The next day...
Zero stood in front of the usual gates and looks at the far horizon.
Of course, as always, all he can see outside the gate is a plain grassland - where only a few trees and rocks exist.
[ You're really leaving, huh? ]
He heard someone spoke from behind him and immediately turns around.
There - he saw Anna and her father, Gerald.
[ Gerald-san? Anna? What are you doing here? ] he obviously asked.
It is still early in the morning and he can now only observe the rising of the sun, at this time, only a few people have woken up. He didn't expect to see Gerald and Anna since he knows that they should be preparing their shop just around this exact time.
[ Well, Anna wanted to say goodbye so much I was left with no other choice but to come with her. Ah, right... Come on, Anna. ] he answered, urging Anna who is standing with an embarrassed look just beside him. And as her father had asked and urges her, she came over to Zero and handed him a small box wrap in a thin piece of cloth.
[ I... I made it, Zero-nii... ] she said those words with a clear red face.
[ Anna has been trying to cook something good since yesterday, you know? You better eat it. ]
[ U-Un... I tried my best... ]
Zero looks at her shy and bashful manner and knelt over towards her, receive her gift, and proceeded to stroke her head.
[ Thank you very much. I'll make sure to eat it while I travel. ] he smiled and said. And as Anna hears him, she started to slowly tear up.
Anna is the first person Zero had met in this world and she was also the person he spent most of his time in this town. They would go on a trip together inside the town just having fun, and always, they will eat together, of course, with his own money.
So even if the days he spent in this town was short, he was able to make a close relationship with someone. Particularly Anna.
[ Really... If you were not a kid, I probably would have married you already. ] he jokingly mutters to Anna who is currently trying her best not to tear up.
[ Oi, Zero... Don't tell me that was a proposal... You know I wouldn't let you marry my daughter, right? ] he felt the gaze of a father trying to protect her daughter from harm.
[ I figured... ] he could only reply... And it became silent for a moment unit -
[ If... *Sniff* if it's okay with you, Zero-nii... I wouldn't mind marrying... *Sniff* ]
[ [ Eh...? ] ] Zero and Gerald both gasp in surprise.
[ He-Hey now, Anna... You're still a child so you shouldn't talk like that, okay? ]
[ Ri-Right, you shouldn't trust your future just as easily as that with someone. ]
[ But... But, Zero-nii is the only one I like... ] wiping her tears, she answers.
[ Eh... ] Gerald could only look back and forth between Zero and his daughter.
[ I shouldn't have said something like that... ] Zero whispers to himself, and soon, he stood up.
[ Zero-nii? ]
[ Thank you, Anna. Gerald, thanks for coming here together with her, too. ]
[ A... Ah, yes... ] he was still yet to recover to what just happened but he nodded nevertheless.
[ Anna, I'll think about it when we meet again, okay? ]
[ U-Un... ] as soon as she nods, Zero smiled and continues to fix and prepare his bag.
[ It will take me two days to arrive in the nearest city, it would be better if I go now. ] he turns to Gerald and said so. And as if he was finally able to recover from Zero trying to pick up her beloved daughter, he replies -
[ Of course... Just follow the main road. You would be lucky to find a peddler to help you. ]
[ A peddler, huh? ]
[ You have the map I gave you, right? Just follow it and you won't get lost. ]
[ Are you really sure you'll give me this map for free? Aren't you charging me for everything? I heard that written maps are expensive. ]
[ Well, even if it was a short time, you're one of my best customers, I wouldn't mind giving you a map as a bonus. ]
[ Then, thank you. ]
[ You've already thanked me enough... Anyway, you should go now before Anna seriously starts to cry. I'm sure she would feel embarrassed to let you see that. ]
Zero looks at Anna and just as Gerald had said, she might really start crying hard any moment now.
( I guess fathers know their daughters best, huh...? )
[ Right... Anna, I'll make sure to meet you again, okay? If you turn out to be a very attractive woman in the future, I'll make sure to marry you. ]
[ U-Un... I'll make sure I'll grow up well, too...! ]
[ I'll seriously beat you up, Zero... ]
[ I'm just joking... I'm just joking... Haah... Anyway, I'll go now. ]
Zero had already said his goodbyes and all he needs to do now is to leave.
And so, he turns around, nodded to the guard that was just watching since earlier, and stepped a foot out of the gate.
And soon, he was already far from the gates of the town.
He looks back and saw the three waving a hand at them.
[ Bye, Zero-nii! I'll make sure I'll become a wonderful woman in the future! ] she can hear Anna desperately crying while waving at him.
( She's really serious about it, huh...? ) she was just trying to tease her but it suddenly became serious - something he didn't expect at all.
[ Zero! You better not come back again, okay!!! ] and of course, there was also Gerald's desperate plead to him.
And so...
He left the starting town, Azir.
In any RPG games that Zero had played in the past - which works completely the same as this world - sooner or later, the player will need to leave the starting town to grow stronger and have his own adventurer.
And his adventurer -
It is just about to start...
***
---{ Volume.2 - Intermission }---
Riding the small wagon, Zero looked at the egg he took from his last task in Azir.
The egg is as about twice as big as an ostrich egg and its color is a pattern of yellow, white, and blue.
( A dragon's egg, huh? )
He and Richard were the ones responsible for finding it. And obviously, the egg ended up as his possession, and Richard himself was the one who insisted on him to keep it.
[ Ah, right... Diana-san said that... It would hatch much earlier if I pour mana in it... ]
Immediately, as he remembered, he poured mana in it.
And soon, it had already consumed 1/3 of his mana yet nothing had happened. Not a single change at all.
( It's not working... Hmm... maybe I should try something different... )
Zero activated one of his Draconic abilities, DraconicAura.
And after a few seconds...
[ Wa-Wait! ]
The egg glowed in bright blue light and it starts to crackle and shakes uncontrollably.
And -
*Bam!!!
...
...
...
( Pet Obtained! )
( Dragon Race: Star Light Dragon )
The egg exploded and revealed a newly born dragon.
( Please name new pet >>> ... )