The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

"Ruchi. Are you okay?"

"These little girls, they're really making it hard for an old man like me."

Ruchi sighed as he stared at the stone wall in front of him.

"How long has it been..."

Ruchi ran his hand over the stone wall as he spoke.

"Hey, Hainzel. Can you see this stone? I carved it, you know. How does it look? This is probably the best one, right?"

"The finishing is terrible. Shouldn't the finish be as smooth as my head?"

Ruchi responded with a serious expression.

"That's true."

"Hmm. You sound quite upset when you respond seriously."

After a brief silence, the two of them burst into loud laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! Ruchi! You look fine!"

"Heh heh heh! Oh... do I look fine? I'm falling apart inside."

"That's probably because you're still trash, right?"

"Heh heh... then, Hainzel, why don't you go visit your hometown? And lower that damn voice of yours. What will you do if the young ladies hear you?"

"Cough, cough. Right... I forgot about that."

"It seems like the wrinkles in your brain have disappeared just like your scalp."

"Doesn't seem that way?"

The two adventurers continued laughing noisily.

"Hmm... Oh, look, clown. Let's go in now. Ruchi, you can prepare yourself before going in if you want."

"What for? There's nothing to prepare. Let's just go."

"Stop acting tough."

"Well, since I only have one eye, even if I cry, you won't see it, so I can maintain my swagger."

"Oh... I see, that's a plus."

"Right."

Tap- tap-

"By the way, Ruchi. What should we do about the guys following us?"

"Well, if the young ladies catch them, it'll be troublesome..."

"How about we come up with some fake names first?"

"Hmm. Then I'll go with 'Richi'."

"Then I'll go with 'Ahinkel'."

"Hainzel, you really have no sense."

"Your name sounds like a skull-shaped bowl."

Tap- tap-

The two adventurers walked in silence for a while, arriving at the center of the ruins.

Hainzel, who had kept quiet, drew his halberd and spoke.

"Doesn't it feel like we're here to catch a runaway daughter?"

Ruchi drew his sword and responded.

"It doesn't seem like it's just about that. Their armor looks serious. Are they planning to kill the escort?"

"Heh heh... Damn bastards."

Hainzel's teeth ground together.

"Hainzel. Do you remember the request? We're not supposed to kill anyone."

"Ugh. Of course. But, don't you think Hermeela would forgive us if we made a mistake or two?"

"True. But it has to be really hot for that to happen."

The two adventurers stopped, waiting for the knight order to arrive.

"Hey, Ruchi. Do you think three mistakes would be okay?"

"Three each? Hermeela would probably have a hard time with that too."

"Hmm. I see."

"Right."

"So, Noah. Please answer. Where is the survivor from Hablon... the person named Ruchi?"

After hearing Noah's mention of the survivor from Hablon, I pressed her for more details.

But Noah avoided the questions, slowly dodging them.

She said it was too dangerous to talk here and suggested we move to a safer place to continue the conversation.

So, we hurried and arrived at an old house where we decided to rest.

"Uh, I don't know where they are... I just know they exist..."

Noah averted her gaze as she responded.

"Are you sure that there's a survivor?"

"Yes... I'm sure."

That doesn't make sense.

Not just from Hablon, but I had also looked for survivors from other destroyed villages.

But I couldn't find a single one.

There were no survivors.

The only reason I was searching for survivors was simple.

I was curious about what happened to someone who met the same fate as me.

Did they fall like I did?

Or did they rise up?

If there is a survivor.

If there is someone who rose, unlike me who fell.

I wanted to have hope.

I wanted to find courage through them.

It was a weak feeling, but...

It was still necessary.

A place to lean on, a person's warmth, a heart that could empathize.

So, I searched.

I used every method I could to search.

But I couldn't find anyone, anything, not even a trace.

But now, Noah says she knows about a survivor?

I couldn't believe it.

"So, Noah. How do you know about this survivor?"

"My... teacher... told me."

Teacher?

Noah has a teacher?

"Your teacher?"

"Yes... Hehe..."

"Your teacher... did they teach you how to fight?"

She nodded.

"Then... they must be quite amazing."

Noah might seem insignificant in other areas...

But when it comes to fighting, she's incredible.

It's hard to believe she's only been an adventurer for two months.

But if her teacher is the one who taught her, they must be extraordinary.

So... naturally, I expected some praise for the teacher.

"Was he amazing...? Hmm... I just... relied on him a lot... I couldn’t do without him..."

Noah gave a strange answer with a wistful look.

The information about the survivor was important, but...

I had to address this first.

"Relied on... couldn’t do without him...?"

"Yes... Even now, the [Black Sun]... Hmm! When I think of my teacher, I get angry and upset, but... I still want to see him again. Anyway, yeah... that's the kind of person he was... Hehe."

What?

"You're angry and upset, but you want to see him again? Your teacher?"

"Yes... I can't forget him... If I saw him again... I think I could do it right from the start, without any mistakes..."

Hearing Noah's answer, I felt a strange emotion.

It wasn't just strange.

It was frustrating.

Was it because I saw my younger sibling in her?

"Noah. Is your teacher a man?"

"Y-yes...? Why are you asking... all of a sudden?"

"Just curious."

"Uh... um... It's a secret."

"Ah, so... were you close with him? Your teacher?"

"Umm... I think we did just about everything together... there were tough times, painful times... but it was good."

Noah lowered her head, as if embarrassed.

Clack-

I gritted my teeth.

I closed my eyes and quietly reflected in my mind.

What is this dirty feeling?

Thud- thud- thud-

I tapped the desk, trying to gather my thoughts.

After a moment, my thoughts came to a conclusion.

Right.

I saw Noah like a little sister.

And I was jealous that this little sister, Noah, had experienced love before me.

Of course, I had no intention of dating, but still...

Noah, younger than me.

Noah, much shorter than me.

And her, much smaller chest...

But her face is so... cute.

Her personality, so innocent...

I was just being petty.

And angry.

Who is the one who would develop feelings for someone like Noah?

Who the hell is that bastard?

Even if he's Noah's teacher...

This... this is crossing the line.

"You... Ah, Ailyn...?"

Noah must have found the silence uncomfortable, as she spoke first.

"Why?"

I unconsciously replied coldly.

I wasn't mad at Noah, but still... there was a bit of anger.

But then, I realized how petty I was feeling.

And that made me even angrier.

Really... so annoying.

"Are... are you hungry...? Let's eat..."

"Let's just have some jerky. I'm tired."

I turned my head sharply.@@novelbin@@

It was hard to look at Noah’s innocent face.

Here I am, treating her with these petty emotions.

When her pure feelings collide with mine, I feel like the narrow-minded one.

That's why I had to turn my head away.

"Umm... I'll cook for you then. It'll be tastier than jerky..."

Noah shyly grabbed my hand.

Her small hand wrapped around mine.

A small, rough hand.

A hand that has survived many battles.

"Ah, Ailyn... are you mad...? S-sorry... I'll look up the survivor later... please calm down now... okay...?"

She looked up at me with a face full of concern.

It wasn't because of the survivor.

No, it was the anger toward that beast-like teacher who hurt Noah...

A little jealousy too.

Seeing Noah, so worried about my childish feelings, made me come to my senses.

Ruby, you idiot.

If you're an older sister, act like one.

What are you doing to this poor girl...

I sighed inwardly and reached out to pat Noah's head.

"It’s just a joke. I was just teasing because you're cute, Noah."

Noah's expression changed drastically upon hearing my words.

A mix of betrayal and relief.

And a look of wondering whether to laugh or stay serious.

Her emotions were all laid bare on her face, so I couldn't help but adjust.

"Really, it was just a joke. You can laugh, Noah."

"Eh...? H-how...!"

She always reacts the same way when I adjust to her emotions.

"No, I don’t have mind-reading powers. Don’t think anything weird. Heh heh..."

"Haha...!"

She immediately shut her mouth.

So cute.

Pure.

If my little sister were still alive, would she have grown up like this?

In a brief flash of a past memory...

Unable to resist the impulse for a moment...

I opened my arms and hugged Noah.

"Ugh-!"

She seemed to struggle against my chest.

Well... I guess I'll just think of it as a lesson for having experienced love before me.

Oh, and.

I need to address this.

"So, Noah. Is your teacher a man or a woman?"

"Ugh-?!"

And then...

"Where does he live?"

I’ll go there.

Ask about the survivor’s location.

And while I'm at it, make sure I never feel those feelings toward Noah again.

Even if the world ends, that bastard must be dealt with...

"Ugh-! Puh! Hah... ha... What are you doing?!"

Noah broke free from my embrace.

She’s really strong... Tch.

"I was just hugging you because you’re cute. Did you not like it?"

Being shameless in these moments, Noah’s guard drops.

It’s a sorry move, but it’s too cute to stop.

"Ugh... No, it’s not that..."

See?

"Is that so? Then..."

I opened my arms again.

"Want me to hug you again?"

I smiled at Noah.

She couldn’t see my smile, but I said it with a smile in my voice.

"Ugh... Uh... Ow..."

Noah let out a noise that wasn’t quite a word, and her face turned bright red.

This reaction is so cute, I can't stop teasing her.

Just as I was about to approach and hug Noah again...

Noah’s voice, much quieter, stopped me.

"Wait. Two men about 20 meters away... And."

The sound of metal clashing echoed from outside.

Screams and sounds of flesh being torn reached my ears.

"Behind them, twelve fully armed men."

I quickly stood up and looked outside the window.

"Over there."

Noah’s finger pointed.

I saw the knights from the Erden Temple, the ones I had escaped from.