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Chapter 20 Part 2

As I was eating my meat while looking at Sybilla being Sybilla, a guy came over to me.

This guy is… the receptionist guy who was at the counter this morning, isn’t he?

 

「What’s up?」

 

「Ah, umm, how should I put it… Russell… I just thought that I should apologize to you, you see.」

 

「…..Huh?」

 

An apology? I’ve no idea what he needs to apologize to me for, though.

First of all, if it’s about his bad attitude this morning, I don’t understand why he chose this timing when I just came back.

 

「I’m… or rather, it’s not just me, but… everyone thought that Russell is just uh… how should I put it… something like a leecher of that beautiful lady over there.」

 

「Are you coming to apologize or picking a fight? Pick one.」

 

This guy poked the bush expecting to find a stick there, but a snake had come out instead. I mean, what’s he trying to achieve by mocking someone all of a sudden?

The man who could tell that I was displeased by my facial expression which changed in an instant, immediately corrected himself.

 

「Ah, no no sorry! It’s not like that, really… It’s just that, you were always behind Vince and Vince used to fight a lot of guys, right? So I thought… you’re probably just a guy who uses underhanded means so that Vince would take you in so you can leech off of him.」

 

「Vince taking me in, you say… it’s not like I hang around them because he took me in, you know? In the first place, he was the one who kicked me out of the party.」

 

「That’s right. All of us were always under the impression that because you’re a 【Saint】, maybe you’re just a weak guy with no guts. We all thought you were just hiding behind Vince’s power.」

 

…Oi oi, doesn’t that just sound like…

 

「But to think you have the power to take on a dragon on your own… I guess we were wrong about you, Russell. If you were that strong, there’s no way you would have told Vince to hit anyone in the first place.」

 

Uwaa… are they for real?

 

Apparently, Vince is the reason I was hated in the village.

I always thought it was strange how much they hated me.

 

If that’s the case, then… I see…

After trying to dig up the deepest memories from my past, I understand…… so in other words, I have been looking at the reason wrong from the start huh.

 

As I was recalling how I used to be treated in the village, the man said something even more surprising.

 

「Or could it be that Vince was actually the one who approached Russell first because he was aiming for Emmy?」

 

「What?」

 

「Emmy, you see… when she was behind you or when she was out of your line of sight, she was always looking at you, you know? She was so discreet about it, so it’s not surprising if you didn’t know. Well, I don’t think there was anyone kind enough to tell you this back then, but… since things have turned out like this, I feel like it would hurt my conscience not to tell you.」

 

That information was just too shocking for me.

 

Vince didn’t just call out to me because he wanted to play with me.

Vince approached me because he was aiming for Emmy who was always watching me, then me who started to hang out with Vince ever since, and because of that, Emmy suddenly appeared between us so suddenly.

If that’s the case, then the order I remembered is completely wrong.

 

「By the way, what do you think about my black-colored hair?」

 

「Well, there are a lot of the Goddess’ worshippers who don’t like people with black hair, but I don’t think they just assume someone is evil just because they have black hair.」

 

「I see… So that’s how it is. Fine, I accept your apology. I look forward to working with you starting tomorrow as an adventurer.」

 

「Ou, of course!」

 

Ah… I’m really glad I got stronger.

 

There are many things that one can’t do without power, and at the same time, there are many things that can’t be proven without it.

Today is the day I truly feel that everything has changed for me.

No one would probably believe me if I told them I was on the verge of giving up everything just yesterday.

 

After the banquet was over and doing all the talking with everyone who came over to greet me, I couldn’t help but feel tired and went to sleep in the orphanage.

This time I fell into a deep, deep sleep and didn’t even dream at all. 

 

When I woke up from my sleep, it was already well past morning, apparently.

I must have been very tired… I overslept for a long time.

 

I went to the dining room like yesterday and found Sybilla there grilling some meat as if it was a matter of course.

This scene feels so natural that I won’t be surprised if someone thinks she originally lives here.

 

「Good morning, Russell. You’re up late today too I see. By the way, you have a guest waiting for you.」

 

「Ah, yeah, morning. A guest?」

 

At the direction which Sybilla pointed with her chin was… Brenda and her mother.

 

「I was surprised when I heard that Russell-kun is actually the Saint-sama… Ah, thank you so much for your help yesterday.」

 

「I don’t think that was yesterday, though?」

 

「No, no, it’s certainly my thanks for yesterday. It’s about the dragon’s materials. I’ve been feeling better ever since you healed me, so I participated in carrying the dragon’s corpse. I made three round trips yesterday. So I got a nice extra income.」

 

Surprisingly, Brenda’s mother had also participated in carrying the dragon materials in the dungeon.

I mean, the dungeon has bad footing and you even have to go up and down the stairs, but she was still able to make three round trips while carrying that huge part of the dragon’s body? Could it be that Brenda’s mother actually super strong?

 

「You just recovered from your illness, so I wished you wouldn’t push yourself too hard, though.」

 

「Well, you will never have enough amount of money when you have a child to feed, so I just had to. Brenda, you should give your thanks too.」

 

「Thank you Russell-san!」

 

「You’re welcome.」

 

Brenda thanked me, but she kept staring at me curiously after that.

…..I wonder what is it?

 

「Russell-san, did you change your outfit?」

 

「Oh, this? Right, I forgot.」

 

I had completely forgotten that my pure white robe had become almost completely black.

Well, since I changed from a Healer to a Dark Mage, I guess it suits my Job’s characteristics.

 

「It’s the color of a Black Kite bird, you know!」

 

Sybilla added with a big smile from the back as she brought the food to the table.

 

「Black Kite… that’s so cool! It really suits you!」

 

「Really?」

 

「Un! Then I will call you 『Black Kite Saint』-sama!」

 

Even though the outfit had a Dark Mage-looking feel to it, Brenda still recognized me as a Saint and even added the word Black Kite before it.

 

Thinking back about it, would I have been able to defeat the Fire Dragon if I didn’t have Wind Barrier?

Even when I made the decision to finish it off with Enchant Darkness, it wouldn’t have ever been possible without the Healing Magic.

 

And the reason I decided to keep my Saint Job at that time was also Brenda.

 

I wonder what would’ve happened if that day, when I was at my lowest, full of despair and disappointment, hadn’t helped this girl crying on the side of the road.

And how much courage it must have taken for Brenda to get past the gatekeeper’s eyes and walk all the way toward the city to look for help.

I can only describe my encounter with Brenda as nothing but a miracle. Just because of this encounter, I’m now able to use the power of both the 【Saint】 and 【Sorcerer】.

 

In a way, this girl is probably my biggest savior. 

 

「Brenda, thank you.」

 

「Eh?」

 

「Ah—… no, I mean, for coming up with that cool name.」

 

As expected, saying what I honestly feel would be too embarrassing. So I quickly misled her and thanked her for the nickname she gave me instead.

Still… the Black Kite Saint, huh? I think it’s a pretty good name.

Really, thanks to Brenda, I can wear this black robe befitting of someone who made a Twilight Pact with the Goddess while still able to stand proudly as a Saint.

The person who made me the 『Black Kite Saint』 was half Sybilla and the other half is, of course,  Brenda.

 

「Yep yep, as I thought, Brenda got a pretty good naming sense, isn’t she? Now then, since it seems that you understand how great the Black Kite is, why don’t you join me to be one of the Twilight Cult members!」

 

「Tei!」

 

「Oucchhh!」

 

She immediately got carried away as she tried to invite me to join her cult, so I dropped a chop right onto her head.

I really can’t let my guard down around her, huh.

 

A small laugh spontaneously came out of my mouth when I looked at Sybilla’s face as she held her head with tears in her eyes as if her divine appearance yesterday was an illusion.

Ah… I no longer forget how to laugh anymore.

I’m able to laugh naturally now.

 

Outside the window, the sky is clear and cloudless.

It’s another beautiful day for dungeon exploration because it will be a real bummer if it rains on the way home from the dungeon after a tiring exploration.

As if in tune with what I thought, the Goddess who had checked the weather turned to me and gave me a thumbs-up while smiling triumphantly.

 

——Now then, let’s start my brand new day.