The last two days have probably been two tumultuous days in my life, twelve years after I was born, Spica Royle thinks.
It was the same day as always.
I don't know my parents' faces. I have lived in the Church since I was mindful, and have lived only by being given what is minimally necessary for survival at the price of easy labor that even children can do.
Purif is a lonely village.
The Utice tomb is well known as a field of level increase, but compared to other fields in the same level band, the conditions of location and the demonic tendency to appear are poor and difficult to level. As a field with the same level rise, one of the finest fields in the country is the Vale Great Forest, and the number of visitors is decreasing year after year. That has been particularly evident since the Demonic invasion became more intense and the need to take them to higher levels became more demanding, and the Euthis tomb was now famous among mercenaries as an 'unsavory land'.
It is not rich and has little prospect of developing.
Time went slowly for a spica born and raised in such a village, and change was something that rarely occurred.
Although there are no parents, orphans can look around Spica only a lot and have never considered it a tragedy.
I've never wanted to be a monk, I've never wanted to do anything. I just vaguely thought it was something that I would always work in church and when I grew up, someone would marry the right village dweller and spend the rest of my life in Purif.
- That day. Suddenly, without any foretaste, until you get a scout.
I never made a choice. But right now, there's an option in front of me that Spica can decide for herself.
I understood it from instinct, even if I had no experience or knowledge. I had been briefed beforehand, including risks and returns, but would have understood even without them.
This option that spreads right in front of me now... is what will shape my future life.
- And Spica hasn't decided what to do with it yet.
In one of the church rooms rescued from the grave and taken, Spica was busily observing the area for a moment.
A simple chandelier down from the ceiling on a burnt wall in the day. The rooms originally built for accommodation by church guests could not be luxurious just because of the size of the village, but nevertheless there was a difference in cloud mud compared to the rooms where Spica was always awake.
The three people that Spica was supposed to direct were dressed in separate rooms, and the only girl indoors who looked some younger than Spica with thin green hair - from Ares I've heard beforehand that it's called Gresha - is there. That Gresha is also staring at the universe with a blurred eye without showing any interest in Spica herself.
I wondered why the weight of the borrowed dagger lowered to my waist.
The brand new coat worn is undoubtedly the finest costume ever worn by Spica, and the discomfort I forgot while walking in the tomb revives and messes with the hem.
My body was heavy due to a series of marches and tensions in the tomb, but for some reason I don't feel drowsy at all.
As I stared sharply at my palm, the three of them returned from the separate room.
"Sorry, you kept me waiting..."
"... no"
Removing the armor he was wearing as he was advancing through the tomb, the young man dressed in a relaxed indoor dress smiles as he peels.
The dark, dark hair and eyes as faint as night is the first thing to see for Spica, who has never left the village, but is astonishingly beautiful.
Fujido direct. A young man who Spica was supposed to direct at Ares' direction, the leader of a party that Spica might be about to enter.
The atmosphere and standing differently from any mercenary that Spica has ever seen.
Unlike the inflexible mercenaries, their bodies are small, their facial expressions are calm and there are no crude points in the trick, and I don't get the impression that they are strong. Had it not been for the previous information conveyed by Ares, I wouldn't have imagined the young man to be a warrior.
Information had already been generally communicated.
Nestled next door, a girl several years older than herself with long blonde hair is the Spirit Mage, Limis Al Friedia.
Aria Lizarth, a swordsman, is a long woman with long pale hair tied behind her back.
All three of them are strange people with a very unusual impression compared to the mercenaries that Spica has met. Spica couldn't linguize the identity of that emotion, but she never gets a bad impression.
There is no way of noticing a spica pointing a gaze at her to observe that she misses one foot at a time, and Fujido sits in front of the spica who pinched the table.
Rebellion words from Ares in the brain.
The original request was to help Vindo overcome the undead. This failure has already been confirmed by an unexpected incident.
but I have yet to decide what to do with the second request.
Fujido opens his mouth. A well-eared voice. Voices that do not have insulting colors or intimidating emotions that Spica has often received before.
"Uh... Mr. Spica, I don't know if that's okay"
"... Yes. Spica... Spica Royle."
"Right... uh, I'm Fujido Naoto. These two over here are Rimis and Aria. That's where the green-haired girl is, Gresha. Can I call you Spica?
"... Yes"
Point to the three around you, and at the end of the day, Fujido firmly matches that gaze to the spica. And I grinned.
It was bad when we were going through the tomb. The complexion was better, and sometimes there was no violent atmosphere. The appearance appeared neat to the point of being blinded for a moment.
And Fujido kept smiling at Spica, who forgot to close her lips and just stared.
"So, Spica, I heard you wanted to join my party as a monk... is there?
§
Mercenarism is a dangerous profession. Neither the demon hunt nor the mercenaries who deal with people will change that.
Mercenaries can also come from outside to level up at Utice Grave.
The figure of those coming from outside in the less densely populated villages is terribly noticeable. The mercenaries are bound to stop by the church once, so many times they also had the opportunity to meet Spica, who had made the area around the church a living area.
Some of them, after a short stay, successfully completed their search for the Euthis tomb and left the village.
but there are never many who are no longer known where they are.
Did you leave for another village without going through the church, knowing that the land was not fit for raising the level, or did you drink and disappear into the darkness of the Great Grave?
Many mercenaries leave traces before they go hunting demons, and report after they achieve their purpose. To make sure you know it's all around you when something happens during the hunt. Although the odds are low, there are few who fail to do so because rescue may be given.
Even so, the most important thing is to leave a mark of initiation, and since the termination reports do not have to be raised, there are no major disadvantages to the individual, so some mercenaries do not report termination, and a pattern that they did not do under any circumstances can be considered.
Spica didn't know if she was really dead or if she had taken the initiative to gather information without leaving the village, but the fact that the mercenary was a life threatening position from the conversations and atmosphere of the adults around her was stained in her mind.
Silver-haired youth - said Ares Crown, Amelia's boss, who took the deal to Spica.
After explaining the various dangers and the information on the Fujido and the others, eye to eye with a serious look.
"So, Spica. You can look at Fujido and decide what you want to do in the end. I won't pinch my mouth on that choice, and even if I make the decision not to follow - I'll pay my thanks."
Contrary to Fujido, the sight was no less vicious than the mercenaries of the war that Spica had ever met, but there was honesty in its tone.
Stop looking at Amelia, who gives her something to say next door, and wait for a response from Spica.
"But... if I don't go..."
A spica who asks questions even though she is preposterous.
The words and expressions directed against it are burning strongly behind Spica's brain.
Lifted the lip edge slightly. Though I realized that look directed at me was a laugh after I headed to the grave.
"The important thing is... Spica, if you really want to help the Fujido people. Don't worry. Where you said no... it doesn't matter and I don't care."
§
Fujido's expression observes, recalling the words he received from Ares.
The information obtained beforehand was not of a very good kind, but from its expression, especially from a transparent perspective, it still does not give a negative impression.
Fujido waits for Spica's answer with a quiet smile.
Desperately wondering how to answer it, the rimis sitting next to it lurked his eyebrows and slapped Fujido's shoulder.
"... Nao, isn't it just a matter of taking kids this age? I don't know... it's smaller than I imagined..."
"Mmmm... I didn't even ask you how old you are... I do mean going on a journey at this age..."
The remiss of raising your own low back on the shelf and roaring. Aria, who was sitting with her arms on the reverse side, seems to have the same opinion again, watching Spica with her lips as a letter to.
Spica has never seen as many mercenaries as herself.
Within the Kingdom of Lukes, adults are considered fifteen years old. Not that I can't work until that age, but no one holds a dangerous position like a mercenary before adulthood without special circumstances.
Fujido asks Spica.
"... Spica, you, how many?
"... I'm twelve"
To Spica's answer, Rimis scratched up her forehead and suppressed her forehead with obvious motion. Fujido's clear and clear blue eyes are thrown at Spica without fail.
"I'm not a kid yet. How could a grave be a dangerous place..."
I look at the remiss as if Spica was annoyed by the indiscretion of her gaze and things.
Your whole body - especially the tip of your head and chest.
"... not much different from Mr. Rimis"
"Heh... for once, let me tell you, I'm, like, fifteen years old"
"Well, calm down, Remiss"
Forgive the lip biting remiss, and Fujido turns back to Spica.
To a straight gaze everywhere, that's all, Spica felt the emotions she had now subsided.
"Spica. We... can't tell you the details, but for a reason... we're traveling to defeat the demon king Klanos"
"Demon King...... Kranos......"
That's the information I've already heard.
That the party is traveling to defeat the Demon King. The Demons are constantly chasing us, and we are rolling all over the place to increase our level. And - that strength is not yet sufficient to achieve its purpose, and that it is likely to fall in the middle of its will.
But even if I hear it in front of me like this, Spica doesn't sound like the name came with a sense of reality.
Demon King Kranos.
That's the name of the Demon King whispered there.
Enemy of mankind. The conversation about it, which spreads in the village, was filled with fear and awe, but at the same time it was still a myth to the inhabitants of Purif.
There are stories of demons being enlivened, but it is also significant that they have not actually entered the interior of the village and have not directly caused significant damage to the village.
In fact, the impact of the village is that the mercenary figure has decreased, so many villagers, including Spica, are feeling the crisis.
I'll roll my name again in my mouth. but I still can't feel it. For Spica, that's no different than sensibly squealing the name of the gaga tale demon king.
Fujido continues with a serious look.
"It's a dangerous journey. We must crusade the Demon King as soon as possible, so we will continue to fight, and our level is still low. If you follow us... you may meet a dying eye."
……
But at the same time, from that push-kill voice, Spica understood.
I don't know if the Demon King exists. But at least the young man speaking in front of him is prepared to die to crusade the demon king.
Spica's lips open as she battles unconsciously. When I realized it, I was speaking out.
"Wow, I... still, holy art... can't use it... but"
"Oh. I know the situation by asking the church people. But Spica's behavior in trying to help us was most appreciated and delightful to me. … I'm sure that if I had the will, I would soon remember the sacred art,"
In fact, I was remembered in ten days. Fujido smiles.
Aria's eyebrows moved tingly.
"... Lord Nao, that's Lord Nao..."
"If you couldn't remember right away... I'll do everything I can to protect you. Of course, Aria and Limis."
Aria sighs and mouths at Fujido's words.
Rimis, who was against it at first, isn't going to block Fujido's words either, giving him a frightened look and saying nothing.
Fujido stood up and said in a clear tone.
"So if Spica... really wants to help us... I know it's going to take a long time, but I want you to follow me"
……
I want you to follow me.
To that strong word, he answers "yes" reflexively for a moment, remembering Ares' words, and stomps on them at the rink.
The tongue that didn't stop. Coming out of my open lips was a completely different word.
"Um... if I don't go... do you have any trouble?
Fujido pounded for a moment on Spica's words thrown at him in the upper hand, and his expression quickly turns into a grin.
"No. It's your will that counts. If Spica thought she couldn't keep up with you when she heard what you were saying, that's fine. Well, I'm sure we don't have enough monks, but we'll figure it out, and whatever."
To that word, Ares' words passed the back of Spica's brain again.
In Fujido and Ares, the surrounding atmosphere is completely different. But the two of them had something in common: they had a different atmosphere than the mercenaries that Spica had ever met.
When I realized, Spica was up too. Because I was too focused on listening, I was flustered and unstable with no force in my legs.
Spica has yet to come to a conclusion. It's not that easy to get out.
At that time, I don't even know if that event, which Amelia called out to me in the everyday routine of every street, was lucky for me.
A small flat hand grabbing a table to support your body. Maybe that's what deserves to receive the major role of crusading the Demon King.
Fujido moves one step closer to the fluttering risen spica.
Look up at that. Rin looks as if you are a hero of gaga stories. Gemstone-like black eyes glow from the back of the slightly worn forehead.
"Wow, I..."
The moment I tried to step out toward Fujido as if I could be drawn to him whining, Spica's posture collapsed.
My legs snap and my body collapses.
"Ah."
A grunt out loud. The body is embraced by Fujido reflecting forward.
Soft feel. With his spinning arm, embraced, Spica opened her eyes and looked up at Fujido.
"That's dangerous... are you okay?
"... ah"
A gentle voice.
Fujido gently pulls his index finger over the long forehead of the eye-catching spica. The fujido floats that looked up were amazingly beautiful, but it was just amazing what was in the spica.
Surprisingly, the tension that had earlier disappeared beautifully.
The spinning arm is released and the spica manages to stand alone.
And I looked up at Fujido's face, his tender expression, one and a half heads taller than myself.
"Are you hurt?
……
I can't even think of the words thrown at me.
With a surprising look, Spica's hand is stretched out.
And he pressed his little palm straight into Fujido's chest.
Fujido's smile freezes in an instant.
"... of a woman... people?
"Ah..."
Spica opens her eyes to the feeling of returning to her fingertips and looks at Fujido's face.
The same soft feeling I felt on my forehead when I was hugged earlier.
Indeed, it is neutral. I didn't realize it because it was a masculine outfit, but it's not weird if you were a woman, that kind of face.
To Spica's gaze, Fujido's expression remains frozen, stopping.
On the other hand, Spica's thoughts revolved around unexpected results in her head.
- Mr. Ares... I thought you said he was a man?
I desperately explore my memories, but I don't remember being explicitly told my gender.
Just... was I just mistaken?
Spica regains her sanity and observes Fujido again.
Frozen expression. The expression of Aria and Remis on the side is also completely frozen.
To that look, Spica understood her failure. I bow my head in a panic.
"Oh, I'm sorry... about me, Fujido..."
"Ahhh... hahaha... well yes..."
Cheeks in the drawn eye area. Not even noticing Fujido's dry laughter, Spica looked up to Fujido with pure eyes.
I looked up and asked him why he totally assumed Fujido was a man - about the information that Ares had given him.
"Um... well... I heard a little bit about Fujido... she's a woman, do you like women?