“Renji-san is amazing.”(fran)
How long have we walked inside the forest?
You really lose the sense of time while you’re walking inside a forest.
Miss Francesca was walking behind me with just enough distance that she doesn’t get left behind.
After walking through almost 80% of our distance, Miss Francesca talked to me.
We both had been silent after entering the forest so I was a bit surprised.
Maybe due to the atmosphere, even Ermenhilde had been silent for some reason.
Well, I wouldn’t be able to reply if Miss Francesca was beside me so it would have ended as a one-sided bantering though.
..……that would have been torture in itself.
At times we’ll create pitfalls and traps and mark them.
Just in case they might come useful if we ended up running.
“What’s so amazing?”(renji)
As I covered the pitfall with grass, I asked back.
“Even though we’re facing 12 Orcs, you’re still calm as always.”(fran)
Am I?
Normally, I would talk more, fool around and enjoy seeing Miss Francesca pant as she is unable to get used to walking in the forest.
When I thought that way, maybe I am also a bit tensed.
We killed the Demon God. We even fought against the demons and the Demon Lord.
But still, I was scared.
Humans die easily. Because I know that. And I am also a human.
Even if we’re called God Slaying Heroes, we’re still humans.
“I’m scared. My hands are shivering.”(fran)
“I see.”
Me too, I couldn’t say that.
After all, I’m the senior here, I’m the elder one here, I’m the man.
It’s always like this.
My comrades were all younger than me. There was only one woman that was in the same age group as me.
That’s why I couldn’t complain, even when I was scared I wasn’t discouraged, even when wounded I didn’t cry.
I had no choice but to be so.
I was the older one, the man, because I was the adult.
…….I have such a duty I think. Really.
In forests, in dark places, it’s bad to be too silent. I’ll end up thinking only in the bad direction.
Standing up, we began walking again.
“It’ll be fine. You won’t die.”(renji)
I simply said just that.
There’s no meaning behind it.
You will die when your time comes and a person who can live through anything will definitely live through it.
That’s why, there’s no meaning behind my words.
But the silence was painful so I said that, that’s all.
“Yes.”(fran)
But, if simply words can make one calm down then I’ll say that as many times you want.
I think that way. I’m not strong enough to show that with my attitude or abilities.
My cheat, [Power of God Slaying], is really weak. I can only use it in limited conditions.
That’s why, I’m different from those 12, I’m the weakest.
[What is it?]
Unconsciously, I was stroking Ermenhilde inside my pocket.
There’s no meaning to it. Only—–it was to divert my anxiety.
[Even though, you’re actually a coward.]
Don’t say things like that.
I’m the man here, the adult here. Even if I want to cry, even if I’m scared, even if I’m shivering, I can’t act weak in front of her.
That’s what my role is.
[Renji won’t die. I’m here after all.]
Ah, is that so.
I smiled wryly and once again stroked the medal inside my pocket.
In that time, we reached our destination.
Hiding inside the bushes, I examined the surroundings.
The settlement of Orcs.
Their numbers are…..14