Lately, I can’t help but wonder how different this world could have been.
For example, if the organization called Avatarara didn’t exist, it would be a setting where people stand against the Demon King.
Then there would be no need for the Empire and the Kingdom to keep each other in check; everyone would be putting in effort to defeat the absolute evil, the Demon King.
The hero would be Leon.
The Saintess would be Sophia.
The Mage would be Reina.
The Warrior would be Helen.
The Priest would be Atal.
That’s how the hero party would be formed and set out on their journey.
But this world has none of that.
Demon King? What a joke.
There aren’t even demon tribes; we have magical beasts, sure, but no demons exist.
What arises in this world is nothing but the conflicts between humans.
Therefore, problems arise from mutual interests, and opinions start to clash.
Take me for example; I firmly regard Avatarara as an absolute evil, but aren’t the kingdoms of Elam and Cassis attempting to use them as an opportunity?
Thanks to that, it’s become quite difficult for us to receive support from the Empire.
It’s truly a headache of a world where good and evil aren’t clearly defined.
It’s only natural that I’d dwell on such thoughts.
★
“Today is a break, Aike.”
I was suddenly told this by my father.
Well, considering I’ve spent the last two months here without a single day off, I can see why.
I haven’t done any official duties either.
With the exception of sleeping and meal times, I’ve dedicated everything to training.
And that training has all been in a practical format.
In the mornings and evenings, I trained with my father.
At other times, I sparred with the household servants, including Alex.
Starting from one-on-one matches to grouping up against many opponents.
It was literally a ‘if you want to get stronger, survive’ kind of brutal training.
I can’t really feel whether I’m getting stronger, but everyone tells me I’m definitely making progress, so I guess that’s something.
Now that I’ve got a break from training, I’ve found myself with nothing to do.
Ultimately, I left the mansion and set foot in the market after a long time.
“…Should I go get some skewers?”
I hadn’t been out in a while, so of course, I hadn’t had any skewers either.
Sure, if I asked Noelle, she would have brought some back, but I thought, why bother? So I didn’t really ask her.
“Welcome!”
Hearing the shopkeeper’s voice, familiar yet unchanged after so long, makes my heart flutter for some reason.
“One chicken and one beef skewer, please.”
“Got it!”
The sight of skewers cooking over the fire was something I could never take my eyes off, no matter how many times I watched.
From the sound of the meat cooking to the enticing smell that mixed with various spices and the dripping juices.
It’s a bit unfortunate that I couldn’t share this with Reina, but once everything’s over, I’m sure we’ll be able to roam freely together.
“Here’s one chicken and one beef skewer!”
“Thank you.”
I handed over the money and, after habitually receiving my skewers, opened my mouth to start with the beef skewer.
And at that moment.
“…Is that a skewer?”
A strange voice came from behind.
It was a deep male voice that anyone could recognize.
Turning around, I saw a neatly dressed man with black hair wearing a cloak, staring at me.
The peculiar detail was that he had his left eye covered with a bandage.
“Is there something you need?”
I asked, and the man shook his head.
“It’s just a coincidence. I haven’t been out in a while, and the delicious smell drew me in.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off the skewer in my hand.
And then I heard a rumble from somewhere.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt, I ended up saying,
“Would you like one?”
I proposed it without thinking.
“Thanks, it was really delicious.”
“…Good to hear.”
After we ate the skewers, the man and I sat down on a bench by the roadside.
It wasn’t that I wanted to have a conversation, but for some reason, he followed me.
“I’m sorry. I forgot to bring money with me. I haven’t eaten anything for two days, and I made a scene.”
“I see.”
“If we meet again, I promise I’ll repay you. Can you tell me your name?”
“It’s fine. I didn’t give it to you expecting anything in return.”
This was uncomfortable.
This situation was far too uncomfortable.
I wished someone I knew would come to help.
“Hmm. That’s not a lie.”
“I really don’t mind.”
The man didn’t seem like he would give up.
“Oh, right. It would be polite for me to introduce myself first. What a silly mistake.”
“No, that’s not—”
“My name is Rynus Felt. Let’s get along.”
“…Is that so?”
As if he was determined to hear my name, he looked at me with wide eyes.
I wish he would stop, as I don’t have that kind of interest.
“My name is Ian Perse. Nice to meet you.”
“…Hmm, Ian. That’s a fine name.”
The man nodded and smiled for some reason.
“Then, Ian, I have a favor to ask. Is that alright?”
“Not alright.”
“Since it’s my first time in this city called Arcadia, I’d like you to show me around the area.”
“You said you’d repay me, but aren’t you just adding to your debts?”
“If it’s a favor that I’d repay anyway, wouldn’t it be better to collect it all at once?”
What kind of sense does that make?
“Well, fine.”
I guess this much is okay after all.
I didn’t really visit different places just because I wanted to introduce Arcadia either.
I just went to the places I usually go when I came to the market.
My metabolism is high, which means I need to eat a lot.
“Ian. Have you been starving for a few days too?”
“I just usually eat a lot.”
“You seem to be in good shape for that.”
“I’m training every day without rest.”
“Hmm. I guess you must want something.”
“…Well, I think about wanting to become a Knight.”
“A Knight, huh? An honorable profession. Saving people, I see.”
The man looked at me as if he found it interesting.
A Knight is essentially a genius who has surpassed human limits.
Just reaching for that barrier makes people look at you with awe.
So I’m somewhat used to this kind of gaze.
“Hmmm. So where are you thinking of going next?”
“Eh?”
“You must have a plan, right? That’s what I’m asking.”
“…I have no plans and am thinking of going home.”
“I see.”
The reason I came to the market in the first place was simply to get skewers.
“So taking me home with you—”
“Not happening.”
That was crossing the line.
What kind of crazy talk is this?
“What a shame.”
Fortunately, he nodded silently without insisting further.
I was worried about what would happen if he tried to force me again, so I felt relieved.
“Then, how about meeting here again tomorrow?”
“I barely found the time to come out today.”
As I circled around to reject his suggestion, the man chuckled and raised an eyebrow.
“Well, there’s nothing that can be done, huh.”
“Do you have any other plans?”
“None. I have no money and nowhere to stay. I’ll just have to make do like I have until now, or turn back.”
“I recommend going back.”
“…Yeah, that might be best.”
Saying that, the man stood up and stretched.
Then he looked at me and spoke.
“I hope we can meet again.”
His blue eyes shone at me.
As if he had something to confirm.
What kind of response should I give?
“…If I’m going to repay the favor, I’ll probably meet you again anyway.”
“…Kuh. Hahaha!”
The man laughed.
He laughed with abandon.
I could feel the gazes of people around me, but he didn’t care at all.
“Hahaha! Ah, yes. We’ll definitely meet again.”
Once he finally stopped laughing, he sat back down and covered his face with his palm.
“So, when was it?”
“What do you mean?”
When I played dumb, the man grinned at me fiercely.
And slowly, he removed the bandage covering his left eye.
“Honestly, you weren’t surprised at all.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
Then, behind it, a green eye was revealed, completely different from his blue right eye.
“Stop playing around. Of course, I’m asking when you realized it.”
“From the very beginning, if you believe that.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
That’s correct.
At first, I really thought he was just a starving beggar.
“When I heard your name, that’s when.”
“…So it was then. I thought your reaction was strange for some reason. Even though I told you my name, you never called me once.”
Seems I’ve been caught.
I’m not good at acting.
“Well, then. Let’s start all over again with introductions.”
The man spoke with that fierce smile still on his face.
“My affiliation is Avatarara.”
Neatly dressed in a cloak with black hair.
A man with mismatched colored eyes.
“I am Avatarara.”
And above all, there is only one man who uses the alias ‘Rynus Felt’ in the original work.
The final boss of “She Heals the Damaged World.”
His name is…
“Dait Chernobog. A man of your kind.”
With the final boss giving that introduction, I replied,
“I am Aike Akses, the second son of the Akses House.”
For now, I slightly lifted the corners of my mouth and repeated my name.
This world is indeed a troublesome one, isn’t it?
Thinking that couldn’t be helped.
