Yuda slowly began to speak.
“Tia, I’m going to change. I might become numb to killing, turn cowardly in the face of unexpected trials, or overlook injustice. Traveling through various countries, meeting countless people, I’ll become vastly different from who I am now.”
That’s inevitable. And it’s part of growing. Tia was about to ask why it mattered, but Yuda continued before she could.
“But even if I change, I can return to the pure self I am now if you wait for me here. Knowing I have a place to return to will give me strength to overcome trials without faltering. When I come back, tainted by the world, I’ll revert to the innocent self you remember. I believe that.”
“…”
“I’m a coward. I don’t want you to see me change, and I don’t want to lose you in front of my eyes like I did my parents if because I’m too weak. I love you more than anything in this world, cherish you above all. I won’t ask you to wait for me at the only place I’ll return to… I just want you to stay here, living peacefully and happily.”
At those words, Tia closed her eyes. Just as Yuda worried, Tia was worried too. What if he died somewhere, got seriously injured, or was deceived? But with him speaking so earnestly, insisting on going together felt like dismissing his sincerity. This boy was truly mature. So mature that he sometimes felt like a peer. In a small, almost tearful voice, she said,
“…You’re a coward.”
“I know.”
“And unfair.”
“I know that too.”
“But I’ll understand. Because your heart must be hurting too, Yuda.”
Tia let Yuda go. Freed from her hold, Yuda let out a small sigh and stood from the sofa. He wasn’t leaving right away, yet seeing her so downcast made him feel guilty. Her drooping ears looked pitiful, so he pulled her into a hug. She came without resistance, and Yuda patted her back.
“Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
Her drooping ears perked up.
“Even though there’s an age gap? Even though others see us as master and disciple?”
“It doesn’t matter. Tia is my first love and my master. I belong to Tia, and Tia belongs to me. If anyone says anything about our relationship, we just show them. We love each other like this. As an adult, I choose who I love. What do others’ opinions matter? The fact that we love each other is enough.”
A smile spread across Tia’s lips, and her tail wagged. She seemed to be in better spirits.
“Really, you’re good with words.”
Tia let out a sigh.
“Alright. But promise me this.”
“I’m not leaving right now… what is it?”
“That you’ll definitely come back. You can sleep with other women, become a coward, do whatever, it’s all fine. Just come back here in one piece. I will wait. You don’t need a single coin. Your master will take care of everything. Just come back alive. Okay?”
It was not a difficult promise. Because he would return alive no matter what. Even if he died, he would revive anyway.
Yuda nodded, and instead of answering, kissed her forehead, nose, and lips in turn. As their lips met, her teary eyes met his, and she returned the kiss naturally. After a brief kiss, their lips parted, a glistening thread of saliva snapping between them.
“I will come back.”
“I love you,” he whispered. He would always find the word “love” cheesy, but it came out so sweetly now.
“But since I’m not leaving right away, don’t be too sad. It feels like you’re already sending me off.”
At that, Tia blushed and looked away.
“W-Well, what can I do? It’s your fault for making me feel like you’ll disappear without a word.”
As if embarrassed, her tails swayed. She was so dishonest. Being able to read her emotions through her tail and ears was wonderful and charming. He wasn’t sure if she would hold onto these feelings forever, but Yuda trusted her regardless.
“Trust me. I’ve never broken a promise, have I?”
At that, she let out a small chuckle.
“You’re right, you’ve never broken a promise, so I can trust you, then?”
“Of course.”
***
Arriving at the west gate, Yuda looked around as he walked. Unlike the quiet eastern boulevard, the streets here were bustling with mercenaries and adventurers, noisy with merchants selling goods and hawkers calling out. It was a lively place. Never having come to the west avenue at this hour, Yuda found it refreshing.
But he had no interest in them. He caught some whispers from those who recognized him, but they were quickly drowned out by the noise. Passing through the west gate was much easier than the east gate. You just needed to show a badge that could identify you and go. After breezing through almost like a free pass, he quickly moved to a less crowded area.
Many roamed around, hoping to find relics others might have missed, wondering if a fragment wasn’t far off but simply overlooked by others.
When he reached a relatively quiet spot, he opened his 〈Record〉 and pulled up a note he had written long ago.
「1151.6.28: In the forest northwest of Serenia, the blue lance knight and the martial knight clash.」
June 28th was two days away. Writing down everything he remembered when he first arrived in this world was a stroke of genius. Over time, he had forgotten much, and without checking his notes, many things wouldn’t even come to mind.
He moved forward, comparing the Player’s privilege 〈map〉 with a local geography map bought from a general store.
‘If I can just find the ruined remains before 3 pm.’
“After 3 pm, it was all up to chance. Maybe the martial knight had won and was on the brink of death, or maybe the blue lance knight was. Or perhaps, they had both ended up dead.”
He hoped the blue lance knight would win, but since the outcome was uncertain, he wanted to arrive before the fight to observe. Letting out a small sigh, he spent the night in a suitable spot and moved swiftly as soon as dawn broke.
The forest blocked his path like a maze, but with two maps, Yuda had no trouble. The map he bought from the store gave a rough idea of the terrain, while the Player’s〈map〉showed bearings, letting him know exactly where he was headed without fear of getting lost.
‘If things go well, I’ll arrive by tonight. If not, tomorrow morning.’
Checking his position by comparing the maps whenever he felt unsure, he sensed he was nearing his destination. Then, from among the trees, the metallic clang of weapons clashing echoed in the distance.
“?”
As Yuda scanned his surroundings for the source, a loud boom echoed, and black smoke spiraled upward. He set his sights on the direction and advanced cautiously, the roars of magical beasts growing ever closer.
Another explosion rang out, and something flew toward Yuda. Startled, he hid behind a tree as something slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Kyark! Kya!
Peeking from behind the tree, he saw a magical beast, likely flung by the explosion. Charred and writhing in pain, it wailed. Yuda drew a dagger from his belt.
‘Hmm, a goblin?’
Judging by the unburned patches of green skin and childlike stature, there was no doubt. Seeing a goblin for the first time in this world, Yuda looked down with curious eyes, but his interest quickly faded. They were just common magical beasts he would see plenty of later on.
Known for their cunning minds and cruel nature, goblins were infamous for biting their enemies to death. Perhaps because of this, the charred goblin glared at Yuda with fierce hostility.
“You can’t do nothing here…”
Its fearless glare was striking. With a wry chuckle at its beastly growling, Yuda flicked his wrist and threw the dagger. The palm-sized blade plunged into the goblin’s neck. It gagged, spewed black blood, and collapsed.
Having unexpectedly taken down a goblin, Yuda wondered where it came from, looking around to see black smoke rising in the distance. The trees and bushes already obscured his view, and the flames made it even harder to see.
Their childlike stature and green skin marked them unmistakably as goblins. Encountering one for the first time in this world, Yuda gazed at it with curious eyes. Notorious for their cunning minds and cruel nature, these creatures were infamous for latching onto their enemies and never letting go. At least, that was what Yuda’s prior knowledge suggested. And judging by how they kept attacking even as they were being knocked down by the adventurers, it didn’t seem to be wrong.
Perhaps they fought so fiercely because they believed they still had the numerical advantage. Only four adventurers were facing over twenty goblins.
‘…’
As the black smoke from the flames consuming the trees dissipated in the breeze, Yuda caught a glimpse of the adventurers fighting the goblins.
Ah.
The moment he recognized the face, Yuda felt a throbbing headache. A blond boy clad in silver armor was swinging his sword, knocking down the goblins. That armor was granted only to those qualified as holy knights. Assuming most holy knights were in their twenties, this boy was far too young. And he was a boy Yuda knew well.
Kain Sabnak.
This guy was in the western forest. Yuda had vaguely suspected he might be, but seeing him right there made him sigh. He hadn’t expected to run into him like this.
With a wry smile, Yuda cautiously approached to see who was with him.
Thanks to the 〈Black Wolf Leather Armor Set〉 he wore, neither the ten or so goblins nor Kain’s party noticed Yuda’s approach.
One priest and one mage. The mage, with pink hair and a slender frame, was unmistakably Riel. She had been close to Kain and apparently decided to adventure with him. Hunting goblins in the western forest seemed like a way to gain experience.
And the last one… where were they?
He was sure he had seen four from a distance, but now only three were fighting the goblins. With one melee fighter missing, a gap had formed, and two goblins were charging toward Riel and the priest.
‘That looks dangerous.’
As if prepared in advance, a fire orb formed at the tip of the staff in Riel’s hand, but it seemed impossible to kill both goblins at once. Possessing cunning intelligence, the creatures had witnessed multiple explosions before and were keeping a steady distance from each other. After briefly glancing back and forth between the two, Riel swung the staff and threw the fire orb.
The fireball shot like an arrow, swelling and exploding as it reached the goblin. Engulfed in flames, the goblin was flung back and crashed into a tree.
Riel quickly prepared another spell, but the second goblin was already near her. Her pupils shrank as she stared at the goblin leaping with a dagger.
“Riel!”
Kain, who had been cutting down goblins at the forefront, shouted in alarm. Frowning at Riel’s fear-stricken face, Yuda threw his dagger with force.
Whoosh!
But the moment the dagger flew, almost simultaneously, a longsword shot from behind Yuda in the same direction.
“!”
The dagger struck the goblin’s head, and the longsword pierced its body. Before seeing it land, Yuda’s hand was already on the hilt of the bastard sword at his waist. Spotting a trajectory slicing through the air, he hurriedly tried to draw his blade.
Clang!
The half-drawn blade from his leather-padded metal scabbard barely managed to block the attack. Sparks flew right in front of his nose with a sharp crackling sound. Yuda checked who had launched the surprise attack and was startled by who he saw..
‘Martial knight Ea!’
Seeing Yuda’s startled expression, she curled the corner of her mouth.
“I thought it was a rat, turns out it was a person.”
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***Author’s Note***
I thought the Hypnosis and Subjugation abilities were too overpowered for the story’s progression, so I added various penalties…
Wow, I got chills reading a comment saying, “Why not just subjugate Kain?”
I was only thinking of weird uses, but to come up with that method. Tsk.
