Ugly Ten-Year-Old
It had been a truly long time, no matter how I thought about it. Five whole years. That was how long the Hero and I had spent shuttling between the imperial palace and the temple, undergoing all sorts of training and education under the pretext of subjugating evil. And finally, we set forth beyond the empire's borders in a ceremony called the departure procession.
"Y-Y-Y-You're ready, Hero, right...?"
"..., Now you've even got a rhythm to your stuttering, for fuck's sake. That excited for the departure ceremony? Or are your neck muscles just too weak from lack of exercise?"
Bad words. Such bad words.
"Sw-Sw-Swe-Sweearing is bad... manners."
"You're the one stuttering your ass off. If you can't speak properly, just keep your mouth shut and smile. The crowd will lose their shit over the Saintess smiling anyway."
"...".
Douchebag. No, no. Well... yeah. To be honest, I was really nervous. Even though I'd spent those five years honing my body and studying while being called the Saintess, before that, I was basically the youngest nun in the church. A nun whose faith couldn't even compare to the bishops or His Holiness the Pope. The fact that someone like me had been chosen, and that I had to step forward as God's proxy—it was pretty terrifying.
But the Hero wouldn't let me calm my nerves like that.
"Lua, stop shaking. Keep it up, and I'll assume your muscles are deficient."
"Hoo..., Ha! Y-Yes, got it."
"Good. I'll lead—follow behind."
He stepped forward toward the throng of imperial subjects waiting beyond. The curtain hiding his hand parted, and there I was, facing it all.
Waaaaaaaaah—
The roar and heat of the crowd echoing like that.
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
The military band playing us off with that sound.
I could have shrunk back at the sight of it all, but...
"Face it. Walk with confident steps."
The Hero muttered it so only I could hear amid the chaos. The words of a man utterly unfazed by the grand spectacle. He passed by children waving eagerly without a flicker of expression, ignored the gestures of beautiful women, and strode ahead.
So I clenched my fist tight and murmured back.
"..., Of course."
Confident steps, naturally. Smiling, waving gently.
Following his lead, I advanced with dignified strides as well. Showing the entire crowd that a kind and beautiful Saintess walked alongside the stoic, impassive Hero.
...So.
By the time the long procession ended and the crowd's fervor began to die down, my heart was still pounding amid it all. The realization that it had finally begun lifted my spirits. Worry about whether I'd do well mingled with anticipation for the journey ahead.
That was probably because...
Even if it made me look insane, having someone utterly reliable by my side made it certain.
"Well done. Now we really depart."
"Yes, Hero."
I nodded at his curt words and boarded the carriage. Fireworks soaring into the sky and bursting magnificently. The ecstatic crowd facing us, smiling children. Booming songs and cheers just as beautiful. Petals of every color scattered, paving the path ahead.
I'd never forget that day's memories for the rest of my life.
A little over a year had passed. I turned ten.
"Mom, I'm off."
"Mmm.... Mom's gonna sleep a bit more...."
"Hmph, you used to say you woke up early too. Turns out my mom's all talk, no action."
"Ugh.... Don't hit where it hurts—get to work already...!"
The now-familiar morning routine. I greeted my sleepy mom and headed out.
Even late into April, with spring nearly gone, the morning breeze was still chilly.
"..., Cold."
I shivered exaggeratedly and set off.
It had been well over two years working at Rendo's grocery store. For the record, I only learned his name this year, and his dumbfounded face back then is still fresh in my mind.
Well, whatever.
"...".
I'd gotten by fine without knowing it.
Sorry.
Shaking off those thoughts, I entered the market street. Unlike usual, I wasn't heading straight to the store—I was scanning around for something.
I'd left early today since I had errands.
So.
This afternoon: the Hero and Saintess's long-awaited departure ceremony. Call it prepping to watch it.
I'd sworn off watching after that damn Hero incident last time, but apparently, that resolve didn't extend to skipping a chance to witness the plot unfold firsthand.
Plus, last month she said she wanted to see it too.
To bring her along, I needed to prepare in advance.
And soon, I reached the shop I'd been looking for.
It sold clothes, but not the everyday stuff I or she wore—no, the rough kind adventurers might buy.
In other words, an adventurer's shop.
Creeeak—
Opening the door, a musty smell wafted out.
"Welcome. What can I get... What the. A kid."
The man rising to greet a customer switched to a bored expression at the sight of the small child.
But I wasn't fazed by that. Kid or not, I was a customer, and this guy was about to sell me robes.
"Hello, I'm looking for a robe suitable for a child to wear."
"Sorry, kid, but we don't sell anything here for someone your size. Head down the street next door—they've got kid clothes."
True enough, but other shops didn't have this quality fabric.
"I checked there already—the material wasn't good. So I want one from here."
"Heh, chatty little brat."
The shopkeeper looked plenty rough; kid charm probably wouldn't work. Why would someone catering to rugged wanderers care about cuteness?
"...".
"But we got nothing for kids here. This is for adventurers, so come back when you're bigger and wanna adventure, kiddo."
But he's a character from the novel.
Yansen. The owner of a shop for imperial adventurers that the Hero Fris frequented before becoming one.
Not a major role, but showing up even once meant he was a conscientious merchant.
So I trusted the novel's setup and smiled.
"I'm here for perception-lowering enchanted robes. One adult women's size, one men's, and alterations so they can be worn right away."
"You deaf or what, kid? And perception-lowering robes? You got the cash for that?"
The novel said he was grumpy but sold what you wanted for the right price. Ex-adventurer and merchant Yansen.
Time flew; the Hero's ceremony was underway, and I was ten now. In six years, I'd set off too, so better to build rapport early.
So.
Clink—
A bit painful expense, but I slapped some travel savings onto the counter.
"Two perception-lowering enchanted robes. Hem them neatly so they fit adults too."
"..., Alright. Wait a sec, customer."
He was the type to treat even a young kid as a customer if paid. Sold anything legal, no questions asked.
As I'd said a few times, today was the Hero and Saintess's ceremony, so the grocery closed early after lunch.
"Ain, you remember not to squeeze through the crowd for a close look, right?"
"Uncle, that's the thirtieth time. I've told you I'll watch from a good spot—why worry so much?"
"Like you'd behave, you brat. If you get trampled, I'll have to hire new help!"
"...".
Just curse me to my face, why don't you.
Sticking my tongue out at him, I left the store.
Even after slamming the door, his yells echoed from inside—but they were just worried shouts, so a nod sufficed.
Over two years together, and he treated me like a son now.
Yeah. Great guy, every time I think about it.
Anyway.
I slipped into the familiar alley after leaving.
The past year. The witch had grown rapidly despite her poor environment, unlike before.
I figured she was younger than me, but with better food and care, she'd already surpassed my height.
These days, she looked down at me slightly.
Her emotions were budding too—ever so slightly.
When our eyes met, her lips curved faintly, like she enjoyed towering over me.
But if I leaned in to check if she'd washed properly by sniffing, she'd pull back and furrow her blank eyes.
Honestly, not a great reaction.
Her faint emotions blooming meant the seed she harbored was germinating.
Gray tales always said controlling emotions got hard after powers awakened.
So maybe I was the novel's villain hastening the disaster's sprout.
But.
"...Ain, welcome back."
There was a girl waiting for me at the alley's entrance.
"Yeah, been a while."
"Long time, no see."
A girl counting days to our once-a-month meetings.
"Don't take this off while we're out watching, got it."
"Yeah, thanks."
Clutching what I handed her preciously.
"Let's go. Follow carefully."
"..., Yeah."
A girl whose lips slowly curved up.
That's why.
I couldn't ignore her, visiting monthly.
Pity. Calculated intent. The delusion of fulfilling my self-assigned role. Arrogant hope that I might change a novel character.
I couldn't abandon those, so I kept embracing them and moved forward.
The ceremony began with the military band's grand music.
I hadn't planned to get close with the witch in tow. Like at five, we watched from afar—but close enough to see their steps.
Even in early afternoon, fireworks lit the sky brilliantly.
Boom—
Each burst made the girl beside me flinch and grip my clothes tight.
That scene.
The novel protagonists advancing, the empire-threatening witch mysteriously beside me.
But it didn't overwhelm like the emotions at five.
Maybe I'd grown used to this world, dulling excitement. Or constantly aware of inserting myself into the plot.
So.
I just wanted to face all the complexities of this moment.
A word-scribed landscape seen only once.
Crowds novel couldn't capture.
Gears slightly off from canon.
And the Hero's gaze suddenly shooting toward me and the witch.
I met them one by one, ultimately glaring into the Hero's eyes.
His steps carried him forward.
The Saintess following paused her gaze on me briefly.
Then smiled cheekily my way before vanishing ahead with him.
Feeling the gray warmth, I kept watching, absorbing every gaze.
"There he is. The one who blocked me."
"Pardon? Where, where is he?"
I followed the Hero's gaze, looking around.
No strong figures. Ordinary men, women, elders, kids. And a robed girl and boy.... Ah, found them.
Among them, faint gray swirled around one—visible even from afar.
"The man beside the gray one—he's the guy from back then."
"..., But he's just a child."
Too frail to block you; he'd topple if I pushed.
But the Hero thought differently, staring long before grinning at the boy.
A man ignoring women's gestures and kids' cheers, now smiling childishly at one spot.
That ill-fitting, uncharacteristic smile again.
"Not a kid—a man. Still protecting her like back then."
"..., Yes."
You're a weird one, alright.
Still.
If God's will was as the Hero said, the gray girl and boy would survive.
I could only pray for that.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I smiled.
Gently waving to the crowd until the path ended.
Fireworks soaring and bursting grandly. Ecstatic crowds, smiling kids. Booming songs and beautiful cheers. Scattered colorful petals paving the way.
All would linger in memory, but I'd remember others longer.
The Hero's smile—I thought him all stoic. Two kids clutching hands tight. Gray girl and decent-looking boy.
Those things.