"So... why is a priestess like you here?"
The once overly energetic Hephaestus suddenly became much more reserved.
Rubia's reputation must be pretty significant.
Though, Heinzel and Luchi already knew about her, and they didn't act any differently...
Is this the difference that comes with age...?
"As I mentioned earlier, I'm here to get some equipment repaired."
"Why did you come to me, though?"
"I heard you were the most skilled in town."
Hephaestus, who had been hesitating, suddenly bowed her head deeply.
"I... I spread that rumor. I'm sorry. I'm such a bad person."
"Huh...?"
"W-What did you just say...?"
"If you want real quality, I'd recommend going two blocks down to the Chrome Smithy..."
Rubia sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead. I followed her example with a sigh of my own.
"So... you spread the rumor yourself, but your skill isn't that great?"
"...Yes. The quality is just so-so... My only strength is speed. I'm sorry."
"This is... very awkward."
Rubia turned to face me.
Was she asking for my opinion on what to do next?
Hmm...
"Well, just do it. I'll leave it with you."
Hephaestus' head shot up in surprise.
"Really?!"
"Yeah. Really."
I mean, if everyone only wanted experienced workers, how would new people ever make a living?
And honestly... as long as the quality is decent, the faster the better.
"Then I'll finish it as quickly as possible!!"
Hephaestus leaned in, brimming with energy.
"Ah, there's no need to rush."
Rubia gently pushed Hephaestus back, refusing her offer.
Why...?! I want it done fast!
"Huh? Isn't this urgent?"
"When you rush, mistakes are made, and those mistakes pile up. Please take your time and be thorough. This equipment is for someone... very important to me."
Hephaestus covered her mouth with both hands, looking moved.
"Wow... W-Wow... Yes, of course! I understand!!"
And me? I just froze in place.
S-Someone important...
To Rubia, I'm... someone important!
I stared at Rubia with a mixture of awe and gratitude.
I couldn't see what expression she had, but I felt a warmth spread through my chest.
"Heh... important... heheh..."
"Noah? Shall we leave after dropping off the equipment?"
"Yes!"
I nodded enthusiastically and handed over each piece of my gear from the bag.
I double-checked to make sure nothing was missing.
"This gear... is really a mess. Honestly, from the looks of it, it should've broken a long time ago... How did it hold up this long?"
Hephaestus muttered to herself as she examined each part of my armor.
"The belt is done like this... Ah, and the cutting here... it's smooth for mobility. Wow. The previous smith must've been really skilled. But... why didn't they reinforce the blind spots?"
"Blind spots?"
"Well, normally, spots that are hard to see or avoid are reinforced. But here, even though it's so well-crafted, there's no reinforcement in those areas... Almost like the user has no blind spots... Ah...?"
Hephaestus' head slowly lifted, tilting to the side.
"This might be a strange question, but..."
Just one weird question?
"I-Is the user blind by any chance?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. I am."
Hephaestus began muttering to herself again.
"Black hair... short... uses a greatsword... and blind... Could it be... the Red Beast that tears through the demons...?"
"Huh? Red Beast...? What's that supposed to mean?!"
Hephaestus shot a glance at Rubia.
Rubia subtly shook her head in response.
What are they doing...?
I can feel everything, you know? I'm still holding my greatsword!
"R-Rubia. You know something, don't you?"
"Ah, well..."
It was rare to see Rubia flustered.
What's going on...?!
"I'll explain when we're back at the inn."
"You'd better explain everything."
"I will. It's a story you were going to hear eventually anyway. I'm looking forward to seeing your reaction, though. Hehe..."
Rubia's laughter carried a mischievous tone.
What is this...?
"Anyway, please take care of the gear. It's really important to me."
Feeling somewhat unsettled, I handed over my greatsword to Hephaestus.
"Yes, I'll take great care of it! But... considering how important it is, the condition is really... Oh, never mind! I'll do my best! Come back when the sun sets!"
"Okay..."
I let go of the greatsword.
Instantly, my vision went dark, and the familiar sensation of vulnerability washed over me.
I still wasn't used to it.
I immediately reached out and gripped Rubia's hand tightly.
It helped. Just a little.
"What about the cost...?"
"Oh, right! The cost... um... I'll need to see after the repairs. The materials used are pretty tricky, so I'll let you know once I'm done."
"Alright. Let's go, Rubia."
"Yes, let's go. Hephaestus, please take good care of the equipment."
"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!!!"
With Rubia guiding me, I carefully got up and walked out of the smithy.
As we left, I heard Rubia mutter, "The evening will be enough time."
She must be thinking about how long it'll take to explain whatever that Red Beast thing is...
"Ugh... I feel so uncomfortable and... restless..."
Maybe I should've just stayed in the smithy and waited...
"Do you want me to carry you?"
"No. Just... hold my hand. Don't let go... Please don't let go! I have a lot of money in my pockets right now. If I lose it, I'll be in huge trouble...!"
"Pfft- Don't worry. I won't let go."
Rubia's grip on my hand tightened.
"So, are we really heading back to the inn now?"
"Yes, but... how about we grab some snacks on the way?"
"Oh, good idea! Skewers!"
"Oh, the grilled stone skewers from that stall?"
"Yeah, those! The smell yesterday was amazing...! Don't you think they'll be delicious?"
Rubia chuckled softly at my excitement.
"Alright. Let's go pick some out."
"Yata!"
* * * *
"That... that's ridiculous! It can't be true...!!"
I was trembling, clutching the skewer in my hand.
"Haha! It's not that far-fetched. I kind of thought the same when I saw you hunt that Black Bear."
After leaving the smithy and returning to the inn, Rubia had told me all about the rumor of the 'Red Beast.'
And yes... the rumor was about me.
The rumors were ridiculous, to say the least.
Red Beast was just the most famous nickname.
There were others, like 'The Red-eyed Demon' or 'The Devil that drinks the blood of fiends to survive.'
Oh, and apparently, I'm a devil hunting 10,000 fiends to become human?
That's just absurd...
It's all so... cringe!
I'm so embarrassed! Even a teenager going through an edgy phase wouldn't make up such ridiculous nicknames!
And they don't even see me as human!
"H-How was I like that...?"
"Don't you remember? Back then, you had eyes hanging from your belt, covered head to toe in blood, and then you exploded the Black Bear's head. You even smiled at me afterward... It was terrifying."
I tried to recall that moment.
I think I had shattered its shoulder, spun around, and smashed its head.
I do remember feeling a bit off that day, so maybe I did go a bit overboard...
"Was it really that bad...? To the point where I seemed like a demon or beast?"
"At the time, yes. Even I didn't believe the rumors at first. And since you have black hair, I thought 'Red Beast' didn't make sense. But when I saw you drenched in blood, I knew. You really were the Red Beast. Hehe..."
My face burned with embarrassment...
"Why are you telling me this now...? If I had known earlier, I would've toned it down..."
"Do rumors really matter? Besides, I don't think it's a bad thing. Having a strong reputation keeps people from messing with you. You're too... well... cute, so I think it's necessary. And... it's kind of cool, you know? Hehe..."
It's not cool at all...
What kind of world is this, where people come up with such ridiculous nicknames...?!
"That's it... I'm never showing my face again... This is so embarrassing..."
I collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly defeated.
"What's wrong with it? It's cool... The Red Beast that tears through demons. Wow, so cool."
I heard Rubia lie down on the bed next to me.
"D-Don't tease me."
"I wonder what nickname you'll get when you become a high-ranked adventurer."
"It'll probably be something weird... like Heinzel and Luchi. They're called Baldy and One-Eye."
Oh, wait, was it Baldhead? Well, either way, it's the same thing.
"Haha... That's true."
Rubia's voice was so close, I turned my back to her, feeling shy.
"Noah, you've been speaking pretty well lately."
"Huh?"
Rustle, rustle—
I could hear Rubia moving closer to me.
"Yeah, when we first met, you spoke really quietly, you stuttered a lot, and your pronunciation was off... But now, your voice is clearer, and you speak more confidently."
Was I really like that?
Hmm...
I think it's only when I'm with Rubia.
But also... isn't it a little weird to go from talking about demons and beasts to praising my speech...?
I've always been good at talking!
"Well, I don't know... Maybe it's because I feel comfortable with you, Rubia. I don't talk like this around other people. And besides... I've always been good at speaking."
Rubia gently hugged me.
"You feel comfortable with me?"
"Y-Yeah..."
I guess I do feel like she could handle anything if I messed up...
After all, she's a priestess, right...?
A priestess that even nobles can't mess with!
And she's super pretty!
She listens to me!
And she's like a free walking potion!
Of course, I feel safe with her!
"But... can you let go now...?"
Safe or not, this is embarrassing...
"Why? We were like this yesterday, too."
"Well, that was... different..."
I mean, I cried and got all emotional, so it happened naturally... But this is totally different!
"Do you not like it?"
"I-It's not that I don't... It's just... embarrassing..."
I like the nice scent, and it's nice feeling Rubia behind me, but... the way my back is touching her feels...! Too much!
"Well, if you really don't like it, I guess I'll let go."
Rubia started to pull away, but I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"It's fine! Let's just stay like this...!"
I don't want her to feel bad. Yeah. That's why I'm doing this. It's not because I like it.
"Okay, if you say so."
Rubia stayed still, holding me quietly.
"Noah. I've been curious about something."
"What is it?"
"It's kind of hard to ask, so I'll just say it directly. It's really just a simple curiosity, so don't feel like you have to answer if you don't want to."
Rubia tightened her arms around me slightly.
"Okay."
"Well, Noah... you seem to open your eyes during important or dangerous moments. I was wondering why."
"Ah..."
Yeah, I guess I do open my eyes during those times.
"There's no special reason. It's just a habit... And honestly, I think it's just me trying to look cool."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Also... this is a secret, but... keeping my eyes closed all the time gets a bit uncomfortable... It's hard to focus."
Rubia nodded thoughtfully, as if she understood.
"That's not weird, right...? A blind person walking around with their eyes open... And besides, with my rare red eyes—Mmmpf—!!"
Before I could finish, Rubia pulled me close, hugging me tightly.
Suddenly, my face was buried in something soft...!
I can't breathe!
"No, it's not weird at all. In fact, I'd love to see your eyes more. Maybe you could keep them open all the time...? Or... would that be uncomfortable for you?"
I gently pushed Rubia away.
"You... want to see my eyes?"
"Yes... But if you don't want to, it's fine to keep them closed."
"Hmm... I'll show you. Since it's you, Rubia..."
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
"Wow... Up close, your eyes are even more beautiful."
Rubia's hand gently brushed against my eyelids.
"I hope that someday... you'll be able to see everything. A mirror... and the whole world."
I lifted my hand and reached for Rubia's face.
"But I can feel what you look like just like this."
I traced her soft, round forehead.
Her sharp, but kind eyes.
Her slightly cute ears.
Her tall nose.
And her lips, just barely curved downwards.
I memorized every detail.
"So, I already know. Rubia, you're really pretty. Your eyes are big, your nose is high... and your lips are soft."
"Ugh... Uh... Y-Yeah... That's... true."
Rubia let out a surprised breath and pulled back a bit.
After that, she began to ramble, talking about her sister and mother.
I let her soft voice wash over me, a peaceful background to my thoughts.
With my eyes still open, I focused on the sentence in front of me.
On the black background, I saw the words, glowing brightly.
I stared. I repeated them. I carved them into my mind.
So I wouldn't forget.
So I'd never forget.
Until they were burned into my subconscious.
I kept staring.
To keep from losing myself.
To stop this character from consuming me.
I kept staring.
I couldn't stop.
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
[The subject is a character in a game]
I am.
I am not a character in a game.
I am...
I am...