Chapter 224-2. Childhood Friends – Hans’ Side Story
Childhood friends, second round.
A farewell party was held in Demos Village. It was an occasion to support Lena and Leo as they left for the capital church, but as the party continued with well-wishes, it turned into a lively celebration with alcohol.
Only Hans was grumbling in front of the blazing campfire.
How on earth are they going to get to the Jerome Holy Kingdom? It seemed like everyone was lost in a dream.
But Hans knew.
The reason the villagers were happy wasn’t because they believed Lena and Leo could go to the capital church. It was because they thought Lena would eventually give up her dream and return to be with Leo.
Ptui.
Hans spat into the campfire. Then, loudly enough for everyone to hear, he said, “Are they eloping?” Laughter erupted, but he got a scolding from his mother.
That night, Hans couldn’t sleep. Thinking to himself, “I’ve lost,” he tossed and turned until morning.
Lena and Leo were set to depart with a cart heading to the town. Hans hurriedly changed his clothes and ran to the bakery. He packed the unsold bread from the previous day into a small box and loaded it onto the cart.
“Hey, Leo. Since you’re leaving, just once would be fine.”
“No.”
As he pushed the cart together, Hans was boiling inside. If he could, he would have overturned the cart. To Lena, who was handing out water,
“This is all a lie! You can’t go to the capital church!”
he wanted to say, but Lena’s face was too bright. She was completely naive.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
The cart arrived quickly, much to his annoyance.
By dusk, they reached the outskirts of Torito Village, where the young men prepared to camp out. Lena and Leo said their goodbyes and left. Hans sneaked away and followed them.
He knew what conclusion awaited. He knew it would be better not to see it.
But he couldn’t help it. He watched the two enter an inn, and before long, he stood on the darkened street looking up.
The light on the second floor turned on, casting shadows on the curtains.
A silhouette with long hair moved up and down. Soon, the light went out.
Hans bit his lip hard. Feeling a strong sense of defeat, he turned away and headed to a shop. It was the shop of a merchant he often helped and learned trade skills from.
Even in the shabby bed there, Hans couldn’t sleep. Remembering the bouncing silhouette, he banged his head against the wall to calm himself. That silhouette didn’t necessarily mean what he thought it did, and even if it did, what could he do? Lena chose Leo.
Hans sighed out his regrets.
Alright. Let’s wish them well. Coolly. Someday, the day will come when I show them me as a successful merchant. At best, Leo will be a hunter… Then even if he tries to look good to me, it won’t matter?
Hans dreamt of a terribly poor cousin coming to borrow money. In his dream, he generously lent money to Lena, who wore torn clothes. He told her she didn’t have to pay it back, coolly.
But the next day, when Hans woke up, he unconsciously went back to that inn.
Coincidentally, Leo was standing in front of the inn. Hans greeted him, pretending to know nothing.
“Oh! Leo. I see you slept here.”
“Hans. Did you sell everything already?”
“My stuff sells quickly. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. I was going to eat here in a bit.”
“Great~ Let’s eat together.”
Leo nodded stiffly. It was a different attitude than usual.
‘Is he bragging that he won?’
Something boiled up inside Hans, and he asked.
“So, did you do it with Lena?”
“What?”
“You know what I mean.”
“….”
Leo didn’t say anything for a while. His indifferent expression, as if Hans was asking something pointless, made Hans feel pathetic instead.
Soon, Lena came down.
The three of them had a meal together in the inn’s dining room, and as always, Lena greeted him with a bright smile. The conversation naturally turned to their journey during the meal.
“You’re going to the lord’s castle? Isn’t that the wrong direction? You said you were going to Nevis. So, you should head west. Why are you going north?”
“But we have no choice. We need to travel with a caravan, and there’s no caravan here, right?”
Such fools.
Hans clicked his tongue and said.
“Hey~ You don’t know how the world works. There’s a market open here now. How can there be no caravan? There should be some heading west. Want me to introduce you?”
“You know someone?”
“I know Torito pretty well.”
How well can a mid-teen boy know it? But Hans boasted in front of Lena.
After asking merchants he was familiar with if there were any caravans going to Nevis today and searching the market for a while, he got an answer.
“There’s nothing leaving today. The caravan I asked about earlier will leave tomorrow morning, and that seems to be the earliest. If you’re going, I’ll introduce you to the caravan master. I’m not very close to him, but I’ve met him a few times.”
The merchant was always trying to teach Hans something while making him work for free. The plump-bellied caravan master waved at Hans cheerfully.
“Mister, it’s been a while. These are my friends. They want to go to Nevis. Do you have a route?”
“We don’t go directly to Nevis, but we go partway. Can you manage with that? I’d have to charge five silver coins for both of you to ride in the cart. It’ll take about two weeks. I need to remove a lot of goods to make space for you. And for food…”
Lena looked at Hans differently. Feeling her changed gaze, Hans helped Leo negotiate the price.
“Hans… Thank you for your help.”
Ha ha. What could be more exhilarating than receiving thanks from the girl you have a crush on? Hans laughed it off coolly.
“Ha ha ha. No problem. Safe travels.”
The next day, he stood on the outskirts of Torito Village.
The caravan he introduced had departed, and he saw Lena and Leo at the back of the cart. Hans felt a bit bitter, but he blessed the future of his first love and his cousin.
Lena, Leo. Live well.
I’ll become a merchant and go to Nevis too. Then… I think I’ll be able to tell you that I liked you.
His steps back to Demos Village were much lighter. A few years later, Hans became a merchant as he had vowed and went to Nevis.
And there, he met Leo.
