The Long-Awaited Homecoming
Ten years had passed since I left without a word to my childhood friend or the people of my hometown. I had been seventeen then. Now I was twenty-seven. All I had gained was unwanted fame, a body etched with countless scars, and money. “It might be early, but perhaps I should retire.”
After finishing my final commission I had suffered a severe injury. Neither potions nor holy power could heal it. They say the young can endure hardship, but a wound like this would make the rest of my life miserable. “......” I set down the broken sword that had accompanied me all this time and returned to my hometown. And there I met Katia—my childhood friend who had become a knight and waited ten years for me.
The entire journey home felt strange. The first emotion was regret. If I had known I would return in this state, I should have at least left a message… I had intended to leave forever. Yet in the end the only place I could return to was my hometown. Is Katia… still angry?
When I told her I was leaving to become an adventurer, she had been the one who tried hardest to stop me. She pleaded with me not to choose such a dangerous path. Her worry had been so fierce that I slipped away without a word. By now she was probably married to another man and living happily, right?
“If she’s living happily, that’s all that matters.”
The clatter of hooves slowed and finally stopped. We seemed to have reached Hartman. “Get off.”
I stepped down from the carriage and looked at the men standing night watch at the village entrance. Even after all this time, in a small village like this I recognized them at once. “A visitor to the village at this hour?”
They did not recognize me immediately. My hair was much longer now, and my whole bearing had changed. “Uncle Doren. Uncle Taron. It’s been a long time.”
“Hm?”
The two middle-aged men tilted their heads. With no other choice I lifted my bangs out of my face. “You… Are you Ray…?” “Yes.”
Thud. Doren, who had cared for me in place of my parents when I was young, pulled me into a fierce embrace. The sword he carried clattered to the ground. “You… you bastard!! We thought you were dead!! Why only now?! You goddamn son of a bitch!”
“I’m sorry, Uncle.”
His curses carried a storm of emotions that could not be put into words. My eyes, which I had expected to remain dry, grew hot with tears. From the wall behind them Taron, who had been watching in silence, called out.
“Hey. Looks like we won’t be standing guard tonight.” “What kind of question is that? Let’s head to the tavern right now. You’re paying, of course! Ray!” “Yes.”
Taron approached and ruffled my hair. He was the village sword instructor and the mentor who had taught both me and Katia. “…Welcome home, Ray.”
I could feel the deep worry beneath his calm tone. It made me regret my youthful impulsiveness and arrogance even more. “I’m sorry for leaving without a word.”
Pat, pat. Taron clapped my shoulder as if to say he understood everything.
News of my return spread through the tiny village in an instant. The tavern that usually only hosted flies was soon packed with people and drinks whether night or day. “Eat until your stomachs burst!! Order more side dishes!! This bastard is paying for everything!!”
Doren still had not calmed down. He gulped his liquor and seized my hand. “You should have at least told me before you left! Do you know how worried we were?!”
I had lost count of how many times he had repeated the same words. Yet all I could feel toward the heavily drunk man was guilt. “I’m sorry, Uncle.”
“I thought of you as my own son!!” “I think of you as my father too, Uncle.” “Then why didn’t a son like that send even one letter?!” “I was busy…”
Doren did not believe me. He collapsed onto the table and began to sob. “Hic… you fucking bastard!” “That’s enough. Go home. You’re too drunk.”
When Taron patted his back, Doren shot upright as if nothing had happened. “Let’s drink until we die today!! Hahahahaha!!”
Crying one moment, laughing the next. All I could do was offer him a remorseful smile.
Time passed and evening arrived. Taron dragged the dozing Doren outside for a while. During the day I had met childhood friends who were now married with two or three children, along with the uncles, aunties, and elders who had quietly looked after us. Aside from those who had passed away or moved to other cities while I was gone, I had greeted nearly everyone.
Everyone except Katia.
Jingle. The tavern door opened and Taron sat down across from me again. The once-noisy room had emptied with the coming of evening until only the two of us remained. Taron poured liquor into my cup and asked, “Were the adventures enjoyable?”
I had refrained from drinking while greeting everyone, but now I could. The strong liquor burned my throat. “You’re injured.” “……” “Your right arm is not whole.”
I had tried to hide it, but Taron’s eyes missed nothing. “The sword?” “I threw it away.” “You cannot even hold one.” “That’s why I came back. Where else would a wounded mutt go? I never imagined I would end up like this…”
“……” I poured liquor into his cup. He drank it down the same way. “I know your talent better than anyone. I don’t know what name you went by, but your opponents must have been formidable.” “……” “You’ve suffered greatly, Ray.”
He asked nothing more. The two of us simply kept refilling each other’s cups and drinking. Then a question rose in my mind. “Where is Katia? Ten years have passed—she must be married by now—but I wonder if she still hates me…”
“What? You don’t know? Well, the continent is wide.” Taron stared at the empty bottle. “Katia has become a knight of the kingdom.” “Katia?” “Yes. She is the First Sword protecting this kingdom.”
I was stunned. Unlike me, when we trained under Taron she had shown no talent for the sword. I ordered more liquor and said, “I thought she would have married and lived happily. To think she became a knight like that… Life really is unpredictable.”
I, who had been acknowledged by Taron, could no longer wield a blade, while Katia, who had not been acknowledged, had become the kingdom’s greatest knight. It was a strange twist of fate. The fresh drinks arrived, yet Taron looked at me with disbelief. “…Do you truly still not know?” “Know what?”
“Katia. That girl… she…” Taron began, then trailed off. He shook his head. “…Never mind.” “Pardon?” “I sent her a letter. Once it reaches her she will probably return to the village.”
Taron gazed at me with worry. “Can you handle it?” “Of course I must apologize. Whether she accepts it or not, I don’t know…” “That’s not what I meant…”
Taron closed his mouth again. He looked as though he could see a future I could not.
From: Taron of Hartman
Katia,
Ray has returned.
— Taron
Knock, knock. “Come in.” A clear voice answered from inside. Yet when the door opened it revealed a woman with an icy expression wearing flawless plate armor. The Ice Knight who froze everything she touched. Everyone who knew her called her that. Her appearance, personality, aura, and swordsmanship were all cold and razor-sharp. She truly deserved to be called the First Sword of the Bartion Kingdom.
Given her status and power, the maid holding the letter behind her swallowed hard. Standing rigidly, the maid spoke to Katia, who was seated and reviewing documents. “L-Lady Katia, a letter has arrived.”
At that moment Katia’s hand stopped. She shook her head as if to dismiss a thought and resumed moving. “From where?” “Um, let me see… Ah. It is from Hartman village……”
Bang. Katia, who had never once shown open emotion, shot up from her chair. The papers in her hand fluttered down, scattering across the floor. What shocked the maid even more were Katia’s eyes—wide with astonishment and filled with an unreadable anticipation.
The maid’s mind spun with confusion. “Ah, I-I’ll pick up the documents right away!” “Leave.” “Pardon?” “…Hand it over and leave.” “Ah, yes!!!”
The maid, snapping back to herself, hurriedly passed the letter to Katia. Still flustered, she offered an unnecessary salute. “L-Loyalty!”
Click. The door shut and silence fell. With an expression of disbelief and trembling hands, Katia broke the seal and unfolded the letter. A moment later the paper slipped from her fingers and drifted to the floor.
Drop. Drop. Drop. Hot tears fell onto the fallen letter.
After parting with Taron I went to the old shack I once lived in, tucked away in a corner of the village. Creak. The door opened to a room thick with dust and spiderwebs; no one had maintained it. Still drunk, I cleaned only enough to lie down and collapsed onto the floor.
“Whew.”
The warm welcome and worried concern. I had received more comfort than I deserved from the villagers—especially Doren and Taron—and it consoled me. I covered my eyes with one hand to block the sunset glow slipping through the window. Have I grown that tired from the adventurer life…?
Countless faces and bonds rose and faded in my mind. Moments spent on the edge of life and death flashed past. There had been joyful times, yet what ultimately filled my heart was only negative emotion.