Chapter 8
It has become a habit, Michael reached my face with his finger. He rolled
his finger between my forehead, so I naturally followed the movement and
rolled my eyes, and Michael laughed.
“Fortunately, even if that happens, I don’t think I’ll regret it.”
“Yeah……?”
“Because you are pretty cute.”
“…”
It took some time to fully understand Michael’s words. I could feel the heat
rising from the tip of my ears to my face.
I know. Michael is literally just saying that I’m cute. Just like he had been
protecting and petting cats in the past.
I’m too young to be considered an adult, but I am not young enough to be
called cute. It’s not my first time been called cute. It was because my father
valued me as his only daughter.
Oh no. Becky and Pavice also say I’m cute.
But even if they say that why is the feeling I hear from them different from
what I hear from Michael now?
I don’t know why I feel this difference. Should I ask Michael to call me cute
one more? I don’t want that, I just want to know why my heart is beating…
“Michael, I…”
“Michael, Rose!”
Should I just say thank you?
Before I said something that I would regret later.
A loud voice of Pavice intervened between the two of us.
“Come down because Becky is hungry!”
Okay. First, let’s thank Pavice.
It would have been embarrassing at that moment and asked Michael to call
me cute one more time.
“Come to think of it, Rose must be hungry because she’s growing up.”
I don’t think Michael is a grown-up adult either, but he considered me as a
kid. But even though he seemed to be treating me like a baby, it indifferent
to going down alone, leaving him on the roof. Maybe it’s because I’m still
getting to know him, so I’m full of things I don’t know except that Michael
is a good person.
It wasn’t disappointing though. The roof isn’t that sloping, and it went well
when I went to Michael earlier. But Pavice didn’t seem to think so.
“Now the little girl came alone.”
Only then did Michael look back at me with a look that I wanted.
It seemed like Pavice and Becky were overprotecting me. But it feels
different from my father.
“I can go alone, ah……!”
I’m not stupid enough to walk alone on a roof that isn’t slippery or sloping.
But why, of all times, do I act stupid in front of Michael?
My foot slipped while I was walking on the roof. My back was bent back for
a moment. If Michael, who was closest to me at the time, hadn’t grabbed
me, I would have fallen from the roof.
“Little girl, are you okay?!”
“Pavice, don’t be a fuss.”
It happened very quickly. Michael quickly put me down and grabbed my
hand and dropped me into the house.
But I thought that the moment was like a picture drawn in a mythical book
that I read as a child.
He was cool enough like a hero who defeated a monster in a distant myth
and became a king by saving the princess. I’m not a princess and I’m not so
beautiful…
“… Michael.”
It was natural that Michael was cool like the hero, the hero from the myth.
Because he was already a hero.
“What if… If the princess asked you to marry, would you do it?”
I thought he would be a little embarrassed or startled by my impulsive
question. But Michael’s answer came straight away.
“If it’s necessary.”
Actually, it’s unlikely to meet the princess with Michael’s unknown status,
but Michael seems to be able to marry the princess at any time. And he
also feels that kind of attitude is natural. I think he can really marry the
princess.
“That is it?”
“…Yes.”
“Good thing. I think Becky’s would angry if I take longer than this.”
As if his mood was going down, he turned around and showed his back
indifferent when walked away. Pavice also ruffled my hair once and
followed Michael.
I also followed them half a beat late.
I tried to ignore the strange thoughts when I went down the short stairs.
A thought that I wish I had been born as a princess who matches the hero.
* * *
From early in the morning, Michael and his colleagues were busy packing
their luggage, and today was the day they left this short-stay town.
People wanted to hold Michael, but he politely but firmly rejected the
villagers.
“Thank you for letting me stay.”
Michael finally said goodbye to the villagers in courtesy. Pavice, who was
next to him, was also greeting well, and Becky whistled and did not hide
her boredom.
I was a little bit pathetic, but I was standing next to them in a sloppy
posture. I couldn’t do this or that and just wiggling my fingers for nothing.
“Why don’t you stay a little longer… It would be great to have a strong
youngster like you who can defeat monsters in this town.”
Becky wrapped around my shoulders at the village elder’s words and
whispered in my ear.
“I have a long way to go, but the old man keeps on grabbing me.”
I laughed quietly at that word, making a loud noise without even knowing
it. It was refreshing in my mind when Becky directly expressed her feelings
that she couldn’t show because she might look bad.
“I’m sorry, sir. I have a long way to go, so I don’t think I can stay anymore.”
“Where are you going to go?”
When Becky was holding me and pinching my cheek, I turned my head at
the words of the elder. When I think about it, I was also in this group, and I
had no idea where Michael’s final destination was. Rather I didn’t even
think about it at all.
“There’s still a long way to go, but for now, I’m going to the Temple of the
Moon.”
“Would it be okay? There’s a long way to go…”
“So I’m going to take a shortcut.”
“Is it a shortcut, then? No way…”
“Yes, sir, I’m thinking of going through the Forest of Dreams.”
Becky, Pavice, and Seed were relaxed, and the villagers were all surprised.
Only I, who knows nothing, looked at both sides. Apparently, the Forest of
Dreams that the old man says was a rather unusual place.
“Are you serious? No one has ever entered the forest and returned. No one
knows what’s in the forest, since no one has come out. And the king has
declared publicly, Do not enter the forest.”
We’re going to a forest where no one has ever walked in and left. It
seemed that I was the only one in the group who was surprised to hear
that. No, I looked at the party with a desire, but they looked casual.
“Thank you for the advice. However, since I don’t have time to delay more,
I’ll just be grateful.”
“No matter how much you say you killed Leviathan, the forest will be
dangerous. And it’s even more dangerous with that kid.”
The old man’s eyes reached me. Suddenly, his gaze caught my eye, and I
was embarrassed.
“Is that kid your sister?”
“It’s not a blood relation, but she’s like a younger sister.”
It was Pavice who replied to the old man’s words this time.
The old man’s eyes, looking at me, gleamed with a warm light. But
somehow, those eyes and smiles just felt ominous. I grabbed Becky’s hand
tightly over my shoulder in inexplicable anxiety…
Why? Why am I so anxious…
The old man’s lips opened. My heartbeat slowed down for a moment. It
was not long before words that I was afraid to hear flowed out.
“How about leaving the child behind?”
Thump, my heartthrob.
“I think the journey would be dangerous, but wouldn’t it be better if you
didn’t bring the child? It would be better for the child to stay in a stable
place.”
I wanted to say no, but my mouth didn’t open easily.
What do you know to say that? My original hometown seemed stable on
the surface, but we had to sacrifice children every year to the monsters,
and there I belong to the easiest class. A settled life, warm neighbors, that
sort of thing doesn’t satisfy my life at all. In the first place, there were no
expectations or regrets for such a stable life.
Still, I couldn’t easily deny it because I knew I wasn’t helping them. It would
be much better for them to leave me as the old man said.
But I hate it.
I hate separating from Michael. I like it the way it is now.
“Some time ago, my granddaughter died from a snake bite. I can take care
of you like my real granddaughter.”
“…”
“So why don’t you stay safe here.”
I was in fear, looked at Michael. I was hoping you would tell me no. But
Michael didn’t look at me and didn’t reject the words of the old man.
“Well, I think the opinions of the parties will be important…”
Michael looked at me belatedly.
“What do you think, Rose?”
Holding Becky’s hand tightly, I looked at Michael with earnest eyes and
shook my head. It was an expression of dislike.
“If you stay here, you won’t have to go through dangerous things again.”
“However…”
“The villagers will be nice to you.”
“I don’t want to…!”
If I delayed answering further, that Michael would leave me like this.
Becky’s hand was held tightly without consideration, so it hurt my hand.
Even his voice was trembling for nothing. Even though I knew it was
Michael, who wouldn’t force me to say I didn’t like it, I was afraid of being
abandoned.
If I delayed my answer further, it seemed Michael would leave me like this.
Becky’s hand was held tightly so it hurt my hand. Even my voice was
shaking for nothing. Even though I knew Michael wouldn’t force me if I said
no, I was afraid of being abandoned.
“I want to be with Michael……..!”
“Rose.”
“… I don’t want to be separating from Pavice and Becky either.”
At first glance, Pavice’s eyes widened. It seemed that he didn’t know that
his name would come out of my mouth. I remember not even mentioning
Seed at all, but I don’t regret it. Last time, Seed made the relationship
awkward by saying something bad.
“Even though you would suffer a lot of dangerous things with us?
“It doesn’t matter!”
I shook my head and dug into Becky’s arms. Becky hugged me too.
“I’m sorry, sir. This child is quite stubborn.”
“Huh, no, it’s not. If that’s what the child wants, I can’t help it.”