Traveling alone is a lot of inconvenience. No, to put it bluntly, it may be reckless.
　If you try to do everything by yourself, you will soon become fatigued, and since there is no one to watch over you, it is impossible to sleep at night.
　Even the strongest of warriors can be worn out on an unaccustomed journey, both physically and mentally, and a man who has been eaten by fatigue can easily die at the slightest carelessness. That's why it's unlikely that even a top-notch adventurer would attempt to travel alone.

　Duran is an exception, so to speak.
　He can handle even a dangerous journey alone. Even if you are asleep, you can detect the presence of the enemy, and you have the stamina to move tirelessly for a week or so.
　It's because it's beyond the bounds of humanity that it's possible to adapt and live as a matter of course, whether it's in the wild, on a journey rife with bandits, or on the battlefield.

　But that girl is not like that.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for. I don't know how long she's been traveling alone, but she may have been even more trapped than she looks.
　Like a wounded beast, Duran thought, he must have turned on his blade like a wounded beast.

(-- but if so, that wasn't normal.)

　Not to mention the way he was able to eliminate the signs, the way he performed to catch them by surprise, the way he attacked without hesitation to take their legs away.
　He wasn't trained, but he had acquired the art of survival.
　That's what made him seem like a much more skilled bandit than the mercenary-ridden bandit who turned into a cruel corpse.

(Bandit, huh..........)

　Duran thinks of someone to turn his personal grudge against.
　People tend to say that to live is to fight, but for Duran, it was different.
　Fighting was what living was all about.
　Fighting was like breathing. He put himself in the field of battle and kept his resting place away from it, and as a result, he was even ridiculed as a demon for moving from one place to another.
　It was essential for Duran to fight.
　And that girl also had the unique smell of someone who had lived through the struggle.

　For some reason, Duran was cooking with a small dagger in his hand to behave to the girl who had been attacked. Surprisingly, his hand was coaxed.
　As he stirred the small pot, he nodded one nod in satisfaction at the smell that wafted through the air.
　The soup is cooked in a base of dried tomatoes. The gentle sweetness of the tomatoes warms my body. It would be just right for the body that has cooled down after a dip in the water.

　As if that wasn't enough, we poured a spicy sauce from a small bottle we were carrying over the roast beef we had killed on the road.
　Sizzling, the juices burst on the grill.
　The aromatic aroma of the meat is combined with the stimulation of the mellow spices. The aroma that drifted in the air stimulated my appetite and I couldn't stop eating.

　Although Duran doesn't have a policy of being obsessed with food, it's only natural that he wants to eat good food anyway.
　If that's what you're after, it's Duran's style to take a stab at it.

'Smells great!'

　The girl's voice echoed, perhaps caught by such a scent.
　Water droplets flew lightly from the girl's hair as she ran into the room, and water droplets flew onto Duran's cheeks.

''Rice, rice!''

　There is no doubt that the way he is fidgety and expresses his joy at the food in front of him is a smile.
　However -- the

"....you...

　--that is, if you're wearing clothes.

Hmm?

　The girl, who tilted her head cutely, was, to put it simply, yes - completely naked.
　Her pure white skin, washed clean of dirt, was exposed. Her bluish fur looks soft as silk. The growing body was definitely a woman's as well as a girl's.
　They are unsparingly exposed. There was no sense of shame that even existed, rather she was bouncing around happily, as if to show them off.
　Duran almost held his head in his hands.

　The figure looked amazingly different.
　He couldn't believe his eyes - there was Nero there, so transformed that he could almost be mistaken for someone else. There was not a shadow or shape left of the filthy, hobo-like child.

'Get dressed, get dressed...'

But I don't have any clothes.　Oh, I'm soaked...
　Saying that, Nero pointed to the raggedy cloth.
　Apparently, he didn't have a single change of clothes.

''Huh...........Here, put this on too.
　With that, Duran releases his man's shirt.
　It's far better than wearing nothing.

　It's a very good idea to take the plain shirt, sniff it a little and then put it on with vigor.
　At that moment, Duran will realize his mistake.

　It covered Duran's upper body, and it completely covered the girl's entire body.
　However, the small bulge made an unconcealed assertion over the top of the garment, and the lines of her round body were also well highlighted. It was quite natural that the feminine part of her body would be accentuated more due to the differences in her body type if she wore men's clothing.
　The upper half of the body is ragged, and while the clothing covers the shoulders to the elbows, from the thighs down, the legs, which have lost a bit of their flesh, are magnificently exposed, and for some reason it seems to be more sensationalized.
　But, well, Nero's eyes were glued to the food, and he didn't seem to care as if he was bothered by it, so I guess it's fine as it is.

'Hey, Uncle!　Can I have it?　Can I eat!

　The sparkle in the girl's eyes, shining so brightly that even the first class stars are dumbfounded, conveys an appetite for this.

'No,'

Why?
　The girl's face was tinged with despair, as if it were the end of the world.
　This is interesting.

'It's not your uncle, it's your brother.

Don't get hung up on it. I don't care about that.

Not good.

'Yes, yes, brother!　Please feed me, okay?
　Duran couldn't help but say to Nero, who looked up at him, wiping his slobber as he said this.

''Well, that's fine. Then I'll do what I want--

Thank you!
　Covered with words, he ate the food in a flurry of food splashed on it.

''Hagu, hagu hagu--mma!　Mmmm!　The "Rage!
　I don't want to ask for any kind of decency, but the way he grabbed a handful of stones and chewed off the flesh while smearing his face is indescribable.

''Ngg!　Hmm!　Hmmm..........
　In addition, he's in too much of a hurry, and he's struggling to get his throat choked up.
　I had no choice but to hand him a glass of water.
　Nero drank it down in one gulp and then had a big smile on his face.

''Phew, I'll come back to life~!　It's better than my grandfather's cooking!　I'm surprised you're such a good cook--

..........
　Seeing Nero devouring his meal with a happy smile, Duran almost clenches his fists with anger.
　That's when I came up with the idea that I should discipline him exactly where he is.

''Mmmm, thanks, uncle.

　The girl said this innocently, and the swirl of saturated minds quieted down and disappeared.

'Oh, oh--'
　Just stunned.
　Unconscious words spill out.

'Hmm, what's wrong?　Don't you want to eat your uncle?
　Nero stared at me curiously.

'No, I'll eat.'
　But it was Duran who wondered.
　A brazen, petulant, incomprehensible, beastly girl.
　I can't quite grasp this creature who has no desire to kill, who kicks someone off as a matter of course, who has a way of living that only she can try to live with, while somehow blending in with others in a natural way.
　But it's more than that - it's more than that.

Hmm?

　I shook, not knowing my own mind.
　When I looked at Nero at that thought, he only gave me a friendly smile.




◇




Whew. I'm so hungry.
　In the end, Nero, who had eaten most of the food made by himself, muttered as he rubbed his stomach.

''Then you're happy now--I'm going--bye--''
　With that, Nero was picking at Duran's clothes a bit as he stood up.

''Nero hasn't thanked me yet, you know?

There's nothing you can do about it.
　But Duran shunned him as well as telling him the truth.

'But my grandfather told me--that I would repay him with my body!
　Somewhat desperately the girl said.

''Well you should forget those words right now...''
　Duran couldn't help but think that he should forget about this old man, by the way.

I'm going into the Seven Kingdoms from now on - it's an infighting zone. It's a good idea for vagrants like you to go to the kingdom. Maybe they'll accept you near a trading city?

'Hmm?　But Nero is from Livatis, you know?　I can take you there, though?

I'm not heading to Livatis.

So where are you going?
　At those words, Duran couldn't help himself.
　He headed to the Seven Kingdoms.
　That was in search of a battlefield.
　It's not a good idea to go to a place to go because of the blessing that has been silent since that day and hasn't said anything at all.
　So it was natural for Duran, who was looking for a place to fight, to leave the kingdom and head to the Seven Kingdoms.

　The seven kingdoms that have been piling up peace on the back of the kingdom are places where several powerful nations are continuing their internal conflicts for the purpose of national unity.
　With the empire and the military at the top, numerous nations have signed treaties under the peace of the elective theocracy, and this is the region where the most warfare is lit in this continent where treaties are signed and stagnation continues for a long time.
　But even if it has a purpose, it's too vague.
　That's why Duran doesn't know where we're headed.　　

''Hey, hey, where are we going?　Where are you going?　Nero, you know the area, right?
　Is it Sidonis, who once fought as a mercenary, or Rivatis, a beastly nation that seems to be in the throes of war, or Solace, a renowned assassin state? Duran's destination is still undecided.

''Wherever he goes is up to me,''

Can't you go with him?

No.

What? Why?

Anything.

That's not a good reason!


　Saying that, Duran throws a bag with a few gold coins in it.

'You don't like being a thief, do you? I'm not interested in your situation, but live life to the fullest if you can - as long as you have the money, you're still good enough to turn back.
　But, not understanding Duran's words, Nero fumbled with the bag, and after looking at it trivially - he threw back the bag with a large sum of money.
　Then his little mouth twitched.

'-- Money doesn't make your stomach growl, does it?

　It was a terribly cold word.
　It was such a cold tone that a warrior of successive wars would shiver under his breath.
　Looking at the gold coins as if he was looking at his parent's enemy, Nero said this with a mad hatred in his eyes.

''..........''
　Duran looked at the girl's face, which was different from the tragic one, and kept his mouth shut.
　He tried to push her away by handing her money, but she denied it and left him speechless.

''I see........''

Yes, so Nero will return the favor with his body.

You don't have to.

Oh, my God!

Do you even know what you're talking about?

'Nero can do anything, you know?　I'm good at hunting, and I'm good at hunting, and I'm good at hunting!

Huh....
　Duran let out one sigh and began to walk briskly.
　That might have been a bit of a cold response.

''Ah........wait, brother.......!　Don't leave me!
　In a trembling voice, Nero shouted.

''Please.......don't leave me again.......!
　If you look, the girl was crying.
　I don't understand.
　In the first place, Duran and the girl should be nothing more than strangers who are almost enemies.
　And yet, for some reason, she was crying.

　At the same time, it's not fair.
　It's such a cowardly thing to spout your emotions as you please.

''Please........so........don't leave me alone.......''

'Huh ... I'll drive you to the nearest village ... and we'll go with you there ...'

So you want me to go with you...?
　He said this as if he was scared.
　He said this as if he was afraid of being scolded, as if he was asking how he was doing.
　Seeing his face, Duran changed his perception.

''Do what you want........''
　Is he just a child after all?
　Duran says so, swallowing the faint concern that has sprung up in his mind.

'Yeah!　Thanks, Uncle, I love you!

He's not my uncle. I'm your brother.