Chapter 45 – Toward the Karahan Mountains (1)

“As planned, I’ve reached the summit of Karahan…”

Sniffle…

“I’ll be busy moving forward-“

Sobs…

“… Not sure when I’ll return.”

Wails

As Rubia continued to read the letter, Hephaestus, who had been quietly shedding tears, finally broke down completely.

She threw her arms around me and started sobbing again…

I had just managed to stop the runny nose, and now… Argh!

“I-I’ll return as soon as possible, so make sure to eat well and live happily, Hephaestus.”

WAILING

“Ugh… Ack…!”

“Heeek… Noah-unnie… sniffle sob… hiccup…”

“H-Hephaestus…! Your… nose is running all over me…!”

A stream of transparent snot trickled down from Hephaestus’ nose, soaking into my clothes.

Gross! But… I couldn’t push her away when she was crying like this…

“A-Anyway, Hephaestus, which part of the letter is making you so sad?”

“sniffle… Master Yuria has… never… written to me before… Not even once…”

“Well… maybe it’s just that, on this day, your master felt like writing a letter?”

“N-No… And… And… sob… Master has never… ever called me by my name before… sob Never… Not even once…”

Rubia massaged her forehead with her hand.

“Right… that could be the case. Maybe your master was in a good mood, or thought it might take a while to return-“

“No… I-I know… I know something’s wrong…”

She wiped her nose with her hand and hugged me even tighter.

I give up… there’s no point resisting anymore.

I stopped patting her and turned my head to look out the window.

Rubia and Hephaestus, both of them… why do they always rub their snot on me when they cry?

“Master wouldn’t do this. I’m sure of it…”

“How can you be so sure…?”

“Because… because I love Master Yuria…”

“Ah…”

“Gasp…!”

Rubia’s mouth fell open in shock.

Mine too, actually.

I assumed Yuria was a woman based on the name, but… they’re a man?

“Because I love them, I can tell something’s wrong…”

“Well… yeah, I suppose that’s possible.”

Rubia slowly nodded her head.

Meanwhile, Hephaestus just hugged me tighter.

“H-Hephaestus… I can’t breathe…”

“Oh, sorry… Unnie.”

“Ugh…”

She apologized but only tightened her grip more…

“Can love really let you sense things like that?”

“Yes… Rubia-unnie, if you’ve ever been in love, you’d understand how it feels…”

Rubia’s expression turned awkward.

“W-Well… yes, I suppose. Haha… Hephaestus, could you tell us more about your master’s appearance or specific traits? It would help us recognize them. I’m sure you already know, but the more we know, the more we can help. Oh, and Noah, what’s with that face? It’s not like that, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just asking so we can understand better, that’s all.”

“My… my expression? Uh, okay…”

Rubia was speaking incredibly fast.

Her voice was flat too, like she wasn’t using any tone.

It’s like… Rubia was malfunctioning!

“Ah, right… let’s see. My master’s hair is light green.”

Light green?

“Like Hephaestus’ own hair, I’m guessing it’s a rare color?”

“Yes, it’s quite unusual.”

Wait, what color is Hephaestus’ hair, then?

“Uh… sorry to interrupt, but… Hephaestus, what color is your hair?”

“Oh, mine’s pink.”

Pink…?

“Whoa… pink?”

“Yeah. But it stands out too much… so I don’t really like it.”

That’s fascinating!

Naturally pink hair!

“C-Can I… touch it?”

“Sure… I doubt it’s that smooth, but go ahead.”

I slowly reached out and stroked Hephaestus’ short hair.

As she said, her hair wasn’t particularly smooth.

Probably from working in front of the forge all the time?

The color… was it pale pink or more vibrant?

Since it felt a bit rough, there wasn’t much sheen to it.

So her eyebrows must be pink too?

I couldn’t see the color, of course, but I ran my fingers through her hair, trying to picture it.

Hmm…

I wish I could see the color…

“I really want to know what it looks like…”

“Noah…”

Hephaestus’ voice sounded full of sympathy.

“Uh… Unnie…”

Now she sounded all snotty again…

“…Hmm?”

I let go of her hair and clutched my greatsword.

Rubia was leaning in close, right in front of me.

“Huh…?”

Then she hugged me tightly.

“R-Rubia…?”

“Unnie… sniffle“

Hephaestus wrapped her arms around me from the right side too.

What’s going on with these two?

“Uh… guys… wh-what’s this about?”

“Noah… hmm, you see, pink is…”

Still hugging me, Rubia whispered in my ear.

“Pink is… a loving color.”

“Uh… huh?”

“And my hair is silver. Silver is… like the cool air of dawn.”

“I-I know colors…”

But Rubia cut me off, stroking my hair gently as she continued.

“And Noah’s hair is black. Black is… a color that evokes fear.”

Then she hugged me even tighter.

“If you’re ever curious, just ask. I may not explain things well, but I’ll try my best to help you understand.”

“I-I know colors… Uh, pink is… pink…”

Wait, how do I even explain colors?

Actually, Rubia’s explanation was pretty close…

She’s surprisingly good at explaining things, huh?

“I-I guess… pink is when you feel… embarrassed?”

Rubia’s tears fell on the top of my head.

And Hephaestus’ snot… it was soaking into my sleeve.

Please stop with the snot…!

“E-Everyone, calm down! Shouldn’t we finish talking about Hephaestus’ master first?”

“Phew… yes, you’re right.”

Rubia let go of me, albeit with a somewhat regretful look.

“Unnie… if you ever need help, just say the word. I’ll do whatever I can.”

Hephaestus also backed away with a worried look.

You’re the one who’s struggling, and you’re offering to help me?

Since when did you start calling me Unnie, anyway?

I’m… what, seven years older than you back on Earth! Even here, I’m two years older than you!

Show some respect!

“Uh… Hephaestus… y-you’re using informal speech…”

“Oh, come on, Unnie. Doesn’t it feel like we’re closer this way?”

She beamed at me with a smile after all that crying.

Closer…? More…?

Well, I guess if she’s feeling better, I’ll let it go.

If she starts crying again, it’ll be a pain to deal with.

And the snot…

Let’s be understanding. She’s still young.

I’m the mature one here.

“Mm… Okay, sure.”

“Ahem, anyway… shall we hear more from Hephaestus?”

“Oh, right. Master’s hair is light green, and the eyes match. It’s very sharp, almost intimidating.”

With Hephaestus much calmer now, she continued describing her master.

It’s all thanks to my great maturity. You’re welcome, Rubia.

“Master has a rough personality, and the speech is… pretty vulgar. Oh, and Master has a beauty mark under the right eye. Master is also tall…”

As I listened to Hephaestus, I started forming an image in my head.

“With such clear features, it should be easy to recognize that.”

“Yes. Oh, and Master also has a large scar across the back and lower abdomen.”

Wait, what?

“Wait… the lower abdomen?”

“Yes. I saw it when we bathed together once. There’s a scar that runs down from the belly button… You can’t see it under clothes, but… just in case.”

“Wait… you bathed with your master?”

“Yes, ever since I was little, I’ve bathed with Master.”

Uh…

Uh…?

“Why?”

“Well, when I was younger, I didn’t know how to bathe myself… So Master helped me. And even after that, Master would still join me, saying it saved water.”

Oh…

“…Hephaestus, you said you were 18, right?”

“Yes.”

“So… how old is your master?”

“I think Master’s about to turn 30.”

Rubia’s expression turned rigid upon hearing that.

“So, Hephaestus, how exactly did you meet this… master?”

“Well… back then… my biological mother sold me into slavery. But… Master bought me and took me in…”

“No, Hephaestus. That’s not okay.”

Gasp “S-Slavery…?”

Rubia’s urgent voice interrupted Hephaestus.

“Huh?”

“You need to cut ties with that master and live separately. I’ll help you as much as I can… but you need to be independent.”

“Y-Yeah… Hephaestus, why don’t you just live with us?”

Your master sounds insane!

What a disgusting creep!

“…Why?”

“What do you mean, ‘why’? It’s not right! You shouldn’t… No. You need to leave that crazy man as soon as possible. I’ll help however I can-“

Hephaestus tilted her head in confusion.

“Man?”

“…Yes.”

“Who?”

Rubia tilted her head as well.

“Your master… Yuria, that insane master of yours…”

Hephaestus’ expression grew stranger.

“My master… is a woman.”

Rubia’s expression became even more baffled.

“A woman…?”

“Yes. Oh… I didn’t mention it earlier, did I? My master is a woman.”

For a moment, Rubia just gaped at her in silence, so I had to speak up instead.

“H-Hephaestus, you said you… loved your master… didn’t you?”

“Yeah. I love her very much.”

Ah.

“Ah… so Hephaestus is… a man?”

She must be a feminine-looking man.

That’s totally possible, right?

There are plenty of characters like that.

Sure… that makes sense…

“Hehe… no, Unnie, I’m a woman. But I know… I’m a little strange.”

“Huh…”

Hephaestus sighed softly and continued.

“But… I know it sounds like an excuse, but… it’s just that I love her for who she is.”

Her voice was shy as she spoke, and her expression…

As Rubia explained earlier…

It felt completely pink.

“I love everything about her, to the point that it drives me crazy…”

The inside of the carriage was filled with pink.

“I love her.”

Her expression made it very clear.