The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
The next day.
We immediately traveled to the village of the spiritfolk and told Al-san about it, but...
“Hm? The Crimson Tear? …Oh!”
That was the kind of reaction we got, like she had just remembered something she'd forgotten.
Uh, well...
I'm one to talk, but... Al-san, did you forget about it too?
Even her two daughters looked exasperated.
“Mother, that’s not okay.”
“Sora and I were all nervous, thinking we’d get scolded. We feel like idiots now.”
“It couldn’t be helped. I’ve been quite busy lately, going off to places like Clios and such. I can’t be expected to remember every little thing.”
“You are getting old, Mother.”
“Oh…?”
Al-san’s eyes gleamed menacingly.
Seeing that, Luna realized she had just made a grave mistake, her face clearly saying Oops.
“My dear daughter, come over here for a bit. Let’s enjoy some mother-daughter time—it’s been a while.”
“Eh, no, um…”
“I’ll pamper you thoroughly. I won’t let go, even if you say no.”
“S-Sis! Help—”
“…Come on, Rain. Since Mom says it’s not a problem, let’s go see the village chief next.”
“A-Are you sure that’s okay?”
“It’s fine.”
“…Okay then. Good luck, Luna.”
“That’s so cruel!?”
“Come along now. The training grounds happen to be free right now. Let’s make the most of this mother-daughter time.”
“H-Hyaaahhhhh!?”
Luna’s scream echoed throughout the village—or so they say.
――――――――――
“Hmm, the Crimson Tear…?”
I was granted an audience with the village chief and explained the situation, but received a bewildered response.
“What’s that?”
“Eh? Um… remember when we came to the village about Iris? It’s the item we borrowed to seal her back then.”
“Hmm?”
The chief made a thoughtful gesture and fell silent for a moment.
“Ah, now I remember. Yes, we did lend you the Crimson Tear.”
Finally recalling it, the chief clapped his hands together.
“That’s right, we did lend it out. I completely forgot—it’s not a particularly important item, after all.”
“Completely forgot… Is that really okay?”
“To us spiritfolk, it holds only that much value.”
“Even though we had to go through all sorts of procedures to borrow it?”
“It’s still an item managed by the village. Regardless of rarity, a certain level of formality is required.”
“…I see.”
What is this casual attitude?
I had mentally prepared myself to be told, Humans can’t be trusted, or something along those lines, but this was almost anticlimactic.
Maybe to them, even a legendary item holds as much worth as a regular stone.
“It may have a grand name like ‘Crimson Tear,’ but in the end, it’s just a gemstone. It’s not something we’d protect with our lives.”
I was honestly dumbfounded by how carefree they were.
Is this really okay, spiritfolk?
“Um… in any case, even though you lent us your power, I apologize for the delayed return. I sincerely apologize.”
“It’s fine. We spiritfolk aren’t so petty as to hold a grudge over something so trivial.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
“So?”
“Eh?”
“That’s not the only reason you came, is it?”
As expected of the spiritfolk chief. He could probably see right through us.
I understood that what I was about to ask was bold and perhaps selfish…
But even so, I needed the Crimson Tear again.
I bowed my head.
“Please, let us have the Crimson Tear.”
“We humbly ask for it.”
Sora, who had come with me, also bowed.
“Hmm? While the Crimson Tear isn’t of much value to us spiritfolk… that doesn’t mean we just hand it over so easily. Especially not to humans. Still, since we’re not strangers, I’ll at least hear you out.”
“Thank you. The truth is…”
Grateful for the chance to explain, I laid out the situation.
“Hmm, so your weapon…”
“I understand that it’s all selfish on my part. But I have no one else to turn to.”
“Why do you seek power?”
The chief stared at me with piercing eyes.
His presence sent a chill down my spine.
What should I say?
For the sake of the world? For the sake of others?
To fight the demon race, the enemy of all living things?
I considered a few reasons, but none of them felt right.
Truth is…
I’ve never fought for justice or grand causes.
Until now, I’ve always done things my own way.
So I decided to be simple and honest.
“To fulfill my own wish.”
“Oh… So you don’t spout noble causes. And what is this wish of yours, human?”
“To protect the life I have with my precious companions, where we can always laugh together.”
I’ve thought about it over and over…
But that’s the only wish I truly have.
I can’t say I want to save the world or anything lofty like that.
I’m just an ordinary person, and there’s only so much I can do.
I can only help those within reach.
But—
If someone within reach is in trouble…
If my companions are in tears…
Then I want to help, no matter what.
And for that, I need strength.
“Hmm.”
A short pause.
And then, after a while…
“Well then, let’s say you passed.”
The chief relaxed his shoulders and said that quietly.
“Then…”
“The Crimson Tear shall be yours. Use it as you see fit.”
“Thank you so much!”
I bowed deeply and expressed my gratitude loudly.
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