Chapter 83 – I’m Sorry

Rubia sat there silently, surely bursting with questions about me, yet not uttering a word.

“Let’s go.”

“…Huh?”

“Let’s go outside.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

She had gone out while I was washing up, and when she returned, her demeanor had completely shifted.

“But there’s nothing to do outside right now, is there?”

“It’s fine. I looked around, and quite a few places are still open. Even if everything were closed, dropping my name would get most places to open up. Besides, you’re the hero who saved Ursphere—if they can’t do that much, well… they’d be terrible people.”

Hero.

A word so ill-fitting for me, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Well… um… shall we go then?”

“Yes.”

Finally satisfied, Rubia flashed a smile and swung the door wide open.

I quickly rose, wrapping myself completely in the princess’s robe from the sofa, and started walking.

The greatsword remained propped against the sofa.

The scene that greeted us in Ursphere was—romantically speaking—charming. Realistically speaking, it was chaos.

Buildings lay in ruins, the once-even streets torn and twisted… smoke still rose from embers in shop corners, and frozen food and goods lay scattered about.

But the biggest source of disorder was… Yuria’s plants. She had created a complete jungle.

Thousands of vines held up collapsing buildings, roots pierced through the ground, and flowers and weeds sprouted everywhere.

Unknown plants had begun emerging from the cluttered streets, and now even butterflies fluttered about.

Like an ancient ruin left untouched for centuries.

But well, what could we do? Tylant’s minions must have swarmed the place in overwhelming numbers.

Better collapsed buildings than dead people, right?

That must be why they wore smiles while clearing debris and repairing fallen structures.

“What should we eat?”

Rubia broke the awkward silence first.

I glanced around. Only a handful of restaurants remained open. Even those seemed overwhelmed, busy feeding the people helping with reconstruction.

“Hmm… anywhere quiet would be fine.”

Though I do have a place in mind… but I’d rather not burden any shops right now.

Who knows if they’re even supposed to be open.

“Then, may I choose a place?”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

I nodded and followed behind Rubia.

Another awkward silence descended.

I used this time productively, quietly examining the mana within my body.

Expelling unnecessary, contaminated mana, storing only what was essential.

I need to leave just enough for ‘me’ to use without problems when I’m gone.

More mana is usually better, but too much and the body goes boom!

Especially dangerous in this situation.

The others probably didn’t realize—pouring elixirs into a body like ‘mine’ with no mana affinity is just asking for trouble.

What would they have done without me here? Honestly…

Still… I felt proud of how ‘I’ had lived this life. Though it also hurt.

Quite a lot.

Tch. Why am I being so petty with these thoughts?

I shook my head and returned to my task.

Accepting the pure mana from the perfect elixir. Expelling the impure mana from Yuria’s elixir.

The already absorbed mana… nothing to be done about that. Getting a bit shorter shouldn’t cause problems at this stage.

And intelligence… well… can’t get much lower anyway.

I don’t know how well Rubia’s arrangements will work, but… Since this world hasn’t fully accepted me yet, there’s room for improvement.

Though… it’s only a matter of time before that shatters too.

The mana purification was nearly complete.

Since we’d started descending with Tylant… Beginning at midday, finishing as the sun sets…

It took quite a while. But given how contaminated it was, that couldn’t be helped.

Only one thing left to arrange.

I’ll handle that… before my consciousness fades.

“We’re here.”

I looked up at the sign.

“Huh?”

Morning on the Snowy Mountain.

Their fried rice is incredible here. And their homemade jelly dessert is divine.

“Is something wrong? Don’t you like it?”

The place I’d wanted to visit most. The restaurant with that special wild berry juice.

And…

The first place where Rubia and I shared a meal.

“No… I love it. I really, really love it.”

In my world, Tylant had destroyed Ursphere.

That avalanche I’d caused—

It marked the beginning, as countless minions flooded in, killing people and destroying buildings.

Finally, Tylant’s direct attack had completely demolished everything.

I thought I’d never eat here again.

“I’m glad. Shall we go in?”

“Yeah… let’s go.”

I stepped forward and opened the door.

Jingle.

The interior was humble but clean. The atmosphere peaceful. Sweet and savory aromas wafted from the kitchen.

And I could see the menu boards—something I’d never known existed during my blind days.

In my memories, Morning on the Snowy Mountain had been chaotic and dirty. The air thick with alcohol and adventurers’ sweat, the atmosphere rough.

I had loved that chaos.

Others might have found it overwhelming. But to me, that noise had been precious.

The absence of that atmosphere now was a little disappointing…

But it was okay. As long as I could see, feel, and remember it like this… that was enough.

“Where should we sit?”

The seating. Yes, that was important too.

I had my usual spot.

“Over there, in the right corner!”

I always preferred corners, not wanting to draw attention. Just like now, hood pulled low, eating quietly in the corner.

“Perfect.”

I scurried over and plopped down with a thump. The chair was so hard it dug into my bottom. And it was so tall my feet dangled above the ground.

But I loved all of it. It felt like coming home.

My excitement showed in my swinging legs, moving faster as my mood lifted.

Rubia pulled out her chair with a soft scrape and sat down, quietly studying the menu.

I didn’t need to look. I already knew what I wanted.

And… I wanted to recommend something Rubia might like. But somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I stayed quiet.

The world has changed, so Rubia must have too. She won’t be the Rubia I knew.

“Have you decided, Noah?”

“Yeah. Have you?”

“I have. I’ll go place our order. What would you like?”

“I want the French toast, chicken fried rice… and the special strawberry juice!”

Rubia tilted her head at my order.

“They don’t have strawberry juice here.”

“Huh…?”

I quickly lifted my head and scanned the menu.

Strawberry juice… strawberry juice…

It really wasn’t there. And no jelly either.

But… that’s not right. I know I had it. I definitely had it here… Is this some kind of butterfly effect…?

“Well… I guess there’s no choice. Just the toast and fried rice then…”

Though disappointed… at least I could still have the toast and rice.

“Oh, and for my drink… milk!”

“Milk… pfft… Alright. I’ll go place the order.”

While Rubia ordered, I examined the menu again more carefully.

But no matter how thoroughly I looked, there was no strawberry juice. No jelly either.

I wanted to taste that sweet-tart juice again, feel those chunky bits of fruit… that wonderful texture…

It was disappointing. So very disappointing…

“Sigh…”

“Are you that upset? I know another place that serves it. We can go there for dessert after we eat.”

Rubia had returned from ordering and tried to comfort me.

“Mm… okay.”

But it didn’t help.

Sure, other places might have strawberry juice… But none as good as here…

Still, nothing to be done about it. I pushed aside my regrets and tried to focus on the coming meal.

“What did you order?”

The Rubia I knew would get—

Basil cream pasta with—

“I ordered the basil cream pasta,”

With beef and baguette…

“With beef and baguette on the side.”

“Ah…”

Exactly the same.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Have you been here before?”

“Yes. I stopped by during missionary work once. Someone recommended it—the food was good, though I didn’t care for the atmosphere.”

A story I’d heard before.

“And it’s interesting… you ordered exactly what I tried on my first visit.”

Of course—because I recommended them to you.

“Yeah… that is interesting.”

Rubia stared intently at my face.

“You’ll enjoy it.”

“…Yeah.”

“I’m not sure if you’ll like my food, but you should try some.”

It’s delicious. Putting the beef on the baguette, dipping it in sauce… I’ve had it many times.

“Okay.”

Her steady gaze made me uncomfortable, so I looked away.

Then—

Clink.

A man with a bushy beard set an unexpectedly cute cup on our table.

Strawberry juice.

“Huh…?”

“This is our house special strawberry juice. It’s not on the menu, but it’s quite good.”

“W-why are you giving this to me?”

His beard twitched—he was smiling.

“My daughter loves it.”

“O-oh… I see.”

This was how it happened the first time too. Back then, I’d thought Rubia had ordered it, and at her encouragement, I’d drunk it without question.

Being blind, I couldn’t read the menu. So afterward, I’d always ordered it naturally.

Each time, Rubia would say “Got it” and place the order for me.

And every time, the strawberry juice would arrive with the food. As if it were perfectly normal.

Black hair and red eyes. And because of ugly rumors… They had cared for me—the one they called demon, monster.

This owner had.

I slowly raised the cup to my lips.

It tasted exactly as I remembered.

“It’s… delicious.”

“Ha ha, I’m glad to hear that.”

“…Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“No, thank you. For protecting this shop… for protecting Ursphere. Thank you, truly.”

The owner bowed deeply.

“…Yes.”

I couldn’t look at him.

I might lose control of these carefully contained emotions.

Might develop attachments I shouldn’t.

Might grow greedy for more.

Instead, I turned away and sipped my juice.

It was—

So very sweet.