"Alright then, let's hear the reason. Why are you trying to go all the way to Karahan?"
After much persistent persuasion, Rubia finally decided to listen to Hephaestus.
The location: Hephaestus' smithy!
But... there were definitely several adventurers lined up in front of the door, yet they scattered in a hurry the moment they saw us...?
They screamed like they'd seen a monster...
Well, I'm pretty sure they weren't screaming at me.
No matter how strange the rumors are, there's no way they'd be afraid of someone small and normal-looking like me.
So, they must have run away after seeing Rubia...
Although, Rubia's regeneration ability... is kind of monstrous.
I mean... her twisted limbs just snap back into place instantly, and even if there's a hole in her stomach, it heals with a swoosh...
She's kind of... not human in a way... but, ugh...
Still, even so! Screaming like they've seen a monster is just too much, don't you think?
We did all this to protect you!!
This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't abandoned us!
You jerks!
If this were me back in the game, I would've... oh?! I would've given them all a piece of my mind!
"The shop is doing well now, isn't it? I just don't understand why you're risking so much to come with us."
Rubia sipped her coffee, maintaining a very stern expression.
She looked just like a strict mother-in-law.
"Ah... um..."
Sitting across from Rubia, Hephaestus fidgeted nervously and mumbled.
"And even if you do come with us, how will you get back? We're heading to Cartia Village after passing through Karahan. But don't you need to return to Roholan, Hephaestus?"
Now that I think about it, that's true...?
How was she planning to get back?
Her home and business are here... she has to come back.
All her assets are here!!
"If things go well... I'll have a way to return. But... um..."
Rubia's expression sharply crumpled.
"And if things don't go well? What will you do then?"
Hephaestus didn't answer Rubia's question.
She just smiled at us quietly.
"Is it really... that important?"
"Yes."
This time, she gave an immediate and clear response, different from before.
"Important enough to risk your life?"
"...Yes."
This time, she answered with a determined expression.
"...I see."
The stern look on Rubia's face finally cracked.
I quietly slurped the milk in front of me.
It wasn't that tasty.
"We won't be moving too quickly."
"That's fine."
"We're just passing through Karahan, we're not going there for a specific purpose."
"I know."
"We're not going all the way to the summit. Just halfway—"
"That's alright. As long as I can set foot at the entrance of Karahan... I'll handle the rest."
Seeing Hephaestus' unshakable expression, Rubia let out a deep sigh and rubbed her face.
"...Haa... fine. You can come with us."
Then she downed the rest of her coffee.
"Thank you! Really, thank you so much!!"
Hephaestus, who had finally gotten approval to join us, stood up and bowed deeply.
Rubia bowed as well.
Hmm... I should probably do the same...
"Th-Thank you..."
But, uh, should I be thanking Rubia or Hephaestus...?
Both?
Well, since I still want my jelly... I'll thank Rubia too.
"R-Rubia, thanks... for letting me join."
"Even so, your jelly is confiscated for now."
"...Okay..."
Tch... she's so quick to catch on...
"Close your mouth."
"Mmph."
"Relax your face."
Smile.
"Good."
Pat pat—
"Pfft... Wh-What are you two doing?"
Hephaestus tried to stifle her laughter as she watched me and Rubia.
Hey, I'm embarrassed too, you know?! But... but! I have to endure if I want to get my jelly!
Besides, I had to beg for you to come along, and now I've lost all my jelly!
How dare you laugh?!
Well, I was tempted by the offer of free forging, but... anyway!
"He-Hephaestus, it's your fault... I'm in this situation... don't laugh."
"Oh, is that so...?"
"Of course it is."
"Then should I buy you some jelly?"
"Gasp..."
Is there such a wonderful solution...?
I cautiously glanced at Rubia's expression.
Her eyes were the same, but the corners of her mouth curved upward slightly. The hand that had been patting my head stopped too.
Um... well...
"He-Hephaestus, you don't... need to buy me any..."
I had to resist the jelly's temptation and turn it down.
There was no other choice...
"Well, if you insist. By the way, how old are you...?"
"I'm 20, and Rubia is... Rubia is 25."
"Wow... I'm the youngest! I'm 18! I'll call you Noah unni then!"
U-Unni?!
"Ah... no, that's... Just call me Noah..."
"No way! You're two years older! So, Noah unni, you can speak casually with me!"
"Ugh... don't call me unni...!"
Hephaestus, beaming with excitement, leaned in close.
"Still, it's hard to believe you're 20 with that face... your skin is amazing unni. How do you take care of it? Maybe I should try applying some monster blood..."
"Ugh... I said, stop calling me unni...!"
I pushed Hephaestus' overly eager face away.
And why would you apply monster blood?!
"But you're two years older, so you are unni!"
"That's true. But why doesn't Noah call me unni? I'm five years older than her."
Now Rubia, who had been quietly listening, started to poke at me with an accusatory tone.
Stop teasing me!
"Uh... then what does Noah unni call the priestess?"
What the—?
I'm being called unni, but Rubia is 'priestess?'
Then just call me Noah!
I hate being called unni!!
"She hated it so much I told her to just call me Rubia. But why are you calling Noah unnie, while calling me priestess?"
The arrow aimed at me suddenly turned toward Hephaestus.
Now's my chance...!
"Y-Yes, exactly. Just like you do with me, call her Rubia unni too...! Go ahead, say it. Rubia-unni."
As soon as I said that, the place fell completely silent.
Why...? What's going on...?
Was I not supposed to join in...?
"You're... really something."
"W-What do you mean...?"
Even as I asked, Rubia quietly stared at me before pulling out a few pieces of jelly from her pocket.
"The jelly... are you going to... eat it...?"
She said she didn't like it...
Maybe since it's in her pocket, she's feeling tempted.
It was supposed to be all mine...
"No. It's for you, Noah."
"What?! R-Really?!"
"Of course. Here."
The jelly dropped from Rubia's hand into mine.
The squishy feeling made me smile.
"Hehe... it looks delicious."
"Well... okay. But first, we need to fix how Hephaestus is addressing. Noah? Go ahead."
"Okay...! Now, repeat after me. Rubia unni...!"
More jelly fell into my hand!
Is she giving it to me every time I do as she says?!
I need to follow orders carefully!!
"Um, is it really okay to call her that?"
"Of course..!"
Hephaestus hesitated, then finally said it.
"R-Rubia-unni!"
She spoke with a beaming face.
Is calling someone unni really that exciting?
Hmm... I don't get it.
"Hehe! I can't believe something like this is happening! If my teacher knew... well... they'd be happy."
Hephaestus, who had been so happy, suddenly looked downcast.
Rubia, sensing the change, cautiously spoke.
"Is the reason you're going to Karahan—"
"Rubia unni! More coffee?"
She suddenly brightened up again!
"...Yes. Thank you."
"And Noah unni, more milk?"
"Yes. And I'm not unni..."
"You're two years older, so you're unni! Anyway! I'll be right back!"
Hephaestus cheerfully waved as she headed to the kitchen.
Then she slumped into her seat, wearing a sorrowful expression.
There was no sound.
She was covering her mouth.
But her emotions... I could sense them, even through the walls.
Hephaestus didn't realize, did she?
"It seems like... that's the case, Noah..."
Rubia whispered quietly.
"Yeah... it seems so."
I nodded as I chewed on my jelly.
But it wasn't that tasty.
"I'm not sure what to do... this is difficult."
Rubia had a thoughtful look on her face.
"Why?"
"Because... it's dangerous. Your body isn't in good condition, and Karahan isn't a place where someone like Hephaestus should go easily. Even with a blessing, hers is related to forging..."
That's true.
Karahan is dangerous.
The environment is harsh, and the monsters there aren't easy to deal with.
But.
"Even so, we have to help."
I couldn't suppress my emotions any longer.
Just a little.
They spilled over.
"I don't want to lose anyone else."
The thick mask I wore...
Cracked, just a little.
"I've learned how to read people's expressions through my sensing ability. I saw Hephaestus' face."
That face...
It was luchi's face.
And my father's.
The face of someone ready to die.
Someone who wouldn't mind dying at any moment.
And.
Someone who would die to achieve their goal.
"That's why... we have to help."
We have to save her, no matter what.
I need to know why she's making that choice.
How does she expect those left behind to live?
How are they supposed to endure that hell after she's gone?
I need to hear the answer.