97 96. Last time.txt (1/2)

Beyond the night of the ball, the ”Dance Competition” was only two days away.

Last night's ballroom, I learned a lot of things.

Snow was hard work, but that's not all.

The more famous you become, the more difficult it becomes to be a ”hero”, which is slightly different from the image I had in mind. The ”Hero” who held the title of ”The Strongest” had a severely tired look on his face. I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

Snow was more trapped than I had imagined, and he had an undue expectation of my presence.

Knowing some of his inner workings, I had come to dislike the idea of being a nobleman. To be honest, I don't want to go to a ball again. It was a glittering world, but it also had an unpleasant, odd odor that made my nose turn.

Everyone who was in that great hall would have had an 'honor' that the average citizen did not have. That's the same ”glory” that Rowen wanted to have. The end of ”glory” is that great hall, and it makes me question Rowen's wishes just a little bit.

I walk through the Epic Seeker's headquarters, thinking not only about Snow, but also about Rowen.

There are two days until the ”Dance Tournament”.

I head to the office for now, wondering how I'll spend my last few moments.

It's early morning now.

It's early in the morning now, and there's probably no one in the office.

While waiting for Snow, Rowen, and the Reapers, I'm trying to decide on the guidelines for the two days.

'Kanami, good morning. Let's have a good day.

Unexpectedly, there was Snow in the office, greeting me with a cheerful voice.

I'm puzzled by his intensity, as is the time he's here.

'Good morning ....... You sound pretty motivated, what's going on?

What, are you going to do?　As usual?

Yeah, yeah, .......

For Snow, this seems to be business as usual. Seriously, she herself seems to think so, but from my point of view, it's just uncomfortable.

I can't believe that Snow, who is synonymous with that smell of things, is waiting half an hour before the appointed time .......

Snow continues to speak with high tension.

''Hey, are you going to explore the labyrinth today?　Or is it Lauravia's job?

Well, um, I'm a bit confused: ......

”I want to do a quest for my country. Here, I've got a lot of stuff for you. A whole bunch of stuff.

Snow spreads out various documents on his desk.

Apparently, they are the materials for the request (quest) that Lauravia has ordered from the guild.

I look at the documents lightly.

And I'm amazed at how difficult the requests (quests) are.

All of these quests are of the highest level of difficulty. All of them are the kind that the country's best explorers would risk their lives for, and they are not something that can be done single-handedly.

''No, no, it's not long until the 'Dancing Tournament' is almost here, so I think it's better to train in the labyrinth--''

This is good. Killing the monsters in the western frontier. It's like having a dragon in the Western Mountains. Worth a shot.

Snow disregarded my opinion and picked up one of the documents. He handed it to me, along with a line that didn't fit: ”Worthwhile.

'Hopefully, I don't want it to be a big deal.'

But if you don't do the important stuff, you won't get the 'honor': ......

”Meh, 'honor' ......?　Not that I have any 'honor' ......

Until now, Snow has never been obsessed with such things. I was about to refuse, but before I could, she interrupted me.

'The purpose of Rowen Ares is 'glory'. Then 'dragon slayer' is such an 'honor', I think he'd be very pleased. --and, of course, it's for the 'Epic Seeker'.

Snow smiled.

It seems to be a proposal that he was convinced that it would really be good for everyone.

Certainly, this request (quest) is in line with Rowen's intention to relieve her 'unfinished business'.

But right now, I really want to focus on the 'dance competition'.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. ...... I'm going to go call her for a moment.

I buy myself some time for now to think of a reason to refuse.

”Right. I'll get Rowen Ares. I'll be here, Kanami, please.

Snow nods, smiling.

I deploy Dimension and go to find Rowen.

Just before I walk out of the office and close the door, Snow's voice reaches my ears.

It was a very small voice.

''If Kanami does the 'Dragon Slayer' too, I'm sure ....... I'm sure--

Snow's voice was bouncy.

It's good that he's showing some motivation for his work, but it feels more than a little dangerous. He can only see what's in front of him, and his vision is getting narrower. That's the impression I got.

And that 'what's in front of me' is probably - my fame.

Snow is focused on making my fame.

Whether it's for 'Epic Seeker', for himself, or for me. ......

Maybe it's everything.

It's not a bad thing ......, but I don't think it's a good thing either .......

I walk with anxiety.

Rowen was outside of the 'Epic Seeker' headquarters.

Apparently, she is visiting the children in town again.

I catch her playing with the children at the orphanage on the outskirts of the town in the early morning in the [Dimension].

He became friends with them when he was asked to help with the security work in Lauravia. Rowen seems to imitate justice even outside of work, so he is popular with the citizens - especially the children.

Slowly I make my way through the streets of Lauravia to the orphanage.

As I greet the people I pass, I think about how to turn down Snow's story.

However, I arrive at the orphanage without coming up with much of an idea.

There, Rowen is teaching a child how to use a sword with a wooden stick.

'Oh, you're a pretty good swallower,' he said. All right, keep on swinging your sword!

Yes, Shishou!

He was making a big show of Aleith's sword skills.

Even from the eyes of the children, they could see that Rowen's skills were amazing. The children were imitating his sword skills with happy eyes.

''Mm. That's the foundation of the Areis style of 'swordsmanship' dispatch. Repeat it over and over, so that it becomes ingrained in your body.

Rowen seems to enjoy his position as a master.

He is happily teaching some of his divine skills to the children.

The kids seem to enjoy talking to Rowen as well.

''Shishou, please teach us the next trick!

Preferably a cool one!

'Don't you have any secrets?

In response, Rowen laughed and held up the wooden stick, saying, ”I guess I don't have a choice.

Then I'll teach you the inner secrets of the game, although it's a bit early. If you master this, you'll be able to understand the 'reason of the world'. By doing so, you'll be able to understand all of your opponent's moves, which is an amazingly profitable profound technique!　To put it bluntly, you can't lose with this!　I call it the Alais style sword technique profoundness, the 'sensation'!

No, wait a minute.

'Ka, kankyou ......?'

That's a weird name.

How do you do it, shishou!

The children's eyes light up with curiosity.

'It's easy. It's easy to lose your mind, to throw away all ties, to contemplate the source of all things, to enjoy the happiness and misery of the world, to kill yourself, to lose your emotions...

Okay, let's stop.

It's not safe to listen to this!

”--Find out!　What are you doing, Kanami!

My full-length dropkick is dodged by Rowen with a very close pass.

As usual, the power of the skill ”sensitivity” is amazing. It's great, but it's not something you can teach a child so casually.

I'm sure there's a price to pay for it.

No, I'm talking to you. What are you doing, Rowen: ......

What? I'm teaching you a sword.　Kanami mastered most of it in one day, so I'm looking for another apprentice.

'Oh, yes. But if you're going to teach a child, just the basics of the sword ....... The skill 'sensitivity' is too early for the little ones. ......

...... But I mastered the skill 'sensitivity' when I was around these kids' age, you know?

That doesn't help.

Apparently, Rowen mastered skills as a child that killed herself and killed her emotions.

As usual, it's a sad waste of time: .......

Hm, it can't be helped. If my best apprentice, Kanami, says so, then so be it.

It's really something I wish you'd realize for yourself: ......

I sigh and am dismayed by Rowen's character.

'So, Kanami. What can I do for you?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, I forgot. Snow wanted to do a big request (quest), so I thought I'd ask Rowen's opinion.

Mmm, a big request: ......

There's a file in my office. Come with me.

I see.

Immediately, Rowen turns to the children and gives them instructions.

'Sorry, guys!　I've got some errands to run, so that's it for today!　I want you to make sure that you master the basics of the payment I taught you today before the next!

What?

The kids were not happy.

This makes me the one who took away their fun. I couldn't stay for a minute.

I'm busy working for peace in Lauravian. So long, boys.

Rowen forced a goodbye and turned her back.

'I don't blame you for the peace...'

Come again, shishou!

Thank you, shishou.

But still the children laugh and send Rowen away.

In the back, they find the Sister of the Orphanage bowing her head. It wouldn't just be a thank you for being the children's playmate.

Rowen is donating all the money she gets from helping The Epic Seeker. Beyond that, it seems they are all orphanages like this one. The amount of money must be quite a bit, since she seems to be catching high prizes as a hobby.

The Sister's gratitude is almost like that of a lifesaver.

The children must have sensed this in a very dim way. That's why they trust Rowen, and when they hear it's a job, they laugh and send her off.

'Alright, Kanami. Let's go.

Yeah, let's go.

I lead the way, respecting Rowen, who is doing more 'heroics' than I am.

'Oh, would you mind stopping by the workshop before you go to the office?'

In the workshop?

I asked Alibers to give me my sword.

'Heh. ....... Okay.

Accepting Rowen's request, we headed to Mr. Alibers' workshop.

Apparently, he has asked for a weapon for himself, and the delivery of the weapon is today.

We enter the soot-covered building in the corner of the Epic Seeker's headquarters.

Ever since I ordered my sword, Alibers' workshop has been booming. It's partly because I regularly ask for repairs, but also because of the quality of my swords, and the number of customers seems to have increased.

I shouted to them in the enthusiastic atmosphere of the workshop, ”Hello, Alibers!

Hello, Alibers-san!

Oh, Master and Rowen. Welcome to this filthy place.

Mr. Alibers, who is dripping with large sweat in the back, welcomes us.

Immediately, Rowen cuts to the chase.

'Alibers, is my sword ready?'

Yeah, sure. I'll have it ready in a minute.

He then spread out many of the armor on his usual workbench.

Among them were the repair items I had asked for.

'Let's see, this is the master's ....... I think this is Rowen's: ......

I casually 'gaze' at Rowen's sword.

[Magic Iron Sword (Mithril Sword)]

Attack power 3

A sword made of mithril ore

It is not a very special sword.

It's just that the scabbard is decorated with excessive and unnecessary ornamentation.

'Thank you, Alibers. I couldn't look good as a swordsman if I was always borrowing from Kanami.

Rowen happily accepts the sword.

'Then I would have given you one of my swords: ......

'No, these things are good because you spend your hard-earned money to buy them yourself. Like this ......, because I feel like it's 'my sword'.

I don't get that feeling. ......

I shake my head at Rowen's thoughts as I look at the sword I had repaired.

As a game-oriented person, I'm not very interested in weapons that can be bought with money. The strongest weapons in the game are usually the ones that money can't buy.

I'm sorry about that ...... and I'm sorry, Master. The only thing I can't seem to find a way to repair those two swords over there.

Mr. Alivers pointed to the two swords that were propped up against the wall.

These were the swords that had been left in the care of the company to see if they could be repaired somehow. It seems that the materials were too special for Alivers-san's hands after all.

''Those swords--''

Loewen's eyes and mouth open wide at the sight of the sword.

He seems surprised to see the ”Treasure Sword of the Aleis Family” and the ”Ruf Bringer”.

Rowen's surname is 'Alais'.

Maybe she knows something about it.

''Haha, it's like a 'curse' - no, let's just make it a rotten affair: ......''

Rowen chuckles and tries to pick up the two swords that are propped up very nostalgically. Mr. Alivers hurries and stops taking the swords.