Ugly Eight-Year-Old. Episode 9. In My Opinion, the Hero is a Strange Person.
…, Hm.
Come to think of it, he's still a strange one even now, though the problem might be that I've gotten used to his weird looks.
Anyway.
This was still before the expedition ceremony. Back then, the Hero often skipped the training sessions with the Imperial Knights.
For reasons like…
"The knights are too weak. Just breathing with them makes me lose muscle. I need to head to my usual training gym."
He'd say stuff like that, head out of the palace, and come back around dinner time.
Crazy bastard… Oh, no, sorry.
Anyway, whenever he went out like that and returned in the evening, he'd always have me come and tell him about what happened outside.
"Hm, the street vendor food was pretty good today. They had stuff packed with protein, and their posture was solid. Next time, I'll get some for you too."
Saying things like that while eating weird-looking food.
"For some reason, people get scared and run away when they see me. Am I that scary-looking? I wasn't even threatening them."
A hulking two-meter brute of a man saying something that dumb.
Stories like that.
And then one day, there was a particularly odd tale.
"I was cutting through an alley 'cause I was running late, and I spotted some gray hair."
"Pardon…? Right in the heart of the Empire?"
"Yeah. It creeped me out, so I went to kill it."
"No, even if it's gray, you can't just kill them carelessly…."
Life is precious. Even if it's gray, it's still one of God's creations, after all.
"I didn't kill it. It was a little girl coughing her lungs out, half-dead already. She didn't look like she'd make it through winter anyway, so I left her be."
"Hmm…, I see."
"Like you always say, if she has God's blessing or whatever, she'll pull through without dying. If she turns into a disaster, I'll kill her then."
"That sounds a bit sad."
"So you keep exercising and don't slack off. Dragging around that huge blob of fat and stuffing your face will just cause muscle loss."
As he said that and headed into his lodging, I watched his back and thought,
What the hell is this guy?
Or something like that.
As I recalled the past and let out a chuckle, a voice came from behind.
"Lua, stop giggling and go to sleep. If you don't sleep on time, you'll get muscle loss."
"Yes, Hero."
Yep, the Hero's still a weird bastard.
Winter was coming.
The end of my eighth year was in sight.
Riding the novel's flow, the days continued peacefully and quietly right up to winter.
And the word was that the Hero and Saintess's training would wrap up in about two years.
Which meant the Hero's party's expedition ceremony would be two years from now. I definitely wanted to witness it up close.
I didn't want to chase after mere traces from afar like I did at five.
As I thought that, a booming voice called me from behind.
"Ain! You little punk, stop slacking and get ready! Wasn't it you who asked for more money?!"
"No…, Uncle. My ears are gonna fall off."
"I called you three times, three! Take this and go deliver, punk!"
Aigoo, gonna go deaf at this young age.
I squinted, took the basket Uncle handed me, and followed his shooing gesture out of the grocery store.
After slamming the door shut, I muttered softly.
"…, What a harsh world."
"…, I didn't say anything."
No way. My ears are about to go deaf soon, but Uncle's still got sharp hearing at his age.
Thinking that, I started walking.
Grocery delivery. It wasn't originally my job, but I'd suggested it to Uncle because I wanted to earn a bit more.
For a small fee of about 10 dera per delivery, the store would bring your purchases right to your door.
Split 8:2, with me getting the 8, of course.
The store didn't need two people hanging around during off-peak hours anyway, so whenever it got slow, I'd sort the customer's list and deliver it myself.
It was a grocery for folks nearby, and deliveries didn't cost much, so busy moms used it pretty often.
Thanks a ton, ladies. I'll save it all for my future travel funds. I'll keep up the cute act and charm.
And that's why I was out now for a delivery.
"The address…, ah."
No matter how I looked, it was our house.
Mom, please don't do this.
Thinking that, I dragged my feet toward home.
Yeah. Not that I'm an unfilial son or anything, but there was one reason I hated when Mom ordered deliveries.
"Oh, the delivery's here~ You must be tired~"
"…, Grocery delivery."
When she ran into me while I was working, Mom treated me exactly like a real grocery clerk.
Separating work and home perfectly is great and all, but Mom had her reasons for being so strict about it.
"Haha~ You must be exhausted from delivering. Want some cool tea before you go?"
"No, I gotta hurry. So, if that's all…."
"Aw, you can't just leave after coming all this way. Finish up first!"
"…, Mom. Why do you do this."
With a face full of mischief, and equal parts expectation.
That evil look waiting for me to act was downright devilish.
"Mom? I'm just the delivery guy! So hurry up!"
"…."
"Tick-tock! Time's a-wasting!"
Yeah, literally no time. Got another delivery waiting; can't waste it here.
So I flashed a fake kid smile at Mom, bowed deeply, and that was that.
"Thank you! Please order again soon!!"
"Hahaha! Goodbye~"
I bolted out before her laughter even faded.
"…."
Embarrassing. Mortifying. I'm gonna die of shame.
I kept running deliveries like that until evening closing time.
"Kid! Head home early today!"
"Huh? Don't I gotta finish closing?"
"I'll handle that. Take this and scram, punk!"
He tossed me food made from the leftover meat and veggies stir-fried together.
What the. Now he's even packing food? Super suspicious.
Maybe too much money's slipping away, so he's plotting to cut my pay.
"…, You won't dock my pay for not closing, right?"
"Argh! Damn money ghost possessed you or what! I'm not skimping, so go feed that mutt you love so much or whatever! Even when I show consideration, you bitch! Get out of my store!!"
"Well, I don't love it that much, but sure, heading out early."
What a great guy.
Thinking that, I nodded and turned to leave, then glanced back slyly.
"What now."
"Since you're giving me this, mind if I grab that old mat from the warehouse too?"
Since he's so generously packing dog food by hand, and winter's here, I figured I'd snag the unused mat too.
I grinned.
"…, Are you insane."
And got kicked out. Mat in one hand, of course.
Mouthy but good-hearted guy.
The twilight hour, sun not fully set yet.
With the sunset at my back, I headed down the alley carrying today's rations and the thick mat.
The air was pretty chilly; my breath puffed out in white clouds when I huffed.
In weather like this—and worse winters ahead—living outside was insane, but there was no place to put her right now.
No one would take in a gray-haired girl because of the stigma.
Not even our house or the grocery.
So maybe I needed to scrounge some wooden planks along with this mat and make a windbreak shelter.
"…."
That'd be too doghouse-like, huh.
Mulling that over, I walked on.
The streets were familiar now; my steps toward the alley as light as heading home.
At this hour, kids were all indoors, so no fights like last time.
Oh, but thinking about it, some still came by day to harass and throw rocks. Gotta suggest moving spots.
After relocating, it'd be a few months free of kid trouble at least.
Adults wouldn't touch her out of curse fears, so just dodge the kids' stares.
Yeah, not bad.
With that thought, I turned into her alley—and there, in front of the girl who should be lying alone, loomed a massive figure.
Robed, not fully hiding his bulk, greatsword half his size in one hand.
Approaching her step by step.
And so.
My heart pounded like mad at the sight.
Even robed, I could tell. Some presences robes can't hide.
You don't see builds like that every day.
That's the Hero.
The novel's protagonist, the eye of the storm, wielder of the sword at its center—here.
Tick- tick-
The scales of the witch's fated death tipping sharply.
So.
I should run from that scene, obviously.
"Hah, huff…! Hup, hngh…!"
But before I knew it, I'd flung down what I was carrying and jumped between them.
Hiding the girl behind me, glaring at the Hero.
Hands spread wide, shaking just from looking at him, forcing my scariest snarl.
"…."
His silent gaze down at me was too feral for a sage's.
The greatsword in his hand rising clearly into view.
Tears streaming unwittingly, steeling for death, I spread my arms wide.
"Do you know what you're protecting?"
I know.
I've known since I was younger.
So.
"…, Don't… come closer."
Why am I doing this? Honestly, even I can't explain.
Pity? Guilt? Calculation of gains?
Can't pin it down, but if I had to say—it's that.
The role I gave myself.
The choice I urged and finally made.
Taking responsibility for sticking my foot in the plot as the witch's watcher.
How much time passed like that?
"Ha."
The Hero let out a hollow chuckle and slung the greatsword onto his back.
Then looked me straight in the eye and spoke.
"You're a boy."
"…."
Fuck, you think I'd be a girl? Damn Hero brat.
Still trembling as I blocked him, he picked up the food and mat I'd dropped and handed them over.
"Protect it like that. What's precious."
"…."
Not precious. My life's the most precious.
More important than some dazed witch behind me.
Couldn't voice those thoughts; I stood blocking the gray-haired girl, arms spread, until his massive back faded away.
Not going to your damn expedition ceremony.
Fucking jerk.
It was winter now, one such day.
The Hero came back late from outside again today.
"Hm, muscle loss."
Saying that as he approached and stared blankly—it was routine now.
"Something you want to say?"
"I was cutting through an alley 'cause I was running late, and I spotted some gray hair."
"Pardon…? Right in the heart of the Empire?"
"Yeah. It creeped me out, so I went to kill it."
"No, even if it's gray, you can't just kill them carelessly…."
Life is precious. Even if it's gray, it's still one of God's creations.
I thought that and glared softly at the Hero, but he just shook his head.
"Couldn't kill it. As I approached with my greatsword, some guy blocked my path."
"Pardon…? Someone who could block you, Hero, in this Empire?"
Someone who could stop God's chosen Hero?
They should join our journey, at least.
"There was. Incredible guy, even thinking back. No one's ever faced me with that kind of intimidating aura."
"If he's that great, we should convince him to join our…."
"Nah. Not the type you could persuade anyway. If fate connects us, we'll meet again someday."
Thinking of the guy? He smiled faintly—uncharacteristic.
As I watched, he snapped back to his gruff face and tossed out,
"You keep exercising, don't slack. That huge fat blob you're dragging—gonna make you drop that bread in your hand? All muscle loss."
As he said that and headed into his lodging, I watched his back and thought,
What the hell is this guy?
Or something like that.