‘Still, I don’t think our Noah would abandon Mom because he’s too kind. Right?’
Sorry.
‘So, Noah, too. I hope you’ll become a hero who saves people someday, just like Dad and your name.’
Sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry.
So.
So scary.
*
It’s been a long time since I had a deep sleep.
Really a long time.
I didn’t want to fall into sleep like this, but still… it wasn’t bad.
“Ha…”
To shake off my drowsiness.
To extract the memories of the dream stuck in my mind.
I opened my eyes.
I took a breath and steadied my heart.
After a while, I finally managed to chase away the lingering sleepiness.
I closed my eyes and stretched out my hand.
No Great Sword.
I fumbled around me.
Still nothing.
“Ah…”
Rubia must have tucked me in next to her last night…
Judging by her absence, did she wake up first?
“Are you awake?”
“Um…!”
I heard Rubia’s voice from the right.
I was so glad that I sprang up… Huh?
“Ru, Rubia…?”
“Yes?”
“Um… Where are my clothes and bandages…?”
Covering my bare body with the blanket, I searched around.
No matter how much I looked, I couldn’t find them…
“Noah was tearing them off while saying you were suffocating in your sleep, so I loosened them for you. Did you… have a bad dream or something?”
“Ah… um… no. That’s not it. Um, thank you for your concern.”
“I hung your clothes up so they wouldn’t get wrinkled, and I washed the bandages. But… are you really okay? You don’t look good…”
Rubia came closer and patted my head.
But… that… patting is nice and all.
“I’m fine… so could you just bring me the bandages…? I, I have nothing right now, not even my Great Sword…”
Clothes… Give me some clothes!
I’m only wearing my underwear!
So embarrassing!!!
“Oh, what am I thinking? Alright, I’ll bring them right away.”
After finishing her words, Rubia dashed off and started rummaging through the bag.
By the way…
Did my bandages… smell?
Why is she washing those for me…?!
“Here you go. Can you tie it yourself?”
“Y-Yes, I can do it myself.”
I carefully pulled my hands out from under the blanket, received the bandages, and began tying knots.
Even though I couldn’t see anything, I was quite skilled at it since I had done it every day.
After tying the knots…
“Rubia… could you turn around…? I’m a bit embarrassed…”
I need to take off the blanket and strap the bandage across my chest.
But then everything would be visible…
Of course, I showed it once in the valley, but still, it’s embarrassing…
“Yes, understood.”
Rustle– I could hear Rubia move.
“Did I turn around properly?”
“Of course.”
“Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean you should sneak peeks…!”
“Would I do that?”
“Hmm… That’s true.”
After all, what’s there to look at… with this unimpressive body?
And besides, it’s the body of another woman…
Convincing myself that Rubia wouldn’t secretly peek at my body, I lowered the blanket and strapped the bandage over my chest.
Because it wasn’t very curvy… I struggled to keep the bandage from slipping down and pulled the knot tightly.
After confirming that there were no loose areas and… Hmm.
Done.
“You can turn around now…”
“Oh, you wear it well?”
“Hehe. Neat, right?”
“The method looks quite… complicated. Did someone teach you?”
“Miss Hermila told me from start to finish…!”
Anyway, with a feeble body.
I thought I wouldn’t need underwear, so I casually wore somewhat thicker clothes and strutted around, but Miss Hermila caught me red-handed.
After that, I had to endure 2 hours of lecturing… and learned how to tie knots…
Ugh… It was tough.
“Miss Hermila taught you?”
“Yes. How is it? Does it look sturdy?”
I proudly showed off the bandages, waving them around.
“Did Hermila tie it for you at first?”
Hermila?
Where did the honorific ‘Miss’ go…?
“Um, yes?”
“I see.”
“Y-Yeah…”
An icy silence filled the room.
What’s going on? Why is the mood suddenly like this…?
“Ru, Rubia…?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Um… could you bring my Great Sword?”
“Yes, I’ll get it.”
Clatter, clatter– I heard the sound of the belt and the Great Sword.
Phew. How reassuring that sound felt after being so far away.
“Here’s your Great Sword.”
She stretched her hands out in front of me.
A heavy sensation wrapped around my hands.
I gripped the hilt tightly.
With a pleasant twinge of pain, information about my surroundings flowed in.
“Ah… Refreshing.”
Still holding the Great Sword tightly, I twisted my body around to finish stretching.
“Noah.”
“Yes?”
“Did you stretch like that in front of Hermila too…?”
“Ah, no? I only do this when I wake up.”
“Only when you wake up?”
Nodding-
“Got it, understood.”
Suddenly her voice perked up.
What’s going on…?
“Alright, let’s hurry and get ready to go. The faster we hand it over, the faster we find it.”
“Yes? Ah, yes… You’re right.”
With Rubia clinging closely to me, she crossed her arms and helped me up.
A familiar scent tickled my nose.
Not the stuffy smell of smoke.
But the refreshing scent of Rubia.
*
“Ugh… I’m so nervous.”
“It’s okay. If things go wrong, I’ll carry it for you.”
“C-Carry…?”
“No, I meant carry you. Slip of the tongue…”
Rubia scratched her cheek and corrected herself.
“But they say this place has the best skills. I think you don’t need to worry.”
“Is that so…? Hmm… Yes, let’s go…!”
Let me man up! Just leave it to me!
I opened the blacksmith’s door with a flourish.
“Ah, hello…?”
“Welcome!”
A lively voice greeted us from the blacksmith.
A rare female smith in this industry!
“Ah, you seem like a first-time visitor. Is that right?”
“Y-Yes…? Yes… this is my first time…”
“Welcome to Hephaestus Blacksmith! I’m Hephaestus, a top-tier smith from Loholan!”
“Ah, yes… I’m Noah… I’m here to-”
“Gear… Oh, you must be this person? A Great Sword and a shoulder armor, right? Wow, your Great Sword is really damaged… How did it get this bad…? Gosh… you must have a fighting style that gets up close and personal. It’s so cute how you look, but you’re really rough and tumble… impressive…”
“Uh…? W-What…?”
“But how can you wield such a heavy Great Sword? Oh… you’re a supporter, right? That makes sense. But the gear is quite damaged for a supporter… Oh no! Is your adventurer forcing you to take a beating? Run away from people like that! Huh…! Please tell me the person behind you is… Oh no, I didn’t mean that… No. You’re right! How can someone treat such a cute girl like this?! Come here. I’ll help you somehow-”
Whoever this Hephaestus is, this hyperactive woman reached her hand toward me.
“Ugh, ah…!”
I dodged that hand and hid behind Rubia.
“P-Please help me…!”
I shook Rubia’s hem as she stepped forward.
“Hi there! I think there might be a misunderstanding. It’s not like that—”
“Ugh-! You wicked adventurer! How can you do this to such a tiny girl! Y-You’re a bad person!”
“W-What are you talking about?! I’m an adult, you know…?!”
I flared up at being called a tiny girl and stepped forward.
Then I hid behind Rubia again.
“B-Bad person…? Ugh… My head hurts… Um, Miss Hephaestus? The Great Sword is meant for the person behind me. And actually, the supporter is on my side.”
I nodded vigorously, agreeing with Rubia’s words.
“Ah, r-really?”
“…Yes. Well… I think it’s nice to learn how others see me. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Wahh-! I’m so sorry!!! I made a terrible misunderstanding!!”
Hephaestus screamed and slammed her head to the floor.
Ugh… I can’t keep up with this energy.
I’m getting drained. Really…
Would it have been easier if I brought Heinzel or Luci…?
No, it might have made the misunderstanding worse…
“First, please lift your head. It’s not entirely your fault.”
Rubia crouched down and patted Hephaestus’s shoulder.
“Ahh… I keep making these mistakes… I’m just really impatient and tend to daydream a lot, so… I’m sorry. Really!”
She hit her head to the floor again.
“Ugh… Alright. I’ll accept your apology, so please get up.”
“Yes! Thank you!!!”
The voice that just a moment ago was trembling was nowhere to be found, quickly returning to its previous energy.
“Now, let me explain what we need.”
“Yes!”
“I’d like to request the repair of the Great Sword and shoulder armor, so I was wondering how long it would take. I hope it’s done as quickly as possible… um, within 24 hours if possible—”
“5 hours!”
“Pardon?”
“Y-Yes…?”
“Five hours, and it’ll be finished!”
Hephaestus proclaimed with tremendous confidence.
The blacksmith boss of Alrva said it would take around 10 hours… but this person says 5 hours?
“If you’re in a hurry, I can cut it to 3 hours!!!”
“Ugh…?”
“How are you so—”
“Haha! It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I have the ‘Blessing of Borian’! That’s why I can do it! Hahaha… it’s not a particularly great blessing, but still! When it comes to time, I’m the fastest out there! I bet there isn’t anyone faster than me across the continent!”
“Oh, you’re blessed. I didn’t realize.”
“Hehe… Not at all! By the way, your hair color is very pretty! Shiny silver hair and wall-eyed, like a shaman! Uh, uhh…? A, shaman?! W-Wait, no way?! Kyaaa! Rubia the Shaman?! W-Why, why… why are you in this shabby place…! But, but the disguise robe… Huh!!”
Thud—
She slammed her head into the ground again.
“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry for not recognizing you, and sorry for recognizing you!! I-I have pretty good eyesight, so I pierced the disguise!! I’m so sorry!!!”
“Ah, well… if you have a blessing, that could happen. But.”
Rubia caressed her lips as she quietly observed Hephaestus.
Then she muttered.
“Three hours is too short.”
