A faint smile played on Xion’s lips as he headed for the butcher.
He kept recalling Rein’s eyes sparkling with the wish to eat pork.
What face will he make when a platter of perfectly roasted pork appears on the table?
The very thought forced the smile wider.
“I suppose it’s finally safe to give him something fatty.”
Because Rein had collapsed after so long without food, Xion had avoided overly greasy dishes for a while.
He hadn’t cut out meat entirely, of course: lean, rather dry pork leg, tender lamb, fat-rendered roast duck, the occasional bit of beef in stew—that was all Rein had eaten.
Anyone might have complained, wanting richer, tastier cuts, yet Rein always enjoyed every meal without a single grumble.
Xion felt rewarded for striving to create dishes that balanced flavor and health.
Rein had regained his strength some time ago; a little fat would now be fine.
In truth he had recovered much earlier, but Xion could not judge objectively.
To him Rein still looked breakable: skin so pale it seemed bloodless, a waist as small as Xion’s palm, wrists so slender he could encircle both with one hand (not that he ever tried; Rein would hate it).
Honestly, Xion wanted to feed him only health food until he grew sturdy, and that remained the plan but just for today, he would let Rein feast on pork.
The way Rein swallowed at the mention of slaughtering a pig had been too adorable.
Thinking how delighted Rein would be to see glossy pork made Xion chuckle.
Since meeting Rein, he had been happy—always.
“Would you, perhaps, join me in defeating the Demon King?”
If a total stranger hadn’t blocked the road and spouted that nonsense, it might have become a perfect day.
❖ ❖ ❖
Expression wiped clean, Xion looked at the man barring his way.
Had any villager witnessed it they would have gasped. Such a face on Xion was unheard-of.
But Jake, ignorant of Xion’s usual demeanor, never realized the farmer was glaring.
Had he known, he would at least have shut up.
“Surely you’ve heard that we arrived.”
What a brazen line.
Xion answered only by slowly raking his gaze over the man.
No news of newcomers had reached the village, yet the armor and sword were clearly high-grade. This was no wandering mercenary.
At minimum a knight, perhaps a noble.
No knight or noble visited a sleepy place like this… save one: the Hero.
The Hero, huh.
The thought soured Xion’s mood a little more.
He’d heard an oracle had named the Hero. He simply hadn’t cared.
He’d half expected the Hero might visit Root someday, but not so soon.
And he’s alone?
That meant leaving the capital without gathering the party. How foolish.
An unprepared Hero team made the perfect target for the Demon King.
If he’d come to a tiny rural village to recruit companions, it was worse. It was beyond foolish.
“I invite you to join the first Hero’s party in five hundred years!”
Oblivious to Xion’s thoughts, Jake proclaimed grandly, mistaking Xion’s silence for speechless joy and smiling all the wider.
“Hard to believe, I know, yet it’s true. Accept the honor and prepare to depart.”
“Hey, Jake! Didn’t you say you can’t just grab any random passerby?”
Ignoring his companion, the Hero rambled on.
“Yes, we can’t add someone recklessly. We’ll run a simple test. Don’t worry, you’re sure to pass… Wait, where are you going?”
Xion brushed past him, heading for pork.
He had to buy it, get to the fields, and return by dinnertime to serve Rein the tastiest pork dish ever.
“I told you to wait!”
Irritated at being ignored by a mere villager, Jake reached for Xion’s arm then caught himself.
No! If I seize a fragile civilian with my strength, I could snap his arm…
He started to pull back, but Xion moved first.
Tap.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Huh?”
Hearing the villager’s voice who had ignored him until now brought Jake no joy, only embarrassment.
He blinked, bewildered.
What just happened?
He had tried to grab the farmer, then pulled away in a speed ordinary farmers couldn’t follow.
Yet this farmer flowed aside as if reading every motion, then caught his wrist in an instant.
The price of attempting to seize a commoner was being seized in turn.
If this was a trial sent by God, it was too much.
The grip was strong. Strong, but escapable.
After all, he was the Hero, the only one recognized by God this era.
“…Hrk…!”
…And yet, no matter how he strained, Jake couldn’t free himself.
“I—I’m letting you hold me as a matter of courtesy! Even if I initiated contact, noblesse oblige demands—”
He rattled on defensively to questions no one asked.
“It’s merely chivalry towards a commoner, not that I can’t get loose, certainly not!”
“I’m not interested in joining your party.”
With that Xion tossed Jake’s arm aside and walked on.
At last—free!
Though he hadn’t escaped by his own power, Jake rubbed his wrist.
Can I just let him go?
No, such talent was too precious.
After a moment’s turmoil Jake hurried after him again.
“I apologize if I seemed rude… If I gave the impression I looked down on you as a mere farmer, forgive me.”
Xion’s view of Jake changed a fraction: from an arrogant noble to one who could at least apologize.
“But that strength, those muscles! How did they come about? Is it because you farm? I’d heard farming requires power, but to produce a model knight’s physique. Perhaps we should add farm labor to the knight-cadet curriculum.”
A new note: Jake was terribly talkative.
“Since you’ve enlightened me so, I’ll graciously overlook your refusal. Living in this backwater, you may not grasp how grand my offer is. Let me explain again: I’m heir to Duke West as well as the Hero, able to grant you immense wealth and honor.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“You seem unfamiliar with noble etiquette. When one gives his name, the other should reply in kind.”
Such politely wrapped rudeness.
Xion frowned slightly.
The happy mood earned by dreaming of Rein’s pork-eating smile evaporated.
He needed to buy the meat, get home, and recover that joy.
First, he had to remove the Hero in front of him.
“I’m not interested.”
“I could compel you, you know. Don’t disregard my courteous effort.”
“You’d best step aside.”
“That attitude is wrong. If rumors spread that you hindered the Hero’s quest, you and everyone dear to you might suffer throughout the Empire—”
Jake fell silent.
Xion’s expression was too cold.
Cold enough to raise goosebumps.
Leave a Reply