Volume 4 - CH 21

–The next day.

Cyclo was so absorbed in designing magic tools that he ended up sleeping a little less and getting up late in the morning.

They meet Karim just in time for their appointment and heads for the Adventurers’ Guild.

“I heard that Cyclo couldn’t sleep at all. You’re like a child looking forward to an outing.”

“Shut up. I didn’t sleep well because I had something to do.”

He said back to her. In fact, he was having so much fun designing magical tools that he could not sleep, so her evaluation of him as a child is true.

So Cyclo had no choice but to retort in an embarrassed manner.

And so – the three of them got together and headed to the guild.

They went to the reception desk and applied to form a party with the three of them.

“What would you like to name your party?”

“A party name?”

The receptionist asked, and Cyclo thought about it.

“Do you two have any ideas?”

“I like ‘Love Love Love Bam, Two Love Nests’.”

“Don’t be silly. Rejected. What about Mist?”

When Cyclo asks, Mist makes a thoughtful gesture.

“…… How about ‘Circle of Fate’? It’s a party born from a fate-like encounter centered on Master, so ……”

Mist anxiously explains the reason.

Stroking Mist’s head, Cyclo smiles.

“It’s all right, Mist. It’s a good name. Let’s go with it.”

Thus, the “Circle of Fate” adventurer party was formed, with Cyclo as the leader.

After registering as a party, the three left the Adventurers’ Guild.

“What are we going to do today, Leader Cyclo?”

“Let’s see. First, I want to check each other’s movements, Mist’s leveling, and gain experience in combat. Let’s not go to the Deep Hole, but to the weak monsters and wild animals in the Northfolia area.”

“I agree. That sounds good.”

“I’ll do my best!”

The three of them walked down the main street while discussing their future plans.

“Then, today won’t be too difficult anyway, and it will be easy to finish, right? So let’s go somewhere and have a party to commemorate the formation of the party!”

“…… I’ll go out with you for a normal dinner, but nothing more.”

“Hmm? Cyclo, what do you mean anything more than that– don’t tell me, you want to immediately do it with me!?”

“No!!”

“M-My Master will not have anything to do with such an impure thing!”

–Karim’s crude jokes were answered by Cyclo and Mist, and the conversation continued to be lively.

And so it was when they were approaching the gate through the Northfolia’s wall.

An encounter occurred that Cyclo had not expected happened.

“–Big, Brother?”

Such a voice reaches Cyclo’s ears.

“Big brother!!”

The second time, it was loud and clear.

Unable to ignore the voice, Cyclo turns to look at the voice.

To the owner of the voice that sounded familiar – a voice he now hope he never had to hear again.

“……. Tsk.”

With a cluck of his tongue – Cyclo turned to the person – a girl who was a little taller than the figure he recognized.

“Big Brotheeeeeeeer!!!”

The girl was none other than Cyclo’s younger sister, Alice Owen, the owner of the alchemist’s higher level Job Skill, “Sage”.

Alice ran up to Cyclo with tears streaming down her face.

However, Cyclo pointed his weapon at her as if to check her.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Instantly, he activated Clock Generation. He takes the Orichalcum Sword in his hand and points the tip toward Alice.

“–What? Huh? You’re Big brother, right? Why?”

Alice looks confused and begins to panic.

Cyclo gives Alice a cold stare and continues to threaten her without lowering the tip of his sword.

“……Why are you here, Alice?”

When Cyclo asks, Alice hurriedly begins to explain.

“Well, that is, um …… I! I heard that my brother was falsely accused and sent here! And I’m not …… worried about it! But because he’s my brother, I thought I had to help him! So I went after you, but the guild told me that you were dead…”

As she explained, Alice’s voice gradually trembled and she burst into tears.

“Then, I thought I should at least wait for my brother’s return in this town, just in case he might …… come back ……!!”

After saying that much, Alice hides her face and sobs.

“…… I’m so glad that …… you’re alive ……!”

The words were filled with so much emotion that everyone could tell that she was worried from the bottom of her heart.

Naturally, even Mist, Karim, and the passersby and onlookers who stopped to listen to the commotion could understand.

But…

“Master?”

Mist looked at Cyclo’s expression and wondered.

(Why does the master look so distressed …… after being reunited with his family for the first time in a long time?)

Mist saw Cyclo’s expression as if he wanted to spit out something bitter and unbearable, but couldn’t.

And then – out of Cyclo’s mouth came words that no one could have imagined.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry that you’re incompetent and scum of a brother didn’t die just like that!”

Cyclo’s yell, filled with bitterness, startles Mist, Karim, and most of all, Alice.

“…… What? Big Brother, what do–?”

“I almost died thanks to your proclamations to the adventurers that I was ‘incompetent’ and ‘scum’. You have been happier if I had just died, right?”

“What are you talking about, Big brother, I never…”

“Don’t play dumb with me!”

Alice’s shoulders jumps up and were frightened at the sound of Cyclo’s yell.

“B-Big …… brother?”

“Your brother is the incompetent and scumbag Cyclo-Owen. He is no longer anywhere in this world.”

Then – Cyclo says the decisive words.

“Never show yourself to me again. Just looking at you makes me want to vomit.”

These words were so bitter, so deeply tinged with hatred, because they came from the bottom of his heart.

That is why it was more than enough to make Alice understand Cyclo’s true feelings.

“–W-Why…”

Alice tears spill.

“……Ugh, eugghh …… Uwaaaahhhhhhh!”

And then she collapsed, and Alice sobbed.

(Master ……)

Seeing the two of them like that, Mist thinks.

(I don’t know how it came to this, but — no matter what choice Master makes, I will definitely continue to be on his side.)

I wonder if those prayers will be heard.

(So – please –don’t let anger, hatred, and negative feelings alone determine everything …… You are the one who taught me to do so…)

This much – even God did not know how to take care of.

——————

With this story, Volume 4 comes to an end!

Volume 5 will begin next time!

If you are interested in the end of the relationship between Cyclo and Alice, or if you have found the story so far interesting, I would appreciate it if you could bookmark the page and give me some rating points!