Playing at my age is quite nice, as these pipsqueaks wouldn’t be able to compete if I tried. Rine-kun and Ara-kun have problems holding back though, so we switched the game to a hopping game. Several circles are on the ground with numbers in them. One participant says out a number, and another jumps to add up to that number, yet can’t use the same circle twice in a row.

However, there is one fatal flaw in this game: “No, Grekk! That’s too much.” I can neither read nor do math.

“Gramp is really bad!” The pipsqueaks are amused by this, I’m really trying here! Also, why do those small children play something like this!?

Oh well, at least they have fun.

“Hm… how about a new game? Grekk, do you know one?”

“I know several. Let’s see what we can play… Do we have a ball?” One of the children has something that looks like a bladder full of cloth leftovers. “This will do. It’s called Stoning. This ball is our ‘stone’, and whoever has it, has to throw it at someone else. If the ball hits and then hits the ground, that person is out and has to go to the bench and wait for the next round. For us adults, we can’t move while holding the ball. We’ll all stay at the courtyard and no taking cover. Understood?”

““““““““““Yes!””””””””””

“Then take the ball, Ima.” I return the ball to the girl who owns it and start walking backwards.

“Ey!” She throws at me, but I evade it with ease, there is just no force behind it. Ackim picks it up, throws it at Laaws, who jumps to the side, only for Mirianne-kun to pick it up.

As the rules say, she doesn’t take a step, and she aims at Ara-kun, who kicks the ball into the air and starts juggling it with her knees. She’s really very dexterous. “As I don’t ‘hold’ the ball…” Then she starts walking while still juggling the ball with her knees…

She’s amazing at bending the rules! That’s how older kids play it! “That’s unfair!!!” Mirianne-kun exclaims, but the pipsqueaks are applauding, and Rine-kun…

“Not today, Kata-ourgh!” Somehow Ara-kun was able to sense Rine-kun, despite her approaching from the alfr’s blindspot. But even with her evasive maneuver, the blonde-haired girl still managed to kick the ball into her face with enough force to make the white-haired girl fall backwards. Ara-kun managed to change the fall to a backflip while catching the ball with her feet, then she shoots it back to Rine-kun, who catches it with one hand.

“Wow, Ara! That was amazing!”

“Not good enough, obviously.”

Rine-kun suddenly turns towards me and throws the ball, which I catch quickly. It certainly has some spin in it, as it tries to wriggle free from my fingers. “Let me return the favor!” I throw the ball.

I wind up, then for one fraction of a second, I don’t see smiling children and teens, but a young man standing up for what he believes. I throw the ball, yet it’s slow, so very slow. Small Bern even catches it, holding it up in the air, as if he had just hunted down a big game. “I got it! I got it!”

“Well done!” Rine-kun applauds.

“Now take that!” Bern throws the ball back at me, it hits me at the leg, and falls to the ground. “I won!” he says in delight.

Of course, I have let it happen. It’s better that way. Bern is happy, and while it doesn’t even come close to what I deserve, I can only hope that the small things will eventually add up enough. “Seems like I’m out.”

I move to the bench and sit down there. While I feel my bones screech in pain and relief, it’s somewhere much deeper that feels hurt. As I watch children trying to get each other, I remember the evenings and mornings at the camps, when I was still with my people.

This is another kind of fun. Why didn’t I realize it much earlier? So much time I wasted. I could have played with my own children or grandchildren, instead of…

“Everything goes well?” One of the elders of this farm sits next to me. “Ah, they’re having fun.”

“Just wait until one of those two gets the ball,” I say with a bit of pride, as I point at Rine-kun and Ara-kun. A pride I’ve never had before, just being able to say that I know these people.

“Is Rine-dono your granddaughter?”

“I wish. She’s such a sweet girl.”

“How are you related then?”

“I’m tagging along, as traveling alone is too much for my old bones nowadays.”

“Now it’s too much? You were a soldier before?”

“No. I’m just a meathead that could win most fights.” I can’t tell him that I’m a barbarian. Farmers rightfully fear my people, and I’m not sure if I can be proud of that anymore.

“Ah, I see. Being a mercenary can be tough, I imagine. Back, when I was younger, I admired them, but my dad always told me that it’s a job with too many uncertainties, and that I’m better off just staying here. He was right, but I always wondered how my life would have been if I joined a band.”

“Most likely over.”

“Most likely. I’m happy now, though. You know, my granddaughter pressed some flowers for me.”

“Ah, that’s… nice?”

“Yeah, a purple chimeflower, a red depressus, and a white volip. Also, when Alli married, Lue was hiding under the table, and when the priest made the speech, she was softly yelling ‘Hallo! Haaaallooo!’, and then we needed to look for her. Also, she always walked around barefooted, but it’s cold there, and-”

Wait, why is he changing the topic so quickly? Now about his daughter, who pissed her pants when she was climbing a tree, then about how she snatches cookies even nowadays, then how she once ate a prume cone, and had to be cared for the day, which quickly changes to not trusting his son’s wife, and always gives money only to him, and—

It’s too much, it’s too rapid fire! I can’t even follow the conversation. Instead of listening, the only thing I can think of is: Why? Why are you telling me this? Why can’t you stick to one story? Why? Why!?

It’s been a while since I was this overwhelmed, and faced an enemy I couldn’t defeat. Well, it would be easy to crush that one’s windpipe to make him stop, but that’s not how I want to solve this problem…

“URGH…” “Ah, Mirianne! I’m sorry!”

Using this as an excuse, I jump back to my legs and run towards the welcome accident. Rine-kun kicked the ball directly into Mirianne-kun’s stomach, which made the poor young girl crook forward. I think she’s about to vomit.

“Let me help you!”

“N—no–”

“[Heal]!” A small light encases Mirianne-kun, as it’s apparent that the pain subsides, though the brown-haired girl is still wobbly on her legs.

““““““Oooooh!”””””” The children are impressed, I guess they have never seen magic before.

Rine-kun isn’t even noticing the children flocking her once more. “Are you alright, Mirianne? I think you need some more rest.”

“Sh—SHUT UP, YOU-”

I’m sure she’s about to do something which will end up with Rine-kun hurting her more, so I pick up the girl by her shoulders and knees. “Calm down, lass.”

“GET—” She struggles, but she’s basically powerless in my hold. “LET ME GO! *cough, cough*” She’s getting paler, most likely the flailing and the screaming made her overexcite herself.

“I said so, right?” I smile at her. “I’m carrying her to the bench for a small break.”

“OK!” Rine-kun waves at me, and as Ara-kun joins the crowd, claiming her magic to be much more grandiose—what does that word even mean—I carry Mirianne-kun to the bench.

The elder there—I don’t even know his name—smiles at her leniently. “Did you play too rough?”

“That’s not it, Uncle Freg! She… she…” She curls to a ball, hugging her knees. “She’s so unfair.” She says under her breath.

“Kehehe,” I chuckle: “She certainly is.” This lass seems to have some stuff on her plate.

―○●○―

Mirianne feels frustrated. She can’t put the finger on why, but that Rine-girl is bad news. She wants her to go, to beat her, but it’s like she’s a whole other lifeform.

Now the elf is also using her magic, making a mudfield the children are playing with. Mirianne also despises the elf, even more than before.

It’s like everyone is rubbing into her face that she’s just a simple farm girl. What will the geezer be? Some sort of warlock, only known in legends? She could absolutely live with that, as he’s at least not younger than her!

But these girls… and there is that third one. One she somehow takes to, Kyou. Yet even she may be hiding how awesome she actually is. No, in a way, she’s already shown off being some kind of ultimate healer, taking care of Red now…

Yes, that’s it. “Old man?”

“Hm?” The gray-haired stranger cocks his head a bit, a warm smile on his face: “What is it, Mirianne-kun?”

“I’m leaving. Don’t tell them. Please” She wants to be all sweet, but even she knows how bitter her voice has to sound.

“No problem,” he answers. He kinda feels like a kind grandfather.

“Thanks!” She stands up, watching the elf and the self-proclaimed princess who may be distracted enough to not notice. After some steps, she begins to run.

Red will understand her! Because Red and Mirianne share a bond!

With this conclusion, Mirianne knocks at the door to the room, knowing that barging in would only make the third girl angry. She’ll be on Mirianne’s side as well!

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Through the door comes a “Yes?”, so Mirianne opens it and enters the room. Red is sleeping, he already looks so much better from the time Mirianne nursed him. Kyou puts something aside, which starts to look like a beanie. “Oh, Miria-nee. Welcome.” She smiles, so she understands as well.

“Hello. How is Re- I mean, Kenta?”

“He hasn’t woken up so far. I hope it stays that way.”

There is something strange about her undertone: “You don’t like him?”

“It’s very complicated. I don’t dislike him anymore, but… Explaining it would take long.”

“I’m listening.” That way, she may learn more about Red.

“Hm…” She puts a finger on her lower lip, thinking about it. “Maybe you start with how you met Kenta first? What did you learn about him? Then I’ll know where to start with my story, as there is a lot.”

This makes sense. Red is a ranger, and I’m sure he has many secrets. I’m also sure that he’s a hero, so maybe she wants to know whether that is true?

She really looks a lot like Red though. Maybe she’s also a hero? Ah, that’s why she wants to know what Mirianne already knows. She and Red have to come from the same world.

Therefore, Mirianne starts speaking. How she found Red at the edge of a forest nearby. How he was hurt and treated by her and Uncle Benjam. How they saw how quickly his wounds healed and bones rearranged, and how they believed him to be a hero. How she nursed him, until that elf took him away!

“Don’t call her that, please.”

“Hm?”

“Elf. That offends her. It’s a term people started using for their people, while they’re actually called alfar.”

“Why does it make a difference?”

“It makes one for her. Call her either alfr or Ara’ainn. She’s often a handful, a sloth, and a know-it-all, but she’s also caring in her own strange way.”

Maybe Kyou is right. Maybe the el- alfr’s care for Red caused her to butt heads with Mirianne in the first place. It’s strange how this thought suddenly popped into the young girl’s mind.

“Alright… I’ll try my best. Now that I told you everything, it’s your tur-”

The door slams open, and Mirianne’s mother enters the room, while Uncle Benjam waits just outside of it: “What are you doing here, Mirianne!?”

“Mom! I’m having a conversation!”

“I’m going to have one as well, so leave the room!”

“No!”

“Listen to me, you will-”

“Excuse me?” Kyou graciously stands up, looking up to mom. “Sorry to interrupt you, but I don’t mind Miria-nee being here. To tell the truth, this may be better, as she’s also involved. Ah, where are my manners? My name is Momokawa Kyou, I’m a hero and companion of Kenta.”

“Kenza, the matriarch of this farmstead.” Wow, Mirianne never saw her mom calm down so quickly! “I heard from your friends that you have to ask me something?”

“Indeed. First, I want to express my gratitude for the cart and donkey you lent us. Without it, I would still be held prisoner.”

“Don’t sweat it.” Mirianne also never saw her mom feeling flattered! “I’m glad that it helped you. I’ll get your money ready.” Ah right, Red left a large sum as a guarantee.

“Thank you. I also want to make a request.”

“What is it?”

“Kenta is still recovering. We would like to stay one night here so he can recover enough for me to use my magic to heal him. We can pay, if you want.”

“Girl, don’t sweat a night or two. It’s nothing, seriously. You’re welcome here.”

“Ah, thank you so much, Kenza-san!” Kyou’s smile at Mirianne’s mom is so genuine and sweet, that even Mirianne feels a bit like blushing.

With her mom leaving, Mirianne can’t help but burst out: “How did you do that? I mean-” She can even put it into words. This was amazing, seeing her own mother—her strict, wary, and heavy mother—being so kind and pleasant!

“I wonder? I think she just can’t afford to relax that much around her family.” Maybe she’s right. After all, her mother is the matriarch and has to tell everyone what they have to do, including her father.

Mirianne doesn’t even suspect that she and her whole family are at the mercy of one of the less known traits of a hero.

―○●○―

I open my eyes and look at Jii-san, who sits next to me. It seems like I slept most of yesterday, as it’s definitely the morning sun.

“Good morning, lad. You need a drink and a piss?”

“Yeah.” At this point, there is no need to cover it up, and it seems like Jii-san was chosen to wait here to help me with my morning routines. “Where is the rest?”

“Either sleeping or in the living room.” I guess Ara-san is the only one sleeping. “Here, you can piss into that bucket. Just let me help you up.”

Well, the last day of this rather pitiful state. While there is something like a silent acceptance to it, I can’t wait for my body to get to any semblance of normalcy. After drinking some soup, Jii-san calls the rest, and after some minutes, this room is packed.

There is me, Kyou-san, Rine, Ara-san, Jii-san, that crazy girl, the uncle-guy, and the boss-woman, while all kinds of other people are looking through the door or windows. I guess, people just love to peep. “Phew…”

“Alright, Ken. Lay down, try to relax. You know, that’s my first time using this on something non-trite, so you better don’t make me any more nervous.” Yeah, that’s the problem. While her [Check-up]-skill together with her [Therapy]-ability gives her a good hunch when the time is right for that treatment, it’s not like she has ever done it for real.

“Yeah, yeah. Phew…” While I try to trust her, it’s not as easy. On the other hand, I can have some trust in my hero-body, who more or less fixed some other serious wounds, so I guess that’s something to hold on?

“*Inhale, exhale* Ready?”

“Go ahead.”

With a fierce look, she puts her hands on my chest. “[Rejuvenate]!” Then she starts glowing, and I feel a warmth spreading into me. That’s not so bad-

“AAAAHH!!!” With a flash, the glow jumps into my body, the pain makes me flail my limbs, while I scream. What is this!!! Do I need to feel the same pain as when I was hurt originally!?

As quickly as the pain comes, it subsides, as the light jumps back to Kyou, who also inhales sharply, her face showing the burden of her own spell. Then she pushes the light back to me, and with it comes the pain again.

It feels like my whole body is cramping, is this how a seizure feels!? “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

I think I hear a ‘stop it’, but I forget it the next moment, as the pain disappears once again, though my eyes start to roll back, same as my tongue, which burns like hell!

This goes back and forth, unimaginable pain, followed by sweet numbness. I’m drenched in sweat, same goes for Kyou-san, whose eyes never wavers, staring holes into mine.

After what feels like an eternity, the light leaves me a final time, moving on to Kyou-san, and then it finally fades. With a *thud* Kyou-san falls on my chest. “Hey.” My broken voice complains, and I try to push her aside, but my arm won’t move.

“It’s not me…” She complains between breaths: “I can’t move!”

Don’t tell me… I check her status, to see that particular condition:

[Worn out] Due to too much physical stress within a short time, you won’t be able to freely move your body for a day. You won’t be able to use [Skills] during this time. Communicating and physical basic functions are still possible.

Well, she brought herself to this state for me, so I— can’t help her up, as I have the exact same condition. Shit!

I’m about to complain, but then I feel something strange. Or rather something normal. The tip of my tongue, which grates on intact teeth. I have teeth! My tongue is also whole again!

Instead of annoyance, there is a warm feeling inside me, something I can hardly put into worth. You could title it ‘happiness’ or ‘gratitude’, but these are nothing but weak expressions of what I’m feeling. I feel how I tear up a bit, as while I may not be able to move my arms, I can feel how they’re whole. How my face and body aren’t swollen, how my muscles aren’t torn, how I don’t hear my heart beat every single moment in my ears.

While they may be not strong enough, there are only two words that I can mutter: “Kyou-san, tha-aarrgrgh *cough, cough*”

“Dear! What’s wrong!”

I turn my head away to spit two small fragments out. Are these the fillings that used to be in my teeth? I mean, it’s logical, as even my missing teeth have grown back, but I didn’t expect that somehow!

…where are they? They were there just a moment before! What does that mean!? It’s not like I blinked and they vanished, it’s not like they went into smoke, it’s like they were there one moment, and then they suddenly disappeared!

Rine takes my hand, I feel the warmth: “Are you alright, Dear?”

“Better.” I’ll think about it later with Ara-san. For now, let’s just enjoy the feeling of being fixed. As much fixed as I can ever be. “I feel great.”

“Katarine-san, the spell must have rend poor Kenta-kun’s mind! He sounds so different! He’s gone mad!”

“Nah, he’s just happy. I like this smile, Kenta.” I guess, I’m smiling.

“Good for you, but… can anyone help me!?” Kyou-san rightfully complains, as she’s still stuck on my body. While it’s unpleasant for me as well, I can’t help but notice her breasts also pressing against me.

“What is going on?” Asks the boss-woman who has every reason to be confused.

Ara-san explains the situation. “Hm… Long story short: The spell Momo used has worked, but was too taxing for both of them which is why we need to stay another day.” She’s definitely laughing, I can feel it! She’s also feeling glad, I guess she had some more grave predictions there. “Katarine-san, would you carry Momo to our room?”

“Sure. Grekk, would you mind taking Dear?”

Erm… what? “Why?”

“Well, it would be lonely if you two were separated now. At least you can speak with each other.”

“Also, it’s easier to take care of the both of you if you’re in the same room,” Ara-san adds. I guess she has a point. “Now I need to find some nuts.” She says it so softly, only I can hear it, and she does it on purpose!

“What for?” I ask as softly.

“The moment it’s mine turn to nurse you, I’ll put them into your nose!” That’s easily avoided, by asking Rine to not let Ara-san… wait, that’s her scheme! She wants me to rat on her, so that she can avoid the nursing duties! Sneaky!

Ah, she knows that I know! Seriously, being able to read her spirit somewhat may make more problems than it’s worth! At least, I didn’t need to engage in these mind games before!

After some work, Kyou-san and I are in a three person bedroom, she’s on the middle bed and I on the right one. That way, we can talk, if we ever feel like it. At the moment, we’re left alone, as the others seem to be trying to make some plans for today. It’s not like we need attention all the time, as we’re just unable to move.

“This sucks,” Kyou-san starts the conversation.

“Yeah.” Being [Worn out] the second time, I could tell her that it will become worse. Well, I’ll just do it: “Though it’ll become much worse after some hours.”

“How so!?”

“Itching, ass cheeks falling asleep, being unable to wipe sweat, to say a few.”

“Oh god! Also, why do you look so happy!?”

“I can’t help it. I don’t feel pain. This is much better. I mean, if this would be forever, it’d be most likely worse, but just a day? Sure, I’ll take it!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

“Hrmpf!” She turns away—at least her face does. I guess she can’t take me being honest about it well. Guess she’s too used to me being kinda a jerk, and while I will probably continue being one, this is one of the few things I can’t help but being straight and happy. “Is everything really well?” She asks without turning back.

“Yeah, don’t miss anything. Maybe I even lost a scar or two, but I couldn’t look yet.”

“Good for you.”

“Too bad that this spell is absolutely unfit for combat. Seeing how it disabled both of us.”

“Don’t start complaining about it.”

“Don’t plan to. Just whenever we get a new [Spell] or [Skill], it’s important to think how and when to use it.”

“Talk with Arako about it, then.”

“It’s your [Spell], no? Well, not that I plan to rely on it.”

“What do you mean?”

“[Rejuvenate] is for bad injuries. I’d rather not get hurt enough to need it, personally.”

“Yeah…” OK, something is wrong here. Usually, she would brag, say something like ‘You know, that you always get hurt badly’ or something like that.

“Phew…” Well, no reason to beat around it: “What’s up with you? You know I won’t be able to figure it out, so just tell me.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Then why do you sound like you’re about to cry?”

“I’m not crying!”

“Phew… if you don’t want to tell, just say so.” I won’t pry any further, though I’m somewhat curious. Considering how we came to work together in the first place… “Could it be that with [Rejuvenate] most of your non-magical treatments have lost their meaning?”

“SHUT UP!” I guess I hit the nerve. Well, I guess learning non-magical heals first was the reason why she couldn’t keep adventuring with her jerk-friends and she could later make peace with it, thinking that non-magical healing is better for long-term treatment, which may have been entirely debunked by that single spell.

Let’s be real here: “Kyou-san, I’ll take a poultice or a medicine over a spell that can drain me enough to render me useless.”

“I said ‘Shut up’!”

“One more thing, and I will: Seriously, just work with what you have, and try to make the most of it.”

Kyou-san turns around again and looks at me, like I’m a salesman for used tea bags that rang her door. Then she turns back again, not even giving me any more words.

“Phew…” Guess, I’ll just take it as her way to tell me to not rub it in anymore, and just stay quiet for a while. The day of doing nothing has just started, anyway. I guess I’ll take this day of painlessness and nothing exciting happening as a rare blessing.

―○●○―

“AHAHAHAHAHA!” Skall laughs as he swings his greatsword through the building, causing it to collapse and bury the elderly that took refuge in it. This is the true barbarian way! While he wouldn’t even dream about saying that to Chieftain Brumm’s face, he enjoys the screams of terror, the feeling of something being pulverized by his weapons that’s conducted into his hands.

“Seriously, you have done it,” says Ulw, who picks up a piece of debris, to throw it into the face of one of the few people even willing to resist. Ulw is already in his forties and was supposed to keep the others in check, but Skall knows that Ulw is someone who used to be like him, unsatisfied with the current ways of the clan, though that fire has nearly burned out with age.

After the battles with the other clans, many warriors thirst for more battle. It was bloody, it was messy, it was glorious! They showed that the Northwind Clan is a menace, so why stick to mere scouting if they could just take whatever they want? Of course, they would report any mercenaries or soldiers, but at this time of the year, even most bandits would hole up and just wait, so why would any of these farmers have any protection aside from the usual traps for monsters?

Skall laughs. Now the question is whether they should capture some of the fleeing people. For all kinds of reasons.