The Traveling Hero Won’t Let the Innkeeper’s Son Escape

"So you came all the way to this mountain?

"... I think I look like an idiot myself. But for me, it was the first time I had ever been able to do it, and I was just one friend. Suddenly they said goodbye and couldn't stay jizzy...... so I came this far looking for signs. Is that bad!?

"No, no, it's not bad. Not bad at all. I just thought it was a friend thought."

It's the expression that hasn't changed much, but Ed asks me like I'm angry, and Ruth rushes to the neck.

Sure, it's hard to believe a little kid like this would try to cross a mountain for a friend in a previous life, but I can't say enough that it's impossible in this world. I'm sure Ruth just doesn't know, and there's a way even little Ed can do that.

Besides, it's Ed's first time, and it doesn't mean he seemed like his only friend, and he doesn't feel like he understands it at all. Even Ruth would surely fly out of the village if something happened to Alec. Anyway, that's why he was such an important friend to Ed.

"But why alone? Couldn't you ask for help around?

"... I don't know that I had any friends around me. Besides, I told you, you wouldn't look for me, and if I tried to get out, I'd stop. That's why I snuck out on my own. I really want to hear why I can't talk to him..."

There were still parts of Ed's story that bothered him, but Ruth stroked his head to comfort him for a moment without asking him any extra questions. Because the atmosphere of Ed, who had been resolute ever since we met, was clearly changing.

"It was.... that friend, is he going to be around here? Or farther away?

"…… I think we've come a long way."

He said he might have headed for the dungeon.

"Yes."

In the direction of the dungeon, 'there seems to be a sign that he is there'.

"Well, I see why Ed did it. Thanks for talking to me. So, if it's all right with you, can I come see you too?

"... why, you?

"I'd like to see my friend Ed take care of that much. Besides, when I heard what he was saying, I was wondering why he said that..."

"You want to follow me with interest?

"I won't deny it. But I've been bothering to tell you that, and something could be going on with him. In that case, Ed, can't you feel a little more comfortable with me? Besides, if I were here, I could show you to the dungeon, right?

Ed kept his mouth shut for a while but eventually muttered 'Sure' a little.

"……… I understand. Allow to accompany you."

"Good, thanks. But let's do it when the fog clears. I'm not going to be able to show you to the dungeon right now."

"… well, fine."

"It's a promise, Ed."

He made a promise not to let Ed go alone, and when Ruth was happy, for some reason he glanced at Giroli.

"..................... Why are you laughing there?

"What?

"So far I've heard, how many fundamental parts do you not question?

"What's the meaning of this?

"There must have been a lot of crazy things about me, right? And yet honestly believe me, even with my promise to accompany you, are you stupid? Don't you think I'm lying? You might end up here in peace and be gone again."

"... Ed was lying now?

"Eh... I'm not lying. But isn't that a lie? Friends and all that, you would normally think it's weird......"

That's how Ed got a musty shape just in his mouth. Seeing that, I'm horrified.

I'm sure he's worried about Ruth.

(But…………)

Nor is Ruth going to believe everything else that has been said. But I suspect you're creating such a serious atmosphere, and if that were true, Ed would be pathetic. Then it's because it's easier for Ruth to be lied to and fooled.

"You just pissed me off when I heard about Rhodia. Now you just have to say what Ed can talk about."

"Don't you want to hear it?

"I do, but I thought I'd wait for Ed to talk to me. Or is it easier for you to listen to me?

"…… listen. 'Cause that's better than weird imagination."

I thought they would say, 'I don't need it,' but Ed unexpectedly and honestly gave it back to me. I'm sure it's easier to talk about being encouraged than to wait in silence. Those people were good in their previous lives.

"Well, I'll ask. How did Ed talk to that guy? It's not like we were talking next door normally, is it? It won't even be a letter."

In previous life, there were devices of civilization such as telephones, but there is nothing like that in this world. I can only talk to each other face-to-face enough to send out an elaborate letter. Nor would that be very appropriate as an expression of "talking”.

Ed seemed unsure how to answer Ruth's question, but eventually he sighed like he'd given up.

"It's nothing to hide, so I say... I'm a spiritual clan, so I don't have to be near someone with the same powers to have a conversation. The wavelength was so right with him that the conversation started when I answered the call. That's why we've never met face to face. That's what I don't know about gender, age, or appearance."

Ruth's doubts were solved by a gentle description of Ed. Apparently something so called telepathic can be used by Ed. But at the same time, I ran into new questions.

"I'm sorry. Now I know why I can talk to you... but what's that“ mayhem ”? Could Ed be a spirit?

"Huh? I'm not a spirit. I'm a spiritual clan.... Could it be that Ruth doesn't know the Spirit Clan?

"Sorry, I don't know. Are you any different from the Spirit?

When it comes to spirits, they mix with the atmosphere and lend a hand to people at random, a common sense presence in this world. It is said that it cannot be activated without their assistance when using attack magic or the like. And like Cannagra, there are also superior spirits and so on, and I also know that they have quite a bit of character. But I've never heard of a spiritual clan.

"Existence itself is different. The Spirit basically has no entity. Being a powerful superior spirit can also change into a form like a person, but basically it's not what it is. Unlike them like that, the Spirit Clan is a being that has an entity from the beginning. They are very similar in nature, but on the contrary they cannot be ideomorphized like them"

"Mm-hmm. You mean the relationship between humans, animals, demons and demons?

"I have a slightly different relationship with that..."

Spirits and spiritual clans are close, but they are in different positions of being. However, we think of each other as companions, and the Spirit King and others seem to exist in the concept of "Spirit and Spirit King” rather than “Spirit King”.

The Spirit Clan can also activate attack magic on their own, but they can negotiate directly with the Spirit, who is a companion, and ask for assistance. Sometimes it seems that only defined attributes can be used, like other people. I guess that's why Ed could have come this far by himself, even with his little body.

"Mm-hmm. That's a lot of trouble. But then, who's going to be the Spirit King?

"It's basically a magical society, so a highly magical spiritual clan will be the leader"

"I see. So Ed also said, 'This is how I look and I'm strong.' Well, it's a lot more magical than I am."

"……………… no, that is…………"

To Ruth's question, Ed got annoyed again. He asked me something first.

"Ed, what's wrong? Did you hear something I didn't want to say?

".................. no. Well... I'm a little special... so I can't go out forever."

That makes Ed shut up. As usual, his expression remained stiff, but he saw an obvious stray in a long silence.

Ed looks up with the same look on his face as usual as Ruth thinks about stopping listening.

"Ruth, can you get your hands off me?

"Ah, yeah. Sorry."

Turning away the hand Ruth had placed on Ed's head, Ed suddenly took a distance. And when I was about two minutes away from Ruth, I turned around.

"Now that you hear me, you should be offended. So I'll apologize first. Excuse me."

"What?

"I…………… am physically incapable of generating magic on my own. And instead, you take someone else's magic and you make it your own."

"Eh?"

Ed kept talking so he didn't want to hear Ruth's surprise voice.

"Originally, I can't control this power well, but it's especially dangerous if I'm unconscious, and I unintentionally take magic from around me. That's why I couldn't leave my sealed room from an early age. No, I couldn't get out... because engaging with others depletes their magic... fear."

(Well, so Daniel and the priest suddenly fell ill?)

Ruth knows that when magic is depleted, he can't move because he has seen it before when Alec used the transfer technique.

So Daniel and Fritz with Ed, and Bird, who was on the priest or side trying to treat them, they fell ill. Apparently that's why their sudden physical changes were.

And when Ed gets power from others, he says he can use it as his magic. Also, the amount of magic that can be held is quite enormous and the power to take it away automatically has never stopped, he said. So it seems more dangerous.

Because of that ability, Ed seemed unable to relate to people from an early age. He also wanted to go into a room with a seal around Ed, and the person who had witnessed many times people fall in front of him didn't want to cause trouble and followed it. Furthermore, the people around him said they could not see under any conditions that Ed would take away his powers and avoided telepathic conversations.

He said it was only recently that Ed was able to stop by and not take away his magic. However, it seems that it is also conscious and must be concentrated.

(So... you came desperately to retrieve a friend...)

I finally figured out where Ed was coming from, the strength of Ed's feeling that he was a young man and came looking for a friend.

I've always grown up because I don't want to cause trouble, but I don't want to lose the existence that healed my loneliness, and I couldn't stand to pop up, that's what I guess.

But after listening so much, Ruth realized there was.

"But I also carried an unconscious Ed, but nothing happened, right?

Ruth carried Ed longer than Daniels and the others, but never fell ill like them. Based on Ed's current story, it shouldn't be strange to see Ruth's lack of magic then.

"That's because Ruth's magic power is low - that is, because his magic power is small."

"Oh, that's the thing. I'm sure I'm less magical... which means I can't absorb Ed if I'm less magical."

"A little different… Ruth has an unusually narrow“ mouth ”that emits magic, even though she has little magic. Remember how I was surprised to stare at you on the way home from the village chief's house? That's because I tried to take the magic away from you when I got caught up in it, but I couldn't. This has never happened before."

Ed said that the more magical humans in general, the wider the mouth that releases, and the greater the power that can be activated at the same time. Ruth, however, says he has low magic power, and a fairly small mouth to release. They can't take magic away from Ruth, whether Ed's conscious or not, because of that.

(Oh! Is that why I couldn't use magic properly...)

I've been wondering for years that magic can't be used properly, but I finally get the answer. Ruth felt a little refreshed knowing why he had been worried for so many years. You can't use it! 'I don't even feel frustrated.

"Heh. Ed knows a lot about magic and stuff. I've often been told that magic is low, but I've never been told that my mouth is narrow to release."

When Ruth looked at Ed with honesty and admiration, for some reason he had once again made it just a letter to his mouth.

"…………… do you not get angry?

"What?

"... that I was silent about my abilities and that I tried to take them away once. I tried to torment you, didn't I? It could unintentionally harm your family, aren't you afraid?

"... uh, is Ed going to do something to my family?

"I don't feel like it. You know... I don't know where anybody is. They're good people to take care of me, but I won't do that. I'm also really reflecting on what I tried to do to you... sorry"

The expression was still stiff, but I laughed bitterly at Ed, who gave him a shunny atmosphere as he distracted himself. I guess you think it's really bad. I'm sure your expression hasn't followed your emotions.

(I wonder if there's anything I can do about that when I hear about it now)

Ed didn't have a person to talk to face-to-face, so it's possible that he didn't get a chance to learn his facial expression, even if his thoughts and verbal use were clear. I guess that's why you're always getting the same hard look. It just seems like you can do it normally to be angry or sad, so maybe Ruth has to read it right there and do it.

"If you're not willing to do it anymore, fine. Besides... there's nothing more angry about it now."

In the first place, Ruth wouldn't have noticed it in his life if Ed hadn't said he tried to take away magic, etc., but he has deliberately declared it. And he told me about his difficult constitution because it was a promise. I think that is something that is inherently very courageous.

So given Ed's serious personality, I didn't think he would do Ruth any harm if he was so dimpled. Besides, he said he wasn't motivated, so I didn't think I should say any more. It was also for Ruth, who pissed him off, who created the cause that Ed tried to do that in the first place.

(Well, if you look at this adorable figure, you can lose your temper...)

Cute is justice to Ruth from his previous life.

But it was as if he'd read Ruth's thoughts, and Ed suddenly looked up.

"... You look like this, but even I'm old to some extent, and you're planning on doing it, right?

"What's the plan?

Ruth thought he might be five or six years old until he heard the story, but fluidly, he might be a little more upstairs.

But no matter how many you are, you look so cute. Ruth's expression remains smiling, even if he hears a dialogue about 'intent' because of it.

"…………………… May I go to the side?

To Ed's question with a slightly muffled voice, Ruth let himself jump to the side as he approached him, surprised, but laughed with a little joy. That slight change in expression was so adorable.

I'm sure when Ed's expression catches up with his emotions, he'll be popular with plenty of beautiful boys to go with.

".................. I'll borrow your knees"

"Hmm?"

Say it quickly, or Ed puts his head on Ruth's lap. I lay with my back round as it was. Finally, the knee pillow is in shape.

"... can't you stroke my head?

Forced like that by a beautiful boy full of beautiful girls, Ruth unexpectedly seems to have a weird voice. I don't feel like dealing with Alec, but I thought this would be bad for my heart. I can't resist this.

Ruth stroked Ed's saggy, watery hair as she amused herself, "If I had a distant brother of my age, I guess this is what it would be like.

"It feels good to have your hands stroked."

Ed's words, whining so little after hearing about his condition, hurt his chest a little.