What I saw when I walked through the door of the orphanage was unmistakable. It was Alueno himself, still a child at that time. Thin fingers and white skin that seemed to crumble when touched. Her pale golden hair, shining lightly, is tightly coiffed.

"Well, Rougis!　You must be Rougis. It's been a long time, but you still look the same. You're still the same, whether you're cocky or twisted.

　There's something wrong with you.

　I wondered what expression I should make, and my tense face twisted strangely. I'm not sure if that's strange or not, but Alueno held his mouth and broke his face.

What's wrong with you? You look like you've seen something strange. Have you been poisoned by being an adventurer?　That's all very well, but it doesn't sound very interesting.

　Alueno continues to talk eloquently from even lower than my much lowered gaze. The way he speaks is both endearing and somewhat ironic.

　The only thing that swirled in my thoughts in response to his appearance was.

"Mr. Alueno. I don't remember you having that personality.

"Huh?

　The girl in front of me, Alueno, is staring straight at me with a questioning look in her eyes. The color of her eyes, her appearance, and her figure are unmistakably Alueno. But what is it? What is this strange feeling? At least I don't think the Alueno in my mind used such scary words. What do you mean, "huh"?

What are you saying? It hasn't been that long since you left here. Have you forgotten your childhood friend's personality?

　Mr. Nines sounded completely dumbfounded. He stopped putting away groceries and water from his shopping basket and looked at me with the same suspicious look as Alueno.

　Oh, right, or was it? The future Alueno, who accompanied me on my journey to salvation, was the embodiment of chastity, modesty, and compassion, a woman who could be considered a saint. Everyone could not help but follow her with their eyes. Even my childhood friend, when we met again after a long time, was fascinated by her figure.

　Thinking about it, I was so preoccupied with that image that I applied it to her as a child. But no. Yes, that's right. It's true that when she was a child, especially when we spent time together at the orphanage, she was more lively than innocent. Arueno was a woman who favored liveliness over modesty.

I don't care if you've forgotten. But you should stop looking at people like they're stupid. Besides, it's more you than me now. Where have you been all this time, in such a state of disrepair?

　Arueno raised his eyebrows as he stared at my body. I can't help but feel uncomfortable in a situation where two people are staring at me strangely.

It's nothing, really. There you go.

　With a light flutter of her arms and legs, she walked into the orphanage as if to ward off their gazes.

　The inside of the orphanage is much more spacious than it looks from the outside. In a sense, this is to be expected, since the orphanage feeds a large number of children and sometimes even houses their buyers. The only furniture we could find was a large wooden table that we could all sit around. Chairs that creaked when you sat on them, and a cupboard. But when I was a child, it still looked like a big house.

　As I was about to sit down on the nearest chair, as if it had been a long time since I had been home, my left hand was pulled firmly.

"Ow!

　Instantly, a pain like a sharp blade ripped through my shoulder. When Alueno carelessly pulled his right hand, the same pain shot through his right shoulder. He gritted his teeth and stepped on both legs to endure the pain.

　I had enough pride in myself to resist rolling around in front of the woman of my dreams.

"Look at that. Come on, look. I want to know what's so innocent about this. Mr. Nines, I'll borrow your bandage. Come on, Lugis, sit up properly.

　She sits quietly in her chair, tears welling up in her eyes. I miss the slight creaking sound that comes out of the chair. Mr. Nines smiled and handed Alueno a bandage, squinting at him with a smile.

　I felt a little relieved. Or should I say, my heart was satisfied. Oh, surely that vivacity, vivacity, and compassionate spirit must have been Alueno's past. It's so stupid. It seems that I was so absent from the orphanage at the time that I had forgotten half of my loved one's appearance. I must have selfishly treated it as a good memory. I can't even begin to feel sorry for myself.

　In the past, I had left the orphanage claiming to be a great adventurer, but I hadn't shown my face here for a long time so that she wouldn't know about my miserable life. The only connection I had with her was through the letters she sent me from time to time. Oh, by the way, at that time, when I heard that Arueno was going to be taken in, I didn't even come to see him off. That's terrible. It's so stupid.

　There are things I want so much to hold on to. Why didn't I be honest when the thing I wanted so much to be with was right beside me?



You know, you pushed too hard. You must have bumped into something hard.　You're turning blue here.

　Slowly bandaging his shoulder, Alueno asked in an angry tone.

　As he ducked, he chewed on a chewing tobacco cigarette that he had bought for money to distract himself, which only made his anger worse. Where did you learn that bad stuff?" "Chewing that stuff won't make you a grown-up," and on and on. I can't just throw this away, even if Alueno tells me to. It's a taste I've learned in my life as an adventurer.

　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web, and you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.

　I soaked in the indescribable comfort of being treated by my loved one, and chewed on the time I missed. Not bad at all. Alueno and Mr. Nines are also there, and we smile at each other over idle chitchat. Oh, I see. So this is the happiness I've been missing in the future. It's pathetic.

　But even in that, there was still a sense of discomfort. Certainly, lively and full of life. That must have been the Alueno of the past. But still, it was too much.

"Hey, Alueno.

What's wrong?　I won't listen to your protests about the bandages. Or do you want to thank me?　I don't care!

　He was chewing his cigarette and spitting. He chewed on his cigarette and opened his mouth, unable to hold his spit.

"You've got a place to go, right? Where's the place?

"............ Mr. Nines?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea. I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before.

You're really straining yourself. I don't know if I should call it being strong or being tough. You're right, Alueno. What about you?

I don't know. It's not that I'm cocky, it's that I'm clever. Yes, you are.

　Alueno's gaze wanders, cowering unfaithfully.

　Not that I can afford it. I'm just a little more experienced. In fact, even now, I'm uncomfortable with Alueno's condition. This is the kind of weakness that makes me want to cover my eyes.

So, where are we going?

　Come to think of it, I didn't know that at the time. In fact, even now, I don't know where Alueno was taken.

It's not a weird place. Okay, I'll tell you what you want. I don't mind if you do.

　But after a beat, Alueno mutters.

"I'm taking you to the cathedral.

　A chew of tobacco fell from his mouth.