Chapter 35

"What?"

"You're too anxious."

I say,

"We've been walking for a long time, and you just recovered from your injury. It's better to rest a bit more here."

"...Alright."

To my surprise, Amu sat down again quite obediently.

"Thirsty? I have water."

I say, and offer the kettle hanging from the ceiling. Amu looks at it suspiciously.

"I've been wanting to ask, what is this?"

"It's called a kettle, used to boil herbs in Song... no, a foreign country. Now it only has water in it."

Amu tentatively takes the handle, puts her mouth to the spout, and tilts the kettle.

"...It's delicious."

"Isn't it?"

Satisfied with her answer, I take a sip of the water from the hanging kettle myself.

The hanging kettle, as its name suggests, is a kettle-shaped yokai that hangs from trees in the mountains. It's not harmful at all; in fact, it's a blessing because the water inside is very tasty, and I even went out of my way to find one because it's quite rare. It was a bit of a struggle, but it was worth it.

Actually, if I told her it's made of monster fluids, Amu might get angry. But it's just water.

"Let's talk."

"Talk?"

"Actually, I came here today because I wanted to talk to you, Amu. Is there anything you want to ask me?"

After thinking for a moment, Amu speaks in a small voice.

"What attributes can you really use?"

"Who knows?"

"Who knows?"

"To be honest, I don't really know what kind of magic I'm using. Ah..."

I say with a wry smile.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask too many questions about magic. Some answers are hard to give."

"Hmm, I see. Then... how far did you really go with that servant?"

"Hah, that topic again?"

"What? You said to ask anything you want."

Amu glares at me.

"Did you kiss her?"

"No, I didn't."

"Did you at least touch her breasts or butt?"

"No, I didn't. What do you think of me?"

"What? She's your slave, right? You can do whatever you want without anyone blaming you. The other guys definitely look at her with lust."

"Huh? Who are these guys?"

"Stop being so scary all of a sudden. Ha."

Amu sighs.

"Boring."

"What do you mean, boring? You sound like a crude old man..."

"Actually, I think she probably likes you."

"...I've been told that before, but it's a misunderstanding. Eifa and I grew up together, like family."

"Family? You're a noble, and she's a slave?"

"It's not that uncommon. Sometimes children are educated together from a young age and then freed as adults to help with estate management or business. It's cost-effective, like having one tutor for all."

"What a cheap reason."

"Eifa's situation was different... I was the son of a concubine, so I was always treated like a sore spot at home. Ignored by my mother, bullied by my older brother, and gossiped about by the maids. Eifa was the only one who treated me normally. That's why she doesn't use formal language with me."

"...I see."

"Got it? That's the kind of relationship we have."

---Actually.

Actually, I just don't want to get emotionally involved. I want to be prepared to cut ties at any time.

I don't trust humans, even if I'm reborn.

"You've... had a tough time too, haven't you? What about your real mother? Since you were taken in by the earl's family... did she die?"

"Um... I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I never really thought about it."

It didn't matter to me.

"Well, if you think about it, she probably died, right? Otherwise, they wouldn't have taken me in, I guess."

"Light... Didn't you feel lonely? Even with all that happening at home?"

"To be honest, I didn't really feel that bad. Now, my family isn't that bad. My mother and second brother are still the same, but Father approved of me going to the academy, and I received a letter from my older brother recently."

"Wow... You're quite different, aren't you?"

Amu says, sounding exasperated. I laugh and ask,

"Is your family still in the adventurer business?"

"How do you know? Did someone tell you?"

"No. You seemed to know a lot about dungeons and adventurers, so I thought that might be the case."

"That's right. My mother is a guild officer, and my father is still an adventurer."

"You seemed used to fighting monsters. Did you explore forests and dungeons too?"

"...Since I was ten. With my father."

"Figures."

"..."

---

"Are you one of the stronger adventurers?"

"...I don't know. I'm not officially registered with the guild, so on paper, I'm not even a tenth-level adventurer."

"Why aren't you registered?"

"You can't join the guild until you're fifteen."

"But you can explore dungeons?"

"...Technically, you're not supposed to, but they're not that strict."

"Interesting."

...

It seems like she doesn't want to talk about it. Let's change the topic.

"Hey, do you have any hobbies?"

"...Not really."

"By the way, I heard there's a swordsmanship club at the academy. Are you not joining?"

"It seemed too easy. I prefer practicing on my own."

"Um, then... what do you like?"

"......Fighting."

"Huh?"

"Whether it's monsters or people, I like fighting. More than anything else... just that."

"..."

Did the topic change? Amu still seems reluctant to talk, and I'm at a loss for words.

"You're weird, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

Amu, sitting with her knees up, hugs her staff-sword.

"My father and mother both said I'm weird."

"..."

"Adventurers... even the toughest ones, usually value something other than adventuring the most. Money, fame, family, friends. No one lives just for adventuring."

"..."

"Getting hurt is painful, and almost dying is scary. But I think those are trivial things... apparently, that's not normal. Everyone, somewhere in their hearts, hates fighting. I... I think my feelings are broken."

I listen to Amu's monologue in silence.

"I'm strong, right? I've always been strong. I learned swordsmanship and magic quickly. Everyone in the guild called me a genius. Some even said I was the reincarnation of a hero. When I first explored a dungeon, I defeated many monsters and was praised for my bravery. By the time a year had passed, my skills were recognized, and I joined parties other than my father's. But... that didn't last long."

"..."

"Looking back, it was inevitable. After a large party collapsed and half of them died, the guild was in a funeral-like atmosphere. I was the one who calmly suggested going again. I was called a combat maniac, crazy, and suicidal. To avoid causing trouble for my parents, I stopped joining parties, but I still secretly went into the forest alone. So, they were right."

"..."

"I came to the academy partly to get away from the guild... and to get stronger. I wanted to learn more magic and become the strongest, thinking that if I did, fighting would become boring, and maybe I could become normal... but it seems impossible."

"..."

"Because... I enjoy being attacked by lesser demons more than attending classes at the academy. I think I'm weird... so..."

I interrupt her.

"I don't think you're weird."

I say.

"Everyone is different. That's what makes us unique."

"...But there are limits to uniqueness, right?"

"There are no limits. If there's such a thing as 'normal,' then you're normal too."

"...What do you mean?"

Amu glares at me sideways.

"Stop trying to make me feel better."

"I'm not. Think about it... what kind of children should life leave behind?"

I think for a moment and continue.

"Life, in general, is about leaving behind offspring to continue to the next generation. What kind of children should be left behind?"

"Strong children, right?"

"What does strong mean?"

"Strong means powerful or intelligent."

"Power can be a hindrance in an environment where it's not needed, making the body heavier. Intelligence can sometimes hinder new challenges."

"Then what kind of children are good?"

"Diverse children."

I say.

"Strength varies with the environment, and even gods can't predict how the environment will change. Will it get hotter or colder? How much will food decrease, and how many enemies will increase? Therefore, life leaves behind as diverse children as possible, so that at least one of them can survive in any environment. The fact that each person is different is for this reason. Amu is just one of these diverse children."

"..."

"Amu's ideal environment just hasn't come yet. If the world becomes more conflict-ridden, the so-called normal people will be exhausted by the fighting. But if Amu leads everyone and encourages them, I think they will be grateful. No one will call you crazy."

"..."

"But that might never come, right?"

"Even if it doesn't, it's still okay. Your existence had meaning. You were preparing for a world of conflict. At least, I don't think you're weird."

"..."

"Besides, Amu, you must have things you like other than fighting."

"Huh? What?"

"Dirty jokes. You seemed the most entertained by them today... Ow!"

I get nudged by the hilt of her sheath. Amu, blushing, glares at me.

"Adventurers are all rough and crude, so their tastes rubbed off on me! If you tell anyone, I'll kill you! And... and I... I took off my clothes too!!"

"Hehe."

"What's with that reaction? Are you threatening me!?"

"No, not at all. I just thought your positive attitude was good."

Amu, blinking, suddenly falls silent.

"You're right. I should have said this after we survive."

"We will survive. Definitely."

"Okay..."

After that, Amu falls silent.

Actually, there's one thing I didn't tell Amu. The possibility that her combat-driven personality is due to being a reincarnation of a hero. While she doesn't seem to have the memories like I do, her talent for swords and magic might be linked to her disposition.

But there's no need to mention it.

Then, at that moment,

I lift my face and look up at the ceiling.

Hmm, could this be...

"...Thank you, Seika."

"..."

"It was good talking to you. And I'm grateful for your help."

"..."

"...Seika?"

I look back at Amu, then stand up with a smile.

"Alright! Let's go, Amu!"

"Huh, huh?"

"This is a dungeon, right? I'm new to adventuring. Let's enjoy it. Even if it's just the two of us, we can handle monsters."

"...Fine. I'll teach you as a senior adventurer. Watch closely."

Amu smiles reluctantly and takes my outstretched hand.