Ch.143Chapter 143

The view of Linthpia from atop the statue was truly beautiful.

I was a bit tired from doing harder work than usual today, but I felt all my accumulated fatigue disappearing at once.

This could become addictive if I’m not careful.

Dependency, as they say, is when people lean on something specific during their most difficult times.

Still, it must be much healthier than alcohol or cigarettes.

After all, you have to climb all those countless stairs to get up here.

I wanted to just lie down and sleep right here, but that wouldn’t be right.

“Raedan Tanthyn!”

Ah, I just heard the voice of the very reason why I couldn’t.

When the sun begins to set, there’s only one person who would come looking for me.

It was her.

“You’re here.”

I quickly erased any signs of fatigue and turned around with a smile.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say my smile appeared naturally.

But the expression I worked to create was ultimately overshadowed by what happened next.

Whoosh!

“Why didn’t you come back right away?!”

Despite her scolding tone with a slightly tearful voice, she pulled me into a tight embrace and trembled.

What could have frightened her so much?

There shouldn’t be anyone stronger than her in this world.

“…I heard today’s mission was dangerous.”

“It was, yes.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m just a bit tired. There’s no way I could get hurt.”

I told her the truth.

Yes, there’s no way I could get hurt.

Not when I’ve gained such strength thanks to someone.

“All the knights returning today looked so gloomy, and when I didn’t see you among them, what was I supposed to think?!”

“Haha. I’m sorry.”

I gently separated her from me and looked at her awkwardly.

“Considering all the blessings you’ve bestowed upon me, wouldn’t I be fine even if every god in this world came after me?”

“…You call that an explanation…!”

I thought I’d given her a reasonable explanation, but seeing she still hadn’t calmed down, I smiled brightly and said:

“…I missed you too, as much as you were thinking about me, Oko.”

“Ugh, uugh.”

The white-haired beauty with cat-like eyes and captivating blue irises.

Oko’s eyes widened in surprise at my words.

“C-calling me by name at a time like this is cheating!”

“Ah, aah! S-stop! I’m dying, I’m dying!”

“What nonsense! You said you can’t die because of my blessing!”

“Aaaack! Oko is trying to kill me!”

Perhaps out of embarrassment, Oko suddenly started pummeling me with her fists.

Each punch was so deadly that my skull felt like it was rattling.

But I didn’t dodge.

After all, I had worried her.

Seeming somewhat calmer now, Oko glared at me with a sulky expression as I took her hand.

She flinched in surprise, then stared at me intently with a slightly reddened face.

“…?”

“Shall we go down now?”

“…Yes.”

All the way down from the statue, I wore a satisfied smile.

Today, Oko had shown me a side of her I’d never seen before.

It was certainly unusual to see this side of her, who was always rational and cheerful.

Getting to know someone better was truly a joyful thing.

“Next time you go somewhere, at least tell me. I was so scared.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Oko.”

Oko said that with her lips slightly pouted, and I responded with understanding.

After descending from the statue, I observed the people walking the streets.

A man holding hands with a woman who had flowers growing from her head, both laughing and enjoying a happy moment together.

An elderly man engaged in passionate discussion about a book with a being made entirely of white bones.

The streets of Linthpia, where gods and humans gathered together, creating a single landscape.

I’m relieved.

Today, I was able to protect this precious scenery once again.

#

After calming down, Oko chatted away about everything that had happened today.

“I cooked something for you. Ah, it must be cold by now.”

“Oh! Oko cooked for me? Who cares if it’s cold, it’s still delicious.”

“You’re quite the sweet talker.”

Oko said that and smiled brightly.

Well, I was just telling the truth.

But seeing her happy made me smile too.

When we entered the alley leading home.

A person came out of a restaurant and looked surprised to see me.

It was the restaurant owner.

“…Raedan.”

“Boss! Hello.”

The boss didn’t respond to my greeting, just approached me in a daze.

Then, as if examining some strange object, he ran his hand over my shoulder.

Ah, I see.

I could feel the concern in that touch.

I looked at him with slightly sad eyes.

“Boss.”

“…Yes, you’ve returned safely. Thank goodness, thank goodness…”

It seemed the boss had been waiting for me with the same feelings as Oko.

Perhaps I really should have returned immediately after finishing.

This makes me feel like a criminal, which is a bit uncomfortable.

Still, seeing the boss’s complexion gradually return to normal, I judged that unlike Oko, he didn’t need further reassurance.

As expected, the boss soon hit my arm hard with a playful expression.

“Ouch!”

“What are you pretending to be hurt for, you rascal. Sigh, I’m the fool for thinking strange thoughts.”

“Were you worried about me too, Boss?”

“Oh, you little… You shouldn’t do that to people.”

“Haha, I’m sorry.”

Though a bit rough, I knew those words were just teasing, so I laughed and responded in kind.

“Have you eaten? If not, you could have some beef pasta before you go.”

“I’m sorry, Boss. Today Oko said she prepared food for me…”

“That’s right, Boss. Today Raedan is eating with me.”

At my words, Oko linked her arm with mine as if showing off a possession and put on a smug expression.

Oh, that’s annoying.

If I were the boss, I would have wanted to pinch that nose with my finger.

But the boss just laughed cheerfully at the sight.

“Hahaha! I see. I shouldn’t take away the lady’s time. Who knows what might happen to me otherwise.”

“B-Boss! You shouldn’t say things like that! Someone might think I’d do something bad…”

“No, no. What could you possibly do to me? Just… um. Ahem.”

“Hey?! Don’t cut off your words like that?! Boss!”

Perhaps wanting to tease Oko, the boss suddenly put on a pained expression and slipped back into the store.

Though there was no one else around, Oko seemed provoked by his attitude and followed him right into the store.

– Ack! You followed me all the way in here! This is bad!

– Wow, all the way!

– In this case, I have no choice but to offer a bribe.

Seeing them bantering back and forth made me feel warm inside.

Yes, this is the kind of time I enjoy the most.

All that knightly fame means nothing.

I volunteered to be a knight because I wanted to protect these people.

I won’t get hurt.

The empire is being well protected.

Could there ever be a golden age better than now?

I was simply happy.

“Raedan!”

Oko was running out from inside, holding something.

It seemed that the “bribe” was actually an excuse to provide for our breakfast.

I always felt sorry for only receiving things from the boss.

“Did the boss share food with us again?”

“Yes! It’s chicken soup, your favorite.”

“Wow.”

I gave an exaggerated reaction to Oko who was giggling, and seeing her straighten her shoulders in satisfaction, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Let’s hurry home. I’m hungry.”

“Yes!”

The place we quickly returned to was a building designed like a cathedral.

With its unique exterior, it was quite a famous building even in Linthpia.

And in front of the door, an old man was waiting.

He was my grandfather.

Grandfather saw Oko and respectfully bowed with his hands clasped, then raised his head with a benevolent smile.

“You have arrived.”

“Grandfather, I told you Oko feels uncomfortable when you do that.”

At my words, grandfather maintained his smile and said:

“Intelligent beings each have their own duties to fulfill, and failing to keep those duties means losing one’s purpose.”

“…Well, that’s not wrong, but…”

“…So, are you hurt anywhere?”

I remember people being confused about why my grandfather didn’t check on me, his family, first before Oko.

Yes, on the surface, one might think my grandfather is very cold-hearted.

But I wanted to explain that this was wrong for two reasons.

First, I could see that grandfather’s expression as he asked about my well-being was full of concern.

“No. Thanks to Oko, it’s actually difficult for me to get hurt.”

“…That is also true.”

Look at grandfather’s relieved expression.

He had simply become a bit more stoic about me, but that doesn’t mean his feelings had disappeared.

And the second reason was most important.

Swish, swish.

Grandfather made gestures as if drawing something in the air, then clasped his hands, slightly bowed his head, and said to Oko:

“…Thank you for protecting my grandson from evil dangers today, The Watcher.”

…The reason was that Oko was the deity of the religion my grandfather had founded.