CH 21

Chapter 19 :  My Hero [After].

"Unbelievable."

At the bottom of the well, Krishna, who had finished the treatment, just said in amazed.

The gouged side and the blown off left arm were completely clean.

She closed and opened her fingers several times, and repeated the same words again in a tone of mixed admiration and amazement.

"Unbelievable......."

Eventually, her blue eyes turned to me who sitting next to her, looking tired.

"This amazing healing magic... Zenos-shi was really the mediator?"

"No, I told you so. Sometimes you have to listen to people."

"Bbb, But it's hardly believable. It is unthinkable in the common sense of magical science that you have mastered not only protective magic but also healing magic."

"That's what I said, it's not extremely different, for healing, protection, and enhancement of abilities are all about strengthening the body's functions, so the basics are the same."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I mean, can you also use ability-enhancing magic?"　

Zofia, with her back against the wall and her arms crossed, said from the side.

"It doesn't matter, Lady of Stone. Whether you believe it or not, what happened right in front of your eyes is the truth. This should soften up your stony head a bit."　

"Y...Yeah, I guess you could say that......."

Krishna closed her mouth for a moment and then bowed his head toward Zofia.

"...... I'm sorry. I was the one who was wrong this time. About the noble lord, that was right."

"What's wrong with you? Did you hit your head?"

"I didn't hit my head, but my arm blew off, and it back to normal. It'll change some."

The deputy division commander of the Royal Guard Division said sadly.

"I'm not a hero at all,....... I realized that people like Zenos-shi are real heroes."

"You know.... Which part of me is the real hero?"

I bobbed my head.

"I barely survived as a kid by scavenging for leftovers, I didn't get a proper education, I had a bad experience with an adventuring party, and I don't have a license at first place......."

"I.....I....I'm Sorry.... It looks like I've stepped on a land mine."

When Krishna was confused, I let out a shallow breath and said.　

"There's no such thing as a real hero in the first place. Anyone who's fighting for something is going to get hurt, even if they don't want to. That's why there are healers like me."

"Zenos-shi...."

"Well, it's a received word."

I turned around slowly.

"It's just that no matter how much you are injured, no matter how much you are torn, I am pretty sure you are a hero to those people."

"Those people are....?"

Behind the bars, blindfolded children were scurrying about with anxious faces.

The girl in front of me said fearfully, as it suddenly became quiet.

"Hey, hey, what happened to her? What happened to her, the hero of justice?"

“…… ~Tsu! ”

Krishna's blue eyes widened and his quivering lips moved.

"Bu, But in the end I didn't do anything......."

"You were the first to make a move. You stepped out into the darkness in the face of uncertain information, against the power of the nobility, and with the hope that a child might still be waiting for you. We were just following along. You are the only hero in this case."

“I... I am...”

Krishna staggered and approached the bars.

"E...... Everyone, I'm fine. I'm safe somehow. I will immediately help you, hold on a little longer."

The children cheered loudly.     Thank you, Hero! 

Krishna closed her eyes tightly and held her chest tightly.

"I wonder if my mother...... is also like this......."

"....?"

“I've always thought of my mother as a sad victim. But……, my mother always had a sparkle in her eyes as she delivered her homemade food to the children of the poorest of the poor.... "

"...... I guess so. I'm sure you were someone's hero, just like you're a kid's hero now."

"Oh," Krishna moaned.

She've always tried to be the perfect hero.

But...

That's right.

That was it.

"My mother was...... clumsy, hasty, angry, forgetful, and full of weaknesses. Still,...... still, I'm sure--"

Krishna said as she squeezed her hand on her chest.

"Definitely, she was my hero--"

A single drop spills from the edge of her blue eyes.

Tears poured out, after tears, and soaked into the dry ground.

Zophia, with her back against the wall, listened outside the well and shrugged lightly.

"Sensei, it's about time the Royal Guard Division came sniffing out the commotion."

"Ah, now the shady ones get away."

I followed Zofia and looked back at Krishna.　

"Then the rest is yours to do. I'm counting on you, hero. Come back later to pay me exactly what you owe me."

"Wa.... Wait a minute"

Krishna hurriedly wiped his tears and called me and the others to stop.

"Let me ask you one thing. Why did you come to save me?"

I've been very rude to you.

You have no right to come here and take such a risk, Krishna said.　

Zofia and me stopped and looked at each other.

"I told he to leave you alone, but sensei insisted. I don't like you, but I can't say no if sensei asks me to."

"Zenos-shi? Why Zenos-shi......?"

I answered quietly as Krishna stared straight at me.

"Accommodation fee...."

"Eh?

"You said you would pay me when I lent you the bed. I was nervous, I couldn't get another customer for a while, it was hard for me. I have already decided that I will be paid for my services. If you die because of your carelessness, I will won't get the pay. You have to pay for your treatment. "

"....."

Krishna blinks her blue eyes.　

To collect the accommodation fee.

She not sure what to make of it.　

She not sure what to think, but it's not worth it.

She don't know how serious he is about this, but she guess that's what Zenos is all about.

“Fu~Fuu……”

A gasp escapes from her mouth.

"Fufu... haha​​... hahaha"

Unintentionally, a series of breaths escaped from the back of her throat.

Zenos and Zofia looked at her with some surprise.

"... What. You can laugh."

"------"

Krishna stood dumbfounded, holding her mouth.

The day my mother died, She stopped laughing.

In the beginning, she was so angry and sad that she could not smile.

After she became a member of Royal Guard, she thought she wouldn't have time to laugh until she had destroyed the bad guys.

And so she forgot how to laugh.

"Well....... I was...... laughing just now......."

"Well, it's a much more awkward smile."

"Rather, it's more creepy."

Krishna is annoyed by their ridicule and retorts,

"And I can't blame you guys. It's been a long time since I smiled. The only thing I'm not good at is smiling - or......"

Krishna wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and continued with a gentle smile on her face.

"It's one of many weaknesses."