SWNOVELXO Chapter 9
**Chapter 9**
To me, the hero seems like a rather strange person.
Ah, of course, I’m not saying that based on his appearance right now.
“Well, hmm.”
Thinking about it, he still is a strange person, but if the issue is that I’ve gotten used to his strange ways, then that might be the real problem.
Anyway.
It’s still before the departure ceremony, and at that time, the hero often skipped his training at the Imperial knights’ order.
The reason behind it might be….
“The knights are so weak that just breathing with them leads to muscle loss. I need to go back to the training grounds I used to go to.”
With such reasons, he would spit that out and go outside the palace, returning around evening.
What a crazy guy….
Ah, never mind.
So he would go outside and return in the evening, and he always insisted on me coming to hear about what happened while he was out.
“Hm, today the street vendors had some pretty tasty food. They sell something packed with protein, so they’re serious about their business. Next time, I’ll have you buy some.”
He would say things like that while eating something that looked strange.
“Strangely enough, people get scared and run away when they see me. Do I really look that scary? I didn’t mean to intimidate anyone.”
A large, rugged man, about 2 meters tall, saying such foolish things.
Those were the kinds of stories.
Then one day, there was something a bit unusual.
“I thought I would be late, so I crossed the alley and saw gray hair.”
“What…? In the middle of the Empire?”
“Yeah. I found it annoying and was going to go kill her.”
“No, even if she has gray hair, you can’t just kill her….”
Life is precious.
Even if it’s gray, it’s still a creation of God.
“I didn’t kill her. It was a little girl, groaning as if she was going to die soon. She didn’t seem like she would survive the winter anyway, so I left her alone.”
“Uh-huh… yes, I see.”
“If she has any blessing from God, just as you say, she might hang on without dying. If she becomes a disaster later, it’ll be time to kill her then.”
“That would be a somewhat sad thing.”
“So you too, don’t slack off in exercising. Carrying around that big lump of fat will lead to muscle loss.”
Saying that, he entered his lodgings, and I thought to myself.
What on earth is that guy doing?
Or so I almost said.
As I recalled the past and chuckled, a voice called out from behind me.
“Lua, stop giggling and get up. If you don’t get up on time, you’ll lose muscle.”
“Yes, Hero.”
Indeed, the hero is still a strange guy.
—
As winter approaches, the end of my eighth year is in sight.
Like flowing along the narrative of a novel, the peaceful and calm days continued until winter.
And I heard news that the training of the hero and the holy girl would end in about two years.
Then, there will be a departure ceremony for the hero and his party two years from now, and I want to witness that moment up close.
I don’t want to have to follow at a distance like I did when I was five and barely catch a glimpse.
While I was thinking that, a booming voice called me from behind.
“Ain! Quit daydreaming and get ready! Didn’t you ask for more money, you little brat?”
“No…, Uncle. My ears are going to fall off!”
“I called you three times! Hurry up and take this basket and go deliver it, you rascal!”
Oh dear, I’m going to become deaf at this young age.
I frowned and took the basket from Uncle, following his gesture to hurry outside the grocery store.
After I slammed the door shut, I muttered to myself.
“… What a harsh world.”
– I can hear you, kid!
“… I didn’t say anything.”
No.
Before long, I might go deaf, but the old man has sharp hearing for his age.
Thinking that, I took my steps.
—
Grocery delivery.
It originally didn’t exist, but wanting to earn a little more money, I proposed this task to Uncle.
A service where for a small delivery fee of 10 deras, they deliver purchased items from the grocery store to your home.
The payment division is 80:20, with me getting the 80.
Since it’s not peak time, there’s no need for two people to be at the store, so during slow times, I organize the customers’ purchasing lists and deliver them myself.
It’s a grocery store that only serves people living somewhat close by, and since it doesn’t cost much for a delivery, busy mothers would often use it.
I’m grateful, and I’m saving up for my future travel funds, mothers.
I will continue to live with diligence and charm.
So now I have come out for grocery delivery.
“An address… ah.”
No matter how I looked at it, it was our house.
Mom, please don’t do this.
I thought that as I moved my steps toward home.
My footsteps toward home felt unbearably heavy.
—
Yeah.
It’s not that I’m a bad son, but the reason Mom hates ordering deliveries is quite simple.
“Oh, you’re here with the delivery~ Thank you for your hard work~”
“…, I brought the groceries.”
When I meet Mom while I’m working, she treats me just like any grocery employee.
There’s nothing better than thoroughly distinguishing between public and private matters, but Mom’s reason for distinguishing them is her own.
“Ahahaha~ It must have been tiring to deliver! Would you like a nice refreshing drink?”
“No. I need to hurry along. Well then…”
“Hey, if you’ve come, you should at least take a break and enjoy yourself. Why leave so soon?”
“…, Mom. Really, why are you like this?”
With a playful face, and an equally expectant expression.
The way she waited for me to do something was truly wicked.
“Mom? I’m just a customer! So hurry!”
“….”
“Tick-tock! Time is running out!”
Yes, indeed, there’s no time.
I have another delivery to make, and I can’t waste time at home.
So, I forced a polite child’s smile, bowed my head, and said to Mom.
“Thank you! Please make sure to order again next time!!”
“Ahahaha! Goodbye~”
I burst out of the house before my mom’s laughter had faded.
“….”
How embarrassing.
I’m shy.
At this rate, I might just die.
—
As evening approached and it was time to close the grocery store, I kept repeating the process of going out and returning with deliveries.
“Kid! You can leave early today!”
“Eh? I have to finish until closing time!”
“I’ll handle that, so just take it and go!”
With those words, he tossed me the food made from leftover meat and vegetables.
What’s this?
Now, he’s packing up food for me too.
Could it be that he’s worried that too much of my money is going away and is plotting to cut my pay?
“…, You won’t dock my pay just because I didn’t stay for closing, right?”
“Ugh! Are you possessed by a money ghost or something! I won’t dock your pay, so take that and go see your beloved dog! It’s just consideration! Get out of my store!!”
“Well, I didn’t particularly treasure it, but okay, I’ll leave early.”
What a wonderful uncle.
I thought that and nodded, ready to head out, but stole a glance back at Uncle.
“What, what now?”
“By the way, since you’re being so generous, can I take that old mat from the storage?”
You generously packed dog food for me; since it’s winter, I’d love to take an unused mat as well.
I thought to myself and smiled slyly.
“…, am I crazy?”
I was promptly thrown out.
Of course, I left with the mat in one hand.
Charming as ever, that kind uncle.
—
With the sun not yet completely set, I turned my back on the sunset while carrying today’s rations and a thick mat towards the alley.
It had grown quite cold, and when I breathed out, my breath became a visible mist.
Living outside in weather like this, and surviving the upcoming colder winter, seems absolutely impossible. Still, there was no place to lay her down right now.
With the stigma surrounding gray hair, it didn’t seem like anyone would take her in.
That includes places like our house or the grocery store.
So perhaps I need to get not only this mat but also find a proper wooden board and build a windbreak house.
“…”
Would that be too much like a doghouse?
I thought about that as I moved on.
With my footsteps now quite familiar, I approached the alley with a lighter heart, just as it was when heading home.
At this time, all the children had entered their homes, so unlike last time, there would be no fighting.
Oh, thinking back, it seems there are still some kids who come by to bully me during the day, so maybe I should consider moving.
At least for a few months after moving, I won’t have to deal with those kids’ bullying.
Because of the fear of the gray curse, adults wouldn’t even dare touch her, so I think I’d be fine as long as I can avoid the kids’ gaze.
Yes, that’s not a bad idea.
With that thought in mind, I turned into the alley where she would be, and of course, in front of the gray-haired girl who should be lying alone, there was a huge figure.
Wearing a robe that didn’t even cover his body, holding a sword the size of a person in one hand.
There was someone approaching her like that.
—
And so.
My heart raced at the sight of that scene.
Even with the robe on, I could tell.
There is a pressure that cannot be hidden by just wearing a robe.
You can’t see that size every day.
That’s the hero.
The protagonist of the story, the eye of the storm, the one wielding the sword is here.
Tick-
Tick-
The scale of fate that will lead to the death of the witch tilted sharply.
—
So.
It was clear that I had to run away from that sight.
“Hah, huff… huff…!”
Before I knew it, I had dropped everything I was holding and stood in between them.
I hid the girl behind me and glared at the hero.
Just staring at him made my trembling hands spread wide as I tried to look as fierce as possible.
“….”
His gaze looking down at me without uttering a word was so vicious that it couldn’t be described as that of a saint.
I could clearly see the huge sword being raised in one hand.
Unknowingly, tears streamed down my face, and I braced myself as I opened my arms wide.
“Do you know what you’re trying to protect?”
I know.
I’ve known since I was younger.
So.
“…, don’t come any closer.”
Honestly, I can’t even comprehend why I’m doing this myself.
Is it an act motivated by an ounce of sympathy or guilt, or is it a calculation for the benefits I’d gain from this?
I can’t definitively distinguish between those things, but if I had to sum it up, that would be it.
The role I imposed on myself.
The choice I made while being compelled.
Thinking about fulfilling the responsibility of being a watcher over the witch who stepped into this narrative.
—
How much time passed like that?
“Hah.”
The hero let out a hollow laugh and lowered the sword to rest on his back.
Then, he looked directly at me and said.
“You’re a man.”
“….”
Crap, does that make me a woman?
Damn it, you hero kid.
While keeping my arms trembling, he came over and handed me the food and mat I had dropped.
“That’s how you protect what is precious.”
“….”
It’s not precious.
Because my life is the most precious.
There are many things more valuable than a witch who is only standing behind me in a daze.
Not being able to voice such thoughts, I stood there with my arms wide open, blocking the path of the gray girl until the hero’s massive back slowly grew distant.
—
I won’t go to the departure ceremony.
Damn it.
—
**A few days later, on a chill winter day.**
Once again, the hero returned late after being outside.
“Hm, muscle loss.”
He said that while approaching me with a blank stare; it’s become a usual occurrence by now.
“Do you have something to say?”
“I thought I would be late, so I crossed the alley and saw gray hair.”
“What…? In the middle of the Empire?”
“Yeah. I thought it was annoying and was going to go kill her.”
“No, even if she has gray hair, you can’t just kill her….”
Life is precious.
Even if it’s gray, it’s still a creation of God.
I thought that as I glared at the hero, but he shook his head.
“I couldn’t kill her. I was approaching with a sword, but a man blocked my way.”
“Eh…? Is there anyone in this empire who could stop the hero?”
That there exists someone who can block the hero chosen by God.
If there was such a person, wouldn’t they at least have to join our journey?
“He was there. Thinking back, he was an impressive man. Until now, I’ve never met someone who exuded such a terrifying aura.”
“If he’s that impressive, we should persuade him to join our journey….”
“No. Even if I tried to persuade him, he wasn’t the type who would agree. If fate keeps us connected, we’ll meet again someday.”
Whether he was contemplating that person or not, the hero said that and unexpectedly smiled.
As I watched him for a moment, he suddenly returned to a deadpan expression and bluntly said.
“Don’t slack off; keep exercising. With that big lump of fat you carry around, can you even make that bread you’re holding go down? That’ll all lead to muscle loss.”
Saying that, he turned to go back into his lodgings, and I thought to myself.
What on earth is that guy doing?
Or so I almost said.