Page 132

(Barella / Aurevia Bratio Ilf)

In the serene morning, the eastern sky painted itself in delicate shades of pale white. A gentle mist floated through the air, adding an ethereal touch to the surroundings.

Towering cedar trees swayed rhythmically in response to the soft breeze, their branches whispering secrets to the world.

Amidst this tranquil scene, a swift gray shadow streaked by, catching my attention. Startled, I immediately crouched down, my hands tightly gripping two handfuls of fur—Rifle's fur. As we sped forward with remarkable speed, the rush of wind caused by our rapid movement brushed against my face.

Nervous anticipation consumed me, my heart pounding not from fear of being thrown off Rifle's back, but rather from the anticipation of what awaited us ahead.

It was the second day of our arrival in Sadin Village, a place that held deep significance for Walson, and from what I have heard, this town is his hometown.

... Prior to this, I had heard Walson mention that he and Grace all came from an orphanage. At the time, I didn't give it much thought, but it was only yesterday that I truly began to grasp the immense hardships faced by the orphans in Sadin Village on a daily basis.

Whether before or after my exile, I had never laid eyes on a place as remote and small as this; it could scarcely be called a town, more resembling a humble village. In the orphanages of the Braatio Empire and the Teigitan city, from what I understood, the children were primarily involved in charitable activities such as singing at ceremonies.

Yet, here in Sadin Village, these children, along with the priests and nuns, battled fiercely for survival. These orphans, the offspring of [Fighter] and [Mage], dedicated themselves tirelessly to combat and magic training. Some were subjected to real forest combat courses as young as ten years old.

You see, in the city, even adventurers often have their first battle at the age of fifteen, while these children here have to face such challenges even earlier.

In the city, even adventurers would often have their first taste of battle at the age of fifteen, but these children here faced such challenges even earlier.

However, what stirred an even deeper sense of sorrow within me were the [Villager]—a group I had previously overlooked entirely. They toiled ceaselessly each day, tilling the land, cleaning, cooking, and providing for the children of warriors and mages. They possessed nothing—no entertainment, no dreams—only the monotonous cycle of day and night labor.

Last night, Melon and Grace took it upon themselves to teach the talented children, and I couldn't help but notice the villagers sitting there silently, observing. Their tired eyes spoke volumes of the hardship they had taken for granted, reflecting a life of hardship and unspoken sacrifices. It pained me to witness their struggles.

Moved by a desire to bring joy to their lives, I decided to join in their midst, accompanied by Rifle. We playfully painted mud on our faces and engaged in a game of heroes, hoping to bring a glimmer of happiness to their solemn faces. Why did I partake in such activities? It was simply because their lack of joy was painfully evident, and I yearned to see them smile.

Walson, did you, too, experience similar hardships as them? Did you face the challenges that these children and villagers confront daily? These sentimental thoughts consumed my mind

"Barella, crouch down a bit, I can't see the road if I'm not higher than you."

"Ah, okay..." I lowered my body, holding Rifle's fur tightly with my hands in a burst of exuberance, eliciting a low growl of protest from Rifle.

The words coming from behind stimulated me. Well, I'm really nervous... because Walson is sitting behind me, he is so close to me, aaaaahhhh!!!!

At this moment, we are on our way through the back mountains of the orphanage. Walson said we're going to meet someone, and everyone naturally came along.

As we delved deeper into the dense jungle, the atmosphere grew increasingly eerie. Shadows danced among the gnarled trees, and the haunting calls of unknown creatures echoed through the thick foliage.

Initially, I questioned the wisdom of venturing into such a perilous environment. But then I reminded myself that these extraordinary individuals were not bound by conventional limits or common sense.

I watched countless petals falling before my eyes as Grace's figure flickered and moved, appearing and disappearing repeatedly without stopping for a second.

Meanwhile, Melon exhibited incredible agility as she effortlessly leaped between the ancient trees

in this mystical realm of the forest, the velocity at which they moved surpassed any notion of normality. If it were not for experiencing it firsthand, I would struggle to believe such extraordinary feats were possible.

"Quiiiiiii!!!!!!"

An abrupt, piercing shriek tore through the air, causing my heart to leap into my throat. Before I could even register the source of the sound, my eyes widened in alarm as a colossal brown mantis lunged toward us, its razor-sharp scythes poised for a deadly strike. Time seemed to slow down as the impending danger loomed over us.

However, in a display of extraordinary agility, Melon transformed into a blur of motion, hurtling through the air like a cannonball. With incredible precision and strength, she smashed into the monstrous mantis, In a seamless transition, Rifle stepped over the fallen mantis.

Is this the way they are doing their life?

So scary! It's so scary!

I shouted in my mind while raising my [Apollo] and blasted the leopard-faced creature that appeared two seconds ago. The headless corpse of the leopard-shaped monster rolled in the stirring dust behind us.

... Huh? When did I become capable of doing such things without batting an eye?

"The number of monsters has increased quite a bit. It seems the withering effect has improved... Hey, crouch down! I can't see what is in the front!" Walson delivered a karate chop to my head as I tried to look ahead.

"O-Okay!" Being close to Walson like this is truly a dream come true! If this is a dream, please never let me wake up!

At the beginning of our journey, I thought I could keep up with everyone using my proud "Stride of the Wind," but it turned out I was wrong, ridiculously wrong. I couldn't catch up with the others and was left far behind.

Just when I was about to cry from sadness, Walson, riding on Rifle, appeared and the situation became what it is now.

In fairy tales, princesses have their prince who rode upon their white horse, and what I have is the prince who rode upon a Gray Wolf... although it's not quite as noble and elegant as I imagined... but somehow, it's even better!

"... Sigh, we can't do this kind of thing again next time..." Walson sighed.

"Huh? Huh?" No more Gray Wolf Prince!?

"Crouch down!" I received another karate chop.

"Ow..."

"I'll think about how to make new equipment for you so you can keep up with everyone."

"R-Really?" I became happy again.

Even though there's no Gray Wolf Prince anymore, receiving a gift from Walson is great too!

"Why do you keep raising your head? Crouch down properly!" I received another karate chop.

"Yes!" I happily crouched down.

I recalled the presence of Maany in the orphanage, a kind-hearted female nun, who had become like a mother figure to Walson and the other children at the orphanage.

Knowing the importance of leaving a favorable impression on her, I had dedicated extra effort the previous night to prepare dinner, meticulously utilizing ingredients enhanced with the enchanting power of "Elvenisation."

The result was a meal that brought smiles and contentment to everyone's faces, spreading a sense of joy throughout the orphanage.

Later that evening, as we were getting ready for bed, Maany approached me with a gentle curiosity. She inquired about my relationship with Walson and expressed interest in my thoughts and feelings towards him...

Unlike a certain [Villager], she's really perceptive.

"Iit would be great if I could be his wife!" I couldn't help but mutter my response from last night.

"Huh? Barella, Did you say something?"

"No, I didn't say anything!"