Chapter 13 - Just Like a Kid
Translator: Erothur
When [Axe Mastery] skill reaches 30, no matter how much firewood you chop, the skill seems like it won’t rise at all from the very small experience point generated from it. It was just like back then in Eternal Magia as any level 30 skill would reach it first attainment point.
LOG
- You are doing [Firewood Splitting]
- You have created firewood from a log.
In the backyard of my house, I split apart log to create firewood by using a wood stump. This is the easiest way to grind [Axe mastery] skill and thanks to the buff granted by the skill, even a kid like me with my small hand axe still manage to split a log cleanly without any problem. It sure is a surreal scene if anyone witnesses it.
This world which was created by the G.o.ddess has skills reign over and alter even the natural physical law. That is exactly why Filianes-san with her slender arms could dish out that kind of unbelievable damage. If it was Mar-san and father Ricardo then their [Strong Body] skill point is just matched with their physical const.i.tution so it was not strange at all if they are [Strong].
(To have strength unmatched with it outside appearance really is troublesome. I must constantly keep on being careful……)
Because even a frail looking beautiful girl still has the possibility to gives out a high damage when attacking. Just like myself right now who can already beat an orc which have a much much much stronger physical looks than me without breaking a sweat.
“Ah Hiroto, so this is where you’ve been”
“Hiro-chan. Stella-oneechan is coming! Let’s play~”
When I turn my head to the source of voice, Stella and Riona stands there. I told them that I won’t go out to do quest today and stays all day in the house so they have come to play.
Stella’s hair has grown and reaches her shoulder and the tip of her hair is a bit curled. Today, she wears a light blue one piece with a white alice band holding up her hair. Light blue dye are expensive, and even the design and sewing are high cla.s.s. The clothes that I and Riona wear is just a simple one.
“Are you helping your dad? Hiroto is a good boy as usual”
“Y-yeah…… Well, just a little bit”
“Hiro-chan, what should we play? Hide and seek?”
The kids in this world only had one kind of game to play before and that is to collect colorful pretty stones then use those stones like playing marbles.
So I just come out and try teaching the girls cat’s cradle game that I only know little of but it was unexpectedly become popular. There is not much amus.e.m.e.nt in this village so the kids really appreciate even this meager addition.
“For today, I will teach you two how to study. Because I will become your private tutor from now on”
“puri fate cutor?”
“Private tutor okay. It was an awesome job you know? Even mama had done similar thing before”
While hearing to dialogue between Stella and Riona, I remember what Elena had once said to me. But even so, even if Stella is older, she should be not old enough to have the ability to teach others……
“Hiroto, where is your answer?”
“Y-yes…… let’s study then. What will you teach us?”
“I will teach you to study”
“Riona likes studying! Riona also likes Stella-oneechan!”
Riona suddenly hugs Stella. Stella, even when she has a hint of embarra.s.sment in her face, still smiles while patting Riona’s head.
“Riona, I will help you comb your hair later. Girls must learn how to treat their appearances”
“Okay ♪ Thank you Stella-oneechan!”
While remembering the time when I help combing Filianes-san’s hair, the scene in front of me made me think. The friendship between this two little girl really is pure and it made me all warm inside.
(Then I will also put my best to act out as a kid maybe)
In my previous live, it was at the middle of elementary school that I start to avoid other people. Even if the cause was just a trivial thing, if that thing were to not happen, maybe I would still be capable to communicate with other people.
Well, I now have the precious chance to start over my life. I turned back into a little boy now so I shouldn’t just focus on only raising my skill, I have to improve my own self as well.
◇◆◇
The book that Stella bought is a children"s picture book with a word [Hero] written on the cover.
“The G.o.ddess said: My children of the human race, the time where we must depart has comes”
The book is spread out in the floor of my room and Stella-nee is reading the book out loud. Riona and I are lying in both of her sides peeking at the content of the book.
“Zzz…… zzz……”
Maybe because the situation is just too comfortable, Riona seems to be fallen asleep at a time…… If she were to go to school then she will definitely become the type that will sleep in afternoon cla.s.s after having her lunch. But well, she would be more diligent at that time maybe.
“Stand with your own two feet and walk forward! Keep on walking no matter what happen”
Stella flips the page. And in this new page, there are pictures of 8 weapons. There is also a picture of a woman…… she is probably the G.o.ddess herself. The picture is like the scene from the G.o.ddess bestowing these 8 weapons.
“And at the time when you can’t get up no matter what, I will grant you a strong person to guide your way”
The strong person that the G.o.ddess dispatches…… is this refers about the hero?
There is the picture of 8 hands reaching out the 8 weapons. 8 weapons…… why does it sound so familiar……?
(The same number as the weapons bestowed to the demon kings by the evil G.o.d……?)
Realizing that, I suddenly feel a cold shiver running on my back.
“Stella-nee, who writes this picture book?”
“This book? I was told that it was a copy of an original book written by a certain exalted [Sage]. Is it interesting?”
“Y-yeah…… it is interesting”
“…… Did you learn much?”
“Yes, I learn much”
For normal little kids, reading picture book for them like this might already be considered a genuine home tutoring. Learning things like counting, reading, and writing better be put on hold for later.
“…… I’m really glad that I can help”
“……”
Stella-nee is having a very happy smile in her face.
Her smile is such kind of smile that would make other people who see it feel comfortable. It was a smile that has the power to move everyone’s heart. She is still a child? That and this is unrelated.
As for me, I feel like I still couldn’t smile naturally like her. So that smile is really too bright for me to see.
“…… Stella-nee is amazing! I want you to read more books for me”
“Ah…… I’m sorry, I only bought this book today”
Actually, in my room, there are a lot of books related to how to get and increase a skill. But I had hidden them all now. I don’t want Stella-nee to suspect my current mental age.
“Zzz…… Hiro-chan……”
“Riona has fallen asleep…… huhuhu, she really is cute”
Stella-nee isn’t mad with her sleeping. She’s just poking playfully at Riona’s cheek. And after that, she smiles while turning her gaze on me.
(That’s good…… it seems like that matter with the orc from before didn’t traumatize her that bad)
At that time, it really can be said as a hair breath rescue. I still can’t forget Stella crying face even now……
I’ve been working hard so I won’t need to look at that kind of face. Even if Deen or any other people did something rash, I have already possessed adequate strength to cover them all.
Yet the monsters in the vicinity keep on increasing lately and I am but one man, I have my limit. Even if I keep doing quests to subjugate those monsters to lower the danger level around, it would still rise again by the next day. The guild bulletin board is always full with monster subjugation quest nowadays…… it was like doing a frustrating rat race with them.
“Hiroto? Did your tummy hurt?”
“Ah…… Y-yeah. Just a little bit”
“Mama had made some cookie. Here eat some. Mama put my favorite nuts inside you know”
LOG
- 《Stella》 is giving you [Nuts Cookie]. Would you accept? YES / NO
I immediately accept her cookie and put one in my mouth. Wheat is also one of the staple foods in even this world and it circulate commonly everywhere and just like in earth, it was mainly used as the main ingredient for bread. For the nuts, there are actually wide ranges of variety for it but beside those which give out special effects when eaten, it would be uniformly called as nuts within the log.
“Okay, open wide……”
After wiping her hand with a handkerchief, Stella-nee takes a cookie from the wrapper and brings it to my mouth. (The raw says so. I a.s.sume the one up there was a mistake and author forget correcting it)
“A-aan……” (Opening mouth)
While feeling embarra.s.sed, I still eat a mouthful of it. And Stella-nee keeps watching me close by with a smile.
“Is it good?”
“Y-yeah…… it is delicious”
“Is that so…… hic……”
I was answering her honestly.
But instead of getting happy from my response, Stella-nee’s happy expression suddenly crumbled. From both of her eyes, droplets of tears stream down on her cheek.
(W-why? What happened? …… Did I do something bad? ……)
My head suddenly went panic seeing the scene. Why did she cry? Was I wrong eating that cookie before? ---- Well, probably it was not about that as my mind gets calmer but still, seeing a girl crying before my eyes like this is not something comfortable.
When I realize it, I have already hugged Stella-nee strongly. She probably surprised by the strength that I put unintentionally in my hug.
“…… Thank you for saving me from that scary monster……”
“…… Stella-nee……”
The wound in her heart from that time is still not healed yet. And I didn’t put any effort in trying to understand that.
I can only give her a hug now. I can’t even say anything else to comfort her beside letting her cry inside my arms.
“Hic…… Hic…… I was afraid…… I thought I was going to die……”
If she had tried to stop Deen from being rash. If she had asked another adult to help them at that time……
If she did that at that time, Deen might have gone to the forest by himself and met that orc alone. At that time and probably died.
And if at that time Hiroto was a bit late in saving her, she doesn’t know whether she could be saved or not.
(My preparation is still to lacking. I can still do many things to improve it)
By myself, trying to lower the danger level…… if that attempt is still not enough, then.
I need to a.s.semble strong people that can defeat monster safely together and create an organization. That’s right ---- a vigilant company that is.
The people that had joined in my party until now, the people that had raised their level by grouping together in a party…… if I got their cooperation, then protecting Mizell’s peace is not an impossible thing.
“…… It won’t be dangerous anymore. So don’t cry okay?”
“…… Is it true?”
“Of course, I promise”
There’s a possibility of meeting an orc again and she is scared by that. To erase that fear, what I can do is only one thing.
And that is by lowering the danger level. If it lowered down enough then orc would not sp.a.w.n again. Although in my mind, I wish I can lower it down to to the level where even goblin would not sp.a.w.n.
If it was within the game then no matter how much one got hurt or even died, they would not lose anything important. But this world is not a game.
By patting Stella’s back, she started to calmed down and separates herself from me.
“…… I was the older one yet I was the one who cried”
“It’s alright. I won’t say it to anyone”
“Okay…… thank you”
Stella ---- no, Stella-nee seems to be having something else to say.
I was trying to get myself used to look at people"s eyes when talking to them, and the more used I am with it, I gradually starts to be able to understand a little of the feeling hidden behind their eyes. So what I do is…
“…… Stella-neechan, let’s take a nap together with Riona”
“…………”
‘I still don’t want to go back home’ that was the feeling that I managed to perceive from Stella-nee or so I think…… but her reaction was not quite right.
No, her face is all burning red now. Even a kid like her is the same like an adult who could feel shame and embarra.s.sment.
“…… Hiroto, will you be there for me?”
“Yes, I’ll be there for you”
I immediately answer without hesitation. And when I do, Stella who was being bashful a while ago suddenly gives out a shining smile like when a flower blooms under the gentle light of the sun.
I am strong enough to carry Riona to my bed but I ask mother to carry her for me. Stella knows a bit of my power but I ask her to keep it a secret.
The letters that I wrote for Stella were known by Elena-san. I can’t help but feel embarra.s.sed because of it but…… I seem to feel quite comfortable doing this kind of communication so I just resigned myself to the feeling of shame in content.
◇◆◇
After waking up from my nap with Riona and Stella, after much pondering, I write a letter to my father.
I can, by myself, let people who have joined my party to work for me and a.s.semble fighting power quickly. But of course the adults of Mizell town won’t just stay silent if they know of my doing. That is not something appropriate for me to do as I am just still too young.
Even father, if he heard I say ‘let’s make a vigilant company to protect the town!’, probably won’t take that seriously. But father should also realize it…… because he goes out of the town everyday he should realize that the number of monsters is increasing.
“I’m back! Ou Hiroto, did you come out to greet dad? Thank you, my boy”
Father Ricardo comes back from his work. After putting his axe down on the workbench used to maintain it, he then approaches me.
(Even for the axe case, I have surprised him quite hard…… I don’t want make him to worry about me any further than this……)
My hesitation only persist for an instant, I quickly hand him my letter that I hide behind my back.
“N? …… What’s wrong? You don’t have to hold it back, if you want to go to the toilet just go”
“N-no…… That’s not it. Here, dad……”
“Letter? …… Why did you suddenly become meek like this? Haha~ I know! you want dad to buy something for you right?”
Father Ricardo takes my letter and starts reading it…… his expression quickly turned into a serious one as he continue reading my letter.
“…… Where is your mother now?”
“…… in the bath”
“Is that so…… Then talking about it here won’t be a trouble right. Have a seat.”
Dad then pulls out a dining table chair and tells me to sit there. We sit facing each other and dad put my letter down on the table then he read aloud the content.
“Monster has been increasing, and there’s a case where they attack children. And you want to make sure that something like that won’t happen again in the future….. right?”
“…… Stella-nee was crying. And I don’t want to see her or my other friend crying again like that”
In front of my dad, I don’t use the ‘me’ [俺 ore, masculine one, Hiroto usually use this one] instead I use the other ‘me’ [僕 boku, boyish one, more polite]. Using boku is somewhat embarra.s.sing but I want to keep acting as a kid in front of my parents…… but what I do now is exactly the opposite of that though.
(Eros: don’t have a better way to translate this so I just put it like that)
I just give dad a letter which content is not childlike at all. How will dad reacts I wonder. It was plainly abnormal after all……
---- But I worried for nothing. Dad didn’t show any contempt or scared expression to me. He instead looks at me straight in the eyes with a serious expression.
“Daddy has to get mad at you at one thing no matter what. And that is because Hiroto doesn’t act like a child now”
Even if I try to keep it a secret, if I go to the town then it will reach father and mother’s ear someday…… and I have prepared for that. Because every time I go to the guild to take any quest, I have to show my face at the counter no matter what.
“I know Monica is a skilled hunter herself. And learning about hunting from is a good thing actually. But then again, Hiroto my boy, when I heard from Bardis old man that he found clear traces of fighting against monster when he does maintenance to your axe, Dad broke a cold sweat even when the old man praise you for being courageous you know?”
“…… I’m sorry for being quiet about it. But, I……”
“No buts. It is the actual common sense that Hiroto definitely should not try to fight monsters. Daddy even feel that Daddy and the other adult should just go and hunt those monster to extinction if letting them alive would just mean giving you the chance to fighting them my boy”
Father is actually aware with what I’ve been doing. He is just feigning ignorance against that fact all along.
He even still call me [Hiroto my boy] towards me who he knew only act like a child…… He keeps trying to continue treating me as his dear little son. Even when he knows that my child like act are just superficial.
“…… Dad, do you hate me?”
“…… Oo?”
A sudden anxiety a.s.sails me and made me unintentionally ask that. I become afraid from the possibility of being chased out from the house because I’m not acting like a normal kid.
Father look at my worried face with his eyes wide open…… and eventually, he starts to laugh out loud.
“HAHAHA! …… Is that so? So you’ve been thinking about such things too? Daddy here you know, has been filled with trepidation in deciding whether Dad should treat Hiroto just like and adult or not. In any way, trying to treat a kid like you like that of an adult man needs a lot of courage in Daddy’s part”
“…… Dad”
“For Daddy, no matter how fast Hiroto grow, Daddy will stay being your daddy. Even if you said that you don’t like it, Daddy wouldn’t care a bit. You can surpa.s.s Daddy in any way and Daddy will not get mad about it. But Daddy will not ever let you surpa.s.s Daddy in terms of age! This and that are different matters okay”
“…… Ahaha”
Hearing father’s joke, I finally let out a spontaneous laugh that has been sealed from my worry lately. I know this situation is not the right situation to laugh like that but I just laugh anyway.
“Good boy, that’ll do! Don’t keep that serious look all the time or you won’t get popular with the girls.(Eros: oh mister, your boy already has lol. Sorry, can’t help it.) Riona-chan definitely will become a stunning babe in the future so you must get on her good terms and hold her tight from now on, OK?”(Eros: I love this dad)
“U…… I-I and Riona, is not……”
“Then is it Stella-chan? Or maybe Millet-chan? But Daddy thinks you interested in Riona-chan the most though”
“T-that was…… That was because she just won’t stop following me”
If I have to say it honestly, being followed around by Riona doesn’t give me a bad feeling at all.
Well, when I want to do my quest, stopping her from following me always burns my hand every time but…… Personally, I want to stay at Riona’s side to offset her misfortune but I just can’t exist in two different places at the same time which vexed me.
“…… Hahaha, You know what my boy? Daddy thought that Daddy would still need much longer time before Daddy could talk about this kind of things with you”
“…… I also, thought so”
“With you already thinking of this kind of thing, I know that you are hardly ‘normal’ anymore…… Even this letter, it was written in a well ordered manner. When Daddy was in your age my boy, lest a letter, Daddy might even don’t know anything about reading and writing yet”
Father stands up from his chair and approaches me. His large hand then lands gently on top of my head.
“…… But then again Hiroto my boy, don’t make your mother worry too much. Your mother seems to be feeling lonely from not being able to spoil her precious son well you know?”
“…… I’m sorry”
“Daddy will also try to make your mother doesn’t feel lonely too much but Daddy cannot be my boy replacement. For a kid to act like one is also an important thing you know? …… Do you understand?”
Father just left his hand on top of my head. He usually will pat me at such time but he seems to be waiting for my answer.
That’s why, as the son of father Ricardo, I think that I need to answer him with as much honesty I have.
“Okay dad, I understand”
“Alright…… good answer. Now that is my son alright”
That approving word from father Ricardo somehow seeps deep inside my heart.
And then I suddenly remember my life before.
When I was Morioka Hiroto, when was the last time did my father give me a pat in the head like this I wonder?
“Hiroto my boy, your mom is taking a bath now so go together with her. You haven’t been taking one with her lately right?”
“N-no…… but……”
“Your mom always takes a long bath so it’s alright. Go after her then jump to the tub and make a good splash. No matter how much you spill it up, Daddy will burn some more wood to heat it up again okay?”
“…… Okay!”
◇◆◇
“Hiroto, why did you in such a rush? Did you run away because you don’t want to take a bath with your dad?”
“N-no…… I just want to go in with you mom”
“Oh my…… this is the first time you said such a sweet thing. Ah, I know! Hiroto, do you mom to buy something for you?”
Be it father or mother, the thing that they said is just similar with each other. Is it because they are husband and wife that they have a similar train of thought? Well, it is not a bad thing I suppose.
“No mom, it’s not that……”
“Huhu, you cute little thing trying to be tactful. Kids don’t have to hold back you know? Let mother spoil you more”
(WAA……!)
Mother suddenly stands up from being soaked inside the bathtub. She who just reached 22 years old this year, added with the gracefulness from her [Elegance] skill, had ripen even more womanly as she ages.
The reason why I don’t go take a bath with my mother anymore was because of that…… my mother is just too beautiful. When I remember the time when she still breastfed me, my face just get blushed reflexively.
Father who can wed such a beautiful woman like mother is very lucky and it made me jealous…… Okay, that’s not what a son should think of but, I really do think so from my heart.
Mother gets off from the bath tub. She doesn’t even bother hiding her body which is wet with water drops running freely on her skin. She just get me to sit on a stool and moves to my back to wash my hair. There is no shampoo here like it was in my previous life but there is a mixed herb sap that is used to wash the hair and she is using that to wash my hair now.
“You are still a little kid so you should take a bath together with mommy more often okay? Mommy is you know, really worried every time Hiroto takes a bath alone even if you already could do things by yourself”
“I’m sorry…… If mommy is alright with it, I also want to take a bath together”
“Of course mommy wouldn’t mind. Mommy is you know, Hiroto’s one and only mother after all”
“…… Okay mom”
Hearing mother’s word, I know that she is, even though I shouldn’t perceive it, crying out a bit.
Since I saw Riona’s status that day, I always trying to rush up with my life. Even by a bit, I want to get stronger faster. Even by a bit, I want to collect more information…… those was all that always occupy my mind lately.
Of course I don’t have any intention to stop doing all the thing that I’ve done till now. I won’t stop raising my skill, and won’t stop doing quest.
But even so, more than that…… I wish to keep being mother and father’s son. Being born her, that must be my……
“Haven’t you not gotten any lately from Sarasa-san right? Breast milk”
“Eh…… B-breast milk? I don’t, breast milk…… WA!”
Suddenly, warm water washes my head down, rinsing the mixed herb sap on my hair. After I swipe my face and managed to open my eyes again, in front of my eyes, a pair of beautiful fruit that definitely had grown larger since two years ago…… C-calm yourself me, don’t stare at it, it’s too dangerous……
“Mommy has been talking to your dad, and we agree that we should spoil you a bit more……”
(……Mother)
“Mommy think it still too early for you to lose your childlike-ness. Mommy wish that, Hiroto will still be mommy’s cute Hiroto for a while longer……”
She hugs me tight from upfront. While having my face buried in mother bountiful valley, I thought like this.
That no matter how much skill I raised, no matter how much I become stronger, there is one thing that I should never forget.
“…… Did you understand, what Mommy what to ask?“
“Yes”
“Is that so…… Then, just a little bit, just like when you are still a baby…… Does Hiroto feel embarra.s.sed?”
I don’t feel embarra.s.sed or any other thing. All I did just forget everything to turn back my mental condition to be similar to the time when I was still a baby and give myself in inside my mother’s cradle.