The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

"Th-then... what brings you here, Priestess?"

Hephaes, who had been exuding crazy energy just a moment ago, suddenly became meek.

It seems like Rubia's reputation is quite something.

But didn’t Heinkel and Luch already know about her? Wasn’t it the same?

Could it be the power of experience...?

"As I mentioned earlier, I came to repair my equipment."

"But why to me...?"

"I've heard you have the best skills in this village."

Hephaes, who had been muttering strangely, suddenly bowed his head deeply.

"I-it was a rumor I started... I'm sorry. I’m a bad person."

"Uh...?"

"W-what did you say...?"

"If you’re looking for a skilled blacksmith... I’d recommend the Chrome Blacksmith’s Shop a couple of blocks further down..."

Rubia sighed deeply and wiped her face. I followed suit.

"So... you were the one who started the rumor... and your skill is lacking?"

"...Yes. The quality isn’t great... but it’s fast. I’m sorry."

"This is... quite embarrassing."

Rubia turned her face towards me.

Does that mean she’s asking what I want to do?

Hmm...

"J-just go ahead. I’ll leave it to you."

Hephaes' head shot up.

"Really?!"

"Yes, really."

If the world only liked those with experience, what would newcomers eat to survive?

And well... as long as the quality is decent, the faster the better.

"I’ll finish it as fast as possible!!"

Hephaes leaned in with a big smile.

"Ah, you don’t have to rush too much."

Rubia pushed Hephaes away slightly and declined.

Why...?! We need it fast!

"Huh? Wasn’t this urgent?"

"If you rush, mistakes happen, and when they accumulate, it becomes a problem. So, I’d like you to do it as carefully as possible. It’s... equipment for someone precious to me."

Upon hearing Rubia’s words, Hephaes covered his mouth with both hands.

"Wow... oh... Yes, yes! I understand!!"

And me... I froze, unable to do anything, unlike her.

S-someone precious...

Rubia thinks I’m... someone precious...!

I looked at Rubia’s face with a touched expression.

I don’t know what kind of expression Rubia was making, but... something around my chest felt warm.

"Hehe... someone precious... Hehe..."

"Noah? Shall we leave after handing over the equipment?"

"Yes!"

I nodded vigorously and handed over the gear I had taken out of my bag.

I checked to make sure nothing was missing...

"But this is really a mess. Judging by its state, it should’ve been broken by now, but... how is it still holding together?"

Hephaes continued to mutter as he inspected each of my pieces of equipment.

"This belt... like this... Ah, the cutting makes it move smoothly. Wow. The previous smith must’ve been incredibly skilled. But... why isn’t there any reinforcement for the blind spots?"

"Yes?"

"No, usually... parts that are hard to see or hard to avoid are reinforced. But... after finishing so neatly, these spots are left unreinforced... Looking at just the gear, the user shouldn’t have any blind spots... Ah...?"

Hephaes’ head slowly lifted. Then it tilted left.

"I know this might be a rude question, but..."

If it’s going to be a rude question, it’s probably just one...

"Y-yes. I’m blind."

I nodded and answered. Hephaes began muttering again, to himself.

"Black hair... small stature... and a blind girl with a greatsword... huh... a red beast that tears through monsters...?"

"Yes? A red beast that tears through monsters... what’s that...?!"

"Heh... Ah, uh..."

Hephaes' face turned towards Rubia.

Rubia gave the slightest shake of her head.

What are you two doing...?

I’m still holding my greatsword! I can feel everything!!

"Ru, Rubia. You know something, don’t you?"

"Ah, um..."

It’s very rare for Rubia to get flustered.

What is it...?!

"I’ll explain when we get back to the inn later."

"You have to... tell me for sure."

"Sure. It’s something you would have learned eventually. And, I’m a little... looking forward to your reaction. Hehe..."

Rubia’s laughter had a bit of malice mixed in.

What’s this...?

"Ah, here. Please take this. I’ll be counting on you. I’m using it very... carefully."

I handed over the greatsword to Hephaes, feeling an odd sense of unease.

"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind! But to say you’re using it carefully... the condition is too... Ah, no! I understand! I’ll do my best! I’ll take my time... Come pick it up after sunset!"

"Yes..."

The greatsword fell from my hands.

My vision darkened, and everything felt powerless.

The unfamiliar sensation that still overwhelmed me spread throughout my body.

I immediately grabbed Rubia’s hand tightly.

At least.

I felt a bit better.

"Wh-what about the price...?"

"Ah, right! About the price... well... I think I need to see the condition of the repairs first. The materials used are all quite tricky to handle... Is it okay if I tell you the price after I finish?"

"Mm... Okay. Let’s go, Rubia."@@novelbin@@

"Yes. Let’s go. Please, take care of it, Hephaes."

"Yes, yes!! I’ll do my best!!!!"

Following Rubia’s lead, I carefully stood up, opened the blacksmith’s door, and stepped outside.

As we were leaving, Rubia mumbled, "By evening... it should be fine."

She must be worried that talking about the "red beast that tears through monsters" would take a while, huh?

"Khh... this is so, so uncomfortable... suffocating... mmm..."

Maybe I should’ve just sat at the blacksmith’s shop and waited...

"Shall I carry you?"

"No. J-just hold my hand... you can’t let go... really, you can’t! I have a lot of money in my pocket right now. If I lose it, it’ll be... a big problem...!"

"Hehe- alright. Don’t worry."

Rubia’s hand tightened around mine.

"Now, we’re really going... to the inn, right?"

"Of course. Should we buy some snacks on the way?"

"Ah, yes... skewers!"

"The ones they were selling over there?"

"Yes, those... the smell yesterday was amazing... don’t you think they’ll taste good...?"

Rubia smiled faintly at what I said.

"Sure. Let’s go and pick some."

"Yes!"

"Th-those rumors... don’t make any sense...!!"

My hand holding the skewer trembled.

"Phuhahaha! They don’t make no sense. I felt that way when I saw Noah hunting the Black Bear too!"

After leaving the blacksmith and coming back to the inn, Rubia told me about the "red beast that tears through monsters."

That... was about me...!

The types of rumors were absurd.

"The red beast that tears through monsters" was the most representative nickname.

There were others like "The demon that drinks the blood of monsters to survive," and even... what? A demon who has been hunting ten thousand monsters to become human?

It’s nonsense...

It’s... so cringey!

I’m embarrassed! Even a middle schooler going through puberty wouldn’t come up with such nicknames!

And... they don’t even see me as human!

"So, what did I look like...?"

"You don’t remember? Oh my... you had eyes placed at your waist, your body was covered in blood... and in the end, you crushed the Black Bear’s head. I really thought you were drinking blood on purpose! And then you smiled at me... th-that was scary."

I recalled that memory.

I definitely broke its shoulder bone... then spun around and smashed its head.

Of course, back then... I wasn’t in a good mood, so I acted a bit more aggressively...

"Was it that terrible...? Did I look like a demon or beast?"

"Back then, yeah. I didn’t believe it at first. And Noah has black hair, so I didn’t believe it when they said ‘red beast.’ But then I saw you covered in blood, and I knew... Ah, this is the red beast... Hehehe..."

My face turned hot...

"But why are you telling me this now...? If I had known... I would’ve been a little more... gentle..."

"Does it really matter about those rumors? Besides... I don’t think it’s bad. You need some kind of strong image, or people won’t leave you alone. Noah’s just... well... cute, so she needs that. It’s cool, hehe... It’s cool, right?!"

It’s not cool at all...

What kind of world is this...?

Coming up with these weird nicknames!!

"Fine... I’m so embarrassed I can’t even show my face..."

I collapsed on the bed, releasing all my tension.

"Well, so what? It’s cool. The red beast that tears through monsters. Wow... it’s cool."

I heard Rubia lying down next to me on the bed.

"Don’t tease me."

"When Noah becomes a high-ranking adventurer, I wonder what kind of nickname she’ll get."

"Probably some weird one... Heinkel and Luch... they have nicknames like ‘Baldy’ and ‘One-Eye.’"

Wait, were they bald?

Well... whatever, it’s the same either way.

"Hehehe... That’s true."

Rubia’s voice, so close to my ear, made me turn my back slightly, feeling ticklish.

"But Noah. You’re speaking pretty well these days?"

"Yes?"

Rustle... rustle...

I heard Rubia coming closer to me.

"Well, when I first saw you, you spoke so softly, and your pronunciation was awkward... you stuttered so much. But now, your voice has gotten louder, and you speak clearly, don’t you?"

Did I?

Hmm...

I think it’s only when I’m with Rubia...

No, also... After talking about beasts and demons, now you’re saying I speak well... It feels weird!

I speak well normally!

"Well... I don’t know about that. It’s just... I feel safe when I’m with Rubia. I don’t act like this with other people. And... I’ve always spoken well..."

Rubia gently wrapped her arms around me.

"Do you feel safe when you’re with me?"

"Y-yeah...?"

Even if I make a mistake, I think she’ll somehow solve it...

After all, she’s a priestess...! A priestess that even nobles can’t mess with!

And she’s so pretty!

She listens to me so well!

And even handles potions!

That’s why I feel safe!

"But... can you... let go now...?"

I feel safe, but it’s so embarrassing...

"Why? We were like this yesterday too."

"Ah, no... that was..."

I was crying... and something exploded inside me, so it happened naturally... this is different!

"Don’t you like it?"

"I... I don’t mind, but... it’s embarrassing..."

It smells so good, and I can feel Rubia right behind me, which feels nice... but...! The touch on my back... it’s too much!

"If you don’t like it, then I can’t help it."

Rubia’s hands slid off me.

I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"It’s okay! We can just stay like this...!"

Rubia seemed disappointed.

Yeah. I’m not doing this because I like it.

"Well, if that’s what you want."

Rubia, still holding me, quietly spoke.

"Noah, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"I’m not sure how to ask this, but... I’ll just ask directly. There’s no other meaning, I’m just curious... If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine."

Rubia’s arms tightened around me.

"Yes."

"Noah... when you’re in important moments or dangerous situations, you open your eyes. I was wondering why that is..."

"Ah..."

I do open my eyes in important moments.

"No real reason. It’s just a habit... I guess it’s also just for show."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. And... it’s a secret, but... I feel a bit uneasy when my eyes are closed like this... it makes it hard to focus."

Rubia nodded as if she understood.

"Is that strange...? A blind person opening their eyes... And the red- ugh!!"

While I was speaking, Rubia forcibly turned my body and hugged me.

Suddenly, I felt the soft, plush sensation on my face!

I’m suffocating!

"No. Not at all. I actually want to keep seeing you. If you were to walk around with your eyes open... I wonder, would that make it uncomfortable?"

I gently pushed Rubia’s body away.

"You... want to see me?"

"Yeah... but if you don’t want to, you can keep them closed."

"Mm... then I’ll show you. Since it’s you, Rubia..."

I took a deep breath.

And I opened my eyes.

"Wow... seeing you this close makes you even prettier..."

Rubia’s hand gently wiped my eyes.

"Someday... I hope you can see. The mirror... and this world."

I raised my hand and touched Rubia’s face.

"Even so, your face is like this."

I felt it, and I imagined it in my head.

A moderately round forehead. Sharp eyes, full of kindness. Subtle yet cute ears. A high nose. Slightly downturned lips.

I could feel it. I could imagine it in my head.

"You can tell by touching. Rubia, you’re really beautiful. Your eyes are big, your nose is high... and your lips are so soft."

"Ugh... U-uh... Is that... so?"

Rubia took a startled breath and pulled away.

After that, Rubia babbled about her younger brother, her mother.

I, as background noise to that peaceful talk, continued to...

Keep my eyes open.

Staring at the sentences before me.

The bright, shining words on the black background.

I gazed at them.

I repeated them.

I engraved them into my mind.

So I wouldn’t forget.

Never forget.

So deep that they’d become a part of my subconscious.

I stared.

So my self wouldn’t disappear.

So I wouldn’t be devoured by this character.

I stared.

Relentlessly.

I stared.

[The target is a character in the game.] 

I am not.

A character in the game.

I am.

I am...