Chapter 32

This is when Aina was four years old.

The town where they lived was burned by war.

The house, everything, even Aina's favorite toys, all turned to ashes.

It was sad.

It was sad that the house full of happy memories was gone.

But what was the saddest was that her father was taken away as a soldier.

It seemed to be something called a national duty.

— I'll be back soon.

Her father said, patting her head.

— Take care of Aina.

He said, hugging her mother.

It took half a year for the war to end.

Aina still vividly remembers the day the war ended.

Because the whole town was in a festive uproar.

A year passed, then two years.

Father still hadn't returned.

It was when Aina was six that her mother suggested moving to a different town.

Aina opposed it. Of course, right?

Aina was waiting for her father to come back.

If they moved to a different town, her father would be at a loss when he returned, wouldn't he?

Seeing Aina stubbornly insisting on staying, her mother quietly cried.

She hugged Aina and just cried.

Aina loves her mother very much. She doesn't want to see her cry.

So Aina agreed to leave the town.

The luggage was just a small backpack and a large backpack.

Held by her mother's hand, they crossed several borders and arrived in Ninorich, a town on the frontier.

When Aina asked her mother why she chose such a frontier, her mother answered, "Because there's no war here."

So we don't have to lose anyone important anymore.

Still, life on the frontier was not easy.

Her mother, unaccustomed to farm work, had her hands full of blisters.

There was hardly any food.

Yet her mother tried to make Aina eat a lot and ate very little herself.

In the second year after moving to Ninorich, it happened.

Her mother fell ill.

Unable to stand, her mother said sorry to Aina.

What are you sorry for? I should be the one apologizing.

Isn't it all my fault that I made her work so hard until she got to this state?

Aina picked flowers and got permission to sell them at the market with her meager copper coins.

From morning till night, she sold flowers at the market.

It was during this time that she met Shiro.

Shiro not only bought a lot of flowers but also hired her.

Now I can make things easier for my mother.

Aina thanked all the gods she knew.

She thanked the gods who brought her to Shiro.

Shiro often treated Aina to very delicious meals.

Aina saved half and brought it back to her mother.

When Aina told her to eat because it was delicious, her mother just shook her head.

Apparently, she had already eaten before Aina came back.

Aina knew it was a lie.

Yet her mother stubbornly refused to eat.

At this moment, Aina realized that her stubbornness was inherited from her mother.

The first paycheck she received was ten silver coins.

The use was already decided.

Because a adventurer had said,

— Potions can cure anything, you know.

These words became Aina's hope.

But the town's apothecary didn't sell potions.

So Aina approached adventurers and asked them to sell her a potion.

Ten silver coins from Shiro and twenty-three copper coins Aina had saved for her mother.

She approached many adventurers and finally managed to buy a potion a few days ago.

The potion that cost all her savings.

Aina carefully held the small bottle containing the potion and ran to her mother.

Lying that she got it from Shiro, she made her mother drink the potion.

But... nothing happened.

Aina felt a sense of darkness envelop her.

What should she do?

How can she save her mother from the illness?

Money.

If she had money, she could take her mother to a big city and maybe cure her.

Aina, who had few people to rely on, had only one person to turn to.

She was afraid of being disliked by Shiro, whom she loved very much.

But she was even more afraid of her mother dying.

God, I don't mind being disliked. But please save my mother.

Aina gritted her teeth, scolded her trembling knees, gripped the hem of her dress tightly, and mustered all her courage.

"Please... please give me some money, Aina."

She said, prepared to be disliked and despised.

But Shiro gently patted her head.