SWNOVELXO Chapter 18
Chapter 18.
Twelve years old.
It’s been two years since last autumn.
If someone were to ask if anything significant happened during that time, it seems like nothing particularly unusual did.
There were no real issues to speak of, and if I have to say anything, perhaps my growth over the span of that time is worth mentioning.
The pale-haired girl—I can no longer call her just a girl, as she has grown somewhat mature—I now find myself looking down at her.
The difference in height has widened significantly, to the point where she would perch herself on something like a wooden box whenever I go down the alley, waiting for me.
Because her intentions to match my gaze are so obvious, I couldn’t help but laugh whenever I see her do that.
However, even that isn’t enough to completely close the height gap, so she ends up looking at me with a slightly pouting expression, which has become a daily occurrence.
So when I tilt my head mimicking her, she gestures impatiently for me to squat down, waving her hands up and down.
I guess it must feel gratifying for her to know she’s still taller in some regard.
Annoyingly so.
Moreover, I’ve even reached puberty, my voice changing quite a bit.
The childish voice that was almost like an unmatured tone has vanished, becoming noticeably rougher, to the point where even I am slightly surprised.
My mom finds my voice disgusting now, and the pale woman doesn’t understand what puberty is, worrying every month if I’ve been hurt or not.
So, even though nothing extraordinary happened, those changes occurred for me.
Changes that clearly show the passage of time, unlike before.
But.
It seems the thoughts of the muscular bald man are somewhat different.
“Hmm, no talent. After two years, you’ve only managed to build that much muscle?”
“This seems sufficient, doesn’t it?”
I wanted to say that the changes in my muscles were definitely noticeable after not skipping any training for two years.
“But if that’s all you’ve got, then you’re still just a boy, not a man.”
“I’m twelve years old, so it’s natural to still be a boy. Why would I be a man?”
Even though I gained muscles that aren’t typical for boys my age, the gym master sitting next to me still complained.
“No, twelve is the age of a man! You’re too young to use the gym for free.”
“…”
How absurd.
Seriously, after two years of the same, he’s still persistently out of his mind.
“Rini, stop with that nonsense and come back. Your ridiculous promotional tactics are why we don’t get new members. If you just normally attract customers, we’d have a huge success.”
Putting aside the fact that a muscular bald man has a name as cute as ‘Rini’…
“Young boy, what would you do if we had a big success?”
“What’s so great? You’d make a lot of money.”
Though he’s quite skilled, he’s mentally off, which is why there are almost no new members at the fitness center.
“But the money can’t be converted into muscle. Thus, no matter how much money you make, it’s useless, boy.”
“Then just stop charging and offer it for free.”
“…, But before I am a muscle man, I am a person. I need to pay rent. So, pay this month’s membership fee and go, boy.”
That mentally off man is oddly realistic about this.
“…”
“…”
You deranged bald guy, look at you being embarrassed after what you said.
If you’re going to charge me, a twelve-year-old, for membership, then stop saying money isn’t necessary.
I thought this while paying my membership fee for the month and then left.
So.
All the changes over the past two years were good ones for me.
I’ve been gradually solving the toughest problem, physical growth, and there have only been good signs.
“Hmm, our shop’s sales are dropping. What do you think about that, Ain?”
“…”
At least, I thought that way until Uncle Rendo’s voice reached my ears.
“Ain, you haven’t missed hearing that, have you? I clearly said the sales are dropping.”
“Wha, what? Why are sales dropping…?”
I responded with an evasive answer, but deep down, I couldn’t help but know the reason.
Twelve years old.
An age where a boy grows muscles uncharacteristically fast and height increases dramatically.
A voice that has changed due to puberty, sounding rough.
“Ah, you seem confused, so let me explain it to you directly.”
“…, Please save me.”
The point is, the specialty of the grocery store that mothers frequently visit is that children’s cuteness contributes to sales.
And even if that’s not the case, lacking something new would lead to eventual obsolescence.
Simply.
The cuteness that a child emits has disappeared; with no new appeals found, the recovery of sales coincided with this reality.
“It’s only natural that your increased salary will decrease proportionally to the sales, Ain!!”
“Ah, no…! Uncle, please!”
No matter how much I pleaded, Uncle remained unwavering.
“Hahahaha!! Reflect on yourself this year for failing to prove your worth! That was the contract, after all!!”
“Aah…”
Instead, he celebrated his victory by dancing around and whooping in triumph right in front of me, who was now in despair.
Damn.
The relentless passage of time, you rotten bastard.
Give me back my salary!
And so, as I experience all sorts of incidents throughout the day.
Before I know it, the sky begins to turn orange with the evening glow.
And when this time comes, when the orange light illuminates the streets, I find myself thinking about a certain woman.
Once a month.
Despite two years passing, I still meet the gray-haired woman in the same alley just before twilight.
Every year, her appearance changes just as much as mine, but she remains in the same alley.
She has matured quite a bit.
Looking at her now, her youthful vibe has almost completely disappeared, making her seem somewhat delicate to call a girl or child as she tilts her head.
“Ain.”
“Hi.”
Her appearance is transforming into that of a beautiful woman, but her behavior is still pretty much the same as before—straightforward and unchanging.
The faint emotions have grown more distinct, but she always meets and departs me with a vacant look, quietly smiling.
She still approaches me with light steps.
“Are you hurt today?”
“No, I’m not hurt.”
She peers around to check if I’m in pain.
That movement makes her dress flutter, and as I look at it, I realize how much shorter her dress has become.
As I’ve grown taller, so has she, to the point where her white legs now extend past her knees, visible beneath her dress.
So, though the novel hasn’t revealed the gray-haired witch’s age, I suspect she’s probably older than me.
“Ain, you don’t have any injuries.”
“…, Why do you sound disappointed as if you were hoping I’d be hurt?”
So.
It’s about time to buy her new clothes too, and considering her growth, I will need to take care of her larger food intake.
The wooden-board house we’re living in also needs either more materials for expansion or even a complete reconstruction.
“…”
Despite my ironic situation where my salary has decreased but my expenditures have only increased, I can’t bring myself to say no when I see the woman sitting quietly and watching me.
Though I think the period of responsibility is a bit longer than expected, it’s still a choice and its consequences I’ve made.
Therefore, I let out a small sigh.
And in response to that sigh, there’s a woman who lifts her head and looks in my direction.
“Ain, your expression is bad.”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Even if I say it’s nothing, there’s a woman who stares intently at my face and turns her head this way and that.
“But your expression is bad. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No….”
If I must say, I’m fine, but my wallet is feeling a bit sore.
No matter how hard I try to hide it, the woman in front of me will keep looking up at me and stubbornly asking why.
So I end up sincerely answering.
“Hmm, my salary just decreased a bit.”
“…”
“It’s fine, nothing major, so don’t worry.”
It’s not really a problem worth worrying about, and the assurance I gave isn’t necessarily to ease her worries.
With the money I’ve been saving thus far, there’s nothing that could be considered an issue.
If I exaggerate, it’s like trading an expensive carriage for a less fancy one and switching from a sharp, sturdy sword to one that isn’t as sharp but still requires regular maintenance.
But eventually, while traveling and earning money, I will make more and replace these things anyway.
However, if asked why I sighed, it’s because, frankly, there’s no one who feels happy when their salary decreases.
But.
For some reason, she seemed to take my words seriously.
Her wide eyes trembled, and then she abruptly got up and ran toward the wooden-board house. She then bowed her head diligently, searching for something.
“No, it’s really okay…”
“…, Wait a moment, please Ain.”
Even though I said it was okay again, the woman had already started searching earnestly.
So I stood up from my seat, somewhat bewildered, and approached her.
“Um…”
While trying to think of how to explain, I heard her voice.
“Ah, I found it.”
She eagerly held up what she’d been searching for and extended it toward me.
It’s a small, shiny object.
“Here.”
“…”
It is obviously an expensive item resting in her delicate hands.
“Does selling this make money?”
“…”
I can picture her as a young girl who cherished this item just for its beauty and carefully kept it hidden.
“No?”
“Phew…”
And there’s a woman who offers the item she diligently saved, without hesitation at my single word.
So I, who was watching her silently, couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“It doesn’t make money…”
Staring at the woman who offers something with an expectant yet somewhat anxious look, I finally reassure her.
“…No, that’s enough. That alone can fill the shortfall.”
She, who had hesitated, relaxed upon hearing my response and gradually curled her lips into a smile.
What she handed me is a shiny bead.
She’s handing me two small, colorful beads used in children’s play.
So I told a white lie.
“Really?”
“Really.”
When asked if it’s really true, I immediately replied affirmatively.
“Then take it, Ain.”
“Alright, thank you. I’ll use it well.”
I carefully placed the two beads she offered into my pocket.
“I’m glad. I was able to help…”
“…”
Seeing her brighter smile than ever before, I also offered her a smile.
Now, I cannot tell.
What started out of calculative intent or compassion, I cannot tell if it continues to be driven by those motives.
Even as time flows and many things change, the continuous meetings with this woman make me like this.
Even though all I have in my hands are just two beads, the scale doesn’t find balance just from their lightness, tipping to one side.
Is it because the gesture of giving the beads without knowing their value was unbearably cute?
Or is it because my heart feels warm due to the woman who handed over things she’ve kept close for so long?
Or is it because, just with the fact that she helped me, her innocent smile makes my heart flutter for a moment?
And now, it’s like I’ve truly become a child.
I find myself thinking that everything is unclear.
The spring of twelve years old.
I gradually prepare to embark on a journey.
And.
The gray-haired woman also prepares as a witch.