After opening my mouth I hesitated.
If I try to detain him, will he stay I wonder...
No, after re-thinking it, I have brought a heavy amount of troubles onto this man.
There were certainly plenty of times where I have troubled him, but the times when I showed him my shameful parts were common.
Even though that's the case, he recognized me as a Warrior.
I don't think I can depend on him anymore than this.
"If it weren't for Ruijerd-san, I'm sure we wouldn't have been able to make it here in three years."
"No, if it was you then it should have been possible."
"There's no way that's the case. Since there are places where I'm lacking, I think I would have stumbled somewhere."
"As long as you can say that you'll be all right."
There were quite a few situations where I had no solution.
For example, the time when I was captured in Shirone, if it hadn't been for the existence of Ruijerd, I would have panicked more, I'm sure I would have been more distracted.
"...Rudeus, I said it once before, but."
Ruijerd looked over me with an even more peaceful face than usual.
"You've already accomplished yourself as a magician. Even though you possess that much talent you haven't grown arrogant. You should hold self-awareness that you were able to do that much at such a young age."
I received those words with complicated feelings.
Even if you say youth, the age of my experiences has already gone over 40 years.
The reason I haven't grown arrogant is because I still have memories of that time.
However, even if I said it's 40 years, if I look at it in comparison to Ruijerd's age, then it would enter into the category of young.
"I..."
Here is where I should I have started to talk about my bad portions.
However, I had a feeling that would have been just too shameful.
In front of this man, I want to stand a bit tall.
"No, I understand. Ruijerd-san, we've really depended on you quite a bit until now."
After saying that and lowering my head, I was caught and stopped.
"Rudeus don't lower your head to me."
"...Why?"
"You might think you've been depending on me, but I think I've been depending on you. Thanks to you, I have the feeling I've been able to see hope for the recovery of my family's honor."
"I haven't done anything at all. I couldn't really do much at all."
In regards to the Magic Continent, I think we did end up making the name Dead End into something agreeable, but that was limited to just the framework of Adventurers.
Since our established reputation couldn't be used in the Milis Continent, while I was thinking about different methods to approach it, it just kept being put off.
In the end, since the time we came to Central Continent, we haven't done anything.
Up until now, I feel that the influence has started to come around a bit.
However, that is limited to just a bit.
Putting aside the largely remaining history of persecution in the world and of course the prejudice towards the Supard race, we weren't able to do anything.
"No, you were able to achieve a variety of things. You were able to teach someone like me who only knows how to honestly save children that a variety of methods exist."
"However, all of them had weak effects."
"However, it certainly has changed. I remember everything. According to your scheme in the Town of Rikarisu, the words of the old woman who said she didn't fear the Supard race. The happy faces of the adventurers who laughed without fear after hearing the name Dead End. The closeness to the Dedorudia race warriors who came to recognize us even after hearing the name Supard race. The Shirone soldiers who thanked me in tears after being reunited with their families."
Putting aside the first two, the two after were all Ruijerd giving it his best effort.
I haven't done anything.
"..That is Ruijerd-san, your own power."
"No. I couldn't do anything myself. It's been 400 years since the war, I moved around alone and I wasn't able to advance even one step forward. The one who allowed me to take that step forward was you, Rudeus."
"...However, that was always under the advice of Hitogami."
"Things about a god that I've never seen don't matter at all. The one who actually saved me was you. I don't know what you think, but I feel a debt of gratitude towards you. Therefore, don't lower your head, you and I are equal, rather than thanking, look with your eyes."
While saying that Ruijerd faced me and held out his hand.
While I was looking at him in the eyes.
Without averting my eyes from there I grabbed his hand.
"I'll say it once more. Rudeus, thanks for the assistance"
"We as well, thanks for the assistance."
While tightly holding onto his hand, the strength of Ruijerd was conveyed.
The inner corners of my eyes got hot.
This shameful I, this I who made nothing but mistakes, Ruijerd recognized me.
After a short while, we quietly released our hands.
That hand moved to the side and was placed on top of Eris's head.
"Eris."
"...What is it?"
"Is it fine if I treat you like a child in the end?"
"It's fine, really."