Chapter 18 – The Village of Roholon (1)

“Between me and those old guys… who are you closer to?!”

Sigh

“Of course… I expected this. This isn’t the first time, and I’m not even surprised anymore. Really. Not surprised at all.”

Aileen sat on the bed, her head lowered, muttering to herself.

She’s scary…

Ever since I woke up, Aileen has seemed a little off.

Was it that shocking to see me collapse, bleeding everywhere?

Maybe… I guess it could have been.

But it’s not that serious.

It’s happened before—like the first time I used my Heightened Senses.

I’d been so fascinated by all the information and landmarks flooding my mind that I kept pushing the boundaries until I fainted.

Back then, Hermilla found me. If she hadn’t, I might have been killed by some monsters.

Hermilla really is a lifesaver! Not just figuratively, but literally!

“So, you want to know who I’m closer to?” Aileen asked.

I nodded eagerly.

“Of course…”

It has to be me, right?

It’s me! I’m the one who got closer to her first! We’re friends!

“Well… I don’t know.”

Wait, what?

My jaw dropped open, and I couldn’t close it.

What do you mean, I don’t know?!

“Wh-what…? Why…?” I stammered.

Aileen crossed her arms, touching her lips thoughtfully.

“It’s just… Noah, I feel like you’re hiding too much from me. We can’t be real friends if you keep secrets.”

Secrets…?

“I-I’m not hiding anything…”

“Really?”

Well… other than the fact that I was a guy, came from another world, and that this world is just a game…

But if I told her that, she wouldn’t believe me.

She might even think I’m completely crazy.

So I can’t say that.

“Y-yeah…”

“Hmmm. Okay, if you say so.”

But hearing her say I don’t know really hurt.

I thought we were becoming close.

I know I can’t cook well, but I tried to make her breakfast… even made coffee.

And when she said it was awful, I practiced over and over, forcing myself to drink all the failed attempts.

The coffee messed with my heart, making it race like crazy, but I did it anyway.

I even killed all those gnolls to keep her safe!

My nose tingled. My eyes were starting to feel hot…

Living alone in this foreign place, barely able to speak properly, with only Hermilla as a friend…

And now Aileen, too… it’s just…

“But… you said… we were friends… because I didn’t call you sister…? Is that why…?”

It’s so unfair…

These aren’t my tears. They belong to this body… really…

“Uh, Noah…? Maybe you should calm down a bit…”

“A-Aileen… I… I can’t make coffee… or cook… and…”

“No, no, it’s not about that. Just…”

I wanted to speak, but my body kept trembling, and my diaphragm kept hiccupping, making it hard to get the words out.

“H-Hic…! A-Aileen… hick…”

Sigh “Alright, come here.”

Aileen opened her arms wide, sighing.

I quickly turned my head away.

I’m not going.

No.

You said we’re not close.

I like Hermilla, who actually likes me.

I don’t like Aileen anymore.

She’s always serious.

Always nagging…

“Hmph… You really don’t want to? For real?”

She wiggled her arms invitingly.

What, does she think I’m a puppy who’s going to run to her just because she’s waving her arms around?

“N-No… I don’t… hick… I won’t… go.”

Absolutely not.

I’m not going.

“Well, I guess I was going to buy you those sugar apples you wanted… but, oh well.”

Evil Aileen! Does she really think that obvious temptation is going to work on me?!

“And I was going to get those jelly treats too.”

I dropped my greatsword, rushed over, and jumped into her arms.

I crashed into her so hard she almost fell backward.

“I-It’s not… because of the jelly… I swear…”

“Mhm. Sure. I believe you. What kind of grown adult would act like that?” Aileen said, patting my head and back gently.

“Sniff… sniff…”

“Feeling better now?”

“Sniff… yeah…”

“Of course I’m closer to you, Noah. Those guys just helped us out. I’m grateful to them, but that’s all.”

“R-really…?”

“Of course.”

Aileen stopped patting my head and instead hugged me tightly.

I felt a little suffocated, but the fresh scent of Aileen, who had just bathed, was comforting, so I stayed still.

“Now that you’ve calmed down… should we talk properly?”

“Okay.”

“Do you want to keep talking like this, or should we sit face-to-face?”

“Uh… um…”

Aileen laughed quietly, and her hair brushed against my face as she smiled.

“Let’s stay like this. You don’t mind, do you?”

I shook my head—answering would have been too embarrassing.

“Well, let me go first. This is really important, so listen closely, okay?”

I nodded.

“I’m only telling you this because I want to get closer to you…”

I nodded again, more vigorously this time.

“Heh… okay. Now, where to start…?”

Aileen took a deep breath, carefully choosing her words.

“Noah.”

“Yes?”

“My name… isn’t Aileen.”

“Huh?”

I pulled away from her slightly.

“Wh-what are you talking about…?”

“I’m sorry for deceiving you. My real name is Rubia. I am Rubia, the priestess of Erden.”

Ah. Found you.

“R-Rubia?”

“Yes. Really… I’m so sorry.”

Aileen—no, Rubia—lowered her head deeply, apologizing to me.

Even though I’ve forgotten most of Black Sun’s story, that name… that name I remember.

She was the protagonist of Black Sun.

Rubia, the priestess who serves Lillith, the goddess of the sun.

Rubia, the priestess destined to save the world.

And Rubia, the priestess who ran away, abandoning the world’s salvation.

I might not remember all the details of her story, but I do remember her face.

She was ridiculously, unbelievably beautiful.

And now… this incredible beauty… is my friend?

Wait.

People won’t call me “Noah, the 8-year veteran player of Black Sun” anymore.

They’ll call me “Noah, Rubia’s best friend!”

I mean, we’re lying here, hugging. We’re definitely best friends! Haha.

“Noah…?”

Oh, right. I should respond.

But what should I say?

“Well… yeah?”

“…Yeah?”

“Okay…!”

Rubia tilted her head, looking confused.

“Uh… hold on. Not to sound arrogant, but… you do realize I’m a pretty famous priestess, right?”

“Ooh…!”

“I mean, the priestess destined to save the world…”

“That’s so cool…!”

Clap, clap, clap.

“…”

“…”

The already quiet inn room became even more silent.

“Noah.”

“Yes…?”

“I’m a priestess, you know.”

“Yes.”

“The one destined to save the world.”

“Th-that’s amazing!”

“That damned goddess gave me a prophecy.”

“Gasp…! Rubia! Watch your language…!”

“If the balance of the world is destroyed, the End will come. The End will burn the world, burn it again, and eventually restore everything to its original state.”

“What a vile villain…!”

“But if I sacrifice myself, I can stop the End and save the world. If I die. Then this cursed world can be saved.”

Um… uh… wow, she’s been through a lot, huh?

“Uh… nice language… please…”

“So, I ran away. I didn’t want to do it, so I left.”

“Um… you must have been through a lot… you’ve worked hard.”

I reached out and patted Rubia on the head.

Rubia and Hermilla had always done this for me, so I thought it might comfort her too.

“You’ve worked so hard…”

Pat, pat.

“…”

Pat, pat.

“……”

Okay, my arm is starting to hurt now…

“Uh, Rubia?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s okay.”

“Wh-what is?”

Rubia’s breath quickened.

“If you’re tired… you can rest a little. You’ve been running nonstop, so… you’ve done enough.”

Pat, pat.

A warm, wet drop fell onto my head.

“Sniff… sniiiiff…”

It seemed like Rubia was crying.

Drip—ugh. I think this is snot…

Ugh… I want to wipe it off, but… wouldn’t that hurt her feelings?

“So… Rubia, it’s okay to enjoy life a bit more. You can visit beautiful places, eat delicious food… and, uh, watch fun plays too.”

“D-do you… think I can really do that…?”

“Yes. It’s really okay.”

As I nodded, Rubia hugged me even tighter.

Ugh… I’m not a stuffed toy.

But seeing her crying so miserably made me hug her back.

And I patted her back, gently.

“Noah… Noah… I’m sorry… If I don’t save the world… in the end, you too… hick… even you…”

Rubia kept crying, telling me stories from her past.

About her parents’ death.

About her peaceful village.

About the time she was swindled.

And about her dead sister.

I listened silently, continuing to pat her back without stopping.

After some time, when Rubia finally seemed calmer, I spoke up to change the somber mood.

“Hmmm… should we go get some jelly now?”

Sweet things are the best when you’re feeling down.

“Pfft… sniff… y-you… and your… jelly…”

Come on, are you crying or laughing? Pick one!

And also… that’s not fair!

You promised me jelly earlier!

“Rubia, you said you’d buy me jelly… Just because you changed your name to Rubia, you’re not going to pretend you didn’t promise, are you?!”

“Huff… sniff… Noah… you drive me crazy… Fine, let’s go.”

“Oh, and Rubia… I have something else I need to say…”

This might not be the best time, but I have to say it.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Uh… you know, instead of learning how to use a one-handed sword or a polearm… learn how to use a greatsword… because the true romance is in the greatsword!”

“Pfft… hahaha! A… a greatsword?”

“Yes!”

“Oh… but I don’t know… I can’t really handle heavy weapons like that. I appreciate the thought though.”

“Ah… but with some practice, you could wield such a cool weapon, don’t you think?!”

I pointed in the general direction of where my greatsword was.

But Rubia just shook her head.

“No, no. A weapon like that doesn’t suit me. It suits you, Noah.”

“R-really…?”

“Absolutely. Someone weak like me can only manage a one-handed sword.”

“Hmm… I guess that’s true.”

Yeah. Now that I think about it, it does make sense.

A greatsword suits me better.

As I mentally accepted this, I nodded.

And then… pain shot through the top of my head.

“Ow! Why did you hit me?!”

It was Aileen’s signature forehead flick.

“You agreed too quickly. I was hoping for more resistance. I held back on giving you another flick.”

What the—this is unfair.

And so unfair!

I gave her the most unfair look I could muster, squirming as I glanced up at her.

“B-but Rubia… you said that…”

“Doesn’t matter. Women are complicated. Heh… though, of course, you’re a woman too, Noah.”

Women are complicated…?

I don’t get it…

I rubbed my head and stepped away from Rubia.

“Fine… I want to go outside now.”

“But I still haven’t heard your story yet.”

Ack…!

“What… what do you want to know?”

“Well, until yesterday, I was really curious, but now that I think about it… it’s fine. If it’s Noah, I guess I can understand why you might have kept things to yourself.”

What?!

You can’t just say that after making me curious!

“No! You can’t just drop it after making me wonder!”

“Hehe… it’s nothing serious. I was just going to ask you about Luchi—the survivor of Hablon. Noah, you already knew him, right?”

Luchi?

Oh, right…

Rubia had been looking for Luchi, hadn’t she?

“Well, I was just… my head was hurting, and then the gnolls attacked, and I kind of… forgot.”

“I believe you. I don’t think you would’ve hidden anything from me on purpose. Not you, Noah.”

Rubia, who had been slightly distant, now pressed herself closer again.

And hugged me tightly with both arms.

I feel like a real stuffed animal now…

“Noah.”

“Y-yeah…?”

After a brief pause, Rubia slowly spoke again.

“Now that I’ve told you I’m a priestess… it doesn’t bother you at all?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Most people would be shocked if they heard something like that. But you don’t seem to care. I’m just curious.”

“Well, Aileen’s name just turned out to be Rubia, right? I mean, I’m a bit upset that you hid that from me…”

I squirmed a little, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

“But Rubia is Rubia. Even if other people call you a priestess or savior… to me, you’re just my friend, Rubia—the second friend I made after Hermilla.”

“Wow… Noah, you’re unbelievable.”

She hugged me so tightly I thought I was going to pop.

Ugh! Can’t… breathe!

“Gah…! Guh!”

“Thank you. Really… thank you.”

“M-mmph…!”

“Just let me hold you like this for a while. Even if you can’t breathe, bear with it a little longer. You smell so good, Noah… I just want to take it in for a bit more.”

I felt her strange breath against the top of my head, warm air brushing my scalp.

Then, Rubia’s legs wrapped around me too.

At this rate, something bad might happen…!

I wriggled out of Rubia’s grip.

“Uh… R-Rubia! Let’s just go outside, okay? Let’s get the jelly!”

“Huff… okay. Let’s go get some jelly.”

Nod, nod—

I eagerly nodded and walked over to grab my greatsword from where I’d left it.

As soon as I expanded my perception, I felt Rubia’s intense gaze.

“R-Rubia…?”

“Yes?”

“N-nothing. Let’s go!”

I hurried toward the door.

“Noah.”

But Rubia’s now-somber voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Wh-what is it…?”

“Will you sleep next to me tonight?”

“No.”

That would be dangerous…

And besides… your tears and snot already made things damp! No thanks!

Rubia took a step toward me.

“I’ll buy you double the amount of jelly.”

“No…”

Two steps.

“And candy.”

“T-this is too much…”

Four steps.

“I’ll buy you a week’s worth.”

“Ugh… just today…?”

Rubia stopped walking.

“Yes.”

Rubia extended her hand.

Uh?

Why?

“Aren’t you going to take my hand?”

“Why would I…?”

Rubia leaned closer, whispering in my ear.

“There’s a rumor that an evil wizard from the Tower lives in this village.”

“Gasp…! W-we should be careful then…”

I reached out and took her hand. She interlaced her fingers with mine, securing them tightly.

“Let’s hold hands like this so we don’t get separated. That evil wizard might want to dissect you.”

“Yes…!”

I nodded enthusiastically, gripping her hand tightly.

“Hehe… now let’s go get some jelly.”

“Y-yeah…”

With a suspicious chuckle, Rubia led me by the hand.

I… I hope nothing weird happens tonight…