Chapter 20 – The Special Maiden

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. That’s right. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

“……I don’t want this anymore!”, Akari muttered while sitting down.

Even though it was sunny at daytime, the inside of the woods was quite dark. She embraced herself and tightly closed her eyes.

”This is unbelievable! I’m supposed to be the ‘heroine’, but, why is that woman acting so high and mighty? In the first place, who is that ‘Kreutz’ even supposed to be? He never appeared in the game. That woman shouldn’t have come out of exile, but, why is she making an appearance again? It should’ve been ‘him’ who came along with Alhart! Why did it have to be that woman…….!?”

It was during that time when she was voicing out her complaints, the thick bushes nearby rustled.

Akari’s body stiffened, but she braced herself to turn around and face the bushes for a few seconds. It was a person who emerged from the rustling bushes. Both their eyes and hair were a dark brown color. The person looked fairly average, with hair that went past their shoulders, which was haphazardly tied at the back.

They seemed to be a traveler, since they were wearing clothes that were easy to move in with a matching short dagger hanging from their waist. They were also carrying a slightly large bag which was slung from their shoulders.

The person blinked in puzzlement when they met Akari’s gaze. However, it was hard to guess what their gender was.

“Oh–, Ummm…what are you doing at this kind of place?”

The voice that called out was neither high nor low, but even so, it was still hard to distinguish their sex with their voice.

“……”

”I am Yuto. Yuto Alzeider. You are?”

”It’s…Akari…”

“What a beautiful name! Akari, why are you in this kind of place?”

“…………”

Yuto smiled and sat beside Akari who refused to answer.

”Could it be that you are…running away from somewhere……or something?”

“!? H-How did you…“

Yuto laughed at Akari as she unconsciously raised her voice when he undoubtedly hit the bull’s eye.

”You see, I’ve traveled around the world and have met a lot of troubled people. That’s why I understand. I see that you are also a troubled person who even ran away.”

“……”

”Well, isn’t that just fine?”

“Eh!?”

”There are times when you want to run away and it’s okay, you see. You don’t need to force yourself to do something that you can’t or don’t want to do. Instead, just put everything into the things that you can do”

”You don’t…have to force yourself too much…”

”Correct. You should ignore the high expectations that other people have for you.”

“……”

Akari blinked several times as tears started to well in her eyes.

”Uh…Huh!? What’s wrong? Did I say something to make you cry!?”

”No, you’re wrong……It’s just…I’m glad…..”

A lot of views changed since Akari went on this journey. To the king, prince, and the citizens of this country, she was the ‘Saintess’ which they had placed their hopes on. The escorts who came along refused to protect her as ‘Akari’.

It didn’t matter if she could do it or not. She simply had to.

Akari had been confused as she had never experienced such a cruel, relentless, and unforgiving ‘world’, but she was told to perform her duty even if it was against her will.

If you’re saying that you can’t do it and escape, then we will abandon you since we don’t have any use for such a ‘saint’, they told her.

Not even one of them tried to comfort Akari. That’s why she was glad. She was absolutely glad because the kind words were not meant for the Saintess, but for Akari.

”I…”

That’s why she thought she could talk if it was Yuto.

ーーー

ー

”I see. So, Akari was the Saintess.”

Yuto merely nodded when he learned about Akari’s identity and what had happened so far.

”I don’t even have any special powers…I’m just a normal human being who came from a different world, but why do I have to risk my life and work hard for people I don’t even know?”

“……”

”Certainly, the people of this country treated me well, but…that’s why…”

”Of course”, Yuuto simply agreed as she let out her dissatisfaction.

Those dark brown eyes of his looked kindly at Akari.

”You’re doing the best you could. It’s not like Akari doesn’t have a special power. Your existence is special to this world. That’s why people probably expect a lot from you.”

”My existence is special?”

”Yes. However, your companions don’t understand that. That’s why they can say mean things against you.”

With a thump, his words went straight to her heart.

I see. I’m not in the wrong here. It’s not my fault.

”But, don’t just settle and let those people think that you’re useless”

”Is that…so?”

”Of course! You possess a very special power. I wish your companions could understand it. Then, they can see how truly great you are.”

”No, it’s not like I’m…..”

As long as Yuto understands me. She couldn’t put it into words.

They just met a few minutes ago. However, out of all the people she met from this world, Yuto was the only one who showed concern for Akari.

What a mysterious person. Akari had heard the words that she longed to hear, and it went straight to her heart before she even noticed.

”Oh, Right! Let’s both go and purify Rufhana village together. Then you could shock those companions who said they didn’t need you.”

”Yuto and I?”

”Yes. I don’t have the power to do the purification, but when it comes to using magic, I have more experience than Akari does. That’s why I could certainly be of use.”

”But if it’s purification, then, I……”

”You can do it. Akari is special after all.”

If he says it with such a smile, then it seems like I can actually do it.

”Then,…..I guess I’ll have to try.”

”That’s the spirit! It’s okay if we fail at first! Let’s do this together!”

The words ‘together’ made Akari happy more than anything else. Yuto would act for Akari’s sake while keeping her in his thoughts. Akari thought that she could definitely do anything as long as Yuto makes her happy.

ーーー

ー

A dazzling light wrapped around and swallowed the whole of Rufhana village.

The light envelopes the black mist rising from the tainted land, becoming white, shining particles and disappearing into the sky.

”Pretty……”

”That’s right!”

In front of Rufhana village, where Milliane had erected the dimly growing barrier of light, stood both Akari and Yuto who smiled and looked at each other.

”Akari-sama*!”

“Ah, Tedla!”

”We were looking all over for you, Akari-sama. Did you do this? You were successful with the purification!?……Who’s this…..?”

The person who approached them was the breathless Tedla. After looking at the numerous light particles disappearing into the sky in wonder, Tedla becomes cautious and sizes up Yuto.

”Are you Akari’s companion? I am Yuto. Yuto Alzeider. I am a traveler.”

“……I am Tedla Balratona. So, the one who did this was…….”

”It was Akari. I merely lent her a hand. She is extraordinary after all.”

“……..For the meantime, let’s go back to where Syltina-sama and the others are and talk once we’re there.”

“…………I don’t want to.”

“Akari-sama?”

Akari brushed off the hand Tedla offered her and wrapped her hands around Yuto’s arm.

“Why do I have to go back to those people!? I’m going with Yuto!! I’ll travel with Yuto and purify the land!”

“Akari-sama!?”

“Akari, that’s a bit…….”

“Why？Isn’t Yuto a wanderer？If that’s the case, then he should be strong, right? If it’s Yuto, I’m sure he won’t lose to those demons! Yuto will take care of bringing the demons down, and I will purify the land. See? Isn’t that a great idea?”

“…….Akari, I think you should return to your companions for now. I’ll go with you, too.”

“But!”

“It will be fine. I will be with Akari after all.”

“………..Okay”, Tedla breathed a sigh of relief when Akari finally agreed to go.