Published at 25th of October 2020 02:38:06 PM
Chapter 76
The older sister will encounter a hero if she too walks on .
“It’s got the same ring as my friend’s name”
Of course- it’s just a coincidence- ahaha .
Towards Chiffon who was smiling nostalgically, I randomly replied . While changing the subject away from the word ‘Vito’ too . Clever me .
“Oh yeah, how long have you guys been in this town?”
A topic which was completely unrelated, but there was nothing else . I don’t know much about the arena either .
“Umm, about a week ago . There are still things I’d like to inspect so I intend to stay for a few more days . Ah, right! If you feel like it, come over to the inn we’re staying in to play! I got my hands on some pretty good tea from an earlier town, so let’s enjoy that together! There’ll be sweets too”
Chiffon and Chocolat are also names of sweets, slurp . …Does it seem like I’ve been thinking more like a dragon? It was the same when I met Celia, but I feel an urge to eat beautiful people when I see them, and it’s almost becoming a habit . I don’t actually eat them, no, I don’t even think about doing it! …Well, I do think play-biting would be fine . Because they look so soft .
“Nee-sama’s sweets are delicious”
Please come by all means, he said with an adorable smile, so how can one not go .
“You can even make sweets? That’s amazing”
“Ehehe, it’s nothing much . If I had to say, my best feature would be just that . ”
If you say that, I think being a Dragon Rider is a plenty great feature . There are many who want to but fail to be one, yet Chiffon managed to become one in just 2 years . That’s not possible unless you already had the aptitude for it . I’ve seen her clumsy side, so I still doubt how she ended up a knight, but I’m supporting her from the bottom of my heart .
“Ah, it’s almost time… I’m reluctant to leave, but we have things to attend to after this . We’re staying in the inn with the yellow roof, facing the left of this street, so please come over to play sometime”
“I’ll be waiting for you with delicious tea and sweets!”
I nodded at them, and saw the 2 of them off . Chiffon, in the end, turned back again and waved goodbye . She almost bumped into a passerby, and got warned by Chocolat, who watched smiling . Siblings are really nice .
I want to see Touka soon . Naoki and Yuu too, I wonder how they’re doing now . Currently, I’m just travelling without any leads, but will I really be able to find them like this I wonder . It’d be nice to have even a small clue . I can’t continue to just travel without a plan . For now I’ll rely on Al and Celia’s kindness till I’m capable of travelling independently, then I’ll start searching seriously . …I wonder when that will happen though .
…Hmm? Now that I think about it, when Touka and the rest disappeared, they mentioned that they could hear a girl’s voice . Something like a magic circle appeared too . If that was the summoning rite, there should be limited places able to do so . A small book, or a rare book would likely be found in the Alvina Kingdom . The place that summoned Kikuko-oneechan is also suspicious . Either way, it seems like it involves a country’s higher-ups .
I might be able to get a clue earlier than I thought . I’m starting to feel more motivated . Yosh, first to train myself, let’s go beat some demons or something!
…Oh yeah, I better stop the two fighting behind me soon .
While we were done with our fun, peaceful chat, Al and Celia were still asserting their own claims to each other .
We got information from this town’s Guild branch that there’s a demon’s den in the cave just outside the town, so we immediately headed out daily to devote ourselves to increasing our levels . After starting out as Level 1, I’ve now climbed to Level 16 . I may be just like a pebble compared to Al and the rest, but at Level 16, I will now be able to take on D Rank requests! …They are still basically errands though .
There are many species of demons, ranging from mollusks like slimes, or beast-type creatures such as wolves or bears . Their golden glowing eyes differentiate them from their animal counterparts . I’ve encountered a rabbit demon before, but because it lacked any cuteness as it violently charged at me, I was able to kill it without hesitation . Just to add, defeated demons turn into a white fog and disappear . If you use the identification pass issued by the Guild to absorb that fog and accumulate them, your level will rise on its own accordingly . I think it’s great that they invented such a useful item . I did question whether this, which is like an indirect medium for magic, would work with my body’s disposition, which is unable to use or be affected by magic . But I guess it works similarly to the mic magic . That was something she herself cast to make her voice louder . It’ll work, but even if I’m within range of the spell, my voice won’t be amplified . What a confusing disposition .
But this disposition also has its benefits . It becomes way too easy to defeat demons specialising in magic . Since I’m not affected at all regardless how much I’m attacked with magic, I can get in close and bash it . At first, I wondered if it was fine if I defeated them so easily, and was feeling a little guilty, but after seeing my level rise and rise again, it started to become more exciting, and I even went out alone . Although when I ran into a physical type monster at such times, I thought I was going to die .
I watch the fire dancing in front of me dancing as if alive . It’s somewhat soothing .
“Hey, Al”
“…What?”
“Why are there still demons reviving, even though the Black Dragon saved the world”
That’s something I’ve been questioning for a while . So I ask Al who is doing maintenance on his sword next to me . Currently, we are taking a break in a cave . Three of us are gathered and squatting around our bonfire . Celia must’ve been exhausted, as she’s now taking a nap .
“Who knows . Well, even with the demons reviving, the Demon King has not resurrected . That’s enough”
“That may be so… where do demons even come from . I wonder if we’d be able to cut them off from the root”
“Easier said than done . That’s why the Hero Summoning ritual was performed”
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Hero Summoning Ritual? What’s that, I tilt my head, to which Al smiled wryly .
“You really are ignorant . The Hero Summoning Ritual is a ceremony in which the Tirzot Kingdom and Alvina Kingdom worked together to perform . Around a month ago, the priestess of the Alvina Kingdom successfully summoned three Heroes . ”
Three Heroes . Could they be .
“Those Heroes seem to be travelling around several countries to root out all the demons, but I haven’t seen them yet . Among them, one seems to be like you, a black-featured person . There have been rumours that it’s the reincarnation of the Jet Black Sacred Beast, but I wonder what it actually is”
As I thought, it’s Touka’s group . To think that that was a Hero Summoning Ritual!
Adding on, a priest of the Alvina Kingdom, you’d only think of Lord Cleric . But, what Touka and the rest heard was a girl’s voice . A girl priest…sounds a little familiar . Didn’t Lord Cleric mention it? That he left behind his successor in the Alvina Kingdom . Who was it, that, the girl who acted as Lord Cleric’s attendant . A little awkward, …ahhh, I can’t remember! My memories are so chaotic it’s giving me a headache .
When I frowned in pain, Al asked: You okay? and examined my face .
“If you’re tired, go ahead and take a nap”
My head is gently stroked . If Celia sees this, she’d definitely do everything to get between us, but she’s currently in dreamland .
Apparently, Celia was travelling with 2 others when she faced an outrageous situation due to Al’s woman troubles . It became a trauma for her, and now she can’t help but interfere with Al’s relationship with other ladies . Al said, it’s not his fault, yeah . Rather than because he was hitting on ladies as if he were another Stefanos-san, the problem lay on the woman’s side, but well, it doesn’t have anything to do with me .
For now, I’m glad that Al is maintaining the same distance as before . I wouldn’t want it to become awkward or stifling .
“Yeah, I’ll sleep a little . …hey, about those Heroes, do you happen to know where they are now?”
“Do you want to see them?”
“Well aren’t they heroes? Of course I want to see them”
More than wanting to see, I want to meet them . To think there was a clue so close, I should have asked much earlier .
“Unfortunately, I don’t know . The branch would probably have some information, don’t you think?”
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“Ah, I see . That’s true”
Alright, once we’re back in town, let’s go straight to the branch .
The cave exploration has ended, and while pleased with my steadily rising level, I reach the surface, greeted by the blinding light of day . The inside of the cave was pretty gloomy, and had been almost completely dark too .
“It got dirty huh”
I couldn’t tell while inside, but being exposed to sunlight, we could easily see that we were covered in dirt . It looks as if we were covered in ashes .
“Ito-chan, there’s a spring over there, so let’s go . You’ll be able to at least clean your face and hands”
Of course, Al is not allowed, Celia striked before taking my hand and walking off . Al smiled bitterly .
It’s not like I’ll be naked, so I’m fine with it though… maybe it’s envy? Maybe Celia actually likes Al? That’s why she wouldn’t like it if another girl like me sticks to his side . It’d be interesting if she herself doesn’t realise it . No actually the chances of that are high . The pair met 2 years ago and have been travelling together since, so there’s no way that love hasn’t formed!
Oh no, my imagination is going wild . It was extremely tasty .
“Oh my, it looks like there were earlier guests”
In the depths of the spring, the figures of 5 people could be seen . Of these, there seemed to be 2 females and 3 males . All of them wore travelling gear, so they might be adventurers .
I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but from this distance, I can naturally hear their conversation .
Realising that it’s a voice I recognise, my eyes widen .
“Huh? A ball? What’s that”
I can’t see his face from behind him, but the blonde-haired boy said to the man dressed as a knight as if it’s annoying and troublesome .
“I’m hosting a ball at the castle to celebrate your group’s wonderful habitual deeds . Please, do participate in it . ”
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“I don’t need such a thing . And I’m not interested in it”
“But doesn’t it seem fun?”
From here, in the shadow of the blonde boy, I can’t see him well, but it seems to be a different boy’s voice .
“You… just because you don’t have a weak constitution anymore, you are way too excited”
“I can’t keep going unless I’m excited . We came to an unknown world after great trouble, so you’ve got to have fun with whatever you can enjoy . Touka”
Tou,ka—?
“A ball sounds like fun! Can I wear some pretty dresses?”
“Yes . I will prepare Yuu-sama’s clothes as requested . ”
“Wow really? Thanks . Why don’t Nao and Touka and Riychan all choose too?”
My heart stirs . It’s beating more and more fiercely .
I could feel power entering my whole self, and I mean my entire body .
“It’s not my style to go for a ball . I won’t be participating . It’s enough if Naoki and Yuu participate . ”
I caught a glimpse of his side profile .
Blonde hair against school regulations, bangs pinned up by a ladies’ hairpin, and ears with several piercings on them .
His clothes are the common adventurer’s outfit .
Even if he appears different, that figure is definitely, the younger brother of mine who I’ve been searching for this whole time .