CH 42

Each Other’s Wounds

We advanced through the dark forest, heading towards the village.

I haven’t heard of that village’s name.

It’s a very small village. Even though it isn’t that far from the Royal Capital, it hasn’t developed much, probably because it is surrounded by forest. Contrary to our mental state while we were in the midst of eloping, as we couldn’t let our guard down for even an instant, the scenery that stretched out before us was peaceful and idyllic.

“I can prepare the food by tomorrow morning, but medicines will be difficult.”

The owner of the cramped store said with a troubled face.

After listening to the what the villagers had to say, Mize and I visited this store, but it seems that its assortment of products isn’t that great. The reason why we came to this village was to rest and replenish our supplies. If it’s possible, I would have liked to replenish not only our food supply, but our supply of medicines as well, but it seems like that would be difficult right now.

“The medicines are scheduled to arrive at around noon tomorrow.”

“… I understand. Then for now, we’ll take the medicines lined up on the shelves.”

There’s nothing more we can do about it.

I let out a sigh and go to the shelf to collect some of the displayed medicines, when Mize walks towards me, carrying several medicines in both hands.

“These are the ones, right?”

“… Yeah.”

After showing me the medicines that she was carrying, Mize placed them in front of the store owner.

She was considerate to the extent that she hardly seemed like a princess.

“I guess we’ll depart by noon tomorrow.”

“That’s more leisurely than I thought.”

After purchasing the bare minimum supplies necessary, we went out of the store.

At worst, we could gather food in the forest, but we can’t do the same for medicines. Some support-type magics could cure diseases, but unfortunately, neither Mize nor I can use them.

“Shall we go to the inn?”

“Yes.”

According to what the villagers said, although this is a small village, there is an inn here because merchants would occasionally pass by.

We entered the old, small inn and headed towards the counter.

“Will you be taking one room? Or will you take two?”

That question came from an old man sitting behind the worn-out counter, and in response, I took a glance at the contents of my wallet.

“Two sho-”

“One would be alright.”

At Mize’s clear declaration, the old man and I look at her with wide eyes.

“Is it fine with you?”

“On our way here, didn’t you say that we don’t have much money left? Besides, we’ve already stayed in the same carriage for several days now, haven’t we?”

Certainly, along the way, I’ve often mentioned that we only had a bit of money left. Since we departed so suddenly, I didn’t have time to prepare.

Since we’ve acted together for the past few days, Mize trusts me in various ways. It wasn’t unreasonable, as within the narrow carriage, we had to move our bodies closer to each other to sleep… It might be that she was simply numb to the sensation.

“I thought that you were inviting me.”

“I-I was not inviting you!”

Mize’s face turns bright-red, and she gets angry.

We rented one room and decided to spend the night there.

“It’s great that we were able to find an inn.”

“Yeah.”

I nod my head in response to Mize, who had regained her good mood.

— It really is great.

Although we don’t show it to each other on the outside, spending countless days in a narrow carriage is mentally taxing. It’s fortunate that we were able to get into an inn at this timing. If it’s possible, I want to rest both my mind and body today.

“We’ve done what we can. We have free time from this point on… but having said that, it’s almost night already.”

We already had dinner in the carriage before we visited the village.

There was also no need to walk outside to do anything.

“Shall we head to bed already?”

“If we can sleep, that would be good.”

Both of us should be exhausted. It would be best for us to rest as much as possible.

Mize slowly gets into her bed.

After turning off the lights in the room, I also lie down on my bed.

The moonlight gleams through the window.

I shut my eyelids for a while, and sleep takes over me. The battles that took place day after day have considerably exhausted me.

However, Mize, who should also be exhausted, tossed and turned in her bed countless times, unable to sleep.

“Can’t sleep?”

“… Yes.”

After replying, Mize raised her upper body.

I also sat up on my bed.

“… I’ve, been having dreams… the memories, of those who have inherited <Wisdom Road> until now, swirl around in my head…”

Mize says, while lowering her gaze.

“This power was developed during the Second Great Hero-Demon War. Its purpose was to assist the Hero during the Great Hero-Demon Wars… to produce a large number of excellent assistants for the Hero, and not just in the Second Great Hero-Demon War, but in all possible wars that could occur thereafter. If it had turned out well, the family with <Wisdom Road> would be able to firmly grasp the position of being a family that would support the Heroes for generations to come.

But as you know, this power was not used in the Fourth Great Hero-Demon War… It was decided that, rather than to assist the Hero, <Wisdom Road> should instead be used for the sake of the country.”

The magic named <Wisdom Road> was unheard of during the Fourth Great Hero-Demon War.

If this magic had been used for its original purpose– Mize might have been standing beside the Hero on that battlefield.

“Since the Royal Family of Arcadia came to control this power, the possessors of <Wisdom Road> were to be imprisoned. They were unable to go outside; their days were spent having knowledge constantly drilled into them… It was as if they were being told to continue living solely for the sake of the next generation.”

Become a stepping-stone for the sake of the future generations that will flourish someday.

That way of living conveyed such a will.

“The sorrow and suffering of the previous possessors are constantly swirling around in my head… Even now, when I close my eyes, I can hear their voices: I want to be free, I want to be free, I want to be free—- I can hear the heartrending screams of those girls ringing in my ears!”

Mize says with a face that’s on the verge of breaking into tears.

“Is that why you’ve been having night terrors recently?”

“… Did I have night terrors?”

I haven’t told Mize this, but as of late, when she was sleeping, she had severe cases of night terrors. It’s also part of the reason why I suggested that we rest in this village.

The memories of the previous possessors of <Wisdom Road>. As she is now, those may be the equivalent of nightmares for Mize.

“Is my desire for freedom truly born out of my own will?”

Mize asks in a mutter.

“Possibly, even the reason I aspired to become an adventurer… might have been because of these memories.”

This is probably the true nature of the problem that’s been weighing on Mize’s mind; that a complete stranger’s memory is overwriting her own will. She has been dreading such a terrible thing.

“… I’ve heard that the effect of <Wisdom Road> does not go as far as inheriting personalities.”

I remember what Chris told me and relay it to Mize.

Her eyes turn round, and I continue to ask her questions.

“Have any of the previous possessors been adventurers?”

“… No. At this time, I haven’t seen a memory like that.”

“Mize, I know just how hard you have studied to become an adventurer. When we took the commission to defeat Demonic Beasts, and when we explored the Labyrinth, you always looked like you were having fun. At least, the feelings you felt at that time… belonged to you, Mize, and no one else.”

“… But that might just be because the previous possessors yearned to go on adventures. And just because I can be an outlet for their long-standing feelings, that joy I felt may not even be mine!”

“Yearning cannot persist without effort.”

I clearly say this to the anxious Mize.

“Maybe it is as you say, Mize, and from the beginning, you yearned to become an adventurer because you were influenced by the previous successors. However, even though the previous possessors yearned for adventure, they did not know the hardships that came with it. When we were defeating Demonic Beasts, and when we were exploring the Labyrinth, there were many times when you faced danger, Mize. The previous owners may have stopped their adventures right there. But even though you learned of the hardships of adventure, you made the decision to continue to strive for adventure… and that was undeniably your own will, Mize.”

Before I knew it, Mize, who had been listening to my thoughts without saying anything, was looking at me with wide eyes.

After wiping her tears with the back of her hand, a smile floated on Mize’s face.

“… I think I can sleep well tonight.”

That’s good.

Mize and I are in a three-legged race now. If one of us falls, the other one also has no choice but to stop.

“Tweight-san, do you not have anything to worry about? After all, we went on a journey all of a sudden.”

Mize asks abruptly.

I looked at the scenery outside the window, at the night sky lit up by the moonlight, before answering.

“It would be a lie to say that I don’t have any worries… But in my case, it isn’t the first time I’ve experienced something like this. With that being said, in comparison to Mize, I’m probably better off.”

“… This isn’t your first time, is it?”

Mize mutters quietly.

“Come to think of it… I hardly know anything about you, Tweight-san.”

While saying that, Mize looked directly at me.

“If you don’t mind, please tell me about it. Tweight-san, what kind of life have you lived until now?”

“Let’s see…”

I don’t think I can tell her everything.

But Mize has some confidence regarding my circumstances.

As long as I don’t talk about any classified information, it should be fine.

“I am what you would call an abandoned child.”

Mize gasps.

“After being abandoned in an orphanage, I was picked up by someone from the army of the Kingdom of Terraria… At that time, I was 5 years old.”

“At that age, you joined the army…?”

“I wasn’t deployed into actual combat until much later, though.”

I give a smile to Mize, who looks sad.

“But, in the sense that I recklessly pushed myself, without yet knowing left from right, it’s similar to our situation right now… In fact, the first time I was deployed into battle, it was a fierce journey. At that time, I was still inexperienced, but the enemy had no way of knowing that… I was pursued countless times, and I was almost killed countless times.”

“… Tweight-san, so you’ve also experienced such difficulties.”

“I wonder about that. In my case, it merely felt like I was desperately struggling to stay alive.”

Because I was too desperate, the days became dull. My emotions wore off until, amidst the lives and deaths of others, I didn’t even lift an eyebrow. This is why I didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment when I slew the Demon King.

“Did you not have any comrades? Weren’t there people who supported you at that time, Tweight-san…?”

“Comrades, huh… I guess I had some; but now, more than half of them are already dead.”

After I replied in a small voice, Mize moved from her own bed into mine.

Then, she tightly embraced me with her delicate body.

“Mize?”

“… Do you hate the thought of licking each other’s wounds?”

A girl who had just lost her place in the world, was trying to soothe my wounds without healing her own.

Then, shouldn’t I at least heal her wounds?

“Good night.”

“… Yeah, good night.”

While feeling the warmth of each other’s skin, we slowly drifted off to sleep.

Until now, I had thought that I would never long for the warmth of another– but now, I think that I finally understand that feeling.

More than when I was sleeping in the student dormitories. More than when I was sleeping in the Organization’s dormitories. I felt like I could sleep more comfortably than ever before.

However– such a time does not last forever.

“Mize, wake up.”

I shake the body of the sleeping girl in front of me to wake her up.

“… Tweight, -san?”

“They’ve come.”

Mize, who was still half-asleep, instantly widened her eyes.

“The traps I had set along the way were activated. There are probably some enemies lurking in the vicinity… We have to leave this village immediately.”

I got off the bed and began to change my clothes, and Mize was also preparing in a rush.

Several <Bomb Traps> that I had set up around the village had activated. They were set up on narrow, steep paths that animals and Demonic Beasts could not pass. Ordinary people shouldn’t be passing through those paths. Only people who wanted to approach the village while hiding themselves would pass through those paths.

It was late at night, and there were still a few hours left before dawn.

We must take advantage of the darkness to escape as far away as possible.

We went down to the first floor while hiding the sound of our footsteps, placed the key to the room on the unmanned counter, and left the village.

“Tweight-san, the carriage…”

“We don’t have time; we’ll have to leave it.”

Even if we retrieved the carriage, we wouldn’t be able to advance in this darkness.

Besides, if the enemy has come this far, they would already be watching the roads that a carriage could take.

“Ah!?”

While running through the forest, Mize stumbles on the uneven ground.

I hold her body, which was about to fall down.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes… I’m sorry.”

We were actually supposed to spend the whole night resting, so her physical fatigue had not yet dissipated. In addition, she was woken up halfway through her sleep, so her mind hasn’t calmed down yet.

“You’ll have to wait a bit longer before you can rest. Right now, we have to get as far away from the village as possible.”

“… Yes.”

By this time, the Bureau’s people should have already started searching the village.

Mize is already breathing heavily. But in this situation, I can’t afford to fret over it. We continued to move at a pace where Mize wouldn’t collapse from exhaustion.

“If we reach the Republic of Carnabun, will we finally be safe?”

Mize, whose clothes are stained with dirt, mutters in a feeble voice.

“Honestly, I don’t know. The Republic is currently hostile to the Kingdom of Arcadia… Normally, when a member of royalty from a hostile country comes into their hands, they would use it as a diplomatic card. Depending on what they decide to do… you could be held captive for the rest of your life.”

“That’s…”

“It’s only a hypothetical story. So, when we flee to the Republic, we should hide our origins as much as possible; we will not enter the Republic under the guise of seeking asylum.”

The Republic’s connection to the Kingdom of Arcadia is a bit too strong.

If we reveal our origins, the possibility that they would protect us is high, but in that case, the possibility that she would be held captive once more is also high. But… for Mize, who had already left the Kingdom of Arcadia to seek freedom, that situation would be no better.

“… If I reach the Republic, and still want to escape… Tweight-san, would you still come with me?”

“Yeah.”

While staggering, Mize said in a fleeting voice, to which I immediately respond.

“No matter where I go, will you still go together with me?”

“Yeah.”

Continuing from my answer, Mize lowers her gaze and asks me once more.

“… Even until I die, will you-”

“As expected, that’s a bit too much of a leap.”

While watching our surroundings, I reply.

“But, if this is a journey that won’t end until you die… then I will die together with you, Mize.”

For me, who hasn’t lived a proper life of my own, I cannot make the arrogant choice to save Mize.

But I should at least make the decision to not betray her.

Heading towards the next resting place, we single-mindedly advance through the forest.

Author’s Note (Kakuyomu Version):

I’ve resumed updating this work!

I hope you enjoy it!

The Swordsman with <Specialized Attack Range> ~ I Got Caught up in a Battle Royale that Intersects the Real World and Another World Once Every 500 Years, But It Seems that I Have Drawn the Strongest Power! ~

https://kakuyomu.jp/works/1177354054922786946

Synopsis:

“Wonderful Joker”– a battle that takes place once every 500 years to determine a new God.

One day, by the will of God, 300 Earthlings were chosen as participants for “Wonderful Joker”.

The participants are given an angel as a partner that can be weaponized, and the winner is promised that any wish can be fulfilled.

Setsuya, a second-year student in high school, joins the game in search of his missing sister.

He is given a female angel named Lu, who controls the attribute of “Sky”. She is the most powerful of all the angels, specializing in a wide range of attacks.

Participants can freely enter and leave the game-like other world, where the battles take place.

Participants can enjoy the other world to the fullest or form bonds with the natives (NPCs).

However – there is only one player who can survive to the end.

This is a tale of adventure about an ordinary boy who, together with the strongest partner, wreaks havoc in another world.

This is also the tale of a hero who becomes stronger than anyone else in order to save his only family.

Author’s Note (Syosetu Version):

This is the nocturne.

Translator’s Note:

For the final dialogue, in the original Japanese, Mize uses the word 一緒に (Issho ni), which means together or with. Throughout this translation, I’ve also translated another word as together, which is 共に (Tomo ni) which also means together or with. These two words have slightly different nuances, where 共に (Tomo ni) means to do something at the same time. An example of this would be when you and a co-worker would both be working on something together, but the things that you are working on are different. On the other hand, 一緒に (Issho ni) implies doing something together. An example of this would be if you and a co-worker are both working on the same thing together.

Source (in Japanese): https://okurukotoba.tokyo/archives/4134