「Then Cheryl. Have you done everything you wanted in this town?」

「Un….not yet. But it’s fine….」

The difficulty level of the request this time is a bit higher.

For me who has finished acquiring the funds for the trip, I stood on the edge of Arufareia.

Before our eyes, the boundary of the town was just a step away.

Although there were various Martial Arts masters in this town, it can be said that they weren’t the cream of the crop. Iya, perhaps Ted could be considered the cream of the crop. When I see that muscular strength, I am reminded of my old self, and if he didn’t appear in the middle of this trip, I may have received him as a disciple.

But this Ted, is no more than the first person whom I have met in this large world. An example of what kind of Martial Artists there are in this world. It can’t be helped that it feels fun when I think about it.¹

Fumu──even though it was only a few weeks, this town was a lively town. (TLN: This ‘town’ is the ‘Capital’ after all…)

It feels a bit regrettable to leave now that I think about it.

If I was able to arrive at the pinnacle of Martial Arts, it would have been nice to spend my remaining life in such a lively town.

The warmth of the Elven race, after all, is preferable.

For a brief moment, there was hesitation.

The thought of ‘why would I dare go down this road when I’m just going to be struck repeatedly’.

If I just fought people with my fist like Chester, I could spend my life easily once I grasped the money.

Delicious meals can move one’s heart after all, and with a spacious house, it would be a suitable place to take root.

Still, it’s hard to get off the road of Martial Arts──

「Slava-kun, I had a lot of fun….」

As expected, it seems to have been a lot of fun.

This tough and steep road, advancing even one more step. With that alone, the next step becomes more maddening to overcome.

In the end, a Martial Artist──is a ******, in addition to being a m̲a̲s̲o̲c̲h̲i̲s̲t̲.²

「Iya, it’s fun to think ahead. Then, let us say goodbye to Arufareia.
──Farewell, Arufareia.」

「….Bai-bai. Arufareia.
….Nee Slava-kun, can we come here, again?」

「Maybe, if our trip is over, then we’ll come. Do you want to see Ted’s face before we go?」

「Un. I’m looking forward to it….」

To the city where we rested ourselves for a while, we said goodbye to two people.

To the owner of the inn, Ted. As well as Phillips who I bid farewell personally.

Since I was challenged by many inexperienced Martial Artists, there were several people looking forward to next time.

Until my trip reaches a turning point, which is only a decade for elves, but there probably aren’t any people who understand the weight of time.

If my trip is over, let’s visit Arufareia once again after all.

See ya, eh. Making a vow in my heart, I took a step──and left the town of Arufareia.

With the help of the map that I bought in town, we walked on a somewhat fixed path.

Although it was a slow pace for the quicker-than-a-horse me, time seems to go slower this way, and it gave off a quaint feeling.

Cheryl runs fast, but she is still a child unlike Chester and I. There’s a difference in speed, and even though I say little──her real age is 25 years old though──child, I don’t plan on running all day long.

Foremost, there isn’t a need to hurry there. Due to this, we walked leisurely along the journey.

There is still some time before the sun sets. Now then, how many days will it take to arrive at Natousha.

「Ufufuー」

Watching her bouncing and hopping, Cheryl occasionally turns side to side.

Somehow, she doesn’t seem to hate walking.

There would be a feeling of emptiness when I walk down a long road, but watching such a lovely child doesn’t tire me out.

「Is it fun?」

「Very fun!」(TLN: At this point in time, the TL-er is thinking of putting an exclamation point and he DID)

Those languid eyes don’t change, but the voice is lively. It must really be fun.

In such a state, a smile is invoked involuntarily. This is a really good child if you exclude her power.

I fear her bloodthirst and cruelty.

Even a mild-mannered Elf would frown upon seeing a Majin’s child….huh. The relationship is shown in appearance once takes a glance.

That reminds me, I haven’t seen that berserk state recently.

This may be the result of stopping before hitting during sparring.

….Fumu. To the extent of stopping suddenly, it causes some uneasiness.

Stress should have accumulated.

「Hey Cheryl~ya」

Walking the long route, there was more exposure than usual──Cheryl who was dressed in a boy’s clothes, stopped moving.

The gentle eyes of the girl, captivated me.

「….What is it?」

「Recently you haven’t been flying into rage, is there no irritation?」

The stress, that accumulates from trivial things.

Let alone a girl of Cheryl’s age, I don’t understand what can cause abnormality the heart.

During the trip, I thought that such attention was necessary but──

「Uun, there isn’t.
….There’s Slava-kun, together with me under the sun.
That alone is amazing, because it’s a lot of fun.」³

Looking at the gentle smile that was as bright as the sun, it seemed to be an imaginary fear, so I let out a breath.

Although some immaturity still remains, she has grown up from the first time I saw her.

I wonder what this warm feeling is.

──Really, it is the feeling when I see Alma, it’s that kind of sensation. (TLN: Like watching someone or something grow up)

「Is that so. If Cheryl is enjoying it, that’s good」

I unintentionally laughed.

Children keep one’s mind at ease.
….In this life, perhaps it would be a good idea to get a wife. Maa, when I wonder about if a woman could like a man like me, I highly doubt it.

「Now, let’s take a break.
The precious sandwich will become impossible to eat if it becomes too old.」

「Obento? ….Yatta!」⁴

In any case, now.

Currently enjoying this slow time, in addition to having fun.

While feeling heartwarming feelings towards Cheryl who had a broad smile, I took a parcel out from the luggage.

Opening the parcel, there were some sandwiches inside.

Although it is only a dish with a bunch of ingredients stuffed inside of the bread, this dish still makes one’s heart race.

Moving away from the sunny area, I sat down under the shade of a tree.

With a cool wind blowing, it was just the right temperature. It provokes sleepiness when the two are put together. (TLN: Tree shade + Cool breeze)

But we were currently more hungry than sleepy.

When I smiled at Cheryl who sat down next to me, Cheryl returned the smile.

I handed a sandwich to Cheryl, matched her timing, and bit into it.

….I see. The contents were smoked salmon and lettuce. (TLN: NO MAYO(CHIKI)!?!?)

The smoked salmon, made on wood chips, suffused a delightful smell that pleased the nose as well as fill the mouth. (TLN: Smoking guy from Soma anyone?)

It wasn’t the taste of a simple fish, the taste had a maturity that came distinctly from smoking it while keeping the fish clean. There was also a salty taste that came from preparing the fish.

The salty flavor that was weakened by the lettuce and bread, though it is still salty as it is now, was able to be felt.

But with this bread with the fluffiness of clouds and extremely fresh lettuce, the sandwich was changed to just the right salty flavor.

In addition, the lettuce is placed wonderfully. The fresh lettuce releases a clear sound when I take a bite, releasing water from its collapsing fibers, washing away the fat and salty taste in my mouth. ‘The salmon isn’t the main role’, it felt as if it were arguing that.

The texture of the smoked salmon disappears the moment you think about it.

It hugs your teeth as if it wanted to stick to it, with a fleshy texture that makes one slightly regret letting loose one’s teeth, and I let it go smoothly.

Sometimes the sticky texture is annoying. However, the fresh lettuce changed it into an enjoyable texture.

With the comfortable taste of the lettuce dissipating, the captivating taste of the fleshy salmon came forward.

Different joys alternating, a duet was played in my mouth.

「──Delicious」

Thus, it caused a simple word to come out. The word that was naturally said, just came out naturally like a ball of yarn being unraveled.

There were a multitude of words to express this taste. But after all, this is the only way to simply compliment it.

Oh dear, though I say that it is a simple dish, the euphoria is great.

Looking at her, even Cheryl’s cheeks became loose. Although a lavish dish would bring the same amount of deliciousness, this sense of combination is able to produce such joy even without money. I can’t help but say that there’s a road to master in any field.

The contents are fish, so it should be eaten as soon as possible. Passing a sandwich, I remembered the face of the landlord of the inn, and suddenly laughed.⁵

Losing such taste, I guess I lost.

「Tasty~ne」

「Aa, the best」

Above all──in nature’s warmth, eating a meal with a friend. (TLN: それに何より──暖かな自然の中で、友人と食べる食事だ。)

Delicious food and above all, a good atmosphere.

During the time that drifts slowly, we enjoyed this brief respite. (TLN: Because respite > rest)

──The sun begins to release its rays onto the resting Earth, it is the time when the moon starts waning.

There were almost no people due the path not being paved well, there was a person who hid behind the trees and plants.

The person was wearing a black jacket as well as black pants, nevertheless this figure could be identified as a man because his face was exposed.

There was a stubbly beard, not sure if it was because treatment on his face delayed, but even if he had treated it──there were a number of large scars.

And, in his hand was a pretty large knife, a shabby knife that was held as if it were a sword.

Hiding in the darkness, along with glaring eyes, there was a person with a blade.

The identity of this man was unknown, and for what purpose does this man hide behind trees and plants if I could see his figure, it could be understood at first sight.

This man, was a thief.

Rather than go by conventional labor to earn money, the person would rather attack a person weaker than oneself.

But we had confidence in our muscular prowess, the man had already killed a number of travellers, so there was a bounty.

For a bounty, the person who performs evil deeds must be known, so it is never applied for a particular individual.

The bounty is on this man nevertheless, while it shows how careless this man is──at the same time, it also talks about how many evil deeds have been done.

「(….Chi, there are only small customers today)」

The one whose true motives muttered 「Customers」, of course is the traveller who was travelling through the darkness.

Naturally this man was confident in his muscular prowess. However, he was still hiding within the darkness waiting for an opportunity.

The appearance was seen many times, this man let go many travellers without being able to finish killing them. But, still wasn’t caught, this was an outcome of the odd carefulness of this man.

It’s always done at night. Hiding, sure of killing one person.

During such confusion, he kills the rest if there are more than one prey.

Escaping within a heartbeat once there was a counterattack, pursuing to death if they escaped.

These tactics are extremely despicable. But ironically, he’s been able to stay an evil person up until this day.

──However.

「(Aa, it finally came.
These two travelling brats. I don’t expect any valuable things.
──But, I should be able to enjoy the woman.)」

Saying an evil deed, it seems like it isn’t long now.

In the eyes of the man who was thinking about vulgar things, there was a boy and girl who had a lamp as they walked down a dim road.

Judging from appearance, the girl was probably of Majin race. Although young, it was very bewitching, very intriguing・・・that appearance.

After fully enjoying, I’ll sell her off to some slave dealer.

Although there is little income today, I found a good thing.

The man who was a thief set his eyes on the girl who was like a white rabbit, and licked his snakey tongue on his ugly lips.

Ascertaining the prey, waiting for time. Okay, it’s time. The way I always do it, the habit of man.

It was just that.

──But, it was just that, it was so funny that he wanted to laugh.

Watching with his night vision eyes, the man was evaluating his own vision. Hence it was called the road of the thief.

However, eyesight doesn’t have any relationship with insight.

This man──before he knew it, the figure of the boy who was next to the girl had disappeared from his sight.

Besides the man, the boy that should have been next to the girl stood there.

Those pupils, were dyed with utter contempt.

The man noticed it, from the boy’s hand on his neck.

Instantaneous spine freezing, in addition, besides the girl should be 「The person to kill」and then noticed that the figure of the boy wasn’t there.

And at the same time──perhaps, without being able to confirm the figure, it was noticed.

「Your bloodthirst is leaking out.
Or is this──that fun?」

Making even the soul freeze, the cold voice of the boy spoke to the man.

Depending on the voice alone it was beautiful, artistic even──fearful domination.

Judging from appearance, he thought it was an easy job.

But, the man noticed. He who thought he was a predator, the reality was that the boy was in front of him, and the fact that it was the mouse who was supposed to be played with was now killing the cat.

「──A」

Right away, the man was going to beg for his life.

However, his throat couldn’t move as if it were frozen.

Magical power emanated from the boy’s hand. It turned into a sword edge──more fear was felt.

「You should’ve tried hiding a little better.
──Aa, my interest cool down.」

I totally lost interest. To the voice of the boy who spoke these words, the man realized his fate.

「Ma──」

Perhaps, for the first time in this man’s life, it was the quickest reaction.

Wait, help me.

The killing intent of the boy swelled. The pressure became violent, foreshadowing what was going to be done. The man who finally issued words for begging for his life──

With a familiar body reflected in his eyes, the figure of the boy stopped thinking.

Instead of a full mirror’s view of the whole body, it was recognized due to how long they had been together, and the neck was gone.

Whether the body crumbled earlier, or──did the neck collapse earlier.

The man who thought he was a predator, had an all too disappointing finish in life.

….Maa, a funeral won’t be given.

Looking at the body of the man falling down, I murmured my intent with eyes filled with contempt.

If the bloodthirst was only for me I wouldn’t kill you without discussion, but it’s a different story if it’s towards Cheryl.

Besides, those sticky vulgar eyes, was already a reason not to exchange any words.

….Thief class, huh.

Looking at the man whose body was wrapped fully in black, I wondered if there were fellows like this in the country of elves──with a sigh.

Every person thinks of things, it’s more natural than speaking, somehow I feel lackluster and regret it.

The face of the man who rolled, was lying down on the ground, he couldn’t ask. Just by looking at those long ears, this man was also an elf.

….Although there are many good people, there are a number of men like this one.

Although I wanted to enjoy the day of departure, it doesn’t seem possible.

There already was no more business, and I lost interest in the man, so I shifted my gaze to Cheryl who I had left.

Maybe because I had disappeared without saying anything, Cheryl seemed a bit upset. Fumu….even while reading the signs, you want me to teach you recovery magic concurrently.

There is no problem for Cheryl if this man was her partner, since the man could only struggle a little bit in my surprise attack.

Without sending a glance to the corpse, I emerged from the darkness.

「What’s this? Slava-kun, there was….」

「Iya it’s over. I was just meeting someone for a bit.
Next time I’ll tell you before disappearing.」

It was a little「Processing」that I finished, I rejoined Cheryl with an innocent look.

Of course there was a means to hold it off, so maybe the excuse was a bit miserable?

──Maa I handled the dirty work, in that sense it’s constant.

「Mou」

Cheryl who didn’t understand such wordplay, slightly blushed with puffed out cheeks.

It’s a good thing to be naive. Really, Cheryl still doesn’t need to know.

When taking a last glance at the dark──I began to walk expressionlessly.

In any case there’s a bad mood. If we camp for the night, we’ll camp in a more remote place.

Leaving Arufareia, the security couldn’t be maintained after all.

Even for elves, there are people like this.

But at the very least──if you have the mindset to kill, you should be ready to be killed, that sense of crisis is the thing you should embrace.

Checking my appearance, once more Cheryl lightened her steps, I had also begun walking.