After the subjugation of Karpeng was over,
Luchi died.
Four days have passed.
The world continued to move as usual.
Of course, some things had changed a little.
First,
Hephaestus's blacksmith became extremely popular.
Maybe it was because I was about to kill Karpeng with the greatsword I received from Hephaestus. Her business was booming.
So... I couldn't even step inside.
I wanted to buy a few things, but...
There were too many people...
If I went in, I'd probably suffocate!!
Of course, I tried once.
I walked in hand in hand with Rubia, feeling all cheerful.
But then everyone inside had terrified expressions and rushed out. Some even screamed...
Is Rubia really that scary...?
She might seem that way at first, but once you get to know her, she's not scary at all...
I guess power is just frightening in itself.
She's more powerful than most nobles.
Anyway, for that reason, we didn't go near Hephaestus's place again.
We didn't want to chase away her customers by showing up...
Next is Rubia.
On the first day, she cried all day long.
Really, even in her sleep, she'd suddenly wake up and cry.
On the second day, she was somewhat better. She ate. Then she cried again.
She'd talk, then cry.
Cry, then cry some more.
I washed her, and she cried.
She'd laugh, then cry.
So, when I told her that laughing and crying would make her grow hair on her butt, she burst into laughter again.
By the third day, she was back to being the Rubia I knew.
She wasn't crying anymore, and she was speaking normally. We even ate stone slab steak together and went for a walk.
We sighed while looking at the completely collapsed south gate.
We also cheered for the villagers cleaning up the west gate.
A gold-ranked adventurer, who was helping the villagers, approached us to greet us, and I gave him a good glare.
Other adventurers were also hovering around Rubia, but I chased them all away.
I widened my eyes, imitated Karpeng, and went 'Arrr!' They all ran off.
Cowards.
Then as for me,
I was forced to take complete rest for two days, my greatsword confiscated. I spent the entire time cuddled up in Rubia's arms.
I really felt like a beloved doll.
Fortunately, she was diligent about washing me. It felt refreshing...
Oh, speaking of being a beloved doll, I remembered something.
My greatsword... they said it couldn't be repaired anymore...
Every blacksmith, including Hephaestus, gave up...
Of course, the greatsword Hephaestus gave me wasn't bad...
But it felt completely different from my beloved greatsword.
It gave me so much comfort to hold it while sleeping at night...
So, I spent some gloomy days together with Rubia.
...Still, being hugged tightly by Rubia provided me with some... small comfort.
Sometimes, though,
When I felt like getting some air, I'd go outside with Rubia, and we'd shoot off fireworks.
Once in the village square.
Once at the steakhouse.
Once at the messy clearing, ruined by the aftermath of the duel.
And once at the southern entrance, where we faced Karpeng.
Each time,
Rubia would sniffle.
And I would think about my beloved greatsword and feel down again.
It had only been three days.
But I missed it.
So much.
Come to think of it, we were supposed to have another duel.
But now we can't.
We can't do anything anymore.
"Little girl! How about we arm wrestle again when we meet someday?"
"You, you already lost once... It'll be the same next time..."
And today, the fourth day,
Heinzel, standing in front of me with a grin, said he was returning to the village where he used to live.
He said he was taking the body Luchi with him.
I wondered how he'd manage without an arm, but several adventurers from that village had come to escort him.
But seriously, how is there not a single person carrying a greatsword?
Tsk, people these days have no sense of romance. Sigh.
"You're hitting where it hurts... Anyway, little girl, listen up. Eat well, sleep early, don't fight too much. And... stay on the right path, no detours."
After ten minutes of nagging, Heinzel pointed to Luchi's sword hanging at my waist.
"That was precious to him, so take good care of it. Hahaha! I'm glad I don't have to treat you to a meal! See you again, little girl!"
With a slightly different, weaker laugh than usual, Heinzel turned and walked out of the village.
His loose sleeve flapped in the wind.
I could hear his teeth grinding.
"Since Heinzel left, shall we start preparing too Noah?"
I smiled slightly and turned to Rubia.
Rubia reached for my hand.
"Yes."
Nodding, I grasped Rubia's hand in return.
The warm sensation
Slightly pushed away the memory of my beloved greatsword's hilt.
"Noah, you don't look so good... Hm, how about we go eat some jelly?"
Gasp...
Such beautiful words...
"Yes...!!"
"Fufu... I'll buy you plenty, but don't eat it all at once. Eat it little by little, okay?"
I nodded energetically, shaking off my worries.
Heheh. Jelly sounds delicious.
Maybe I'll ask her to get only peach-flavored ones this time.
If there's a bunch of peach-flavored jelly...
A bunch...?
Oh... oh? Oh?!
Jelly??
Heinzel... never bought me jelly!
That... that bald jerk!!
Stingy, petty bald jerk!
Shiny, smooth, bald-headed jerk!!
Someday, when we meet again...
No, when we meet again, I'll squeeze him for twice as much!
Definitely!
Well, that's for later!
Right now, with jelly right in front of me,
I smiled brightly,
Thinking of the smile I had 'seen' before,
I grinned as I walked with Rubia.
Forward.
* * * *
"Hm... I think this is enough. We can stop by Ursphere on the way to resupply."
Rubia said as she hung the bag on the horse's side.
Oh, right.
The annoyingly rude horse that spat at me was still alive and well.
I thought it was dead when the stable collapsed, but it came galloping from afar.
Munching on a goblin's arm...
Well, at least it survived.
Good job.
"Oh, and that... shard. You're keeping it safe, right? If you feel any headaches, strange thoughts, or anything wrong with your body, you must tell me. Understand?"
"Shard...? Oh, this. Yes, no problems... so far."
I clenched the small shard in my hand.
It was a shard from Karpeng.
A 'Shard of the End' carried by the monsters that End created.
Hmm... that's the cool explanation from this world.
In game terms, it's an epic mana stone dropped by a raid-level boss!
Common.
Rare.
Unique.
Epic!
A whole four levels higher!
Difficult to obtain!
One-of-a-kind in the world!
Inserting it into a weapon would grant amazing effects!
An utterly fantastical mana stone!
As I stared at the stone, a grin spread across my face.
But what was Karpeng's effect again?
It was definitely good, but I think the penalty was annoying, so I didn't use it often.
Was it 'thirst'?
Eh, whatever!
I'll find out when I use it!
Despite its ominous name, it was still a useful item.
I believe it'll be helpful!
"If nothing's wrong, that's good... But I never expected you to get that. The Adventurers Guild seemed like they were going to claim it... What is it, really?"
"Th-that's true..."
It's still puzzling to me.
On the third day, someone from the central Adventurers Guild... uh, what was her name again?
Anyway, a high-ranking woman came by.
She asked for my name and origin.
Then she handed me the mana stone.
She said according to the adventurer law, the mana stone belonged to the one who killed the monster, so she gave it to me.
I tried to explain that the one who killed it was the deceased Luchi.
But she insisted that the stone belonged to the adventurer who survived the fight and forcibly handed it to me.
Of course... I was happy.
As soon as I received it, my heart was pounding.
I was already imagining how much stronger I'd become.
But at the same time, I felt a little anxious...
"Well, since it officially became yours, let's look at it positively. I bet it would sell for an astronomical price. Though, I know you won't sell it. Hehe."
Rubia smiled softly.
I just nodded lightly and smiled back.
I really wanted to embed it in my weapon and test it out, but apparently, there was no one in this village who could do that.
I wasn't sure if anyone in Ursphere could either...
I hope there is.
It's a pretty big city, so I'm hopeful.
If not, we'll have to go to the Imperial Capital... That would take too long!
I don't want to go!
And Rubia probably wouldn't want to either.
Please... please let there be someone in Ursphere!
The horse beside me snorted and curiously poked its head towards the mana stone in my hand.
"W-want to see?"
Hiiing-
The horse nodded its head up and down.
"Uh... okay, but... don't eat it, alright?"
Rung-!
"Alright... Be careful. It's precious..."
I stretched out my hand carefully and showed it from a distance.
The horse's eyes sparkled as it inspected the mana stone.
But... what would you even understand from looking at it...?
The horse snorted as if it had seen enough.
You don't know anything, do you?
I folded my hand back and slipped the stone into my pocket.
Watching this, Rubia smiled softly.
"My, you've become good friends?"
The horse turned its head with a quick motion.
Oh?
"I, I don't like it... It's ugly and smells..."
I turned my head sharply as well.
You don't like me?
I don't like you either!
"Heheh... Really?"
Rubia's hand gently patted my head.
"Yes. That's right... I don't like it..."
Clip-clop- Clip-clop-
Now the horse was even stomping its hooves to make its point.
Fine, then I will too.
"Uh, ugh...!"
Squish-squish- Squish-squish-
Hmm... not quite as impressive as the horse, but...
At least I made my point.
"Well, anyway... Shall we head out now?"
"...Yes, let's depart."
Nodding, Rubia quietly looked around the village.
I followed her gaze and looked at the village too.
I tried to etch the village into my mind.
But...
Who's that in such an important, emotional moment?
"Huff... Huff, Gah...! N-Noah! Priestess!!"
In the distance, Hephaestus was running towards us, waving her hand frantically.
And what's with that huge bag?
"Hephaestus?"
Rubia looked quite surprised as she watched him approach.
"Huff... Huff... It's so heavy... Whew..."
Hephaestus finally reached us, panting heavily as she collapsed onto the ground.
"So... What's going on?"
Rubia asked as she handed her some water.
"Huff... Thank you. Are you planning to pass through the Karahan Mountain Range by any chance? Gulp- Gulp-"
"Yes, we are."
Hearing Rubia's answer,
Hephaestus stood up and loudly declared,
"I'd like to join you!!!"
"No, it's too dangerous. You might die."
Rubia firmly and decisively refused, without hesitation.
"I'll repair everything for you for free along the way!"
Hephaestus didn't give up and played her prepared card.
"There aren't any monsters on the Havlon Plains right now."
But Rubia wasn't swayed.
She wouldn't budge!
"Ugh... In that case..."
With a pained expression, Hephaestus pulled out her trump card.
"I know how to work with the shards... So please take me with you."
My jaw dropped.
I hadn't asked because Hephaestus's forge was so busy, and people ran away when they saw 'Rubia'...
But Hephaestus knew how to handle them!
Still... even if she knew how, taking her along would be...
As Rubia said, it's too dangerous for Hephaestus.
It would make protecting her during fights even harder.
We should probably refuse-
"I'll also embed the shard into your weapon for free."
"...Deal...!"
"Noah...?"
I resolutely ignored Rubia's sharp gaze.
It's free!
I reached out my hand to Hephaestus.
Hephaestus grinned widely and shook my hand.