『Graduation certificate』
『Tanu-sage』 handed me a scrap of paper.
『This is the proof that you have completed all of my teaching courses-tanu』
「Is this really needed?」
『Haah!? What are you saying-tanu!? How can you prove the graduation without a certificate-tanu!?』
Fine, fine
Let's be done with this
Although I will have to travel a long distance to cross the mountain so having more luggage will be troublesome, a single scrap of paper won't be that much of a burden anyway
「So this is the farewell with Sero, huh」
I already finished packing my luggage and completed my preparation for the journey
Then master and my fellow disciple come to see me off
『For a short while, you have looked after Sero well-tanu』
Sitting on Sero's shoulder, 『Tanu-sage』 says
『Unlike you, there are still many things I must teach him-tanu. Also, he's still not an adult yet, age wise. So he intends to not leave this place until he turns 15-tanu』
In this world, 15 is the age where one becomes an adult
I also have to serve the military service at that age
「Until that time, please take care of Sero. This world is already too cruel to him」
Therefore, at least we must be kind to this kid
Sero was 10 years old when he appeared at the hermitage
I leave this place two years after that. In other words, there will be 3 years left until Sero turns 15
At that time, he will also start the journey to overthrow the empire, marking the start of the story in 『Beast Fantasy 4』
At that time, what will I do?
As a member of the imperial army, will I have to fight against this kid someday?
「Sero...」
I look at him to say my farewell
「Are you really leaving? Nii-chan?」
「Uhm, I must return to my hometown and serve the military. My family is there waiting for me too」
It's not like the idea of not returning to the empire did appear in my mind
However, if I refuse to serve the military, my parents and sister I left behind at my hometown will be troubled greatly
In the empire, evading military service is a crime heavier than murder
Not just the one committing that, their family will have to suffer unimaginable disaster
Therefore, even if I have to leave my family in this place, I must return to that place for my family over there
「I think of Sero as my real brother. I am really glad to be able to meet you in this place」
That is my real thought, without any falsehood
However, thinking about the future, is it really fine for us to meet at this place?
After this, the only things waiting for Sero in the future are sorrowful ones
I can ensure that as I have personally experienced his life through the game. Every time an event happened, I hit the controller and screamed 『are the devs a bunch of heartless people!?』
There is already a lifelong trauma from the beginning
Afterward, if he reunites with me as an enemy, won't that become another episode of Sero's traumatic life?
On the other hand, I can do nothing
The only thing I could do is immediately telling him the truth. That will at least give his heart a bit of time
The time to accept something unacceptable
「However..., but...!?」
I can't say it!
To Sero who idolize me as his brother, I can't say something as heartless as 『I am your enemy』
But if I don't say it now, the shock will be doubled when we eventually reunite as real enemies
I must say it now!
But!
How much time has passed since I was at loss and remained silent?
But soon Sero moved his arm around and hugged me
It's a farewell hug
「Sero...!?」
「I really love nii-chan...! No matter which country are you from, I love Nii-chan!!」
Sero, don't tell me?
『Sero-tan already knows everything-tanu～』
「Did you tell him, tanuki!?」
『That's your fault for hesitate to say everything-tanu. Even so, Sero-tan was always thinking about your eccentric behavior when you first met him-tanu』
Eccentric behavior!?
Wait a sec, I don't remember doing something weird
...a, perhaps
「the dogeza?」
『correct-tanu』
When Sero first appeared, I dogeza'd and caused confusion
That was my apology for idiocy of being unable to do anything despite knowing the future thanks to memories from previous life....
「...I see」
Did these two misunderstand the meaning?
Did they think I apologized for the disaster caused by the empre because I was a person from the empire?
However, it doesn't matter
I hugged Sero again
「You should do what you want to do. Your revenge is right. Even if I become your enemy and stand in your way, I'm glad to be killed by you」
「No! I hate the idea of killing Nii-chan! The bad one is the emperor! I will...」
While hugging me, Sero said, frighteningly
「Defeat the emperor! Also the beast god Beast who is behind the emperor, and I will release nii-chan! The emperor and beast god are the evil that should be defeated!」
Did Sero arrive to such conclusion?
Perhaps it's the only conclusion that satisfy the various conflicts inside his heart
Beast god Beast, the evil mastermind of the 『Beast Fantasy』 series
And emperor Harod of the Behemoth empire who signed a contract with him
Those two are the true bad guys. Other people, even the top brass of the empire, are also victims of those two
「...I understand. In that case I will help with your fight」
「Nii-chan!」
「I will be your supporter until my death」
Just like that, I was able to avoid the worst outcome from my parting with my brother disciple
After I leave, Sero will live under 『Tanu-sage』 for a short while to learn the skill to live through his harsh, painful life.
For 3 years
When that time comes, Sero will also leave master
At that time, what my position will be when I reunite with him?
If possible, I wish we will reunite in the situation where no one will get hurt
◆
I have returned
To the empire
For the first time in 5 years, I have returned
Right now is year 97 of the empire.
The scenery of the empire I saw after a while was....
「It looks somewhat rough?」
It feels like that
The imperial capital when I left was filled with people moving back and forth, its liveliness was appropriate for the capital of the empire....
But right now the traffic was sporadic
The street stalls were also scarce without much liveliness, there was also a dirty man sitting on the roadside whose appearance looks like that of a vagrant
「This looks completely like a slum...?」
I tour around my changed hometown with half nostalgia and half curiosity, but then....
「Ouch?」
I hit something. I am be bad one as I walked while looking away, but after immediately realizing the one I hit was a human, I apologize right away
「I am sorry! It's my fault for not looking straight while walking. Did you get hurt!?」
「Aa?」
Then, I also realized the one I hit was a huge man like a wall
In that case, I don't need to worry about whether he's injured or not
There is another thing I need to worry though
「Hitting this Gashi-sama then ends it with a single apology, aren't you a selfish fellow? Do you want to pick a fight? Huh?」