"Th-then... what brings you here, Priestess?"
Hephaes, who had been exuding crazy energy just a mont ago, suddenly beca ek.
It seems like Rubia's reputation is quite sothing.
But didn’t Heinkel and Luch already know about her? Wasn’t it the sa?
Could it be the power of experience...?
"As I ntioned earlier, I ca to repair my equipnt."
"But why to ...?"
"I've heard you have the best skills in this village."
Hephaes, who had been muttering strangely, suddenly bowed his head deeply.
"I-it was a rumor I started... I'm sorry. I’m a bad person."
"Uh...?"
"W-what did you say...?"
"If you’re looking for a skilled blacksmith... I’d recomnd the Chro Blacksmith’s Shop a couple of blocks further down..."
Rubia sighed deeply and wiped her face. I followed suit.
"So... you were the one who started the rumor... and your skill is lacking?"
"...Yes. The quality isn’t great... but it’s fast. I’m sorry."
"This is... quite embarrassing."
Rubia turned her face towards .
Does that an she’s asking what I want to do?
Hmm...
"J-just go ahead. I’ll leave it to you."
Hephaes' head shot up.
"Really?!"
"Yes, really."
If the world only liked those with experience, what would newcors eat to survive?
And well... as long as the quality is decent, the faster the better.
"I’ll finish it as fast as possible!!"
Hephaes leaned in with a big smile.
"Ah, you don’t have to rush too much."
Rubia pushed Hephaes away slightly and declined.
Why...?! We need it fast!
"Huh? Wasn’t this urgent?"
"If you rush, mistakes happen, and when they accumulate, it becos a problem. So, I’d like you to do it as carefully as possible. It’s... equipnt for soone precious to ."
Upon hearing Rubia’s words, Hephaes covered his mouth with both hands.
"Wow... oh... Yes, yes! I understand!!"
And ... I froze, unable to do anything, unlike her.
S-soone precious...
Rubia thinks I’m... soone precious...!
I looked at Rubia’s face with a touched expression.
I don’t know what kind of expression Rubia was making, but... sothing around my chest felt warm.
"Hehe... soone precious... Hehe..."
"Noah? Shall we leave after handing over the equipnt?"
"Yes!"
I nodded vigorously and handed over the gear I had taken out of my bag.
I checked to make sure nothing was missing...
"But this is really a ss. Judging by its state, it should’ve been broken by now, but... how is it still holding together?"
Hephaes continued to mutter as he inspected each of my pieces of equipnt.
"This belt... like this... Ah, the cutting makes it move smoothly. Wow. The previous smith must’ve been incredibly skilled. But... why isn’t there any reinforcent for the blind spots?"
"Yes?"
"No, usually... parts that are hard to see or hard to avoid are reinforced. But... after finishing so neatly, these spots are left unreinforced... Looking at just the gear, the user shouldn’t have any blind spots... Ah...?"
Hephaes’ head slowly lifted. Then it tilted left.
"I know this might be a rude question, but..."
If it’s going to be a rude question, it’s probably just one...
"Y-yes. I’m blind."
I nodded and answered. Hephaes began muttering again, to himself.
"Black hair... small stature... and a blind girl with a greatsword... huh... a red beast that tears through monsters...?"
"Yes? A red beast that tears through monsters... what’s that...?!"
"Heh... Ah, uh..."
Hephaes' face turned towards Rubia.
Rubia gave the slightest shake of her head.
What are you two doing...?
I’m still holding my greatsword! I can feel everything!!
"Ru, Rubia. You know sothing, don’t you?"
"Ah, um..."
It’s very rare for Rubia to get flustered.
What is it...?!
"I’ll explain when we get back to the inn later."
"You have to... tell
for sure."
"Sure. It’s sothing you would have learned eventually. And, I’m a little... looking forward to your reaction. Hehe..."
Rubia’s laughter had a bit of malice mixed in.
What’s this...?
"Ah, here. Please take this. I’ll be counting on you. I’m using it very... carefully."
I handed over the greatsword to Hephaes, feeling an odd sense of unease.
"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind! But to say you’re using it carefully... the condition is too... Ah, no! I understand! I’ll do my best! I’ll take my ti... Co pick it up after sunset!"
"Yes..."
The greatsword fell from my hands.
My vision darkened, and everything felt powerless.
The unfamiliar sensation that still overwheld
spread throughout my body.
I imdiately grabbed Rubia’s hand tightly.
At least.
I felt a bit better.
"Wh-what about the price...?"
"Ah, right! About the price... well... I think I need to see the condition of the repairs first. The materials used are all quite tricky to handle... Is it okay if I tell you the price after I finish?"
"Mm... Okay. Let’s go, Rubia."
"Yes. Let’s go. Please, take care of it, Hephaes."
"Yes, yes!! I’ll do my best!!!!"
Following Rubia’s lead, I carefully stood up, opened the blacksmith’s door, and stepped outside.
As we were leaving, Rubia mumbled, "By evening... it should be fine."
She must be worried that talking about the "red beast that tears through monsters" would take a while, huh?
"Khh... this is so, so uncomfortable... suffocating... mmm..."
Maybe I should’ve just sat at the blacksmith’s shop and waited...
"Shall I carry you?"
"No. J-just hold my hand... you can’t let go... really, you can’t! I have a lot of money in my pocket right now. If I lose it, it’ll be... a big problem...!"
"Hehe- alright. Don’t worry."
Rubia’s hand tightened around mine.
"Now, we’re really going... to the inn, right?"
"Of course. Should we buy so snacks on the way?"
"Ah, yes... skewers!"
"The ones they were selling over there?"
"Yes, those... the sll yesterday was amazing... don’t you think they’ll taste good...?"
Rubia smiled faintly at what I said.
"Sure. Let’s go and pick so."
"Yes!"
"Th-those rumors... don’t make any sense...!!"
My hand holding the skewer trembled.
"Phuhahaha! They don’t make no sense. I felt that way when I saw Noah hunting the Black Bear too!"
After leaving the blacksmith and coming back to the inn, Rubia told
about the "red beast that tears through monsters."
That... was about ...!
The types of rumors were absurd.
"The red beast that tears through monsters" was the most representative nickna.
There were others like "The demon that drinks the blood of monsters to survive," and even... what? A demon who has been hunting ten thousand monsters to beco human?
It’s nonsense...
It’s... so cringey!
I’m embarrassed! Even a middle schooler going through puberty wouldn’t co up with such nicknas!
And... they don’t even see
as human!
"So, what did I look like...?"
"You don’t rember? Oh my... you had eyes placed at your waist, your body was covered in blood... and in the end, you crushed the Black Bear’s head. I really thought you were drinking blood on purpose! And then you smiled at ... th-that was scary."
I recalled that mory.
I definitely broke its shoulder bone... then spun around and smashed its head.
Of course, back then... I wasn’t in a good mood, so I acted a bit more aggressively...
"Was it that terrible...? Did I look like a demon or beast?"
"Back then, yeah. I didn’t believe it at first. And Noah has black hair, so I didn’t believe it when they said ‘red beast.’ But then I saw you covered in blood, and I knew... Ah, this is the red beast... Hehehe..."
My face turned hot...
"But why are you telling
this now...? If I had known... I would’ve been a little more... gentle..."
"Does it really matter about those rumors? Besides... I don’t think it’s bad. You need so kind of strong image, or people won’t leave you alone. Noah’s just... well... cute, so she needs that. It’s cool, hehe... It’s cool, right?!"
It’s not cool at all...
What kind of world is this...?
Coming up with these weird nicknas!!
"Fine... I’m so embarrassed I can’t even show my face..."
I collapsed on the bed, releasing all my tension.
"Well, so what? It’s cool. The red beast that tears through monsters. Wow... it’s cool."
I heard Rubia lying down next to
on the bed.
"Don’t tease ."
"When Noah becos a high-ranking adventurer, I wonder what kind of nickna she’ll get."
"Probably so weird one... Heinkel and Luch... they have nicknas like ‘Baldy’ and ‘One-Eye.’"
Wait, were they bald?
Well... whatever, it’s the sa either way.
"Hehehe... That’s true."
Rubia’s voice, so close to my ear, made
turn my back slightly, feeling ticklish.
"But Noah. You’re speaking pretty well these days?"
"Yes?"
Rustle... rustle...
I heard Rubia coming closer to .
"Well, when I first saw you, you spoke so softly, and your pronunciation was awkward... you stuttered so much. But now, your voice has gotten louder, and you speak clearly, don’t you?"
Did I?
Hmm...
I think it’s only when I’m with Rubia...
No, also... After talking about beasts and demons, now you’re saying I speak well... It feels weird!
I speak well normally!
"Well... I don’t know about that. It’s just... I feel safe when I’m with Rubia. I don’t act like this with other people. And... I’ve always spoken well..."
Rubia gently wrapped her arms around .
"Do you feel safe when you’re with ?"
"Y-yeah...?"
Even if I make a mistake, I think she’ll sohow solve it...
After all, she’s a priestess...! A priestess that even nobles can’t ss with!
And she’s so pretty!
She listens to
so well!
And even handles potions!
That’s why I feel safe!
"But... can you... let go now...?"
I feel safe, but it’s so embarrassing...
"Why? We were like this yesterday too."
"Ah, no... that was..."
I was crying... and sothing exploded inside , so it happened naturally... this is different!
"Don’t you like it?"
"I... I don’t mind, but... it’s embarrassing..."
It slls so good, and I can feel Rubia right behind , which feels nice... but...! The touch on my back... it’s too much!
"If you don’t like it, then I can’t help it."
Rubia’s hands slid off .
I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"It’s okay! We can just stay like this...!"
Rubia seed disappointed.
Yeah. I’m not doing this because I like it.
"Well, if that’s what you want."
Rubia, still holding , quietly spoke.
"Noah, I have a question."
"Yes?"
"I’m not sure how to ask this, but... I’ll just ask directly. There’s no other aning, I’m just curious... If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine."
Rubia’s arms tightened around .
"Yes."
"Noah... when you’re in important monts or dangerous situations, you open your eyes. I was wondering why that is..."
"Ah..."
I do open my eyes in important monts.
"No real reason. It’s just a habit... I guess it’s also just for show."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. And... it’s a secret, but... I feel a bit uneasy when my eyes are closed like this... it makes it hard to focus."
Rubia nodded as if she understood.
"Is that strange...? A blind person opening their eyes... And the red- ugh!!"
While I was speaking, Rubia forcibly turned my body and hugged .
Suddenly, I felt the soft, plush sensation on my face!
I’m suffocating!
"No. Not at all. I actually want to keep seeing you. If you were to walk around with your eyes open... I wonder, would that make it uncomfortable?"
I gently pushed Rubia’s body away.
"You... want to see ?"
"Yeah... but if you don’t want to, you can keep them closed."
"Mm... then I’ll show you. Since it’s you, Rubia..."
I took a deep breath.
And I opened my eyes.
"Wow... seeing you this close makes you even prettier..."
Rubia’s hand gently wiped my eyes.
"Soday... I hope you can see. The mirror... and this world."
I raised my hand and touched Rubia’s face.
"Even so, your face is like this."
I felt it, and I imagined it in my head.
A moderately round forehead. Sharp eyes, full of kindness. Subtle yet cute ears. A high nose. Slightly downturned lips.
I could feel it. I could imagine it in my head.
"You can tell by touching. Rubia, you’re really beautiful. Your eyes are big, your nose is high... and your lips are so soft."
"Ugh... U-uh... Is that... so?"
Rubia took a startled breath and pulled away.
After that, Rubia babbled about her younger brother, her mother.
I, as background noise to that peaceful talk, continued to...
Keep my eyes open.
Staring at the sentences before .
The bright, shining words on the black background.
I gazed at them.
I repeated them.
I engraved them into my mind.
So I wouldn’t forget.
Never forget.
So deep that they’d beco a part of my subconscious.
I stared.
So my self wouldn’t disappear.
So I wouldn’t be devoured by this character.
I stared.
Relentlessly.
I stared.
[The target is a character in the ga.]
I am not.
A character in the ga.
I am.
I am...
Reviews
All reviews (0)