3 bar menu

Chapter 74 Part 3

An Ever-dependable Partner, Who Even Supported Those Who Couldn’t Show Their Weakness. With Her By My Side, We Depart To A New Town — Part 3

 

That confession surprised me.

I always thought Sybilla was always full of confidence, or perhaps even overconfident… so I never thought she had such thoughts on her mind.

 

「Well… I don’t always think about it that way. Only about half the time, I guess. Everyone wants to reflect on themselves and grow. But you know… there’s only so much one person can do alone. So now, I’m trying to think of it this way,『I’m happy because I’ve accomplished something I couldn’t have done on my own.』」

 

「Because… that’s not something you can do alone?」

 

「Yep.」

 

I see… that’s a good way of thinking.

Haah, it’s as if everything that had been bothering me until just now has suddenly cleared up.

 

Getting a result from the thing you can’t achieve alone is more pleasing than the result that could be achieved alone, eh?

 

「Yeah, I’ll try to think like that from now on.」

 

When I nodded and replied, Sybilla silently turned the back of her hand toward me.

I then lightly tap the back of her hand with the back of my own hand.

 

「I’ll be counting on you, partner.」

 

「Of course you can count on me, partner.」

 

Sybilla’s reply just sounded so strange, and it seemed she thought so too, as we both let out a light chuckle.

After that, it was business as usual.

Hearing Emmy’s voice calling us, we strode shoulder-to-shoulder toward where everyone was waiting for us.

 

The dinner at the orphanage was so lively that it blew away the darkness.

There was not a trace of sadness as the little orphans ate Frederica’s food with full energy.

Even though the environment is different, the children remain the same. That, I think, is very precious.

 

I felt nostalgic as this brightness reminded me of the little guys in Adria.

I’d like to come back and show my face again once things have calmed down.

 

The next morning, basking in the clear sunlight unique to Seiris, I woke up feeling not a trace of sleepiness.

As usual, Sybilla is still the first to get up, gracefully gazes out the window at the city.

 

And I noticed that on her wrist, this shrewd woman was wearing that bracelet.

It’s true that we have no obligation to return it, and I’m sure it’s not that expensive to be given as a reward, but… I suppose this is so Sybilla-like through and through.

 

Today is the day we will be moving out of our longtime lodging in Seiris.

 

「We’ve been in your care, it was a really nice inn.」

 

「We look forward to welcoming you again, dear customer!」

 

「Of course!」

 

Sybilla replies briskly, and Emmy bows politely before we all leave the inn.

 

Outside the inn was Frederica, who had packed her bags.

 

「I mentioned it yesterday, but I have to head straight to the help request that I asked to postpone for a while…」

 

「I see.」

 

Sybilla then turned to us and confirmed our future plan.

 

「So she said, but what do you think, Russell?」

 

「What, you say… wait, do you mean we’re going with Frederica?」

 

Although I lacked context, it was clear what she was trying to say. Then Sybilla nodded as if it was natural.

The one who was most surprised by Sybilla’s response was, of course, Frederica herself.

 

「W-Wait! I can’t just have you help me again after you’ve just helped me with the orphanage!」

 

「No, I mean, we already defeated the Demon Lord here, so there’s really nothing for us to do in this city anymore. In the first place, we were going to move to another place after this anyway.」

 

「You defeated… a Demon Lord?」

 

Frederica looked at me, and I nodded along with Emmy.

Myself aside, Emmy is not the type of girl who likes to show off.

 

With everyone’s affirmation, it seemed like Frederica was finally convinced.

 

「…Y-You really defeated the Demon Lord? That’s truly amazing…」

 

「And that’s how it is, so, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to come with, but what do you think, Frederica? Besides, I think it’ll be more fun traveling with so many familiar faces.」

 

「Yes, yes of course! If that’s the case, I’d love for you to come along! Ah… but what about you two?」

 

I asked Frederica about one thing I’m concerned about.

 

「Is the road safe?」

 

「I… can’t say it’s completely safe. But I can’t not go. It’s what I wanted for myself, and I have children who need me.」

 

……Frederica is still putting others first, even at times like these.

She’s someone who works so hard that it worries me, to the point that I want to take away my title as a Saint and give it to her.

 

「If that’s the case, then I’d like to help too. You think the same, too, right, Emmy?」

 

「Of course. I’m surprised that you’re willing to go to such a dangerous place by yourself, Frederica-san. Please don’t act so distant and rely on me.」

 

「Fufu, you two really have become so cool.」

 

Frederica looked at us gleefully, as if she were looking at something dazzling.

 

It was a sudden decision, but it’s typical of Sybilla to make the necessary decisions without hesitation.

Besides, I agree that it’s better to have a lot of familiar faces around.

 

I thought about saying goodbye to Eve… but decided against it.

She’s an independent girl now.

From here on out, she’s the star of her own story.

 

It’ll be fine.

Because Eve has memories of fighting alongside us.

Plus, she now has the powers given to her by the Goddess.

 

In a span of just a few days after meeting the Goddess, an orphan pickpocket is receiving passionate advances from the top-ranking party in the city.

Not bad.

 

「Now then~ I’m looking forward to our next journey!」

 

Yeah, I agree.

I hope… we’ll have another good encounter on our journey this time.

 

We haven’t even heard of the name of the place we’re heading to on our journey this time, and we don’t even know what kind of person who requested this help.

However, I am sure that we will save many people in that city as well.

We, the 『Twilight Pact』, have no intention of losing, no matter who our opponent is.

 

As I was watching Sybilla’s profile as she gazed at the outer wall of Seiris that kept shrinking in the distance, she suddenly turned around, and our eyes met.

 

「Hm? What? Did you catch a disease that requires you to keep staring at the cuteness of this Sybilla-chan or something?」

 

「No, I just thought it would be nice if there were another Demon Lord to defeat in our next destination, is all.」

 

Sybilla waved her hand and looked out the window again toward Seiris.

Then, when the orphanage was out of sight, she murmured nonchalantly.

 

「I have you, so it’ll be fine.」

 

Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be fine, since I also have you with me.

I’m counting on you, partner.