Ch 5 - The Hero Returns

After Bianca calmed down, she told me that the village was safe.

"Thank you again, really."

"No, you did everything. All I did was help to put out the fires."

"Still, if not for you, more lives would have been lost."

These are the lives that are so important to me that they might very well be the reason I came to this world.

"Done. You really are mature for your age. Are you really 10 years old?"

"Well…"

Am I? After thinking for a bit, I think it's correct to say yes to such questions from now on.

"Is that bad…?"

"It's not a bad thing, but, hm… If possible, I prefer to see a child spending his day happily without a care in the world."

I can understand that. I also want to create a world where children can laugh happily without fearing a monster.

"Ah, that doesn't mean I dislike you, okay? If anything, I like it even more to finally see someone who's not afraid of me, let alone snuggling up like this."

I must have triggered another landmine as she giggled and began to mess up my hair all over again.

"Hm, it really is a shame. Should I just keep you here after all?"

"That's… I'm sorry."

"Why? There are a lot of food, you know? And if you ever want a toy, I could also create or get it somehow."

Literally, anything I desire. It's a good proposal. If I don't have to consider the end of the world, that is.

Seeing me refusing once again, she just smiled weakly.

"Okay, you must have your reason."

"Yes. I'm sorry, but I can't stay here for long."

"Oh, that's fine. I understand. So I'll just come with you."

She smiled brightly as she said that.

"Pardon?"

"If you can't stay here, then it's okay for me to stay with you, right?

"Well…"

"Plus, although this place has everything. I've been bored living in this cave for years and years, you know? I had been planning to get some fresh air anyway, so I might as well stick close to you."

I see. I understand her reason. Actually, it's a good thing. Bianca is a very powerful dragon despite how she looks. If I could make her an ally, which is impossible in the game, then it would benefit me greatly, no matter how I look at it.

If there's a problem… what do I do about the hidden danger she was supposed to take care of by herself as she traveled the world?

Then, the future I know of might change greatly, and I can't fully use my future knowledge.

It's one thing if I can lead her to where she's supposed to go, but this game follows Raon from beginning to end. Although there's an option to see the world from a first-person or third-person view, in the end, all events are centered around Raon.

"Is that a no…?"

Bianca slumped down her shoulder. As expected of a white dragon known for kindness. Rather than forcing her will onto me, she's willing to listen and consider other people's circumstances.

'Now that I think about it, that very future knowledge will only lead to a dead end. So I might as well take Bianca, right?'

It might be an excuse to convince myself, but I don't want to see someone so kind to look so sad if I can help it.

Call it me being selfish, if you will, but I decided to let Bianca do whatever she wanted in the end.

"Alright. I want to be with you too, actually."

"Hngh…! To say things like that so casually. As expected, my eyes are not wrong…! Eii…!"

Then, another session began. It was morning the next day when Bianca finally released me, and we moved to the village together.

***

It was when I arrived in the village.

Just one day after the attack.

'Wow.'

Contrary to my expectation that everyone would be gloomy and all depressed, the villagers moved busily and even helped each other redevelop the houses they'd lost.

Sure, it's not all joy and laughter.

But the fact that they chose to move forward together instead of being stuck grieving over the past is admirable.

'Aren't they doing better than I thought?'

There was no need for me to force myself to console these people after all. I wasn't very good at socializing in the first place, but I have been worrying about what to say on the way here.

'It turns out the people I want to protect are stronger than I thought.'

If it's like this, wouldn't they be the one who protect me instead one day?

Maybe it's not a bad idea to settle in this village once everything's over.

'Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself.'

That's right, rather than thinking about the far future, let's take care of things one step at a time, starting from the present.

It was when I was walking through the village towards my house.

"Raon."

"Hm?"

"Everyone is looking, you know?"

Bianca smiled and gestured.

She's right.

I don't know since when, but everyone, even the workers who were busy moving here and there, just widened their eyes, and they were looking at me.

What is it?

Is there something on my face?

It was when I was wiping my face.

"Hero."

Someone murmured.

"He's the one who saved me!"

"He saved me too!"

"Didn't he even lure the monsters?"

"Ooh! Such bravery! And at such a young age, too!"

"He's the pride of our village!"

"The village's hero!"

Before I knew it, the people dropped whatever they were doing and ran up to me.

"Thank you for saving my daughter, Raon."

"Thanks to you, everyone is alive."

"How can we ever repay you!"

I felt troubled and looked at Bianca for help.

But she just smiled and pushed my back gently.

"I'm just doing what I could, really."

Didn't they notice my embarrassment? The villagers praised me even more strongly after I said that.

Then, a small girl trots up to me.

"Brother, here's a flower… For you."

"Oh, so pretty. Thank you."

She then blushed and ran back to where she came from. She was hiding behind a woman, probably her mom, and took a peek at me before hiding her face again.

'Cute.'

I still feel embarrassed to be praised like this, but it doesn't feel so bad to receive pure goodwill every now and then.

It was a while after that happened.

"Raon!"

Beyond the crowd, a young woman shouted and made everyone fall silent. Her hair looked disorganized, and she was panting as if she had just run for a long time. I saw a basket of fruits and herbs in her hand and understood right away. She must have been in the forest just now before someone finally informed her of my return.

'To go inside the forest again so soon after the goblins' attack… Should I call her brave or foolish?'

Then again, she's Raon Eva's mom. Her love for feeding the only family member she had left must be so high that it helped her overcome even her fear of monsters.

"Raon…!"

The crowd parted as she ran up to hug me.

"I'm glad you're safe."

The first thing she said was not thanks for saving her life but her concern for my well-being.

Is this what having a mother felt like?

'It feels nice.'

Technically, she's not my mother. If we only look at the soul, we are nothing more than strangers. But isn't that true for all families?

We are people who share the same blood in their veins. In that case, what I should call her is decided.

"I'm back, mom."

It was the moment when I finally realized that everything was over.

That everyone was safe.


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Chapter end