The air in the ruins was dry, a stark contrast to the dampness we'd endured for the past two days.
"Let's proceed with caution from here," Aileen said, her voice steady yet cautious.
"...Okay."
To stay alert for any surprises, we decided to dismount and walk instead.
Crunch, crunch
Small pebbles crunched underfoot, scattering in different directions.
"It's strangely quiet here..." Aileen murmured as she held the horse's reins in one hand and the map in the other.
Had she been here before?
"Um... Have you been here before?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes, I passed through here once," she replied.
"Why here...? Isn't it dangerous?"
"It was just convenient at the time, and I had some business to take care of."
It sounded like she might have been on a quest with her party. I nodded, accepting her vague explanation.
"What about you, Noah? Have you been here before?"
Of course, I had been here more times than I could count. I nodded... then quickly shook my head.
"N-No, I haven't!"
Whew... that was close.
Saying I'd been here before despite being unable to ride a horse or gather the right supplies for long-distance travel... just the thought of it was mortifying.
"Really? Aren't you scared?"
"Huh? Of what?"
"Well... going somewhere you've never been before. It's a bit scary, isn't it?"
"Hmm... It's more exciting than scary."
This feeling wasn't born out of fear; it was the thrill of the unknown. Sure, if I thought about encountering the red wolf or being surrounded by a gnoll pack, it was terrifying. But if I gritted my teeth and fought, I figured I could somehow manage.
Maybe that's why, instead of fear, I felt more excitement. This was the world I had loved. It was a pity I couldn't see it with my own eyes anymore...
"Hmm... That's unexpected."
"Unexpected? What do you mean?"
Aileen chuckled softly. "Never mind. No monsters nearby, right?"
"Well, there are a few... but they're at a distance, so it should be fine."
About 20 meters away, three gnolls were grouped together. But gnolls didn't have an exceptional sense of smell, and we weren't headed their way, so it was no big deal.
"Noah, can you sense people instead of monsters too?"
"Sense people?"
She nodded, her eyes curious.
"Hmm... I guess so? But if they're too far away, I can't tell who they are."
"Can you tell who they are if you know them?"
"Well... if it's someone I know, maybe...?"
Aileen tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"So basically, other than Hermilla, there's no one you know?"
...Ouch. That was a bit harsh.
"That's not true!" I retorted.
"Oh really? Who else?"
Well... in this world, besides Hermilla and, sort of, Aileen...
That's it. Just two people.
Great. A friend a month, I guess.
Well, that's better than my previous life, I suppose...
"Um... Hermilla and... Aileen," I mumbled.
"Pfft...! And?"
"That's it..."
Aileen's shoulders shook with laughter.
Seriously... that's just too cruel...
I want to make friends too! It's just...
My social stat is zero!
I mean, come on, standing up to a guy, smoking a cigarette—well, not that I smoke—doing cool stuff like that to make friends...
But no one ever picked a fight with me...
I guess it would be insane to mess with a 150 cm blind girl...
Oh, there was that guy...
The one who tried to steal my weapon on my first day...
But he disappeared the next day.
Maybe he went far away like me?
He hadn't shown up in two months. Probably moved to another town as an adventurer or something.
Anyway, Aileen, you went too far.
"Well, do you have friends, Aileen?" I asked, trying to sound defiant.
She didn't look like she had any. I mean, her personality was... not great.
She was probably like the old me with no friends.
"Huh? Are we talking about friends we actually know? So, you consider me a 'friend,' Noah?"
Aileen's answer was... completely different from what I expected.
"N-No! Only Hermilla...!"
I shouted louder than I ever had before. Was this... growth?
"Oh... so I'm not your friend?" Aileen looked sullen, her voice small and quiet.
You... you wanted to be my friend...? Really?
Then why didn't you say so!
You always seemed mad, so I thought you didn't like me!
"Well... um... we're f-friends... I guess..."
"Really?"
Nod.
"Then can I ask you for a favor since we're friends?"
"Yes...!"
"Call me 'sister' instead of 'Aileen.' Friends should do that, right?"
"Wh-What...?"
Sister? Sister?!
No way! My pride would never allow it!
Not 'noona' or 'hyung,' but 'sister'?!
That's ridiculous. Jeez.
"No way...!"
"Hah... I see... So you're a friend who doesn't grant friends' wishes... Sigh..."
She looked even more dejected, pouting with her whole body.
No, I'm not giving in. This is non-negotiable.
"And anyway... friends don't use such formal titles."
"But I'm older than you, so what else would you call me if not 'sister'?"
"Aileen, how old are you, exactly?"
"Twenty-five."
Oh... we're the same age?
You look so young...
"How old are you, Noah?"
"M-Me...?"
Well, I told the Adventurer's Guild I was twenty...
I'm actually 25, but I look younger...
"Twenty...!"
"Huh? You're twenty? With that face?!"
Aileen pinched my cheeks.
"Wow, you're a baby face... but you sure don't act like a twenty-year-old..."
Excuse me?!
I swatted her hand away.
"What's wrong with how I act?!"
"What? Oh... it's just... you're kind of cute."
Cute?!
Seriously...
"I'm not cute."
"Alright, alright. Not cute at all, Noah. But that means I'm the older one, right?"
Well... you are, but I'm a guy...
Calling you 'sister' would destroy my pride.
"Just... speak casually with me, Aileen. I'll keep calling you Aileen..."
Zzzzt—
"Wait."
I drew the greatsword strapped to my waist.
"Three gnolls, twelve o'clock, coming from the right. Distance... 20 meters."
"Twelve...?"
"And."
Gnolls usually moved in packs.
The ones coming now all wielded melee weapons.
Which meant there was a rear guard somewhere.
I extended my senses further.
"There's a rear guard... twenty-four of them."
"Twenty-four...? Noah, we need to retreat—"
I could hear the fear in Aileen's voice.
But my mission was to protect her.
I shielded Aileen behind me.
"Stay behind me. It'll be okay."
5.
I narrowed my focus, sharpening my concentration.
4.
First strike, take out the two in front.
3.
Then the three behind them.
2.
Leave the rest to instinct.
1.
Trust my instincts.
Rrrr— Grr-...
The first two came into view.
"Aileen, I'll need your support. Haaa!"
Conveying my message briefly, I charged forward.
The momentum of my leap, combined with the force of my draw.
My greatsword cleaved through them.
Splurch! Blood sprayed as two heads exploded.
I spun, the sword following the arc of my body.
Not stopping the swing, I put more strength into it.
Blood droplets scattered as the greatsword slashed through.
Three more gnolls fell, their bodies torn apart.
I expanded my senses.
The rear was roughly 15 meters away.
A hastily assembled group.
No leader.
We can handle this.
"Noah!"
"Please support me!"
The path the gnolls were charging through appeared in my mind.
Too narrow to swing the greatsword.
Thrust instead.
One down.
I held the greatsword upright and charged.
The gnoll's belly split open.
A mace swung at me from the right.
I twisted the hilt, blocking it.
A gnoll lunged at me from the left, its maw wide open.
I shoved it away with my shoulder.
I thrust my knee into the gut of the gnoll that swung its mace.
The greatsword pierced the face of the gnoll in front of me.
I swung my right hand.
I struck the incoming gnoll in the chest again.
Crack! Its ribcage shattered.
"Noah!"
I felt Aileen's energy.
Retracting my right hand, I gripped the greatsword.
I extended my left hand, grabbed the gnoll by the throat, and yanked it forward.
"Aileen!"
I ducked.
The sound of the wind splitting, and two gnolls' heads exploded before me.
The gnoll clutching its shattered ribcage had its heart impaled by my greatsword.
I took a breath.
Three gnolls remained in the front line.
I yanked the greatsword out of the corpse.
The terrain wasn't favorable.
We had to break through.
Aileen needed about 10 seconds to prepare. Time was short.
"Aileen, get ready again. Use the widest range spell you have. Aim it at the rear gnolls."
Grrra-!
The gnolls charged.
The path was too narrow to use the greatsword.
I hooked it onto my belt.
I checked the two potions in my inner pocket.
Then I rushed the gnolls barehanded.
My right hand gripped the hilt.
I stretched my left hand and grabbed a gnoll's jaw.
Twisting my shoulder, I slammed my left arm downward toward the ground. Crack! The gnoll's jaw was ripped off.
I switched the hilt to my left hand.
A gnoll lunged at me, mouth wide open. I uppercut its chin with my right hand. I spun and shoved the gnoll to the left.
Just a little further.
I stomped on the neck of the gnoll that was knocked down. I felt its neck snap.
I turned to face the gnoll I had pushed away, but it bit into my left arm.
Too slow.
My left hand was holding the sword.
I reached down and grabbed the hammer from my belt with my right hand.
I slammed the gnoll biting my left arm on the head.
It didn't let go. Again.
Again. Again. Again. Again.
Its eyes burst out.
Brain matter splattered.
The muscle in my left arm tore.
My left hand lost strength.
The gnoll's fangs still held fast.
Again. Again. Again. Again.
Again. Again. Again. Again.
Again. Again. Again. Again.
The gnoll's head collapsed.
Its fangs remained embedded in my flesh.
I tore them out with the attached meat.
I pulled out a potion from my inner pocket and poured it on my left arm.
A searing pain followed as the bleeding stopped.
I expanded my senses.
Once we turned the corner, we'd face the rear gnolls.
Aileen was ready.
"Aileen, follow me carefully."
Aileen nodded.
I moved my left arm.
The muscles hadn't fully healed yet.
But still.
I can do this.
I have to protect Aileen.
I have to.
I gripped the hilt with my right hand.
I sprinted out of the alley.
Under the warm August sun, in a narrow path of the eastern ruins.
A brilliant crimson flower blossomed.