CH 228

{Sword}

My spirit got completely destroyed by Indra.

….Yeah, right! I thought it might be a much more compellin’ situation…a reason she couldn’t talk ’bout. Don’t say that she lost interest in me because of our bodily compatibility!!

Would she deceive me because of somethin’ like that? Eh? Was I that bad? I mean, it was the first time for both of us, wasn’t it?

…It was her first time, right?

“……”

My feelin’ of wantin’ to know got much stronger…

But yeah, if I were told, 『Sorry, I couldn’t tell you that you suck too much. I didn’t expect the person, who I dated after likin’ him so much that I told him about my embarrassin’ past, to be such a dead-lay, so my love vanished in one go and I tricked you as I couldn’t stand bein’ with you any longer』…that would be quite the 『answer I don’t wanna know』.

――Then again, that’s how reality works, right?

Indra, who’s knowledgeable in that area, sayin’ so means it’s a common reason for couples to break up.

She 『got tired』 of me, or I 『sucked too much』. Guess it’s gotta be somethin’ along those lines. It’d just mean that I read too much into stuff.

Hahaha.

When I reflexively sighed deeply, Indra told me, “Now, now, it’s just better to not know the reason. If you consider your emotions, that is. Just apply your preferred 『reason for breaking up』. Reality will do with that as you’ve 『already broken up』.”

As her words grated my nerves, I ground her temples.

＊

――I visited Luna’s and my datin’ spots with Indra, but regretted it a bit as I should have listened to Indra and let bygones be bygones.

In other words, all of it was disappointin’, shabby junk.

…Back then, I was still young, all of it looked nice and sparklin’. I enjoyed the places for just bein’ together with my beloved. We often talked ’bout not bein’ able to buy a place as it was too expensive, but planned to buy it someday once we made a break-through.

――Now, without several years having passed yet, only I’ve been able to fulfill that dream.

Also, the girl next to me right now had skills allowin’ her to make stuff which was several leagues above the things sold in this town, and she faithfully accompanied me while probably havin’ no interest whatsoever.

At the end, we headed towards the guild.

“Sorry for makin’ you tag along.”

When I apologized, she stared at me blankly for a moment, before answerin’, “I told you didn’t I? That I’d even go to hell with you. But, this place isn’t hell, so you don’t need to apologize.”

I laughed at her, and asked, “But, it’s a very borin’ town to you, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think of it as boring, but I guess it’s normal. I’m going to use this as reference for what might be a standard in this world. …I might have enjoyed this place if I had come here as a normal adventurer first,” she muttered with a slightly distant voice.

That’s why I caressed her head.

“Don’t worry ’bout it. Ain’t your fault for bein’ broken. That’s also why I can enjoy bein’ with you.”

“Hmm… But, you’re quite the passive guy. Wouldn’t you consider something fun just because the person next to you considers it fun?”

……

“It’s not really like that, you know?”

I’m not that soft-hearted a person. In reality, I encountered many situations where I didn’t have any fun while those ’round me did.

“Really…?” Indra tilted her head, but didn’t say ‘nythin’ else while continuin’ to walk.

＊

Enterin’ the guild, I headed to the reception and gave ’em my name.

“I’m Sword of the S-Rank adventurer party 【Allrounders】. Is the guild mas…”

“Sword!?”

I remembered havin’ heard that voice before and turned ’round in surprise.

A grown Luna…no. She looks similar but is still different.

“……Umm, if I remember correctly……”

…Oh right, Luna had a younger sister. She said they didn’t resemble each other, and sure, they were different. But now that she’s grown up, she does look like Luna.

“Ivana…was it?”

Her face beamed.

…Great, looks like I was correct.

“Long time no see, Mr. Sword.”

……That’s someone I didn’t want to meet, seriously.

My face cramped up.

＊

――It ain’t like I don’t have any fault in her sister’s death altogether. Or rather, I can’t really tell either. I can’t explain 『why she died』.

Given that Luna’s other party members weren’t locals, I wasn’t questioned by their families either. Only Luna came from here. She grew up in the orphanage together with her sister.

Her sister Luna was an adventurer in trainin’ as a priestess apprentice…I only learned of it later, but she had formed a party with her fans. Back then I didn’t know any of it, and only joined their party after bein’ invited by the leader for my sword skills. In a role as a simple tank.

I was grateful to the leader who invited me for that point alone. A lot more back then than now.

Far from havin’ romantic relationships, I didn’t even have any friends. Anyway, I wanted to get friendly with that party as I was happy that they’d invited someone like me. And I hoped they’d approve of me as a friend if I obediently carried out my duty as a tank.

That’s why I didn’t know the party’s circumstances either. Nor the circumstances of the woman called Luna…