Chapter 55
Chapter 55: Swallowed by a bitter vortex
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Translator: Tseirp
My younger sister was in my arms .
My younger sister who I thought that I might perhaps never see again or at least until she defeated the Demon Lord .
“Onii-chan!”
Ruti squeezed with her arms that were wrapped around my back .
Ruti was smiling, smiling while crying .
Gonz who was beside me and the Chikuwloving child who entered with Ruti were shocked stiff with their mouths wide open .
I have to say something …
First, I tightly hugged Ruti back .
I was happy to be reunited with my younger sister too . From the bottom of my heart .
After a while, once Ruti had finally calmed down, I softly squeezed Ruti’s shoulder and she obediently separated from me .
Her expression had returned to her usual expression too .
She was smiling even now but those who did not know Ruti would probably see it as an expressionless look .
“Onii-chan … you’re wrong . ”
” … ? What are you referring to?”
“I do not feel anything for Ares . ”
Was she referring to the time when Ares hugged her when I left?
“Really? I was sure that …”
“No . ”
Ruti denied it with a strong tone which she rarely used with me .
That was Ruti’s way of expressing her denial where there was no room for discussion so I honestly gave in .
“All right all right, it seems that I was mistaken . ”
“Yes . ”
Ruti corrected me sadly . I see, so she did not have such a relationship with Ares …
While I was partially happy, I was also sad as it meant that Ruti did not have anybody to rely on in the end .
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… I guess it was about time I explained to those around us .
But how should I explain it?
“Onii-chan so that girl is Red’s younger sister?”
“Onii-chan so the person in front of me is Gideon-san?”
“Gideon?”
“Red?”
Gonz and Chikuwloving girl both tilted their heads in confusion .
Hah, how should I explain this?
Lit was out buying dinner .
I will have to explain all kinds of matters to Ruti before she returned .
At the same time, I had to explain to Gonz as well .
Gonz was not exactly a tight-lipped person but he was still a person who could distinguish what not to speak about .
“Hmm . ”
I’ll close the shop for a time .
After all, I could not manage the shop in this situation .
“Er, firstly, Gonz . ”
“Yeah . ”
“This child is my younger sister . But please do not tell those around us for now . I’ll explain to you properly another day so it would help me if you quietly went home for today . ”
“Sure, I don’t really get what is going on but I can certainly tell that you both like each other . ”
Gonz grinned .
“Younger sisters are good . ”
Gonz had Nao too, his younger sister .
The two of them got along well and he treats her husband Mido and their son Tanta like his own family .
Gonz stood up straight and pat my shoulder .
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Then,
“Erm, younger sister-san . Red … or perhaps your real name is Gideon? I don’t know your circumstances but this guy is a great and reliable guy for this Zoltan’s Downtown district . He has not done anything bad so you can relax . ”
“Okay . ”
Ruti nodded .
However, it seemed to me that there was a shadow on her expression .
In the living room were me, Ruti, Chikuwloving girl … she was apparently called Tise, an Assassin that replaced me by Ares’ recommendation .
I felt that my role and that of an Assassin was quite far apart though .
“Ah — where should I start?”
“Onii-chan?”
“What is it?”
“Who is living with you?”
Ruti asked after taking a look around the room .
Ugh, she noticed even before I explained huh?
There wasn’t anything in the room that indicated Lit’s presence .
However, she probably realized that another person apart from me lived in this house from the arranged flower and flower pot as well as the sense of dishware .
I was a little nervous revealing it to my younger sister .
“I have someone I live together with . ”
” … I see . ”
“She’ll probably be back soon but you remember that shotel-wielding princess-sama Lislet who acted with us in Logavia?”
“That person huh?”
Ruti said a little sadly .
I guess it was really my mistake to think that she liked Ares instead of me .
Since we traveled together … no, since we were young, Ruti only had eyes for me .
“In any case, tell me the truth as to what happened to lead to this . I believe I asked Ares to say that I left the party to do scouting because I felt it was hard for me to fight . ”
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“After that, Yarandorara started claiming that Ares killed Onii-chan even though he claimed that Onii-chan ran away . ”
That Ares bastard, he didn’t keep his promise huh?
Although it might not be my place to complain after I had left the party .
I told them my circumstances where I was told by Ares that I was a hindrance to the party and to leave the party, fell into despair, ended up in Zoltan, opened an Apothecary and ended up living together with Lit .
“I intend to live like this together with Lit . I plan to eventually marry her . ”
I was a little nervous to clearly speak the word marriage .
Lit was a princess while I was a Knight with nothing more than a single generation of peerage .
It was not quite a case where our standings matched but … Lit and I were both prepared to abandon our social standings .
“I see . ”
My expressions probably told Ruti that I was serious . Ruti did not say anything about the difference in pedigree and just quietly nodded .
“I’m sorry for leaving without telling you . ”
” … It was Ares who was wrong . But . ”
Ruti looked at me directly .
“I will silence Ares . So, is it all right?”
“Lit can come along too . Onii-chan, let’s journey together again . ”
Ruti said as if she was begging me .
Pain ran through my heart .
I … thought that there were others Ruti could rely on apart from me .
Ares, Danan, Theodora, Yarandorara .
They all had their weaknesses but they were stronger than me and were her companions who mastered their respective paths .
Even without me, Ares’ magic, Danan’s fists, Theodora’s spear and miracles, Yarandorara’s power to manipulate plants … I thought that they would be able to support Ruti .
“The party can’t hold without Onii-chan . I can even expel Ares . We need Onii-chan . ”
Ruti explained the current situation of the party .
That Ares failed to accomplish my work on his own .
Danan left to look for me, Yarandorara left the party thinking I was murdered .
Tise entered the party to replace me but having one to replace three did not add up .
They defeated the Wind of the Four Heavenly Kings so I thought that the Hero party was doing well .
However, the Hero’s journey was not going favorably at all .
Just like the misgivings Lit had, huge issues surfaced after I left .
If I wish to return, I still had a place in the Hero party .
I could return to my days of adventuring once again if I wished for it .
However, even so … despite all that, I .
“Sorry, Ruti . I have already found my meaning in staying here . ”
Not just Lit, this shop, this daily life have become my purpose in life .
This Zoltan … had already become my home .
“I see . ”
Ruti quietly answered, having seemed to had a hunch midway through .
Then .
“In that case, I’ll live in this city too . ”
My beloved younger sister said with the determination to abandon her adventure as I did .
Selfish words that carried with it the meaning of escaping from the war which determines the fate of the world .
However, I wonder if anybody could condemn those words .
Today will probably be a long day .
What should I say? What can I say?
My thoughts were swallowed by a bitter vortex .
But I did not feel that it was painful .
Because in front of my eyes was my beloved younger sister, a young girl who endured unbearable sorrow with an expressionless face .