episode_0006

Attack.

There was no time to think of anything else.

Goosebumps rose, and my body broke free from my control.

Seeing that option selected, I shouted loudly.

My body wouldn’t obey my will, but I could shout to warn him.

“Grandfather! Get away!!!”

I screamed until my throat burst, and my body moved immediately after.

The sword was drawn.

Never once had holding a sword and attacking someone felt as natural as it did now.

The old man showed no hint of doubt at my cry, and drew the sword he had always worn since he began training me.

They clashed.

Clang-! An unpleasant metallic sound echoed through the antique shop.

The old man instinctively pointed his sword at me.

He seemed flustered but remained calm.

The old man intended to observe the situation first, but he shouldn’t react so carelessly.

Despite having autonomy, I still hadn’t fully regained control of my body.

I bit my lip.

I held the sword in a reverse grip.

I placed my hand on the table and slammed the sword down.

-! With a terrible sound, the back of my hand was pierced, and pain flooded in, making me want to scream.

But I knew that if I screamed here, neither I nor the old man would end up in a good state.

I bit my forearm, which held the sword, to suppress the scream.

Tears flowed, and cold sweat and blood streamed down, soaking the floor.

[That autonomy thing is really no good.]

It was a voice tinged with slight annoyance and regret.

That voice seemed to be displeased that I had disobeyed instructions, yet also dismissed it as no big deal.

[That NPC’s weapon looked really good, what a shame… I wanted to kill him and hand it over to my main character.]

I wanted to curse at the remark that felt utterly devoid of humanity, but the pain choked my throat.

Trying to suppress my scream by biting my forearm left a strong metallic taste in my mouth.

[Well, I guess… I just came to change the nickname, so let’s not worry about it!]

I was ordered to attack the old man simply because he wanted the sword, but the attitude of regretting the failure while treating it as if nothing happened filled me with disgust.

[It’s right for the main character to use the nickname Rie, isn’t it? Rather than this kid.]

As if it were natural, the way he gave me a new name made my hand gripping the sword tense.

But I was powerless.

There was nothing I could do.

The old man observed the situation for a moment, then slowly approached with his sword pointed at me.

Even if it wasn’t my will, I had attacked first, so I figured being attacked in return was unavoidable, but it felt unfair.

[But what is this kid anyway? No matter how much I neglected him, Swordsmanship F is a bit much, isn’t it? The character I created three days ago is already Swordsmanship B? This kid was hopeless from the start.]

A playful tone and a cheerful laugh, as if the current situation were amusing, could be heard.

I hated hearing it.

I wanted to rip his mouth off if possible.

Who made me this way, and yet dares to babble such nonsense?

The old man took another step closer.

[Neglected1? Isn’t that too insincere? At least it should be a person’s name.]

[Let’s just reverse it, Erie. Hmm, doesn’t sound great… How about Ellie?]

The old man took another step closer.

He reached out his hand towards me.

[Then… Got it! From now on, this is Ellie. Not that I’ll ever need to see him again anyway.]

As those words ended, I felt control of my body return to me.

The voice was no longer heard.

It seemed like it was over, somehow.

The old man approached, pulled out the sword that had pierced the back of my hand, and threw it on the floor.

He lifted my injured hand to examine it, then let out a sigh and looked down at me.

“…Ellie.”

As if it were obvious, he called me ‘Ellie’.

I hated it so much.

I was so angry at my own powerlessness, but more than that, the feeling of regret was greater.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

I didn’t attack because I wanted to either.

But knowing that saying that would only sound like an excuse, tears flowed because it felt so unfair.

There’s nothing uglier than a grown man crying,

The more I tried to hold back my tears, the more they streamed down pitifully.

“I know this was not your own doing…”

I was afraid of what would follow, but I had to endure it, so I lowered my head.

“Even if it wasn’t your will, one cannot live with a fellow who abruptly stabs them with a sword.”

“……I understand.”

It was a sudden occurrence.

If the old man hadn’t reacted, he would have died on the spot.

Thus, the old man would have died pointlessly, and the weapon would have been handed to the newly created fellow according to greed.

I developed hostility towards that newly created fellow whom I had never even seen.

His evaluation of me as worthless compared to himself was of no concern, but the fact that he tried to harm the old man, who had saved my life for his sake, was unforgivable.

But still, I had no power.

“However, casting you out as you are would be tantamount to telling you to die. I shall teach you to the best of my ability for the next few weeks.”

“……Pardon?”

“Honestly, it’s difficult to understand. Perhaps I am sharpening a murderer’s blade.”

Saying that, the old man picked up my sword.

The blood-stained sword did not shine.

“However, seeing you endure pain to restrain yourself at the end, I want to put my faith in that for once.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Let’s treat your wound first.”

Saying so, the old man brought a box containing medicine and wrapped my hand.

Although I hadn’t intended it, since I had pierced through flesh rather than striking bone, the severity of the injury was not as great as expected.

Thus, that day, neither of us spoke a word.

We slept, and the next day passed in silence as well, and we began training without a word.

Neither of us showed any questioning.

We simply acted as if it were something that had to be done.

The promise to train me within a few weeks to at least the point where I wouldn’t die meaninglessly seemed not to be empty words.

The old man’s teaching was no longer light like before, but heavy.

It was harsh, and sometimes frightening.

But I endured it.

Knowing that the old man was training me not because he disliked me, but because he felt sorry that he couldn’t stay with me, I gritted my teeth and persevered.

Our initial connection was due to the old man’s kindness, and being able to live together during that time also stemmed from his kindness.

And even now, the old man was helping me out of kindness.

Therefore, I shouldn’t complain about this.

Because I was a person who knew how to be grateful, not some wild animal, I gripped the sword even if my hands were injured and broken, and by the third week, my efforts finally bore fruit.

-Military Swordsmanship F ▶ Military Swordsmanship E

[Military Swordsmanship E]

Due to your small physique and a constitution that makes it difficult to build muscle, you are not suited for swordsmanship, and your talent is shallower than others, leaving you inferior in all aspects.

However, under your effort and the guidance of an excellent teacher, you have advanced one stage, finally acquiring the basic form required to use the name ‘Swordsmanship’.

“With this much, you won’t be beaten to death by some ruffians at least.”

I guessed it was time to leave based on the old man’s words.

That evening, the old man began packing my belongings for me.

I shouldn’t have had any belongings.

They were all things the old man had prepared separately.

“Listen carefully, you can take the sword you’ve been using, but if anyone picks a fight asking why you are carrying a sword, in situations where you can lie, say it’s not yours but for an errand delivery, and in situations where you cannot hide it, say it is simply for self-defense.”

Since harming an errand runner might bring unforeseen consequences, most people wouldn’t bother them if possible.

In other words, I shouldn’t reveal that I use a sword.

“If you are not strong enough, no… even if you are strong enough, using a sword should be your last resort. The moment you swing a sword and injure someone, you forge a grievance, and that grievance can never be easily shed.”

The old man murmured in a low voice, as if recounting a story from the past, and I also nodded.

“I’ve put 3 silver coins for travel expenses. I should have given you more, but Ellie, as you know, my shop doesn’t do very well, so that’s how it is.”

“Ah, no! It’s alright!”

It really was alright.

Come to think of it, I should be the one paying, right?

Even though I helped with the shop’s work in exchange for food and lodging, sword training is a completely different calculation.

“I also put in some jerky and bread, but there’s only enough for five days, so stock up the day before you run out.”

“……Grandfather.”

“Do you have something you’re curious about?”

“Um, there’s one thing I’m curious about… why are you so good to me?”

“……It’s just that, it reminds me of my daughter.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I apologized quickly, feeling like I had asked something I shouldn’t have. The old man blinked a few times, then smiled lightly.

“Why? She’s living well, got married, and had a child?”

“Huh?”

“Besides, this antique shop was set up by my son-in-law, what strange thoughts are you having?”

“Then why did you think of your daughter…?”

“My daughter had a miscarriage, if the child had grown up healthy, they would be about your age now…”

It really was something I shouldn’t have asked about.

As the atmosphere suddenly became heavy, I looked around awkwardly, but the old man, instead of blaming me, continued packing things into the bag and explained further.

Thus, dawn broke, and it was early morning.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Go find the Adventurer’s Guild first. Being a newcomer adventurer is a much better status than being from the slums.”

“Grandfather.”

I looked at the old man and opened my mouth, which felt heavy.

“Please, tell me your name.”

“…Leon.”

“……I’ve lived with you for almost seven months, and I’m only hearing your name now.”

“I’m sorry I have to send you away like this.”

Rather, the fact that he protected and taught me even after I swung the sword at him was an unforgettable kindness.

“It’s alright… rather, I was the one who was sorry.”

I bowed my head in greeting and walked away quickly.

I felt like if I walked slowly, I would linger.

My adventure has two purposes.

To find a way to escape this damned situation.

And, to hunt down and kill the fellow that damned player newly created.

If possible, the streamer too.

The gazes of the people on the street glancing at me unpleasantly felt so natural now.