Volume 4 - CH 6

Chapter 6 – What I Couldn’t Say That Day

“With this, that man should have noticed how small he is1. It’s all about experience.”

The mastermind who pulled Eto into a mock combat with the Hero said in a good mood. Looking at such a happy Sorano, Eto could only sigh, worrying whether it would become a problem in the future2.

Fortunately, when he asked the knight who was watching the fight about it, the knight said that there wouldn’t be an issue since it was just a mock battle. Rather, the Hero, who tried to attack him with the Holy Sword, was more at fault here.

At any rate, as Eto and his party exited the building, he heard a nostalgic voice calling his name from behind. Eto then looked back and stared at his childhood friend’s face.

“Lana… Long time no see.”

Even after not seeing each other for a long time, her short trimmed silver hair, tanned skin, and a pair of dark brown eyes still manage to capture Eto’s eyes. But it seems, his childhood friend, whom he met for the first time in a year, had a slightly matured atmosphere right now.

“Un, long time no see…. Your mock battle with Hero-sama… Although I only saw it from the middle of the battle, you’ve become strong, Eto…”

“You saw it, huh.”

“Your movement was, of course, more skillful than before. But on top of that, the power of your enchantment was really amazing.”

“That’s because I couldn’t show my strength when I was still in the Hero’s party as they banned me from using my support magic.”

“I.. didn’t even know about that… I didn’t even know why Eto’s fighting style changed during the trip.”

Lana looked down as she said that. And that unreliable appearance of her, was far different from the Sword Saint Lana, who was one of the main members of the Hero’s party.

“After Eto left the party, I came to know many things. I couldn’t do anything for Eto…”

“I felt really ashamed for being discriminated against by the Hero’s party. And I would be ashamed to have Lana know about that. If Lana knew about it, I wouldn’t be able to face you because of how pathetic I was. That’s why I couldn’t tell you the truth.”

“You did try to tell me about it in our last conversation. When I was waiting for Eto to come back to the stables at the inn…”

“Aa. Even though I’ve been hiding it, in the end, I ended up telling you at that time. Although part of it was because you caught me coming back after finishing my job at the guild, the biggest reason was probably because I was already at my limit.”

“Even though we’ve been together, I didn’t even notice…. I’m sorry.”

Lana bowed deeply. The current Eto didn’t feel like blaming Lana for anything that happened before. Because he knew, even if they’re childhood friends, it doesn’t mean they knew everything about each other. Besides, if he wanted Lana to understand his pain, he should have talked to her before. Not a short exchange like their last conversation, but a long conversation with them properly facing each other.

That’s what Eto thought, however, there is only one thing Eto couldn’t accept.

“Why–”

Eto tried to say something but stopped, until Lana stared at Eto’s face.

“Why didn’t you listen to me at that time? Did you trust the Hero that much?”

A year ago, in front of the stables at the inn, Eto confessed to Lana that he didn’t get any rewards from the subjugation. Although he did hide it from Lana before, after actually saying it, Eto truly hoped his childhood friend would believe and understand him.

However, Lana didn’t believe Eto’s story at all. She even blamed Eto for lying that Hero-sama wouldn’t give him his reward. And even when Eto tried to call out to Lana who was about to leave, she entered the inn without even looking back at him. That scene is still lingering in his mind even now.

“… I’ve been hearing bad rumors about Eto from everyone. Like having a woman problem in various towns, having lost his sense of mission and responsibility as a member of Hero’s party, or that you yourself were the reason your relationship with Mirei-sama was getting worse3.”

“Who was saying such nonsense? Is it Hero-sama?”

“No. It was the people who did our chores. Bad rumors about Eto were circulating among them, and the source of those rumors was the liaison between the royal castle and the church.”