Chapter 47
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Ordinary Daily Life is Strange (5)
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The unpaved road shattered the tedium of the journey. The relentlessly jolting carriage roused those who had been sleeping soundly, mirroring the slightly thrilled mood of someone aboard.
Hours after departure, the carriage showed no signs of stopping, heading not toward the front lines.
That hellscape of torn flesh and blood was still being left to the knights at the forefront. Meanwhile, we pressed on toward the Empire, the Kingdom, the Theocracy, the Holy Kingdom, the Duchy, and even the eastern lands.
This wasn't mere flight. It was simply part of our role as heroes.
And yet, my uneasy expression was plain for all to see.
Both matters were crucial, but the fact that I couldn't choose the site where sacrifices were mounting right now—and that I felt both dissatisfied and relieved by my own inability to do so...
Not the most satisfying inner thoughts, so I let out a sigh with my expression unchanged.
"Arsius, relax your face a bit~ It's unavoidable. Just because the hero shows up with a flourish doesn't mean everyone will believe in and follow us right away."
The hero—and his hero party, us—needed renown. Faith didn't just drop from the sky with a single speech from the emperor; that was limited to the capital at best.
To earn the trust of others, their aid, we had to roam the Empire's corners and beyond its borders, resolving problems along the way.
That was the most effective way to build allies. Besides, every region had its share of dire issues, even if they weren't tied to the demon realms.
Seren said this with a gentle smile. It wasn't really the destination making me feel off, but her view of me as purely good-hearted left me feeling embarrassed instead.
"It's not dissatisfaction or anything. Just a bit uneasy, so no need to worry~"
I relaxed my expression and smiled back at her. Brushing aside the self-loathing blooming in my chest, I changed the subject.
"Then let's chat about Frey and Freya! We just met, so all I know is their ages and names~"
""Us?""
The twins exchanged glances before tilting their heads at me in unison. Their perfectly synchronized movements, like mirror images or decalcomania, drew a laugh from me.
"Yeah, we'll be traveling together from now on, so wouldn't it be good to get to know each other? Feel free to ask about me or anyone else!"
""Anything you're curious about?""
They looked at each other as they posed the question.
""Nothing comes to mind right now.""
They spoke the same response in perfect harmony.
The two elves, now in agreement, turned to me.
""It might be better if we ask later. So, what are you curious about, big brother?""
"First off, that identical speech and movement is the most amazing... How do you talk and act so exactly the same?"
I wasn't the only one who thought so. Seren beside me, Sio who had woken grumpy from sleep, and Lissrum whose eyes had been gleaming eagerly—all tilted their heads.
""Ah. Well, um, what to say. It's an elven incantation. More precisely, one we created ourselves.""
"Incantation...? Like magic?"
""Yes, something similar. It's like the blessing of the World Tree that only elves can use, but we employ it to link ourselves. To sync better and cover each other's flaws.""
"Ooh... That's incredible. But what flaws do you have? Is it because there are two divine archers instead of one?"
""That's part of it, but our eyes and ears are damaged individually. We're war orphans, after all.""
"Eh...?"
I hadn't noticed at all, given how flawlessly they'd been acting and conversing up to now.
"I can't hear."
"...Frey, you're deaf...? But you're hearing everything I'm saying right now?"
I voiced the obvious doubt.
"Doesn't the loss of one sense mean the others develop to a superhuman degree? So just watch and feel the wind. From sight alone, from the inflow of air alone, you can discern what's being said. Especially reading lips—it's simple."
The doubt resurfaced.
How is that simple?
"I can't see."
"Freya, you're blind...? No, your eyes are meeting mine right now...?"
"Big brother, listen to their voices with your ears and sense the flow of air with your body. Their form will appear naturally."
This is nonsense...
I felt skeptical. Not just me—the others in the carriage pondered if they could possibly do the same.
So how do you do it...?
The sudden phone call shattered the pleasant mood of the drinking session and cut my meetup with my friend short. To be precise, I was left dumbfounded in disbelief, but Jaehyun must have thought something was wrong and hurriedly wrapped things up to see me off.
Leaving the abruptly ended drinks behind, I headed home once more. Then another call came in.
"Hello."
- Siwoo. Wanna get married...?
"Why does the conclusion always jump there? Where'd the whole process go?"
- Uh..., you need the process? So what first?
"Study first. Yuna, you still lack common sense. Did you really learn properly?"
- I did..., but they said if you like someone, confess right away. You'll accept for sure anyway.
"Your teachers got it wrong too."
The guild had announced my relationship with Yuna all weird from the start—what was I expecting from them? I just sighed.
- You don't like me...? I like you, though.
Her ever-blunt straightforwardness was truly troubling. It hit as hard as Seren's, leaving me agonizing over every word of my response.
"It's not about liking or not... Actually, that's the issue first. Strictly speaking, not romantically. As a friend, yes."
- Ah.... So what do I do...? Didn't learn this.
"Just keep being friends like always. No problem there, right?"
- Don't wanna.
The hesitation vanished, replaced by a firm refusal. How was I supposed to handle her declaration that she didn't want to end it at friends? Her simplicity made it all the harder.
"Uh, almost home—Sihyun came out to greet me. Gotta go in now, bye~ Oh, yeah. I dunno either, so ask your guild folks!"
- Wait..., Ansiu...! Hey!
So I dodged with an imaginary Sihyun and hung up. The high-rise was right in sight, so it wasn't even a lie.
I headed straight inside.
The night wasn't too deep yet. At my unexpectedly early return, Sihyun greeted me with eyes that mixed surprise and relief.
"Home early? You said you'd be drinking, so I was prepping to pick you up."
"Somehow the session ended quick~"
I grinned and plopped onto the sofa. Rolling my stiff shoulders from the rare outing, I melted into the plush comfort.
"No, oppa. Shower first when you get back from out! Get up!"
"Nooo.... I'm basically a jellyfish right now~ Uwaa, meeeeelting...."
"Up before I julienne you for cold noodles."
She spoke coldly at my deliberate slumping.
"Yessir."
Just half a year living together, and she knows me too damn well...
I dragged my limp body to the bathroom. Getting smacked while rolling there? My little secret.
A short while later, freshly showered, I burst back into the living room. Washed away the lethargy, energy surging again.
"This dying body! Revived like a motherfucker! Sihyun, game together?!"
"Sudden...? Hmm, I'm off til next week anyway... No, but oppa, you suck at games. Playing together might give me cancer."
"What're you saying~ I'm not that bad? Just lack experience. Ahem, so, care to conquer the game world with me, oh hero...!"
"Why's the hero conquering...? Gotta save it. Idiot."
Sihyun sighed and stood. Looking exasperated but turning on the PC anyway, she sat beside me to game together.
"Seriously, if you suck today, you're getting hit."
"Don't worry. Today's me's got killer skills to show."
"Suuuuck..."
It had been ages—we dove into gaming together.
"Argh, you fucking... Oppa!! Quit starving to death already!!!"
Whack—
We gamed together...