While hearing the sound of crackling bonfire, I yawned.
Ah, it’s a nostalgic dream.
A black night with no street lights. We always spent the nights awake while sitting around the bonfire.
The children instantly slept due to the fatigue from travelling and only us who were above 20 kept awake while drinking.
Me, Utano-san, Toudou, Kuuki. Just us 4 adults. Rest were all young children but even then, those guys were more energetic and more hardworking than us adults.
We worked hard so that we can support them with all we had.
Utano-san with the knowledge she gained from the Goddess, Toudou with his cooking, Kuuki with his shield.
But, yeah, I remember.
On that day—-
“Renji-san, thank you for today.”
“ah, no, in fact I should be the one to thank you.”
Aya who was usually unsociable gave her thanks to me.
Who were our opponents…………an Ogre and a Cyclops, I think. I only remember that they were giant-type monsters.
For the first time, I used Ermenhilde’s powers—–many of the covenants were cleared and I had taken down a large monster.
I was desperate so I don’t remember it properly though.
At that time, Aya had an image of an always angry girl who kept on quarrelling with Souichi.
Well, it’d be weird to be calm even after something weird like getting summoned to another world happened though. In fact, I myself had been wary of my surroundings for a week after getting summoned. I simply couldn’t calm down.
That’s why, I could understand Aya flaring up at not just me but everyone.
And that Aya had unusually come to apologise to me alone, and we had talked a lot through the night.
About each other, about this world, about what to do from here on.
The others, probably being considerate, had quickly gone inside the tent to sleep. They’re probably listening us closely though.
That’s the kind of people they are. Privacy was at minimum, but because they were such guys, I could get along with them.
While thinking that, I threw a dry stick into the fire.
When the conversation stopped, only silence remained. The sound wood cracking and the sound of trees rustling due to wind were the only sounds that remained.
Normally, I would be drinking along with others while planning what to do next right now but I can’t really make a minor drink now, can I?
While I troubled myself over what to do, Aya would be considerate and bring up a new topic.
………I really am a pathetic adult.
“I think Renji-san is amazing.”(aya)
“I’m just desperate. From my point of view, Aya-chan or Souichi, you guys seem much more amazing.”
And it was true as well.
15yrs old. Souichi’s sister Yayoi-chan was only 14yrs old.
But even then, they were travelling to save the world. Normally, they’d be in middle school right about now.
They are much more amazing than me. If I was in their place, I might have been whining and complaining. After all, they were 15yrs old. They’re not a protagonist of a movie or game, to be able to even say that they’ll save the world is amazing I think.
“There’s no such thing. It’s because Renji-san and Yuuko-san stay with us, we feel safe and nor insecure……..”
“I see.”
I threw another piece of dry wood into the fire.
At this moment, I think I was happy, no, I was definitely happy.
I worked hard, desperately, so that I don’t become a burden to the kids, so that I can help them when they get stuck somewhere.
In our original world, just working hard alone wasn’t valued.
Results were everything. And I had nor produced any kind of result in this world.
My skill with the sword was average. My cheat wasn’t especially amazing. And my personality wasn’t really great either. If I had to say, I was simply going with the flow.
But at this moment, on being told so by Aya,……..I was really happy. Even someone like me was able to reduce the anxieties of these children, even if only slightly.
No matter in what form, I was happy that I had been of use.
“You finally smiled.”(aya)
“Eh?”
“You were always making a serious face till now. Renji-san, your expression can be scary.”
Was I really making such a face? I may have been thinking about something too much which might have led to that.
Just the fact that I was the eldest, just that had become a heavy pressure on me.
“Is that so?”(renji)
“Yeah. You don’t seem too energetic and only talk much with Yuuko-san and the others…..”
After that, Aya pointed out all of my major shortcomings on her fingers.
In the end, she ran out of fingers and laughed while telling me to fix these things.