บท 8: Frieren
Ūbel looks at my face with a smile, at the moment I don't even know what kind of expression I'm making.
"You're flustered."
She pointed it out, thanks! Now, it made me more embarrassed and then I forcefully calmed my heart rate. It was easy to do with the technique breathing I've learned from the retired knight, plus meditation with mana.
After that, I was calm. At least on the surface, but I'm still raging inside as the emotions didn't completely disappear.
Perhaps it won't ever, as she successfully engraved in my heart and mind with ease, this girl is pretty scary.
If I didn't know why better, I would have thought she was manipulating my feelings, but I'm 100% sure that her confession to me was genuine.
Because how could she look lovingly like that if it's fake? You can't fake that level of genuineness.
Unless she's a world class actor, which she isn't because from what I know of her, she's someone who wouldn't lie if it isn't necessary.
In some way, she's similar to me, blunt and wasn't afraid to say her thoughts out loud.
"Well, I suppose I am." There's no point in denying it when it's obvious.
"It means I made quite the impression, now that you know that I like you, did I change your mind about leaving me?" Ūbel stared at me, pleading me to reconsider.
I sucked the air around me, to be completely honest I did reconsider it, but my logical mind won, because being emotional doesn't help.
This might sound cruel and pragmatic, but if I let my emotions control me and let her join my journey, I won't be able to protect her from harm as I travel toward the Northern Lands.
Which means I'd go to dangerous places that are filled with demonic beasts and some demons.
There's no guarantee that my trip would be smooth and I can't afford to protect another person aside from myself, if I can't beat the enemy then I can run with the help from the community.
Without anyone watching I can use it as a please, but with another party? There's no way I'd be able to use it without being exposed.
If only I'm stronger and if only she's as strong as her canon-self or at least completed her [ Reelseiden ] and with a bit of combat experience.
However the current Ūbel is a complete greenhorn and wasn't as good as the Ūbel from the story.
Maybe in the next few years, but definitely not now.
"Ūbel…I'm sorry but I can't…If only I'm strong enough I would let join in my journey, but right now.." Compared to before, this decision felt hard to say.
But to protect her, I must. Even if I dislike this, I could wait for a few more years for her, however there's some quest that has limited time to complete.
As some quest indicates that I change the plot, because there's several things that must be done.
For what I am about to do is selfish, and purely for my benefit.
I never felt so ashamed as I am now, then unexpectedly Ūbel held both of my cheeks using her hands.
"Stark.. don't make such an expression, it's making me feel terrible you know? For the person I like to make such a face…is a terrible thing to witness." Instead of being disappointed or angry with my decision, she looks at me with concern.
Oh god, it doesn't make me feel any better at all, in fact it made it feel worse. If she's angry I would have accepted it, if she's disappointed I would have understood.
But to look at me with concern?
It makes me feel guilty, because the journey I'm about to do isn't anything grand, it wasn't for fame, for riches or for the good of the world.
But for the sake of more power.
Right now, thinking about it. Would this be worth it in the end?
Leaving the place I call home and the people precious to me for a journey for power?
If this was before, I wouldn't have hesitated but right now? I'm not sure…
Suddenly an unexpected action occurred, one that I never thought would happen.
Ūbel kissed me on the lips, directly.
It was short and it was just a peck, but I felt it, her soft lips.
It might not be what I expected, but surely it made me snap back from reality.
"Bugh..?!" My eyes widened at the unexpected kiss, I wasn't sure what to feel at the moment.
First it was definitely nice, like I didn't expect for someone to kiss me like that, not to mention how soft her lips are, so that's what a kiss felt like…
On the other hand, it felt morally wrong because she's literally a child, who is barely a teenager!
Does this make me a pedophile?!
A lolicon?!
No, wait. I don't think so…in fact it's the other way around, since technically I'm younger physically, but it's a completely different story mentally.
If this was earth my social reputation would definitely be ruined, but it's not like I have any reputation to begin with as I'm a completely forgetful person back on earth.
Not to mention I'm a shut-in, I don't go out that much.
Ūbel blushed after doing such act, now she's blushing?!
Where was this when you kissed me?
What's with this delayed reaction?!
"A-anyway! I don't like you making such an expression, I know that I'm only going drag you down in your journey if I follow you. I know that intellectually, but emotionally I don't want you to leave me." Ūbel made an expression that I couldn't comprehend.
It was complicated, then she continued. "Even if this hurts me to say, I'm weak. I can't help you at all, but it won't always remain that way. That's why, I decided to wait for you and the next time you go on a journey, I will be there with you. And that time, it will be me who will protect you and someone you can rely on. Next time I won't be a burden, Stark and that moment we'll see each other we will be on an equal footing, and at that time once more I will confess my feelings to you. That my feelings aren't just a passing affection but genuine long lasting feelings for you, so be prepared at that moment because I will not hold back!"
I was speechless, this girl. To think she would make such a bold statement in front of me, it made me wonder who is more of a man than the two of us?
If I had the same feelings as she did, I wouldn't be able to do the same, that confidence and courage is definitely something to admire.
With a wry smile. "Your affection is completely wasted on someone like me…"
"That's not what I think, for me it is worth it. You may not value yourself as much as I do, but trust me my feelings aren't a mistake." Ūbel was become more bold with her words.
Without a doubt, the current Ūbel is a prime example of what I want as a heroine.
With nothing to say anymore, it was clear that she has decided what she will do in the future.
—
The next morning, Ūbel was completely refreshed as if she was reborn.
Ūriel who noticed this, couldn't help but say. "My, did something good happen my dear sister?"
Ūbel smiled at her and said with clarity. "Yeah, I know what I should do now."
Ūriel smiled at her little sister, happy for finding what she wanted in life. "Is that so? I'm glad, onee-san was worried that something bad would happen when Stark-kun wanted to leave, but it seems that it was unnecessary. I suppose both of you managed to sort it out."
Ūbel nodded, while I was still in disbelief of what transpired yesterday night.
Looking at Ūbel now, truly she's completely different from what I know her as, I did more change to her that I could possibly excepted.
But It's a good thing…right?
—
Then a few days after that, I finally finished preparing everything for my journey to the Northern Lands.
To the city of magic Äußerst.
"I suppose this is a goodbye for now."
"For now." Ūbel emphasized the 'for now' part.
I snorted at that and replied. "If you say so."
Then Ūriel spoke. "Be careful in your journey Stark, I'm worried what might happen to you."
I nodded at her and replied. "I will Ūriel-neesan."
Then after that I left the town, I look back at it one last moment because it would be the last time after a couple years I would see it again.
—
My journey begins and not even a few hours at the beginning I have encountered someone completely unexpected.
Someone I thought I'd meet only after a few years.
In the middle of a ruined fortress, I heard someone asking for help, normally I wouldn't even bother to check it because it's very suspicious for a person to be here to begin with.
I thought it was a trap, but I was mistaken as it's genuinely a person who needs help, but not in the way you think it is.
"Ahhh! I'm scared! It's dark here! Help me!"
A mimic, check.
A familiar outfit, check.
And that familiar staff…
There's no doubt this person is…!
I destroyed the mimic with a single slash, while completely avoiding harming the person who was trapped inside that monster.
As I look at her complete appearance, there's no doubt about it, a silver haired elf.
"Thank you for helping me, I didn't think anyone would help me especially in this part." The elf woman smiled a bit then continued. "I'm Frieren, what's your name?"
It's the protagonist of the show Frieren in flesh!
[ Achievement - Meeting the protagonist The Slayer Frieren! ]
[ Title Reward - No Longer A Nameless Extra ]
—
Author Notes: Right after he left the town he already met a core character of this world, is he lucky or perhaps…
Anyway! He's going to be her companion for a while, and will teach him a thing or two about magic spells.
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