Side Story 2: How I Spend My Days Off
NOW that I was used to living in the city of Oranz, I sometimes wandered around by myself. It was a bit less safe than Japan, and rough-looking folks occasionally harassed me. After experiencing that a few times, I started to feel like it was my fault for wandering off the main road, lured by the delicious smell of food. But thanks to those little side trips, I found some great shops. So I kept looking for good ones in the back alleys—while being cautious, of course.
Most of the time, when someone harassed me, I managed to run away. Once in a while though, I’d end up surrounded, leaving me no choice but to use my Water Ball spell like I had on Totto and the others. It was actually less damaging than hitting them, on account of my physical strength.
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THERE I was, wandering around the city again on one particular day, when someone a bit different from usual approached me. He was a fashionable man who didn’t seem like the type to threaten violence. According to Viche, the more unsavory clans had targeted me and my friends because we were climbing the ranks quickly. I doubted he was one of them though.
He said he was lost, so he asked me to show him the way. I wasn’t completely familiar with the streets myself, but since I knew where he was going, I decided to help him out. The good you do for others is the good you do yourself, and all that jazz.
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ON the way, the young man chatted to me about a lot of things that admittedly went in one ear and out the other. How much money he had, what his social status was, how many friends he had, and so on. This was common among people in their twenties. I walked along, commenting here and there with set phrases like, “That’s amazing” and, “I see.”
“So, Haruka, angel,” the man said. “You’re gorgeous, you know that? Do you have a boyfriend, by any chance?”
I did not like hearing a younger man call me a pet name like “angel.” You learn something new every day. Romance hadn’t been on my radar in a very long time, but even so, I knew that I’d never once in my life wanted to date a man.
“No, I don’t. But forget about me—let’s talk about you. I bet you’re very popular with the ladies.”
“Am I that easy to read? You’re right, I am. I’m not keen on any woman in particular right now though. So how about you give me a try, angel?”
“Ah… Well, um, I’m flattered, but…”
“I have a lot of pull with the clans in this city. If you go out with me, I can introduce you to them.”
“I never told you I was an adventurer, so why would you mention ‘clans’?”
“Uhhh…I could tell? Haruka, angel, you have that adventurer vibe around you. I knew the minute we met that you’re destined to become a big shot.”
Do I really have that kind of “vibe”? I didn’t even carry a sword with me, and I’d never been on an expedition. If I was as lively as Albert, I could see why people would assume I was an adventurer. But me? Really? Maybe I had started giving off the same “vibe” too without realizing it. I certainly didn’t mind the praise.
“Thank you,” I said. “But I’m already in a party and I’m not interested in being in a relationship with anyone. I’m sure there are many women out there clamoring for your attention, so it doesn’t have to be me.”
“No, you’re the one. Just think of being with me as doing a good deed.”
The young man’s speech became a little rougher, and he looked more irritated than before. I wonder if this was his first time being rejected. It was possible, considering how good-looking he was. But saying no was the best thing for the both of us. If he suddenly found out that I was a man in my forties, he’d probably be pretty upset.
“I’m sorry.”
When my answer remained the same, the man stomped his foot angrily on the ground and then kicked a nearby wooden box. The unexpected display of temper reminded me he was at that hot-blooded age typical for men. Frankly, I was becoming a bit scared.
“Just shut up and say yes! If I screw this up, I’m done for, so just come with me!”
He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me, but I refused to budge. I wasn’t going through the same ordeal I’d been through with Totto. Absolutely not. You must always communicate your intentions clearly from the start.
“Please calm down. Don’t you have other, more important matters to attend to?”
“No, damn it, I don’t! That was just an excuse to take you with me. What the hell? You’re not moving a single inch.”
So he lied to me. In other words, I’d been played for a fool. He had seemed like a nice person when we first met, so the change in his attitude made me a bit sad. But I suppose that just meant I wasn’t a good judge of character.
I decided to go back the way I’d come and find somewhere to eat something delicious so I could forget about anything unpleasant.
“Release me, please,” I said. “I’m leaving now.”
“…Like hell you are. Don’t push me. I said you’re coming with me.”
He took a gleaming knife out of his pocket. I’d grown used to seeing blades thanks to my frequent visits to the training ground, but having one pointed at me was a different story. Just as I stiffened in reaction, a group of people appeared from behind me. At the sight of them, the young man’s face paled rapidly.
“N-No, please, I-I was just bringing her with me now…!”
Before he could finish what he was trying to say, one of the men punched the young man in the stomach. When he doubled over in pain, a few of them started kicking him. But even if they were a vigilante group, waving a knife at him seemed like a bit much.
“The only thing you’re good at is running your mouth, you useless little shit! Give me my money back!”
I couldn’t help but cry out at the sight of them using that guy as a punching bag.
“S-Stop it, please.”
“Tsk. This ain’t any of your business. Scram.”
One of the men clicked his tongue in irritation and waved me away dismissively.
These aren’t vigilantes. They were probably part of one of those ill-behaved clans Viche had warned me about.
I didn’t owe the young man anything, but I also couldn’t bring myself to just abandon someone suffering in front of me. I muttered a spell in my head and made Water Balls for each man, then shot them at their heads. They tumbled to the ground one by one, struggling desperately. While the scene was one I’d become accustomed to, it was still unpleasant to watch.
By the time the crouching young man raised his head fearfully, his assailants were all unconscious.
“Are you okay? Can you stand up?”
“U-Urk! No! Don’t come any closer!”
He scooted backwards in terror when I spoke to him, then scrambled to his feet and fled. He had looked at me like I was a monster. It hurt a little, since my intention had been to settle things peacefully.
Just to be sure, I checked to see if the fallen men were still breathing. Thankfully, they were. Feeling a bit down, I started walking back the way I’d come, when I heard light footsteps and a boy rounded the corner. It was Montana.
“…What are you doing?”
“Um… Oh, I didn’t start the fight, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
From an outsider’s perspective, it probably looked like I’d given them an unprovoked beating. I didn’t want my friends to suspect me, so I rushed to explain. I hope it doesn’t sound like a lie.
“I don’t care about that. You don’t look hurt, so let’s go back to the main avenue.”
“Right, of course.”
“Does this happen often?”
“I…suppose. Once in a while.”
“Haruka, you shouldn’t go out alone so much.”
“…I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“As long as you understand.”
I had just been scolded by a boy much younger than me. I was, in fact, harassed more often than I liked, when I was on my own. I felt bad for being a burden to my friends, but I decided to give them a heads-up whenever I went out from then on. It was better than things escalating and causing even bigger headaches for everyone.
“Haruka.”
I looked at Montana next to me and found him looking up at me.
“You’re not a bother, so just tell us.”
“All right… Thank you.”
He had seen right through me, but his kindness lifted my spirits. I felt kind of pathetic for being so easy to please at my age.