Chapter 65 - Me? A hero?
I have this feeling that if I said something like, "Oh my, I didn't know Ais liked me so much!", she might just jump off the city wall!
Fortunately, Noah simply gazed at her and listened without making any actions or expressions that would embarrass Ais.
"My looks, cooking skills, and swordsmanship are indeed my three most confident strengths, but whether I'm gentle or not is another matter, at the very least, I don't think Valletta thinks I'm a good person."
She was certain she didn't know the person, but Ais felt the name sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. "Valletta?"
"She is a member of Evilus. She was the one who fought me on the day I joined the Loki Familia."
Then, Noah recounted how he had easily tricked Valletta and given her a devastating blow. After hearing this, Ais couldn't help but laugh, letting out a slightly indistinct laugh. "That person is so stupid."
As the sky brightened, it illuminated the girl's delicate, doll-like face.
"Because she was easily deceived by Noah."
"What if I didn't lie to her? Or rather, I didn't lie to her entirely?"
From Ais's perspective, Noah, with his back to the sky, had half of his face shrouded in darkness. His eyes became deep making it impossible to discern the depths.
"I am a complex person, but in reality, I am closer to Evilus...we are all the kind of people who do whatever we want, act recklessly, and enjoy hearing others cry out in pain, despair, or when they are on the verge of death!"
Ais didn't think Noah would hurt her, but hearing his gentle yet easily penetrating voice, her heart couldn't help but beat faster.
"If I had to pinpoint the difference between me and Evilus, it would probably be that they enjoy torturing and killing the weak, while I find killing the weak utterly meaningless."
Looking into Noah's eyes, Ais also felt a suffocating sensation, as if she were being swallowed by boundless darkness.
"Indeed, it's still more pleasurable to drag those who are high above, domineering over all living beings, and self-righteous, down from their pedestals and watch them wail and cry out in pain as they are trampled upon!"
Noah's voice, though light, sent shivers down Ais's spine more than the cold wind, making her tremble uncontrollably like a baby in the dead of winter. Sensing Ais's fear, Noah reached out and patted her head. Feeling the warmth coming from above and the faint fragrance that even the strong wind couldn't completely dispel, Ais felt at peace.
There's no mistake. No matter what kind of person Noah was, the time spent with him, being saved by him, being attracted to him, and being with him was absolutely genuine!
Ais felt ashamed when she thought about her fear and apprehension just now. An impulse surged within her, and before Ais could even process it, her body reacted. She rushed into Noah's arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face deeply in his stomach.
The sudden hug made Noah's eye twitch.
This girl, doesn't she know how to behave? If I had eaten breakfast, I might have vomited from that hug. However, considering that he had frightened the girl, Noah did not pursue the matter.
"Ais, I was once called a hero, a savior, someone who protected the weak, punished evil, and vanquished demons. But do you know what? After I fought with all my might to kill that enemy called the Demon King, I didn't feel as happy as I had imagined. Instead, I felt a little lost."
Ais lifted her head from Noah's arms, revealing a pair of large, round eyes looking at him. 'Why?' that was the expression in her eyes.
Patting Ais's head to comfort her, Noah couldn't help but recall the past. "Yes, I was wondering why back then too. It wasn't until my former comrades tried to kill me that I understood, although there was some sadness and pain, I felt mostly joy because I could finally fight again!"
Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and the silent forest in the distance was filled with the sound of pine trees rustling like ocean waves. Birds flew in flocks, heading towards the sky, and the howls of wild beasts could be heard. As the city's bells rang out, the morning glow broke through the heavy clouds, dyeing the sky a magnificent blood red.
"When I was a kid, I thought the Heroic Tales where the protagonist fought to save the princess, avenge his family, or save the world were very boring...because it's like seeing a mountain peak and wanting to climb and conquer it! Challenging the Demon King, slaying the dragon, and facing the gods are ideals that excite boys! Why do we need a reason?"
The wind was blowing. That was a deep blue, icy wind flowing from the sky, creating a loud bagpipe sound between the city walls. In the raging wind, the silver-haired boy stood beneath the sky, his face seemingly melted by the light of the morning glow, radiating an unusual brilliance.
"So, in the instant I regained my lost battle, I finally recalled the feelings I had when I left the village and set out into the world at dawn...not to save others, not to avenge my family, not to gain praise, but to challenge the Demon King, to challenge the strongest in the world!"
"Ais, there are two mistakes that people make most often in their lives. One is misjudging others and making unwarranted expectations of them. For example, many people called me a hero when I killed the Demon King and a demon when I killed nobles, but in fact I have never changed. I have always been doing the same thing. It's just that they made unwarranted expectations of me."
"However, what is more dangerous is misjudging oneself and striving in the wrong direction, because it is easy to see others clearly, but difficult to see oneself clearly. Just like, Ais, you only took more than half a month to vaguely sense my nature, but you still can't see yourself clearly."
---
Read 20 Chapters In Advance:
patreon.com/heavenlydawn