The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

"Then, let’s hear your reason. Why do you want to go to Karahan?"

After my persistent persuasion, we decided to hear Hephaestus’ reasoning.

The location was Hephaestus' blacksmith shop!

But... there were clearly a bunch of adventurers standing in line outside, and the moment they saw us, they all hastily fled...?

They even screamed like they saw a monster...

Well, the scream wasn’t directed at me, right?

Even with all the strange rumors, there’s no way they’d be scared of such a small, seemingly real person.

So, they must have run away after seeing Rubia...

Of course, Rubia’s regenerative abilities... do make her seem like a monster.

Her arms and legs could twist but quickly snap back.

If her stomach gets a hole, it just seals up...

It’s a little... like she’s not human... but hmmm...

Still! Screaming like you’ve seen a monster is a bit much, isn’t it?

We were trying to protect you!!

It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t abandoned us!

You jerks!

If I were the me from the game days, I would’ve... huh?! Scolded all of you!

"Now, the blacksmith shop is doing well, right? I don’t understand why you’re willing to risk it to travel with us."

Rubia, sipping the coffee in front of her, maintained a stern expression.

She looked like a mother-in-law.@@novelbin@@

"Ah... um..."

Hephaestus, sitting across from Rubia, started fidgeting and mumbling.

"If we travel together... how are you going to return? We need to go past Karahan to get to Cartia Village. But aren’t you supposed to return to Roholan, Hephaestus?"

Now that I think about it, that’s true...?

How was he planning to return?

His house and business are here... he has to come back, right?

His whole fortune is here!!

"If everything goes well... I can find a way back. But... um..."

Rubia’s face scrunched up.

"What if it doesn’t go well?"

Hephaestus didn’t answer Rubia’s question.

He just looked at us with a smiling face.

"Is it really... that important?"

"Yes."

I replied immediately, in a way I hadn't before.

"Are you willing to risk your life for it?"

"...Yes."

This time, Hephaestus answered with a determined expression.

"I see."

Rubia’s consistently stern expression cracked.

I quietly drank the milk in front of me.

It wasn’t very tasty.

"We won’t be in a rush."

"It’s fine."

"We’re just passing through Karahan, not heading there for any particular reason."

"I know."

"We won’t go all the way to the top either. Just to the middle..."

"It’s fine. As long as we can step foot at the Karahan entrance... the rest, I’ll handle."

After seeing Hephaestus’ unshakable expression, Rubia let out a deep sigh and wiped her face.

"...Sigh... Fine. Let’s go together."

Then, she downed the rest of her coffee in one go.

"Thank you. Really, thank you!!"

Having finally received permission to join, Hephaestus stood up and bowed.

Rubia did the same.

Hmm... then I...

"Th-thank you..."

But should I thank Rubia?

Or Hephaestus...?

Both?

Hmm... I need to thank Rubia because I need jelly.

"R-Rubia, thank you... for letting me join."

"Even so, the jelly is confiscated for now."

"...Yeah..."

Tch... she’s so quick to catch on...

"Put your mouth inside."

"Ugh."

"Relax your face."

Grin.

"Good job."

Pat pat.

"Hehe... Wh-what are you doing?"

Hephaestus, who had been watching me and Rubia intently, said, trying to hold back his laughter.

I... I’m embarrassed, okay?! But... but hey! I had to do it to get the jelly!

Besides, you begged me to bring you along, and now all that’s confiscated!

How dare you laugh?!

Well, of course... I was tempted by the free smelting...

Anyway!

"Hey, this happened because of you, Hephaestus... so don’t laugh."

"Ah, is that so...?"

"Of course."

"Well then, should I buy jelly for you?"

"Gasp..."

Such a good idea...?

I cautiously checked Rubia’s expression.

Her eyes were the same, but her mouth was slightly lifted.

Also, the hand that had been ruffling my hair had stopped.

Hmm... oh...

"He-Hephaestus... you don’t have to buy it... it’s okay..."

I rejected the jelly’s temptation.

I had no choice but to refuse...

"Well, I guess I can’t help it. Oh, and please, just call me Hephaestus, not Mr. Hephaestus. It’s only for a short time, but we should be friendly, right?"

"U-um, is that okay...?"

"Yeah! I’ll call you Noah too, not Miss Noah... oh, but how old are you...?"

"I’m... 20, and Rubia is... Rubia is 25."

"Wow... I’m the youngest? I’m 18! Then I’ll call you older sister, Noah!"

Huh, older sister?!

"Ugh... ah, no... um... just call me Noah..."

"No! That’s not right! I’m 2 years younger! So call me older sister, Noah, and talk casually!"

"Ugh... please don’t call me older sister...!"

Hephaestus leaned forward with an extremely excited expression.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

"But you’re 20, and you look so young! Look at your skin... how do you take care of it? Mmm... maybe I should try using monster blood..."

"Ah, ahh... I’m not your older sister!!"

I pushed Hephaestus’ overbearing face away.

And why would you use blood?!

"Why not?! You’re two years older, so I’m your older sister!"

"That’s right. But why doesn’t Noah call me older sister? I’m 5 years younger."

This time, Rubia, who had been listening quietly, began to question me with a slightly accusatory tone.

Stop tormenting me!

"Uh... then, Noah, what do you call Rubia?"

What?

I’m called older sister, but why does Rubia get called 'Priestess'?

Then, I’ll just call her 'Rubia,' too!

I don’t like 'older sister'!!

"I just told her to call me Rubia because she hates it so much. But... why do you call me Priestess, Noah?"

The arrow aimed at me suddenly turned to Hephaestus!

Now, I’ll aim right back!

"Y-yeah. You should call Rubia 'Older Sister Rubia' too...! Now, try saying it. 'Older Sister Rubia.'"

As soon as I said that, the entire blacksmith shop went silent.

Why...? What’s going on...?

Was I not supposed to be part of this...?

"Wow... you’re so... willful..."

"What... what do you mean...?"

Rubia, who had been quietly staring at me, carefully opened her mouth and reached into her pocket.

"J-jelly... you want to eat... it, Rubia...?"

I thought you said you didn’t like it...

But now that it’s in your pocket... do you want to eat it?

It was all mine...

"No. I’m giving it to Noah."

"What?! Really?!"

"Of course. Here."

From Rubia’s hand, jelly dropped into mine with a soft thud.

The chewy, sweet sensation made me feel happy.

"Hehe... hmmm... looks delicious."

"Well... um... okay. First, let’s fix Hephaestus’ title. Now... Noah? Say it."

"Yeah...! Try saying it, 'Older Sister Rubia'!"

Once again, jelly dropped into my hand with a soft thud!

Is she going to give it to me if I follow along?!

I better behave!!

"Uh, really... is it okay to say that?"

"Of course. Since you’re calling me older sister, how about speaking casually too? Let’s both do it."

While chewing on the jelly, Hephaestus mumbled too.

And in the end...

"R-Rubia Older Sister!"

He shouted with a big smile.

Is calling her older sister that fun?

Hmm... I still don’t get it.

"Hehe! This is something new in life!! If Master knew... um... well, I think they’d be happy."

Hephaestus, who looked incredibly happy, suddenly grew gloomy.

Then Rubia, as if she noticed something, cautiously opened her mouth.

"Could it be... the reason you’re going to Karahan is—"

"Rubia Older Sister! Should I make more coffee for you?"

He brightened up again!

"...Yes. That would be great."

"Great! Noah Older Sister, would you like milk?"

"Yeah... and I’m not your older sister..."

"Two years older, so I’m your older sister! Anyway! I’ll bring it right now!"

Hephaestus waved his hand excitedly and headed to the kitchen.

Then...

He slumped into his seat and made an extremely sad expression.

There was no sound.

He was covering his mouth.

I can feel it through my Giga Sense, even beyond the walls...

But Hephaestus probably doesn’t know, right?

"Seems like... that’s the case, Noah...?"

Rubia whispered very quietly.

"Hmm... it seems so."

I nodded and chewed on the jelly.

It wasn’t that tasty.

"Not sure what we should do... it’s a bit difficult."

Rubia made a thoughtful expression.

"Why?"

"Well... because it’s dangerous. Noah’s body isn’t in the best condition... and Karahan isn’t a place someone like Hephaestus should easily step into. No matter how much protection there is... it’s related to the crafting protection..."

That’s true.

Karahan is dangerous.

The environment is harsh, and the monsters there are no joke either.

But...

"Still, we have to help."

The emotions I’d been holding back.

Overflowed a little.

"I don’t want anyone else I know to die."

The thick mask on my face...

Cracked, just slightly.

"I... can now read faces through Giga Sense. So I saw Hephaestus’ face."

That face.

It was Lux’s face.

It was my father’s face.

It was the face of someone who had accepted death.

Someone who didn’t care whether they lived or died.

Someone who would achieve their goal even after death.

"So... we have to help."

Somehow, we’ll save them.

No matter what choice they’re making.

What is the person left behind supposed to do?

How do they survive, carrying such a hellish burden?

How do they endure and leave behind such a path?

I want to hear the answer.