「But, Shido, you have never had this dream?
Say, in any field, to be the best in the world──shining at the top, you’ve never dreamed of it?」
「Well──certainly. Now, I want to become the world’s best adventurer! tte~Think of it!」
──Really. Such a thing, all men dream about it once.
As for me, I haven’t abandoned such a silly dream.
Fumu….I remember how I started out in an unexpected place.
I wasn’t even that old when I incidentally grasped my fist (Arts), it was somewhat of a clumsy encounter.
「It is as such. I’m the same, for the dream I had once, and it still is a dream.
Kuku, it’s pretty simple.」
Why aim for the strongest.
What would one want to do once they reached that goal. These were my thoughts.
But still, it’s like this.
Rather than becoming the strongest for no reason, I want to become the strongest to do something.
A person’s actions may be the opposite of their purpose, it’s like this for me.
「Fu~n….I don’t really understand it.」
Shido and I look at each other and laugh, while Seria looks puzzled.
This is something only boys would understand, Seria understands this.
There are occasionally women who understand this kind of dream──if possible, I would love to meet and hear these stories.
It was satisfactory, the meal in my mouth was delicious.
With the background as Shido talking about his dreams for the future passionately, we finished the meal.
「Fui~, that was really delicious~」
While watching Shido let out a breath and rubbing his stomach, I easily collect my tableware, then I go collect Seria and Shido’s tableware.
There is still room before mealtime is over. (TLN: Lunch if you’ve forgotten….)
Although I don’t need to rush, there’s nothing lost if I do it.
「I’m really interested, why does Slava-kun want to become the best?」
With the sound of putting down tableware, Seria’s voice is mixed in.
「….Mu?」
「Didn’t you say that you wanted to become the best a while ago?
Shido-kun wants to become the best adventurer. I want to know what Slava-kun wants to be the best in.」
「Aa──you mean that.」
That reminds me, what I wanted to be the best in, I didn’t say it.
How to answer. I’m already considered weird guy, at least this was already established, so it’s unlikely that my reputation would fall.
It seems it will be troublesome if asked by Alma….perhaps if I give a vague answer, it will be fine?
「It’s like uhh….I vaguely know that, since this is a place teaching Martial Arts.
It’s like how Shido said, becoming the best in the world.」
「E? Me? Well yeah.
Don’t all men think of this at least once?」
While seeking agreement in Shido, I show a hardened fist. (TLN: Balled up fist works too, I think)
「If it’s a man, once the time comes, no matter if it’s a human, a beastman, an elf or a Majin──he’ll definitely close his hand into a fist like this. By wanting to be the strongest, they are depicting the 「Cool Self」they want to be..
….But each and everyone, for a lot of reasons, like finding a different path, will open their clenched fist and try to grasp something new.
However, those who are martial artists cannot open their fists.
Be them fallen, defeated or injured, whatever happens they cannot open it. Thus, perhaps they may only able to swing it.
──Maa, in the end we are but children. Unable to throw away our first dream, hating to lose more than anyone else──that’s why, it’ll surely be fun.」
The fist I hardened, I open it slowly.
Like an opened fist, if I am able to give up the two characters “strongest”, I would be able to walk a different road in life this time. (TLN: Strongest has 2 characters in JP, which you most likely have inferred.)
But, thanks to it, there were many things I was able to catch with this closed fist.
Alma and Chester, recently Cheryl as well, and even this present life of mine──
I forgot to tell to Shido and the rest, but there’s one more thing.
One trait of martial artists that, even while I hate regretting things, I couldn’t achieve before dying.
「….Somehow, I don’t understand but it’s profound? I got it.」
It seems that he isn’t able to understand all that I said, Shido has a face with deep emotion.
Although he’s a boy, he is also a man. Although understanding it all is unreasonable, there shouldn’t be a reason for not being able to understand a little.
As such, I gave out a light laugh.
After what was said, Seria tilted her head.
I thought this dream only applied to men, since women don’t seem to be the same.