〈 Chapter 29 〉 Daily Life

*

Clatter clatter.

The sound of tableware clattering increased from two to three.

And while it used to be fairly quiet during meals, the atmosphere was now quite cheerful.

“Ah, this guy…”

“Allen, right? Is that so?”

The main chatter came from the innkeeper and Weiss.

Still, the atmosphere was much better than when it was just me and the innkeeper.

Especially watching the innkeeper chat excitedly made me wonder how he spent the month I was away.

“Yeah, Allen’s always been a coward…”

The innkeeper was recounting tales, all about Allen, which technically weren’t my stories.

But since Allen’s memories still lingered, I felt a bit embarrassed.

“Stop it already…”

Just as I was about to interrupt the innkeeper’s rampage.

“A coward? I can’t imagine that now!”

Weiss stared at me intently.

What’s this? Why is she staring?

“Well, looking at him, he does look rather delicate.”

I scrunched my face as much as I could.

Weiss only burst out laughing in response.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

“Yeah, that delicate guy suddenly went to the mountains one day and took down a wolf. After that, he completely changed!”

The innkeeper’s eyes suddenly deepened.

“People do change. Traveling has made it even more evident.”

I quietly swallowed.

Maybe the innkeeper had picked up on my possession, maybe not, but this was the first time someone spoke about it directly.

“Well, I guess that’s just how boys grow up!”

He chuckled heartily.

Can I consider that a blessing?

I managed a sheepish smile.

“By the way, what was the story you were about to tell about being a coward?”

“Oh, that? Allen…”

These people, honestly.

‘Still…’

I watched the excited chatter between the two.

‘At least I can rest assured that this much is okay even if I leave.’

*

Spinning around.

Coins were swirling freely in the air.

With Wind’s Power reaching B, I could now handle several coins at once.

It required quite a bit of mental power, but being cooped up in the inn, this was all I could do.

“By the way, my arm feels almost healed…”

I muttered while looking at the floating coins.

“Looks like you can lift quite a few now.”

“Whoa!”

The coins I had been levitating suddenly tumbled down.

When did she get so close?

Now that I knew she wasn’t the Demon King, I still found it a bit scary during moments like this.

“W-What’s up?”

“I have something I want to discuss. Would you like to take a quick stroll under the night air? Just in front.”

Well, there was no reason to decline just going in front.

I stood up and left the inn with Weiss.

It was still early spring, so the weather was a bit chilly.

I was fine, but Weiss, dressed in slightly lighter clothes, looked a bit cold.

“Weiss, aren’t you cold?”

“This is nothing. Ice Valley is colder than this even in summer.”

So it’s that cold.

In fact, since the game’s timeline had the Ice Valley already fallen, I hardly heard any information about it.

I felt curious suddenly.

“What was the Ice Valley like?”

It wasn’t urgent info, but it could come in handy.

“Hmm, describing it… is a bit difficult for someone who grew up in the Ice Valley. It was just a familiar place for me.”

“Oh, I see.”

“If I had to explain, it was a harsh place, cold all year round, surrounded by ice. The only areas where humans could live were near the hot springs. But…”

She pointed to the sky.

“The sky there was just as beautiful as here.”

“The sky?”

I looked up at the sky.

No matter day or night, a reddish barrier covered the sky.

Perhaps that’s why the Basilium region was nicknamed the land of sunsets.

Every area where humanity currently lived was surrounded by their unique barriers.

And the colors of these barriers varied based on the properties of the Barrier Stones that generated them.

The Basilium’s red barrier was one thing, but there were more extreme examples like the Leim Kingdom and Sakh.

The Leim Kingdom had a Barrier Stone imbued with the property of light, causing it to be bright all day long.

On the other hand, Sakh’s Barrier Stone was of darkness, blocking the light from outside and cast a constant shadow over Sakh.

‘What was the Ice Valley like?’

I knew nothing about the barrier of the Ice Valley.

Only that it fell and was destroyed.

Weiss provided the answer.

“The barrier of the Ice Valley was a pure, transparent white like fresh frost. So at night, the moon and stars would spread across it and shimmer.”

That sounds beautiful indeed.

It would be a scene I would never see again.

“…I’m sorry for bringing up the Ice Valley.”

“It’s fine. I’ve already come to terms with it.”

With that, Weiss smiled brightly.

I thought so all along, but she truly was strong.

While I was spellbound by her smile.

“But you know…”

“Yes?”

“Are you thinking of leaving here, Allen?”

That caught me off guard.

I was indeed thinking of leaving, but I had never expressed that in front of her.

“How did you know?”

“The innkeeper told me. That you want to leave.”

The innkeeper might really have known after all.

Seriously, what does that guy talk about so much during meals?

“Well, it’s true.”

I didn’t want to lie.

There was no need for that. I would undoubtedly have to leave someday.

“I have to leave. I have things to do elsewhere.”

Of course, life here was peaceful and enjoyable.

Gwen wasn’t clinging to her everyday life for no reason.

There might not be a happier spot than this.

I had thwarted the invasion of the 71st Demon King.

Normally, in the game, Allen leaves the village alongside its destruction, but that wasn’t the case anymore.

I could likely settle here if I wanted to.

But…

“I have something to prove.”

I must prove it.

If I hadn’t given up, could I have become something?

If I don’t give up, can I become something?

I need to prove that as Allen.

That’s why Allen was raised to level 101.

[Objective: Become a Hero.]

Becoming a Hero is my priority now.

But I wouldn’t settle for that.

I plan to push forward, no matter what.

“That’s awesome.”

Weiss smiled at me.

“I envy you for having something you want to do.”

“No, there’s no need to envy…”

“Looks like I didn’t need to worry after all.”

“Yes?”

She pointed back toward the inn.

“The innkeeper asked me to make sure of this. He figured you’d want to leave but wouldn’t have the courage to. So he asked me to help you leave as soon as possible.”

“What unnecessary requests does that guy give…”

Just as I said that, I shook my head.

“No, thank you, Weiss.”

In truth, I had been postponing the day I would leave from the familiar daily routine.

But now, talking with Weiss, I could solidify my resolve to leave.

“Well, I guess having you around is nice, but if you’ve made up your mind, I cannot stop you.”

Weiss gave a bittersweet expression, as if disappointed.

“Instead, can you do me one favor?”

She removed a bracelet from her arm.

And handed it to me.

“Please give this to Finn if you happen to meet him elsewhere.”

I hesitated.

I can’t accept this.

After all, it legitimately belonged to Finn.

“Why? Is that too much to ask?”

“No, it’s not that I can’t do it, but I think it’s better if you keep it. If Finn comes back and you don’t have it, he’d probably be disappointed.”

“That’s true.”

She nodded and put the bracelet back on her arm.

“Then just send me news about how you’re doing.”

“News?”

“Yes, let him know I’m waiting.”

That was likewise an impossible request.

But I couldn’t let my lies keep spiraling on.

Since it was my lie, I had to take responsibility for it.

“Sure, that’s doable. I understand.”

Finally, Weiss smiled again.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew through.

Brrr.

Weiss shivered.

“See? It’s cold.”

“It is a bit chilly.”

“Let’s head back inside before we catch a cold.”

And thus, the last night at the inn passed.

*

“Wow, that was fast.”

“It was so fast, it’s almost sad.”

“So true.”

The innkeeper and Weiss stared blankly at Allen’s empty room from last night.

They hadn’t expected him to bolt out right after being told to go.

“He didn’t even say goodbye.”

“Told you. This guy’s a coward.”

“A coward?”

“He probably wouldn’t have had the guts to leave even after seeing us. So he chose to sneak away instead.”

In a way, one could say he knows himself well.

“Will he come back?”

“I don’t know when he’ll return, but he’ll be back. He had dreams of inheriting the inn, after all.”

The innkeeper chuckled.

“And he won’t forget the life he lived at the inn. He looked genuinely happy.”

*

‘This tastes awful.’

As expected, the food in this world isn’t good.

Sitting in a shabby eatery in the next village, I scooped the bland stew and thought.

Weiss’s cooking is definitely not like this world’s food, no doubt.

I turned my head and looked in the direction of the village.

There, the sunset was rising.

‘I already want to go back.’

I missed Weiss’s warm and delicious food.

I missed the cozy, plush bed.

I even missed the strict yet kind innkeeper.

But now I can’t go back.

I had indulged in rest until it was just about time to act.

Now, it was time to move again.

‘This should fill my stomach well enough.’

I left half of the stew untouched and stood up.

‘Well, let’s go?’

I had to act diligently.

‘To Sakh.’

*