Chapter 27
Chapter 27: Hero and the stormy day of past
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Translator: Tseirp
It was a stormy day .
It was rare that a storm would reach the village .
Therefore, there were many homes not sturdy enough to withstand a storm and we gathered everyone to the village elder’s house that also functioned as a meeting place to seek refuge .
The wind howled outside . I could hear the sound of something getting blown away outside . There was an intense clap of thunder and the children around us who evacuated in the same way screamed .
At that time, I was eight years old . My younger sister Ruti was six years old .
Due to our special Divine Protections, the two of us were a lot calmer compared to the children our age .
“Motheerrrr!”
A slight distance away, a seated girl the same age as Ruti cried out and clung to her mother . “You’re already six years old!” The mother was a little concerned with the gazes around her but she still gently patted the head of the girl clinging to her arm .
Ruti looked at that situation with her usual gaze … the people around said that the gaze was very cold but that was not true, her emotional expressions were just hard to understand … she stared intently at that scene .
I also looked around and saw many children similarly holding hands with their parents or siblings .
Everyone was afraid .
“Ruti . ”
“What is it?”
“Are you not afraid?”
” … Of the wind? Of thunder? Or of the possibility of the building collapsing and crushing everyone?”
She indifferently asked to confirm what I meant with calm and beautiful eyes and I slowly patted my younger sister’s head .
“Any one of that, are you afraid at this moment?”
“Nope, after all, I fear nothing . ”
“I fear nothing . ” Ruti once had a huge fight when she said that same phrase and clashed with a 13-year-old bully .
Even though she possesses the Divine Protection of the Hero, Ruti, a child with level 1 Divine Protection and no equipment nor combat experience, would have difficulty fighting against a bully leader, a youth who developed early with level 3 Divine Protection of the Warrior, though armed with just a club-like weapon, a thick cloth as armor and an old wooden shield, so she got beaten with the club and came home .
Even though Ruti actually possesses complete immunity to fear since birth and she only said that with that meaning in mind .
… Of course, after that I made that bully leader suffer the same amount of pain … well, maybe about 1 . 5 times … no, 2 times the pain, yup, probably about that much and had him apologize in front of Ruti .
Thanks to that, I ended up getting treated as the bully leader for some time after that . It was a hassle so I ordered an 11-year-old boy with the Divine Protection of the Cavalier to return the situation to its original state .
From then onward, the former bully leader behaved himself and never resorted to violence . He enjoyed violence not because of his Divine Protection but because he had never had the experience of losing in a fight .
“There’s nothing Ruti fears huh?”
“Onii-chan knows right?”
“Yup . ”
Ruti tilted her head and showed that she couldn’t understand my intentions .
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“Actually . ”
“I am afraid . ”
“Really?”
“Yes . Are you surprised?”
Ruti showed a slightly troubled expression .
She still did not have complete immunity to confusion at that time . That was why I thought she could be surprised .
“I am not surprised . ”
“I see, you’re not surprised huh?”
“Yup . ”
“Then, I’ll get back to topic . I am afraid … could you hold my hand?”
“Me?”
“Yes, Ruti’s hand . ”
“Sure . ”
I grasped Ruti’s hand .
Regardless of how overwhelming the Divine Protection residing in her body was, that was the hand of a small girl .
“Are you not afraid anymore?”
“Yup, I’m no longer afraid . ”
“That’s great . ”
Ruti smiled gently . Others … only mothers and fathers will understand the cuteness of such a smile . It is such a waste .
That was why I hogged it for myself . Until the day Ruti meets a person who can understand that smile .
“Sorry, I lied when I said I was afraid . ”
“A lie?”
“I’m totally not afraid . ”
“I see . ”
Ruti tilted her head further as she could not understand more and more .
“I just wanted to hold Ruti’s hand . ”
“My hand?”
“Do you hate it?”
“I don’t . But why?”
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“There’s no reason . ”
“None?”
“That’s right, I have times I want to hold Ruti’s hand for no particular reason . ”
” … Why?”
“There’s no reason … but, people do actions that have no reasons behind them . ”
“Actions with no reasons . ”
“Yup, I grasped Ruti’s hand for no particular reason . That’s why, if you have any time you have to hold my hand for no reason, you can do so at any time . ”
“I see …”
Ruti stared at my hand that was connected to hers .
“Onii-chan . ”
“Hm?”
“I love Onii-chan . ”
That was rare .
Perhaps that was the first time Ruti expressed words of affection toward anything .
“Thank you, I’m happy . ”
“Why?”
“Eh?”
“I am the one who said I love Onii-chan? Why is Onii-chan thanking me?”
I gently rustled Ruti’s hair .
Her striking blue hair brilliantly reflected the candlelight as I pat her head .
“Ruti, I love you too . ”
“Mm . ”
I have repeated those words to Ruti countless times .
In fact, my younger sister was unbearably cute .
“Ruti smiles when I say those words . ”
Ruti looked shocked as she cutely touched her own face .
That gesture was also cute and I smiled gently .
“Smiling means happiness right?”
“Probably . ”
“In other words, I am the same too, I feel happy when Ruti say you love me . I’m smiling now right?”
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“Yup . ”
“That’s why, thank you . ”
Ruti deliberately pondered on the meaning of those words to understand them .
“All right . ”
“You understand now?”
“Onii-chan, can I do things that have no meaning too?”
“Sure . ”
Ruti let go of my hand .
Eh? Did she not like it?
But Ruti went around my back and hugged my head as she clung to me .
“This is better … is it all right?”
“Sure, you can do this anytime . ”
“I see . ”
She tightened her hug . I could feel her body warmth transmitted through my back .
“Onii-chan . ”
“What is it?”
I looked back and naturally Ruti’s face was there .
“Thank you . ”
Ruti showed a ‘full-faced smile’ that only I could understand .
For people who could understand that smile, it was a cute smile that could absolutely make them fall in love .
The person who can marry Ruti is super lucky . I’m starting to feel envious .
“Onii-chan, will you always be with me?”
” … Sorry, I cannot do that . ”
“I see . ”
After this storm passes . I will have to head to the town of Andaru where the Knight that scouted me awaits in order for me to become a Knight .
As far as I know, the monsters in the vicinity of this village do not contribute well to the growth of Divine Protections . Even though I had earnestly hunted monsters from the age of six, my level had only raised from 31 to 33 . An Owlbear is too weak .
In preparation for the time I journey with Ruti, I must become as strong as I possibly can .
I do not know until when I can fight alongside her but … until the day Ruti is surrounded by lots of companions . Even if the opponent is the strongest Demon, I must be able to fight it .
“But, if Ruti has anything you don’t want to do, you can call me anytime . I will do it for you . ”
“I know that . ”
“Really?”
“You have told me many times . ”
“I’ll be sad if you forget about me after all?”
A small ear was pressed to my back and Ruti stayed still .
“I’ll come back when I get a break . What do you want for a souvenir?”
“Honeyed milk . ”
Ruti who was leaning on my back muttered that .
The journey to the Demon Lord and the slow life at the frontier named Zoltan .
I believed that our paths would never cross again . But,
“Are you searching for Gideon?”
A young man with black hair and dark skin said that to Danan .
Danan never had any talent for tracking and was at a loss for where to head without obtaining any leads so he was drinking in a tavern at the town Gideon broke off from them . He could not find information on Gideon no matter where he looked .
“What?”
Danan was just feeling pleasant from being drunk so he glared at the youth . Actually, he did not mean to glare but Danan’s 「Eyes of Intimidation」 skill always spontaneously activated . Or rather, without consciously preventing it, his 「Eyes of Intimidation」 would activate on its own .
However, the youth was unruffled .
“You’re strong!”
“I cannot compare to you but my sword is slightly serviceable . ”
“Hooooh . ”
“Leaving that aside, you’re looking for Gideon right?”
“What about it, do you know Gideon’s whereabouts?”
“No no, I have no idea . I just want to find Gideon too . ”
“What”
Dana woke up from his drunken stupor .
He lightly shook his fist and glared at the youth in combat preparation .
“Shall we search for him together? I believe the effectiveness would be better if two people search together . ”
The youth merely flashed a smile .