Chapter 8: Black-eyed, black-haired hero.
"Thank you very much, Kakeru-san. I can never fully repay you for your kindness."
An hour has passed since then... Now, the whole family is thanking me one after another. I'm happy and grateful, but everyone... shouldn't we go to sleep soon?
"Ronaldo, Kakeru-san must be tired too. It's time to rest..."
Nice, as expected of Mariana-san. I was already so sleepy.
"Uh...yes, that's right. I'm sorry, Kakeru-san. Thanks to the recovery potion, we're all full of energy, so please rest well."
"Well then, I'll take you up on your offer and go to sleep."
We were prepared for a night of camping, so even though it's a shelter, it's honestly nice to be able to sleep in a safe place from the first day. We're going to the city tomorrow, so let's use Mikoto-san's sleeping bag while we're at it!
As I took out the sleeping bag, I suddenly noticed something. My backpack is not large and is only used for commuting to school.
How did this sturdy sleeping bag fit in there? Also, now that I think about it, I only felt the weight of the backpack, and nothing else. Could it be... I tried putting all the supplies in the shelter into my backpack, and everything fit. And the weight of the backpack did not change. Plus, I don't feel the weight when I take it out.
If I think about it, it's not normal for God's craftsmanship to be ordinary... Thank you, Mikoto...san.
The sleeping bag is incredibly comfortable, and I fell asleep as soon as I got in. This is dangerous.
***
The next morning. When I woke up, Mariana-san and the others had prepared breakfast for me.
When we returned to the shelter, they brought food from the carriage.
Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything other than god water since coming to this world.
My stomach growled loudly, but we all laughed and ate breakfast. It was preserved food, so it was salty and plain, but hunger and togetherness were the best seasoning.
Fria had also fully recovered and seemed to have returned to being an innocent girl her age. When our eyes met, she smiled like a sunflower in bloom.
"By the way, Kakeru-san, why are you going to Primera?"
After everyone finished eating, Ronaldo-san asked me.
Primera is the name of the town we are heading to. Hmm, how should I explain it?
"Actually, I'm not from this country. I came from a faraway place. So, I don't know anything about this country, so I thought I'd head to the town for now."
It was a suspicious explanation, but I didn't lie. Saying that I came from another world wouldn't make sense either.
"I see! So, Kakeru-san, did you come from another world?"
Huh? Wait, did that make sense in this world? That was quick, it's helpful.
"That's right. So, if possible, I would appreciate it if you could teach me the common sense of this world."
"......"
Huh, that's strange? Everyone seems to have frozen? Did I say something weird?
(What should I do... Half-jokingly, I said that Kakeru-san might be a real person from another world. He has black eyes and black hair, so I never thought he actually was, but... )
"K-Kakeru-san--no, Kakeru-sama, I apologize for the numerous offenses I have made against the Hero-sama, even though I didn't know. Please forgive me."
"Huh? No, no, please don't call me 'sama' or anything like that, because I am not a hero. Are all people from other worlds heroes in this world?"
"Well, no, but all people from other worlds with black eyes and black hair have special powers and become famous heroes in history."
"I see... By the way, are black eyes and black hair rare in this world?"
"Yes, at least in this country, except for those who have the blood of people from other worlds, it is rare. Therefore, black eyes and black hair are the highest status symbols in this country, especially black eyes."
Oh... In Japan, black eyes and black hair are normal, but here they are status symbols. It's a subtle feeling, both happy and troublesome.
"Well, unlike the hero, I came to this world for a very personal purpose, so I would appreciate it if you could treat me normally."
"I understand, Kakeru-san. But you definitely were a hero for us, who saved our family. At least for us."
Everyone nodded strongly in agreement. Fria and Julio's eyes sparkled, and it was ticklish.
"By the way, Kakeru-san's words earlier were the same as those in fairy tales and legends. Is it common for people from other worlds to use that kind of explanation?"
Ronaldo and the others pointed out with interest.
Gosh, was my explanation a template for people from other worlds? It's embarrassing. Should I change the subject?
"By the way, why were Ronaldo-san and the others in a hurry to go to town?"
If they had been moving together as usual, this would not have happened, but they said they had to hurry because there was a reason.
"Well, actually, I received a notice that my father was critically ill... I caused everyone to be in danger because of me."
"If your family is critically ill, it's natural to rush there as soon as possible, Ronaldo-san."
If I were in the same position, I would definitely have taken the same action.
"Yes. Besides, we said we'd go with you even if it's difficult, so you don't have to feel responsible," Mariana said, gently leaning against her husband and hugging him.
"Besides... thanks to that, I was able to meet Kakeru-san," Fria said with sparkling eyes, and I couldn't help but pat her head.
"Hehe..." Fria giggled happily. Yes, she's cute. She inherited her mother's emerald-colored hair and eyes. Mariana is beautiful, so Fria will surely become beautiful in the future too.
"Well then, let's depart right away. I'm ready anytime."
"We're sorry for the inconvenience. Shall we depart?"
Since there was nothing in particular to prepare, we were ready to depart immediately. We had lost the carriage, but it was only a two-hour walk to the town from here."
＊＊＊
"Huh, Dad, what's this luggage?"
Fria looks at the cart placed in front of the shelter with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, this is loot. We collected it from those goblins," Ronaldo chuckled.
In fact, the reason we came back late last night was because we were collecting loot. The goblin cave was originally used as a hideout for thieves, so various items were stored there. No one knows what happened to the thieves, except for the goblins, but since we were there, we collected everything that seemed useful.
Furthermore, according to Ronaldo, the magic stones that monsters possess can be sold for money, so we only collected the magic stones from the boss and the upper-tier monsters. We burned the remaining corpses with fireballs.
As for extracting the magic stones, Mikoto's dissection knife was a big help. When you look at the target while holding the knife, information such as the location of the magic stone, the proof of subjugation, and useful materials enters your head. The sharpness is also incredible. Mikoto is truly a goddess! A death goddess, but still.
So, I tried to share the loot, but Ronaldo didn't accept it right away. So, we ended up with a condition where I received the money and magic stones, and Ronaldo received everything else that was bulky, but he had to carry them.
Since they lost their cart and horse, I think it's commendable that he's an honest person who will take what he can get.
However, according to Ronaldo, they didn't pack too many valuable items this time because they had to leave quickly. If they sell the loot, they can make a substantial profit.
Anyway, I'm really excited to see this otherworldly city for the first time. I wonder if it's really medieval-style with various races such as beast people and elves living there? I could ask Ronaldo, but I'll wait and see for myself.