Epilogue

We left the farm in the early morning and we’re back on the road. Well, or whatever you’d call these trodden paths in the middle of nowhere. Next stop will be a town, where the farmers usually sell their harvest. From there it’s back to a real road. Well, as much as clay and stone paths count.

Why heading to a road, even though we used to avoid them as often as possible? Because there are only shitty options. The past showed that whoever wants to find us will find us, and while farming some XP by defeating monsters away from civilization did sound good at first, we decided to emphasize speed for several reasons.

First one is to get as much space between us and Gottfried as possible, the stay at the farm seriously didn’t help there. However, if we can get to Zethtrin quick enough and break the curse of the ring, then… I don’t know what, considering I’m now dating Rine, but I guess a large portion of complications will be accounted for? She may also break up with me and return home on her own. As long as she makes that decision herself, I won’t say anything.

The second reason would be to fulfill our promise to Jii-san, as he wants us to accompany him there. Hm… never asked why, but none of my business, I guess. Repaying him by getting there without many delays seems to be the best course, though.

Third, with Correro being able to track us at any time—at least I’m assuming so—he decides where he will face us once more, so making too many detours doesn’t help against him at all. Rather, it gives him more opportunities to fuck with us.

Finally, I seriously want everything to be over. I’m sick of it! …well, mostly. I mean, the thing with Rine and Kyou-san is too confusing to categorize as purely good or bad. Need to figure out my stance on that soon.

“Phew…” If there just wasn’t the curse which makes everything so muddy about it. I promised both that I won’t take it as a reason to hold back, but it’s not like I can just switch my brain off!

“Don’t worry, Ken-kun,” Ara-san says next to me, holding my hand for the daily WP-grind: “Being worried won’t help.”

I know this comes from a place of laziness, but that still pisses me off: “You don’t even know what I’m worried about.”

“Affirmative. Let’s talk about happy things, like sex.” What the- ah! She got me! That feeling I get from her—or rather her spirit—shows the satisfaction of getting under my skin for a moment! Yet she continues in a condemning tone: “Not between you and me, but between you and Momo. You—worked?—really hard to earn some WP and now we have a larger stable income of WP, so let’s consider how to use them.”

Wedding Points, the reward of being intimate with my wives. A currency to buy some bonuses.

Currently we have [Shared Inventory], [Enhanced Attributes: Increased Effect II, Increased Range II], [Increased XP-gain], and [Spouse-Location]. I was thinking of getting better buffs during Rine’s fight, but ultimately it wasn’t necessary.

We currently got 637 WP… and more than a third came just quite recently, though there seems to be first-time bonuses at play. Like how my first kiss with Kyou-san got us 100, the first with Rine and Ara-san just 20 each, and now kissing Rine or Kyou-san gives 1 once per day. “I won’t expect the turn-out to be that great.”

“So you won’t jump her like an animal whenever possible?”

…I don’t know? I mean, I actually enjoyed it? Even though I won’t openly admit it, will this turn me into a sex-crazed maniac?

Probably not, I mean: If this was enough, then human society would look vastly different.

Back to topic though: “About what to do with the WP… I guess we can use them for more XP.” While it doesn’t feel like XP and in extension levels are very dominant in the whole power-scaling thus far, getting these bonuses early is always better. “For the rest, I’d like to save them for emergencies, like always.” Having a resource with some flexibility to use whenever needed is helpful, like [Spouse-Location], which allowed us to find each other inside the Spirit Swamps when we were separated.

“I propose to you to reconsider saving them too much.”

Strange, so far she was on board with this: “Why?”

“Aside from the hope to unlock another [Increased XP gain] that we can purchase quickly enough, our approach so far leads me to believe that being too reactive with our approach will be detrimental. Our encounter with the barbarians could have been much smoother by having more [Increased Effect] on our [Attribute]-bonus.” Yeah, the bonuses via the WP-system are much stronger than what levels bring despite similar values. “Also, if we want to explore options like [Double Casting], then we better do it while we are in a safe environment, instead of making a leap of faith when we are out of options. In fact, we may avoid such situations if we extend our options beforehand.”

What she says makes sense, and she’s in her serious mode, casting aside all considerations for fun to make the most logical decision, which is something all alfar can do when needed.

“Hm… next XP-gain is 300 WP, so even if we unlock a new one, how much will that be? 500?”

“Which would take just eight days to get there without sex, and depending on your stamina one day and some.”

She’s got a point there. “Well, we agree on the XP-gain, so let’s start with it. After that, I will take a day or two to study the list and come to a conclusion.” As all spouses have to agree on a WP-store purchase, so as long as even one of us is against it, this will go nowhere. That’s why Ara-san and I need to look at it from every angle to find the best path possible, which can also convince Kyou-san. Rine… well, I guess she’ll be fine with whatever we decide.

Heart-throbbing? “Phew…” I let go of Ara-san as it’s just a task we both engage with for functional reasons. Like doing laundry. No, laundry is a pain in the ass in this world. Holding hands is just routine at this point.

I think my brain is deteriorating, as I used to be much more irritated by this. Or maybe it’s just me losing my virginity. Nah, it’s just after being fucked by life so many times, I just see small annoyances as not worth the effort of being agitated with anymore.

“Guess this is a good opportunity to break the news to the others.” As Ara-san is the first one I held hands with today, we can use the swap as an opportunity.

Rine is blabbering about the first time she visited a foundry, as Kyou-san and Jii-san listen to her: “And then came in a dari, he had really silvery hair. Not like old man silver, but the one you’d find in accessory, and he said- Hi Dear.” I’ll assume that’s not what he said, but her noticing that I have something to say.

Well, as she’s told this story to each of us except Jii-san maybe five times already, I have little reason to not interrupt it.

After a short explanation, we got [Increased XP Gain II], therefore boosting the amount of XP we get by killing a monster from 120% to 140%. Yet it’s all split fourways, so each of us get 35% of each kill, just a small boost, but it will snowball. Especially if we get the next level, which we indeed unlocked and will cost 550 WP.

“Now onto important matters,” Ara-san starts while prodding Jii-san from behind: “We still have to cover barbarian stories!” Her spirit certainly exudes a lot of pressure.

Is it because she failed the storytelling section? Because she feels guilty and wants to improve herself, to learn more about how humans entertain each other, to understand my species even more? I can say with certainty: Absolutely not.

Rine doesn’t understand though: “For your next storytelling contest?”

“Why?” Ara-san sounds legit surprised and I feel no contradiction in her spirit, so she’s really baffled. “Katarine-san, I tried my best. So if my best wasn’t good enough, it only supports what I’ve learned a long time ago: Stop trying. Yet as with any folklore, there is a certainty that there are hero-related stories, especially the oldest ones, as barbarians are supposed to be the descendants of some, just like your family.”

“Ah…” I’m very sure Rine has some flashbacks of how annoying Ara-san can be when she pries about information.

“Erm… Ara-kun? I already told you everything I know.” Seems like Jii-san also was subjected to it already when I was mostly out of order.

“Grekkun, did you know the story of Gerd?”

“Yes, everyone knows that one.”

“Then you missed telling me that one, and I’m positive that I can torture more out of your memory.”

“Did you just say torture?”

“Only emotional and mental, as I doubt that I can inflict physical damage onto you.”

Well, time to bail out of this conversation. “Kyou-san?” I grab the hand she doesn’t use to massage the bridge of her nose, indicating that I want to swap to WP-grind that hand-holding session next.

She nods and starts accelerating and after getting a bit ahead of the rest, I even see a small smile on her.

“What’s up?” I ask, as she even has a bit of a spring in her steps.

“I’m holding hands with my boyfriend,” she answers and it’s unfair how cute she sounds, especially considering her usually prickly attitude.

I hear someone catching up from behind and Rine takes my other hand: “Let me join you, it’s a bit hard to stay there. Tehehehe.” She’s absolutely delighted to hold my hand, which is somehow different to Kyou-san, though I can’t tell why.

I’m holding hands with my girlfriends. … Plural.

Don’t think about how I will mess it up. Or how it’ll fuck up anyway. Don’t think about the curse, don’t think too much about it at all, and certainly don’t get conceited.

A rare sigh tears me away from the negative thoughts, as Rine regrets: “I really wish I could have stayed longer. It was nice there.”

“Yes,” Kyou-san agrees: “Especially without barbarians. Having people around us that don’t want to get us killed was certainly a nice change of pace. Even though…” Why are you getting closer? “…at least I can now flirt with you.” Argh, so many complicated emotions!

“Ah, I’m sorry Kyou,” Rine says: “When we get in town, you can be his lover for the public.”

“Sigh, I fear it’s already too late for that, Rine-chan. If we want to keep our marriage situation a secret, we can’t have inconsistencies in the rumors that will eventually spread.”

“Shit,” I answer in realization that the story about the whole incident at the farmstead will now also roam around the region: “I hate it. I need new armor so that the whole Red-Ranger thing will die out soon.” The red hide armor I wear is just the best I have and it’ll be hard to find something similar or better in stats.

“Why?” Rine asks. “You are an inspiration! Dear, your stories will be of help for everyone, as much as your deeds so far and in the future.”

“Rine, I don’t want that and don’t plan to do that. I’m just a shitty person that somehow got lucky.”

“Don’t talk about yourself like that! You’re a hero and you are an idol! Not by luck, but because you help people, like Obert or the whole farm.”

“Ken,” Kyou-san, your smile is a bit scary: “If you talk about yourself like that out loud again in my presence, you will regret it. You are my boyfriend, so every time you put yourself down, you do the same to me and my judgment. And Rine’s judgment as well.” The blonde girl nods heavily.

“That’s unfair!” I mean, Kyou-san is also a bad person, but getting Rine mixed up is nasty! “What do you expect, to act like I’m some kind of good-hearted person!?”

“I expect you to act like always and be confident about it, instead of hiding behind pessimism and self-depreciation.”

“Phew… I’m just honest. I just somehow get through situations and some people misunderstand that as skill. Nobody should model themselves after me and I’m sure that nobody actually does. They are just out there for the stories and spectacle because their lives are boring without any modern entertainment. It’s not like I’m actually influencing anyone.”

―○●○―

It’s been a few days since the Red Ranger left. Obert hugs his mother, tears in his eyes as he knows how lonesome it will be, but he has chosen his path. Uncle Poal waits for him at the cart, together with Uncle Benjam and some others, as they will make their way to the town to sell what is left of the harvest and in return buy some goods.

Though Obert won’t see the farm for a while, if everything goes well. Uncle Poal will talk to the smith, so that Obert can start his apprenticeship. It’s strange, Obert thought we wanted to be a warrior, but now he wants to create instead.

He plans to return to the White Horst, but maybe he will be like Uncle Benjam and explore the world as a journeyman later. Feuerberg, wasn’t it?

Then a piercing sound, somewhere between a scream and a yell howls through the farmstead, and Aunt Kenza storms out of the building: “AAAAAAAAGH!” She’s also in tears as she has a crumpled piece of paper in her hands: “Has anyone seen Mirianne today!?”

―○●○―

It’s been two weeks since Mirianne left. She is hungry. She’s thirsty. She’s tired. Also dirty. She has slept outside since leaving her home, aside from a night in a barn in town. She didn’t take enough food and water with her for that hike, not realizing how much she needed.

Water isn’t a problem though, as snow is starting to pile up everywhere, but her stomach feels like it wants to digest itself. Yet despite feeling miserable, she also feels a strong drive in herself, which shuts down any complaint and transforms it into another step.

It’s supposed to be here… She’s in a forest two weeks away from her home, which is much farther than she has ever traveled. Also a place that nobody visits who is right in their mind. Yet being ‘right in her mind’ won’t give Mirianne anything, so she’s fine with being crazy.

How many hours did she walk in here? How often did she reach the border only to turn around and head back into the depths? She hasn’t bothered counting, as that would take too much strength. Just use it to move.

Ah, not again. She’s seeing the trees opening to a plain, but she doesn’t want to exit the forest, she wants to get to the middle!

As she turns around again, her foot is caught in a root and she begins to stumble, setting one foot after another until she regains her balance. Wait, why is she out of the forest now? Ah! Now she understands!

She takes a deep breath before saying as loud as she could: “Hello?” It’s not that much, she’s just so exhausted.

It’s not like she can hear someone, but she’s sure there is someone there, so she feels a presence. Then a woman jumps down from a tree, despite it having no leaves anymore Mirianne couldn’t see her before: “Go away. Your kind is not welcome here!” She’s an alfr alright, her yellow-green double iris, high cheeks, and unmoving facial expressions are so similar to Ara’ainn, though that one has bright orange hair.

“M…my name is… My name is Mirianne!”

“I haven’t asked.”

“Please.” Now that something like a conversation has started, it’s easier to continue speaking.

“We don’t share food or shelter, we won’t help any of your settlements, and the only reason why we haven’t shot you so far is that we’re civilized. Yet our patience runs out quickly.”

“Wait, I… please make me a ranger!”

Oh no, she’s not saying anything! She will turn Mirianne away! Yet instead of shirking away, the braided girl stands taller. It may not make her look intimidating—which isn’t the intention in the first place—but she wants to face the answer head-on.

Unbeknownst to Mirianne, the silence is not one of consideration. It’s one of surprise and deep thought of how to maximize the fun potential of a willing victim.

―○●○―

“Hm… Attack?” Adalbert von Stolzherz answers his father after thinking thoroughly about the question presented to him.

“Where do you take the forces from?”

“The rear.”

“What about the supply line?”

“Erm… but if I take the forces from the frontline, then they will find a weak point and break through that.”

“So the question is, whether to risk your supplies being raided by a small group that was able to infiltrate or let a battlegroup create an opening for more to invade.”

“Ugh, what would be better, father?”

“Neither. That’s why attacking isn’t always the answer. In this spot, it’s better to wait until you amassed enough supplies for a brave foray into the enemies’ territory.” Heinrich von Stolzherz V wished he could use the same stratagem against the demons, but it’s not that simple with enemies like them, who live in tainted land deadly to humans.

“Doesn’t the enemy have time to prepare then as well?”

“Then think of a way to make it harder for them to do so without exhausting your own resources.”

“Yes, father.” Adi nods still in thoughts and it makes Heinrich happy to see his son taking his studies so seriously. If this goes on, he may become Ludolf’s successor and serve his brother as a tactician.

I sure hope that they will get along better though. Heinrich and Ludolf are very different in their ideas and opinions, Heinrich being a more conservative king who upholds the ideals of his ancestry whenever possible, while Ludolf is someone who claims to follow efficiency.

“You’re progressing well, Adi,” Heinrich smiles his worries away as he praises his ten-years old son, who just started with military tactics. “I’m proud of you.”

“Ehehe.” This smile hurts a bit, as it reminds Heinrich of Kati. “Thanks for letting me take your time, father.”

Heinrich may be busy, but he’s also always willing to spend time with his family whenever possible. It’s important to keep his focus, as he loves his family. Additionally, he can witness how they grow up and make sure that the tutors are doing their work properly and won’t corrupt his children in their young years, while they are still easily influenced.

Kati…

A knock echoes in the study chamber and interrupts this train of thought before it could pick up speed. Heinrich is a bit annoyed, as this is time he spends with his son, but on the other hand, the guards usually turn everyone away during these times unless it’s important. “You may enter.”

It’s Urs, one of the messengers. He’s holding a document in his hand: “My liege, the chancellor asked me to bring this to you as quickly as possible and to visit him whenever Your Highness finds the time.”

Heinrich thinks about sending Adi away for a moment, but decides to let him stay, as this will show him how a ruler works: “Thank you, Urs.” The messenger hands Heinrich the document, it’s a letter of the western border.

One of the watchtowers has fallen, by a group of at least thirty demons. In addition, there have been sightings of three young women who happen to look like the heroes they summoned.

Three young women among the heroes… This is the moment that summoning heroes will bite Heinrich back? He vaguely remembers three of them going MIA when they looked for Kati in the Mauerfelsen-mountain range, so they joined with the demons?

“What’s wrong, father?” Adi picks up that his father is trembling.

Is it anger? Self-pity? Enjoyment? He can’t say for sure, but his instincts tell him that something will become unstuck and he has to be quick and decisive about his next few steps. Heroes turning against each other and their summoners isn’t something new, but they have prepared for this eventuality even before the first hero went rogue.

“Don’t worry, son. You also don’t need to shirk away, Urs,” Heinrich knows that rumors about his latest outbursts went around the castle like a wildfire and he will need to pull himself together to earn the goodwill of his subjects back: “It’s indeed a concerning message, but it just comes earlier than expected, not unexpected.”

―○●○―

“I’m back,” says the oni in a bored tone as she enters a dark chamber with a shining desk, too many books, and a stinky perfume. She has the form of a juvenile with dark hair and tanned skin, the form she had when she met Katakata and her friends the first time.

“Welcome back, Ogra,” the fat, white-haired sack of potatoes says, who is something like her interim master for a while. Ogra isn’t her name—she has none, after all—it’s just an identity she adopts for her real master while in this form. “Have you succeeded?”

“Yes, sir.” It was the worst kind of task, stalking and stabbing someone using her shapeshifting from behind. That’s not the demon way, it’s the way of someone who stalks and stabs someone from behind by using shapeshifting to get close to them!

“Excellent.” Interim master folds his hands together as he seems to revel in the murder even though it’s been the oni, who’s done the deed. Oh well, maybe he feels all the satisfaction she misses with such an unfun way to kill someone. No bone-breaking, no mutilation, not even a bit of laughter allowed.

The last time she had to work under those indemon conditions was back in Déjuma!

“While I would be delighted to see your handiwork continue here, there have been rumors about the Red Ranger in the east, which are concerning for me.”

“About bro?”

“I just said that.” The meaty face of interim master moves as if he was chewing on something. Or maybe he wants to scowl and has too much fat to do so properly. “He’s approaching a particular city-state, and it’s the worst possible timing. You have to know that *blah, blah, blah* and *blah, blah, blah* unless the *blah, blah* happens. Understood?”

“No.”

“*Sigh* I will plan around your simple mind.”

“Yes, sir!” The oni answers cheerfully.

For some reason, this seems to annoy her interim master even more.

―○●○―

Almost a year ago.

After my realization, I called off the raid before Fir could gather the warriors, but despite some worried looks nobody stayed by my side. Therefore I stand in the midst of my tent, alone and unobserved.

It’s night time and I’m still torn whether to take the poncho or not. This journey may take a long while, and while a part of me refuses to accept that I’m at an age when I can’t go around topless anymore, there is another feeling inside me.

I can’t name that emotion, but I know what it makes me do. I have to live for a while longer, and this poncho will make it more likely. This is more important than my pride.

So poncho it is. It also has some pockets, so I can carry more stuff with me. I guess I also need shoes. Do I need weapons? Nah, swinging them around has been very stressful lately, so I’ll just use my hands and if I need more, there are plenty of things around: Rocks, trees, houses…

I hope the food will be enough. It’s mostly meat with some bread and cheese. Oh well, there is plenty to hunt out there.

A final, long look at the inside of my tent. It’s surprising that I won’t miss anything from there. Not the furniture, nor the trophies. I only need the crochet stole.

Time to go. I walk straight out of the camp, the nightwatch notices me, but doesn’t dare to stop me. They don’t even ask when I’ll return.

Behind me is nothing that is dear to me anyway. Everyone I actually liked died and I never made a connection to my children. Yet there is still the one person I need to find. At least if she’s still alive. My first regret. I never resolved it.

Time to go to that oracle. For the first time in decades, I have a goal and it feels like this alone is enough to return some life to me.

This works better than I expected. When I trained with Jii-san, I was in my [Student]-body more often, and I learned more about it. It may remind me of how I was in Japan, but there are differences. Like how it gained all the benefits of the hero-system. How even my meager improvements of [Attributes] like [Strength] makes it stronger.

Now I figured out that my hours of holding a gamepad back home may have benefited me in other ways. Holding it firmly with two or three fingers per hand, using commands with my thumbs and index finger, sometimes even middle fingers if that RPG had horrible controls.

You know what I hate? RPGs with real time commands and button mashing. RPGs aren’t fighting games, dammit! Still, there were so many! Use this spell, mash the X-button like a maniac! Seriously, I have nothing against real time RPGs, but these commands are typically done in round-based ones, and I don’t want to do that crap there! Or at all! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

Unloading this anger, I use my thumb button mashing skills—greatly enhanced by my level—to bruise that bastard’s thumb! [Iron Defense] is only for short durations and not spammable, so if I mash enough, I will get through every time, and even though he has regeneration, it surely pisses him off immensely, while also giving me chances to bring him down.

He tries another counter-attack, but gyrating my finger around is so easy. You know what I also hate? Rotating the joysticks challenges! They break, dammit!

While my sight is much better as a ranger, I remembered to put on my glasses, as I need as much of a clear image as needed to foresee his attacks. I also have a vague impression of his spirit, while it’s not as clear as Ara-san’s, I can at least notice when he thinks about an attack.

Another button mash from the side, breaking through his [Iron Defense], but he was trying to outsmart me by only doing a feint. My spirit-sense is enough to call the bluff, and as he tries to move the other way to meet my usual go-around, I use it to push him down.

Serious button-mash. With his finger on the bottom, my thumb is now in the exact position it would be on a gamepad. For good measure, I use a power-surge, one of the three super powerful attacks I have per day. “AAAAARGH!”

Yes, I seem to be able to use them in my [Student]-body as well, but only with my thumbs. I did it subconsciously, when Jii-san buried me, and it took a while to realize what I was doing, considering that there was the attack just after this.

That’s the body I honed by playing games all day!

“One, two, three, four, I win thumb-o-war.” With this, the first round concluded, and the barbarian bastard holds his thumb, which I just broke. I can see how the bruises and swellings disappear, and his spirit becomes strange… is he using rage? Why not in our battle?

Ah. He can’t. Or rather, if he does so, he will crush my hand, which would mean that he broke the rules. I’m pretty sure that only using rage on his thumb is too finicky for him. Time to antagonize him more: “What’s wrong? Need a mommy-kiss for that?”

“Urgh!” He stomps once, creating a small hole. “You can use rage!?”

I guess that makes sense. Sudden power-bursts and everything. “Nah, you’re just weak.” I don’t believe that this is the kind of rage Jii-san was talking about, as it has nothing to do with being angry.

“Come!” He links his fingers with mine again.

“Go!” Jii-san gives the signal, and this time I don’t move. He neither. Some may call it a battle of will. Others may call it a battle in our minds, trying to imagine every move the opponent would make. I call it boring.

I yawn, relaxing my thumb a bit, but he still doesn’t attack. Hm… he learned that attacking me only invites a counter, and if I don’t attack, he has time to heal. So I better move, slowly. Very slowly, and his body tension grows with every millimeter I move at a snail’s pace, probably his mind is running wild with what I may do. “Booh!”

He jerks once, flailing his thumb in defense for an attack that didn’t come. Seriously, he may be super strong and confident in the wild, but he would be destroyed at a PvP-Event.

Now with his thumb in motion, he has openings I can use. Instead of holding him, I strike. [Iron Defense] again, I start to hate this skill just as much as [Gust]. Of course striking iron with my thumb is bound to hurt, but I know entirely different worlds of pain. Compared to what I’ve suffered through today, this is nothing.

Another strike and a third one, yes, his bone isn’t healed properly yet, and while he also doesn’t complain because of the pain, he certainly feels it. He’s just good at enduring as well, but each time he hardens himself, his thumb misses another chance to counter.

I begin pressing against his thumb, climbing down bit by bit to push it back as much as possible. He hardens his muscles, another thing these barbarians tend to do, but I found the spot his bone is about to break. Second power-surge! “RRRRRGGGHHHHH!” He takes it like a champ, but his thumb is now bending backwards. I rub mine against the spot that’s connected to the hand, which will hurt him like hell, but he now consciously uses the advantage of having his thumb outside my reach.

Let’s see how button-mashes will do. As the shock of repeated hammering on his finger crawls up his thumb, he clenches his teeth and groans, but I guess he will wait until [Regeneration] will heal everything up… wait, wouldn’t it connect his bone again and therefore bring the thumb closer to me?

I got no power-surges left… Well, I have one left which will hurt like hell and will make it easy to beat me. I begin to relax my thumb again, waiting for the moment the bone will reconnect.

*SLAM!*

You know what I also hate in RPGs? Reaction based challenges! Who would have thought that they would train me for this moment, where my gaming skills would make the difference between life and death? Not my knowledge, but my actual skills.

“One” He tries to escape, ignoring the pain entirely “Two” he tries to fight back, to lift my thumb, despite having his muscles and tendons teared. “Three” *Crack* “Four, you broke my fucking fingers!” It hurts!

In his fight against the pain, he used his rage and his grip was so strong that he crushed my fingers. Yet this also means that I have won.

Silence followed my declaration. The finger-breaking bastard sighs: “You are right.” However, he takes the loss without whining. That I can respect. Not much else, though.

“WE WON!” It’s Rine, who declares and now everyone else falls in.

“WE WON, WE WON!” The farmers begin cheering and chanting, I guess there is little else that they can do at this point, as they were more or less bystanders of their own fate. “LONG LIVE THE RED RANGER!” Wait a minute.

“RED RANGER!”

“RED RANGER!”

Fuck, I have broken fingers, but this hurts on another level. “SHUT UP!” Of course, they ignore me entirely.

Ah, I HATE THIS!

“Shit!” The boss-barbarian yells, but even he can’t drown out the annoying cheers. “We lost. Shamefully. But the worst is that Grekk gets to live another day… Mark my words, Red Ranger. Next time, I will crush you!”

“Next time? I don’t even plan to be in this world for long, so a ‘next time’ will be very unlikely.”

“You may have shielded that old bastard, but you will regret it!” Did he just ignore me? A sore-loser monologue? “He may not look like that to you, but he’s a monster and you will regret having him close to you!” Well, if he doesn’t answer me anyway, I won’t say anything at all. “When my grandfather Brimm fought Grekk, Grekk ripped grandpa’s leg out and beat him up with it. The grandpa I grew up with was a sorry excuse for a warrior, never able to heal from that event, neither physically nor mentally. He was a shame for us, and my father had a hard time becoming chief after that. Grandpa Brimm was a warrior that was only born once every century, but he was reduced to this sorry stage and died alone!” Come on, why tell me your story now? I mean, you’re about to leave anyway, so I won’t even make an effort to memorize it. “What do you have to say to this!”

Just one thing: “Get the fuck over it.”

―○●○―

Seems like I stayed alive for another day. Kenta-kun was a mad lad, turning the whole thumb war upside down and overpowering a barbarian. It may have been only in a game, but that doesn’t change how much power this one thumb of his showed.

I had no doubts of his win though, as my instincts told me I would be fine. This was not the day for me to die, and until I have reached my goal, I will continue to defy death at every chance I can get. I only agreed to this condition because I trust my instincts. Much more than my head, which may have led to many of the problems I have up to this day.

We are back at the White Horst and the people here are still cheering for Kenta-kun and Rine-kun. These two are arguing at the barn, getting louder and louder, which makes the whole cheering a bit awkward. “Seriously Rine. We have already been here for too long!”

“It’s just half a day!”

“Half a day we could be further from Gottfried!”

“We won, we deserve to celebrate!”

“It’s entirely unneeded!”

“I want to dance with you!”

“FUCK NO!”

Kyou-kun stands next to me, commenting: “He just doesn’t want to be in the celebration.”

“Strange,” I answer, as I genuinely don’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to be celebrated.

“He hates people.”

“Ah… that makes sense.” Kyou-kun was with him the longest and therefore knows him the best, though Ara-kun would contest the latter part of that claim.

Yet the alfr girl is sitting on a chair by herself, doing this writing thing, and her pen moves as quick as lightning. She was saying something about “Writing down data” and since then, she has been fully immersed into whatever she’s doing.

“Will he cave in?”

“Not really. He will just realize that he’s the only one who wants to leave immediately, and Rine-chan is stubborn. He can’t physically force her and he can’t make her budge either. If I help him, we could convince her, but having a party would be a nice change of pace. Imagine, all we usually do is walk through no-man’s-land, and whenever we are in a town, something goes terribly wrong, from Crusaders hunting him to all of us landing in jail!” Someone seems to be angry. Too bad that she doesn’t appear to be very compatible with rage, otherwise she may become a fine barbarian.

Are there even fine barbarians? Looking at my people from the outside brings a lot of my past into perspective. Oh well, young me would have enjoyed it, and that’s what is so infuriating about this.

“So if he doesn’t cave in and she doesn’t budge, what will happen?”

“He will probably hide, even though we do feel where he is anyway.”

“Wait, did he just jerk?” That seemed unnatural, as it was like he was reacting to Kyou-kun’s words, rather than to Rine-kun’s.

“Yes, he can hear us from this distance.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. Even through all these people cheering and talking about him?”

“Yes.”

“And you know it and still say these things?”

“To quicken the process.” This girl is dangerous in her own right. While Kenta-kun may be the official leader, Kyou-kun may be the one who has the greatest understanding and power over these people.

How much does she know about me already? It’s not like I’m hiding anything, but I also haven’t said much. “Kakakaka!” This is just great, even at my age I can still be surprised and doubtful. How long has it been? “Kyou-kun, let’s have a drink together later.”

She looks at me as if I asked her to join me on a city raid, but then answers: “Sure.” Then she furrows her eyes for a moment and then a mean glint appears in them: “I need to help prepare the food.”

“Come on, Kyou-kun. You deserve to be the one being celebrated.”

“I need to make some, and then Ken has to find out what I made.” Her smile looks very childish and cute, almost like Rine-kun’s, but with an invisible nasty streak. “If you want to get me into a good mood, you better don’t fail, Ken.”

…ah, the lad can hear what we say… How evil!

As I watch Kyou-kun running to the kitchens, my heart hurts. I spot Mirianne-kun, who looks how I feel, and I walk to her: “Yo.”

“Ah. Hello.” Her eyes are on Rine-kun, and pain and envy are eating into her expression. Then she slowly turns her face to me, and while she isn’t crying, she doesn’t look good: “The battle was out of this world.”

“It was decent.” If Rine-kun trains for ten years, maybe she could measure up to my prime or even surpass it. For now, she’s still far away, as she’s not even sure how to develop her raw talent.

“…I can’t stand there with them. They are heroes, and I’m a farm girl.” Again, comforting women without bedding them is nothing I have experience in, so I can only listen to what she says: “I’m nothing but a fan now. For now, it has to be enough… No…”

She then starts walking, right at Rine-kun, who is now lying on her back, refusing to move until the lad agrees to dance with her. The cheers long died out, as watching this lover’s quarrel took all the cheerfulness that was possible.

“Mirianne?” Someone calls her out, but the girl ignores it. Instead she bows over the princess, her braids dangling in the light wind.

Rine-kun quickly switches from pouting to wondering: “Huh? Mirianne? What do you want?”

The farm girl stretches out her hand: “Do you want to dance with me later… Rine-chan?”

“Sure!” The princess takes the hand, and stands up, both of them smiling at each other, and I have no idea why this is even happening. Then I notice that Kenta-kun has vanished, probably using this small distraction to blend in with the crowd or something.

I look at the scene of the farmers preparing for the feast and scratch my beard as I find it difficult to see myself there. I’m no farmer, but I’m also different from the young heroes. I guess I will skip that party, as it will make me feel bad.

“Grekk?” Rine-kun notices me and grabs my hand: “If you don’t have anything to do, let’s help them setting up! We may be the guests of honor, but in the end we couldn’t have won without their support!”

This somehow hits something in my heart-region. Her certainty that fighting for someone, to have their moral support changes something… “Sure, I can at least carry stuff.” Even with my hurting arms, there will be nothing too heavy for me here.

Somehow I feel a bit better.

―○●○―

It’s dark and cold, yet the big fires light and heat the inner courtyard of this farmstead. Music is booming, as instruments and people with questionable talent have been gathered, and people are dancing, drinking, and laughing.

For me, it’s just annoyingly loud though I don’t mind the music too much. I guess being in a fantasy world for months without any makes a person appreciate it so much. Especially considering that I used to listen to music every day. The music of my games, of course.

About the rest… please stop it.

I’m sitting with Rine clinging on my arm with a bit of a blushed face and a light smell of alcohol around her. Well, I also drank a bit, as there is no real legal age in this world and I guess being completely sober would be worse.

Rine cocks her head in the beat of the music, which comes closest to her wish to dance with me, but I’m seriously not in the mood. “Ah, look!” She suddenly exclaims, as she points at the fire. There is Kyou-san, who looks like she’s teaching the children a bonfire dance. “Let’s go there, Dear!”

“Go ahead.”

“Moh!” She puffs up her cheeks and tries to stand up while dragging me with her, but I resist. “Please!” She’s frustrated and I feel a bit bad about it, but I’m not here because I want to and I’m set to be a party pooper throughout the whole thing!

“Ah, Katarine-san.” Ara-san approaches us and while her face has her usual aloof expression, I feel an outright scary intensity oozing out of her: “Good that you are here. If you have nothing else to do, would you like to join me for an hour-long discussion of your fight so that I get the most accurate data about it?”

“Ahaha… not really, this is a moment to celebrate.” Rine cocks her head a bit, then claps her hands in realization: “Ara, help me. Dear doesn’t want to dance with me.”

“As much as you don’t want to cooperate with my demands?” Ara-san asks. While I like the comeback, I doubt that ‘cooperate’ and ‘demands’ really fit in the same sentence.

“But I’ll do it tomorrow! I promise!”

“Alright, promise attained without any need for return.”

This one makes Rine think a bit, then she widens her eyes as she realizes that Ara-san doesn’t plan to help her at all: “Ah.” She puffs up her cheeks once more, then looks at me, who is still grabbing the bench I’m on as if my life depended on it—even though I rather risk it by not letting it go. “Why do you two have to be that way!?”

“Because I don’t wanna.” “Because it’s work.” Ara-san and I aren’t really in sync, but at least our unwillingness aligns.

“Come on, I want to learn from Kyou with the children!”

Wait, why is Ara-san’s spirit suddenly shifting? Even her voice goes up: “Katarine-san, why are you dallying here? We have to teach the children a lesson!” What?

“No Ara, we learn with the children!” Rine laughs, lets go of me and drags Ara-san with her, who seems to be looking forward to it…

Is she thinking of a prank?

“Red Ranger!” A brat with a bowl full of meat runs towards me. Ah, it’s turd. “You’re still hungry?” If I ignore him, he will leave on his own: “Here, I picked the best pieces for you.” Sorry, but no sorry, turd. I have years of experience ignoring people that want to strike a conversation with me. Hard earned work I’ve continued since attending middle school. “Hm…” He puts the bowl on the table and sits down next to me, the spot Rine just left.

Ignore.

Wait, is he trying to lean on me? I jump up and leave, which in return causes someone else to notice me, the boss-woman: “Red Ranger, we haven’t toasted yet!”

Turn around: “Ah, there you are, Red Ranger!”

Shit, has Rine been my social shield all along!? “Just leave me alone.” I use [Distract] and jump into the next hiding spot, using my [Stealth]-skills to basically vanish for these people.

Ah, I hate it! I hate it!

“Nihihi.” Still stuck to me, Rine giggles her heart out, and I really hate the attention this gets, as barbarians and farmers look at me with envy, anger, vicarious embarrassment, and annoyance.

She’s my girlfriend, so I guess she’s allowed something like that, but I’m already sick of it: “Rine, time and place.”

“Ah, sorry.” She lets go of me, but I kinda feel bad, as she seriously earned herself a reward, even at my cost. I mean, after some way too close calls, she started to dominate that fight in a way that even impressed the barbarians.

Among them, sentences like ‘Is she stronger than Turr?’ and the like. It sounds like they didn’t put their strongest there, but not a weakling either, maybe because of the chance to fight Jii-san? Oh well, we won and they admit it. Well, looking at the corpse really makes it hard to deny.

This was the portion I was the most worried about, but now comes the one I’m most skeptical of, as the Challenge of the Elders is a story-telling competition, and while the audience and hence judges come from both clans—well, in this case their clans and some farmers—Jii-san told us that the result comes from their cheers after hearing both. Even though the audience is very partial, and there are no set guidelines on what makes a story good outside of ‘fun to hear’.

Jii-san said that barbarians are very honest whether they like something or not, but I can’t help but think that this competition is skewed.

Despite that, Ara-san radiates confidence and as I look at her, her spirit seems to tell me to calm down, that she got it. Seriously, I’m still new to this subconscious spirit reading, but I realize time and time again how much of her moods I must have missed so far by just relying on the tone of her voice.

I sure hope she isn’t faking it.

The audience that will serve as judges begin to sit down in a half circle, and the elder of the barbarians will start, which should serve Ara-san well to learn what to expect. Nah, I guess she will stick to what she knows, and her knowledge of hero-stories is vast, and she can even tell them in an entertaining way, as long as she doesn’t stray away from the narrative by including her own thoughts. I mean, the Legend of Hagen was kinda nice to hear.

“I’m Ollof, elder of the Northwind Clan. This is a story from when I was nothing but a lad, barely old enough to grow a beard. As you can see, this is not a problem these days, though I do also grow hair from my nose and ears, which is maybe too much.” Here and there is a small laugh, even some of our people that are supposed to hate the story for being used against us had a small smirk. Shit, I forgot something…

This fantasy world has almost no entertainment! Which means, these people are basically totally unprepared to resist someone who tells a story in a decent way and they also never learned to hate a story just for the heck of it!

This is bad, but worse is the elder, who now comes to begin the story proper: “Back then, the Northwind Clan was very different, our Chieftain was Harld, a man so smart and cunning, that he could converse with the foxes. Yet he also had the strength of a bull and was as nimble as a deer, so everyone admired him, wanting to be like him. Harld had a son only a few summers younger than me, his name was Gerd, and Gerd wasn’t like his father at all.

“Instead of the wit of a fox, he had the guilelessness of a sheep. Once he wondered where the clouds went, and when I heard him, I said ‘Gerd, Gerd! I know the answer. When the clouds get old, they land and become stones.’

“Then Gerd said ‘I have an idea’ and ran to his father ‘Dad, dad, I have an idea. Instead of looking for water all the time, let’s collect stones. Then we can squeeze them out and get the last drop of rain out of them. It may take some effort, but there are many more stones there than lakes and rivers.’

“Harld then said ‘You fool of a son. Bring me a stone and squeeze it and you shall see.’

“’But I can’t squeeze a stone.’ It was true, while Harld was as strong as a bear, Gerd was weak as a mouse. ‘Can I bring you a stone and you squeeze it instead?’

“While Harld was admired by all, his biggest weakness was his son. ‘Oh well, then bring me a dozen.’ Gerd did what he was asked for, and Harld held a dozen stones in one of his mighty fists: ‘Here.’ He squeezed them, but instead of water, only dust came out.

“Gerd understood, at least in his own way: ‘Ah, the clouds grow old because they have no rain left.’ Yes, Gerd was a fool. However, this was just a taste of what to expect of Gerd.

“As I told you before, Gerd was also weak. I was leading a group of youngsters to teach them how to hunt rabbits, how to make slings and traps for them, and of course how to skin them properly. Each day, another of the young ones was tasked to kill the rabbit we caught. That time it was Gerd’s turn and I dreaded it. Every time I would choose anyone but him, but I had no one left, even the small Brimm, at that time not taller than my hips, had already killed his first game and he did it admirably.

“The rabbit was in a sling, unable to free itself and exhausted from its fight against it. First, Gerd was afraid to use his fists, then he also dreaded using a knife, in the end I gave him a spear, and he was saying: ‘This way, I don’t need to get close.’ He lifted the spear, and then fell over from its weight. Mind you, it was a simple spear, barely heavier than the knife, but Gerd couldn’t even lift it.

“As he was still afraid, he picked up a stone to throw at the rabbit, but the stone which would neatly fit in your or my fist only flew an arm’s length, as Gerd arms were as thin as twigs. ‘Ah, I know,’ he said. If he was too weak to throw a stone or wield a spear but too afraid to get close, he thought, he would crawl up to the rabbit—feet first—as if they were not a part of his body. He planned to kick the rabbit, but the rabbit fought back, and Gerd was covered over and over with scratches in seconds, and if I hadn’t interfered, the rabbit would have killed him, something I couldn’t let Chieftain Harld endure.

“How slow was Gerd? Despite being almost an adult, he was still carried by his father whenever the clan moved on. He let a tortoise get away because it outran him, and once he bowed down a snail only to notice that it had already crawled away. Whenever there was summer, he thought it was winter, as his mind was already two seasons late, so he went down with children’s winter clothes on searing days.

“So why wasn’t he left behind, you’d ask? He was Harld’s only son, and he was very dear to his father. Yet the father was the chief, and while the respect of the clan brought some patience, it ran dry when Gerd was about to come of age.

“With a heavy heart, Harld summoned him into his tent. I was standing guard and able to hear the conversation: ‘Gerd, you are about to become a man,’ the chief said.

“’Yes, dad,’ he answered slowly, then he added ‘I am!?’ in surprise, as he surely was too slow to notice how his body had grown.

“’You are, and I don’t know what to make out of you. You are too slow and weak to be a hunter, you can’t tell plants apart and thus can’t become a gatherer, you are too clumsy to become a craftsman, and I don’t want to even start how unfit you would be as a warrior. So what can you become?’

“’I want to be like you, dad.’

“’Like me? Even I gave up the hope that you may become the chieftain in the future. I can’t leave the clan into the hands of someone unworthy, and you, my son, are unfit to be a leader. Is there something else?’

“’I want to be like you, dad.’

“’Listen. You are not fit to be a barbarian. Next time we stop at a village, we may not plunder it. We may let you go, live there, become like them. You may not be a part of us, but you will still be my son.’ While living among the kingdomers may be shameful, this was way more than what Gerd deserved. That meant, his father loved him so much, that he was ready to endure the spite of the warriors for not gaining the spoils of battle, to endure the shame he would get for letting his own flesh and blood live among the sheep, betraying everything his father taught him.

“But Gerd? ‘I want to be like you, dad.’

“So what could Harld do? A barbarian unable to carry his own weight is unable to carry the clan. Only children are allowed to be dependent. So Harld thought and thought, using his sharpness to look at it at every angle. Then he said ‘It may cost your life,’ it was more than Harld liked to pay, but he also wanted to honor his son’s determination. Therefore, he decided to give the simplest yet hardest task of them all: ‘Before you can be like me, you need to provide for yourself. That’s what adults do and more. You have to survive for one month on your own. Ollof,’ he called me ‘Bring my son into the depths of a forest several days away from here. Gerd, pack your weapons and tools.’

“’Yes father!’

“After Gerd left the tent, Harld said to me: ‘Please watch him during it. Don’t interfere. Tell me everything. Maybe he showcases a talent he can give to the clan.’ I still heard the mourning in his voice, knowing that his son won’t survive this task.

“Gerd and I set off, and after I brought him to the forest and said my farewell, I went into hiding, observing him without him noticing.

“Yes, I know: You all are saying ‘I know how this ends, Gerd can’t possibly survive on his own, and if he survived, we would know it!’ But the question is not ‘Did he survive?’, but ‘How did he die?’. Because you all now know of how inept, how hopeless he was, there should be several ways in your mind.

“’Did he try to make fire and set the forest ablaze?’

“’Was he bitten by a snake and died by its poison?’

“’Did he find a monster and was slaughtered without even realizing what would sink its teeth in him?’

“’Did he starve to death, because he couldn’t hunt anything?’

“’Did he eat a plant that upset his stomach so badly that he lacked the strength to do anything after that?’

“These are the questions crossing your mind, right? I personally thought he would try to eat stones to quench his thirst, but even I couldn’t foresee his biggest blunder yet.

“So far, I carried his tools and weapons, as he was too weak to carry them himself, but I certainly wasn’t willing to carry him like his father did whenever we journeyed to a new place. So he walked on his own two feet, and he didn’t notice that he stepped into a hedgehog on the way. Its quills had been in his foot for a day and he was so slow that he finally noticed the pain when he was alone. He noticed the bleeding, and then he lifted his foot to look under the sole.

“He lost his balance and fell on his head, breaking his neck before I could even blink. It was not a weapon, not a monster, not hunger, just his clumsiness. I was afraid to even tell his father this, as this would not only break his heart, but his pride as well. His son didn’t even last five minutes on his own.

“Even though he was a disgrace, I’m very thankful for Gerd. He showed us that it doesn’t matter who you are and who your parents are, as long as you can only depend on others, you will never be able to stand on your own and survive. It shows us that even if you insist, you can only do what you can do, and if you try to reach further, you will get hurt or die.

“You can only call yourself an adult if you can take care of yourself, and the moment you can do it, you can take care of others. Only those who can do that can help the clan survive. And those who can’t don’t deserve to leech off our few goods.

“Farewell Gerd, may you serve generations of barbarians as an example of what not to be.”

The elder ends, and I notice how even I was enthralled by this story for a while, even though everything inside me resists the moral of this story to the core.

Of course the barbarians cheer and knock on their knees, paying respect to their elder and his story, but even the farmers nod in approval, and I realize that such values are much closer to their reality than to mine. They only have limited resources and they need everyone to play their part.

I take a look at Ara-san, who still has no doubt on her. “This sets the bar high. He told the story like he witnessed it, and it resonates with the people here. Fufufu.” I don’t like that laugh, especially considering that she now seems to be eager to compete with him. “I have analyzed what these people liked about this story and I will provide them with one even more suited to their taste.”

Yeah, Ara-san knows a lot of stories, though all of them are hero-related, there are some fairy tales among them, which would fit here. These people only know these archaic types, so having Ara-san with her modern mindset here, using the prior story as a reference, she may still have a shot.

“Now to my story. I’m Ara’ainn, the hero-sage, and I have lived for more than a century.” First flaw, Ara-san’s facial expressions are very limited. Now that I can read her spirit, I tend to forget it, so even if her intro was acceptable, it lacks the warmth the elder had. “Let me tell you the story of a human I met at this time, his name was Mops.” OK, this is close enough. “Mops always had trouble putting on his trouser, a pain each of you may understand, as he was too fat and too horny all the time.”

ARGH! Of course! In her deluded alfr-mind, ‘suited for their taste’ meant that she noticed that these people were impressed about a useless person, which then meant that she takes that, bring it to hundred by adding her bias about fat and sex-driven humans, and make it more of a joke overall, which will certainly offend everyone here!

Stop Ara-san, turn back, try to make another story! I try my best to convey my feelings to her.

She nods at me, telling me she has everything under control. “So what did Mops do? He tried to put his penis into a knothole.”

…I think we lost that round.

―○●○―

“Ah, Momo! Don’t tear them off, don’t-”

I answer her plea in a low voice: “Not. A. Single. Word. Now!” The laughter we get from the barbarians is partly spiteful, partly amused. I’m sure, if the challenge would have been a comedy routine, Arako and I would have won it by now.

Of course we lost, as even the people we are trying to protect were so appalled by her story, especially when she started to have her protagonist ‘pork a porcupine’.

“KAHAHAHA!” Grekk-san is the only one who rolls on the floor because of the story, acting like his life isn’t on the line. “What happened to the carpenter?”

I feel Arako’s ears twitch in my hands, then she says: “He disinfected his saw and now always wears gloves when working.” I pinch a bit to make her squirm in pain a bit. Seriously, every single time!

Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely like her, but her antics only become funny as a memory, never as an experience! “They were counting on us!”

“Momo, I did my best. I admit my shortcoming of understanding the human psyche. Who would have thought that holding up a mirror to them would be met with displeasure?”

“What of that was a mirror!? It’s just a bunch of nonsensical prejudices!”

“Kyou-san,” Ken finally decides to say a word here? You are so slow, you—massive moron! “Let her go. She may be at fault, but we also should have known better, put a story together for her and train her to recite it properly.”

He’s right, but still… still… “Sigh.” I let go of her ears. I’m doing it only for you, Ken.

Arako gets close to my ears, whispering: “You see? You do everything for the promise of sex!”

No, I won’t let her taunt me with this. If I ignore her, she will calm down again and become as reasonable as she can be. In the end, she did think this through and had no ill intention, it was just her not knowing better, followed by a rebellious mood.

I look at Ken, and he seems to be in unrest. While he was confident when the possible Challenges of the Chieftains were decided, he now has all the pressure on him, even a life in his hand. Rine-chan is taking his hand, calming him down, but I put my hand on his shoulder now as well. I want to say ‘I trust you’, but for Ken ‘trust’ is a very heavy word. A ‘You got it!’ would just intensify the pressure. So I’ll make a small change there: “Do it.”

“Phew…” He sighs, but Ken takes it the right way and nods. It’s not a matter of if he can do it, he has to do it. That’s how he works best. That’s also why I’m his girlfriend. I don’t need a man that makes promises and tries his best, I want someone who does what is needed every single time.

Rine-chan can take care of his softer sides. I will demand a lot of you, Ken. In return, I will also give you whatever you need, be it healing, be it food, or my help.

I fight against the smile that wants to grow on my face, as I must be strict for now, but plan to be gentle later.

Ken gently separates from Rine and faces Brumm-san, who hands over his colored die to Grekk-san. My boyfriend looks at the sides of the die and then announces: “Red is the battle with disarm. The red-brown is the battle with touching the back of the head. The orange one is making fire. Light brown scavenger hunt. Gray is thumb war. Dark gray is janken.“ Wow, this die may have six colors that everyone can distinguish easily, but still are rather similar.

Grekk-san rolls the die on his hand then he lets it fall.

We came up with Ken’s challenges. Fighting until he touches the behind of Brumm’s head is in fact a test of his [Stealth]-skills, using [Distract] to make an opening and then vanish from Brumm’s eyes immediately, making him second-guess every moment.

Scavenger hunt would test his [Perception] and his mastery of ranger-skills. While barbarians live in the wilderness, their chieftains aren’t hunters and they should lack useful skills in this area.

Janken would use Ken’s [Perception] once more, as he could predict what Brumm is throwing with [Focus], allowing him to change his hand the moment afterward.

Ken also opened up how he would face the other challenges. Fight until disarm would probably be done with his new combo of [Inspirit] and [Entangle].

Fire-making would use his backpack, which opens to a pocket dimension, to carry vast amounts, while his [Camping]-skill also allows him to make fire extremely quickly.

Only thumb war has no easy win, as he may use [Distract] to get an advantage, but he still had to overcome someone with much more power in his hand.

So please, no thumb war! No gray!

OH, COME ON!

Ken stares at the die, then he smil- smirks. He smirks. “Phew, thumb war? Ready to lose?” I would like to say that he’s just trying to overplay his insecurity, but that’s not how he works. Unless I instruct him to do so, that is.

Did he find a way to beat that challenge as well? Why is he changing to [Student]!? He even put on his glasses.

“Oh, Red Ranger?” His opponent taunts him while holding back his laughter: “Do you believe that more fat on your fingers will make them harder to hold?” The barbarians are laughing, while the people from the farms really seem concerned. They never saw Ken that way, after all!

Instead of answering, Ken lifts his open hand, ready to let Brumm hook his fingers with his. With a fierce look, Brumm does exactly that, then Ken turns to Grekk-san: “Give the signal, Jii-san.”

“Yes…. GO!”

*Slap* As Brumm’s thumb makes a frontal assault, Ken’s moves like a lightning bolt, hitting it aside, then it pushes against the side of the barbarian’s thumb and from here, it looks like it’s vibrating.

Brumm’s face contorts in anger, he tries to push Ken’s thumb aside, but it quickly changes side, pushing now Brumm’s other side while… that’s not vibrating, it’s more like hitting like a jackhammer! “Damn you, Red Ranger!”

“I’m not beating you as a ranger. I’m doing it as a gamer.”

“Phew… worked out better than expected.” I have no idea how well I will fare if it comes to the Challenge of the Chieftains, but I have some ideas how to use my [Skills] for most of them. I just hope that their chief doesn’t have any hidden talents.

Kyou-san massages her temples, I asked her to use [Empathy] on the chief and give me some advice via whispers. I guess it took a toll on her: “I got a headache. How can men feel like that all the time!?”

Well, we already guessed that there is a big difference between how men and women experience emotions. “You did great.” While her advice was simple words like ‘cautious, antagonize’ or ‘confident, use number two’, it was a great help to keep the upper hand in this conversation. No idea what I would have done without her here, probably mess everything up entirely.

Also good thing that Ara-san and I looked into how to cheat in all kinds of games. This also helped me to think up different strategies for his proposals on the fly, which helped me to actually be so confident.

But seriously, barbarians are idiots. Dangerous idiots, but if all they can come up with is that, it shows a serious lack of brainpower. I just need to look out for him brute-forcing stuff, because I will probably lose in direct confrontation.

“So we didn’t need to gather and train after all…” Boss-woman’s brother sighs, as he came here with everyone who was ready to battle.

Rine smiles at him: “Don’t worry, Benjam. It’s better to be prepared and not use it, than the other way around.” She should also add that all of them would have probably died. “Also, we will need you later for the challenges as well.”

I still can’t believe that this is working out flawlessly: “Phew…”

“What’s wrong, Ken-kun?” Ara-san is curious and strangely satisfied. “Everything is according to plan, no?”

“That’s the problem. Usually, this would be the part where everything falls apart.”

“Don’t worry, there is still an abundance of potential for possible messes.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“Or maybe this is just a rebound of [Luck] after Gottfried-kun.”

“I can’t think so.” Because in the end, being unlucky would be the norm anyway. Though considering how things are going with Rine and Kyou-san… “I’m just set up for disaster, am I not?”

“Affirmative. Let’s see how you will burn.” Not mincing your words is a sign of friendship, but you don’t need to look forward to it so much!

Considering that I don’t see much of a problem in my challenge and the fact that Ara-san doesn’t need to fear a beat-down at a story-telling competition… My eyes wander to Rine, who will face a real battle, and if we put the facts together that we’re a fresh couple and that the world hates me, I have a really bad feeling about it.

On the other hand, she smiles at the farmer-uncle, Kyou-san, and Jii-san without a worry in the world.

…we could forfeit the first challenge. Would put more stress on me and Ara-san, but would also make it impossible to harm her. Ah shit, I don’t want to be overprotective—especially considering that she’s a hundred times stronger than me—but…

Trust… I need to trust her. I really do, but I’m also a pessimist. Sunflower may be stronger than her, I can’t tell. She’s also dumb, really easy to trick. She’s also stubborn and even suggesting taking the loss would anger her, maybe even hurt her. “Rine?”

“Hm?” She cocks her head, as she stops her conversation: “What’s wrong?”

“The moment you get seriously hurt, I will surrender the fight.” I continue quickly, as she’s about to object: “I don’t care what you think, your life is worth more to me than what the farm would lose, and even Jii-san’s life doesn’t weigh as much.”

Strangely enough, the two old people nod to it, which makes Rine pause for a second, before she answers: “I will win without getting hurt then.”

“Sure.” As I turn around, she takes my hand, and I can almost see hearts fly around her head, which makes me want to puke. I have no idea why she’s like that right now, but I won’t think too much of it. I have no idea what goes on in her head most of the time anyway.

I do feel a strange pressure though, coming from Kyou-san who looks like always, but definitely gives me a telling glance: ‘Later.’ This is a promise. Or a threat.

I guess, because Rine is holding my hand and she needs to hold back because of the farmer? I guess she wasn’t kidding when she said she’s demanding. Oh well, I’m lucky to have these worries, even though it still feels wrong on so many levels.

“Phew… Ossan (Uncle; older man)? We need nineteen of your people to build the circle for the first challenge. Tell them that they don’t need to attack Sunf… Rine’s opponent, just be a part of the ring she can retreat to if needed. Let her pass, if she wants.” This would also end in a loss, but as long as she’s alive, it’s a win for me.

“Just nineteen? What about the last one?”

“He is.” I point at Jii-san: “When the enemy comes close, murder him.”

“Yes.”

I would also be in the circle, but as a participant of another challenge I can’t. Kyou-san isn’t a good candidate either, as she may be able to interfere, but in dubious ways at best. So I want to reduce the threat of her getting hurt as well.

That’s not our fight, so I won’t take any risks I don’t need to in this. Even the fights before were dangerous and I still ask myself how we could have avoided them, though we somehow managed them.

Kyou-san asks a question out of the blue: “How did you name him?”

“Huh?”

“Rine-chan’s opponent. You were about to use your personal name.”

“Personal what?”

“Ken, I know that you don’t bother to learn any names unless they’re somewhat important to you. Like how you call my friends by some strange titles.” ‘Or how you used to call me ‘bitch’, you unemphatic asshole’ “So, how did you name him?”

“Sunflower.”

“Oh, that’s cute,” Rine giggles, though I’m not sure if she really understands that being like that is disrespectful, basically saying that I don’t care at all about these people, which is entirely true and I won’t apologize for it.

“If you want to make him mad, Rine-kun, use that name,” Jii-san adds while chuckling himself: “but be careful. I think you’re stronger, but I don’t know if you can beat him.”

“Un.” She nods and her hold on my hand becomes firmer, but she’s still smiling as she doesn’t worry at all.

Well, Jii-san is right. Being stronger and winning are two different things, like how I’m pretty sure that Fartmaster—courtesy to Jii-san who called their clan ‘farts’ before—would beat me in a real fight with little effort, but due to the way we fight and the rules we employ, I’m confident that I will win.

“Don’t worry about me,” Rine announces with confidence: “It may not be easy, but thanks to Grekk, I could think of ways to improve, and thanks to Benjam and Ara, I also have the tools for it.”

So she plans to use the shield and magic? Oh well, Rine always had good instincts, and her confidence does douse my worries somewhat, though I can easily come up with too many ways of how things can go wrong.

However, we have our emergency measures. If things go south, we will use our WP. Probably to buff her stats when she’s close enough to me, though it may mess her fighting rhythm up in return. Also, my gamer greed just wants to use them for increased XP-gain instead…

Trust. That’s what I need more than anything else. I hate it.

―○●○―

An hour is up, and it’s time to meet up with the Northwind clan. I’ve warmed up and I’m prepared for the fight.

I look at Dear, who seems to have jumped out of the stories. A brave leader, who is willing to make the hard decisions, an inspirational figure. He’s just like Fabian… no, he may appear as Fabian, but personality-wise, Dear has several flaws. But other than what he thinks about them, I don’t believe that they diminish him as a person.

The people of the farm look up to him, but he either doesn’t notice or decided not to, he’s always going on about how he’s just returning a favor—which in itself is already proof of his integrity—or that he will run if things go bad, but here he is: A guardian to all these people.

Now it’s up to me to do my part. The shield on my arm still feels foreign and it’s heavy. Not the weight, but the responsibility. Benjam entrusted it to me with all his hope and the hopes of all the people that live here.

So it’s only fitting that the circle will be made of them as well. Benjam leads the others that used to be soldiers and they will not only stand there, but be in formation, strengthening themselves for whatever will come. This fills me with confidence.

Aside from them, there are also observers like Kenza, Jahn, the leaders of the other farmsteads, and several of the men and women who picked up arms themselves and underwent some basic training, even though they are not needed right now. But they are ready to fight if needed, which speaks of their strength of character.

I also see Mirianne and Obert, both of them must have snuck out to witness the fights. Not only them, I see other children that accompany their parents and other teens that are willing to face the danger of their home directly.

The barbarians are also approaching, and they’re about as many as we, people that are here to watch and witness. Most of them are warriors, but also some elderly and children are here. Maybe barbarians and farmers aren’t that different?

Ah wait, there is a lot of bloodthirst with them. I’ve learned that barbarians put much more focus on battle than any nation. Maybe because they travel and don’t build much themselves and rather take it?

Yes, these people want to steal, and stealing is wrong! While it may be their way of life, it doesn’t mean it’s right and just! While I’m still not sure what exactly justice is, I finally learned that being just and being powerful are two different things.

For justice to work, it needs people to uphold it in their hearts, and sometimes it also means to fight. That’s what I’m here for today! I feel the righteous fire inside my soul burning and while it may be different from the Flames of Freedom, it will still give me all the power I need.

Chieftain Brumm comes forward: “We’ll start right away. Form the circle.”

Benjam, his people, and Grekk step forward. The Northwind Clan points at the old barbarian, the strongest of them all in his prime, and even now he may be able to beat them. Grekk takes a spot at the border where our half and theirs meet, and the barbarian next to him seems to be very uncomfortable with this. The other side is taken by Benjam: “Formation!” He exclaims, and while they may be farmers today, they used to be soldiers once, and suddenly, their hardiness seems to be much higher.

The barbarians also notice it and murmur among themselves. That’s how kingdoms fight against barbarians, after all, using formations that strengthen each member. I never learned those, though, as I was never part of the army, just a princess playing with swords.

Now that the barbarians have formed their half, I notice how small the whole circle is, despite being formed by forty people. It’s enough to fight, but it’s also limiting in movement and especially in the use of skills like [Crescent Moon], as harming the circle is not allowed outside of defending yourself.

There is no big announcement of who the champions are, we are just supposed to enter the circle and then the fight starts. I look at my friends: “Good luck, Rine-chan.” Of course, Kyou never fails to give me an encouraging smile whenever I need it.

I watch as Ara’s ears move quicker than usual, maybe thinking about what to say, but then she ends up with a: “Do whatever you feel like,” which shows that she’s concerned… right?

Dear crosses his arms as he says: “Remember what I said.” Yes, I know you love me so much that you’ll be ready to sacrifice everything for me, and it’s now up to me to bury all your worries.

As I enter the ring, I feel all eyes on me. I’m not nervous though, maybe because I’m used to being the center of attention during the celebrations and festivities at home?

Harkon rolls his shoulder, the arm I chopped off is attached again, though I feel like this might be a weak point. I won’t deliberately use it though, as that will just make me predictable. The barbarian traded his mace for a broadsword that he effortlessly uses in one hand.

“Start!” Wait, I didn’t draw my weapon and took my stance! Ignoring dueling rules, Harkon rushes at me, his sword swings from the side, and I lean backwards until my hands touch the ground, then I swing my legs and kick under his arm, but instead of bounding upwards, he holds firm, not with his [Iron Defense], but muscles and willpower alone.

So I hook my foot around his arm, jump using my hands, use the other foot to hit the back of his head and at the same time get some momentum to get away, before his backhand swing can get me.

If I don’t lose some momentum, I will get close to his half of the circle, so I make a somersault and land on my feet, then I try to draw my sword, but he’s jumping back-first at me, and I don’t think I can make it in time to stab him. His back also seems very hard, so I grab the hilt, make two quick steps with a small spin, smack his hand with my hilt before he thrusts with the pommel, and use the power he exercises to get some space again, getting back to my half.

“Wooooh!” Please don’t be surprised, the battle hasn’t even started! Well, it did, but I’m still not ready!

At least I’m now able to draw my sword, so step one is finally finished! Before I can get into stance, Harkon kicks into the ground before him, shooting an earth missile at me, which I swiftly deflect back at him, he blocks it with his free hand, but this is enough time to take my battle-stance, which means that I can finally begin fighting without feeling guilty about ignoring the proper procedures.

Let’s go! [Swishstride] and thrust. He doesn’t block, relying on his [Iron Defense], danger from the left, he swings his blade to cleave through my body, so I jump over the blade, which he raises, but I turn my body mid-air to evade it once again. “[Steel Slicer]!” His swing downwards is dangerous, especially as I haven’t even reached the ground and can’t change directions mid-air twice yet. Using his body to push myself away seems dangerous, so I use the shield to bounce off the side of the blade, which may send me to the ground, sliding alongside it, but I can get up during it and I’m safe at my side of the circle.

This was dangerous. He’s strong! Ah, he’s their champion after all. Why is he looking at Grekk now, though? Ah, he expected to fight him? You’re fighting me now though, looking away is rude. Yet there is no real opening, he may have holes in his defense, but I think he could immediately close them the moment I make another attack.

He makes his next move! He steps closer and swings his blade, it almost seems like a [Crescent Moon], but “[Full Moon]!” At the tip of his blade appears a small sphere of cuts, which he swings at me.

I jump to the side, but this time he swings his free fist, I block it with my shield, but it throws me through the air, directly at his side of the circle, and one is about to hit me with his axe! Instead of resisting the power, I decide to go with it, lifting my shield over my head to hit the barbarian into the nose, which also stops my momentum.

I’m about to get hit by his companions, but the moment my feet touch the ground, I use [Swishstride] to get some distance.

That was also dangerous. Harkon is like Grekk… well, he’s younger and weaker, but exactly what I struggle with at the moment: An able warrior that I can’t cut down outright and who uses brute force. With the shield I can hang on, but evading all of his attacks will be difficult, especially as he doesn’t seem a bit tired despite all of what he’s done so far.

I’m also not tired, but I feel the strain. I’m a hero though, my body doesn’t tire like other people’s. However, he’s a barbarian, so he may still outlast me.

Suddenly, the danger from Harkon intensifies, it’s like he draws power from somewhere. It’s his rage, the power of the barbarians, and he will use it for an attack.

His leg muscles grow for a moment, then he’s right in front of me, the muscles of his back and forearms now grow, even if I evade this attack, I will still suffer damage, I feel it. Parrying will break my bones, and it’s too much to deflect: “[Steel Slicer]!”

I cut his arm. While his skin is as hard as iron, I knew I would be able to cut it at this moment. Friedensbote is sometimes surprisingly sharp, after all. The cut is deep enough to make his hand loosen the grip of his weapon, weakening his attack enough for me to evade with just a little damage, as the air pressure and the hurled dirt still hurts through my armor.

As I make a [Swishstride] back to my half, the cut in Harkon’s arm closes surprisingly quickly, as he yells at it. So rage can also make his wounds heal that much quicker?

“Rine!” I hear Dear’s voice, and I understand: He’s about to throw the match because I keep getting into these tight spots.

I look over my shoulder and send a smile as a gift. “I’m fine! I’m a hero, after all.” I really wanted to win by having your shield, Benjam, but it seems that I can’t. Sorry for not being strong enough, I will practice more.

Time to use my hero-powers! It always takes some seconds, but I’m more used to it now: Changing class to [Wizard]. As my muscles begin to recede, Harkon has finished up healing his wound, and he’s cautious.

First spell! “[Uplift]!” I use it on myself and jump into the air, I can jump much higher than usual, almost like I’m an [Acrobat] like Ara, whose strategy I will now use! Second spell in mid-air! “[Burndrill]!” To not endanger the circle—they may be enemies, but they’re not my opponent—I use this spell from the air, and the recoil and my [Uplift] push me even higher.

Harkon jumps aside, as my spell turns the ground he was just on to a steaming black sand hole. His leg muscles grow once again, ready to hurl him directly at me.

“[Uplift]!” This time I use it on him, he jumps but with too much force, and I swing my legs to change trajectory and he shoots past me without much control. “[Burndrill]!” Once again I weave the twisting flames, though I wish I had the time for a [Blastburn], but even with his slower fall because of [Uplift], I won’t be able to finish the chanting.

He moves his sword aside and takes the spell with his body instead: “HUARGH!” His muscles harden, same as his skin, and while I can smell burning flesh, it looks like only the surface of his chest is burned. “Why magic!? Use your sword!”

I know I can hurt him if I use [Dismember]. I did it before, but I still haven’t figured out when to use it. I also want to win on my terms, and being a [Wizard] is now part of me! “[Burndrill]!” I repeat the spell, which shoots me to the ground—it hurts in my legs, that’s odd—but Harkon takes it to the chest again, making himself as hard as possible, but now with my feet on the ground, I begin to wind up my body, ready for a thrust the moment he comes down. Of course, Harkon notices it, but instead of evading, he swings his sword while falling down on me. I take a small step aside, aim for his back, he hardens up again, but I knew he would do that: “[Soften]!” Then I thrust.

My spell counters his skill, as while he makes his skin hard as iron, I decide to make it soft instead. It’s like crossing out one word and putting another one on top of it. My blade thrusts, and I hit him right in the lungs from behind. I quickly retract my sword, as he turns around violently, with his rage, he throws air at me, and my legs aren’t as strong as they used to be, probably because I’m a [Wizard]. Does Dear always work with these body changes mid-fight?

I’m pushed back against my side of the circle, but the farmers catch me, and I step forwards immediately. Harkon is wounded, and he puts his effort into regenerating that last hit, but it seems that healing his lung takes some more effort. I feel how his rage intensifies, but only to quicken the healing process.

“I warn you,” I say to him firmly and strongly: “You can give up now or face the consequences.”

“You think just because of this or an arm I would lose to you?” His anger is pulsating or rather his rage? He’s about to do something, maybe gathering his strength for an attack, but if this fight goes on any further, I can’t guarantee the safety of the people inside the circle.

I change back to [Princess-knight], knowing that I will end it with this. I use [Swishstride] with some sidesteps, not breaking my dash, as Harkon reacts despite the speed I have with nothing but pure instinct, even though I attack from his side. He swings his sword, and it will hit me, but I just need to cut. Everything. “[Dismember]!”

I’m not sure if Instructor knows this move. Probably, maybe he taught me everything so I would eventually learn it. Yet I never saw him use it, so I think of it as something like a skill we developed together.

My sword glows, and with my first strike, I cut his weapon and his hand in one go. *Srrring* The second strike cuts his arm off, then the leg that is about to knee me, then his other arm, and after my sixth strike, I stop. It takes some willpower, but why insist on more after beheading him?

I massage my ear, as the noise my sword made during cutting him was grating, he used [Iron Defense] once more, but [Dismember] mirrors Instructor: Merciless power.

I look down at the body, which still convulses, as if his fighting spirit didn’t leave him, but with no arms and legs, there is nothing to be afraid of, therefore I turn around and silently leave the circle, while Brumm proclaims: “The Lion Squad wins.” He sounds bitter, but that’s nothing compared to the sour taste that’s in my mouth, as I don’t feel satisfied by this at all.

Sometimes you need to be ruthless. That’s a message I learned from my mother and father for politics, and from Instructor for fighting. I wish I would feel better about it, feeling more adult, but I don’t. Maybe this wasn’t a competition but me punishing a bandit for his crimes. Yes, this feels better, this feels a bit more just.

The barbarians look at me with respect, as I showed them the thing they revere most: Strength.

I look at Dear, who sighs, and suddenly the sour taste in my mouth vanishes, and I feel my heart spreading happiness throughout my body. “DEAR!” I jump into his arms, and while he squirms, he doesn’t reject me.

Until I started kissing every inch of his face I could reach: “Stop it!” His hand pushes my head away, but I push back, insisting to give him some more smooches.

“You did well, Katarine-san.”

“Rine-chan, that was amazing!”

“You showed them, lass!”

Yes, I don’t need much, and even though not everything is going well, I have my beloved and my friends around me, a luxury I plan to enjoy to its fullest.

Ken, I’m gonna tear you apart! At least I will try! I mean, even with Grekk-san at my side, I’m still intimidated by the ten buffed people—eight men and two women—who come towards us. They all look like they could snap me in half with one hand.

“Ah, some of them know me.” Grekk-san says, as he points at the two oldest of these men, who stare at him, and I can feel their terror creeping up at us from a hundred meters away. They say something, and the rest of the group begins to get much tenser. This is good.

I need to appear strong, even though I want to pee myself. While I agree with Ken’s decision to send me, as I’m the most sensible choice, I also hate that it had to come to this. I also hate that he’s not here right now! I mean, I can think of some reasons, but what about my emotional stability? Grekk-san may be better suited, but I feel safe with you!

Ah, what a wreck I have become! Relying on a boy! Yet how could I not!?

No, he relies on me now, too. So I have to make the best out of it. I even feel flattered, but I also want to bite Ken. Maybe I will. Later.

“Let’s wait here for them, Grekk-san.” It’s not like this place is better than any other on this open space, but letting the others come to me for the negotiation will subconsciously make them think they have a lower status.

“Alright.” The gray-haired man sits down cross-legged, and I think for a moment to follow his example. Yet I instead take out one of our stools from the backpack. Position is important, and as I’ll be the shortest here by a large margin, sitting on the stool will make me look taller.

The barbarians come closer, and a man in his mid-to-late twenties stands in the middle of them. The rest of his posse sits down while he remains standing. Good thing I took the stool. “Where is the Red Ranger?” His voice is firm and strong, but I pick up a sliver of uncertainty.

“Who knows? It’s hard to keep track sometimes. I’m here in his name though, I’m Momokawa Kyou.”

“You’re just a little girl.” So he isn’t taking me seriously. In this case, it’s not good.

I lower my voice a tiny bit, making it heavier: “I’m also the one who will talk on his behalf. You can take it or not.”

He stares into my eyes, trying to intimidate me, but talking is my turf. As long as he doesn’t get violent, I know he can’t hurt me. He gets louder though: “Get me the Red Ranger!”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Grekk-san snarks firmly, which makes the other barbarian flinch before he begins to build himself up again.

“Grekk-san, quiet please.” I’m indeed thankful, but if I let Grekk-san take over the conversation, it will turn bad.

“Sorry, Kyou-kun.” The fact that he apologizes does improve my standing though, as all of them are intimidated by the old barbarian. If he is subservient to me, this means they will subconsciously think more of me.

The leader of the barbarians folds his arms, tilting his head. He wants to look strong, but crossing his arms in this situation tells me of his uneasiness: “I’m Brumm, chieftain of the Northwind Clan. I demand to talk to your chieftain.”

“Maybe later,” I answer dismissively, this needs a soft yet firm touch: “For now, I’m the one you can talk to. I speak with all his authority.” If Ken chose me, he has to live with my decisions, though I don’t plan to act against his desires if I can help it. “Once again, my name is Momokawa Kyou.”

“Why would he send a frail girl instead of a warrior?”

I could try to prove myself, but I don’t need to do that now. As long as they’re afraid of Grekk-san—they may try to underplay it, but I’ve noticed the reactions of his guards—my position is strong enough, and I don’t need to risk it by failing to impress him: “Because it’s me.” This is also very true.

This false confidence does impress Brumm-san, though he’s still skeptical: “You wanted to talk, so talk.” He wants this to be over, so he probably has what he wanted to know already. Probably by seeing Grekk-san.

“Our leader wants you to leave the area and to cease attacking the farmsteads here.”

“Yeah right. You killed our people!”

“And they tried to kill ours.” I emphasize the ‘tried’ here to make sure he gets it: His people were the only ones that died here. “So let’s leave it at that and nobody else needs to come to harm.”

I can see how my words affect him. Some of the other warriors as well, especially the older ones. They’d hate losing more people, so maybe this is enough to convince them?

Yet Brumm-san resists: “Retreating now would blemish the honor of the Northwind Clan. You won’t be able to resist! They’re just a bunch of farmers, though you seem to be a hero. How many of you are there? Not many, otherwise Harkon’s party would have noticed them! We are neither afraid of heroes nor of rangers” I guess being so young does tell people that we’re heroes after all.

Let’s drop the niceties for now: “We also have Grekk-san.”

“Another reason! I need to take revenge for my grandfather!” He spits out these words, his hatred growing with every syllable.

“Wait a second,” Grekk-san interrupts: “Your name was Brumm… Are you Brimm’s grandson?”

“Yes! I am!”

“I’m sure that I didn’t kill Brimm.”

“You killed every part of him but his body!”

“I have no idea what that means.”

I need to interject here, before things escalate even more, the other barbarians are already on their heels: “I’m sure you have a lot to talk about, but let’s focus on the here and now. Former events shouldn’t be accounted for here, right?”

“Quiet!” Brumm-san stomps and the earth around him rises, the air pressure blasts into my face with some dirt, Grekk-san is standing up, but he holds back. However, he radiates pure power, and even though I’m on his side I’m scared of it.

I pull myself together, doing my best to salvage this situation: “Chieftain Brumm, what do you hope to accomplish by picking up a fight here and now? Someone may die if we continue down this road.” Most likely myself.

Instead of answering me, he stares at me, and I really wish Ken would be here. Considering that Brumm is the chief of a blood-thirsty tribe of madmen really scares me. Yet I don’t think he’s like that. He comes across more as someone who wants to do the smart thing, but he’s also triggered and now unable to stop at this point.

Strange though, he wants to raid the farmsteads for their goods, and we heard about how they used to be satisfied with a fifth. “Did you become the chief recently?”

“Y-” He abruptly stops, he was probably lured by my [Persuasion] to answer me, but he’s basically told me everything already.

I look at Grekk-san before asking my next question, making sure that the old yet tall man is paying attention and could protect me if this triggers the chief: “So you asked your people to attack Green Horst, slaughtering every person who couldn’t run away at time?”

“…” Brumm-san hesitates and this tells me more than he would ever admit. He didn’t know about the Green Horst, he probably gave other orders, but admitting this now would tarnish his stupid honor, so he won’t back out now that the damage has been done.

Let’s use this opportunity, before he can answer and derail the conversation. It’s the lesser solution, but it’s more or less the course we settled on… well, Ken settled on: “At this point, both sides could enter another battle, but this would do more harm than good. We, the Lion Squad, challenge you on behalf of the White Horst to a Trenvig.” Lion Squad is the name our group is traveling as, basically just a cover as a mercenary band. “Grekk-san is now also a part of the squad, so you can also settle old conflicts.”

I read a lot of emotions on his face and gestures. Insecurity, stubbornness, a lot of grudge, hope, anger, hurt pride, all of them meshed together. Brumm-san stands up and says with a clear voice: “I accept! I will see you all in the dirt. We’ll meet again in two hours to talk about the details.” He turns around, his fellow barbarians following him.

I stand up myself. My knees feel so weak that I’m about to fall, though. Grekk-san supports me by holding my shoulders, despite the cracks that are still left in the bones of his arms: “You did well.”

I raise my chin, as I don’t need him to tell me that: “Thanks for being my guard. It certainly helped.”

“I’m happy I didn’t need to kill all of them on the spot. Though I wonder what happened with Brimm… What did the brat mean that I killed everything but his body?”

I have an idea or two: “Maybe he was so devastated by the defeat that he lost his will to live?”

“Could be, but seriously: It would be a shame for a warrior to be disheartened by something like a loss.” I have to agree.

However, we need to take care of the Trenvig for now.

―○●○―

Several days ago.

After hearing the decision of Kenza to stay and resist the barbarians and our first day of training, we go to the room Kenta-kun and I share, and I start to explain to the youngsters how a Trenvig works exactly.

“I think I said it before, but a Trenvig is a challenge between barbarian clans and has three parts: We got the Challenge of the Champions, the Challenge of the Elders, and the Challenge of the Chieftains. Both clans agree on the price, and the time and place beforehand. They will also make suggestions for the Challenge of the Chieftains.”

“What does that mean?” Kenta-kun asks.

“The Challenge of the Chieftains isn’t set. Both chiefs collect three ideas each and judge if those ideas are in the spirit of being a barbarian. Usually games of skills, showing their ability to judge the situation and adapt. Some like to use fights with special rules, others play children’s games, there was a riddle competition once, but as long as you have a sound reasoning, anything should be accepted. A chief that shies away from a suggestion that fits the bill will be looked down upon by their clan, as it shows that they can’t handle the unexpected.”

“And how do they decide which one will be used?”

“Randomly right before it starts to give no time to prepare. My clan had a bag with colored marbles for that. No idea what they will use, but that’s also agreed upon beforehand.”

“I see… considering there are fights possible, this means Kyou-san shouldn’t do it… Ara-san neither… and Rine…” He looks at the pretty lass with raised eyebrows: “…may stumble with other tasks. Jii-san?”

“Lad, this is the challenge of the leader. It doesn’t matter if you are fit or not, as long as you’re the chief, you have to do it. Which means, it’s you.”

“Not like I wanted to… …phew… I hope it comes last.”

“It is. First comes Champions, then Elders, then Chieftains.”

“Good. Random stuff is the worst. We only need to win the first two and we have no problem, right?”

“Yes, you need to win two of the competitions to win the Trenvig.”

Rine-kun lifts her hand while asking her question: “What about the other challenges?”

“They are always the same. The Challenge of the Champions is both sides using their strongest warrior for a fight. The first one to die or lose consciousness loses. Of course, I was my clan’s champion.” Though later only in title, as the other clans started to avoid us. “The champions are surrounded by a circle of forty warriors to mark their battlefield. If they get too close to an enemy one, they might get attacked. Leaving the circle is forbidden and attacking it is in bad taste.” As long as you can grab and crush your opponent on the spot, you don’t need to worry about any interference. Usually, it’s also enough to decide a fight.

“Phew… so you gonna do it, Jii-san?”

“No, no, no. I’m old and frail.” I say it, but I just do it because I want to do another challenge for a change. I always was the champion, and as I’m not the leader—for good reasons—I can’t participate as the chieftain. Yet the Elder… “Rine-kun would be much better than I for it.”

“Are you sure?” The blonde beauty asks: “You are much stronger than me.”

“What if breaking my arm isn’t enough to win? I can be very powerful for a moment, but after that, I can do nothing. Maybe you need me to use my strength before the Trenvig anyway, which would lead me to be unable to fight anyway.” Of course, I’m confident that I can crush any opponent with one arm, but I need to sell myself short!

The lad hesitates for a moment: “He’s right, Rine. I’ll count on you.”

“Sure! I won’t disappoint you, Dear!”

My plan is working. “Now about the Challenge of the Elders. Both sides send their oldest member to compete in story-telling. In this case, it’s obvious that I’m the one who needs to go.”

“I disagree.”

“Huh?” I turn my head towards the one who spoke out. It’s Ara-kun? “You… do what?”

“I disagree. Grekkun, how old are you?”

“I didn’t count, but look at my beard. At my hair. I’m basically a hundred years old or so.”

“Which makes you still younger than me.”

It takes me a moment to digest what she has just said, to make sure that I heard right: “You claim to be older than me?”

“I’m in fact 144 years old.”

“You just invented that number.” It sounds just fake. I look at the others, trying to find support.

Kyou-kun smiles at me, but her look makes me feel like a child who is trying to ask their dad to get candy after dinner. Rine-kun also smiles, but it’s strained. Kenta-kun shrugs his shoulders, mumbling “She’s right.”

My plan… failed! Why didn’t anyone tell me that alfar can be this old and look so young!?

―○●○―

Brumm readies himself for the meeting. This time, he’s accompanied by his father, as now Grekk will be honor-bound to not attack them until the Trenvig ends. Considering how much Brumm’s instincts told him to run away and hide after seeing him, this calms him down. Good thing that after a Trenvig, both clans aren’t allowed to engage in combat for a year.

Aside from Bramm, their elder Ollof and the newly appointed champion Harkon joined as well. It’s not like Harkon is the strongest left, but he was more or less the only one who actually wanted to fight Grekk, as it’s clear as day that he would be in the Challenge of the Champion and he’s not known to spare his opponents.

Losing Harkon would hurt, but if he insists… it would have been easier to send someone stupid in there, like Ulw and his brats, who messed up everything in the first place. By now, Brumm figured out that they had ignored his orders, making the farmers mad, who then sent in a ranger who could put up a fight.

What he still couldn’t figure out is why Grekk is with them, but it doesn’t matter overall. He’s here, he’s dangerous, they have to deal with it.

It’s sad that Brumm won’t be able to avenge his grandfather yet, but if he could win the Trenvig, then…

There they are, at the same spot the girl was speaking with him before. There are three men and three women… no, more like: Two men, a boy and three girls.

The black-haired girl from before is here again. She looks as proud as before, and Brumm is a bit cautious of her, as the more he thinks back about the conversation earlier, the more he thinks that she had the lead.

There is also a blonde girl, which is probably the one Tjim was fighting before. From what Brumm heard, she is quite capable, probably a hero herself. Yet while the black-haired one just seems off, this one…

Oh shit, her eyes! It’s like there is a flame burning in them, and this ties back to old stories Brumm heard, about a small country in the east, where there is abundant and rich soil and strong warriors protecting it. As this used to be the Lizard Clan’s route, the Northwind Clan avoided going there, but even Brumm knows about Gottfried, who may be the only warrior capable of defeating Grekk in his prime.

No, if she’s a hero, she can’t be part of that country, but she looks so very different from the other girl, basically like many people around here with an unusual eye-color. Nonetheless, it won’t matter in a Trenvig.

Wait, they don’t have an elder. Does it mean, Grekk will be their elder? The next oldest person is a man with graying hair, who may wear armor and have a shortsword on his side, but looks like he hasn’t seen much action for the last decade. His sunburned skin and stench does tell me he’s just a farmer.

Or maybe their elder is so old he or she can’t move anymore by themselves. After all, these farmers waste their lives until they’re shriveled.

Grekk himself stands tall and even looking at him makes it difficult to not flee on the spot.

The interesting ones are the two others though. Brumm heard about an elven girl, but seeing one is strange. Elves are seclusive and while the Northwind Clan tried to attack one of their villages, which is only a few days away from here, they never succeeded. They entered the woods and never found any buildings, and when they tried to tear down the forest, they found themselves in an entirely different forest. Elven magic is cursed.

This elven girl seems to be young, but there is no joy in her. It’s like she’s made out of wood. Her strange head- and face-shape and her frailty underlines this. Even though Brumm has met plenty of folksmen and orcs, some dwarves, vrylokas, and hynoars, this elf seems to be even more alien. Maybe because they’re closer to human features in general and therefore every difference seems stronger?

The other odd one is the ranger. He’s definitely a hero as well, he looks similar to the girl, but Brumm’s instincts tell him that he’s a danger. Not in a fight, but there is something about him which may make him a threat, and Brumm hates how he can’t say why.

He pushes his hood back and points at Brumm: “You’re the boss, right?”

“I’m Brumm, chieftain of the Northwind Clan.”

“Aha.” Brumm never heard someone not caring so aggressively before: “Katsuragi Kenta.” Within the chief, a raging anger awakens. He wants to cave this boy’s head in with his bare hands. “No need for small-talk, let’s begin laying down the details. The place for the challenges will be here, objections?”

While Brumm is about to say ‘yes’ just to shut this disrespectful brat up, he pulls himself together. If he starts objecting out of spite, then his words won’t have any weight for later. “Fine with me.”

“I guess we could start half an hour after this talk.” Brumm nods again. “If we win, you and your people will leave and won’t raid any farmsteads, villages, settlements, wayside inns, or similar places until spring. Same for caravans.”

“What are we supposed to eat then?”

“Either buy it or just hunt. Seriously, you-” he stops mid sentence, as he exchanges a look with the black-haired girl: “Seriously, I don’t care what you do, as long as you leave the people alone. Also, this farmstead and each one close to it will be spared of any raids for the next ten years.” He knows the time-limits, he probably learned from Grekk what is sensible. “This would sum it up. What do you want?”

Brumm thinks about their terms. They could attack cities, but this is always risky. So they’re down to bandits, mercenaries, and similar. “Then I ask for three things. First, a fifth of everything the farms in this area owns.” This was the plan to begin with, just this way he doesn’t need to fight for it.

The farmer nods to it: “Acceptable.”

“Alright, go on,” the ranger says.

“Second, for ten years, the farms have to give us food and shelter whenever we are there.” With this, there is a lot to gain while the Northwind Clan recovers from their latest battles.

This seems to hurt the farmer, he takes a deep breath: “Also acceptable.”

“Phew… if he says so… what is the third?”

“Third, we want Grekk’s head.” This would also serve as a revenge, and give the Northwind Clan a reputation beyond any imagination.

The Red Ranger becomes openly hostile for a second, and Brumm’s instinct groans, as the danger coming from the ranger also intensifies. “No fucking way.”

Grekk puts his hand on the ranger’s shoulder: “Oh, you’re worried about me?”

“Fuck off!” He certainly has to be dumb and with little instinct to talk that way to a natural disaster incarnated.

“Lad, I don’t mind. It’s not like we will lose.” The danger coming from Grekk mellows a bit, though it’s like saying that hard steel is becoming slightly softer steel. “That lad is out for revenge, and even if I don’t know why exactly, it’s probably justified. I agree to the third term.”

“You said I’m the leader, so shut up!”

“Lad, I know that I won’t die here. And if I do, then the world is better off anyway. That’s my decision.”

“Kch… fuck you, Jii-san.” The Red Ranger turns to Brumm: “Phew… I accept.” The chieftain pumps his fists, as the idea of being the ones who would kill the legendary Grekk, the thought of avenging his grandfather, is so appealing. “What comes next?” Seeing how the Red Ranger doesn’t know the customs does aggravate Brumm, but on the other hand, this is something he can endure for this price.

“First, we appoint the Champion. Our champion is Harkon.” The warrior steps forward and his eyes are fixated on Grekk, beaming respect and fear at the same time, but also anger and thirst for revenge.

“Ours is Rine.” The blonde girl steps forwards. Brumm has silently considered this possibility, but he can’t help but blink in surprise, as he still was set on Grekk being the champion.

Especially considering how easy-going this girl is! She walks to Harkon: “I’m Katarine von Stolzherz and will participate in the Challenge of the Champions.” She tips over her heart and then rolls her hand towards Harkon. This is a kingdom manner! Doesn’t she take barbarians seriously!?

“You’re not the one I wanted!” Of course, Harkon is pissed. He dreaded and expected the ultimate challenge, and now he has to take someone half his bulk. Yet he’s also cautious, as he’s the one who told Brumm that this girl was fighting very well and even took his arm before when he wasn’t paying attention. That she’s better than Grekk is very unlikely, however.

So maybe he will be the Elder instead, after all. “Our Elder is Ollof.” He’s been a warrior as well, and he knows all the stories which barbarians fancy.

“Ours is Ara-sa… Ara’ainn.”

Why is that petite elf stepping forward!? Her ears lower as she makes a proud “Ahem!”, leaving Brumm speechless.

Only for a moment though, as he bursts out: “You know that the Elder is supposed to be the oldest person of the tribe!?”

The elf’s left ear leans backwards: “We do, though you may not know about an alfr’s life expectancy. I’m older than you can count, and I will outlive your tribe with ease. Which isn’t much of a claim, considering how much we will destroy you today.”

Brumm isn’t a typical barbarian, therefore he notices the insults, the bragging, and the challenge, which are all rolled up into a lecture. His instinct also tells him that she’s very confident about being older than anyone here.

Oh well, she sounds like an intellectual, so there is no way she will entertain her audience.

Wait… this means Grekk is betting his life without even participating in the Trenvig himself? As the Red Ranger speaks as the chieftain, this is the only outcome, even though it makes no sense! Does this mean, that Grekk is so confident that they will win!?

Brumm inhales silently and exhales again: “Then the elder and the champions have been announced. Next are the possible challenges for the chieftains.”

“How do you decide which one will be used?”

“We use a die.” Brumm takes off a six-sided die, each side with a different color. “You may call which of the challenges is which color and we let Grekk roll the die, so you know that we aren’t cheating.”

“Fine, I guess. Then we now call out our challenge proposals?”

“We do the first, you the second, we the third, and so on. The first proposal is ‘Duel until disarmed.’” As Brumm instinctively knows that the ranger won’t be a match in a direct fight, he decided to go with this challenge. It requires tactics, experience, and physical skill, which makes it a classic.

“Phew… of course. Well, it happens that I got something similar. Fight until you hit the back of the head of your opponent.” Brumm nods to it, well-knowing that this isn’t similar at all. To disarm an opponent, you need either skill or power, but to get behind the opponent requires swiftness and foresight. Also, this may open up the use of ranger magic.

Though strangely enough, Brumm feels like his own proposal would backfire even worse, though he can’t tell why. This fellow is messing with his common sense, as Brumm’s instincts are always counter to what he would have expected to be right.

However, finding challenges against a ranger was hard enough. Brumm would love to make a hunting competition, but that would have been stupid, despite his talent in this. Same goes for hide-and-seek or basically everything else that requires going into the wilderness, which is supposed to be a barbarian’s home turf.

That’s why Brumm planned to add a second combat challenge, but now the ranger proposed one himself, so having three would be too many for good taste. The first fight between chieftains has already started, and while Brumm wasn’t expecting the Red Ranger to be aware of it, that asshole already made a good move.

Of course, Brumm already considered this and had another challenge ready, which may sound like an outdoor activity, but is in fact a physical competition as well: “A good leader has to provide for his tribe, so we will gather firewood for an hour and whoever makes the biggest fire will win.” Even though the ranger will probably know what makes good firewood, he doesn’t seem like someone who can carry whole trees.

“Fine with me, though you seriously want to lose, right?” Why does he have this barely bearable smirk, which gives Brumm the desire to punch his face until it’s nothing but a big hole that goes through the skull? Is that some ranger magic? “I propose a scavenger hunt. Each side names three plants that have to be found in the woods, whoever finds and returns with them first wins.” Brumm almost flinches, as he immediately knows that the ranger would be much better at it, but before he could return something, the ranger goes on: “Oh? You’re not confident in your survival skills? I mean, are barbarians raiding places because they suck so hard at finding their way in the wilderness to provide for themselves?”

More urges to kill that brat rise inside Brumm. He’s about to strangle him, until his head pops and all the shit inside bursts out, covering everything. Yet he also knows that doing this would not only end up with his clan seeming to not respect the rules of the Trenvig, but probably with Grekk swatting him like a fly.

So that’s why they don’t use the legendary calamity. To ensure that everything falls in line. But in the end, Brumm also knows that the only thing he has to do is to win the Trenvig. Yes, this is only a minor annoyance, something he will shrug off in the end.

Time for his last suggestion! “My last challenge is a thumb war, three rounds.” This may be a game for children, but it’s much deeper than it seems. Timing, reading your opponent, feints, strategy. While he’s not allowed to crush the entire hand, breaking his thumb has to be enough for the insults earlier, and doing it in the first round will ensure two more rounds of pain.

“Ah, OK.” He agrees without missing a beat, but Brumm thinks he got him. Right? “Then for the final one, let’s do some janken (rock-paper-scissors).”

While Brumm doesn’t know janken, this world has the same game with different hand signs and meanings for them: Axe, sword, and spear. Axe beats spear, sword beats axe, spear beats sword. That’s why Kenta, who spoke this world’s language due to the hero-system meant janken, his actual words were changed into Weapon Triad. “Why? It’s just a game of chance.”

“Heh?” Oh god, why is his voice so grating!? “So you say that you barbarians with your superior instincts won’t be able to read what I’m throwing? I guess I overestimated you.”

Kill, kill, kill! “Fuck you, my instincts are much sharper than whatever bullshit you can pull!”

“Then no problem, right?”

“Grr…” Brumm immediately realizes that he has been played, but backing out now would also smear his reputation among his clan: “Bring it on!” Yet there is a small voice inside him, which tells him that the ranger seems confident about all but one of the choices…

Chapter 7 – The ending went weird

Almost a year ago.

This is getting worse by the second. Wallowing in pain, I roll on the floor, as if I’m trying to quench it like a fire. Yet it remains.

“Father?” My oldest son—Fir—enters the tent, looking at the items on the floor, then at me. “Are you alright?” He’s already an old man himself.

“NO!” He jumps back, as if I would bite him from two steps away. I probably could though. However, I can’t tell him about this pain!

“What is wrong?”

“NOTHING!” He hardens his body, as if I would hit him. Why would I—well, I did it in the past. Often.

Argh, the pain gets worse!

“Try to endure it!” He runs out of the tent: “We need to raid a town and get a priest! Quickly!” The pain! Why does it hurt so much more now! “All of you, protect father!” Yeah, otherwise my own clansmen will kill me. Wait, why doesn’t it sound that bad!?

I roll around again, but stop before I roll over my most hated and most precious possession. A crochet stole.

Wait, precious? I hate this thing! Why did I keep it in the first place!?

I grab it. It stinks, as it was stored for too long too deep in that chest. I press it close to my body, and I feel a strange itch in my eyes. Why does this calm me down, even though it makes me feel even shittier!?

I do something I never did before. I think. I’m more of a person who lives in the moment, but now I’m remembering old times, and while they give me solace, they hurt so much.

Soon, Fir will kidnap a priest, who can take a look at me. He only needs to raid a town with a temple or church, kill their guards, some of the civilians, take their stuff for good measure, and—

Oh! I finally know what is plaguing me. Even though I can’t believe it. Yet here we are. If I have to put it into one sentence…

One day I woke up and grew a conscience.

―○●○―

Mirianne wakes up by the scream of the rooster. Yesterday, she was pumped, but today she feels miserable once again. She has no idea why though.

Red. Kyou-chan. The princess. The elf. Old Man Grekk. Her mind feels like a spinning top, always bumping against one of those five.

She slowly stands up before dawn, as she’s always done since childhood. She has to take care of the animals once again. A small smile runs through her face, as she remembers how Kyou-chan called her talented. Yet the smile vanishes, as she still feels like she doesn’t belong on this farmstead.

Red. She admires him, right? That’s what she came to realize, yet there is that small voice inside her, which tries to add something. Or maybe deny?

The elf. Mirianne hates her, but she’s somehow important.

The princess. Flawless, she makes Mirianne feel so inferior.

The old man. Talking with him makes Mirianne feel better.

Mirianne dresses herself, by the side of her siblings and some other girls from nearby farmsteads, as they all have to share a room. Then she leaves the cramped chamber, but instead of making a quick check on whether the stables and fences are still alright, she instead makes a detour to the room Red and the old man share.

However, both of them are about to pass her on her way. Red shoulders his spear and wears his armor, it’s obvious that they are about to go to some training again.

Seeing Red hurts Marianne, even though she already confirmed her feelings. Maybe, because she remembers his rejection. Yes, it has to be this.

Mirianne forces a smile: “Good luck with your training.”

Red looks at her for a second, then he sighs: “Phew… thanks, I guess.”

The old man grins: “He will need it.”

Without missing a beat, both are passing her and while Red “Wait, what?” tries to find out what the old man means, the latter just laughs it away.

At the same time, tears are running down Mirianne’s cheeks.

―○●○―

“Hff…hff…” Kenta-kun is finished with the first exercises, still in his fatty body. He seems beat, but I know he will get through.

“Alright, fatty,” I say seriously, “come here.”

“Hf…” He stumbles more than walk. It’s so hard to make these heroes really tired though.

I put my hands on his shoulders: “Let me tell you one thing. You do improve. It may not seem like it, but my instincts tell me that.” It’s hard to explain, but every morning he does feel a bit more dangerous. I can’t see a difference in his movements, in his power, or anything else, but I learned to trust my instincts. Like many barbarians, though only a few learn to do that when they’re young.

“Hf… what-” I guess he also is developing instincts, as he suddenly hardens up his body.

Oh well, no need to change what I’m about to do. I push down on his shoulders, driving him into the ground, like a blunted stake. My arms hurt so much from the last battle, even with my regeneration, I still feel it in my bones. Yet I needed enough power he wasn’t able to resist. “Aaaaahhhhh…” I massage my arms, as he realizes that only his head is above ground now.

I stomp once close to his head to tramp down the earth around him, the shock goes up my leg. He also feels this shock: “ARGH! What the fuck are you doing!?” He’s now in the middle of a shallow crater.

“Nothing anymore. You on the other hand have to get out there yourself.” I sit down and take some deep breaths to regain some of my power: “Do whatever is necessary.”

“FUCK YOU, JII-SAN!” He tries to wiggle, but realizes the big problem: There is no wiggle-room anymore, which means he also can’t use his muscles. He also seems to swap back and forth between his forms, most likely trying to loosen the earth around him, as other than his clothes, it doesn’t change to fit his sizes.

From the pain on his face and groans, I guess it doesn’t work as he intended. Well, the earth there should be rock solid with the power I put into my stomp.

“[Entangle]!” He endures the pain of being pressed into an unfitting shape as he uses his ranger-powers to make the grass around him grow, trying to get him out of there. Yup, he’s a bit desperate, as even I can tell the grass won’t be even close to strong enough for that.

He changes to fatty again, ceasing all resistance. I guess he needs to think it through.

I have no idea how he will get out of this, but I know that he should be able to do this much. In his position, I would either force the earth to surrender by pumping up my muscles and force my way through it or to crack the hardened earth below with my chin.

Kenta-kun doesn’t have the strength for either option, though.

“RGH… RGH..” I have no idea what he’s doing, but it seems painful. Also, he’s still in his fatty form. “AAAHHH…. RGHHH….” After five minutes of doing so, he looks very exhausted, but then he changes to his pikeman-form, and the earth around his neck begins to crumble. “Hahhhhhh…. hah….” He does seem burned out though, and he wasn’t even able to free his arms, yet he becomes fat again.

“Nice. What did you do?” He’s still in there, but it’s certainly progress.

“You call me fatty, no? Guess what, the fat gave me some wiggle room in my arms! It hurt like hell, but I was able to hit the earth with my bones often enough to loosen it somewhat!”

I try to imagine what he means, but I guess I’m too dumb for that. But I get it, that he’s trying to throw my insults back at me, so in the end, it’s the spite that makes him do that. “Well fatty, you still need to get out though.”

“Soon!” He starts to calm his breathing, probably making another attempt.

After another hour of small steps of progress, Rine-kun runs at us: “DEAR! GREKK! THEY ARE HERE!”

““Oh.”” Both of us know what she means. This was awfully quick, but maybe the Northfarts did run through the night. Or they could have cut some time by knowing exactly where to go.

“Lad, let me get you out… it will hurt.” I say to him, as I’m about to break open the earth.

“Ah, wait!” Rine-kun taps my shoulder, before her body becomes softer: “[Soften]!” The earth around Kenta-kun becomes strange, and he basically walks out of there. Magic is strange. “Why were you in there in the first place, Dear?”

“No idea, but I guess it helped.” He fetches his backpack, retrieves potions and starts drinking them. “Let’s go. Ara-san and Kyou-san are already on their way?”

“They went out to warn the farmers, we’ll meet them there.”

“Then throw me a [Heal] and show me where they are.”

―○●○―

My whole body hurts, being stuck in the ground was very painful, and without the [Heal], I would have bruises and chafes all over my body. Yet I was about to realize something, but these shitty barbarians had to interfere.

[Sneak], [Camouflage], and [Mask of Wildlife] make it nigh impossible to see me at the border of the forest where we fought against them previously, while I use [Farsight] to look at the barbarians in the distance.

Many of them are carrying huge packages like they are nothing. In this regard, they look like ants, and I would guess that these are tent-tarps that are wound around everything that’s supposed to be inside the tents. Don’t they use wagons?

I also see several non-barbarians, people with something to cover their upper bodies, wearing simple dresses and shirts. I guess these are farmers they caught.

On the other hand, there is a wall of obvious warriors, full of war paint and looking in my direction without seeing me.

Did they plan an all-out invasion? Are they trying to threaten us with their hostages? Or are they here to negotiate and will go with one of the former ideas if it fails?

I return to the rest and report what I have seen. “We have to rescue the farmers,” Rine says with her fire-red eyes burning.

“How?” Kyou-san is more realistic. “If they attack us, we don’t have enough people.” She said before that the farmers are gearing up and getting here as well, but even with a hundred of them, I have to agree with her assessment.

“Remember the plan,” Ara-san says calmly, as it takes a lot to unbalance her… unless it’s squirrels. “We don’t need to fight them here.”

Yeah, we want them to agree to that Tren-thing. For that, we need to make it obvious to them that attacking us is more detrimental than they would like. “Means, we need to talk to them. Phew…” Which means that I need to make the decision, who to send.

Ara-san is a no-go. She would most likely make things escalate, because she would either play pranks, insult the barbarians, or just try what she can get away with for fun. Probably a mix of all.

Rine appears to be a solid choice at first, as she can defend herself, and her [Swishstride] would be good for her to retreat quickly to us, if things go south. Yet she wants to free the farmers, and seeing the fire in her eyes, I don’t think she’s willing to make compromises.

Sending Jii-san seems to be smart, as he knows the customs, but on the other hand he’s also our secret weapon. The final push we may need to drive them away. So am I willing to risk him and send him where someone close to his strength may be?

Me? I will probably fail the negotiations. I have a track-record of messing talks up, and can only succeed if I’m in an obviously better position.

The obvious and most logical choice is the one I really don’t want to make: Kyou-san. She got high [Persuasion], which means she can convince every non-hero to do whatever she wants. While Rine shares that, Kyou-san knows better how to use it and she’s good at reading moods and intentions.

At the same time, she’s by far the weakest of us. Also, how could I send her when there is so much risk involved? Especially, since she was the one who told us from the start to flee to the town? This is exactly what she was against from the start…

Inhale. Exhale. “Kyou-san, I’d like you to go and talk with them. Try to make them leave, and if it doesn’t work out, work towards that Tren-thing.” Just because I don’t want to, doesn’t mean I won’t if I have to: “Jii-san, go with her.” That’s the only thing I can give her, even though I’d rather have him in the back.

Kyou-san looks at me as if I’ve asked her to defuse a time-bomb within five seconds. Then she sighs: “You owe me big time.” She slowly walks up to me and then hugs me: “I hate you!”

No, she certainly hates me for that. “I know.” And I hate myself for it, despite it being the logical decision.

She presses her lips against my cheek, as we already had a kiss today, there is no further message, then she hardens her resolve: “Grekk-san? Make sure that I’ll be safe.”

“Sure, lass.”

“I will send them a message. Ara-san, write the following:” I will need Rine to confirm later that Ara-san is writing what I’m about to say… Still, she has the most clean handwriting, and I have to make this message as simple to understand as possible…

―○●○―

An arrow flies next to Bjonn, who was on lookout. Where did it come from? Also, there is a piece of paper attached to it. “What is that?” Frett asks as he picks it up. “Uh! WORDS!”

“It’s called a letter.” Bjonn knows of this, even though he can’t read either. “People write messages on them and give them to other people, who deliver them to the person who’s supposed to read them.” Putting it on an arrow is strange, also kinda smart.

“Why don’t they say things to the other people directly?”

“Give it to me.”

“You can read?”

“No, but if you want to keep your teeth, then give it to me. I’ll bring it to the chief.”

“Why you, not me?” Bjonn lifts his fist. “Alright, alright! Asshole!”

“Keep watch here.” If the arrow could be shot without Bjonn noticing in time where it came from, it means that he’s as useless as Frett here. Also, Frett holds a grudge against the ranger, so sending him to the chief would only invite problems.

Chieftain Brumm takes the letter, reading it slowly aloud: “’To the… leader of… the barbori, erm, barbarians. We will send tw…two people. Meet them ha—-half—‘ Half and way? Ah, halfways. ‘Let’s talk. Red…. Ranger.’ Is he serious!?” The chief crumbles the letter in anger.

“Son, don’t waste this chance,” former chief Bramm says, and Bjonn has to agree.

“What chance?”

“They will try to threaten us. Which means, they will show their hand. Then we can decide if it’s a battle we want.” Bjonn also agrees to this. He always had a high opinion of Bramm, and while Brumm is promising, he’s still young and easy to sway. Probably because of what happened to his grandfather…

Yet he shows that he’s his father’s son: “You are right. They didn’t say how many people we need to send, so let’s go with ten. Bjonn, you are part of it. Harkon as well. Father, you will stay behind, in case something happens to me, so you can take over leadership.” It would be a shame if the chief of the tribe doesn’t come to negotiations, after all: “Other than that… I want Gunnar in. I’ll let you two choose three more each. Make sure to not only include the older ones, though. We need power and smarts.”

Here we are again, in a wild storm. I see pictures, fractions of my relationship with him passing by, as feelings burst out of my chest. The very chest trembling at his touch.

He certainly didn’t expect it, because he’s very lopsided in his insights. Because he can never imagine that someone would think dear of him. He certainly makes it hard for anyone to do.

The feelings inside my beating heart are overflowing. Those may be a lie, but the moment Rine-chan showed another way to deal with them—to accept them in the present—I envied her conviction. Ever since then, whenever I saw the two of them together, I thought: Me too.

I’m such a shallow woman.

There is no jealousy though, this may also be because of the ring. Yet I wanted to be in there as well, share moments with him as well. The ring asking me to do the same didn’t certainly help.

Still, I didn’t want to admit defeat. Because of my pride. Despite knowing exactly how I felt.

I’m happy for Rine-chan, but I failed to be content with just that. Growing irritated, I watched over them, seeing how he took the mantle of protector of this place, despite his complaints.

Like Rine-chan says, he can be so cool.

The more irritated I grew, the more desperate I became. Thinking of him while cooking, secretly enjoying treating his injuries, though the reason he got hurt so often genuinely annoyed me. Because I kept thinking of him, I looked for solitary places to relieve myself.

There was Miria-nee. When I saw her, I was angry, as it was like a mirror. A mirror without the taint. I told myself it was kindness to use my [Persuasion] to convince her to not indulge those thoughts further, to rearrange her emotions, but I know that tidbit was jealousy.

I’m first, I need to be the one! Rine-chan doesn’t count! Especially since I married him before her, I’ve been in the relationship longer.

So shallow.

At that moment, I saw myself and was ashamed. That’s why I needed to talk to Rine-chan, yet she made that impossible request. I had a lot of thoughts, and in the end, I couldn’t stand how pathetic I’ve become and steeled my resolve.

We talked. I told them my plight, I told them my pain. It was surprisingly easy.

Rine-chan embraced me. She welcomed me, and this is much more than I deserved. It goes against everything our countries are thinking, but for me it was salvation.

Then we discussed it. If I just confessed to him, he could reject me. Because he thinks things over, because he sticks to his guns, because he’s just such a massive moron. This scares me, being rejected. Especially by him, who was the one to accept me when I was at my lowest point.

So seduction it was. This is something I was more confident in, because I would not need to bare my feelings before I captured him.

Of course, Arako proposed to sleep with him. She even got out of her way, explaining that this would clear the way for Rine-chan, as when he gets used to the female body, he wouldn’t… let’s call it ‘trigger’ at small stimulation.

Quickly, this blew out of proportions, and with all the emotional support Rine-chan was giving me, I wasn’t able to say that this would be going too far. I even drank the alfr tea.

When I told him that I wanted to talk to him, I actually planned to abort the plan and try to talk with him about Rine-chan for real. Slowly go over our relationship and either get a positive response I could build upon or confess to him, even though I initially didn’t plan to do that.

The moment we were alone, I got cold feet. Was I just sexually frustrated? Was Arako right all along? How genuine are my feelings towards him? I needed to reassess them. I needed to look at him, not the hero with the nice body, but the boy I met at school.

Maybe I was just enamored by his strength and physique.

His real body isn’t attractive at all. It looks unhealthy which is even more emphasized by the film of dirt we all have since coming here, as we can only wipe ourselves for hygiene.

Yet even in this form, I could only see him.

I wanted to touch his lips, but then a dam broke. My body heated up and every touch of his skin felt electrifying. I wanted him, and I wanted to be his.

He accepted.

Now I’m gasping for air, as my face is framed by my sweaty hair, lying next to Ken. I feel like fainting, and I have the same question as any girl who just had her first time had to ask: Did something break down there? I still feel him!

As I watch his face, which lost all composure, all coldness, I rest my head on his arm. I saw that in a video, yet while Ken didn’t mind touching when we were… engaged, he seems to shirk away a bit now.

We haven’t talked at all, it was more a series of grunting and nodding. I’m still overwhelmed by everything. I mean, it’s supposed to hurt the first time. But it only feels like it will hurt if I continue.

Should I wipe myself right now? The magazines wrote that it will start to harden and smell quickly. Still, I want to indulge into this moment, the strange satisfaction, the adoration, the beating heart.

Oh well, it will be fine for now. I calm down and look at Ken, who also seems to relax a bit, then I pet my stomach. “What do we call it?” I ask him playfully.

“Keiko if it’s a girl, Kyota if it’s a boy.” Unexpectedly, he answers without missing a beat. The second I was surprised, he adds: “You know that your status says you’re under contraception?”

I gently pinch his side to show my discontent with him seeing through my prank. “You checked my status during it?”

He looks away while answering: “Phew… I wanted to make sure to, well…” I wait this out, not letting him go by interrupting him: “…I read that girls have a hard time during the first time.” So he wanted to make sure whether he hurt me or not? Well, that’s acceptable.

“So you read up on this?”

“Barely. Totally underprepared.” Me too. Health class should include some more techniques to make it not that awkward.

Oh well, we’re both exhausted and unable to— I look down at his body and see something I know much better now. “…monster.” I mean, how!? After all I did, and while I didn’t count, it’s probably in the double-digits! “Well, I can’t take it in, but-”

I’m about to reach out, yet he puts his arm on my shoulder: “Don’t go out of your way. It’s really enough, and I think it’s because of the ring.”

“…so you’re telling me, you have enough endurance for three now?” So you won’t ever be fully satisfied with just me!?

“I don’t know.” Why aren’t you denying it outright!? I mean, it felt really good for me, but the reason why was his endurance in the first place, as everyone will succeed with enough tries.

The thought of what will be after he actually gets more experience… It’s exciting and scary at the same time.

I let my hand sink, and put it on his chest. I feel him shuddering slightly, even after we did all of that, he’s still… “Ken?”

“Hm?”

“We need to talk about our relationship.” You don’t have to click your tongue! Why do you need to remind me of your worst traits!?

“Phew… we’ve already been husband and wife for a while. We get along well enough, so there is no need for crass changes.” I know, and that makes it worse. I mean, I’m pretty much loving you, but we skipped the whole ‘fall in love’ step, and I feel like I missed out!

I want ‘living through my first crush’ back! “I’m a needy girl.”

“Wow, I never knew.” Tone down the sarcasm, jerk! “So what do you want?”

If I need to sum that up, I want to be even worse than Rine-chan, but I know that this isn’t possible with the two of us. “If it’s just the two of us, I want you to indulge me a bit. I know that you won’t like it, but I need at least some affection. I’m not asking for much, maybe some kisses here and there, some cuddling, but never more than you’re willing to give. I won’t ask you to tell me sweet nothings or the like.” Though I certainly wouldn’t mind.

“Phew… alright. I also have to say one thing.”

I steel my resolve, as I have no idea what he’s going to say. “Tell me.”

“…” He’s also steeling his resolve: “I don’t know if I love you or not, but I know that you constantly grind my gears and annoy me to no end, and I’m somewhat OK with that. I also want to make the same deal with you as with Rine: We’ll be in a relationship until we have broken the curse and then we will see how things will turn out.”

I’m a bit afraid of it, as he and I know that the both of us wouldn’t be together under any other circumstances. If the curse gets broken, it may turn out that all of my feelings are false, and I may be shallow enough to blame him for everything which will happen from now on. But instead of suffering from repressed emotions, I’d rather choose to take this risk and have a good time until then.

“Alright. Now let me say something.”

“Phew… yes?”

I muster the last of my strength and lift myself up a bit to look directly into his face from above: “I’m really happy right now.” With this, I kiss him.

Later I will act like nothing happened, but now we’re alone, and I need to make up some flirting time.

―○●○―

Is sex the greatest thing ever? No. If I compare it to the sheer joy of playing games, it does fall short. Sorry to disappoint you, virgins.

However, it’s like scratching an itch I carried for years, and the satisfaction and calmness that comes from it does help its reputation. While Kyou-san and I cleaned ourselves—which takes a while, you may not believe how sticky everything gets—my thoughts wander around in my brainpan.

First, I need to accept what just happened, as strange and unbelievable as it is. In Japan, everyone would say that Kyou-san is way out of my league, and even though I don’t care about others much, I’m aware that we’re an unlikely pair. She’s sending me a smug and satisfied smile, as she’s donning her corset. Without that attitude I’d think this was purely by the power of the curse, but as headstrong as she is and looking at how long it took for us to reach this point, maybe there is some genuineness there?

Pair that with how Rine and I became a real couple… Shit, we need to figure that out. I mean, I’m sure that Rine knows what happened here, and she was all for Kyou-san and Ara-san being like that, but I never spent a single thought of how to deal with it if it really happened.

The conversation earlier made clear that Kyou-san’s not that clingy, though I guess only time will tell. At least she won’t accidentally hit me, which really calms serious doubts I have compared to how things are going with Rine.

On the other hand, Rine is direct while Kyou-san is underhanded. So the latter may make me suffer through other means, and as long as we’re cursed, I can’t cut all ties with her. …let’s enjoy the good things as long as they last, I guess. Especially as undeserved as they are.

I quickly raise my hand to catch my shirt, which Kyou-san throws my way after she finished putting her clothes on: “I won’t say ‘Stop thinking’, but you don’t need to look so gloomy when you’re with me.” Somehow I pissed her off again.

“Phew…” I shrug my shoulders, check if I got everything cleaned up, and start getting into my clothes after swapping back to [Ranger]. I don’t like Kyou-san watching, but on the other hand, I did get my eyeful earlier. Also handful. And especially chestful.

After I’m finished, she links her arm with mine: “Let’s sit down a bit, get another WP by doing so, while I get my share of you for a while.” She sounds like we’ve been a couple for years! How to describe it… like it’s not that special, but also like it’s important as hell!

I do as she says, she lies her head on my shoulder, and I get to feel her breast against my arm. OK, why does it feel even more arousing after having sex? I don’t know what to say, and she doesn’t say anything either, so the minutes are passing quietly.

How can our hearts link if I have no idea what is going on with her? I mean, she now stands up, facing me again with the sweetest smile imaginable, before asking: “Can I have a final kiss?” I nod, and she closes in. It’s just light, but long. She separates, licks her lips once, then she breathes in and out once: “Alright, back to normal now. Come, Ken.” She’s back to her slightly annoyed self.

I’m just baffled, and while I know that Kyou-san can act any emotion she wants, I begin to doubt whether I’ve ever seen her true self at all.

After opening the door, both of us become aware of how the bedroom must smell now, as the air is so much fresher. I open the windows slightly before leaving, then follow Kyou-san. She’s not an inch closer to me than usual.

Shit, I’m way too conscious about everything right now! Just calm down, it was just sex! I seriously need to get my mind back to the present. Just think about current events and what to do- I think I want to throw up, as the current events are pretty shitty.

Where is Kyou-san heading anyway? Ah, she’s probably looking for the rest. With [Spouse Location] I can tell that they’re in the eating area, or at least in that direction, and it appears that Kyou-san just follows a hunch and is also heading there.

Well, I’ll probably never learn whether this is all part of Kyou-san’s masterplan or not. Let’s just assume that for the time being, so of course she knows where to look for the rest.

We walk through the door, and despite the temperature outside and the lack of heating here, the amount of people here more than make up for it. And I thought my room was sweaty!

Of course, Ara-san notices us first, and she seems to be cautious… or rather suspecting? Seriously, I can’t tell, it’s strange enough for me to be able to feel anything from her! I’m still figuring things out, dammit!

From her reaction, Rine catches up, jumps from her chair and jumps into our arms… well, Kyou-san’s arms, as I take two steps back to avoid my girlfr—erm… my blonde girlfriend.

Oh god, why do I feel so fucked by a fate others would envy me for? Maybe because I can already feel that this will explode in my face sooner rather than later, while most others won’t think about any long term implications and are so fed up with their lives that they would jump at any chance of something that seems remotely special?

Wait, I told myself earlier to try to enjoy it as long as it lasts. So I need to push aside the thirty ways it will kill me and concentrate on the now… wait, I made that mistake already!

For starters, let’s split up the two, as Rine is silently hugging Kyou-san so hard she’s already taking damage. Literally, her HP are falling, and I don’t think she can breathe right now, and the flailing of her arms is growing weaker. I really was self-centered here, I should have thought about how this two-timing also has a chance to kill one of the girls involved.

I get back to my original position and tap Rine’s arm, whose face is strangely red, as if she’s holding her breath herself: “Rine?”

Bad decision, as she just swaps targets. Now she silently does her best to snap my spine. Luckily, her arms are under mine, so I force my way with my fingers through the small gap between my body and her armpits, then my hands and wrists, forcing her hug to loosen by sheer force. “Hm?” She looks up to me, and cocks her head, puzzled.

“You—are—suffocating—me!” I say between my teeth, trying to keep the tension in my body. I may be superior in brutal force, but it’s hard to use it from this position.

She blinks two times and then slowly takes her own body tension away, allowing this to resolve without anyone getting hurt. “Phew…” Following my example, Rine also exhales deeply and then inhales again. “What is this about?” I ask her.

Ara-san joins in, Jii-san directly behind her: “As it would be unwise to speak about certain matters here, it seems that Katarine-san found her own solution to not ask the questions which would harm us in any settlement.”

What does she mean? Given that she knows what happened between Kyou-san and me, I guess she wants to talk about it. But why can—ah, the stupid Divine Laws. The farmers think Rine is my lover, so if they learn what happened, they will assume that I’m seeing Kyou-san—who thankfully isn’t my sister in our cover-story here—as well, which comes uncomfortably close to the ‘don’t be married to multiple spouses’ part of these shitty laws.

I found another way how this whole relationship can kill us. Yay!

Ara-san speaks in a low voice, the usual way for us two to communicate without anyone else able to hear it: “I’m still surprised. I mean, the stories talk about how humans engage in oral sexual activities, and-”

As she continues, my mind barely keeps up, as it’s too busy asking ‘What the fuck!? How do you know!?’ Then it dawns on me that during the sex, I was seeing several WP-messages which I pushed aside without reading them, as I was engaged otherwise.

Back then, I totally forgot that Rine and Ara-san do get an update about every WP as well. So they basically got a status report of everything that happened.

“Ken, what is wrong?” Kyou-san, you will learn of it soon enough. “Why are you smirking?” I tried my best to give you an envious smile, as you still live in a world of ignorance.

At least I’m distracted about the incoming doom.

―○●○―

Brumm is checking on the guards he set up around the farmstead the Northwind Clan uses as their quarter. He made sure to choose those with enhanced senses for this task, so that they keep watchful even when playing around with their pals.

Still, the cider they found here may prove fatal if they think Brumm wouldn’t check every now and then. “Anything going on, Gunnar?”

“Nothing unusual.” Gunnar scratches his fire-red beard, as he counts his sightings: “A hind, a flock of ravens, and a hare.” He points at the carcass of said animal. “Not much of a snack, but could be enough for a boot for my daughter.” Said daughter is playing with other children four corners close by, their skins blue due to being topless during this weather, but if they don’t harden up now, then they become whiny little babies later.

“Keep up the work.” Brumm was about to turn around, when Gunnar made a gesture to stop him. “What?”

“A group of people are running towards us. I think it’s Harkon.” Running a day or two long isn’t unusual for a warrior band, barbarians are just that tough.

After a few seconds, a group emerges from the light morning mist, and it’s indeed Harkon with his people. But some are missing…

“Chief!” Harkon says after arriving, he has a huge scar across his shoulder: “We lost!” He spits these words out with shame and disgust, but it shows his barbarian spirit to say the painful things outright.

“Come with me, we’ll talk inside.” Brumm asks the next person he sees to get his father. Soon, Harkon, Bramm, and Brumm are sitting in the chieftain’s room, together with Bjonn—who was with Harkon—and Polr, another veteran.

Harkon tells his story, and the details are worrying. Traces of farmers banding together? A bother. A ranger who protects him? A danger. A girl who could fight off several warriors? A problem. Yet the worse was: “It was someone from the lizards. He was old as fuck, but with a single strike, he… he exploded Tjim!”

A lizard-tribemember? Old? Able to shatter Tjim’s ultimate defense with ease? A certain name floats around the room, everyone thinks of the story of Brimm, Brumm’s grandfather, who was beaten by his own leg after that calamity ripped it off him.

Grekk.

“He should have died by now!” Bramm—who saw that event first-hand—utters this in-between fear and anger. “He was already old back then!” Even today, his father sometimes hears the maniacal laughter in his dreams.

“Does this mean the lizards are here?” Every tribe that had an encounter with Grekk altered their route to keep away from the lizards. So did they change it now because nobody wants to ‘play’ with Grekk?

Brumm thinks about this for a moment: “We just had the last skirmishes, we can’t risk another fight with another tribe right now. Yet we also can’t let this stain our honor.” Aside from his father, the rest nods in approval: “Everyone will pack their things. We will move as a clan, make camp at some distance, and then I will take a look for myself. Let them see our might.”

As soon as this message travels, the mood of the younger warriors mirror Brumm’s. Even if it’s Grekk, he’s old and being the one to kill him would bring them highest praise, honor, and even a starting point to write their own legends. It would also be revenge for Brumm’s grandfather, everyone knows of his fate.

On the other hand, the older warriors like Bramm would have decided to cut their losses and change their route, as they do remember those old days still too well…

I’m feeling sick. It has nothing to do with being thrown by Rine, though it didn’t help at all. I mean, I looked for her to ask some questions to find a way to improve my combat skills, then she first jumps at me to embrace me, sweaty herself, which does make her somehow even more alluring… well, there seems to be nothing that makes Rine less attractive.

“Phew…” I’m just stuck, and I can’t think myself out of the problem while Jii-san can’t answer any of my questions. I want to leave, either with or without the farmers, but I can’t bring myself to force them into my decision nor to let them face the barbarians alone.

However, the last fight with the barbarians showed how underprepared we are. Jii-san and Rine will be fine, but I’m borderline and Kyou-san and Ara-san don’t stand a chance if the fight drags on, and both of them know that.

Still, I made the decision to help, and I want to uphold it, but the only solution before us can only occur in case the enemy acts like we want it to, which sounds like a really stupid condition.

I swap to [Pikeman] to calm my nerves. I said to the farmers that I can only help that much, and the moment things go south, I will abandon them.

Shit! SHIT!

…

I just have to endure it. Or better, find a way to improve in the limited time we have. I need ways to crack the defense of these barbarians. For a second my inner eye sees an exploding barbarian, and I’m glad I’m already in [Pikeman], as I would vomit once more otherwise.

…that’s what I want to be able to do as well, right? No, it’s what I need to be able to do. It doesn’t matter if I want to or not. If I can’t do so much, how will I return home? Also, Rine did her share of gore in front of my eyes already, so I should be used to it.

I have my options. I could try to expand my use of hero surges. Three are too few, problem is that I don’t have an idea how to do that. Do I just use all I can do every day and my body adapts? Is it the body in the first place? I mean, I get brutal headaches, so is it a mind-thing? Probably.

Another option would be to learn a new [Skill]. If I can do that, I would have a tool that’s only limited by SP which I can regain as long as I have time to chug a potion.

Third option would be to learn how to use my tools better. That’s more or less what made me survive the last fight.

“What’s wrong, lad?” Jii-san gets closer, both of his arms are splinted, as Kyou-san’s healing spells are that much weaker with non-heroes.

“Phew…” I guess he’s my mentor at the moment. Though I hate how he mentors me. “I doubt we can win this.”

“Bah, winning this is easy enough.” Easy for you to say, you overpowered geezer! “You just want to protect. That’s a lot harder.” A dark shadow falls on his face, yet he changes it to a broad grin: “Though I never had anything to protect, so I don’t know the weight of it.”

He sounds like he thinks of himself as a bad guy. Well, he is a barbarian, so he probably is. “We should have attacked right away, and let you handle it.”

“You’re right.” He may say that, but there is no affirmation in his voice. “What would have been the worst that could happen that way?”

“We… would have scattered the barbarians, who would spread and attack all the farmsteads. Also, we can still meet a barbarian stronger than you, which would bite us either way…”

“That’s why you’re a leader, and I’m just a warrior.” I guess he doesn’t think about details much. “In my experience, the Northwinds are just a bunch of cowards. If you scare them enough, they will scram.”

“And that Tren-thing will give them the opportunity?” I hate relying on a stupid tradition to solve my problems.

“Yes. We fought them already, and they’re as gutless as ever.”

“I’d rather call that cautious.”

“I think there is a difference. I can’t say what exactly, but it comes with character.”

“Phew…” I also have no idea. “Isn’t there a new [Skill] you can teach me?”

“Not yet. My guts tell me that it’s too early. Eventually.”

“Come on! There are-” I want to say that there are lives at stake, yet I’m too surprised that I’m about to say it myself. It sounds like I care about these people, instead of wanting to calm down my sense of indebtedness.

“Too early. Don’t worry too much. Let’s grab dinner instead.”

“Fuck!” After that last curse, I join Jii-san to the tables where dinner is distributed.

There are way too many people here. “Red Ranger!” “We stay strong!” “Thank you!” You’re all going to die if I fuck up, you know!?

Jii-san waves at the cheers, while I quicken my pace to get my food as quickly as possible. It’s gonna be tasteless mishmash anyway, cooked long enough to get rid of any discerning feature.

“Here you go, Red Ranger.” I take my wooden bowl and spoon and take a sip while walking. …alright, Kyou-san helped. Still a mystery how she can give her personal taste to even that glop.

“Don’t want to sit with the rest?” Jii-san asks, but I wave at him and retreat right away. I really hate being the center of attention. I guess back to the shed, this seems to be the one place where nobody looks. Well, I could also retreat to the room I’ve been given.

“Dear!” Fortunately, Rine thankfully stops two steps in front of me, which means I won’t spill the hot glop on my pants. I was very concerned about that. Behind her are Kyou-san and Ara-san, I guess they had a late training or some sort of girl talk. “Hello.”

A simple greeting? “…that’s why you ran at me?”

“Tehehe.” She slowly gets closer and grabs my arm. For some strange reason, she seems overly happy, smiling dumber than usual. “I’m just happy to see you.”

While saying this sounds like her, I’m somewhat concerned, as Ara-san gives me some strangely cautious and curious vibes. Not that I can see it in her face, but she doesn’t hide it from her spirit at all. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.

Her eyes tilt a bit, I guess she’s basically shrugging her shoulders. Her eyes are on Kyou-san, who looks very pissed. “We need to talk!” She says in a forceful manner.

“Can it wait?” I lift my bowl to show her that I like to eat first. I’m pretty sure that she wants to complain, given that she’s been right all along about leaving the farm and how the last fight just hammered this in brutally. Better get an earful on a full stomach.

“No.” OK, I probably did something else that pissed her off as well. “We’re talking in your room.”

Rine sends me a smile and a wave, while Ara-san worries me even more by speaking softly: “Give me a second to remember your face.”

How overdramatic. Oh well, as long as she has fun at my cost…

We enter the room, and I sit down on a chest and start shoveling the glob into my stomach. It’s still hot, after all. Also filling, which is necessary considering how many mouths there are to feed. After gulping down the rest, I try to extend this period of relative quiet: “What’s even in that?”

“Vegetables.” She answers stiff and quick: “Basically, every vegetable we had with some meat and a lot of grain. Giving it flavor was a challenge.”

“Ah.” OK, mentally prepared. “Alright, then start.”

Kyou-san looks at me as if I asked her to do an improv out of nowhere. Come on, you’re the one who wants to speak to me.

She takes a deep breath, then she commands: “Take off your armor. Let me check your wounds first.”

Maybe she needs time to find a good start? Oh well, I use [Doff] to open all the belts of my armor immediately, slipping it off my body.

“Stand up.” Is she doing a check-up? She only needs to look at me or my status to do that! I mean, every bruise I get is listed there. Or via her [Check-up]-skill, and she can heal them with her spell without even seeing the wound. It does help though.

“Phew…” Well, she’s the party healer. I stand up and roll up my sleeve to show her my newest trophy, given by a shoulder-throw from Rine. “Here it is. Nothing major.”

“Not what I want, but let’s take care of that first. [Heal]!”

“OK, what are you after?”

“…change to [Student]. I want to take a good look at you as one.”

“Ah.” This makes sense. She knows that Jii-san trains me in that form and is concerned how my body holds up as one. Or maybe she wants to make sure whether my [Student]-body does change with training and needs to look at it directly, as the status wouldn’t give her that info?

Oh well, I change. Standing before her as a [Student] is uncomfortable though, as this reminds me of two things: The time we were doing the pilgrimage, when I wanted to break the curse, before I got her cursed herself… and back when we were in school, even though it feels like an eternity ago.

She looks at me without a hint of the disgust she used to have, which makes me too conscious about how my belly shows. Her face calms down, she checks every nook and cranny, like I’m an animal on display.

Though it still feels strange, as Rine’s and Ara-san’s attitudes earlier only makes halfway sense towards it. I guess they didn’t know why Kyou-san wanted to talk to me, and I’m thankful that we do it while alone, as I can imagine Ara-san’s bad jokes and Rine’s encouragement, which would make me feel even more conscious.

I’m not fat, I just have a bit of a belly!

She touches my cheeks with her hands, looking me directly into the eyes. Her dark eyes seem very fierce. She looks at me like I’m a bargain she brought home and is now considering if I was worth the price.

Then she swaps to [Student] herself, it’s only a subtle difference between [Priest] and [Student], but I notice how her hands get a bit smoother, like she has just used hand lotion on it. Why did she change, though?

“I give up.”

…huh?

It’s just a small touch, but for half a second, our lips were on each other. As I blink to realize what is happening, Kyou-san licks her lips once and then pushes them onto mine with a loud smack.

She shoves me, and I didn’t notice that we somehow turned enough to be in front of the bed, my legs touch the frame and I fall on my butt, but she neither let me nor my lips go. On the contrary, she now licks my lips with her tongue, which gives me all kinds of reactions.

While one part of my brain tries its best to shut the rest of it off, I have many thoughts. Questions, like what and why. As her hands start to caress my chest, my flabby no-muscle chest, I think about how Rine would think about it, trying to find guilt inside me.

Wait, she knows. Because of the message. Wait, wait. She knew beforehand! That’s why… wait, wait, wait, Ara-san as well! Also, this is exactly the case she mentioned when we became a couple.

Kyou-san lets go of my lips and looks at me with upturned eyes, probably full-knowing how powerful that is, as her beauty and cuteness could bring down anyone without a doubt. “No?” The way she puts shyness and desire into this single word is meant to make a man fall.

Ah fuck it. Literally.

―○●○―

It is, and I’m very happy for her. I wish her good luck.

Though I also envy her, as currently I can’t get intimate with Dear.

I can’t, but soon. Yet it means that Kyou and Dear are both together. Finally.

Ah, they were married way before I joined, I guess? So does that mean I’m next?

I look at Ara, who is the third wife. Though she vehemently denied her interest to become Dear’s lover, she did give the general idea to help Kyou. “I apologize, Katarine-san.”

“Huh? For what? I’m fine with it.”

“I mean, I made a joke about humans humping each other all the time, and for that I apologize. I thought you just went along with the joke. It wasn’t a suggestion and I’ve realized that the sex-crazed humans are more of a reality than I thought.”

… So she wasn’t serious? But she listened to Kyou’s plight!

“Ah!” I quickly dismiss the message as my face heats up. I mean, I want to know, but I also want to respect their privacy!

“Maybe Ken-kun is a quickshot?”

“I’m sure that it’s just because it’s his first time, he will definitely-”

“AH!” Another quick message dismissal. While it’s not like watching them, it comes dangerously close.

“More finger action,” Ara comments on this, probably reading every little detail of the messages. “This is good for our WP-count, which in return will empower us. If they engage in it on a daily basis, we could even try some of the more obscure options.”

I try to imagine whether Kyou and Dear would even want to be intimate with each other every day. Probably, I mean, I may not have much experience, but I think I would like to do it every day myself.

Ah, that thought is indecent!

“AH!!!” Why do they keep popping up!?

“You were right, Katarine-san.”

“Huh?”

“It seems that Ken-kun got it ready again.”

“Please don’t say it!” I’m sorry Kyou. We’re way too informed right now! “Please Ara, we need to respect their privacy!”

“Then they should be quieter. I can hear them through the walls.”

I try to catch it, but I can’t hear them at all. “Should we move?”

“I’m rather thinking about returning to our room and masturbating a bit, as it’s very stimulating.” Wait, then she would be next to them!

I mean, if they were fine with it, I shouldn’t interfere, but as long as I don’t know, I will act like Dear and Kyou want privacy.

As I shove the message aside, I have indecent pictures in my mind, and even get in the mood! “Let’s move!” I take Ara’s hand and drag her to the dinner tables. We haven’t eaten yet, and the volume of all people should also block the other sounds Ara is hearing.

“Katarine-san,” Ara says in a very exciting voice while entering the room, even though her face is as unmoving as ever: “We should think about how we want to tease them later. We already got some fodder.”

“Ara, that’s not-”

“What’s wrong?” It’s Grekk, who is bringing two bowls to us. “Sit with me, I’m kinda lonely here.” I think he was sitting with the elders though? “Rine-kun looks red. Something happened with Kenta-kun?”

“Well…”

“Ken-kun is porking Momo!”

“Ara!”

First comes the wonder: “Oh?” Then the surprise: “Wait, what?” Finally the admiration: “Ah.” Then he looks over his shoulder: “Seems like nobody listened.”

Ara’s ears are raising: “I was careless.” Her ears move in all directions, her eyes also scan the room: “Affirmative, some are wondering what we’re talking about. We should sit down and eat to not get more attention.”

Then it hits me as well. The farmers here don’t know about the curse, but they know that Dear and I are lovers. While doing adult stuff with someone other than your spouse isn’t forbidden by the Divine Laws, it is still very frowned upon, as marriage is sacred and being lovers is the step before this.

While I try to not blush too hard, Ara silently puts her spoon back into the bowl. Grekk notices that: “Is something wrong?”

“Katarine-san and I get constant updates of what is happening, which in this case caused me to lose my appetite.”

“I better don’t ask.” Grekk seems to be nonchalant about it, but he also doesn’t pry much, which is really appreciated. “Just eat and try to ignore it.”

Ara seems to have spaced off in thoughts, this happens sometimes. On the other hand, I take my spoon and while it’s hard to tell what this is supposed to taste like, it tastes good. Kyou helped with it, after all.

I hope all works out for her.

Maybe I don’t need to worry at all.

Dear and I talk about the next steps of our training while heading back to the farm. I share my thoughts: “Hm… my magic was able to hurt some of them, but you’re right: It may not be enough.”

“Why did you swap to [Wizard] anyway?”

“Hm…” He’s right, he asked me to not use it, as I’m still not used to it. “Instinct?”

“Phew… well, can’t argue with the results. As long as it doesn’t bite us. Or rather you.” Ah Dear, you looking out for me warms my heart. “Hey, why-”

“Tehehe.” I just linked arms with him and now snuggle with my head against the side of his head. “I just can’t hold it in, Dear.”

“I’m seriously not in the mood, so back off.”

“…yes.” I guess I was too forward for him, and Dear is always in a brooding mood after combat. I just hope it’s only that. I let go of him, and he takes another step away from me, this hurts a little.

I just let him think for a while, so maybe I can catch up with Ara, as currently we don’t do anything but training together. She may be looking into nothingness right now, but she’s more keen than any of us, after all.

That’s why I approach her: “How did it go with the barbarians?” …ah, now we talk about fighting again!

“I met my limits. I do have offensive spells, but unlike yours they lack raw power. This is something I should look more into, same as how to learn [Earthshield], as the spell will be useful to hide Momo.” She’s already analyzed the last battle. “What I’m surprised about is how you used [Heatwave] to disperse the shockwave attacks.”

“Tehehe, I just acted without thinking. I don’t even know why it worked, I just knew it would.”

“The barbarians and you share so-called battle instincts. Your decision making during combat and your awareness of danger are probably the result of experience, but this makes it difficult to find the right approach.”

“That’s why you want more power?”

“It’s not a matter of wanting it or not, it’s a matter of necessity. While being able to outsmart the opponent is fun, facing several strong enemies makes the lack of a simple—yet effective—measure more apparent.”

“Yeah, I met someone who blocked my attacks, and I need to figure out how to deal with that. I think [Dismember] would have hurt, maybe even killed, but it seemed to be a bad decision at the moment. I need something else.”

“What about your spells?”

I cock my head while trying to imagine using my spells to harm Tjim: “It could work, but wouldn’t it be better to have something when not being a [Wizard] as well?”

“Congratulations, Katarine-san. You’ve obtained a bit of wisdom.”

I don’t know what she means exactly, but I guess being a [Wizard] sometimes makes me smarter after all, even if I don’t really notice it myself. So I just smile: “Thanks!”

“I would recommend learning how to use [Korona] willingly though.”

“Sorry, I don’t have a clue how.”

“As it’s probably linked to the Flames of Freedom, it stands to reason that the desire of liberation fuels them, which would also most likely be what you need to start them up.”

“I have no idea what you were saying just now.”

Her ears are leaning backwards, just at the height of her cheeks: “Just think that you want to be free.”

“I am free. Thanks to all of you.”

“You are very unproductive, Katarine-san.”

What is that supposed to mean? I cock my head in wonder: “Sorry?”

“You better be, as I’m always wondering whether this contributes to my research or not. It’s not even mentioned in your status-screen and therefore most likely not related to the hero-system at all, yet it’s exactly what your ancestor—who was probably one of the strongest heroes in history—passed down to you and apparently other members of your family.” While her face remains the same, her voice carries her irritation.

I like how honest Ara is.

“It will be fine. While I can’t control them, the flames are still inside me.” I can’t tell exactly where, maybe they’re part of my spirituality, the part of me that connects myself to the divine, as the Flames were a gift of the Four of Feuerberg. Or maybe they hide deep inside my soul, which holds together all parts of me.

“I’d prefer if they would be outside of you for study.”

“But they were rather annoying, I couldn’t even touch any of you.”

“You could, it just would have ended in tragedy.”

“You know what I mean!” She’s teasing me again!

“If [Korona] is not an option, it comes down to whether you want to find your own solutions or copy Gottfried-kun.”

My current relationship with Instructor is very… strained. Before, he was my ideal: Strong, dependable, direct, and determined. I’ve seen the downsides of those traits though. Or maybe what downsides they may bring, if left unchecked.

That’s why I’m still hesitant, maybe that’s why my personal training hasn’t yielded results yet. However, Instructor did teach me well, and he surely decided that following his example would suit me best.

“I will follow his path, but I won’t end up like him. But how do I start?”

“Try to attain one of his skills, you should know one or two that would be able to get through the defenses of a barbarian easily.”

“Maybe. But how do I learn a skill?”

“That’s a good question, but you have to come to the answer yourself, as I lack empiric data in this regard. Especially considering that I have to doubt every written document my fellow alfr heroes made for me.” This is odd? Why does she sound bitter and amused at the same time? Ah, right. Alfar do have a particular way to show affection, which involves playing pranks on each other. “Nonetheless,” Ara continues before I could say something: “You could start by adopting his fighting style better, as you vehemently insisted on keeping the [Shield]-ability.”

“But I don’t have one.” I was already lamenting this before.

“In hindsight, buying one in Goldbrunn would have been helpful.” Yes, but back then I just wanted the helmet, as I didn’t feel ready for using a shield yet. Back then, I was walking the tracks Instructor laid for me, and he didn’t teach me how to use a shield, so I ended up never considering using it without his instructions.

Now I’m a different person. Not only because I’m a hero, but because I was gifted so much by Dear, Kyou, and Ara. “I doubt someone on the farm could make a shield.”

“For [Skill]-purposes, even an improvised weapon will work, as long as it shares some commonalities.”

“Yeah, but having something proper… wait a minute, weren’t we talking about offense? Why are we talking about shields, then?”

After a short flick on her ears, Ara explains her reasoning. “Can’t you use one to inflict blunt trauma to your opponents?”

She’s right, if a blade falters, maybe using a shield like a hammer will succeed. “Maybe someone on the farm can make me one then. Maybe they know how to harden wood enough, they probably need that for their farmwork. Or rather one out of metal, after all? They do have a smithy Obert is helping with, after all…”

Speaking of it, I see Obert, who is waiting for us at the border of the farmstead. He was very concerned, after Dear rushed into the smithy to get his knife back. He runs to Dear, he’s so adorable. Well, both of them are, though Dear in his unique way. “Red Ranger, did you win?”

“Turd, if we would have lost, then nobody here would be alive anymore.” Dear is right, but he’s also scaring the child.

I get closer to Dear and take his hand, hoping to sooth his inner turmoil at least a bit. “Hi Obert, we won. They may come back again though, so we need to prepare even more. Your sharpening of the knife was very helpful, right Dear?”

“…right.”

Obert’s face begins to gleam. “I did my best!” He’s so cute.

Dear scratches his head, before looking back at the rest of us: “Guess we need to talk to boss-woman about that.” He pauses for a moment, before turning to Obert one more time: “Take care, turd.”

“Yes!” Ow, that’s so sweet.

We head to Kenza, and by now there are already four leaders of different farmsteads sitting with us, as well as Benjam and Jahn. Dear sums up the most important things in a single sentence: “There were two dozen. We could drive them off, but most suffered just minor wounds.” Then he adds his own estimation: “Next time, they will probably use most—if not all—of their forces to crush us. You think you want to handle it?”

“You think they will return instead of being satisfied with the farmsteads we left?” One of the other leaders asks in wonder, hurt pride, and fear.

Dear passes this question to someone who will know better: “Jii-san?”

“It’s the Northwind Clan, which is good news for you, as they think they’re so smart. They will not challenge their luck too much, but at least one attempt to avenge their kin will be made.”

“We need to fortify more, and don’t forget that many of us are used to fighting monsters! We-”

“Fillopp, please,” Benjam interrupts him: “I know how you feel. Barbarians always take what they want, and this time we finally have a chance to resist. I approve of your will to fight, but don’t think for a moment we have the upper hand. So don’t get carried away.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Dear takes over the conversation again: “Last chance to retreat. If not, we’ll look at what we can do, and you do whatever you deem necessary.”

“If we stay here, your plan is to repel them once more?” Kenza asks.

“I hope they’re willing to talk before that, as otherwise this will become a headache.”

“Don’t worry, lad,” Grekk says jollily: “I still have both of my legs.” Ah, then everything will work out, after all.

The meeting is dismissed, and Kyou leaves with Grekk to begin his treatment. “Excuse me,” I say to the people still here: “Do you know where I can get a shield?”

Most of them look confused, yet Benjam says: “I have one. You can have it. Come with me.” He leads me into his room and takes out a trunk from under his bed. There lies armor, a sword, a mace, and a small shield. “Here you go.”

“Thank you. Were you a soldier before, Benjam?”

“Indeed.”

I have an idea upcoming: “Are you the only one here?”

“No, at least five of the workers are also former soldiers. We’re currently training the rest.”

“Could there be more of you from the other farmsteads?”

“I think so. Ah!” He comes to the same conclusion as I. “We could make at least one squad of actually trained soldiers to spearhead the attack, if needed.” Yes, like Grekk said: One soldier is no match for one barbarian, but ten soldiers will beat ten barbarians. “They will probably have a way to handle it, though.”

“That’s where we come in!” I lift the shield Benjam gifted me, it’s made out of wood, yet its outside is fortified with metal, pieces of different materials working together. Just like this farmstead. “I need to go train!” I run out of the room and building, full of confidence.

With a new shield and my magic, I have a lot of tools at my disposal. Now I only need to learn to use them right.

―○●○―

Mirianne looks at Red from afar, even though she’s supposed to take care of the chickens next. She watches, as he swings his spear around, cursing, then swings it again. She has no idea what exactly he’s doing at this point, but it seems important. Important enough for her to look after him.

Yes, back then, it was just a bad day. It’s like Grekk-jii said, it’s something between him and her. She could bring him water, strike a conversation naturally.

…

She better move on to the chickens. I’m such a coward. This is her whole life. Always wanting but never acting out of her comfort zone.

No, this time she will… wait, he’s busy after all, also seems very frustrated by whatever he’s doing. If she wants to make up with him, she should wait for later, when he’s in a better mood.

Beaten by her defeatist mindset, she glances a last look at Red, but he’s not alone anymore. He’s with Kyou-chan, another of his companions. While Mirianne has made up her mind about the princess and the elf, she’s not sure how to categorize this one. She seems nice enough, though she’s also the one who takes care of Red’s health.

They really look similar. The skin color, the hair, the eyes: They have to be from the same world. Yes, that’s it! Why didn’t she think of it earlier? She needs to find out more about Red, and who would be better to ask than the girl that looks like him!

What are they talking about? It doesn’t take long, as Kyou-chan turns around and leaves Red’s side. What a relief.

Mirianne plucks up a bit of courage and approaches the black-haired girl: “Hello Kyou-chan.”

“Ah, Miria-nee!” Her smile calms down the turmoil in Mirianne’s heart. She’s really a nice girl. “Do you have any wishes for dinner? I’m collecting some ideas.”

Ah, that’s what she was talking with Red about? “Do you cook?”

“Yes, I need that. I wasn’t that useful today.”

“So you always cook for your party?”

“Can’t leave it to any of them, after all.”

“But you’re also a priest? And a healer?” The girl is younger than her, and she already succeeds in so many tasks!?

“How about we sit down first? Or do you have a task to do?”

“Well…” Mirianne can’t think of an excuse, so she says truthfully: “I should take care of the chickens…”

“Then let’s head there. We can talk while moving our hands, after all.” She’s also more mature.

Mirianne feels so useless right now. “Follow me…”

She leads the girl to the hen house, opening the gate that’s just secured by a wooden bolt, so it doesn’t swing open. The smell of poultry is always strong here, and she can see with a glance that she needs to refill the troughs of water and food.

That means a trip to the well, and another one to the shed. Kyou-chan helps her carry the buckets, which earns her a thankful glance from Mirianne. As the chickens gather for their food, Mirianne starts checking them for any signs of molt and wounds.

Now is a good time to ask questions, but Mirianne doesn’t know what to ask specifically. “What do you think of Red?” That was the first thing on her mind. “I mean, Kenta-san…”

Kyou-chan’s smile seems to be a bit forced: “We have a complicated relationship.”

“Why?”

She takes her time to think about it. “It’s hard to sum up, especially for someone who doesn’t know what my world is like. Let’s say that he started off as an insufferable moron who went out of his way to piss off everyone that approached him. Someone who didn’t appreciate any kind of connection to other people, who wanted to be left alone, and while there have been improvements, that’s still the kind of guy he is.”

You’re wrong! That’s what Mirianne wants to say. Red is noble, he thinks of others, he saves people, he fights until his body is broken. Yet a small part of Mirianne already knows that these are just part of a story she made up about him, a story that would lead her away from this farmstead, while Kyou-chan’s words oozes the truth of someone who has known Red far longer than her, and Mirianne can’t help but to believe them.

“Do you like him?” Kyou-chan asks while tilting her head, showing the full amount of her curiosity.

Mirianne starts to think. She certainly has feelings for Red, but does she like him? She doesn’t know, she wants him to look at her, appreciate her, value her. Is that her being in love? Or something else? She envies the princess, she envies the elf, that’s true.

With a finger on her lips, Kyou-chan makes something between a question and a suggestion: “Maybe you feel something else.”

This… it sounds kinda right. Not exactly, more like a first step in the right direction. Mirianne never felt any attraction to men, though she likes the thought of being in love. Is Red different?

“Could it be admiration?”

…

Yes, that’s right. She admires Red. That’s it. This rings so true on several levels. He’s younger than her, yet he lives an adventurous life. He’s making his own decisions. He’s something outside this farmstead. Still, he fights to protect it.

Yet there is something holding her back from fully embracing the idea, even though she wants to jump at it, be relieved from these complicated emotions.

“Hm…” Kyou-chan looks at one of the hens: “This one has a wound under the wing which is on the brink of infestation.” She tries to approach the hen, yet it trots away, staying out of reach of the chasing hero. “Please help, Miria-nee!”

“Ah, yes.” Mirianne takes a bit of seed and holds it in her hand, then she quickly grabs the approaching hen.

Kyou-chan takes out a small pot and takes some balm out of it, treating the hen with care. “It’s not much, but should help a bit at least. Thank you, Miria-nee. You’re really good with animals.”

“That’s not special.” Mirianne’s voice cracks a bit, as she gets far too few compliments.

“It is. Trust me. You’re outright talented.”

For the first time since forever Mirianne forms a small smile.

―○●○―

Why is my body this way!? I just wanted to give Dear a small kiss, instead I gave a shoulder-throw! Then he left me to my training, which is absolutely because he’s hurt. Literally!

“OK, why are you down?” Kyou approaches me, and she looks devastated. I guess she’s been through some tough times.

“I hurt Dear again. You?”

Kyou breathes in sharply, then she says: “I did the necessary.”

“What exactly?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Alright.” Kyou will have her reasons, and while she’s sometimes harsh, she’s also a very caring person. “Do you need me for something?” There has to be a reason why she’s here. It’s too early for dinner, and we’re done with our fighting lesson for today.

Kyou looks at me as if I asked her to climb a mountain without any equipment while in a handstand. She then starts to play with the ring on her finger: “How are things going with Ken?”

“Without counting the occasional injuries-”

She interrupts me mid-sentence: “Multiple times per day isn’t occasional.”

“…sorry, you’re right.” This makes it so much worse! “What should I do?”

“How about not jumping at him at every opportunity?”

“But we’re in love.” As much in love as Dear can be, as long as there is doubt whether his feelings are for real or not, at least.

“*Sigh* Listen, Rine-chan. Japanese aren’t that open with their affection. Also, Ken is a boy, you’re a very pretty girl. If you stick close to him, he will—–be excited, which in return will make your body hurt him.”

“We talked about it, taking it one step at a time. So we both can get used to it.”

“Have you really followed that through?”

…

… … …

“I don’t think so! I’m so sorry Dear!” I hide my face in my hands, as I confess my weakness.

“Figures.”

I grab the arms of my friend, as I plead: “You got to help me!”

“Help you with what?”

“To be intimate with Dear!”

Kyou looks at me as if I’ve proposed to sacrifice her pet to an evil deity. “What do you think I should do? Why should I do it!?”

“We’re friends, right?”

“And there are certain lines that friends shouldn’t cross!”

“I have nobody else!”

“You’re playing dirty!”

“I’m not! I’m honest!”

“And unreasonable!”

“Is there anything I can do to make you consider it?”

“Rine-chan, I can’t help you, it’s impossible!”

“I need you! I can’t do it on my own!” She already told me that I’m unreasonable, but I don’t want to give up the special moment Dear and I will share. I’m willing to wait for it, but it’s so hard!

“Calm down. Please.” She pleads, as I notice myself that I’m rather rough with her. I let go of Kyou, and she rubs the spots I was grabbing for a few seconds before she inhales and exhales very deep breaths. Then her eyes harden, as if she has collected her resolve: “Let’s look for Arako. I need to talk to the two of you.” She’s almost in tears, though.

There are ten barbarians busy uprooting the trees at the border of the forest, throwing them behind them as if they were just nasty weeds with long roots.

“Ken-kun?” says a very pissed alfr, who is on the same branch as me.

“Yes?”

“Let’s kill them.” Ara-san always is pissed whenever someone is tearing down trees, because she sees this as a total waste. In her culture, trees are houses, orchards, servants, and so much more.

“Phew…” I look down to Jii-san—who has somehow painted his body and looks like a proper tribal warrior—who nods while Rine draws her sword. “Alright.” I would have loved to talk it out, but I’d rather have this ambush than waste the surprise for people that don’t even get the message when delivered by a fallen comrade.

It’s not even like they’re pissed. They’re laughing and calling me out with ‘Red Ranger, where aaaaaaaare you?’ or ‘Red Ranger, cluck, cluck, cluck!’

Seriously, why are there so many idiots in this fantasy world? Well, because any world is full of idiots, I presume.

“Alright, if they flee, let them. I’d rather have them tell the story this time, and I counted twenty-seven, so fighting in a way that no one can escape is just too much of a restraint. Ara-san, start with a [Tidal Wave] and some [Quagmires] afterward, use other spells to support the rest. Rine and I get closer.” While I would love to have her sling some big spells as well, I would like her to practice with less lethal opponents first. “We go for fast attacks and kills, then retreat inside the forest. If they don’t come after us, we use ranged attacks. That’s where you can also use your spells. Jii-san, you stay behind us, if you see someone of importance, one-shot kill.” Jii-san has maybe two or three attacks, but each of them should count. “Kyou-san, stick to Ara-san and concentrate on buffing me and healing everyone. Any questions?”

““““No.”””” It still seems strange that I’m calling the shots here, especially with Jii-san here, but after Gottfried I no longer feel anxious about it. As if this was beaten out of me.

As Rine and I approach, I whisper to her: “You go there. Wait for the [Tidal Wave], they will probably use [Iron Defense] to block it, which opens a chance to kill two out of cooldown.”

“Yes.” She dashes ahead with her [Swishstride]. Rine will fight better without me around, as then she can move freely between her opponents.

I don’t even bother with a [Stealth]-skill and only use [Mask of Wildlife] to make others around me think that I’m part of the trees.

There, Ara-san’s [Tidal Wave] is collected, now *Pow* it’s dispersed by a barbarian behind the tree tearers throwing a punch at it. The shockwave is enough, huh? Well, nothing we can do.

Rine already jumps out of her hiding spot and thrust her sword between the eyes of one barbarian, who hardened up too late. With him in the [Iron Defense]-state and basically dead, she steps on his chest, and throws him with her feet in a bicycle kick to not only get her sword free, but to throw him against one of his companions, who hardens himself.

Victim found. I change to [Pikeman]: “[Speedthrust]!” My spear pierces through his head from behind, as going for anything but their heads may cause them to go on. This is what Jii-san has hammered into me the last few days.

I jump back, as Rine slits the throat of another one open. Could it be that her overpowered sword is actually too sharp for their [Iron Defense]?

One [Quagmire] appears between the former tree-tearers and the ones waiting behind them, but that doesn’t mean that some of them won’t throw their punches. Literally! Good thing their aim sucks, but they’re getting their weapons ready: “Retreat!”

Rine kicks the severed head of her fifth victim to disarm one barbarian across the [Quagmire], which will buy two seconds at best, but certainly pisses that one off immensely. “OK!”

I swap to my bow and to [Ranger]: “[Seeker]!” The one who got disarmed now also got an arrow in his throat, as he already used [Iron Defense] reflexively against the kicked head.

Five Rine, two me, seven in total. Twenty left.

“FUCK!” There seems to be a boss, a bearded man in his middle-ages… probably. Guessing westerner ages is always a hassle. Let’s call him Sunflower, as he has blonde hair. “CHARGE!” I guess losing a quarter of his men doesn’t make him consider retreat.

Oh well, he’s probably right to charge now, as with their current tactic they can’t keep putting on the pressure and are pushed into a passive role.

Shit! One of them uses his club to strike the ground, which sends ten of them forward, all of them probably using AoE-skills with their weapons.

Meanwhile, the last uprooter chases after me and Rine. I evade an axe, still in [Ranger] and quickly touch the shaft of his weapon to [Inspirit] it: “[Entangle]!” Confused what is happening, the barbarian fights with his own weapon, while I draw my knife, which I demanded back before moving out, then I swing my bow between his legs, which causes him to use [Iron Defense] to protect his balls, which in return allows me to slit his throat just a second later.

What a hassle, but—oh shit, his throat is closing minutely, he grabs his throat while coughing, trying to survive long enough for [Regeneration] to save him.

No time for him, but I need to keep him in mind.

Blind shots of shockwaves are thrown into the forest, tearing clearings into it. I quickly check Kyou-san’s and Ara-san’s status, but they seem to be unharmed. Problem is that we now have ten more enemies here.

Rine killed two more already on her end. Oh well, I quickly take out and swing my spear and decapitate the one before me, taking a page of the ‘Book of Brutally Killing’ written by Princess Katarine von Stolzherz in the blood of her enemies.

Shit! The ten that were thrown here have realized how to deal with Rine! They do the same wind-up as before!

I can’t tell what the skills are that they’re using, as I didn’t activate [Pitch], but flying cuts, balls of air, slithering slices, and the like all move towards Rine.

She extends her hand, her muscles receding: “[Heatwave]!” A strange noise crackles the air, and I see miniature flames where Rine’s spell hits the different skills, which all implode on themselves. I’m sure there is a logical explanation to this, but I’m busy fending off two barbarians, who try to flank me.

One of the two is hit by a water jet, courtesy of Ara-san, who jumps from tree to tree to keep our enemies at a minimum by delaying them. The hit barbarian activates [Iron Defense], so I kick the other one and from that unbalanced stance: “[Speedthrust]!” Without a delay, I propel myself against the jetted one, though even without his hardening skill he has so much bulk that my attack only results in a medium deep stab.

“[Burndrill]!” Rine throws a fiery punch and while her enemy laughs at first, as the flames don’t seem to penetrate his skin, he begins to cry in agony, as the spell lasts longer than his skill. Then Rine swaps back to [Princess Knight] to jump over a flying cut from behind, which makes her look like a professional high jumper.

I get kicked and thrown against a tree, but at this point I can take these kinds of hits well. “I’m Frett, and I will take your head, Red Ranger!” I’ll call him Guitar, I guess.

“Then I will get her!” A gray-haired barbarian adds, that’s the one who almost got Rine from behind: “My name is Tjim, and-” Rine swings her sword, and this time *clank* it is deflected by his cheek. “-I will take you on.”

“The rest of you,” a third one yells: “Get the elf!”

“No you-” Rine tries to say something, but has to block Jim’s sword. She turns into the attack and evades a flying slash this way at the same time, then she kicks his shin and punches his nose, but it doesn’t seem to do any damage. “[Crescent Moon]!” Even that one amounts to nothing.

“My muscles are the strongest armor there is!” She still has [Dismember] though this skill comes with a big opening.

“Don’t look away!” yells Guitar at me, who takes offense that I’m more bothered by Jim than by him. He uses a pole with a big stone on its end as a weapon, and it’s no problem to keep evading it. “Stay still!”

His attack hits the ground, which blows up with the force, throwing dirt and dust around, but with [Wild Eyes] I can clearly see his spirit, which makes it easy to repeat my cheap trick of touching his weapon, [Inspirit] it and then use “[Entangle]!” to give him the option to either shatter his weapon or fall victim to it.

Could it be that I actually developed an OP tactic?

Still, this looks bad, and we should regroup. Sunflower is here now as well, the boss of them all. “Come on, don’t hold back!”

Guitar breaks free, destroying his weapon in the process, while Jim now swings again at Rine. The AoE attackers from before now rush into the forest, following the order of their boss.

*Boom*

OK, that takes care of them. As the sound of exploding air takes place, some clumps of flesh are flying back. From the quiet, cracking sound that accompanied it, I guess Jii-san just broke his arm in this attack.

“What the-” Sunflower is understandably confused, and it increases as more bodies are thrown at him, all of them severely wounded from multiple stab-wounds from all sides. I guess Ara-san made [Root Lances] work somehow and Jii-san threw them afterwards. “This is a joke, no!?” His face contorts in anger and fury. He picks up a tree and throws it into the direction his comrades came from, breaking several other trees in the process.

It doesn’t travel far though, as Jii-san catches it with one hand: “You’re a joke.” He says, and for some reason, even I feel like pissing my pants right now, even though Jii-san is on my side and he’s still jovial: “The Northfarts really only use their rage for temper tantrums and when they fart, because they’re so tight-assed that they can’t even take a shit normally.” He gently puts the tree down.

“What is a Lizar–” He doesn’t even come to finish his sentence, as Jii-san charges at him. Sunflower lifts his mace, ready to answer in kind. But Jim—the one who fought against Rine—throws himself into Jii-san’s attack, his muscles hardened to a degree that it rather looks like rock or ore, all softness vanished. The strongest armor, an immovable object.

What happens when an unstoppable force hits an immovable object? No idea, and this is rather a shotgun shooting through a piece of paper. One moment Jim was there, and now he’s everywhere!

I think I will vomit when this is over…

“Ah-” I use this opportunity to thrust my spear into Guitar’s groin. The reaction is very satisfying, though he still somehow managed to harden himself up, but it seems that the lack of muscles there to support the skin-hardening makes [Iron Defense] much less effective there, especially when I’m using a proper melee weapon instead of my bow. Good to know. “….uuuuuuuuuuuu…” Still standing though.

“YOU!” Sunflower swings his mace, but Jii-san takes the hit—which I feel even from here—directly in the face, probably using [Iron Defense] himself.

Though Sunflower didn’t account for someone who just lost her opponent: “[Dismember]!” The screeching of Rine’s glowing sword ripping through the Sunflower’s [Iron Defense]-shoulder pierces my ears, but just a second later his arm falls to the ground, and Rine is about to land her second attack. Yet she cancels her skill, something she never did before! Instead of chopping off more, she glares down at the man, who is a head taller than her and whose remaining hand jerks towards his new stump. “Get your people and leave. Now.”

In three seconds, Sunflower went through three emotions: Disbelief, anger, and restraint. “NORTHWIND CLAN! GATHER AND RETREAT!” He picks up his severed arm, runs a few steps, before looking over his shoulder: “That’s not the last of us!”

Guitar limps away, holding his balls. The ones who are still on the ground also stand up, groaning with their wounds, but they seem more like a bunch of bullies that were beaten up by other bullies, instead of suffering from lethal wounds.

Still, I guess we won?

Ara-san and Kyou-san return, the latter’s hair all curly and full of foliage. I guess she hid in the underbrush. “That was close,” Ara-san comments.

Yeah, we somehow managed, but if they come with more people, things will get much worse. Heck, without Jii-san we wouldn’t be able to fight back at all. “What happened on your end?”

Ara-san answers nonchalantly: “If you look over there, you may notice a lack of trees, and wounding them takes a lot of effort. If they rebounded in time, we would have lost within a few minutes.”

“Also…” Kyou-san adds beaten: “My powders did nothing.” Guess her [Herbal Weapon]s are a bad fit against barbarians and their inhuman toughness, and she lacks the pure power to penetrate their defenses.

“Phew… if they attack again, we’ll have a problem if they come with even more people.”

“Don’t worry lad, if they attack all at once, it’ll be easy. I still have my legs left.”

Following these words, Kyou-san stares at Jii-san: “Both your arms are broken!”

“Kehehe, yeah. May I ask you for treatment, lass?”

This doesn’t look good. To overcome that toughness together with that power, being smarter isn’t enough. I overperformed here, but it’s mostly by being able to pick them up one by one while Rine got much attention.

If that fight continued, I eventually would have gotten one-shot killed. Yeah, working on [Skills] seems to be the right way to get more tools to deal with that.

“We need to go back to the farm for real treatment,” Kyou-san says, and while she can’t avoid looking at the bloody mess, she takes it better than expected, I guess being [Herbalist] does make her much more resilient towards this. She’s absolutely pale though, especially considering Jim’s mess.

Which reminds me of something. “I need a second.”

Guessing my intention, Kyou-san decides to follow my example, while Rine and Ara-san seem to be OK. But one has her emotion in an iron grip, and Rine does messes like these herself, so nothing surprising about it.

Just Jii-san is strange, as I hear his whisper with my [Ranger]-sharpened ears while vomiting to my heart’s content: “So lucky…” Just why is he looking at the bloody spray while saying it?

Nah, not my business.

―○●○―

Harkon still can’t believe what just happened. Tjim may have been old, but he was strong. Yet he was…

SHIT!

Who is that lizard!? Though his childhood memories, the stories he heard, are screaming at him, his adult senses refuse to listen to them. Because it’s impossible.

No, the lizards are far away, they can’t be here, so even if he’s still alive, he couldn’t be here. If even half of the stories were true, then none of them would have survived today.

Still, there is the doubt.

Harkon feels like a coward, as he doubts his decision to ignore the warnings earlier. Now he flees with his tail between his legs, the only thing he can think of is to get away, to tell the chieftain about what happened here.

However, there is a small part of him who swears revenge. Revenge for making him feel weak and cowardly.

He presses his dismembered arm against his wound, allowing [Regeneration] to slowly let it grow together. This is another insult he has to pay back!