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224-2. Childhood Friend – Hans Side Story

Childhood Friend Round 2.

A farewell party was held in the village of Demos. It was a gathering to cheer on Lena and Leo as they set off to the Monastery Church, and as good wishes flowed, the farewell party turned into a joyous celebration with drinks.

Only Hans was sulking in front of the brightly glowing campfire.

How the heck are they going to get all the way to the Jerome Holy Kingdom? Everyone seemed lost in fantasy.

But Hans knew.

The reason the villagers were so happy wasn’t because they believed those two were actually going to the Monastery Church. They thought Lena would give up on her dream, get together with Leo, and return home.

Spit.

Hans spat into the campfire. Then he shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, “Aren’t they just running away to elope or something?” Laughter erupted, but he got a scolding from his mom.

That night, Hans couldn’t sleep. I’ve lost, he thought, tossing and turning until morning came.

Lena and Leo were set to leave with a cart heading to the big town. Hans hurriedly changed his clothes and ran to the bakery. He gathered the unsold bread from yesterday and packed them into a small box to load onto the cart.

“Hey, Leo! You’re leaving, so just once, come on!”

“No way.”

As he pushed the cart alongside him, Hans felt like boiling over. If he could, he wanted to flip the cart over. He wanted to tell Lena, who was handing out water, “It’s all a lie! You’re not going to the Monastery Church!”

But Lena’s expression was too bright. Completely unaware of the world around her.

Tch. Damn it.

Unbelievably, the cart arrived soon.

By the time they reached the outskirts of Torito Village at dusk, the young men were preparing to sleep outside. Lena and Leo said, “We’re off.” and took their leave. Hans sneaked away and followed them.

He knew what kind of ending awaited them. It would be better not to see it.

But he couldn’t hold back. He stared blankly at the two entering their lodging, standing in the now dark street as he looked up.

Lights turned on in the second floor, and shadows danced behind the curtains.

A silhouette with long hair, moving up and down. Finally, the light went out.

Hans bit his lip. Filled with intense feelings of defeat, he turned away and thought, “Damn it, live well,” as he headed to a shop. It was the merchant’s store where he sometimes helped out and learned about trade.

Even in the shabby room with a rickety bed, Hans couldn’t fall asleep. As he recalled the bouncing silhouette, he banged his head against the wall to calm his mind. That silhouette doesn’t necessarily mean anything like that, and even if it did, what could he do about it? Lena chose Leo after all.

Hans sighed, exhaling reluctance.

Yeah. I’ll hope for the two of them to do well. Coolly. One day, I’ll show them the kind of great person I’ve become. Leo will end up as just a Hunter anyway… By then, no matter how hard he tries to impress me, it won’t matter.

Hans dreamt of his terribly poor cousin coming to borrow money. In the dream, he willingly loaned money to a visibly tattered Lena, saying it was fine not to pay back.

But when Hans woke up the next day, he found himself heading to that lodging without even thinking.

Coincidentally, Leo was standing in front of the inn. Hans greeted him like he didn’t know anything.

“Oh! Leo. Looks like you slept here.”

“Hans, you’ve sold out already?”

“My stuff sells out fast. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. I’m planning to eat here in a bit.”

“Great~ Let’s eat together.”

Leo nodded stiffly. His attitude was different from usual.

‘Is he showing off that he won?’

Ugh! Anger surged in Hans as he asked, “So, did you get together with Lena?”

“With who?”

“What do you mean with who?”

“….”

Leo was silent for a while. He looked so indifferent that it made Hans feel pathetic for asking such a silly question.

Just then, Lena came down.

The three of them ate together at the inn’s attached restaurant, and as always, Lena greeted him with a bright smile. The topic of conversation naturally turned to their journey.

“You’re going to the Lord’s Castle? Isn’t that the wrong direction? You were going to Nevis, right? You should be heading west, not north!”

“But it’s unavoidable. We have to hitch a ride with a merchant group, and there’s no group here, is there?”

Such a fool.

Hans clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Oh dear~ You really don’t know anything about the world, do you? There’s a market open here right now; how can there be no merchant group? I bet there are plenty heading west. Should I introduce you?”

“Do you know someone?”

“I kind of know the ins and outs of this Torito area.”

What does a teenager in his mid-teens really know? But in front of Lena, Hans boasted.

After a long while of asking merchants he was somewhat familiar with if any merchant groups were going to Nevis today, he finally got a reply.

“Nothing’s leaving today. The merchant group from the old place I asked earlier is heading out tomorrow morning; it seems to be the quickest option. If you’re going, I can introduce you to the merchant leader. We’re not close, but I’ve met him a few times.”

He was the type of merchant who would try to put Hans to work under the pretense of teaching him something. Not paying him a single copper. The plump merchant waved happily at Hans when he saw him.

“Hey there! Long time no see. These are my friends who want to go to Nevis. Is there a route?”

“Well, it doesn’t go straight to Nevis, but we can take you most of the way there. I can introduce you to another merchant group that goes from there to Nevis. For riding in the carriage, it’ll be five silver coins for two. It’ll take about a week, you see. To make enough room for two, we’ll need some extra goods. And for food…”

Lena looked at Hans differently. Feeling her changed gaze, Hans puffed up with pride and even helped Leo negotiate the price down.

“Thanks for helping out, Hans.”

Haha. What could be more thrilling than receiving gratitude from the girl he secretly loved? Hans said,

“Hahaha. Thank you? Not at all. Safe travels.”

He laughed it off. Coolly.

And the next day, he stood at the outskirts of Torito Village.

The merchant group he introduced was leaving, and he could see Lena and Leo in the cart behind. Hans felt a bit bittersweet, but he blessed the future of his first love and his cousin.

Lena, Leo. Live well.

I’ll become a merchant and go to Nevis too. By then… I’ll probably be able to tell you that I liked you.

His steps returning to the village of Demos felt much lighter. A few years later, as promised, Hans became a merchant and went to Nevis.

And there, he ran into Leo.