Still, Saito was not able to give it up.
It feels like a hole in my heart. The bond that Louise and I had, is broken. It‘s like my body is split in two, painfully.
“Therefore, don’t look so gloomy. This way you can travel to the east without holding back. We'll go together.”
“I am not a Gandálfr anymore, would it still be alright?”
“It’s good. For six thousand years, I've been alive. For me, partner‘s time feels like one second.”
Saito sighed and said.
“But what about Louise?”
“Oh dear. That girl is very prideful, it will be all right.”
In a not careworn voice, Derflinger said. Saito nodded in a persuaded way.
“Yeah. There is no purpose for her to admit me… I, who can’t use magic and am just a simple human, am a nuisance…”
Feeling depressed, he heard the voice from the back.
“Umm…”
When he turned around, Tiffania was standing there with an embarrassed face.
“N?”
“Firewood…”
Seems like Saito was asked to collect the firewood that he sat on.
She was wearing a large hat to hide her pointed ears.
“Ah, sorry.”
Saito stood up. Tiffania, avoiding Saito’s eyes, looked down and reached for the firewood. I have been careless, he thought. What if they learn that I am from a different world? I guess one cannot keep a secret who and from where he is forever. Even though she rescued me... and went through the trouble to look after me when I was recovering.
“Sorry. I am greatly indebted to you. I... it’s time for me to leave. So don’t worry. Yeah, because the war is over, a kind of awkward guy like me is not needed in the village.“
Tiffania opened her eyes wide.
“Ah, it’s different! Different! It is not so! I… umm, because you are a boy of the same age as me, I could not speak properly… I was slightly tensed… But it is not because I am afraid. So, until the wound heals properly, you should stay here awhile. I am the one who should be sorry.”
Hesitantly, Tiffania bowed embarrassed.
Seeing this girl, Saito brightened up for a moment. Besides, he was impressed. She was extremely shy toward strangers. Yet, she helped him despite herself.
“I see, you are not only cute, but gentle too.”
“I-I’m not cute!”
“You are cute. And I think you are gentle too.”
When Saito said so, Tiffania pulled the hat further down. She was feeling shy.
“I may be kind… But because of my mother's words.”
“Mother?“
Saito asked. The word had a nostalgic sound to it.
“Yes. My… dead elf-mother. She said giving the ring to me. ‘Help when you find a person in need.’ My mother was like that. Without reflecting in it myself, I carried out the words of the person that I loved. Therefore, I…”
Derflinger nosed in.
“Somehow, I think that there were complicated circumstances to it.”
Tiffania looked down.
“This Westwood Village. If you look at it, only children are here.”
“That’s right.” Saito nodded. Though his head was full with thoughts about the runes disappearing up till now... He never saw an adult here.
“This village is an orphanage. Children who lost their parents live here.“
“Do you look after them?”
“Because I am the oldest, I take care of things, as for food however…”
“You don’t have money?” Derflinger asked.
“An old acquaintance sends the money. It’s enough to cover our basic needs,”
Tiffania said hesitatingly.
“What is a half-elf, with the ‘Ancient Magic’ ring, doing in a orphan’s village?
“Derf!”
Saito warned Derflinger.
“It is alright if you do not want to tell us the circumstances behind the ring. But is there something you can say?”
Tiffania became silent.
“Sorry, we shouldn’t force you to speak about something you don’t want to speak about. Derf, act properly. That’s this sword's habit, to pry about things…”
When Saito said so… Chink! A dry sound came.
When looking up, he saw one arrow stuck in one of the firewood that he sat upon.
“Dangerous. Is there a hunter?”
Chink! Chink!
The arrows flew one after another, sinking into the ground next to Saito and the others.
“Who the?!”
When he shouted, the group looking like mercenaries emerged from the forest.
“Hey you! Is there a village chief? Call him here!”
A lot of people came out. All members were carrying weapons - bows with arrows, spears and so on.
”Wh-what for?”
Tiffania muttered in a frightened voice.
“My, what a beauty. Here, in the middle of the forest, isolated from the world.”
One said and came closer. He was a small, sly looking man with a small cut on his forehead. Apparently, he was the leader of the group.
“And who are you? Mercenaries?”
“Ex-mercenaries. Since the war ended, we returned to our original profession.”
“Profession?”
“Robbery,”
One said, then the others started to laugh.
“Really, the easy wartime was over once we suddenly surrendered to Gallia. You see, we need compensation. So we're going back to basic business, to earn food.”
“Leave. There is nothing for you in here.”
Tiffania answered back and looked courageously at them. The men laughed.
“There is some.”
“Eh?”
“Even if the village looks poor, there are still some valuable things, I think. For me, a great treat would be a beautiful woman like you.”
“I think you would be worth two thousand gold coins, right?”
These robbers seemed to do kidnapping too.
One approached and the moment he tried to touch Tiffania…
Saito stepped in.
“Stop.”
“What? Kid, don’t you value your life? Except for a few exceptions, there is no interest in the market for the likes of you.”
“Don’t touch Tiffa.”
“Myyy, such a serious fellow. Want more wounds? Move.”
Contemptuously evaluating him, the robber gave a vulgar smile.
Saito reached for Derflinger. Derflinger whispered in a worried voice.
“…Partner, stop. The way Partner is today, there is no chance of winning.”
”Hey, youngster. Do you want us to murder you? Let us work in peace.”
One robber said while lowering a spear. Saito clenched his fist. I cannot use Gandálfr's power and am just a high school student.
But…
Saito gripped Derflinger.
“I won’t abandon someone to whom I owe my life.”
“Partner…”
“Naa, little boy. Do you know something?” said a man holding the spear.
“W-what?”
“To attack the Tristain and Germania Allied Forces, we headed toward Rosais. However, we were stopped by only a single person. I don’t know much as I stayed behind... Yet you remind me the courage of that person. I praise it.”
“It was me.”
Saito, who gripped the sword, said in a shaky voice. Men began to laugh.
“Hey hey! You say you stopped the Albion army when your hand trembles just from holding a sword?”
“At least lie better if you are lying! It was 70,000! 70,000!”
“Shut up!”
Saito raised Derflinger and sprang at a man who laughed. Then the opponent made a serious face and received Saito's sword with the spear.
“Ugh!”
Derflinger was blocked without any effort. The man turned the spear skillfully, hitting Saito's feet with it. Disappointingly, Saito fell on the ground.