Two weeks had passed since the attack on the Philimina flute.

　I used my magic to repair the destroyed houses, and as a result there were no villagers who were seriously injured, so it wasn't long before they were rebuilt.

　It's a miracle that such a large scale attack resulted in almost no damage. I'm a sorcerer, so that's one of the reasons, but later I heard that my father's leadership was also important.

　Simply defeating an attacking monster is not enough to help those who have not escaped. In order to help those people, he divided them into two teams, one for defense and the other for evacuation guidance, and his ability to efficiently respond to the situation was astounding.

　One of the people who was actually saved by my dad and his team said that he was very happy to hear that.

　I knew my dad was great. My dad is too weak to fight demons, but I think he's the coolest person in the world.

　On the other hand, I, on the other hand, have been living my life the same way. I adored Sierra, my father and mother adored me, I trained in magic and played with Myl and the others...in short, it was really the same as it always was.

　The treatment of me by the people in the village is no different. Even if you are a sorcerer, they will treat you the same way they have always treated me.

　They won't be scared or treat me any differently. They love me as a mere child born to Russell and Cecil.

　I was afraid of being feared and persecuted, but I also didn't want to be overly lifted up just because I was a sorcerer. That's why I've kept the fact that I'm a sorcerer a secret from the people in my village until now.

　In this country, sorcerers are considered to be special. They have strong power, concentrate wealth and power, protect the country with their wisdom, and take on powerful demons.

　There are sorcerers among adventurers as well, though they are few in number, and they are still considered special and respected, and everyone wants to work with them. That's how they want to guarantee their own safety.

　But that, on the contrary, is the only way to be alone in a group. A world where there is no one of equal status, where you don't feel close to anyone, where you can only be used, feared or looked up to.

　I've always thought that such a life is somehow cold.

　But even after I was revealed as a magician, my world was still protected. I believe it is because of my father and mother's virtue that I can live my life the same way I do now.

Well, they're Russell and Cecil's kids, after all. I don't care what powers you have or don't have.

　One day I went over to Myl's house and I was happy to hear Myl's mom reminisce as she baked a pie and said.

She said, "Those two kids couldn't have done anything wrong. No one in our village would want to be afraid of you or pissed off.

　.........I still think my father and mother are the strongest. No matter how strong I become as a sorcerer, I will never be able to compete with them.

　It's because they've been protecting me so much.

　Then I strongly believe that I must at least protect them in a way that I can.

　--

　One night.

"Dad... Mom. I'm going to leave the village.

　After Mom put Sierra to bed. I'd been talking to my parents about that.

　It was something I had been thinking about ever since the attack on Philimina's flute.

　I'm sure that Philimina's flute will return someday in the not-too-distant future. And that's not too far in the future. And the ones that do come back will want to eat me first and attack me straight away.

　I'm not sure I have the strength to fight it.　I could win this one, but what happens if I lose the next fight?

　I honestly don't know about that. If someone might seal Philimina's Flute, some city might be decimated by that monster.

　But there's no way that Philimina's flute will ever be satisfied to sleep again after it eats me. He will no doubt lay waste to the human world, unrestrained and unrestrained in his destruction.

　Who can say for sure that it won't be my family that will be sacrificed then?　The possibility of him killing my mother and father is not a remote possibility.

　And the only way to prevent that from happening is for me to defeat Filimina's whistle.

　But for that to happen, I'll have to become strong enough. And it wasn't hard to imagine that I wouldn't be able to get that much power in this village.

　Because the Philimina's flute that I fought that time was no such thing as a perfect body. There was no telling how strong the resurrected body would be when it fought at full strength.

　At least, I think it's stronger than me now. I'm sure you'll be able to see that the strength of a sealed unit, which only existed in the legends, is not at that level.

"What are you going to do now that you've left the village?

　Under the light I created, which shimmers near the ceiling of the living room, my father, who was meditating earlier, opens his mouth. He doesn't even pretend to agree or disagree with me, he just asks me questions in a tone of voice that seems to only seek confirmation.

　But there is a seriousness in his voice that is almost abrasive. I took a deep breath to calm myself down, as I was almost intimidated by my father, who wasn't supposed to be so strong.

　Once my mind was made up, I took a deep breath to calm myself down and spoke the answer to my question.

Leave the village and be strong.

Strong.

Yeah. First you become an adventurer. Become an adventurer, earn money, and then go to the academy to study magic. Eventually, I'll become the most powerful sorcerer ... the court's foremost sorcerer.

　The court's top magician. The most powerful and the highest rank among sorcerers, uniting sorcerers from all over the country.

　He has two goals in mind. One is to become strong enough to take that position away. The other is to increase the number of available manpower you can use and follow them as soldiers in the event of an attack on the Philimina flute.

　Also, the reason why you become an adventurer before entering the academy is to get used to the battle itself. It's also a good way to earn money to enter the academy.

　In the academy, you'll gain knowledge of magic in general and information about sealed individuals. This knowledge is absolutely necessary to overthrow Phillimina's flute.

　I'm going to become an adventurer and study hard at the academy to obtain the knowledge and experience that I lack right now.

''Father... Mother. I believe that the demon that led the demons to attack the village will return in the near future. He'll be back to attack me. That's why I must have enough power to defeat him by then.

....

I love this village. I love my dad, I love my mom, and I think Sierra is important to my family. But you see if I stay here, I'm never going to be strong enough. I love you all, but that's why I have to stand up for myself. The most important thing in life is to keep the most important thing intact.

　I'm a five-year-old child now.
　From my father and mother's point of view, I'm a protected person, so the words I'm saying now may be considered too young and poorly spoken.

　But even so, I was carrying the determination I'd worked so hard to make with those words.

　That's why I can't give up on this one thing, even if my father is silent with a difficult look on his face.

　I want my mother, who taught me the warmth of family cooking, to be able to cook a good meal ten or twenty years from now.

　Because my dad, who doesn't have a very wide back but maybe a heart bigger than this continent, taught me that you can be cool even if you're pathetic.

　And Sierra. I couldn't let such a cute little thing put on a sad face.

　And then there's Myl, Mr. Raid, and everyone else in the village who accepted me. I want to be able to protect them all.

"But you know what, Gerald?

　Dad, who crossed his arms with a difficult look on his face, opened his mouth with a grave look on his face.

'You're too young to make such an important decision. You're too young. And yet, even if you say such things out of the blue, I can't agree with you....

Oh, come on, Russell.

　Mom's words sandwiched between us from the side made my eyes widen in surprise, not just my dad, but even me.

　No, I'm glad you said that, but I didn't expect you to nod so easily.

'Cecil!　No, but, boy. This kid is only five years old!　It's too soon to leave the village!

But you know what, Russell?

　Mom was dumbfounded and troubled, but with a complex sense of happiness and joy and loving color woven into her expression that was intertwined with that.

　A little bit of a crying laugh, but much more than that, a much more blown-out smile.

'Now Gerald you have that look in your eyes just like Russell does when he's reckless. The way you look at me when you're trying to protect someone, and when you decide to do this and never give up....

　What a mouthful.

'Cecil....'

That's all right. Gerald is going to be a great guy, because he will have eyes just like the man I'm in love with. He will have eyes just like the man I'm in love with.

　Then Mom looks embarrassed and intertwines her fingers in Dad's hand.

'It's true that it may be a little early for her to leave the village now. But for now, we should be happy for her to grow up.

'Cecil you're right. You might be right.

　Dad nodded with a divine look on his face and laid his own other hand over Mom's hand, which was entwined.

　 I can't stand it....

　From a while ago, my mother has been using a series of nasty words, and this is the kind of thing that really makes us think that we are a married couple similar to each other.

　You really do look good together, don't you?

　While I'm watching them, my cheeks heating up slightly, my dad straightens his residence and turns to me.

Gerald," he says, "I'll allow you to leave the village. I'll allow you to leave the village, but on three conditions. But I have three conditions.

Yes, sir.

One, you must stay in this village until you are thirteen years old. One, you must return to us alive. And the last one you must never forget that you are our two children.

　Sticking out three fingers and folding them one at a time, Dad speaks of the 'conditions'.

　The first condition is that you must be thirteen years old to be able to register as an adventurer.
　The second condition is probably purely out of concern for me.
　And the third........that is.

"Look, Gerald. If you can keep these three conditions, I'll allow you to leave the village. In return, you will not be allowed to break a single condition, no matter what happens to you. You must surely return to this village one day as a son of Cecil and I.

Dad, that's...

Look, I promise you, Gerald. The only thing you can't break is a promise between men, no matter what.

　It was a declaration that when I returned to the village, no matter what, they would welcome me back as a parent, no matter what.

　It was a declaration that as my father and mother's son, they would continue to be there for me to come back to at all times.

'Yes I'll protect you, I can, Dad.

　I nodded, holding back tears from coming to my eyes.

　I was too kind and warm, and I swore that I would never let my father's terms go unimpaired.

All right, all right. Then I will congratulate you on your departure. And whatever happens, be strong. Come back here when you're the best of the best.

Yeah!

　He's reaching for me. I reach for him, too.

　My father's small, five-year-old hand. My father's supple hand, far from being rugged for a man.

　But the difference in size is obvious, and the father's hand wraps around his son's and we shake hands.

He shook hands with his son as his father's hand wrapped around his son's. "Huh. But you mustn't do anything reckless, Gerald....

I'm not a child!

　My mother was teasing me from the side, but she saw to it that father (cousin) and son (cousin) had made a promise to me.

　--

　Eight years have passed since then.

　I had turned thirteen years old.

　Even though I had continued my training as a sorcerer since then, it was also a time when I was just learning my limits.

　The time of departure was right around the corner--the time of departure was right around the corner.

　..........

　.........

　...

　Today, I'm leaving the village. I take a carriage that connects the village and the town, and from there I leave for the adventurer's town.

Well, I'm off. Father, mother I'll be there, and Sierra.

　I look back at the doorway and say goodbye to everyone in my family for the moment. The three family members that come into view give me a friendly look and look away.

　........although Sierra is the only one who is still crying, burying her face in my mom's chest.

"Yeah. Go ahead, Gerald. I'm coming back as a big man.

'Good luck, Gerald. Give your best to Meir.

...Yeah. Thank you.

　To my delight, Meir, who is also thirteen years old, has agreed to accompany me on my journey.

I've been training in sorcery and warfare since the attack, and she said she was going to come with me for the reason that 'if you don't chase around the man you've fallen in love with, you'll make your woman obsolete.

　At first, I tried to refuse, saying it was dangerous, but I was shaken up quite forcefully by the misleading phrasing of my mother, who said, 'Please have a long-lasting relationship with my daughter.
　She's a mother, and she's a daughter, I guess....

　Then we stared at each other for a while with our dads.

　And...

"Well, I'm off.

　At last I turn my back.

　And so I stepped out of the house and quickly walked away.

What are you doing?

　Home.

Why is my brother leaving?

　I couldn't leave the house.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the marketplace.



Sierra....

I can't say goodbye or good luck, Sierra so don't go, brother.

　My beloved, selfish princess presses her forehead against my back, tears streaming down her face. Even if you can't see it, you can't help but notice the gesture my sister, who has been with me for ten years, makes when she's sad.

　And I understand that, because I know that she really misses me, that she's sad, and I'm choked up and unable to speak.

　Still, I have to leave. To protect my dad's jewelry box. To get the power to protect everything I care about.

Hey, Sierra.

Huh....

I'm the son of my mother and father. I'm your mother and father's son.

Hmmm...

And Sierra is your mother and father's daughter too.

....

　You gave me a deal that day.

　Never forget that I am Russell and Cecil's son, wherever I am. It was one of the promises I made to get out of the village, man to man.

"Your mother's son and your mother's daughter are my brother and sister.

Yeah, but...

That's why we have the same father and mother, an unbreakable relationship. It's a bond so strong and unbreakable that I can say that no matter what happens in the future, our relationship will never be broken.

Yes ....................

　Dare not look back. Dare not look at Sierra's face. Dare ... not to look back.

　The feeling of her clinging to my waist, the gesture of rubbing her eyes as if she were wiping away tears, and Sierra's trembling voice are all in my head and in my ears, though. But I pretend that I don't notice it and continue to speak.

　I pretend that I don't notice and continue to speak, because if I don't, I won't be able to let go of this cute little creature.

You don't have to say goodbye to Sierra. You don't have to say good luck. Those are the words that my mom and dad gave me so I need you to say something else to Sierra.

Another word for...?

Yeah. Tell me you're back. Can you just tell me that?

But....

　Sierra's puzzled voice was still damp.
　So I told her the words I could blow away that moisture, but in a slightly cowardly way.

'If you don't tell me, my brother won't be coming back.

'Yes, yes!　No, no, brother, I don't want you to come back!

But you're not going to say welcome home, are you?

　You have to choose one or the other, there are two choices. I'm going to give her only the obvious choice, which one she would choose if she adored me.

'I say!　I'll say welcome home!　So make sure you come home!

　And the selfish princess, after all, jumps on the choice I'm aiming for without a second thought. It's a conditional reflex, so much so that I didn't even have time to notice the cunning intentions there.

　If you say welcome home, I'll come back. If you don't say welcome home, you won't come back. It was almost as if I was forcing the obvious choices on him.

　So I would give Sierra the answer she didn't want to give me, for choosing the answer I wanted.

''I know ... I know. I'll be back, Sierra. So that's a promise. Tell me you're home. So.............................. ...I'm off.

　To avoid an unwanted future for my family.

Uh....

　This time I took a step forward. Sierra is still clinging to my waist. But because of the "promise" made between us, I couldn't continue to hold her tightly.

　It's a bit deceitful, but if I don't do this, my selfish princess isn't going to approve of me being gone for a long time.

　There is no looking back. If I look back in the future, I'll just be stuck there.

　So for now, I swallow the loneliness of being separated from my family for a while and move on. My boots, which were made for this occasion and are sturdy enough to withstand the long journey, make a dry, weary sound as they rub against the ground.

　It was the sound of a departing footstep.

Gerald!

　As I leave the house, Myl catches up with me. She's dressed in a travel outfit much like me.

　She raises a cheerful voice as usual and runs up to me.

'Meir..... Have you finished saying goodbye to your family?

　When she asked her in line next to her, Myl smiled and nodded cheerfully.

'Yeah. I said I'm off,''

Did he tell you not to get sick to your stomach?

That's what my dad said, word-for-word, without getting it wrong.

　You're going to be rude, right?

　Well, this guy doesn't seem to mind talking about strange things. It's not hard to understand how your father feels.

Don't oversleep, or else.

You get it, Mom. You know what I mean?

I've known you a long time. And your family.

　Specifically, we've been neighbors for about thirteen years now, you know.

　And we even have children the same age. There is no reason why we can't get to know each other better.

　In addition, for the past eight years, Myl has often accompanied me in my training. That may be the reason why our family is very close to the Meill family.......Meill and Sierra are doggy-byes for some reason.

'Gerald.......wants me to go?

　As I was thinking about this, Meir would now say a few words to me. With the flirtation of small talk, he asks me how I finished saying goodbye to my family.

　I'm sure it's the same as usual, but after all, I've been living in this village for 13 years. That's probably why he wants to fill the loneliness that seems to open up a gaping hole in his heart by telling a little sentimental story like this.

'Well, you know,'

　And to be honest, I don't know what that feeling is.

So Cecil told you to go for it?

...you know the drill.

We've known each other a long time, even at the Gerald house.

　Then, with a grin, Myl smacks me on the shoulder. I staggered lightly at the force of that, but I quickly regained my position and said, "You did it," and this time I poked him on the shoulder.

　As we were heading out of the village, while repeating the process of hitting and being hit, staggering and staggering for a while, Meir was

And that he was made to cry by a selfish princess.

　And then he hit the part that hurt the most for me.

'Well I'm not crying, though.

　He tries to play along by saying so, but it doesn't work that way with a long-time friend (●●●●●●●).

You've been putting up with it desperately, haven't you? Because you're a boy?

　And after all, he knows me pretty well, so I couldn't cover it up or play along.

I don't know.

　After all, I'm the one who gets flustered like that.

'Haha. Do I have a point?

Shut up...

I'm fine.

What...?

He said, "Welcome back. "Welcome home.

..........

　After all, at the end of the day, this guy knows me very well.

　That's why I'm relieved by this single thing.

　It's really a good thing that Mill understands me so well, isn't it?

I've been with you for a long time, right?

I haven't said anything.

'Haha. Well, don't worry about it, never mind, never mind. Well, here we are.

Yeah. We're here.

　Here it is, on the outskirts of the village. Once a month, a carriage comes to the village and goes back and forth between the village and the city in the morning and at night.

　And today, this morning, we're leaving the village in the carriage to go to town. To leave for the adventurer's city.

"Myl, are you sure? Are you sure you want to do this?

　The carriage was already parked at the stop. As I looked up at it, I asked her standing next to me.

'Good?'

Are you sure you're ready to go on this journey with me? I'm sure there will be a lot of danger, a lot of trouble and a lot of regret.

　I had never even ridden in a carriage before. So naturally I was filled with a lot of anxiety. I'm going to have to get used to a lot of things.

Are you ready for all the hardships you're going to face, Meir?

　Even as I asked the question, I knew it was all my insecurity. I knew that I was afraid to take it on myself, and I knew that I was looking for answers from her.

　But Meir. My childhood friend laughed and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess. It's a lot to take in, isn't it?

Yeah.

But you know what? It's just the two of us from now on.

　And then the words came out of his mouth, a bit of a surprise.

'Lots and lots of things we can do together, you know. You're alone at all hours with the man you're in love with.

You've got the wrong idea about the trip, don't you?

'It's exciting, exciting, I'm sure there's a lot of hard work to be done, but there's a million times more things that you're not used to, but there's many times more interesting and fun things to do.

It's not yet decided that it's going to be a trip like that.

Yeah. We don't know yet. You don't know what's going to happen. Whether or not we can have fun with it all depends on us. ...So we're going to have a fun and interesting trip, that's what we're going to do!　If you're ready, I'm ready.

You.....

　There's probably a lot of danger.

　There's a lot of shit to get used to and a lot of hard work to do.

　But now I received enough courage from Mir to not care about it. No, it was forced, forced.

　Her words of too much positivity, instead of taking on my anxiety, were enough to throw me into the sky with all my might.

'Well, come on then. Gerald.

　Meir pulls my hand hard. He continues to run off to the carriage.

　I no longer had any hesitation in my mind either.

Yeah. I'm ready to go, too.

　I nodded vigorously as he pulled my hand back.

'I'm ready, I'm ready. That you'll push me around so much, that you'll tire me out so much.

Oh, my God, is that what I look like?

And you're going to make me laugh like a motherf*cker.

Huh!

It's going to be a pleasure to work with you. Meir?

Yeah, yeah!　The same goes for you, Gerald!

　I'll get in the carriage.
　We're going to re-balance the carriage.

　I look up and look ahead. Staring farther ahead than now.

　The smoke of the battle for the future has been rising since this moment.