“Noah? Why do you look like that?”
“Y-Yes…?”
“Is the walk not fun?”
“N-No… It’s fun.”
Rubia giggled and tugged at my hand.
“Why do you say that and then not do anything? Are you feeling weird? Like something’s missing or you’re disappointed?”
“What do you mean! It’s… not like that!”
Despite Rubia’s sneaky words, we were genuinely enjoying our innocent walk.
I didn’t feel weird, disappointed, or anything like that.
It’s just… I was super tense, and now it’s all relaxed.
Definitely not like that.
“Hmm, really? Then let’s finish our walk. Hehe.”
Rubia lightly patted my head and started walking ahead again.
“Uh, I was trying to tell you this earlier, but I missed my chance…”
“What is it…?”
“Are you curious why the people of Cartia praise me instead of Erden?”
“U-Um, yes!”
I was curious.
No matter how much Rubia saved people from the plague, usually, they’d sing Erden’s praises.
But the residents of Cartia cheered Rubia’s name instead…
And… um… I also wanted to know about Rubia’s past that I didn’t know.
Everyone else seems to know, but… it kinda bothers me that I don’t.
“Um, how should I phrase this…”
As Rubia briefly bit her lip to find the right words, she took a small breath and began.
“When the plague started spreading, the priests from Erden came to Cartia. However… instead of healing, they ended up getting sick themselves. Some of them even died.”
Rubia’s steps gradually slowed.
“As time passed… by the second month, the empire made a decision.”
“A decision…?”
“The complete slaughter of the residents of Cartia.”
“Gulp…”
Is this… the toned-down version?
“The contagion wasn’t that high. In fact, it was lower than other diseases.”
“Eh…? Wh-why…?”
The steps that had been slowing finally stopped completely.
“Because they all died. They perished before being able to spread the disease. This was the case with the plague that circulated in this city as well.”
“W-Wha…?”
A heavier subject than expected made my grip tighten.
I wanted to ask what kind of disease kills people like that.
But not mentioning the symptoms… maybe it’s better not to hear them…?
Yes… I feel like if I hear them, I’ll have a scary dream tonight…
“Anyway, the empire, unable to distinguish infected individuals, resorted to the extreme measure of slaughtering the residents.”
“But… everyone is still alive.”
“Yes. I came to Cartia when I heard that news.”
“You, Rubia…? Alone…?”
Nodding, Rubia swallowed a bitter smile before continuing.
“The empire’s knights surrounded the church’s building, basically locking us inside, but I ultimately managed to escape. Hehe… it was quite thrilling at that time.”
“Th-Thrilling…?”
“Well… that’s beside the point. After my escape, I stole a horse and supplies to reach Cartia. I went three days without washing, so you can imagine how gross it felt…”
Raising her arms and shivering, Rubia began to walk forward again.
“In the end, I began healing the plague-afflicted people immediately without washing up. But honestly, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Even though high-ranking priests flocked in and deemed it impossible to heal, I was able to do it quickly.”
“It’s because Rubia is a shaman, right?”
“I don’t know. I thought so at that time, but now that I think about it…”
With a mysterious expression, Rubia swallowed the end of her words and turned to me with a confident smile.
“Anyway, I, not the shaman Rubia, saved this city. Just Rubia saved it.”
“Oooh…!”
So that’s why.
If the empire and Erden both gave up, and Rubia came alone to save everyone, then it makes sense that the entire city would treat her as a hero…
Even here in Ursphere, they… ugh.
“Sure, I did use a shaman’s power… but it’s important that I did it because I wanted to, right? Hehe…”
“R-Right…”
“So when Sirin asked me to come, I jumped at the chance without hesitation. Since this city… if something goes wrong, would trust and help me, maybe.”
Her once proud smile faded into a self-deprecating laugh.
“But it turned out wrong. I can’t even trust you, Noah, standing right next to me. If something serious happens… I can’t ask for any help.”
The tremor from Rubia came through our clasped hands.
“Umm… Rubia… can I… sit for a moment?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s… squat down and sit.”
Rubia tilted her head, as if questioning my sudden request but eventually squatted down as I urged her.
I approached her, wearing an extremely awkward smile, and hugged her tightly.
Usually, my face would press against Rubia’s chest when we hugged, making it feel less like a hug.
But right now, it felt like I was the one embracing her.
Well… it’s not as soft as Rubia… but still, uh… the action of hugging is what matters, right?
“Hmm…?”
Rubia’s looking up at me now…
While giggling, I released my grip from the great sword and wrapped my arms around Rubia’s head.
“It’s… okay. Even if the world doesn’t believe in Rubia… I do.”
I blindly believe in Rubia.
If Rubia seriously said the Earth is flat… um… I could… believe it.
Well… at least I could try my best to believe.
Even if it’s wrong, even if she commits crimes…
I believe in Rubia.
“So… don’t be too gloomy.”
And, following what Rubia always did for me,
I gently stroked her head, continuing my words.
“Ah, like I said before. Even if everything in this world tries to kill Rubia, I will protect her.”
“Noah…”
Though I couldn’t see her face… I felt the warmth of her breath conveying her emotions completely.
“You-You trust me, right…?”
I felt like my heart would burst.
Right now, I could even hear my own heartbeat.
How well could Rubia hear it, with her head resting right in front of my heart…
I-I’m so embarrassed since I don’t have much fat…
“Hah… Noah.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know why nobody can just enter the main land of Cartia?”
“Um, no…?”
“I’ll tell you now.”
As Rubia exhaled sharply, she slowly rose from her spot.
“Earlier, you said you can’t go outside.”
“Um… uh…”
“Then, does that mean we can go inside?”
“…Oh.”
Is it really that straightforward…?
“Let’s go.”
“W-Where to?”
“Inside.”
“W-What about the walk…?”
“We can do that after.”
Rubia grabbed my wrist forcefully.
“U-Uh-”
“Don’t pretend to dislike it. You could totally push me away.”
“What… weird thing…! I-I’m just worried about Rubia getting hurt…”
“And yet, you’re still following me.”
“Ugh…”
tap-tap
pat-pat
tap-pat
whoosh-
“B-But… where are we going…?”
“Inside.”
“But this isn’t the way out…”
“There are plenty of houses nearby.”
Rubia pointed around.
“…B-But they’re someone else’s houses.”
“Nobody lives there.”
“B-but if any bugs come out-”
“We do full disinfection. This place is called a sanctuary, so why wouldn’t we do that?”
“Di-Disinfection…?”
“Cleaning happens every other day. It’s kept spotless.”
“Eugh…”
If a spear and shield fought, the shield would definitely win.
No doubt about it…
Ugh… if I had my great sword, that would win for sure…
Rubia quickly defended against all my objections and headed towards a house at the farthest corner.
whoosh-
After walking for some time, a sudden chill breeze brushed against my body.
“Eek… Rubia, but what if a ghost shows up…?”
She halted.
“G-Ghost?”
Rubia slowly turned her head toward me.
“Yes… in a creepy place like this… there’s definitely a ghost…”
whoosh-whoosh
“That’s… impossible. Haha, a ghost? And… Noah. I’m a shaman. Wouldn’t it be odd for a shaman to be scared of ghosts?”
“Wow, so Rubia isn’t scared of ghosts…”
“Of course not. Not at all. I’m a shaman.”
“Ah, I get it. I’ll only believe in Rubia.”
tap-tap
“Um, but do you think ghosts would be scared of Rubia’s divine power?”
pat-pat
“W-Who knows?”
Hmm… but then… would they show up in my senses?
Since they’re not alive, would they not appear…?
whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-
“Ah…?”
Rubia suddenly stopped and started trembling.
“N-N-Noah. Can we just, um, go home…?”
“Uhm…? I’m fine. But, Rubia… why are you shaking? Is it cold…?”
It shouldn’t be cold…
Rubia can warm herself up with her divine power.
whoosh-whoosh- crunch-crunch
“N-No… Well… I’m just a little tired… haha…”
crunch-crunch
Her hands are getting sweaty too…
Could she be sick?
“Rubia… are you okay?”
“Eeeh… N-Noah…”
tap-tap tap-tap
“Y-Yes…? R-Rubia, are you crying? Do you feel sick? W-What do I do?”
pat-pat-pat
“W-Well… no… but… um, by the way… can you hear this sound?”
crunch
“Yes…?”
whoosh crunch whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh crunch whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh- crunch whoosh-whoosh-whoosh crunch crunch crunch whoosh crunch whoosh crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch whoosh
“KYAAAAAAAH!!!!”
“AHHHHHHHH!!!!”
I instinctively hugged Rubia tightly and swung my great sword due to her scream.
In that moment.
[Ugh!]
A ridiculous scream echoed through the air.
