I can’t figure out what kind of person you are."
"Eh...?"
Though soaked in sweat, a soft hand cupped my cheek.
"Usually you’re like this... silly, childish, cute, and clueless... but when it’s important, you beco soone completely different..."
"I-I’m not silly... not childish... not cute... and I’m definitely not clueless."
"Heh. ‘Not clueless,’ huh?"
"Ugh... Ah, never mind!"
I shook my head, shaking off Ailyn’s hand.
"We... don’t have ti for this. Let’s move, now."
"Yeah... but, are you really okay?"
"Yes. Really okay...!"
My body screams for
to collapse, but I have to keep moving.
If we face reinforcents now, even I can’t promise the outco.
And...
The greatsword is badly damaged.
The handle is rattling.
The hamr was destroyed long ago.
The state of my equipnt is desperate.
But I can’t sit here and fix it.
Of course, I can’t do it...
From now on, I’ll avoid as much combat as possible.
I can do this.
I’ve experienced situations like this plenty of tis in gas.
Even though this is reality, my experience will be fine.
I clenched my hand and grabbed Ailyn’s hand.
So I don’t lose her.
I tightly clasped her hand.
"Let’s go, Ailyn."
Sohow, no matter what, I’ll save you.
Do you trust ?
I turned to Ailyn and smiled.
"Uh... yeah, yeah. Let’s go."
The sound of footsteps on the ground soaked in the wild beast’s blood.
I walked forward.
Hehe, I saved Ailyn.
Of course, if I weren’t here, she would’ve run away imdiately...
But! If she ran away, it would’ve delayed things, ssed up the plan, and caused even more problems!
So! Either way, saving Ailyn was the right choice!
"Hehehe."
"Noah...? Why are you laughing like that?"
"Just... I’m in a good mood."
I wonder what kind of expression Ailyn has right now.
Is she smiling? Or worried?
Doesn’t matter.
We’re alive!
Hehe... if I ever get the chance, I want to see it.
Ailyn’s expression.
Her, normal, everyday life.
Swoosh-
Splash- Splash-
"Ugh, ugh! You’re eating the wild beast...! Hey! Ugh... what’s your na... I don’t know! Stop! Stop! You... you herbivore...!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)