Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Strong Person (1)
Spring was a much busier season than winter.
The mountain scenery,
and the village folk.
Everything kept changing without respite,
moving about busily,
as time flowed by brimming with vitality.
Was that why?
The days were starting to grow hot.
Hot enough that Merthesia was looking for short-sleeved clothes.
Summer was already upon them.
At some point, the sound of cicadas had begun echoing through the forest.
Today's path to the village.
Thanks to the daily activities and walking practice,
Merthesia's steps looked far lighter and more sprightly than in spring.
Her movements had noticeably less staggering—sometimes Row even missed those toddling steps.
It was still too soon to call her gait steady, though.
Day by day, she was growing and changing.
Just being able to watch it all up close was enough.
It was fascinating,
and never boring.
Much like the shifting seasons, the village landscape had changed a little too.
Traces of the war lingered,
but compared to winter, the scars etched into the village had faded greatly.
Thanks to that, a bit of leisure had begun to seep into people's expressions.
He had read it in a child-rearing book.
Children absorb as much as they learn,
easily influenced by their surroundings or the emotions of those nearby.
Was that the reason?
Merthesia no longer hesitated to head to the village.
The wary glint in her eyes had faded,
replaced by the leisure to fully take in the sights before her.
She even said sometimes that she wanted to go down alone.
Not yet.
Merthesia's steps still wavered,
and the forest held too many dangers for a young child to navigate alone.
They needed better safeguards for her sake.
Fortunately, Merthesia accepted it without complaint.
As if sensing his inner thoughts, she showed even more enthusiasm for her walking practice.
A little hum drifted from beside him.
Scorching midsummer sun.
The sunlight was so intense that sweat beaded on Merthesia's forehead.
Even so, she hummed happily as she walked along.
"Feeling good?"
"!"
"Glad to hear it."
Merthesia looked up at him and beamed.
Her smile was so radiant that he couldn't help but smile softly in return.
They had reached the village entrance.
Merthesia's face brightened even more.
Familiar faces and welcome sights must have caught her eye.
The moment her gaze met someone's, Merthesia tugged at his arm.
"Oh my, if it isn't little Mer."
"!"
"Come down to the village all friendly-like again?"
"!"
It was the grandmother who lived near the entrance.
She always greeted them warmly whenever they met.
Whenever she saw Merthesia,
she tried to give her some little snack,
and always called out to the child so affectionately.
"Let me see... something to eat today..."
"......"
"Here, have this candy at least?"
"!"
"Say hello."
Merthesia smiled brightly and bowed at the waist.
A kind smile spread across the grandmother's face.
"The flowers we planted together last time have buds now."
"?!"
"Come by when you have time to see them."
"!"
As always, they bid the grandmother farewell and headed to the market.
The village was changing.
Freshly painted walls,
roofs re-tiled with new slates,
stalls far more numerous than before.
And the gazes turned their way were much softer now.
Some faces even lit up with delight.
"Mer, you came?"
"......!"
"Oh, perfect timing. I just baked some bread. Wanna see?"
"No thanks. Got a lot of stops today."
"Sheesh. Fresh-baked bread's something you drop everything for."
The baker grumbled, but slipped Merthesia her favorite cream bun anyway.
"What's this?"
"Not for you. For Mer."
"!"
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Merthesia shyly smiled and bowed as she took the bun.
Perhaps finding the sight adorable, a sly smile crept onto the baker's lips.
They moved on, leaving the baker behind.
Merthesia offered him a bite of the bun first, then nibbled away.
She walked on diligently, one cheek puffed like a squirrel's.
The child's destination was, as always, the mushroom skewer stall.
"You gonna have room for skewers after that?"
"!"
"Alright then."
Last spring.
He had often come down to help with repairs.
At first,
Hubert, Lauren,
it had been to lend a hand lightly to those he knew.
But—
That led to more contact with others,
and soon Merthesia was begging to go down and help too.
She seemed to love the changing reactions from people
and how her efforts made them happy.
All spring, she had wandered about,
finding little tasks her small hands could handle.
Naturally, that built familiarity with many folks.
'Good.'
He smiled faintly.
Their goodwill hadn't been in vain.
Yes.
They had gained much in many ways.
Just not material things.
He had refused all payment for helping the villagers.
Turning kindness into money felt like it would turn it into mere work.
He disliked the feeling of being bound,
or it becoming an obligation.
He didn't need money anyway.
What he consistently sought in return was one thing.
Treatment toward Merthesia with kindness.
Not grand gestures.
Just no more sharp, fearful stares.
He wanted her to smile freely,
blend naturally among people,
no longer needing to hide herself.
Like the many village children frolicking about.
He wanted Merthesia to be part of that scene.
"Hello, Mer!"
"......!"
The young couple running the flower shop called out.
Merthesia paused in slight surprise, then replied with a waist bow.
Even these small exchanges showed the child she had become.
The trembling huddles of fear,
the quaking whenever someone approached—
all that was receding into the past, bit by bit.
"!"
"Hm?"
Merthesia tugged his arm again.
A mouthwatering aroma.
Sean was grilling mushroom skewers, sweat pouring down his face.
His skin was flushed red from the blazing sun.
"Hey, Sean."
"......"
"Ah, hello. Hi, Mer."
"!"
"The usual mixed mushroom skewer today?"
He started grilling with practiced hands before she could even answer.
Merthesia's order was a set routine, no need to specify.
Dodging the drifting smoke, Row glanced aside.
Next to the stall,
ripe fruits glistened in the sunlight.
"What's this?"
"Ah, summer thing. Skewer sales dropped, so I'm selling cool fruit juice too."
"I see. Want some, Merthesia?"
"!"
Merthesia clasped her hands and nodded eagerly.
Her eyes sparkled toward the juice.
Sean chuckled and poured her a cup.
"Where to today? Mr. Hubert's bookstore last?"
"Yeah, that's last. Heading to Arthur's first."
"Ah, our dad's shop. He'll be thrilled."
Arthur, the general store owner.
The former mercenary greatly admired Merthesia's grit and stamina.
Their improved reputation owed much to him, the village social butterfly.
"That little one's something else."
"Toddlers along, still trying to help."
"The kid hauled bricks like that."
He'd tell tales like those to every customer.
And—
Despite his rough speech, full of affection,
and passionate about training,
he had become a fine mentor for Merthesia.
What exercises to do.
How to lift heavy things safely.
Proper form, sequences, and more.
Being human himself,
his advice was far more practical and specific than Row's.
That's why they were stopping by today too.
To ask again about using the exercise tools bought at the store.
The smoke cleared, and a skewer appeared before them.
"One mixed mushroom skewer."
"......!"
"Enjoy, Mer."
"!"
He handed the skewer to Merthesia.
As he paid, he offered a small jar of ointment he had.
"Here."
"What's this?"
"Ointment. Good for sunburns, Emma said."
"Ah, from the alchemy shop... Thanks. I'll use it well."
Sean took the ointment with an awkward smile.
"......!"
Merthesia, who had used it a few times before,
tapped her own forearm and mimed rubbing it in.
Showing how to apply it, probably.
"......"
"...Y-yeah, got it. I'll put it on later."
"!"
Merthesia nodded in satisfaction and gripped his hand tight.
Sean let out a short groan and leaned slightly.
His leg from standing too long must have been aching.
"You okay?"
"Ah, yes. Fine. Just throbs after standing a while."
Sean tapped his leg.
A contented smile somehow lingered on his face.
"Lately... Mer smiles a lot more."
"?!"
"Really?"
"Yes. First time I saw her, she was hiding in the ruins, barely visible... Eyes all dull, curled up in a corner, not a word."
Row recalled first seeing Merthesia.
Eyes like she'd given up on everything.
Just sitting there, barely breathing.
Sean smiled softly at Merthesia.
"I was out at the war front, so I only saw Mer after it ended."
"I see."
"Yeah. She was like a glass bead full of cracks back then... Now she approaches first, smiles... She's changed so much."
Merthesia looked up at him.
Their eyes met, and she smiled shyly.
A soft chuckle came from ahead.
"Of course, all thanks to Mr. Row."
"Is that so..."
"Mer knows it too. Still only has eyes for you."
Row turned back to Merthesia.
Beside him, clutching his hand, her eyes sparkled.
That brilliance, brighter than the summer sun, warmed his heart.