episode_0084
by fnovelpiaThe question is, why do you want to be an adventurer? And the approaching gaze.
“······.”
It’s a new thought, but they were beautiful eyes. It’s comparable to a jewel hanging around your neck.
‘no.’
Ban shook his head slightly to clear away the distracting thoughts. It was no time to be lost in sentimentality.
“Adventurers are.”
“Yes. Who is an adventurer?”
“Because adventurers are free.”
freedom. Two words so sweet and beautiful.
Ban looked back at the past and asked himself. Have you ever enjoyed freedom in your life? Called. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get a positive answer.
“···Freedom. Be free.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed slightly as she heard what Van had said. I half thought it wasn’t a bad sign. If you reject it without even giving it a chance, there won’t be that kind of reaction.
“I don’t know anything about the world. I was always walking around in a designated place with a leash on.”
poor. Identity. Redemption sphere. There was always a strong, unbreakable leash around Van’s neck.
“So I want to travel around the world. I saw with my own eyes how wide it was and stepped on the ground.”
“···Hmm.”
Vivian nodded slowly, perhaps because it wasn’t a bad reason.
“But.”
“···?”
“But why do you have to go with me? You can travel alone, right?”
Vivian had a smiling face while sharply penetrating Van’s intentions.
“Rather, if you want true freedom, isn’t it right to follow your heart?”
A bright smile. The sharp intelligence that accompanies it.
But the class didn’t stop. In a situation like this, talking back and hiding your feelings is only counterproductive. That’s what I thought.
“Huh?”
The tip of Ban’s finger, which stood silently, pointed at Vivian. And he said quietly.
“Because you are the same.”
“···What?”
“You are the same. There is no freedom.”
A slightly bent finger and a voice that tried to speak as gently as possible. However, those efforts were worthless as Vivian’s face became noticeably distorted.
“What is that-”
“I don’t know exactly, but I do know. That it’s stuffed in your throat too.”
“Of course, he is a slave gladiator-”
“No, it’s not.”
Ban shook his head resolutely.
“Even if you actually achieve your 100th victory and become a free person. Is that true freedom?”
“······.”
“There is a difference between Vivian, the human being recorded in the document, being a free person, and you becoming free yourself.”
Suddenly, the subject who was pushing the words unilaterally was reversed. Ban moved his mouth without stopping even though the atmosphere became sharper.
“You yourself must feel truly free and confident. Because freedom is not something someone else can bring to you.”
The sense of leisure that existed just moments ago has long since disappeared. Vivian reacted violently, like a stabbed dragon.
“···Ha!”
However, I was shocked for a moment. Vivian let out a mocking breath and scoffed in a sarcastic voice.
“Then, do you know?”
“What?”
“Do you know! How to free yourself!”
chuck. This time, Vivian’s finger rose and aimed at Ban.
“Ah, don’t you know that it’s because he’s a dog wearing a leash as the lady’s attendant? At least I’ve been free longer than you! In the forest, with family and neighbors!”
“······.”
“Ha! I already knew that you were trying to speak as calmly as possible. You tried to hide it, but I know. What you had for your precious girl was not respect and loyalty. It was a love that didn’t know the subject!”
“······.”
“Naively, thinking it was a lifelong relationship, I gave it all, including my liver and gallbladder, and then what did you know when I got stabbed in the back by my owner!”
Ha-ha- Vivian was breathing heavily.
Clearly, it was Vivian who was pouring out aggressive words. However, when I only saw her face without knowing the circumstances, Vivian seemed more like a victim than anyone else. It was because of his face that looked like it was about to collapse at any moment and his whole body shaking.
Vivian’s lung capacity is not enough to allow her to breathe heavily even if she spits out a sentence of that length. The rapid breathing was a sign that the mind had become unstable.
“I don’t know.”
“···What?”
“I don’t know.”
Offensive words intended to intentionally open wounds. It was the kind of thing that only people who had a certain level of understanding of each other could say, and at the same time, it was the type of thing that should not be said.
“I don’t know either. How can I get rid of this frustration?”
However, despite hearing such criticism, the class’s spirit did not subside at all. Rather, he continued speaking more strongly and stubbornly.
“What should I do to become free? Should I meet someone new? Or should I take revenge on the girl who abandoned me?”
“······.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know. So I’m trying to find out.”
Van’s hand reached out to Vivian. Instead of pointing with one index finger like before, he held out his palm as if shaking hands.
“So, let’s go together.”
“···Let’s go together?”
“Yes. You never know. I moved for my freedom, but you may regain your freedom, or vice versa. Because we are on good terms with each other on a leash.”
“······.”
“And as you travel around the world and make a name for yourself as an adventurer, you might learn about the truth. The reason I was sold, or the reason the village you lived in was attacked.”
Vivian looked up at Van with her mouth pursed and her eyes trembling. It was because my posture suddenly collapsed and I collapsed onto the floor.
In response, he extended his half-outstretched hand even closer to Vivian. As if we were going to hold hands and walk down the same path.
“···Is it possible?”
Vivian asked in a low voice. It was a watery, trembling voice.
“What?”
“···As you said. It’s about me regaining my freedom.”
“Again, I don’t know. But, rather than staying still, it’s better to do something and move forward, right?”
Vivian’s hand approached cautiously, but she lacked the courage to snatch Van’s palm. A distance that seems as if they will touch each other or not.
“So please wait. Until I am liberated.”
“···What will you do if you fail? It’s true that our arena is a place where relatively few gladiators die, but that’s just the arena’s standards. It is not uncommon for tombstones to be erected in landfills.”
“I won’t die. You saw it, right? No matter where you get bitten or cut, new skin grows right away.”
Of course, he is not immortal either. That was the truth he knew best.
But what Ban needed now was not excessive honesty and coldness. What Vivian needed now was a stepping stone to build her courage and will.
“Ah…”
Ban snatched Vivian’s hand, which was shaking as if she could barely touch it. They exhaled at the same time.
“Wait for me, Vivian. And let’s travel around the world together.”
“······.”
Woe! Vivian did not hold the outstretched hand. He jumped up with his arms wide open, hooked his arms around Ban’s neck and gave him a big hug.
Van’s shoulder, which was in contact with Vivian’s chin, became slightly damp. Because they didn’t want to show tears, they took a stance not to face each other.
“···Does this mean acceptance?”
Ban asked cautiously. When I reviewed it, it was clear that the position was encouraging, but it seemed to have become a teaching attitude.
“You fool…”
Vivian chuckled at the idiotic voice that was completely opposite to the momentum she had just had. And then I gave strength to my arms and hugged her even stronger.
“Of course I accept it…”
“Phew···.”
It was a clear answer of acceptance. Ban’s stiff body relaxed with relief.
“···Half.”
“Why?”
“This is my wait, but it is also your wait. Because if I were liberated, I wouldn’t be able to be with you for this long.”
“···I guess so. I must be lonely.”
“So, you shouldn’t change your mind either. Got it?”
Ban nodded quietly. Thanks to the small movement, their hair was rubbing together with a soft sound.
“Once I am freed, I will find a way to help you. Make money somehow and become a sponsor.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“And the things I said earlier… are not all true. It’s just, it hit the nail on the head, it’s just, I hate myself so much-”
“I wasn’t hurt at all, so don’t worry about it.”
“···Yes.”
The ongoing conversation naturally ended and there was only silence in the corner of the arena.
However, their embrace was firm. As if I would hold it forever.
The two closed their eyes without saying a word. Listening to each other’s heartbeats intersecting and thumping.
“······.”
Coincidentally, Van and Vivian. They both thought the same thing. No matter what happens in the future, the warmth of now will never be forgotten.
***
“······.”
The sound of scraping the bottom of a bowl clearly rang out. He looked down at the empty stew with a half-darkened expression.
“ Damn… How are you supposed to fight after just eating this? Are you kidding me?!”
“···The doctor who was examining us recently also left. What’s going on?”
Recently, the arena was rapidly becoming cluttered.
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