Chapter 12 – Eastern Ruins (4)

“Luchi, you holding up alright?”

“These little ladies are really giving this old man a run for his money.”

Luchi sighed, staring at the stone wall before him.

“It’s been so long since I was here…”

He ran his hand over the wall’s surface.

“Heinzel, see this stone? I carved it myself. What do you think? Best one of the bunch, right?”

“The finish is terrible. It should be as smooth as my head to be considered good.”

Luchi replied with a deadpan expression.

“You’ve got a point there.”

“Hm. Your serious response really kills the mood.”

After a brief silence, both men erupted into laughter.

“Hahaha! Luchi! You seem to be doing just fine!”

“Ha! Do I? I feel like I’m rotting inside.”

“That’s because you’re still a pushover.”

“Heh… Why don’t you visit your hometown too, Heinzel? And keep your voice down. What if the girls hear you?”

“Ahem… right. I forgot about that.”

“Looks like the wrinkles in your brain have smoothed out just like your scalp.”

“Seems that way, doesn’t it?”

Once again, the two men burst into loud laughter.

“Ah… my cheeks hurt. Alright, let’s head in. Luchi, take a moment if you need to prepare yourself.”

“No need. Let’s go.”

“Don’t try to act tough.”

“With only one eye, even if I cry, you won’t see it from your side. I can keep my pride intact.”

“Oh… I see there are perks to that.”

“Indeed.”

Tap-tap.

“By the way, Luchi. What should we do about those trailing us?”

“Well, if the girls catch them, it’ll be trouble…”

“Should we use aliases?”

“Hmm… Then I’ll go by Richie.”

“I’ll be… Ahinchel.”

“Heinzel, your naming sense is atrocious.”

“And yours sounds like a skeleton’s name.”

Tap-tap.

The two adventurers walked in silence until they reached the center of the ruins.

Breaking the quiet, Heinzel drew his halberd and spoke.

“Feels like we’re here to catch a runaway daughter, doesn’t it?”

Luchi unsheathed his sword and responded.

“Given their equipment, it’s not that simple. Looks like they’re planning to kill the escorts.”

“Tch… Those bastards.”

Heinzel ground his teeth in frustration.

“Heinzel, remember the request terms. We can’t kill them.”

“Ugh. I know. But Miss Hermilla would forgive one or two slip-ups, right?”

“Well, it is a hot day…”

The two adventurers stopped, waiting for the approaching knights.

“Hey, Luchi. Think three mistakes would still be okay?”

“For both of us? That might be pushing it, even for Miss Hermilla.”

“Hmm, guess you’re right.”

“Indeed.”

***

“Alright, Noah. Now tell me. Where is Luchi, the survivor from Hablon?”

After Noah mentioned a survivor from Hablon, I had to press her for details.

But Noah kept evading my questions, insisting it was unsafe to talk here and suggesting we continue the conversation somewhere more secure.

We finally reached the old, abandoned house where we’d planned to rest.

“I-I don’t know exactly where… I just know someone’s alive.”

Noah averted her gaze as she answered.

“Are you certain there’s a survivor?”

“Yes… I’m sure.”

It didn’t make sense.

I’d searched not just Hablon but other destroyed villages as well.

No survivors were ever found. There had never been any survivors.

I had only one reason for seeking survivors.

I wanted to know what became of others who had faced the same fate as me.

Had they crumbled like I did? Or had they risen above it?

If a survivor existed… If someone had stood back up, unlike me… I wanted to find hope. I wanted to look at them as an example and gain courage.

It was a weak feeling, but still. I needed it. I needed a place to lean on, human warmth, and someone who understood.

So, I searched. I used every method I could think of.

But I never found anyone. Not a single trace.

And now Noah claimed to know about a survivor?

It was hard to believe.

“How do you know something I couldn’t find…? Noah, how did you learn about this?”

“M-my mentor… told me.”

Mentor?

Noah has a mentor?

“A mentor?”

“Yes… hehe…”

“Is this the person who taught you how to fight?”

nods

“Then… they must be quite impressive.”

Noah might be a bit of a mess in some areas, but when it came to fighting… she was extraordinary.

Her abilities were unbelievable for someone who’d only been an adventurer for two months.

And if she had a mentor who taught her all that, they had to be exceptional.

So naturally, I expected her to praise her mentor.

“Were they… impressive? Hmm… Well, I relied on them a lot. To the point where I couldn’t manage without them…”

Noah had a wistful look on her face as she gave this odd response.

The survivor information was important, of course. But this… this was something I couldn’t let slide without probing further.

“Relied on? Depended on? Couldn’t manage without them?”

“Yes… Even now, in Black Sun… ahem! I mean, whenever I think of my mentor, I get angry and annoyed… but I also miss them and want to see them again. My mentor is… that kind of person to me. Hehe.”

Well, well.

“Angry and annoyed but still want to see them? Your mentor?”

“Yes… I shouldn’t forget them… but if I saw them again… I could do better without making mistakes…”

Noah’s answer gave me a strange feeling. Not strange. It just made me angry.

Was it because I saw her as a little sister?

“Noah. Is this mentor a man?”

“Huh? Y-yes…? Why are you asking that suddenly?”

“Just curious.”

“Oh… Um… That’s… a secret.”

“So… did you two get along? You and your mentor?”

“Hmm… We went through a lot together… There were tough times… painful times… But it was still nice.”

Noah lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed.

grind

I clenched my teeth.

I closed my eyes and examined my thoughts. What was this nasty feeling?

Tap, tap, tap

I tapped the table, trying to clear my head.

After a moment, I reached a conclusion.

Right. I saw Noah as a little sister.

And this little sister… Had experienced a relationship before I did.

Of course, I had no interest in romance, but still.

Noah, who was younger than me… Who was much shorter than me… Who had a smaller chest than me…

Okay, her face is… really cute. Her personality is pure and innocent…

I felt irrationally grumpy. And angry.

At what kind of man… Would look at someone as small as Noah and develop those feelings? That disgusting bastard.

No matter if he was Noah’s mentor. This… this was crossing a line, you perverted beast.

“Um… Aileen?”

Noah broke the silence, clearly uncomfortable.

“What?”

My voice came out cold before I realized it.

I wasn’t mad at Noah, but… Well, maybe a little.

But mostly, I was angry at myself for being so petty. Which only made me angrier.

This is seriously frustrating.

“Aren’t you hungry…? Let’s eat something…”

“Just chew on some jerky. I’m tired.”

I turned away quickly.

I couldn’t bear to look at Noah’s innocent face.

Here I was, letting these petty emotions affect me. Meanwhile, she was completely oblivious.

It made me feel like a shallow, immature person.

So, I had to turn away.

“Um… I’ll cook something. It’ll be better than jerky…”

Noah hesitantly reached for my hand.

Her small hands squeezed mine, rough and calloused from countless battles.

“A-Aileen… Are you mad…? I’m sorry… I’ll look for the survivor later… Please, don’t be angry…”

I turned to look at her.

She gazed up at me, her face full of concern.

She thought I was mad about the survivor. But my anger was directed at her mentor… and my own jealousy.

Seeing Noah’s genuine concern snapped me back to reality.

Rubia, get a grip. If you’re the older sister, act like it. What are you doing, taking this out on a kid…?

I took a deep breath and reached out to pat Noah’s head.

“I was just teasing. You’re cute, so I thought I’d mess with you a bit.”

Noah’s expression became even more adorable.

A mix of betrayal and relief. She seemed unsure whether to laugh or stay serious.

With her emotions so clearly written on her face, it was easy to read her.

“It’s really just a joke. You can laugh, Noah.”

“Huh…? H-how did you…?”

The same reaction as always when I read her thoughts.

“I don’t have mind-reading powers or anything. Don’t get weird ideas. Haha.”

“Eep…!”

She quickly covered her mouth.

She’s so cute. Pure and innocent.

If my younger sister had survived, would she have grown up like this?

Overcome by a sudden rush of memories, I couldn’t control the impulse.

I spread my arms and pulled Noah into a hug.

“Mmff—!”

She squirmed, her face smushed against my chest.

Maybe she felt suffocated, but this could be her punishment for experiencing love before me.

Oh, and one more thing. I had to ask.

“So, Noah. Is this mentor of yours a man or a woman?”

“Mmfff—?!”

And also…

“Where does this mentor live?”

I’ll have to pay a visit. I’ll ask for the survivor’s location.

And while I’m there, I’ll make sure this pervert never looks at Noah with lust again. Even if the world ends, I’ll find a way…

“Mmppff—! Phuh! Huff… huff… What… what are you doing?!”

Noah pushed herself out of my arms.

She’s surprisingly strong. Hmph.

“I just thought you were cute and gave you a hug. Didn’t like it?”

At times like this, the best strategy was to act shamelessly.

It might make her feel bad, but her reaction was just too cute to resist.

“Ugh… N-no… that’s not it…”

See?

“Really? Then…”

I opened my arms again.

“Want another hug?”

I smiled at her, knowing she couldn’t see it. But I made sure to put the smile in my voice.

“Uh… uh…”

Noah made an unintelligible noise, her face turning bright red.

Her reactions are so cute, I can’t stop teasing her.

Just as I was about to hug her again, Noah’s voice, suddenly calm, stopped me.

“Wait. There are two men within 20 meters… And—”

Outside the window, the sound of clashing metal echoed. There were screams and the sound of bodies being torn apart.

“And twelve fully armed men behind them.”

I quickly stood up and looked out the window.

“There.”

Noah pointed to where the Erden Temple knights were approaching.