Volume 3 - CH ss - 3

I’m Shuri. Right now I’m working as adventurer together with my big bro. Sorry, I mean Shun. We are earning money for our daily life as luggage carrier for other adventurer.

We’re living in a baron territory that was located at the furthest north of the kingdom. I’m still ten years old while big bro is thirteen years old so we have it hard but, we’re managing somehow.

This place is a remote region and frankly it’s the sticks but, there’re a lot of monsters here so many adventurers came here. Among them there is a big brother who we were acquainted with in the town that we previously lived in, and we luckily got hired by him as luggage carrier instead of getting worked like slave by awful adventurer.

Actually we wanted to be actual adventurer. Most adventurers are like a group of outlaw who barely made ends meet every day but, our acquaintance……Kevin and his party  have a sorcerer who told us how in the past adventurer was mercenary who specialized in exploring undeveloped land. He also told us how even now high ranked adventurer would get hired by noble.

Well, there isn’t anyone like that around us though……that’s a lie. There is just one person. It was because of that person big bro and I thought of becoming adventurer.

It was because of that person……”Aria”.

.

Our encounter with Aria three years ago was something unforgettable……it was after a bit of time passed since we got abandoned in this town.

It was really hard for us at that time. That woman took over the house and field of our departed dad. Even now I wanted to punch her face. No, I’ll definitely do it one day. I never said it because big bro would get worried though.

Aria was strong. And also so cool!

At first big bro picked a fight with Aria and almost got killed, but big bro was in the wrong for that. If that was all then as expected even me would never want to get involved with Aria anymore, but then Aria helped us after seeing a drunkard was hassling us.

I think it was after that……big bro and me wanted to become adventurer……no, to become “strong”.

To be honest our current living is tiring. We are still children so we can’t carry large luggage, and even though we’re accompanying Kevin’s rank 2 party, we would only receive one small silver coin from one adventure.

Even so I think that someone like big bro would have become a thug or criminal around this time if we didn’t become adventurer.

That was just how difficult it was for orphans in the slum to work. Perhaps we would be able to eat at least if we could enter the orphanage, but that time there was a lot of orphans because of monster attack and there was no orphanage at all for abandoned children like us to enter.

Even so other than being adventurer we also gathered broken blade or almost used up appraisal crystal as our side job to be sold to the blacksmith Galbas or the general store’s old man to make it somehow.

It was then we heard the rumor about how our birthplace was being attacked by orcs.

Kevin and big bro were anxious to go there but, the scout in Kevin’s party……what’s his name again? Anyway the scout opposed them from going to that town.

That guy was an unpleasant guy. But, I also agreed with him in regard to that. I’ll just die if I go to a place with a lot of orcs.

My half-brother who was still a baby when I got discarded would die at this rate……I felt slightly……just a little bit sad imagining it, even so big bro’s death scared me much more than that.

But, the one who resolved that problem was Aria who returned to this baron territory after three years.

……Aria who was  “a girl” now.

She was a girl from the start? I didn’t know that! She was already cool, but now she was also pretty and cute when dressed as a girl. Someone like big bro couldn’t even meet her eyes now that he had realized her gender and became completely conscious toward her, just what’s the deal with that!?

In the first place how did she become that big? Our height was about the same when we first met wasn’t it? Though certainly she had gotten a bit bigger in just three weeks at that time!

What’s more she had gotten absurdly strong! Rank 3 she said! Her appearance is around thirteen years old? Somehow she looked mature now, and what’s more she’s super pretty and eye-catching!

Haaa~~~~~~~……sayonara my first love.

No, wait a second. When someone is this pretty and cool, isn’t it fine even if she is a girl?

In fact, there isn’t any boy cooler than Aria around here. There’s also no man stronger than Aria. There’s also nobody lovelier than Aria.

She looked cold hearted but the truth is she is also compassionate, sincere, and won’t break her promise. She’s kind and also smell nice.

She’s pretty and wearing cool outfit. She’s radiating this strange sex appeal even though she’s still a kid. Even though my outfit is second hand, I had done my best to make it look stylish, but what’s this difference between us!?

Her breasts also had gotten bigger!? Even though I’m still flat like this!? What can I do to become like Aria!?

Big bro’s chop fell on my skull when I was getting excited like that. It was simply painful.

Well, that was just how lovely Aria was. And that lovely girl Aria solved even the orc incident so easily.

……But I realized then.

Aria is surrounded by various problems in exchange for that strength. Someone like Aria couldn’t even be seen together with shitty small fries like us.

That was why I easily said farewell to Aria and since then I started taking action to become strong.

That’s why big bro, let’s go already-!

.

「……I think, you might have aptitude for water element Shuri.」

「Eh, really!? Hooray!」

The relatively rational person and a sorcerer of Kevin’s party said that to me while we are resting on our way to the ruin. It made me reflexively clenched my hands to express my happiness.

The adventurer guild and the feudal lord finally announced that the orcs were mostly annihilated. And so big bro and I could work as the luggage carrier of Kevin’s party again.

Even so apparently individual or party that couldn’t defeat orc by themselves couldn’t approach the ruin, but Kevin and his party had actual achievement more or less so they were permitted to go.

Their party is being considered as a party that saved the town that got attacked by the orcs……along with the other parties.

In reality they were like the extra of the other two rank 3 parties that volunteered, furthermore it seemed that it was Aria who slaughtered the orcs, but that Aria exchanged the magic stones of fifty orcs before leaving the town, so the bounty money that the feudal lord had to pay went to those three parties and other related people. The lord also had to pay compensation to the other noble who originally should come as reinforcement, so apparently the amount wasn’t that much, even so it was an amount that I had never seen before.

But, the majority of the adventurer guild knew what Aria did.

Err……what? Ash Crowned Princess was it?

Aria’s nickname? Several adventurers who looked like bad guy would jerk each time they heard that name. They might be people who are involved with the thief guild and the receptionist lady told me that we mustn’t get near those people.

Was the scout of Kevin’s part gone, because of that……?

I got slightly off topic.

In short Kevin’s party right now is a bit rich. It’s an amount of money that would run out in two months if the party used it to drink themselves silly, but Kevin and others didn’t even waste any of the money and immediately took another quest. He said it was because they met “a certain adventurer” in that orc incident.

Hee……is that so…….

I glanced at the side. There Kevin who was in the middle of resting was sitting on a tree stump while enthusiastically saying something to big bro.

「──It’s not like I feel anything about that fellow but, as a fellow adventurer I got my eyes opened, or rather I thought that perhaps adventurer was originally like that. Ah, I’m not concerned about that fellow at all okay! I just, decided to retrain myself to become rank 3.」

「You’re amazing big bro……. I also have this super strong acquaintance, or perhaps friend? Anyway I want to be strong enough so I can form a party with that person……」

「I see……do your best. If it’s you Gil you can do it!」

「Yep. You too big bro Kevin, I hope you’ll reach rank 3 quickly!」

──They’re making that kind of talk but……

Aren’t they both talking about Aria?

Don’t tell me, both Kevin and big bro are in love with Aria? No way, that might okay for big bro, but that’ll be bad for Kevin. Aria is still ten years old.

And so Kevin and others went to adventure and we can also come with them as luggage carrier.

That scout who aaalways disliked paying us with money isn’t here anymore, so perhaps we would be able to get more than usual this time. Whee.

I was also inspired by Aria when meeting her in the past, so I’m asking the sorcerer big bro to teach me things like letter or simple math. Big bro isn’t going to study anyway so I need to be dependable!

And so I asked for teaching too during the break this time, but I was told that I might have aptitude for water element.

Perhaps that was why I could only use Water among the daily life magic even though I had been taught several of them. I think what caused me to be able to use the daily life magic of water was because of that incident with the drunkard that told us to pay to use the well in the slums. ……Aria was really intense after all.

I got off-topic again.

And so the sorcerer big bro is becoming my teacher who is teaching me sorcery but, he too might have also gotten inspired by Aria. His attitude is different from before. How should I say it, before this it felt like he taught me only for killing time, but now the way he underestimated me just because I’m a kid has lessened a lot.

The treatment toward big bro is also the same. Before it felt like big bro got taught how to use sword only for killing time, but now Kevin or the hunter big bro would proactively teach big bro.

But the things that they taught him, like how to use short sword or how to erase presence, aren’t those things for scout? Perhaps they’re trying to turn big bro into replacement for the missing scout?

But perhaps that’s alright? Big bro knew that Aria is a scout and what’s more she’s really strong, so it looks like he’s interested in that direction.

Even if it’s just a temporary whim, I’ll be happy as long as big bro turn into proper adventurer. There isn’t anybody strange in Kevin’s party right now, so I think it’ll be fine.

But……what about me?

Even if I became able to use water sorcery, I’ll be weak as a sorcerer. The sorcerer big bro is also rank 2, but he said that’s because he can use two elements, wind and earth. Perhaps that much is needed to be adventurer as a sorcerer.

Unlike the nobles, most commoner sorcerer only has one element. Even just having two elements will make the person look talented. That’s why sorcerer with only one element will also search something else than sorcery to be their “weapon”. It’s not like it has to be bladed weapon but, they need other method that they can fight with.

The sorcerer big bro said that he can also use sword. Why is a sorcerer learning close quarter combat? ……When I asked him that, he said that he wanted to become a warrior in the past.

But……what about me?

I can’t fight in close quarter combat better than the sorcerer big bro. Perhaps I won’t even be able to block the enemy’s sword and died from getting overwhelmed.

Then what should I do?

To be honest there is something that I had decided. Because I looked up to Aria too much, it pushed me to train in that obsessively. But I was at a lost because something like that wouldn’t serve as my main weapon on its own, however I might be able to do it if I can use water sorcery.

.

「Be on your guard from here!」

Kevin cautioned everyone when we got near our destination. Usually big bro and me would wait in a safe place before coming this far, but this time we asked them to bring us until this far.

The quest that Kevin’s party took was searching for orc and exterminating them. Even if there isn’t actually any orc, if we defeat the monsters around here, we would be able to obtain subjugation fee along with that monster’s magic stone. If we luckily……unluckily? encountered an orc and defeated it, we’ll be able to obtain even more reward.

But well, the feudal lord is also dispatching his soldiers to defeat the leftover orcs, so I don’t think the chance of us being able to encounter an orc will be that great! That’s also why Kevin’s party agreed to bring us until this far.

.

「──ah」

『Bu, BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!』

……Eh? Something came out!? Is this like the saying of ‘speak of the devil’!?

A wild orc appeared. What’s more there is two of them.

Kevin’s party can defeat one safely. But what about two? If we found two or more orcs, we would decide whether to launch surprise attack or retreat, but for some reason these two orcs appeared suddenly in front of ussss!

「A-attack!」

『BUMOOOOO!』

An awkward atmosphere almost formed but, Kevin and the orc raised their voice at the same time and battle broke out as a matter of course.

*Clang!!*

The party’s heavy warrior and one orc clashed. But, Kevin’s party only consisted of rank 2 adventurer while the orcs were rank 3, so the heavy warrior instantly started getting pushed back.

「This bastard!」

Kevin couldn’t bear to watch and assisted. But, what’s he doing!? Kevin had worked hard since that incident and got stronger. That’s why Kevin should hold back one orc while the rest defeat the other shouldn’t it!?

No good, I can’t think. There is one more person, the hunter, but that person is the same like the sorcerer. I don’t think he is good with fighting at the front line.

「……U, UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

「B-big bro!?」

Big bro Gil rushed forward like a man possessed with his short sword. What’s he doing!? You still don’t have any combat skill!

Perhaps big bro himself knew that he can’t fight. He ran past the other orc in front of its eyes to distract it.

『BUMO!!』

The orcs are also seemed to be in confusion. That orc ignored the hunter and sorcerer and began chasing after big bro.

「Gil, run around!

Kevin also noticed and yelled like that. The sorcerer and hunter also wanted to save big bro but, big bro will die if they carelessly attack with sorcery or bow and hit him instead.

Nii-chan……dead?

「──hih」

A chill ran through my back the moment I noticed that possibility. I unconsciously grabbed the sling on my waist, just like Aria at that time.

*Gatsun!*

『GAH!?』

The small rock that I threw with the sling hit the orc’s head. But it didn’t deal any damage, and no blood came out. Even so the orc’s fury moved away toward me.

「Shuri-, run!!」

I can hear big bro’s voice. My head almost turned pure white by what I had done.

Something like orc is a terrifying monster for children like us. I heard that even adventurer can’t face it when they are just rank 1 and would get killed no matter how many of them are there.

But……in that moment, Aria’s face flashed in my mind like revolving lantern. A mere survivor of the orcs that she slaughtered doesn’t seem that horrifying although it’s still scary.

「……Water-!」

I used the only daily life magic I can use, Water while backing away. Something like that can’t even serve as distraction. That is even more so when the opponent is an angry orc.

I threw a small rock at the orc at that moment. I didn’t even have any leeway to use the sling, but the orc that got hit by the rock just now dodged it even though there isn’t any need to do that──

『BUMOO!?』

Its posture was unbalanced. Its foot slipped by a water puddle and it fell forward.

Right here-!

『BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?』

The skewer that I threw in that moment pierced the orc’s eyeball. It screamed.

Three years ago, after Aria was gone, I heard from the general store’s old man how Aria used iron skewer as weapon. I kept asking him to procure the same thing for me and since then I had kept practicing with it while keeping it a secret from even big bro!

「Now!」

The hunter’s arrow pierced the orc’s neck at the same time with my yell. Right behind it big bro who was looking deathly pale leaped and stabbed the fallen orc’s neck with his short sword.

「We did it!」

.

From the result that attack seemed to be almost fatal. The hunter also used a short sword and beat up the orc together with big bro. After that the remaining orc wasn’t even a problem anymore. Everyone surrounded it and finished it off.

「Shuri……you, since when you became able to do something like that? That was damn reckless.」

The senior adventurers Kevin and others praised me but, big bro got slightly angry with me. Even though he himself was also reckless……. Guess that was why he didn’t scold me too much.

「Even I’m going to be an adventurer! Big bro, I’m going to be stronger than you if you let your guard down you know?」

「N-no way that can happen! ……No way right?」

Who knows? Even Aria is the same age with me so it’s not impossible you know?

That’s right. I’m going to become stronger. After all it’s sad that I can’t meet with Aria openly.

That’s why, wait for me Aria-.

One day I’ll become strong and go to meet you-!