“Then, let’s hear the reason. Why do you want to go to Karahan?”
After my persistent persuasion, we decided to listen to Hephaestus.
The place was Hephaestus’s blacksmith shop!
But… there were clearly several adventurers lined up at the door, and as soon as they saw us, they bolted…?!
They screamed like they saw a monster, kyaaa!
I mean, it can’t be that they screamed upon seeing me. No matter how strange the rumors are, they can’t be scared of someone so small and real.
So, they must have run away upon seeing Rubia…
Of course, Rubia’s regeneration ability… does resemble a monster.
Like… even if her limbs twist, they come right back.
And even if she has a hole in her stomach, it’s whoosh stitched up…
It feels a bit… like she’s not human, but… hmm…
Still! Isn’t screaming like they saw a monster a bit too much?
It’s all to protect you guys!!
If you hadn’t abandoned her, this wouldn’t have happened!
You nasty little brats!
If I were my gaming self, I would’ve… oh?! Given you all a good talking to!
“The blacksmith shop is doing well now. Moreover, I don’t understand why you’re willing to take on the risk of accompanying us.”
Rubia, sipping her coffee, maintained a completely stern expression.
She’s totally acting like a mother-in-law.
“Uh… um…”
Hephaestus, sitting across from Rubia, began to fidget and mumble.
“If we go together, how will you return? We need to pass through Karahan and go to Cartia. But doesn’t Mr. Hephaestus need to return to Loholan?”
Now that I think about it…?!
How does she plan to get back?
She has a house and a business here… so she must return.
All her possessions are right here?!
“If things go well… there is a way to come back. But… um…”
Rubia’s expression crinkled up.
“What if it doesn’t go well?”
Hephaestus didn’t answer Rubia’s question.
She just smiled at us.
“Is it that… important?”
“Yes.”
A different answer from before.
An instant reply.
“Is it worth risking your life?”
“…Yes.”
This time, she answered with a determined expression.
“…I see.”
Rubia’s usually stern expression cracked a little.
I quietly gulped down the milk in front of me.
It wasn’t that tasty.
“We won’t hurry.”
“I don’t care.”
“We’re only passing through Karahan; there’s no specific purpose.”
“I know.”
“We won’t even reach the summit. We’ll stop halfway—”
“It’s fine. As long as I can set foot at the entrance of Karahan… I’ll take care of the rest.”
Seeing Hephaestus’s absolutely unwavering expression, Rubia sighed deeply and rubbed her face.
“…Sigh… Alright, let’s go together.”
And she downed the remaining coffee all at once.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!!”
Finally getting the travel approval, Hephaestus rose from her seat and bowed her head.
Rubia also bowed.
Hmm… then I guess I should…
“Th-thank you…”
But should I thank Rubia?
Or Hephaestus…?
Both?
Hmm… since I need to get some jelly too… I’ll thank Rubia as well.
“R-Rubia, thanks for allowing us…”
“Even so, the jelly is confiscated for a while.”
“…Yeeah…”
Tch… quick on the uptake, aren’t you…
“Close your mouth.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Relax your expression.”
Smiles.
“Well done.”
Pat pat!
“Pff… Wh-what are you doing?”
Hephaestus, who was watching me and Rubia, said while trying to hold back her laughter.
I-I’m embarrassed too, you know?!
But… but! If I want jelly, I have no choice!
Besides, I was the one who begged to bring her, and now everything’s confiscated!
How dare you laugh?!
Of course… free forging was tempting…
Anyways!
“B-because of you, Hephaestus, this happened… don’t laugh.”
“Oh, really?”
“Of course…”
“Then shall I buy you jelly?”
“Gasp…”
Is there such a great idea…?
I cautiously observed Rubia’s expression.
Her eyes were as they were, yet her mouth was slightly upturned.
Moreover, the hand that was petting me had stopped.
Hmm… uh…
“H-Hephaestus, you don’t have to buy it… it’s okay.”
I rejected the temptation of jelly.
I had no choice but to refuse…
“Well, then there’s nothing else to be done. Ah, and please just call me Hephaestus, not Mr. Hephaestus. It’ll be a short time, but wouldn’t it be nice to get along?”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes! And don’t call me Noa, just Noa… uh… but how old are you?”
“I’m… 20 years old, and Rubia is… Rubia is 25.”
“Wow… then I’m the youngest? I’m 18! Then I’ll call you Noa-nee!”
Ugh, nee?!
“Uwaah… N-no… uh, please just call me Noa…”
“No way! I can’t do that! I’m 2 years younger! So, Noa-nee, speak comfortably!”
“Ugh… n-no, don’t call me nee!”
Hephaestus leaned in with an extremely excited expression.
“But to think this face is 20 years old… you look so young, Noa! Just look at your skin… how do you manage it? Hmm… should I try applying monster blood?”
“Uh, ah… I’m not your sister, okay?!”
I pushed Hephaestus’s overly close face away.
And why apply blood?!
“Why not! If I’m two years older, then you ARE my sister!”
“That’s true. But why doesn’t Noa call me sister even though I’m 5 years older?”
This time, Rubia, who had been quietly listening, questioned me with a tone that seemed to accuse.
Stop bullying me!
“Uh… then what does Noa-nee call the shaman?”
What’s this?
I’m Noa-nee, but why is Rubia the shaman?
Then I’ll just call myself Noa as well!
I hate being called sister!!
“I didn’t want you to hate it so much, so I said to just call me Rubia. But why do you call me sister while calling Noa-nee?”
The arrows flying toward me changed direction and charged at Hephaestus.
Then, taking advantage of the moment…!
“Y-yeah, just like how you call me, call Rubia ‘Rubia-nee’ too…! Now, say it: ‘Rubia-nee.’”
As I spoke, the inside of the blacksmith shop fell completely silent.
Why…? What’s going on…?
Should I have not butted in?!
“Very… self-centered…”
“What, what do you mean…?”
Rubia, who had been silently contemplating, then pulled several jellies out of her pocket.
“Um, jelly… are you planning to eat it, Rubia…?”
She clearly said she didn’t like it…
Could it be that seeing it in her pocket made her want to eat it?
It was all mine…
“No, I’m giving it to Noa.”
“Huh?! R-really?!”
“Of course. Here.”
Jellies plopped from Rubia’s hand into mine.
The chewy, soft sensation made me feel good.
“Wheee! Yummm…”
“Well… um… yeah. First, let’s change how we address Hephaestus. So… Noa? Say it.”
“Yes! Now everybody say together: Rubia-nee!”
Once again, more jellies plopped into my hand!
If I do what I’m told, do I get them?
I better follow the rules!!
“Uh, um… can I really say that?”
“Of course! While calling each other sister, why don’t we also speak informally?”
While munching on jelly, Hephaestus also started to mumble.
And in the end…
“Rubia-nee!”
I shouted with a wide smile.
Is it really that nice to call someone sister?
Hmm… no matter how much I think, I don’t get it.
“Wow! I never thought I’d experience this! If my teacher knew… huh, um… she’d be so happy.”
Hephaestus, who looked so incredibly happy, suddenly became gloomy.
Then Rubia opened her mouth cautiously, as if she noticed something.
“Um… is the reason you’re going to Karahan—”
“Rubia-nee! Should I make you more coffee?”
He brightened again!
“…Yes, that would be kind.”
“Great! Noa, milk?”
“Yes… and I’m not your sister…”
“Two years older is your sister! Anyway! I’ll get it right away!”
Hephaestus waved her hands energetically as she headed to the kitchen.
And then…
She plopped down in her seat, pulling a very pitiful crying face.
There was no sound.
She had covered her mouth, after all.
The feeling… could be sensed even beyond the wall; I could see everything…
Hephaestus probably doesn’t know, right?
“It seems like… it could be, right, Noa…?”
Rubia whispered very quietly.
“Hmm… it does seem like that.”
I nodded my head.
And munched on my jelly.
It didn’t really taste that good.
“What should we do… it’s a bit difficult.”
Rubia wore a thoughtful expression.
“Why?”
“Because… it’s dangerous. Noa’s condition isn’t good… and that place isn’t somewhere a normal person like Hephaestus can easily set foot in. No matter how much divine protection there is… it’s related to crafting protection, after all…”
That’s for sure.
Karahan is indeed dangerous.
Not only is the environment harsh, but the monsters that appear are not trivial things either.
But…
“Still, we have to help.”
The suppressed emotions.
Just a little.
Overflowed.
“I don’t want to see anyone else I know die.”
A crack appeared in the thick mask.
“I can now read expressions through my sensing. So I saw Hephaestus’s expression.”
That expression was.
It was the expression of a reach.
It was the expression of a father.
The expression of someone prepared for death.
The expression of someone who doesn’t care if they die.
Moreover.
The expression of someone who, even in death, wishes to achieve their goal.
“So… we have to help.”
We must figure out a way to save.
What were they thinking when making such a choice?
How on earth are those left supposed to live on?
How can anyone endure such hell and just leave it behind?
I want to hear the answer.
