It was an unknown face.
"An unknown face?"
What nonsense did I just spout out? Speaking as if there was a person besides me, the girl put on a flabbergasted expression.
"If it's an unknown face, then are you saying that I can't speak to you?"
"'Why are you speaking informally' is what I indirectly referred to."
"Then, aren't you using informal language as well?"
"I was just making it clear to you that people reap what they sow."
For some reason, it feels like it's been a long time since I spoke in such a manner ever since my mother had passed away.
Those eyebrows, clear and beautifully outlined, as if they were drawn.
"This kind of conversation… it's has been a while."
Huh, the same thoughts as me?
The girl that suddenly appeared slowly walked towards my side, and without hesitation, sat on top of the box that I was on earlier. Then, she grabbed an apple from the few I had just taken out and bit into it.
I was dumbstruck.
"Delicious. It's been such a long time since I ate an apple."
"It's only been 10 minutes since I ate one."
"So what?"
"Well, if you're going to eat, you might as well eat."
Huh, why am I like this?
"Thanks."
Turning her head towards me, she smiled upright. The apple's red skin and that white teeth in contrast were surprising distinct.
A day of discovery I could never have guessed.
… … When did I get enthralled and write a poem in broad daylight?
"Can I have another apple?"
"Ah, of course."
Eh, didn't she just grab and ate one before without asking?
Despite being in this vivid reality, what was the reason which made me feel that I was seeing things? Although today is the day where girls are foretold of their future husbands, but there was never any say that boys would meet their future wives.
… … staring dazedly at the apple-eating girl, I couldn't feel any sense of reality.
"Ah, delicious, delicious. Live ones are sure delicious."
Hearing her murmur such elongated words, I involuntarily asked.
"… a strange taste. Apples are alive?"
"Of course, right now I can hear this apple is pleading to let it live."
"Haaaaaaa……."
Well, is she a mentally strange child? Let's ask one more time.
"Alright, what is the apple saying?"
"That she's too young and beautiful to die yet."
The apple was already halfway into the child's mouth and gone (if that's so, then what's the opinion of the apple's remaining half?).
I slowly walked backwards. If you think about it, this unfamiliar girl has more than one or two strange aspects.
First, her outfit was unusual.
She was wearing a dress that had a variety of dark colors quite different to the color of her hair, and adjusted from top to front was a hood in replacement of no sleeves, with one side completely open like a cloak. As if to prevent the eyes of men, inside the open side of the dress was light blue pants and on her feet were short, black enamel boots. It was a very clear and impressive contrast.
To have such an attire, what exactly is this child?
"Thanks for the apple. I ate well. Since the fella was pleading desperately not to die, it was much more delicious than usual."
I brought forth my index finger by my head and drew a circle.
"You, are you this?"
"Ah how unfashionable. Anyways, whenever I try something like this, a future door of hardships always opens up."
"What, what are you saying?"
"I'm Yuri, Yurika."
… this conversation was a complete mess.
Wanting to confirm if I had misheard, I asked again.
"What?"
"Ah, Yurika. Yurika Obernu. You can call me Yuri if you so like."
Ah… it seems like a pretty name.
Uhk, this isn't the topic.
"Not that, what do you mean by a future door of hardships opening?"
"Don't attempt to know so much already ahead of time. You're Fab… no, what was your name?"
Did I just mishear? I'm quite sure that she was going to say my name as if she knew it.
Whatever, I must've misheard.
"Fabian."
"No family name?"
"… Christian."
Until I finish the quest my father entrusted me with and return to Nim-Narshinyak, I had decided to use my mother's last name until then.
"Ok, I see. Nice to meet you."
The girl who had revealed herself as 'Yurika' rose from the crate and grabbing the last apple with her left hand, she extended forth her right hand for a handshake. Shaking her hand, Yurika's silver bracelets clamored. The sound of the silver colliding was greatly faint.
"That's that, what did you come here for?"
"Ah, I came here to buy an item."
"There's not much left."
"I'll search among the remainder I guess."
Although she was a girl that spoke very gently, shortly, I would soon realize that compared to her generous voice was a sharp eye that was totally irrelevant to one another (in the end, I decided to believe that she tried to be generous at first). Yurika, in front of Mr. Cindebolp's store, was looking around, checking the unsold items. As if there was a reason why those items were unsold, there was no interest in her eyes.
She came empty-handed in front of me and shrugged her shoulders.
"What's this. I came here hearing that it was cheap, but there's nothing useful left."
"It's your fault for not coming earlier. There were a lot of decent items, but they were all sold. If you want to obtain something good, you need to be diligent."
"Even if I came earlier, I don't think there's anything that's worth choosing."
"What evidence do you have to say that?"
"Just by looking at it, these are clearance items from a store that's about to close."
She guessed it right?
Since it wasn't something worth hiding, I just told her the truth.
"You're right. I've finished clearing out the store today. It'll be closed tomorrow."
"Why?"
"I'm planning to move."
"Where?"
"Into the world."
Hehe, saying something like this made me feel like I became something.
From Yurika's lips were somewhat pouting as her expression had a 'trying to show off' kind of meaning, full of hostility as if I was in enemy territory. Making such… an honest face like that, to make a person feel ashamed.
"Okay, I hope you move out well. I have to go."
Yurika, without asking me, grabbed the last apple and made a simple farewell wink. At last, I noticed that her body moved gracefully light and fast. Before I was able to reply, she quickly turned a corner inside the village and disappeared without looking back.
It should be quite eye-catching roaming around with that kind of outfit. Maybe it's a trend in a city, but in this neighborhood, all the clothes worn by girls here are all the same I say.
A traveler?
All right- Fabian, stop your futile interest, stop.
TL Afterword: WOOT! Finally, the heroine has entered.
TL Afterword
Aww, the father left. But, that means it's time for the adventure of Fabian to finally start! Woot!
Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101