Chapter 32 - Volume 4 (1/2)

Chapter 2 : Shia’s Feelings and Haltina, Sea of Trees

One of 7 Great Dungeons, “Haltina Sea of Trees” where the country of demi-humans Faea Belgaen resided in. Thanks to the magic-driven two wheeler pulling two large carriages and dozens of horses, Hajime and his party able to advance forward with a rather fast pace.

On the two wheeler, Hajime sit behind Yue, while Shia is sit behind him. At first, Shia was told to ride on the carriage, but she insisted to get on the two wheeler. Even though Yue keep beating her, but she keep clinging just like a zombie and finally Yue give up. Shia who finally meet two people that “same” as her, seems wanted to talk about various things. She keep hugging Hajime. It seems Shia like to sit behind Hajime on the two wheeler… and sometime she flail her limbs around! that’s what Yue think.

Hajime who was sandwiched between ill-humored Yue and good-humored Shia, only absentmindedly drive the two wheeler.

In that state, Hajime heard Yue’s voice.

“… … Hajime, why did you fight by yourself?”

“N?”

Yue was talking about the fight with empire’s Soldiers. At that time, after stopping her from using magic, Hajime fought them alone. Even though there’d be no much differences other than Yue “Instant Kill” the Soldiers, she thought Hajime was too eager to fight alone, and that made Yue anxious.

“N~,well, I just wanted to confirm…”

“… … confirm?”

Yue asked him with doubtful face. Shia also start to feel intrigued over his shoulder.

“Aa, that was…”

What Hajime said basically this.

First, Hajime stopped Yue because he wanted to fight the empire’s Soldiers as  an “experiment”. Even though it looks like he head-shot all of them, actually he also shot at their armors. Why he did that, because to fight humans using railgun is completely overkill, it’d be too dangerous to use it in town or wherever they are because of its penetrating power. Though there is no problem to turn thugs into dust, it’d penetrate into residence housing and killed whoever inside! something like that, like a complete scum. For Hajime, he didn’t want to become someone who indiscriminately kill unrelated people. So, it was necessary to measure the proper amount of power. After looking at the result of this experiment, he’ll be able to fine-tuning it.

The other reason was to confirm whether there’d hesitation for him to kill humans. Even though he was changedeborn, he have not experience in killing human yet. Therefore, he tried to see his reaction before and after killing those Soldiers. The result is, “he didn’t feel anything about it”. As expected, if they are enemies then he can kill them without mercy.

“And well, even though it was my first murder, when I think that I’ve changed because I didn’t feel anything about it, it make me somewhat sentimental…”

“… … that… Are you okay?”

“Aah, there is no problem. This is the current me, I am just glad that I’ll be able to fight properly from now on.”

Having heard Hajime’s story, Shia was surprised that it was his first murder. At the same time, she admired Yue who was able to noticed the slight change on Hajime (probably only limited to Hajime). And once again, she felt a little lonely because she still doesn’t know anything about them.

“Un, that! Can I hear more about Hajime-san and Yue-san?”

“? Aren’t we talking about it now.”

“Ah, what I want to know wasn’t about your skill but something like why are you inside the Abyss? or what are your objectives? or what have you done until now? I want to know more about you two.”

“… … after you heard it, what then?”

“Even if you ask that, I just want to know. … … I, because of my circumstance, have brought a lot of trouble to my family. I disliked it so much when I was a child… … but of course everyone told me to not mind it and now I don’t hate myself anymore… … even so, I still feel I was an oddball in this world… Therefore, I was happy. When I met the two of you, to find someone with similar existence as me and to know that I’m not alone, this overflowing feeling was… … although it was selfish of me, t-to w-wanted becoming your companion… … that’s why, that, can you tell me more about the two of you… … whatever you can tell me…”

It seems Shia was embarrassed by her own words, her voice became smaller and she tried to hide behind Hajime’s back. When Hajime and Yue think of when they meet Shia for the first time, they remember how incredibly happy she was. At that time, Yue was having complex feelings, immediately they tried to save Haulia tribe from the attacking demonic beasts and she found out how they are capable of using magic inside the canyon. Surely, Shia must have been felt anxious since then.

Surely, in this world, those who have the same constitution as demonic beast won’t be accepted. It was not impossible to have a sense of camaraderie. Though that was said, for Hajime and Yue, there exist no sense of camaraderie. But… because it’ll take some time until they arrived at the Sea of Trees, also because there are nothing to hide and when they think it’ll be good to kill some times, Hajime and Yue start to tell their story.

And the result is…

“Ue, sob… cruel, how cruel~, Hajime-san and Yue-san  have it hard~. Co-compared to that, I was blessed… Uu~, I didn’t lack anything at all~”

She cried. While crying sometime “I was too naive” or “I won’t complain anymore” can be heard. Then, naturally, she wipe her face using Hajime’s overcoat. Apparently, she thought her circumstance was worst but compared to Hajime and Yue’s circumstances, it seems she felt miserable about herself to think that way.

After crying for a while, suddenly Shia clasp her fist and with resolute expression she declared.

“Hajime-san! Yue-san! I have decided! I’ll join your travel! From now on, this Shia Haulia under this sun promised to help the two of you! There is no need to be reserved. The tree of us are comrades. Let’s overcome the hardship and find the hope together!”

To Shia’s sudden declaration, Hajime and Yue only give her a cold look.

“What were the weak and need to be protected rabbit just said? You’ll only be a hindrance.”

“… … casually changing from “I want to be a comrade” into “comrade”… Shameless rabbit.”

“Wh-why the cold look?… … aren’t you moved… now that you mention it, please properly call me by my name.”

Shia was shaking because her eagerness resulted in their cold look. And additional blow was given.

“… … you, aren’t you simply want someone to become your travel companion?”

“!?”

Shia was shocked by his words.

“Once your tribe safety is secured, you, you wanted to stay away from them, right? And come good situation that we who was the “same” showed up, have you decided to go with us? Well, of course having that unusual hair color for a RabbitMan would make it hard to travel alone.”

“… … umm, that, even if you say that… … I only wanted to…”

Maybe because it hit the bull’s eye, Shia stuttered her word. The truth was she already determined that once she gained Hajime’s cooperation and her tribe safety was secured she will leave them. Because as long as she was there, her tribe will be always in dangers. Even now a lot of tribe members were lost. Who know next they will likely be annihilated. Shia was unable to endure it. Of course, her tribe didn’t think so and it’ll only look like she betrayed her tribe. But, “even with that” she already decided it.

At worst, she’ll go alone, but that’d make her tribe even more worried. On the other hand, if she said it was to repay Hajime and Yue who have overwhelming strength, then it will be easier to convince her tribe to let her leave. “Desperation” can be seen in Shia’s behavior and speech now.

Of course, it was true that Shia was interested in Hajime and Yue. As Hajime had said when Shia found out Hajime and Yue were “same” as her, she felt strong sense of camaraderie with them. Even when she thinks about her tribe circumstance, it was as if it was “fate” for Shia to met Hajime and Yue.