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

"It's nothing, right?Ever since I ate breakfast. "

"... I've been with you forever... with Ruth forever"

"What are you saying?"

……

Ruth watched the situation and felt a sigh.

Alec must be worried about Rihala's threatening words.I realized that I had spoken to the village chief who shouldn't have spoken, so I assumed that I would not be able to meet young Ruth.

"Alec, it's okay. When I talk to the village chief, I'm not really going to be able to see Ruth."

……

"You're still with me, right?There you are. "

……

Ruth stopped by and shouted desperately, but for young Alec, Rihala's words seemed intense and he didn't change his strong expression.Just turn your eyes a little and don't even try to talk to Ruth.

Reasonably speaking, I talked to the village chief yesterday afternoon, and since I've been seeing Ruth without incident today, it's not strange to question Rihala's words, but because she's a small child, the correctness around here doesn't really make sense.

"Alec, what's going on?"

"... Ruth is just like me?"

Huh?

"I want to stay with you....."

"... uu"

Alec had tears in his eyes as he looked up at a little tall young Ruth.The expression of young Ruth, who had such a troubled face on Alec, eased slightly.

"... I guess I'll make a mistake today."

Yeah!

Ruth couldn't beat Alec's tears.

The young defeated Ruth stopped playing outside and suggested playing in the house.When you play outside, your body moves, so you can't get caught up with Alec.There will be others who will see it.

Ruth was supposed to be a kid who loved playing outside, so he put up with what he wanted to do for Alec.

They went to the warehouse looking for something to paint.

(I can't help it! Ah, Ruth, it's too sweet for Alec!)

I can't shake it off, but I can't help but hope you convince me a little.But at the same time, I thought Alec of this era was an angel, and there was no way I could do that.Alec's request has been weak for a long time.

"How am I supposed to clear Alec's mind..."

Though it might take some time, Ruth decided to follow them to make them understand that what Rihala said was a lie.

It was worth persuading, and Alec finally understood that “even if I talk to the village chief, I can meet Ruth.”

But it took a lot of time.

Ruth gained a little trust as "Ruth," but he wasn't very good enough for young Ruth.

After eating together during the day and taking a nap, Ruth didn't go anywhere in the evening, so I finally understood.Ruth nodded, "It's okay to stay away from Ruth," because it's time to report back to Honza.

--So while Ruth was doing this, I didn't realize anything was going wrong in the church.

------------

"Ruth, you can do it tomorrow, right?"

I'll see you soon.

"Don't go anywhere because tomorrow will be the best time."

"No, I'll wait for you at home!Alec, take care and go home. "

"Yeah... babba... tomorrow."

"Oh, tomorrow. Bye!"

Looking back at young Ruth like that, Alec said, "It's okay," and Ruth and the others finally came back behind the church.

(Oh, haven't the Rihalas returned yet....)

There was no one behind the church.Alec came back quite late today because he didn't try to leave the house.The sun is already completely falling, so it's no wonder Rihala and the others are always there.Yet the surroundings are quiet.

"Brother Rihala, Brother Noah... aren't you there?"

"... Alec, wait a minute. I'll find it."

"Yeah."

Ruth leaves Alec there and enters the woods.

"Oh, no..."

I searched the area around the church, but I couldn't hear the two of them.While doing so, darkness is approaching.

(Don't let it get dark like this... we have to tell Alec to go inside)

The Rihalas always come back, they can knock and enter the church, but they can't wait today.Honza will let Alec in because it's so late. If the surrounding villagers know he's still out there, they'll think he's in bad shape.

When he returned to the back of the church, Alec sat in front of the door and waited.

"Alec, are you two back?"

"Not yet...."

"Hmm... I can't help it, Honza... let the priest speak up and let you in.If it gets any slower, it'll be really cold. "

"Where are the Rihala brothers?"

"When Alec gets inside, I'll look for him. So don't worry."

"Yeah... Lou, please."

"Okay."

Encourage Alec to knock on the back door of the church.After a while, Honza came out.

"Ah... Shinpusama, the Rihala brothers are still..."

"I know. Come in."

"Eh, ah, wow...."

Honza glanced at Alec and looked at him as if he was watching his surroundings, then he forced himself to grab his clothes and go inside.Grabbing his clothes violently, Alec rolls into the church and sits in the hallway.

"Hey, Alec, are you okay?!"

"Uh-huh... I'm fine."

Pulled in violently, he rushed to Alec, who was sitting down, but he was surprised and stunned, and fortunately he didn't get hurt.

(Does he have any more tingling than usual?)

Ruth noticed how Honza was doing differently.I can't always say I'm in a good mood when I open the door, but I've never seen anything so frustrating.

Honza checked the outside of the door again, then closed the door and locked it securely.

Sit tight, Rihala brothers are back…

They're not coming back.

"Eh...?"

"More than that, Alec...."

Honza turned her face closer to Alec.

Feeling dangerous, Ruth aggressively covered Alec's back, but Honza's hand penetrated Ruth's body and headed straight for Alec's little head.

"... do you have any idea where they took those documents?"

"I'm here...."

"Do you know or don't you know!? Say it!"

I found Honza's hand firmly holding Alec's head.Even though it seems to be a hassle, I can quickly see that little Alec still feels painful enough.Ruth shouted, "Let go," but of course Honza didn't hear him.

"I wanna cum... I wanna cum..."

"Answer me, Unolo! Do you know where the papers are!?Don't you know!? "

Honza does not stop intimidating.Normally speaking, he was a calm man, but he seemed unable to contain his angry feelings at this time.

(I don't know what happened, but you can't just shut up.Anyway, I need Alec to answer my question....!)

"Alec, say" I don't know, "and quickly say" I don't know! "

"... I don't know, I don't know!"

"You really don't know!? It's paperwork, huh!?"

I don't know!

Honza finally seemed to calm down sharply in response to Alec's usual loud denial.As he exhaled a deep sigh with his face closed, Alec's hand was released from Alec's head with the wrinkles between his eyebrows.

"Alec, are you okay?"

"... Lou"

Honza stood up and distanced herself from Alec, so she hurriedly called out.Alec was relieved to see Ruth's face, with tears in his eyes.There were Honza's fingerprints on Alec's forehead, but immediately the marks faded.As far as I can see, there are no other injuries.

"Then why are you so late to come home today?"

"Eh... go back...?"

"Yes, why are you so late?Weren't you waiting somewhere to join their Rihalas? "

"Me, me...."

Honza's expression is gradually distorting again.

Honza doesn't seem to have cleared Alec of doubt.He's suspicious of his late return.

Something happened between Honza and Rihala while I was gone.

I can somehow guess why.But now is not the time to think about it.

If Alec doesn't answer well, Honza won't know what to do again in anger.We need to talk to Alec well now.

"Alec, say, 'I've been at the Brau house all morning.Ruth and Mr. and Mrs. Braw will find out. "

"Eh...."

"... were you with them after all?"

"Say it, Alec! Come on!"

"Me, me, I've been in Braun since morning, all day.Ruth and Braun. "

Confirm?

I wonder if the rhetoric didn't look a little like Alec, or if Honza felt caught by it.

"... let's check it out. All right, let's do it."

But did you want to confirm Alec's story right away? "I'll check it out.... stay there quietly ", and then you come out of the locked door again.

"Lou... uhhh"

"Ah. Well done, Alec!You scared me! Good work, good work. "

Alec bursts into tears about whether Honza is gone and the thread of tension is broken.

Though Ruth can't touch it, he moves his hand around Alec's face with a touch, desperately forgiving Alec.Even though Alec wasn't touched when he did, he stopped crying.

"Lou, I, I... did my best?"

"Oh, Alec did his best. Good job."

Hello?

"Yeah, it's great to face fear.... that was so cool. "

……

Ruth said that Alec swallowed his rough breath.Point your eyes straight at Ruth.

"... cool? Me?"

"Ah? Ah. I didn't lose my fear and Alec was cool when I answered properly."

"... cool."

Alec repeatedly whispered “cool” as to what caught him.Redness also appeared on wet cheeks after crying just now.

As Ruth tilted his neck, there was a sound of the door opening again.

"You really were at Braw's house.... can you use it? "

It was Honza who came back into the church.A man with a slight shortness of breath locks firmly from the inside.

It seems that Honza went all the way to the house to make sure Alec was telling the truth.Until then, he wanted to destroy the possibility that Alec was acting with the Rihalas.

Alec breathed into Honza's appearance again, but he didn't cry.Instead, she stares at Honza with a little gaze.

Alec, I believe in your innocence.

Ruth was relieved that Honza believed he was at home.I don't know what Alec will do if he mistakes me like that.

"... it's troublesome for the workers to suddenly disappear."

However, I heard such a murmur, and the unpleasant feeling I felt from the beginning doubled.

"... Alec"

"What, Lou?"

"Can you ask Honza where the Rihalas went?"

Perhaps we should not let Alec have any more conversations with Honza.I can't discard the possibility of buying extra anger.

But Ruth couldn't help but care less about the Rihalas who didn't come back.The state of Honza from before is obviously strange.

(I feel like something more is happening than I imagined.....)

If you chew without asking anything like this, it could be a terrible thing.It slowly increases the likelihood that Alec's body will be in danger.