The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

I couldn’t speak for a while, looking at Hephaestus’s red face.

Noah, like me, was only opening her mouth occasionally, fiddling with the hilt of her sword for no reason.

“Um... everyone?”

After a long while, Hephaestus finally opened her mouth, as if she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Ah... yes.”

“I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to... but... even though I’m like this, Master is... different from me. So... please don’t hate Master.”

Hephaestus’s face, which had been full of embarrassment until just now, became clouded with sadness.

But when she said Master was different...

Was it unrequited love?

“Hephaestus. The reason I couldn’t say anything earlier... well... it’s because... your face... was, how should I put it... so pink.”

I can’t believe the words I chose to comfort her... pink...

I said it, but I felt so foolish.

“P-pink... I see... Rubia, you felt it too? It wasn’t just me... Wow... it really is pink…”

But... seeing Noah like this... Maybe it’s not so bad...?

“Pink? What... what do you mean...?”

“Hephaestus’s vibe was pink. It was like this pink color filling the whole carriage, you know? Hehehe…”

Hephaestus’s face turned bright red in an instant.

“It... it wasn’t that much... hehe…”

“And no matter what kind of person Hephaestus is, we don’t dislike her. Besides, this kind of thing is common in the Sunrise Empire, isn’t it?”

Well... there might be some prejudice, but it’s not an unheard-of thing.

In fact, even the third princess of the empire is currently in relationships with several women.

“Ugh, thank... you.”

“So... Hephaestus. Is that all about Master’s traits?”

Honestly... I’m not sure where we started or where this conversation came from...

Thankfully, I had made some notes, so it’s good I did. If I hadn’t, I might’ve had to listen to it all from the beginning.

“Hmm, yes. I think I’ve told you all about her physical traits.”

“I see. Then, when did you receive this letter... huh? The letter?”

I unfolded the letter in my hand.

The first thing that caught my eye was the mention of reaching the summit of Karahan.

When I read it earlier, I had no particular thoughts.

But now... how could she have sent a letter from the peak of Karahan...?

This...

Either she wasn’t headed for Karahan in the first place.

Or she’s already been killed... and the letter was sent to lure Hephaestus here.

It could be one of those two...

I cautiously raised my head to look at Hephaestus.

She was still gazing at me with an innocent expression.

It seems like she hasn’t noticed yet. Still... it might be better if I tell her...

“Um... Hephaestus. Let’s calm down a little... and listen.”

“Yes?”

“…The letter says that you’ve reached the summit of Karahan, but...”

How should I phrase this?

How can I tell her... without shocking her too much?

“Well... logically, it’s not possible to send a letter from the summit of Karahan, right?”

“Ah…”

“So... this means... your Master is... either somewhere else, or... hmm, ugh... already... dead—”

Just as I was carefully choosing my words, I gave up and was about to speak directly.

“That was delivered by a hawk.”

Hephaestus’s unexpected words interrupted mine.

“A hawk...?”

“Hmm...? A hawk...?”

“Ah, yes. I forgot to mention this. Master is unusually friendly with animals. Sometimes, I see her talking to them. Anyway, the letter was brought by Master’s hawk...”

I placed a hand on my head, which had been spinning for a moment.

“Friendly with animals...?”

“Yes! There were all kinds of animals near our smithy. After Master left, no one came, though…”

Even if she’s friendly with animals... How could she have had a hawk deliver a letter...?

“Wow... then... could she have used rabbits or cats too...?”

“Yeah, but the cats would always bother the rabbits, and Master would scold them.”

“Whoa... do the cats eat the rabbits...?”

“No, not really. It’s just that some of the cats are really naughty.”

“I see... by the way... you didn’t kill those naughty ones, right...?”

“Hey, Unni... how could I do that? I just... chased them away.”

“Right...? Hmm... also... Ah! Did you see any unicorns?”

In the midst of this, Noah... started asking more questions as if she was fascinated.

It was so unexpected that I was taken aback...

But I decided to wait quietly until Noah finished her barrage of questions.

Every time I heard Hephaestus’s answers, her expressions changed so cutely... I didn’t want to interrupt.

Watching them talk cheerfully together, I felt a little healed.

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

Hephaestus, who looked sharp just like me, seemed funny when talking and laughing with Noah like that.

After a while, when their chattering slowed down, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Is it over now?”

“Ah, I’m sorry... um, thank you for waiting, Rubia.”

Noah lowered her head with a look full of apology.

Is she flinching because I told her not to apologize before...?

Now, I want to just tell her it’s okay and there’s no need to worry.

But it’s just too cute...

I feel bad about it, but...

Noah’s wrong for provoking my sadistic side...

“Rubia Unni...?”

“Ah, yes. It’s fine. I had fun too.”

When Noah heard my answer, her face turned pale.

“R-really...? Ah... Rubia, you enjoyed... unicorns... making babies... huh... I can understand... um... but... huh...”

Noah eventually stopped talking and turned her gaze to the window.

What did she just say...?

“Huh? Noah... what did you just—”

“Ah! Rubia Unni, did you enjoy it? Then, let me explain. First, unicorns...”

“W-wait... stop.”

I raised my hand and pushed Hephaestus away from my face.

“Ugh... I was just thinking of something else, but... what were you two talking about? Wasn’t it just about cute animals?”

“Ah... unicorn babies are very cute. Because—”

As soon as Hephaestus started speaking, Noah covered her ears and huddled down.

And... the rest of what I heard was...

Is she... crazy? What is she saying... what...?

“My god…”

“Isn’t it fascinating! So then—”

How did this conversation end up like this...?

“Hephaestus. Stop... just stop. I get it... now, um... let’s continue with Master’s story?”

“Yes! Then, I’ll talk about the unicorns at dinner later!”

“Please don’t.”

I avoided Hephaestus’s wide-eyed gaze and changed the subject.

“Ahem, so... is Master’s handwriting the same?”

“Ah, yes. It’s definitely Master Yuria’s writing.”

Hephaestus nodded confidently.

If it’s Hephaestus speaking, who loves Master so much... it must be right.

Hah, damn. I can’t focus because of those damn unicorns.

“Yes... I was just surprised, thinking something bad had happened.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I should’ve explained this first... I just assumed it was obvious, so I forgot.”

“It’s okay. So you’re sure Master went to the summit of Karahan?”

“Yes. She definitely went. She received an important request.”

“A request?”

“Master is an adventurer, you know.”

Hephaestus scratched her cheek and turned her gaze away.

“Master is an adventurer...? Not a blacksmith?”

“Yes... hehe.”

Hephaestus is a blacksmith, but Master is... an adventurer...

“Then... why do you call her Master?”

“Ah, well... just... she taught me everything about living, you know.”

“I see... then, who did you learn this from?”

Hephaestus hesitated for a moment before answering with difficulty.

“From the shop next door.”

“The shop next door? The one you recommended?”

“Yes... it’s the Chrome Smithy. Sorry, I’m bad at talking... I always say the wrong things, and... I’m sorry, I talked about unicorns instead of important things... I always get scolded by Master... sniff.”

With every word Hephaestus spoke, her body shrank.

And... tears welled up again.

At this point, it feels like this could be an illness.

If you think about how the person she loved might be in danger of dying...

I can understand why she’d act like this.

I should comfort her before the tears explode.

“It’s okay. Don’t be so down. That’s also part of... Hephaestus’s charm.”

“I’m sorry…”

As soon as Hephaestus bowed her head, Noah suddenly whispered softly in her ear with a shocked expression.

“Hah... He-Hephaestus... Rubia hates hearing apologies...!”

“Ugh... well then...”

The real problem is that I could hear all of that.

Seeing Hephaestus and Noah glancing at me made a deep sigh escape my lips.

“Hah... well... whatever. Okay. This keeps going off track. Let’s just focus and wrap this up.”

“Yes!”

“Yes...!”

I grabbed my aching forehead and continued the topic.

“So... if you’re an adventurer, what rank are you?”

“Platinum!”

“Eh...?”

“Platinum...? Her name is... Yuria... light green hair, a druid...?”

I was surprised by the platinum rank.

Noah, however, seemed shocked by something else.

She started muttering about everything she had just heard, reacting similarly to when she remembered Luchi from Havlon.

Did she hear this from her Master too?

Hah... why does everyone keep talking about their Master?

Hephaestus says she loves her Master.

Noah too... when she talks about her Master, it feels a bit different from Hephaestus, but...

It seems like she likes her.

This is annoying... seriously.

I want to stop thinking about that Master right now, but I have to hold back.

The more information Hephaestus has, the better...

But...

Why am I... getting annoyed that Noah likes her Master?

This happened last time too. And this time too.

Every time Hephaestus hugs Noah and nuzzles her, I feel this strange sensation.

What is it for...?@@novelbin@@

As my thoughts got more complicated, the carriage slowly stopped, and I heard the sound of the horse.

“Ah! I think we’ve arrived!”

Hephaestus excitedly pulled back the curtains.

I also turned my head toward the window, and I saw the city of Urspier, which stood with the majestic Karahan mountain range behind it.

Then, I slowly turned my head back to look at Noah, sitting quietly in her seat.

While Hephaestus and I turned our heads to look at the city, Noah remained seated.

She was gripping her greatsword.

She looked pitiful.

I wanted to explain the colors, the atmosphere of the village.

But at the same time, her raised eyebrows and smiling corners of her mouth were so cute.

A soft smile escaped me.

Hmm...

She felt like a younger sister... maybe that’s why strange feelings surged up.

A younger sister I need to take care of.

And... my one and only friend in the world.

If I found out that the person who took my sister and made her cry and hurt her was the one she called her boyfriend...

I’d make sure to kill him with everything I had.

“Noah, shall we hold hands?”

“Ah... yes...!”

Her soft fingers intertwined with mine.

I savored the feeling of her fingers entwined with mine.

What should I say...

It’s not pink...

“Let’s go slowly so you don’t trip.”

“Eh... this is easy to get down...”

“Still, just in case.”

I moved my hand to her waist, holding it with the other hand.

“Ugh... it, it tickles...!”

“Hehe... just bear with it a little. Oh, by the way, I heard there’s a jelly made from local produce in Urspier. Raspberry flavored jelly.”

“Huh... really?”

“Yeah. Shall we try it?”

“Yeah! Definitely!”

Yeah.

My feelings aren’t pink.

They’re deeper than that.

They’re red.

Bright red.