kscans

Chapter 116 - The First Step is in the Village Square

The small village of Himeria. In this simple, quiet village surrounded by forests and fields, there was now one out-of-place presence.

That was the shut-in hero, Ares Scarlet.

Having fled the Hobgoblin's cavern with nowhere else to go, she had hidden herself away in a room on the second floor of the village inn. Day and night, she wrapped herself in a blanket, spoke to no one, and did not take a single step out of her room. The old woman who ran the inn would leave meals in front of her door, but there were days when even those were left untouched.

To help Ares get back on her feet, the monsters had begun to move.

"...This is the place."

Tiris of the Elf tribe said as she climbed the inn's stairs.

Behind her was Koni-chan of the Troll tribe, who looked like nothing more than a chubby fairy, following along while carrying a heavy-looking bento box. Her cheeks were round and plump, her dress was fluffy, and her braided hair smelled of flowers every time it swayed.

However, her true identity was that of a warrior with the monstrous strength to shatter rocks. She was a full-fledged warrior of the Troll tribe, with a staggering gap between her appearance and her reality.

"...Ares-chan is still holed up in her room, right?"

"That's right. But little by little is fine. Let's start with just 'showing her face.'"

Tiris smiled gently and stood before the room.

Knock, knock.

A reserved knock echoed on the wooden door.

A few seconds later, a faint voice replied from within.

"...W, who is it...?"

"Ares. It's me and Koni-chan. We came to see you."

"...K, Koni... chan?"

"That's right. I brought rice balls. I've got ten of them."

"R, rice balls...?"

"Yup. I've got salmon, spicy cod roe, fried chicken, kelp, pickled plum, and cheese. All of 'em. And they're warm."

"...Umm... please wait a moment... m, my hair... is a mess..."

"It's okaaay, one time my bedhead made a horn shaped like the letter S."

"...You can get bedhead like that...?"

Heh.

A faint laugh leaked from behind the door.

Then, with a click, the door slowly opened.

Standing there was Ares Scarlet, with messy hair and still in her sleepwear. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and her complexion was poor. But, in her hands, there was just a tiny bit of courage.

"...Um, those rice balls... is it okay... if I have one...?"

"Of course."

Koni-chan opened the bento box and lined them all up on the small table. At the sight, Ares's eyes lit up.

"...Why... are you being so kind... to someone like me...?" Ares murmured as she gently picked up a rice ball.

Tiris spoke.

"Because you're a hero, aren't you? Even if you're a crybaby, even if you ran away, you're still on your journey. That's why, what you need right now is..."

"'One small step,'" Koni-chan said with a bright smile.

"...A step...?"

"Yup. For example, today, you ate rice balls with us and went outside. Just by doing that, you've already cleared 'the first step of your hero training.'"

"J, just for that...?"

"Things like that are what's important. Someone who can take the first step will one day be someone who can take a big step too."

Ares nibbled on her rice ball for a while, as if deep in thought... but eventually, she gave a small nod.

"...Um, well then, maybe I'll try going... just a little bit... to the square..."

"Whoa. Amazing, amazing, amazing."

Koni-chan clapped. Tiris also smiled gently.

"Alright. Then, once we're outside, first take a deep breath. Then, try to feel the village wind."

And so, the three of them left the inn and headed to the small village square.

The rustling of the trees, the laughter of children, the sound of fields being tilled... Ares heard all of it for the first time in a long while.

"Ah, it's warm... the wind..."

"That's right, Ares-chan. The world is still full of gentle things."

However, that gentle moment did not last long.

"A monster has appeared north of the village. It's a huge Grey Wolf."

The voice of a village guard echoed.

Ares's face turned pale.

"Wh, whaaaa. N, no way. No way. I, I'm gonna be killed."

And she reflexively dived into the shade of a tree in the square.

"...Oh dear, she's back to square one."

Tiris sighed and placed a hand on the short sword at her hip.

"Koni, can you handle it?"

"Of course. I'll turn that Grey Wolf into filling for a rice ball."

The two of them ran off towards the outskirts of the village.

Ares watched their backs from the shade of the tree.

"...I'm scared. But... their backs, they're so, beautiful..."

At that moment, a small light, the light of a hero, kindled deep in Ares's chest. 'I want to be like them, too.' This was the very first step of her 'true hero's adventure.'