Chapter 14: The Good Reason for His Absence, Part 2
As I wandered aimlessly through the streets connecting the entertainment district and the city, I came upon a small river. This river served as the primary water source for those among the common folk who could not wield magic.
The area was quiet, which suited me just fine. I made my way to the bridge spanning the river without a care.
The water flowed gently, sparkling as it reflected the sunlight. A splash echoed as an unfamiliar fish leaped from the water. Leaning against the bridge railing, I gazed at the ceaselessly flowing water.
There were many things I needed to think about. Fortunately, I had plenty of time to do so.
The fact that Milan, a mere child, knew of the fabricated tales spun by Ryuguin was troubling. It was likely that the people of this border town were also well aware of the stories surrounding Ryuguin.
Moreover, considering that even in this remote corner of the Arcana Kingdom, the tales had spread, it was clear that within the kingdom, the stories of Ryuguin were regarded as public knowledge.
The heroic tales of Ryuguin that I had seen in the theater were no different. I had heard that the script for that particular play was supervised by Ryuguin itself. This might have been a form of propaganda to make the journey ahead easier for the Hero Party. At the same time, it was undoubtedly a smear campaign against me, who knew the whole truth.
Still─────
The cheerful voices of children reached my ears. Two kids appeared at the riverbank, carrying a large tub piled high with clothes. After a bit of playful splashing, they began to help their parents with the laundry.
I leaned forward against the railing, resting my elbows on it.
There were not many who knew of my struggles. Surely, the king and other dignitaries were aware of what I had done. They must have known about the bad reputation surrounding Ryuguin as well.
But what was the reality? All the truths had become distorted.
And then─── those girls who had been by my side, who had stood next to me, were no different.
Did they allow such cowardly acts, attributing all the achievements to the Ryuguin Party while belittling me?
Did they grow tired of disregarding me as a party member and then throw me into the mire of public malice?
Princess Puffy, with flushed cheeks, clinging to Ryuguin. Mika and Angelica, ignoring their roles in the party, were all over Ryuguin. And Eris, who had tried to offer her sword to Ryuguin, even if it was just an attempt.
It was possible that they could do such things.
I felt my body tremble involuntarily. I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or sadness. Perhaps it was a mix of both.
I gently reached into my pocket. Inside was the cold, hard object.
I gripped it tightly, as if seeking salvation, as if clinging to something.
As I touched it, the weak part of me within my heart surfaced, as if it had given up on something.
───You’ve done enough already, haven’t you?
───You’ve done what you could.
───Besides, nobody is asking for you.
───You saw the play, right? That’s the undeniable truth for everyone!
───So, isn’t it okay to go back to Japan without pushing yourself anymore?
Another splash echoed as the nameless fish jumped again.
○○○
Suddenly, snapping back to reality, I noticed the children waving at me, thinking I was looking at them. “Gooood afternoon!” they called out cheerfully.
“Hey! Keep it up!” I replied, tossing some candy from my Magic Bag to them.
“Wow, thank you, mister!” they exclaimed joyfully. Soon after, they returned to their tasks, splashing around in the water. The river continued to flow, indifferent to my thoughts, and my muddled mind began to drift like the water once more.
Princess Puffy, who wished to carve out her own world. Mika, who hugged me when I felt overwhelmed with anxiety and stayed by my side. Angelica, who cried when she saw me hurt. Eris, who called me her master and clung to me like a puppy.
In the end, I couldn’t tell which was their true self.
If they were going to abandon me, then abandon me. If they were going to believe in me, then believe in me. I was stuck, unable to choose either, forever holding my head in my hands.
I hated this side of myself.
○○○
From beneath the bridge, I heard the children’s voices calling, “Goodbye, mister!” They ran off energetically, skillfully dodging the laundry that blocked their view.
I suddenly noticed the weight of the Magic Bag slung over my shoulder. I had been carrying it around as if it were a natural part of me since I was in town.
Inside were the ingredients for the dish that Sena had wanted to eat, packed to the brim.
───Ichiro!
For a moment, I thought I heard Sena’s voice. It felt like her usual affectionate tone, as if she was considering my feelings.
I wanted to see her face. I wanted to touch her.
Before I knew it, the sun was beginning to set. I returned the object to my pocket and left the bridge behind.
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