Childhood Friend Is a Genius Wizard

EP1. The Beginning of Everything (12)

The boy always longed for a hero.

A hero in a fairy tale who overcomes any ordeal and finally defeats evil.

But the boy realized.

That reality is different from fairy tales.

The boy was frustrated.

***

Shaun opened his eyes.

“Oh, my Sean. Are you awake?”

And the person in front of Sean when he first opened his eyes was someone he knew well.

“…Riel sister?”

“Yes. It’s my sister Get some more rest. It must have been very difficult.”

When she said that, Rielsia’s eyes clearly showed her concern for Sean.

“…My older brother, my older brother Luke…”

Lielsia, who was smiling, held the lying boy’s hand.

“My Sean, just forget about everything and get some rest.”

If it was Riel Shea, whom Shawn knew, she would always smile at her leisurely and joke around with Sean.

‘Yes.’

‘It’s not a dream.’

In the end, he died.

‘For me.’

Once he realized that, Sean felt another wave of negative emotions sweep through him.

The feeling of helplessness at that time. He can’t do anything about his weak self who just had to let go of Luke.

Disgust.

Sean turned her body and showed only her back to Lielcia.

“Lil sister. Let me out.”

“·····.”

“Please. I want to be alone now.”

“···Yes, I put the rice next to you, so make sure to eat it. Got it? My Sean must be hungry after he passed out and slept all day.”

“·····.”

Has it already been over a day? It feels just like what happened right before.

Still vivid. That memory. He said what he was good at and how I was down for over a day.

‘I didn’t do anything.’

“My sister believes that our Sean will definitely overcome. Be strong.”

With those words, Rielsia went outside.

She opened her eyes and she didn’t notice for a while, but this was the place where Lee Elcia lived.

In fact, since there is no one in our village who prays to God, it was mainly used as a clinic.

Lielcia When she came to this town, she was mainly playing the role of a doctor rather than a priest.

Then the sound of footsteps came from outside her room.

Then I heard Rielcia talking to someone outside the room.

Then the door opened and he entered. It was Wilhelm.

Wilhelm asked Sean as soon as he entered.

“Shaun, are you feeling better? I was very worried because he hadn’t woken up for a while.”

“·····.”

“You didn’t come back for a while, so I remembered that you were taking me to the chief and hunting in the forest, so I went into the forest just in case.”

“·····.”

“The villagers told me not to worry because you guys would be hunting normally, but when I went into the forest just in case, I found that the forest was on fire.”

“·····.”

“Do you know how surprised I was to see you being attacked by wolves? Fortunately, I was able to save you, but the man who seems to be your close friend.”

“·····.”

“It was already late when I went.”

“·····.”

It is definitely right to thank him. Because he saved his life.

But deep down in Sean’s heart, if he had come a little sooner, would things have changed?

Shawn, who found himself blaming him rather than thanking him before he knew it, wondered if he was such an ugly person. I felt a sense of wonder.

The old man looked at the boy and looked at him with pity.

But Wilhelm had something to hear from Shawn.

“I’m not sure how hard it is for you right now, but I can guess.”

“·····.”

“I also lost many comrades in countless battles. So I can understand the pain you are going through to some extent. But.”

“·····.”

“But now I need your help. It’s something only you can do.”

However, despite Wilhelm’s words, Shawn turned around and did not move at all.

Wilhelm said without giving up.

“Bonnie, the traces in the forest are not ordinary. And it seems that the young man also had a fairly hard fight.”

“·····.”

“It was probably not something an ordinary animal could do. You would know. Was there anything other than wolves at the scene? If so, let me know. Knowing that can prevent something from happening again in the future. Please.”

What the knight said is right. It would be right to inform the whole town about the monster and the mysterious man.

Even though the unidentified man said he was leaving, you never know when he’ll come back.

But Shawn was afraid.

He wondered what the villagers would think of him when he told all the facts.

Even though Luke didn’t have to hunt, he went out hunting only to train himself.

So he encountered a monster.

He eventually gave his life to defend himself.

And even though he has an object in front of him to avenge the person who saved him.

He was terrified of him and could do nothing but tremble.

‘What will the villagers think of me if they know about this?’

‘I’m sure the driver next to me would be disappointed if he knew the truth.’

‘How will Levy accept me? He told Levi that she would always be like the wonderful adventurer in a fairy tale.’

More than anything, when Sean heard that, he was most afraid of Uncle Joe’s reaction.

To know that his only son died because of a single child.

Are you angry? Or will you be frustrated? Or will you just give up?

Sean didn’t know. He couldn’t even imagine. That’s why it’s scary.

In the end, Sean couldn’t say anything despite Wilhelm’s earnest request.

Wilhelm stood idly by Shawn’s side for a while, waiting for an answer, but gave up on the idea that the desperate boy would be able to pull it off easily.

“I understand. That you are having a very hard time right now. I’ll come back next time No, I’ll be waiting. When you are completely ready to tell me what happened that day, come back to me then. I am staying at an inn.”

With those words, Wilhelm also left Sean and left the room.

For a while Sean lay still.

And Shaun decided to leave this place of worship. Because if I continued to lie down here, people from other villages would come.

And if, just in case, Uncle Joe comes to visit him.

Because I don’t know how to deal with it at that time.

Shaun stood up. He had no body pain.

He was going straight home. Then Sean saw the meal Lielcia had left behind.

I remembered Riel’s sister’s request to eat it, but Sean shook his head.

‘Hyung can’t eat anymore, but I can eat delicious food.’

It is tantamount to committing a sin.

Sean immediately left the chapel and headed home.

Fortunately, he was able to enter without bumping into anyone on the way home and without talking to anyone.

Perhaps it was partly because of Sean’s feelings.

*

After Shawn left, a man and a woman were facing each other in the chapel. The woman spoke first.

“So you wanted to see me like this because you had something to say to me?”

At those words, Wilhelm spoke calmly.

“I have a question for you. I felt it from the moment I first saw you.”

“Oh, are you going to confess to me? I’m sorry, but I’m not interested unless it’s my Sean.”

With those words, the woman, Lielcia, smiled refreshingly. However, Wilhelm did not show any reaction to those words and continued his own words.

“What is your true identity?”

“Stay still? I am just an ordinary priest.”

Wilhelm stared at her for a while at Rielsia’s calm words. She, too, did not avoid his gaze.

“…Hmm, okay. I guess I was mistaken. I’ll go, so forget about the conversation we just had.”

“Yes, goodbye.”

As he left the place of worship, Rielsia watched for a while.

There was an unknown smile on her lips for a while.

***

Sean came home and lay down on the bed.

And just like that, I just lay there blankly for several hours.

‘Come to think of it, what day is today?’

He said he had been down all day, so it must have been two days ago that he went on his last hunt.

Thought so, Shawn realized. He knows that his and Levy’s birthdays are tomorrow.

Oh my gosh, under these circumstances, when I’m counting down his birthday, Shawn thinks he’s a bad guy too.

I have to apologize to Luke and Joe, but he’s thinking these stupid things.

At that moment, someone knocked on Sean’s door.

“Shaun, can I come in for a minute?”

It was Paul.

Paul has the key to Sean’s house so he can get into Sean’s house if he wants to, but he asked Sean’s permission. If Shawn refused, he wouldn’t go in.

And Shawn said no.

“If you have something to say, please do so there.”

“···Yes, I understand. Everyone is worried about you. The same goes for Levi.”

“·····.”

“What a surprise she was when she heard that you were knocked down. When she heard that you were almost killed by a wolf, Levi was knocked down too.”

“····Is Levy okay now?”

“How about you go and see it yourself? If you come, Levi will surely like it.”

“···Not right now. Later. No, that…”

“Yes, it must be very difficult right now. I heard about Luke.”

“·····.”

“Everyone knows that you, right next to you, will be the hardest.”

“No, I…”

“Shaun, I know you will make it through. Because you are a stronger child than anyone else. Oh, and.”

After Paul had said that, he paused. As if he hesitated to speak.

“…Luke’s funeral will be held in a little while. If it’s okay, you can come too. Everyone will be welcome.”

‘To attend my brother’s funeral?’

That is nonsense. It is no different from a murder victim coming to the funeral of a murder victim.

Everyone will point at you. After killing him, he shamelessly came to me.

When Sean didn’t answer, Paul finally turned around.

“If you change your mind, you can come back anytime. Everyone will be waiting for you.”

No one really wants to come anymore.

Sean no longer had any strength left.

I’d rather fall asleep and forget everything. But he couldn’t even sleep.

Have you been lying in bed for such a long time?

I looked out the window and suddenly it was evening outside.

Should the funeral have started by now?

At that time, another uninvited visitor came.

With a loud bang, the uninvited guest opened the door to Sean’s house.

Only two people can open the door without Sean’s permission. One of them, Paul, has already come and gone, and the other one.

“Shaun! Are you going to lie down like that?”

It was Levi.

Usually, I would have always welcomed Levy’s arrival, but now, at least for now.

I didn’t want to see Levi’s face. Because I was ashamed.

Unlike a bright and kind child like Levi, she is dirty herself. She is an unclean child

Sean managed to put her mind aside, not wanting to even talk to Levy.

“I’m sorry. I want to be alone today.”

Unlike the other uninvited guests who left once he spoke his mind, this one did not give up easily.

“What do I do when I am alone? You’re going to lie there all alone like a loser!”

“A nerd? ···That’s right. I’m a jerk so go Because I don’t want to talk to you.”

When Sean affirmed her own words, Levy got even more angry and lashed out at her.

“Yes! You’re a jerk! That’s why you’re stuck in your room and crying! What do you think Luke will think when he sees you!? Luke oppa is really stupid too!”

That made Sean angry with Levy. He doesn’t mind beating himself up, but he’s ignoring Luke.

He was not what Levy would say.

“You cancel that statement right away.”

“What do you mean? Oh, that Luke’s brother is stupid? Why me? Looking at you now, isn’t that correct?”

“If you do it one more time, then we are finished!”

“Wow, that is really scary. Just one more time then? I can do it once, a hundred times more. Brother Luke is an idiot!”

“f*ck! …Without knowing anything about Luke!”

“Oh, if you curse, you think I’ll stop because I’m scared!? And it’s not me who doesn’t know anything about Luke, it’s you, Shawn!”

At that, Shawn forgot to get angry. Because it was ridiculous What I don’t know about him? He himself was with Luke more than anyone else.

In particular, during the recent week he had been hunting, he had been like himself and his family.

‘How can you know better than Luke, since you haven’t even talked to him a few times?’

“You mean, are you going to have anything to do with Luke!?”

“No, I don’t know Luke very well. No relationship.”

“But why…!”

“But I know better than you. You don’t know anything about Luke’s brother.”

“Why am I saying I don’t know anything about Luke!”

“Why? That’s because Luke oppa protected you.”

Levy’s answer didn’t clear Sean’s doubts, but only made them pile up. And I was annoyed.

He said such a thing without even knowing the situation.

“… That’s right. Luke hyung protected me. He saved me and lost his life…! You don’t even know the situation. You, you!”

“Right. I do not know. How the situation was, but.”

*

Levy stopped his anger and looked me in the eyes.

I saw myself reflected in Levi’s bright green eyes and was crying like an idiot.

“But you know, Sean, right? All those situations, for Luke oppa to save you. How much effort I put into protecting you.”

“·····.”

“But look. Yours now You’re doing nothing but crying in the corner of your room like a loser. To give your life like that to save you,”

“·····.”

“Sean, you are making a fool out of Luke. It’s not anyone, it’s you.”

The truth behind those heavy words was like hitting me in the head. My mind was numb.

Am I making you stupid?

To think that the person who was making a fool of the person who saved me was myself who was protected.

“… That’s right. I’ve been lying around like an idiot You made my brother stupid. But,”

Nothing will change. Brother Luke has already died for me and he will never live again.

In the end, nothing changed.

“But even if I stand up again, even if I overcome this pain again, hyung won’t come back. You can’t turn back already.”

“You are right. Because Luke has already left. Wouldn’t it be okay if I thought like this?”

“····How?”

“Because you were able to live, Sean, thanks to Luke. You inherited Luke’s brother’s life. And not only his life, but also his brother’s will.”

“····Meaning? Are you talking about adventurers?”

At my question, Levi was surprised as if he hadn’t imagined it at all, and she rather asked back.

“What? Did Luke’s brother also want to be an adventurer? Are all men like that? Anyway! That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what is it? What does Luke mean?”

“Isn’t that obvious? It’s to protect you.”

“…To protect? What?”

“I don’t know if Luke always wanted to be an adventurer, but at the last moment he gave up his life for you because he dreamed of becoming an adventurer?”

“·····.”

Levi shook her head resolutely.

“No, definitely not.”

“····Then what is it for?”

“That’s it… I was trying to protect you. Because he wanted you to live, the brother at that time sacrificed his life not as an adventurer, but as an older brother to his precious sister.”

“····Luke hyung…, That’s right. Luke hyung was only there to protect me…”

*

Yes. Sean thought of Luke as a fairytale hero, but Luke was nothing like a fairytale hero.

He was just an older brother who gave his all to protect his little brother.

“Yes. So if you don’t know what to do, watch yourself. Just like Luke oppa did, you will live while protecting it.”

“But. ···Who?”

“That’s right, Mr. Levy! Well, if you have someone else guarding you, that’s fine.”

“·····.”

“Still, I am your only friend, right? And my only friend is you. That’s why we protect each other! How is it? Are you fine? hehehe.”

Sean just stared blankly at Levy at Levy’s words.

Seeing that, Levy smiled and held out his hand to Shawn.

“Why are you so blank? Stupid Crybaby. This Levi-sama is about to go outside, but if she wants to protect me, of course you have to come too. Come on, let’s go. Outside.”

At that, Sean slowly grabbed Levy’s outstretched hand.

It was amazing.

The sun must have completely set outside.

Outside that door where Levi is headed.

It was so bright that it was hard to open my eyes.

Warm and brilliant light.

The boy that day.

I will protect the owner of this hand for the rest of my life.

I made up my mind.

***

The boy realized that reality is different from fairy tales.

The boy was frustrated that there were no heroes in fairy tales.

But the boy.

It happened in despair. I got over it.

And.

The ordeal of not being able to defeat the boy made him stronger.

How is the back of the boy moving forward?

The boy wished.

He looked a bit like a hero in a fairy tale.