episode_0222

As I looked at Hermel standing in front of the door, I didn’t bother to say that it had been a while. You’re probably thinking the same thing anyway.

So, among the words that came to mind, I chose… .

“I’m glad to see you again. Hermel.”

These were the words welcoming this year.

When I greeted Hermel with a smile, Hermel, who had been silent for a moment, lowered his head and spit out the words as if chewing them.

“What are you thinking when you say that? .”

Hermel’s clenched fists were so strong that they were shaking.

Even 10 years ago, it was enough to cut down a flying rock with a sword, but now that time has passed… . If you get hit by that fist, you probably won’t even be able to get a bone out of it.

However, looking at the fact that he speaks first rather than extending his fist, it seems that there is room for conversation… .

I smiled faintly and stood up.

“I didn’t say this without thinking. These words were said with the determination to accept whatever situation might arise and with the sincerity of meeting someone I had missed and missed.”

“I don’t even know what I’m going to do… ?”

“Well… . If you ask me that… . I guess I have no choice but to repeat what I said earlier. No matter what situation happens, I have the intention to accept it――.”

I smiled, lowered the pot on the stove, and continued talking.

“Even if Hermel came to ask for my sins, I am ready to accept it. For your efforts to go around asking for my sins over the past 10 years, and for facing my sins instead of running away from them.”

After warming up the cold teacup with hot water, I put the warm tea down on the other side of my seat and sat down again.

Seeing my attitude, Hermel raised his head, walked towards me, took out a familiar-shaped brooch from his pocket, and placed it on the table.

“This is a disposable artifact that takes all the impact and breaks.”

I was surprised for a moment, wondering how they figured that out. I was convinced that it wasn’t strange to know since he must have been moving around for 10 years.

And now there was no reason to lie and there was no point in saying no, so I nodded and answered the truth.

“Yes. that’s right. I bought it at a festival after the academy’s entrance exam.”

To be exact, it was Seria who bought it and handed it over, but there is no need to say it out loud.

As I thought that and closed my mouth, Hermel frowned and sat down opposite me.

“Why does this guy who used to wear all these things because he wanted to live now talk as if he has put it all down?”

“At first, I was thinking that I didn’t want to die. I made a plan accordingly. but… . After 10 years of living like a corpse, throwing everything away with my own hands – purpose, name, existence, future – I ended up letting go of everything.”

“Have you given up?”

“It’s not a case of desperation, but I can explain it by saying that I have no regrets about life. I achieved everything I wanted. So even if you were to swing a sword at my neck here, I could smile and accept it. what… . In the first place, I can’t avoid your sword with this body.”

Seeing Hermel’s expression cool down, I chuckled and drank some tea. Hermel, who was looking at me, stood up without even touching the teacup.

There was no reason to be surprised, so I just quietly closed my eyes, thinking that what was coming would come.

But strangely, I didn’t feel any pain. When I slowly opened my eyes, wondering if I had died without even having a chance to feel any pain, I noticed Hermel’s ship standing right next to me.

When I slowly raised my head and looked up, I saw Hermel looking down at me with a face that looked like he was about to shed tears at any moment.

“… Wake up.”

I realized it with just one word.

Hermel has no intention of killing me.

No, actually, I knew it from the first time we met. just… . My wretched and miserable heart was so scared that I kept my thorns raised and said harsh words.

“… … .”

Because I don’t want to get scolded. Because I was afraid of hearing harsh words from Hermel. Just like a misbehaving child lies to his parents.

What are you giving up? What’s the point of having no regrets? He’s a coward who can’t do anything on his own and full of regret.

I swallowed dry saliva and stood up, trying to act calm. Hermel was already taller than me.

When I first saw him, I vaguely noticed that he was tall, but I could clearly see it when he was standing right in front of me.

“… What are you going to do now――”

I felt so burdened right now that no words were being exchanged, so I opened my mouth first, but I couldn’t finish the sentence.

It was because Hermel suddenly hugged me and my mouth was covered.

I almost collapsed because my legs gave out due to the warmth of someone I had felt for the first time in 10 years and the cozy feeling that put my heart at ease.

“I… . There’s no way I really went looking for Charles to kill him… . you stupid… .”

At those words, I chewed my lip and tapped Hermel on the shoulder.

“… I committed a sin that cannot be washed away.”

“Yes… . I know.”

Hermel nodded calmly and answered.

They still treated me warmly, as if nothing had changed.

I wanted to make fun of those warm words, so I leaned my forehead on Hermel’s shoulder and complained.

“You commit a sin that cannot be forgiven even if you die, and you do not ask for forgiveness… . She’s a bitch who doesn’t even feel guilty… .”

“It’s okay. I don’t care. Ever since I started liking Charles… .Because I decided to be on Charles’ side no matter what.”

“Me like that… . We can really treat each other like before… ? A witch like me… ?”

“Whether he is a sinner or a witch, Charles is Charles.”

Hermel smiled and hugged me kindly.

“Really… . Those words are unthinkable to come from the mouth of a hero… .”

“When did I ever care about that?”

I was afraid of even his kindness, and I cried and tried to check Hermel’s feelings.

“Tell me you like it… .”

“I love you.”

This too… . Although he was bewildered and grumpy, Hermel smiled and answered firmly.

The warmth melted my frozen heart, and the kindness enveloped my wounded heart.

And that determination opened my eyes again to my dulled emotions… .

“… Hmm.”

In the end, I couldn’t bear it anymore and had no choice but to shed tears in Hermel’s arms.

Hermel hugged me without saying a word, and I waited for 25 years… . no… . For the first time in 130 years, I cried in someone’s arms.

“Haaaa――… .”

I didn’t say I was sorry. Apologizing didn’t make my sin go away, and uttering an apology was tantamount to insulting those who died in my hands.

Shameless to the last degree. With living sin. Just as bottomless evil. Because I have to exist like that.

but… . Wouldn’t it be okay to cry for a day or so in this place where no one’s eyes can reach? I thought so and shed tears in Hermel’s arms.

“This is my first time seeing Charles cry like this. Thanks to you, I was so surprised that I burst into tears.”

“Inhale… . Sigh… .”

Hermel said that and took me away for a moment, then took a handkerchief from his arms and wiped away my tears.

Tears were about to burst out again at that gentle touch, and Hermel, who had been wiping away my tears with a bitter smile, seemed startled by the tears that suddenly burst out again, startled, trembled, and hugged me again.

“Puhhh… . Hmm… .”

That scene was so funny that I ended up laughing even though I was crying.

Thanks to this, the sound was just as funny as Hermel’s reaction, but it didn’t really bother me.

“What… ? Are you laughing or crying?”

“Mall, Laa… . Black… .”

“Yes, yes. Okay.”

I want to hold you like that for a long time. I could barely control my emotions, but I was so ashamed of the fact that I cried like a child in Hermel’s arms that I couldn’t raise my head for a while.

No, if you just think about how long you’ve lived, it’s easily over 100 years, but it’s so hard to cry like this now… . My face was hotter than I thought.

what… . Although I felt relieved… . So I was even more embarrassed.

“Did you all cry?”

“… Phew. What is that… .”

“No, it means literally… .”

Hermel scratched his head and answered, and I smiled faintly, hugged Hermel tightly, and said what I had kept in my heart.

Hiding my feelings in front of Hermel was really meaningless.

“I missed you.”

“You can’t believe you said that after hiding for 10 years without giving any clue as to where you were. It’s a shame.”

“Yes… . I’m sorry about that.”

“That’s it. Where did you leave a token for me to come back? Otherwise, he would have been acting as king in the royal capital by now instead of Sargela. When you think about that… .”

Hermel shook his head, shaking his body as if he was disgusted just thinking about it.

As I laughed and got away from Hermel, my eyes caught sight of the completely soaked leather armor.

My face felt hot because it seemed to show that I had cried a lot, but I didn’t try to show it and spoke while looking at Hermel’s leather armor.

“Shall I bring you some new clothes?”

“Huh? Ah, that’s enough. The only thing that gets wet is the leather armor, so I just need to take it off and dry it.”

As Hermel said that, he naturally undid his belt and took off the leather armor he was wearing.

As the leather armor covering his body disappeared, his slender body was naturally revealed, and I was relieved to see Hermel like that.

Still, I think I still have something bigger left in me.

As I was blinking and thinking about such useless things, Hermel, who had put his armor on an appropriate place, turned towards me and spread his arms to both sides.

“Now, since I took off my armor, give me one more hug!”

“This part hasn’t changed even after 10 years.”

“So, you don’t like it?”

The sight of Hermel, who was taller than me, tilting his head was really, really cute.

I chuckled, shook my head, and approached Hermel.

“No, not at all.”

I said that and hugged Hermel.

A warm feeling rose up.