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Chapter 45 Part 2

Now then…… it’s been a while since I’ve been by myself. I guess I’ll take a look around the city

 

The market was still overflowing with people just as when we went to grab a meal, even though there were women who already preparing dishes at home.

There were stalls selling skewers and other foods that could be eaten on the spot nearby.

There were also other stalls selling non-seafood dishes and drinks, as well as shops selling only vegetables and seasonings… there really are many kinds of stalls here.

 

But I wasn’t particularly interested since I just had a meal with everyone, so I just looked at them from a distance and went on to take a look at another market.

This time is a craftmanship market, huh. Various jewelry made of gold and silver with precious stones set in them were lined up in a small space.

…Come to think of it, I’ve never given Emmy a present like this before. She had a toy tiara which was her favorite back when we were still kids, so she must like things like these.

I’m not particularly knowledgeable about jewelry, but… since Sybilla has kindly given me some of the money she managed to convert into cash, there should be no harm in buying one, right?

 

「Can I have this one, please? Do you accept payments via tags?」

 

「…Ah, yes, of course. For your lovely lover, I presume?」

 

「Ah, no, it’s not like that. It’s just that, I’ve always been in her care, so I thought…」

 

「Alright alright, you can stop bragging now. It’s so nice to be young, huh.」

 

Somehow, I feel like the clerk just had a big misunderstanding…

Then I put the jewelry I bought in a leather bag tied around my waist and used the string to tighten it up tightly to prevent it from being stolen.

 

Sybilla’s figure crossed my mind for a moment before I left the jewelry stall, but… well, I don’t think she needs this kind of present so it’s probably fine not to buy one for her.

I could imagine her protesting in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile imagining that.

 

「Still, I really don’t know what’s so different between all the jewelry… hmm?」

 

There, just across me… I saw someone with a strange air around him.

No… that guy… have I seen him somewhere before?

 

「……Have I met him somewhere?」

 

I rubbed my eyes and looked back to see a large, hooded man. The man, who looked gentle and noble-like,  picked up two golden bracelets and took gold coins out of his bag to pay for them.

The man, who looks like he’s living in a different world, put what he bought into the bag and walked out without any caution.

 

「Wealthy people sure are different….」

 

Nah, I can say for sure I don’t know anyone like that.

As I watched his back, I remembered that it was probably about the time I should go back, so I headed back to the inn. 

 

When I got back to my room, one of the first things I found out was—

The reason why Sybilla kicked me out. 

 

「You… so you were a girl!?」

 

Standing in the room is a girl with wavy and silky medium-short brown hair, which shines under the light from the window. She is dressed in the adventurer’s clothes that Sybilla had just bought for her.

That Sybilla must have given her a hot bath in the inn’s bathhouse since her dirty skin is now looking all clean and smooth.

 

「I was the one who cutely cut her long hair with my genius technique, but… I’m a bit surprised that you thought this girl was a boy, Russell.」

 

「Well, she was entirely covered up to her head, and she had quite the strength in her, you see…」

 

「I guess you’re right. This girl does have quite the strength in her.」

 

The girl, who now looked completely different and was looking lost and uncertain, sat down, as Sybilla went and stood in front of her with her arms crossed.

 

「Firstly, there’s one thing I need to tell you, Eve-chan.」

 

So this girl’s name is Eve, huh.

 

「We must have looked like a bunch of rich people to you, right? We have the power, money, and all happiness in the world.」

 

「…You are, aren’t you!? Looking like you have no problems whatsoever and get to wear all the nice clothes!」

 

「You know, the three of us actually don’t know the faces of our parents.」

 

「Eh…!?」

 

When Sybilla told her that we were orphans, Eve fell silent from the unexpected reveal.

…I don’t think Sybilla grew up in an orphanage, but even I know that it would be rude to say that out loud, so I decided to keep quiet about it.

 

「You might be more unfortunate than we are. But that doesn’t mean you should think that you are the most unfortunate person in the world… or think that 『I have the right to take away someone else’s happiness because my situation is more unfortunate than theirs』. After all……」

 

Sybilla squatted down and brought herself to eye level with Eve.

She then stroked Eve’s brown hair, which had looked even more softer before she came with us.

 

「…If the people you steal from turn out to be more unhappy than you are… I’m sure that a kind and sweet girl like you, Eve-chan, who works hard for the sake of other hungry children, will regret it.」

 

「Hg! How did you…!」

 

「That’s because I know everything. This most beautiful girl in the world, Sybilla-chan is a Goddess, after all!」

 

She then stands up again with a playful look on her face and hands Eve a bag of silver coins. 

 

「Eve-chan, I believe that you have a power in you. It might be difficult for you in the beginning, but I’m sure that in the future, you will be able to live a fairly prosperous life. And when you do, you’ll be able to walk around out there with your chest up high and earn the respect you deserve.」

 

「I-I am…」

 

「This most beautiful girl in the world assure you. You are pretty, and you will grow to be a beautiful woman. If you have the courage to walk with pride, reliable friends who you can rely on and will rely on you will come to you, Eve-chan. Even the situation with the children in your orphanage will change. So……」

 

Sybilla then helped Eve stand up and all of us walked out together.

On the way, the man at the reception desk was surprised when he saw Eve. As I thought, I’m not the only one who thought she looked like a boy.

 

After we walked outside the inn Sybilla gave Eve, who was holding a bag of silver coins, a gentle push on her back.

 

「Become an adventurer and head to the first dungeon in this city! If it’s you, Eve-chan, you should be able to handle the enemies there easily!」

 

「B-But… you’ve been so nice to me… I can’t receive this…」

 

「If you want to thank me, then… you can do so after earning your own money! First, use those silver coins to buy a dagger and earn some money with your own hands! Until then, I’ll chase you away!」

 

When Eve heard those words, she lowered her head, put her hands on her knees, bowed deeply once, and ran off quietly.

At that moment, I could see a trail of tears sparkling in the sunlight.

 

…I realized once again that even as an orphan, I was rather fortunate.

I don’t have any blood relatives, but I have everyone in the orphanage and we didn’t have any real hardships in our daily lives.

But that young girl has no one but herself to take care of the younger children in her orphanage.

 

And I also realized once again… that this girl called Sybilla is such an amazing individual.

After all, she’s still a Goddess even with all her antics. In such a short time, she saved one young girl… no, she saved everyone in that orphanage.

I’m sure if it’s that young girl, she can make it big in the future.

 

I could hear Emmy sobbing next to me.

I thought all my tears had dried up, but I was actually in the same situation, and since I felt like seeing her cry would affect me, I retreated back to our room so no one would see me.

The empty room and the dirty hoodie I found there that was now just a part of its owner’s past. With these things in the corner of my eye, I looked out at the city from the window and recalled the girl’s back.

 

——Do your best, Eve.