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Beast Tamer Who Got Kicked Out From the Hero’s Party Chapter 22 Part 2

CHAPTER 22: THE TRAGEDY OF THE PAST PART 2

And the buildings and houses that were on fire both inside and outside……

Everything enveloped in bright flames.

「Rein……?」

「Is everything alright……?」

Kanade and Tanya gently laid their hands on top of mine.

As for me, I didn’t even notice that my hands were clasped so tightly that they were bleeding.

As if the warmth of their hands would heal the memories of the past tragedies……

Gently, I released my clasped hands and relaxed a little bit.

「T-Thank you for that, both of you. I might have gotten a little bit too emotional just now……」

「No, think nothing of it.」

「Did that help you to calm down, at the very least?」

「Yes, I should be fine now, thank you.」

I smiled at them faintly as if trying to reassure them.

I then resumed the interrupted conversation.

「According to your words, the Home of Beast Tamers should consist largely of people presenting some extraordinary skills, way better than that of other people, but those amazing skills would only pertain to the art of Beast Taming, and nothing more. And to be perfectly honest, that Beast Taming was used largely for show, ever put into practice. It was a peaceful town that didn’t have anything to do with conflict or wars or anything else like that. But now that I think about it, we should have been on guard from all sorts of external threats, at the very least…… After all, my home town was destroyed in one night thanks to the demons. The only survivor was me, who happened to be outside of the town the moment it was attacked.」

「Is, is that so……?」

「…… If only I was here at the time.」

「Later, the Adventurers who noticed that something was wrong came running to me and took me in for protection. After that, I was sent to live and work at a friend’s inn, someone who also happened to be an Adventurer. At the time, I was so busy making myself a living that I didn’t have time to think about revenge or anything as silly as that. And so…… time went on and on…… It was about six months ago that Arios and his friends came to that very inn.」

「Nyah? The Hero?」

「Apparently, at the time they happened to be right in the middle of their journey. Arios and the others were just looking for a companion to join them and…… Well, now that I think about it, I guess they wanted a convenient piece to push around as they pleased. Anyway, once Arios found out that I was a Beast Tamer, he invited me to join him. And I said yes, to make a long story short. I couldn’t help but think of revenge against the demons but more importantly, I didn’t want a tragedy like that to repeat itself somewhere else. That’s why I thought there was something even I could do by working with Arios and the others, the Hero’s Party.」

「Hmm, I see…… So this is where your kindness is coming from, Rein.」

「Rather than being gentle, it’s more on a level of being a goody-two-shoes, but…… Oh well, it’s not like I dislike that part of you. I think it actually suits you rather nicely.」

「And after that…… Well, you should both know that part already, and what happened. I joined Arios’ party and did my best, but I was still kicked out. Then I met Kanade and……」

And just like that, we were back to the place where the conversation originated in the first place.

That was all about the topic of my past.

Both Tanya and Kanade fell silent for a moment, as if trying to process everything I told them.

For a moment out there, there was nothing but silence in between us.

The voices of the other guests around us sounded awfully loud all of a sudden.

And then, after a moment……

Gently, Kanade opened her mouth.

「i, I think that I finally get it.」

「Get what, exactly?」

「Why were you staying at the Hero’s Party for so long? The fact that they treated you so badly and yet you refused to leave, kept on trying to do your best. I didn’t understand it at all, but I think I’ve finally figured it out.」

「I know that I only just met you, Rein, but I still feel like I understand you better after this.」

「The thing about you, Rein…… you want to help other people. You don’t want to see others having to go through the same experiences that you did, and that’s why you’ve worked so hard for someone else’s sake. Always, always, always doing things for someone else…… That’s all you’ve ever wanted to do, right?」

「There’s a lot more to you than your good nature alone, Rein. A whole lot more than I woul;d have thought. I’ve never seen anyone with so much self-sacrifice drive, so much dedication to others, but I’ve never seen anyone do this before, I admit.」

「But that’s just like Rein, isn’t it? I wouldn’t be able to be so proud to have Rein as my Master if he was any other way……」
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「Well now…… I think I have a lot more to live up to now. But it’s not actually all that bad of a feeling. Yeah, it’s in a really good way.」.

Kanade then smiled brightly.

Tanya also smiled, but in a shy way.

They each affirmed my way of life for myself.

I’m not wrong in doing what I’m doing.

It’s like they were trying to convey that to me.

Thanks to that, I managed to calm down.

In a sense, I was even relieved.

I felt like I was going to cry for no reason at any moment now.

「Thank you…… Kanade, Tanya.」

I’m so glad I got to meet you both.

「Alright!」

Tanya shouted loudly and slammed her glass of juice on the table in a manner similar to a drunkard slamming his beer mug into the table..

「That’s well enough of those dark and gloomy stories! Now that this is over, all we need to do now is to enjoy our meal to the fullest……!!!」

「Nyan, let’s eat lots of delicious food together♪!」

「…… Yes, that’s right. And since this is a sort of Tanya’s welcome party, let’s go all out and make it extra delicious!」

「Of course, this will all be your treat, right, Rein?」

「Yeah. So no need to hold yourself back. Just eat as much as you want.」
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「Nfufuh, don’t mind if I do, then♪」

「Nyafuh! It’s All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet~♪!」

「Ah, hey, Kanade, cut it out! If you keep on overindulging yourself like that, our wallets are going to run completely dry!」

「Nya? What was that!?」

「Haha, I see that the stomach of the Cat Spirit Tribe is indeed boundless! Oh well, it’s something that cannot be helped.」

「That’s horrible! And mean!」

And then we all laughed sincerely.

Just like that, time would pass in a warm and fuzzy matter.

I wish this kind of time could last forever.

I thought about that, even though it was completely out of character for me.