It's a dream.
　Probably because of a conversation with Leme.
　I mean, it was a dream about the day I asked my dad.

"I had a much more important job than being a hero.

　Like Leme said, it's a dressed-up phrase, but [Indomitable Brave Man] is probably a man who didn't give up the first place, but didn't give up his family.

　That's why I'm cursed by me.
　Because if I wasn't there, the strongest brave man would have been able to prove it.

　Huh.........
　Come to think of it, I think I said the same thing to my father back then.
　What did my father say to my words?

　Eventually the dream didn't go that far and I woke up.

'Wraith.'

　When I opened my eyes, the reflection was not the ceiling, the wall, or the pillow.
　It's a face.

'What the hell, Fran?'

Good morning.

...Good morning.

　Her morbidly white hair is stretched long and her red eyes show no sign of emotion. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who are not human, but rather a doll created by a top-notch engineer with the best of his or her skills, because of the white skin and neat eyes and nose.

　This fantastically beautiful girl is a childhood friend of mine.
　As I sit up, I scratch my head and look at Fran.
　She's wearing a robe that covers her entire body today as well.

"I've been wondering lately, why are you coming to wake me up?

　About a few days ago, Fran started coming to wake me up.
　She comes to wake me up, or rather, she's in my room when I wake up. So she hasn't woken me up exactly. But she said she came to wake me up. I don't know what that means.

'It was Michelle.'

"He?

　Air Oji and this [Wizard]. [Red Lotus Wizard]. He's a strange person, but his abilities are real.

''Being woken up by a girl I've known since childhood is every boy's dream~''

　He's supposed to be imitating his voice, but he has no inflection and his voice quality hasn't changed.

'Did I say that?'

　Fran nodded with a chuckle.
　.........what are you talking about?

''So you're trying to show me a dream?

If Wraith is happy, I'm happy.

　It's hard to tell what Fran is thinking from her expression.
　However, they've been together since they were waddling around, and as expected, you'll be able to tell.
　It's not a joke or a teasing kind of thing.

That's fine.

Feeling better?

Your face never brings me down.

Yes.

　Oh, he looked away. He was embarrassed.

"I'm gonna get some food.

Yes.

　I wouldn't mind eating downstairs with the rest of the guys, but I had my reasons.
　I went downstairs to the dining room and approached the kitchen counter.

'Oh, Lace. Good morning.

　The lady in the cafeteria notices me and smiles. I smile back.

'Good morning.'

Are you going to eat alone with Fran again today?

Yeah.

You're so close.

He's been with me since I was a little girl.

You're still small.

It's going to be big.

　In this country, fifteen is an adult. From fifteen onwards, they are expected to behave and take responsibility as adults.
　Once the [job title (job)] is determined at the age of ten, they spend the next few years training and studying for their future profession.

　If you're an adventurer, you'll go to a training institute (school). If you're a 【Cook】, you train at a restaurant that serves meals.
　Ten years old is young, but when you consider that he'll be an adult in another five years, he shouldn't be too young.

　Still, there were many adults who still treated her as a child........or maybe an inexperienced one.
　In such a situation, this lady seems to be treated like a child at first glance, but she firmly respects you as a human being. I love how she seems to be easygoing and doesn't step in too far.

I'll be back in a minute, then.

Yes.

　As I sat down in an empty seat and waited, someone came up to me and stopped.

'Lace,'

　He's a wise looking guy with a leafy hair color and a wise face. A boy, I think. He's about three years older than me.
　What do you know I'm not good at remembering names.

"Good morning ... Ewan.

　I managed to remember. A brave man of the gale.

"...I graduated second in my class from a training school.

What?　Uh-huh, I see. That's great.......Yuan Senpai.

　I'm not good at these things either. It's like enforcing respect.
　I'm learning from Skaha-sempai's case, though, so I don't dare to displease the friends I fight with.

''Well that's fine. More importantly, do you understand?　Today is the day.

Yes.

We have very little battle experience. We must brace ourselves for the attack so that we don't get dragged down by our predecessors.

　Seriously. I think it's good. Some people will show their abilities by being tightly wound.
　But I want you to know that it's not all of them.

That's true. It's true that training and actual fighting are different. Thanks, I'll be careful.

Well I don't think you're getting my message.

I don't think so.

"Well to be honest, I don't like you. I shouldn't say I don't understand you. To be recognized by the Four Great Spirits and yet refuse their blessings.

I'm not pulling your leg.

'What's the difference between not raising the forces that can be raised and cutting corners?

I'm not going up. This guy didn't sign up to help me.

　I asked him if anyone was coming from the sidelines, and he just followed me.
　But Ewan doesn't seem to be convinced.

''Wraith, you're........''

　The voice said that breakfast was ready just in time.

'Well, I'll see you later.'

　I don't answer Ewan's voice that hangs on my back and head back upstairs with my food.

'Sorry to keep you waiting,'

　I stand in front of the door and it is swiftly opened. It's Fran. She must have been waiting for me at the door.

'Thank you for everything,'

Okay.

　We place a tray of food on the small desk in our room and start breakfast time.

　There's a reason we both have to eat.
　Fran has taken off her robe.
　Her right arm is large and vicious looking, as if a monster's arm had been sewn onto the girl.
　Only there, unlike the rest of her skin, it was reddish-black, with countless lines that were blue or purple, pulsing like another creature.

　She was born with it.
　With this arm, she would struggle to go about her daily life. First of all, I have to do my meals with one hand.
　You'll find out when you try it, but it's quite difficult. If I just eat the bread, it's not so bad, but if I don't have a hand to hold the bowl, it's often a hassle.

　I'm sure there are other things I don't like about it that I don't understand.
　In fact, she doesn't like to show her arms to people. The only exception is in combat.

　So I help her eat.
　I sit next to her and bring the salad and soup to Fran's mouth.

'Wraith,'

Hmm?

　It's something I'm used to, but Fran still seems to feel sorry for the hassle.

''It's ... nothing,''

Yeah. You're welcome.

Yes.

'I don't do anything I don't want to do. You know that.

　When she said that, her anxious face - but with no expression on her side - softened slightly.

''If I eat this, it's the Demon King's Castle.

Yes.

I'm counting on you.

Yes.