Chapter 840: Intermission: Kujou Hikari ~ ~ The Friendship Between the Hero and the Chivalrous Thief ~ ~ Part 1 (2/2)

If she wanted to, Laguna and Fors, her traveling companions, would have accepted that Hikari didn't have to bear the responsibility of this world.

However, this was also why she couldn't let her weakness go because she was in an environment where they would accept her weaknesses.

However, there were always exceptions to everything. The only thing that saved Hikari was that there was only one person…… to whom she could spill out her complaints, even within such an environment.

There is a conversation that still remains strong in Hikari's memory. In the middle of their journey, she talked with her party members about why they were fighting.

As for Laguna…… Her race, the Mermaids, had been forced to leave the land where they had lived for generations because of the invasion of the Demon Lord's army, and thus, she had joined the fight with the hopes and pride of her people to reclaim her homeland and overthrow the Demon Lord.

Fors was just like Laguna, having been forced to leave the land she was used to living in. But in her case, she didn’t join the Coalition Army, but stayed in the elven village to protect her people. However, after being persuaded by her people, she joined the party with the goal of overthrowing the Demon Lord and reclaiming the Elven Forest.

What both of them had in common is that both of them were fighting as representatives of their race, carrying the feelings of their people on their shoulders, a position they could never escape.

[……So, Hapti. What about you? As I thought, you're still in it for the money?]

In a party that carried the expectations of the Humans, Hapti was a bit of an oddity. Until this moment, the other three didn't really understand why Hapti was accompanying them on their journey.

She didn’t have the personality that would push her to act for the sake of Humans, and her reason for participating in their deadly journey…… Well, the three of them had guessed that her purpose would be to make money, but it was this moment when they directly heard her reason for the first time.

Hearing Laguna's question, Hapti looked at her with a puzzled look on her face and tilted her head.

[Eh? No, I don't make money where the risk outweighs the reward. If I wanted money, there are plenty of better ways to make money than slaying a Demon Lord.]

[Oya? That's a surprising response. With all due respect, I also thought you were in it for the money. It's just my impression, but you don't strike me as the kind of person who would fight for the sake of the people. No, don't get me wrong though. I'm not making fun of you. It was just my personal impression of you from what I've seen so far.]

[Unnn? You're right though? I don't really care if the Demon Lord's army or the Human Coalition Army wins. I don't think it's going to have any effect on my own life.]

Hearing Hapti's answer that she wasn't aiming to make money, the three of them were surprised. In addition, she easily acknowledged Fors' curious question and said that she didn't care if the Humans lost.

[……Well then, why in the world are you joining us on this journey?]

In response to Laguna's question, Hapti once again made a puzzled face and pointed at Hikari, who was sitting next to her.

[Eh? It's just because ”my friend is participating in this” though?]

[ [ [ Eh? ] ] ]

Hapti's answer was completely unexpected for the three of them.

[……Oh my. That's an answer more surprising than saying you're doing it ”for the world”. So, what, you're going along this journey all because of Hikari?]

[That's right. Simple as that.]

Nodding in response to Fors' question, Hapti took out some dried meat, skewered it, and roasting it over the fire, she began to speak in a leisurely tone.

[……This is just my personal opinion, but I think that money can buy almost anything in the world. Some people say that you can't buy pride or heart, but in my opinion, that's ridiculous. In fact, I think pride and heart are the only things that can be bought for a reasonable price.]

[ [ ………………….. ] ]

Hapti's words were met with a look of obvious displeasure from Laguna and Fors. It was obvious why they were displeased, the both of them bore the feelings and were proud of their own race. That's why Hapti's words sounded like an insult to their ears.

However, in such a slightly tense atmosphere, Hikari slightly smiled and turning her head towards Hapti, she muttered.

[……”Almost”…… huh.]

[……That's right. Almost. Things that money can't buy and things that can't be exchanged for money…… ”They certainly exist”. Of course, what it is that can't be bought with money are different for each person…… Even the pride that I find ridiculous must be something important to Laguna and Fors that money can't buy.]

After saying this, Hapti cut the roasted dried meat in two with a knife and handed the skewered side to Hikari. Eating the meat pierced on her knife, Hapti continued.

[……There are certainly things that money can't buy. However, they are far fewer than the things that can’t be bought. I believe that in one's lifetime, the number of such things would be so few that it could still be counted by hand.]

As soon as she finished eating the dried meat, Hapti pulled out a large cloth from her backpack, leaned against a nearby tree and as she was getting ready to sleep, she spoke.

[That's why…… I decided to take good care of such things, whenever I find something like that.]

With those words, Hapti closed her eyes and didn't continue the conversation any further. However, those words were very warm to Hikari's heart.

At the very least, she was happy to know that Hapti's friendship with her…… was something that money couldn't buy and something that money couldn't replace.

Perhaps, because of this conversation…… Hapti became ”someone she could complain to” and became a great pillar of support in her life.

<Afterword>

~ ~ Extra ~ ~

Laguna (1000 years ago)

Because the spot where the Demon Lord's army appeared and the Mermaid's dwelling place were close, they were invaded quite early on. She had already been one of the strongest warriors in the Human Realm, and intended to intercept them at that time…… but the moment she saw Vier leading the Demon Lord's army, she immediately chose to lead her people away and immediately abandoned their residence.

When she saw the Demon Lord, she realized that she couldn't win a battle against her alone, so she called on various races to form the Human Coalition Army to fight against them, and she herself took the initiative to stand on the battlefield.

Because of her leadership she exhibited at that time, later on, when the areas that were severely damaged by the Demon Lord's army came together to form a country, she was begged for to become their first king, and she accepted, becoming Hydra Kingdom's King.

She was thinking rather lightly at that time, thinking that she would eventually find a successor once the country was stable.

Laguna's miscalculation was that she couldn't find a successor, and being a very good king herself, she didn't have a chance to quit and was still the king after more than a thousand years……

Fors (1000 years ago)

The first of the Elves to evolve into a High Elf. When she was first recruited by Hikari and her group, she refused to go with them, fearing that if she left the village, the Demon King's army would attack them.

However, swayed by her desire to retaliate against the Demon Lord's army that burned down their precious forest and reclaim their land, she was persuaded by her own people to join the Hero Party.

Later, Lillywood restored the Elven Forest, for which she was very grateful, and she herself came to have faith in her.

Regretting the great damage that occurred in Rigforeshia about 200 years back from the present day, when a Special Individual Black Bear appeared, the day when she was away for Symphonia Kingdom's Founding Festival, she has never left Rigforeshia in the 200 years since then…… After Lillywood set up a barrier in Rigforeshia at the request of Kaito, she began to go out again for the Six Kings Festival and other such events.

Transcendental Beauty? (1000 years ago)

Somehow, even when she wasn’t on the level of Kaito, she was still a good enough of a person.

Symphonia's King (1000 years ago)

Perhaps, stomachaches may be something that has been passed down in the royal family.