episode_0096

When Killua, carrying the leather pouch she had filled with silver coins, left the room, walked down the hallway, and reached the door leading out of the house.

As if on display, a lumberjack’s axe leaning against the door caught my eye.

It had once been the favored tool and weapon of the Herb Gatherer Hero, but it was the lumberjack’s axe he had given me as a gift.

“……”

The Otherworlder Hero had mocked me when I tried to resist him with this…

While it might be useless against an abnormally strong foe like the Otherworlder Hero, it was clearly a weapon that could inflict significant damage on beasts, bandits, or even heavily armored knights, if aimed properly.

Since I hadn’t properly learned swordsmanship, clumsily swinging a sword was out of the question. An axe, which could deliver a fatal blow to an opponent simply by being swung and making contact, seemed like a suitable weapon for me.

The Otherworlder Hero’s taunt that an axe was a weapon only extras or supporting characters would use echoed in my ears, but I calmly picked up the axe.

Feeling the perfect grip, as if made for my hand, and the solid sensation of the axe handle firmly grasped, I slung the lumberjack’s axe over my shoulder.

“Alright. Shall we go?”

Now, the White Mage Killua was gone.

And her secretary Jazel, who followed her with loyalty and trust, was also gone.

Merchant Jazel and…

Hmm…

His lover, Killua?

“Let’s just say Killua.”

Although Killua had been very proactive in showing affection, the term “lover” still felt awkward and embarrassing.

I didn’t dislike or feel burdened by her displays of affection, but…

The image of Killua as the great and majestic White Mage remained in my memory, so the fact that we had become lovers still didn’t feel real.

Anyway, the journey of Merchant Jazel and Killua was about to begin.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the main gate and stepped out of the house.

The sun, more brilliant than ever, and a peaceful breeze gently welcomed me.

And the residents, who smiled or waved to greet me as I stepped out of the door.

Even people who had moved in with Tom Bolt’s merchant caravan, drawn by the news of a new specialty product with immense commercial value.

Eaton Village was brimming with an incredible vibrancy and vitality that had been unimaginable before.

“It’s a good day to depart on a journey.”

As if receiving that vibrancy and vitality, my own heart began to pound with anticipation for the new and fresh adventure that lay ahead.

Responding to the residents who smiled and waved at me with the same smile and wave…

I began to walk energetically towards the plaza where I had promised to meet Killua.

——————————

As if the news that Tom Bolt’s merchant caravan was leaving today wasn’t a lie, they were packing the splendid goods that had been displayed in the plaza into their wagons.

Looking around at the caravan workers who were quickly and swiftly organizing the luggage, I subtly checked the goods remaining in the wagons.

Seeing that most of the wagons’ loading spaces were empty, I could discern Tom Bolt’s excellent judgment in bringing just the right amount of goods needed for Eaton Village.

And the empty loading spaces were filled with jars containing the new specialty product purchased from Eaton Village: a black liquid.

“We’re going to be rich!”

“Hehehehe…”

The workers who had experienced the value of the black liquid for themselves were wrapping the jars containing it with soft straw, as if carefully protecting a treasure trove to prevent them from breaking.

Given that they were voluntarily doing work without being told, it was clear that Tom Bolt was sharing the enormous profits earned by his caravan with his employees.

Seeing the appearance of the wagons and the enthusiastic demeanor of the staff, it was clear that Tom Bolt was a good merchant.

“Ah… have you already finished your business with Killua?”

As I was looking at the caravan’s wagons and staff, I spotted Tom Bolt walking towards me from the opposite direction.

He, too, seemed surprised to see me leave the house earlier than expected and waved his hand in greeting.

“I heard Mr. Tom Bolt was leaving today, so I rushed out.”

“Surely you don’t intend to leave today?”

For Killua and me, who had no horses or wagons, and no mercenaries to ask for escort, Tom Bolt’s caravan’s help was necessary to travel safely and quickly from the village to another city or town.

Tom Bolt also accepted that fact as a given, but continued in a calm voice, as if there was no particular need to rush and leave today.

“I’m planning to visit again in about two weeks anyway. How about the two of you, now lovers, enjoy some private time until then?”

“There are some circumstances that require us to hurry.”

Not wanting to explain the terrible things Killua, Ariel, and I had experienced, I answered his question vaguely.

Tom Bolt then calmly nodded, as if he had no intention of probing deeper into my situation.

“Understood. Then, what is your intended destination?”

“It’s Belton City.”

“Oh~!”

The moment I revealed the destination, Tom Bolt burst out with an exclamation of admiration, as if he had grasped my intentions.

“Belton City is good, very good. It’s the perfect city for lovers!”

“Uh… is… is that so?”

Tom Bolt expressed admiration beyond my expectations, even clapping loudly.

Rather embarrassed by his intense reaction, I could only stare blankly at him with bewildered eyes.

I knew it was the best resort city for rest and recuperation, utilizing warm spring water beneficial for recovery and good for the skin, but…

I had never heard that it was the perfect place for lovers.

“It seems you don’t know that! Actually, Belton City is…”

Tom Bolt, who had burst into laughter at my bewildered expression due to his reaction, gestured for me to lean closer, as if he was about to reveal a great secret.

As I slightly leaned towards him as he requested, Tom Bolt whispered in my ear in a small voice, just loud enough for me to hear.

“They say it’s a city where lovers enter and come out as a married couple.”

“What…?”

It was a sudden piece of information I had never heard in my life.

Even if “rivers and mountains change over five years” [a proverb about how much can change over time], for Belton, the best resort city, to have become a magical city that turns lovers into married couples…

“Jazel! You came out early?!”

While I was stunned by Tom Bolt’s unbelievable words.

Killua, apparently having finished her preparations, was running towards me, her silvery-white cloak fluttering.

“I wish you both well.”

Tom Bolt lightly nudged my side with his elbow, as if to support my feelings, and then, as if nothing had happened, greeted the approaching Killua with a good-natured smile.

“What is it? What were you two talking about?”

“We were discussing the upcoming itinerary. Now, I will prepare your seats.”

Tom Bolt bowed his head as if telling us not to mind him, bade farewell, and then suddenly left to create space for Killua and me, who would need to board the wagon.

Killua, unable to stop Tom Bolt who had hastily left for our sake, watched him disappear among the workers, then tilted her head curiously and looked at me.

“What is it? What were you two talking about?”

“Well… um…”

Once Tom Bolt left, her questioning naturally turned to me.

I simply couldn’t ignore her black eyes, full of faith and trust, gazing at me.

“There’s a rumor that if lovers visit Belton City, they come out as a married couple…”

In the end, I had no choice but to honestly tell her what I had heard from Tom Bolt.

She burst out laughing!

Upon hearing those words, Killua stared blankly at me in disbelief, then clutched her stomach and burst into laughter, as if it were an absurd rumor.

“Ahahaha… It’s absurd, isn’t it?”

Her laughter made me realize the absurdity of the rumor as well, and I chuckled softly.

“How interesting! What exactly happens for lovers to come out as a married couple, I wonder?”

“W-well…”

Killua poked my side with her fingertip, as if urging me to imagine it.

But I, who couldn’t even believe the current situation of becoming her lover, couldn’t even imagine a future where we became husband and wife; my mind simply froze.

“It must have become a city overflowing with love and affection now. It won’t be dangerous!”

Killua, seeing me stiffen as if broken, let out a small smile, then lightly shrugged her shoulders as if there was nothing to worry about, and adjusted the small backpack she was carrying.

“Why did you bring so much luggage?”

Realizing belatedly that she had come out carrying a backpack, I hastily reached out to carry it for her.

But Killua lightly twisted her shoulder, avoiding my outstretched hand, as if to say she would carry her own load.

“Personal necessities, like underwear!”

“Ah… I… I see.”

As she revealed they were extremely personal items, I awkwardly retracted my hand that had reached for her backpack.

“By the way, aren’t you going to say goodbye to Ariel?”

All our luggage was packed, and once Tom Bolt’s caravan was ready, we would truly be leaving this village.

Now that it was truly time to leave, Killua cautiously brought up Ariel.

“Is Ariel alright?”

“The dangerous moment has passed, and she has regained consciousness. It’s just that…”

Killua’s voice trailed off for a moment, then she frowned sadly and continued.

“The shock seems to have been too great; she appears to have aphasia. She’s lying on the bed, half-dazed, just blinking her eyes.”

“……”

Ariel’s mind and emotions had been forcibly manipulated by the succubus Ermel, causing her to believe the hero was her destined lover.

As a result, she betrayed and turned away from me, her former lover, giving her body and soul to the hero without reservation.

However, the hero, deeply infatuated with Killua, had playfully and cruelly tried to kill Ariel, as if disposing of unnecessary livestock.

“It must be more terrible than Rai’s situation…”

Killua assessed Ariel’s condition with a simple remark.

Although Rai had, of her own will, betrayed Killua and sought her life, it was for the sake of the beloved Ariel and the safety of her own village.

But Ariel was forced to love a hero she didn’t love, and although it was forced, she was betrayed by the hero she genuinely came to love.

Moreover, now that the succubus Ermel was sealed in the Soul Prison.

The mind and emotions that had been manipulated by the succubus Ermel must have returned to normal.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to see her?”

“No…”

Ariel was unfortunate and pitiable, but… she wasn’t the only one who had been hurt.

Although it was because of the succubus Ermel, the wounds etched into my heart from witnessing the hero’s relationship with her firsthand were not shallow either.

If I were to face her once more…

The nausea I felt back then seemed likely to surge up my throat again.

“Alright, alright. Let’s leave the emotional wounds and terrible memories behind and depart!”

Killua, who patted my back as if to cheer up my gloomy appearance, began to walk towards Tom Bolt, who was waving from afar as if signaling that preparations were complete.

Following behind Killua, I walked and looked back at Eaton Village.

As she said, it would be truly good if I could leave only the emotional wounds and terrible memories behind in this village, but…

The wounds would remain as scars, and the terrible memories would become nightmares, chasing after me.

“Hurry, Jazel!! If you’re late, there won’t be any window seats left!”

Ultimately, the best way would be to overlay new memories and experiences so that the scars are invisible and the nightmares are diluted.

Looking at Killua, who was vigorously waving at me from beside Tom Bolt…

I set aside the painful memories for a moment and, smiling with anticipation for the new journey ahead, walked energetically towards her.

BONUS: This concludes the story.

While it was noted as the end of Part 1, it has become the finale.

Although there wasn’t much popularity or interest, thanks to the few readers who read it to the very end, I was able to complete Part 1.

Honestly, even before this, my mind was filled with thoughts of giving up.

I had extensively prepared the story for Part 2 that would follow, but…

When I saw the interest and excitement I received compared to the effort I put in, I couldn’t help but lose motivation.

Now, I plan to write a new work in a universal genre that everyone can enjoy, rather than one filled with my personal preferences or desires.

A novel set in an academy, featuring transmigration or a harem, and no NTR.

As an aside, if I were to mention the future developments I had planned…

In Part 2, I had planned to cover incidents and accidents in the city of Belton, where common sense had been altered by the power of the fragments, due to an extreme male-chauvinistic ideology.

Killua, who had stood above others his entire life, receiving respect and reverence, would be treated worse than livestock the moment he entered the city, and Jazel would try to protect Killua’s dignity and purity.

If my next work succeeds…

And this novel is re-evaluated, Part 2 might be produced again.

Anyway, I express my gratitude once again to all the readers who read to the very end.

Someday, I hope to meet you all again with a new story.

With this, this lacking writer bows their head and carefully takes their leave.