Roholan Village (End)
“U-ugh… p-please walk a little slower… My legs have no strength left…”
This is all Rubia’s fault…
“Pfft… You look just like a newborn calf. Why are your legs shaking like that?”
“R-Rubia, you’re one to talk…! Who do you think made me like this…!”
“All I did was poke you with my fingers, you know?”
“I told you I was ticklish so many times…! A-and you just kept going and going… You’re so mean, really…!”
After we had amicably shared the jelly, we spent the time chatting about this and that.
Somewhere along the way, the conversation turned to tickling.
In my past life I hadn’t been ticklish at all, so I was certain I’d win as I jabbed at Rubia.
But she endured it.
And then… she counterattacked…
I… nearly died.
I’d been holding it in to go to the bathroom, too.
I almost had a real emergency…
In my past life I clearly hadn’t been ticklish, so I thought it would be the same…
But I was… ridiculously, ridiculously ticklish… I’m so mad…
“Noah started it first. If you swing a sword, you have to be ready to get cut. That’s just how it works.”
Rubia spoke in a smug voice.
So annoying…
So annoying!
“What kind of sword analogy is that… F-fine. A little teasing is okay, but… you’ve been tickling me nonstop from midday until now!”
“Your reactions were so funny that time just flew by. I didn’t expect it to go that far either.”
“I-I really almost died, you know…! Didn’t you hear me going kuh-kuh like I was choking…? I sweated so much from it I had to shower all over again!”
“Hmm… That choking sound… did startle me a bit. But I stopped after that, didn’t I? I even washed you as an apology.”
Rubia’s shameless voice sent my blood pressure climbing higher and higher.
My neck is starting to ache…
I’m really, really angry…
“You say you stopped after that… but it was already after sunset…! A-and I said I’d shower alone… Ugh!”
“But didn’t it feel refreshing? You were dozing off while I washed your hair. Even drooling a little.”
“I-I didn’t drool! What drool… That was just water dripping from my hair…”
I… maybe drooled a tiny bit.
I’d felt it last time too, but Rubia’s shower skills are seriously amazing…
“Is that so? I’ll take your word for it.”
“Whatever… Just bullying me because I don’t have my greatsword… Really… You really shouldn’t do that. M-my hand too… let g—”
I tried to let go of Rubia’s hand…
But we’re right in the middle of the street.
If I let go, something bad will happen…
There’s no way I can find the blacksmith’s shop alone…
Swallowing my anger inside, I quietly took hold of the hand I’d just loosened again.
“Want to let go of my hand? Should I let you?”
“N-no…”
“Alright. We have to be careful—there might be a mage we don’t know about.”
Rubia spoke in a pleased voice as she swung our joined hands back and forth.
Being shorter than her… my whole body swayed with that swinging.
My already trembling legs shook even harder.
“R-Rubia… I-I really feel like my legs are giving out…!”
“Then I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”
Her arm swung even more vigorously.
“U-ugh…! It’ll hurt if I fall!”
“You’re a grown adult and you can’t even handle that?”
“W-well… e-earlier you told me to be careful because it would hurt if I fell out of bed…”
“Pfft-hehe… Just kidding. Oh no, this is bad… Teasing Noah is way too much fun. What am I going to do?”
Rubia laughed quietly and slowed her pace.
Her first impression had been of someone incredibly fierce.
But the more time passed, the more her playful side came out.
Maybe that meant we’d gotten closer.
“Rubia… you’re s-so different from when we first met.”
“Same goes for you, Noah. You’re completely different when you’re hunting magic beasts compared to everyday life.”
Am I… that different?
Maybe I am…
Hmm…
“Th-then… which one do you like better?”
“Between cool Noah and dummy Noah?”
“Y-yes. A-and I’m not a dummy…”
I squeezed Rubia’s hand tightly.
I’d meant it to hurt a little, but contrary to my intention she squeezed right back just as hard.
Then, quietly,
with a small smile, she opened her mouth.
“I like both. Dummy Noah or cool Noah… in the end, both of them are Noah.”
Whoa…
I never expected an answer like that…
I’d clearly given her two options.
I never thought there’d be a third answer…
Whether I was flustered by the unexpected reply,
or just flustered by those words themselves, I was left speechless.
“Uh, um… ah. Umm… I-is that so…?”
“Hehehe… Yes. Then, Noah. Between the rude Rubia of the past and the playful Rubia of now—which do you like better?”
“R-rude isn’t… umm… I like both too…”
“No. You can’t just copy my answer. There’s no need to lie either. I won’t get mad over something like this.”
“R-really…?”
“Of course.”
“Honestly…?”
“Yes. Speak freely.”
Honestly… the Rubia I hadn’t gotten close to yet…
h-had been pretty rude…
Always snippy… always angry…
“I… like the Rubia now better.”
“Hmm— Why?”
She said it was okay to be honest…
So it should be fine, right?
“The Rubia I first met was… t-too… ru—”
“Ru?”
Rubia’s voice dropped low.
If I say she was rude… s-something bad will happen…!
But she said it was okay to say…!
She told me to tell the truth!
“Ru… rough.”
Yeah.
I held back because I was worried Rubia might get hurt! I’m so kind!
“You were going to say rough, right?”
“O-of course.”
“Hmm… Well. Alright. I know I was rude too, so I understand. I apologized last time, but… I’ll apologize again. I’m sorry, Noah…”
The height of the hand she was holding dropped lower.
“It’s fine… I don’t mind. B-but um… Rubia.”
Thinking back to when we first met… the words that the coffee I’d made for her tasted terrible came to mind.
Sh… she didn’t mean it, right?
It was drinkable, right?
“Yes?”
“When I first made you coffee… did it really taste that ba…d?”
“Should I be honest about this too?”
Nod nod—
I clamped my mouth shut tight.
So that no matter what answer came out, my expression wouldn’t change.
With the most solemn face I could manage.
Alright. Bring it on!
“It tasted like dirt scooped up and mixed into water.”
“Haaah…!”
My tightly shut mouth fell wide open.
My solemn expression shattered in an instant.
“Th-that bad…?”
“Yes… S-sorry… But it really was terrible…”
“Uh… th-then the coffee I made in the forest… the one we drank after waking up in the morning?”
I’d practiced so much for that one.
Failed a lot too…!
“That one… um… was definitely better than the first.”
“The t… taste?”
“Like dirt mixed with coffee…?”
“Huuuh…”
“It’s okay. I’ll teach you step by step. You can do it, Noah.”
Rubia patted my shoulder.
I’ll show you the power of zero hand-dexterity stats…
No matter how Rubia teaches me.
No matter how well she teaches me.
Nothing will ever change!
My coffee will always be muddy water!
Bring it on, Rubia! Bring it on, world!
“Noah, why are you clenching your fists so tight? Did you just resolve to practice hard or something?”
“Uweh… N-no… My palm was just itchy…”
“Want me to scratch it?”
“N-no. Scratching makes it itchier…”
It was really strange.
When Rubia gently scratched my palm, it felt ticklish the same way as scratching the sole of a foot.
When your palm itches, just pressing hard with your nails is the best.
“Whenever it itches, just say so. I’ll scratch it for you.”
Rubia spoke in a sly voice as she brushed her fingernail along the shell of my ear.
“Hyaaah!”
“Pfft… Shall we get going again? If we’re any later the shop will close.”
“Y-yes…”
Rubbing my ears that had grown hot for no reason, I carefully set my feet toward the blacksmith’s shop.
“We’re here now. Is the place where you fell earlier okay?”
“Y-yes… The pain is secondary… I’m more embarrassed…”
Somehow we managed to arrive safely in front of the blacksmith’s shop.
On the way I’d bumped into someone and fallen… but Rubia had cast healing on me so no wounds remained.
“It’s fine. No one saw.”
“R-Rubia saw.”
“I’m fine. We’re the kind of people who bathe together, after all. What’s the big deal.”
“Hiiik—! D-don’t say things like that outside! If you say that out here…”
“Shall we go in?”
Ding-a-ling—
Rubia cut me off and opened the blacksmith’s door.
She’s getting more shameless by the day…!
“Ah! Welcome! Perfect timing—it’s all done!!”
Hepais, recognizing us, greeted us in a loud voice.
“Hello…”
“Good timing. Did it go well?”
“Of course! The previous smith had done such a clean job that repairing it was easy!”
“O-ohh…”
“Then just have a seat and I’ll bring it right over!”
Guided by Rubia’s hand, I leaned back into the chair behind me.
“I’m glad the repairs went well. That said, it’s still strange. The person we saw before… um… didn’t give off that kind of impression…”
Rubia seemed lost in thought, recalling the owner from Alrba.
I told you!
He’s gruff, but he’s a really good person!
“Rubia. You can’t judge people just by their appearance…!”
I said, giving the back of her hand a light smack!
“Ah, you’re right. That was rude of me.”
“H-hurry and apologize…”
“U-um… Smith of Alrba. I’m sorry.”
“I’m here! What should I hand over first?”
The moment Rubia’s apology finished, Hepais came running over with a clattering sound.
“Th-the greatsword…! The greatsword first, please!”
Clatter— clatter—
“Here you go! Please check it once! There might be some defect!”
I nodded vigorously and took the greatsword.
With a sharp, joyful tingle, information about my surroundings painted itself into existence.
“H-hehe… heheah— I missed you so much…”
A silly laugh slipped out of my mouth without me meaning to.
So what!
I hugged the greatsword to my chest and rubbed my face against the blade.
The smooth texture, the cool warmth, the solid weight… I missed you!
“Um… e-excuse me… the condition check…”
Ah, right…
For now I… am known as the Red Beast that Tears Magic Beasts.
I-I have to maintain my dignity!
“A-ahem… I-I’m checking it. I… I always do it this way.”
“Pfft—”
“I-I see… Understood…!”
Rubia snickered, and Hepais… looked flustered.
Awkwardly I pulled my face away and ran a finger along the greatsword’s edge.
Hmm, this much… is a bit less than the Alrba owner’s work, but it’s enough.
And the hilt…
I stood up and walked out into the open space.
“Is it okay if I… swing it once?”
“Of course!”
Hepais nodded readily.
“Thank you…!”
First I need to check the balance…
I gripped the greatsword in my right hand and swung it horizontally.
As coolly as possible.
After all… I-I’m the Red Beast that Tears Magic Beasts…!
Whoosh—
Hmm, about the same as before!
Next, vertical.
Swish—
This one passes too!
Now both hands, diagonal!
Whoom—
Mmmmm—! Clean!
I gripped the hilt tightly, twisted it, shook it.
Everything was solid and well done!
I hadn’t expected much, but it’s better than I hoped!
I gave Hepais a slight, very slight bow of my head.
I wanted to bow deeply… but I had to maintain dignity…
Hmm… e-even so, I should give a proper thank-you.
“It seems fine. Thank you very much.”
I bowed my head deeply.
“High praise…! Th-thank you!!”
Hepais bowed her head deeply after me.
But… it looked like she bowed a little lower than me, so I bowed lower too.
Hepais’s head went even lower.
My head followed suit…
“Um… maybe both of you should raise your heads soon…?”
“You said your name was Noah, right? Please raise your head first, Noah!!”
“N-no… Hepais first… please raise yours.”
“I can’t!!”
“Ugh…”
With no choice and an uncomfortable feeling, I lifted my head.
Hepais, who had been peeking at me, lifted hers after me.
“So, how much do we owe you?”
Rubia said, opening her pouch.
I stepped in front of her.
“No. I’ll pay. It’s my equipment.”
My stuff is my responsibility!
After saying it quite confidently and coolly, I opened the coin purse at my waist…
“H-huh…?”
W-where did the money go…?
Even when I dug my hand deep inside, even when I took the purse off and shook it upside down.
Even in my inner pockets, even inside my shoes.
There was no money anywhere.
I’d been so focused on just walking that I hadn’t noticed how light the purse had gotten…
“Noah… did you lose the money?”
“Uh… uhh…”
Rubia’s hand patted my shoulder.
“It’s okay. People lose things. If we look carefully on the way back, it’ll be there.”
“R-right…?”
“Of course. How much was it?”
Feeling cold sweat run down my spine, I forced my mouth open with difficulty.
“W-when we got here, the silver coins Rubia gave me… I exchanged them all for gold, remember…?”
“Oh, don’t tell me…”
“Total… 27 gold… I lost it… hic, and the money that was… already there too… m-my… hic en-entire… fortune…”
The tip of my nose stung.
Tears leaked from my closed eyes.
My hands began to tremble.
I felt like I might collapse from dizziness any second.
But I clamped my mouth shut tight and squeezed my eyes closed, enduring it.
I’m an adult, after all.
Somehow.
Somehow I’ll find it.
Even if expanding my Qi Sensing to the maximum makes my head explode.
Somehow I’ll find it!
Just as I clenched my fists and made that vow, Rubia carefully spoke.
“Noah, listen without panicking. I think… the person who bumped into you earlier might have stolen it.”
“W-what…?”
“Their movements were strange. I thought they were just drunk… but it seems they were a thief. And a pretty skilled one at that…”
“Ru-Rubi… hic— a th-thief… took the mon…ey and… ran… kuh… ran away… hic— right…? W-what do, what do we do…?”
Rubia’s hand brushed the corners of my eyes.
“It might not be that, but either way.”
Then she took my hand and led me.
“We have to find it. No matter what.”
The back of her as she walked ahead, leading me,
looked a lot like the one I’d seen before in Alrba,
when she was selling my things for me.
But.
The Rubia now was far, far cooler
than the Rubia back then.
“Hic… t-twice as… hic— cool…”