Chapter 157 (2/2)

I should be able to leave this rural town, but there was some sadness in my heart.

Ever since I got here, I've been thinking about Tanya.

I don't know what this feeling is.

It's a strange feeling I've never had before.

Everything I wanted was no longer important to me, and when I saw Tanya, I felt like everything around me was growing brighter.

Could this, perhaps, be love?

It's impossible. Me and that human girl who smells of potatoes?

But this ache I feel in my chest when I think of her is real.

That night, I had a strange dream.

”Chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu ̄ ”

”Chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu.”

What is that voice?

Where is it coming from?

”Chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu, give me all of you.”

”Who are you?”

”Oh, you're awake.”

Before me stood a man who looked somewhat like me. 　 He was shrouded in darkness, and was wearing jet black armor.

But his face was different. It was hideous, distorted and evil looking, looking nothing like my own.

The corners of his mouth turn up sharply and he looks at me in my sleep, his eyes glazed with pleasure.

”Chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu, what a delicious feast.”

”What does that mean...?”

Countless black tubes came out of his armor and pierced two needle-like tips into my arms.

The tubes were moving rapidly as if they were sucking my body.

”Chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu, I'm going to suck the life out of you.”

”No, get away from me!”

”Sorry,Don't worry, I don't plan to kill you yet. I'm going to do it little by little.”

”W-wha-...”

”Your life is mine.”

Haaaaah!

I vigorously got up from the bed.

My heart was pounding wildly in fear.

I looked around and found no one.

I looked at my arm and there were no puncture marks either.

Was it really just a dream...?

No, that was too real to be real.

Suddenly, I heard a creaking sound coming from nearby.

Someone was entering the house.

I got back into the futon again.

I shook the blood off my sword and slipped it into its sheath.

Tanya and the rest of the villagers screamed with excitement at the pile of dead monsters.

As thanks for protecting me and taking care of me when I was injured, I offered to finish off all the monsters of the night.

”Thank you very much, Zig-San!”

”It's nothing, it's a hero's job.”

”Still, thank you very much for all you've done! And thanks to Aide-San and Celtina-San too!”

”You don't have to thank me☆ I didn't do it for you☆”

”.......” 　 Tanya just bowed to me, but shook hands with Celtina and Aide.

I couldn't help but feel jealous. I was the one who proposed doing this. Tanya should be more grateful to me.

”...Tanya, you should thank Zig more for what we have done. If he hadn't suggested it, none of this would have happened.”

”Um... Well, that's true. Thank you so much, Zig-San.”

Tanya gives me a hug.

That was enough to make me feel like I was in heaven.

Well said, Aide. You're a good man.

On the day of our departure, Tanya comes over to say goodbye.

”You must come back to visit. Promise.”

”After I defeat Rudra I will return, it is a promise.”

I had fallen in love with Tanya during the week I spent there.

I don't know what exactly attracted me to her.

However, she shattered my sense of worth.

How could I, a noble high elf, fall in love with a lowly human girl?

When this journey is over, I will ask her to marry ”It's time you showed me your face.”

”....I guess so.”

Aide paused and removed his helmet.”

”That's not it.”

”...What do you mean?”

”No, I mean you chose a more normal face than I thought.”

Aide's face was that of a young man I didn't recognize.

He may have encountered this person Galbaran, but I think he could have chosen a better one.

And it was obvious that Aide was an elf, judging by his ears.

”I had a feeling you were human, but apparently I was wrong. Well, I haven't cared for races lately, though.”

”I really like your face, Aide☆ It looks a lot like Zig's☆”

”Where? We don't have any resemblance. I'm more handsome.”

”...Hey, I'm still right here.”

Aide puts his helmet back on.

There's nothing to worry about. After all, it was just a dream. Aide didn't steal my face.

And there's no change in his stats either.

But still... I can't get that voice out of my head.

Chi ~yu ̄ chi ~yu.