NOVEL NEXT 82 – Goodbye
“Where’s Fred?”
“Lua took him. She said he’d learn a lot by her side.”
A pregnant silence draped over the Guildmaster and I. He tried to hide his trembling hands, but I still noticed them.
“So she’s dead.”
“Yes…. Before my very own eyes.”
I kneeled before the Guildmaster; ready to accept any punishment he would give, but not willing to just give up and die.
Unexpectedly, he merely gave a long sigh and ruffled my hair.
“What were her last words?”
“...She told me to be kind.”
“Then, do that.”
A man hardened by battles and struggles. Yet, I just couldn’t see him being this cold to the death of his own daughter. What an arse….
“Go upstairs. Your sister must be dying to see you.”
I gave him a firm nod and went upstairs. But just as I went out of his sight, I could hear faint sobbing coming from below.
Torn between reuniting with Nowa just a little bit sooner and my conscience, I slapped myself and dragged my feet downstairs.
The Guildmaster definitely knew I was here. But he was either too far gone or didn’t care enough to stop crying. I had to admit, it was weird seeing his usually-stoic face stained with tears and snots.
I took a box of napkins and handed it to him.
The Guildmaster gave me a glance before taking the box and blowing his nose into it. Now calmed down a bit, he slouched back on his chair and summoned a bottle of wine from seemingly nowhere and poured himself a glass.
I simply took another glass and placed it on the table. “Pour me one as well.”
“You’re too young.”
“Age be damned. I need something strong after her death….”
The Guildmaster sniffed and poured my glass until it overfilled. I could feel wine staining my hand, but I didn’t care and gulped it all down in one go.
As I placed the glass down again, the Guildmaster poured me another one.
“It might be too late to ask, but what’s your name?”
“Gilbert.”
“...How unexpected.”
I grabbed my glass and held it up to him. “Then, Gilbert, don’t be depressed all the time-” I knew I sounded like an ass, but I didn’t care because…. “-Freya wouldn’t want anyone to be sad.”
He absentmindedly nodded. He grabbed his glass and clinked it with mine.
“To my daughter in Heaven. Blessed be her soul.”
“To the panties-sniffing pervert. May… may she not meet anyone like me in her next life.”
As I drank the wine again, I heard noises of cutlery crashing to the ground behind me. I turned around and saw a familiar child.
“N-Nee-chan?”
By now, I was getting all tipsy. I gave her a smile and opened my arms wide.
“What? Aren’t you gonna welcome your sister?”
.
.
.
.
.
Years. Years had passed since then. To my displeasure, I only remembered that I’d been promoted to 3-star a month after Freya’s death. And when I did, I immediately checked my Status to see if the Curse had been invoked.
==STATUS==
Name: Esther Raze
Species: Nogitsune
Class: Soldier of Stars
Sub-class: -UNCHOSEN-
Rank: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (3/12)
Titles: Master of Swords (+2 to STR, DEX, and AUR) // Star-breaking swordsman (Access to Cosmic swordsmanship) // Slayer of Mages (+4 to ARC) // Devil of Arylist (+3 to AUR) // Reincarnator (hides the user’s Titles to any and all appraisal skills and items)
Gift: Kirion, the Blood-drinking sword (current rank: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ [3/12]) {DISCONNECTED}
Avaron, the Mana-eating sword (current rank: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ [3/12]) {DISCONNECTED}
Trait: False pragmatist (+4 to INT and DEX // -10 to Hidden stat: Emotional stability)
=================STATUS=================
STR: 21 → 50 (+2)
DEX: 30 → 57 (+2) (+4)
INT: 12 → 20 (+4)
END: 12 → 22
LUK: 10
ARC: 29 → 40 (+4)
AUR: 32 → 55 (+2) (+3)
Current state: Blessing of the [Outer Sun God] (Tier 1) // Blessing of the [Storms Monarch]
=====
It was indeed automatically invoked. Instead of a percentage increase, my Titles only gave a flat bonus after the curse. While it was good, for now, it would mean that the bonuses would fall off in higher star ranks.
Whatever. Why am I thinking about it now of all time?
It was my own birthday party, after all. The guest list was small, only consisting of Gilbert, Clara, and Chef Joseph. But not Nowa. She, strangely, was extremely tired today and decided to go to bed early.
They were all waiting expectantly for me to blow the candles while I was reminiscing.
Oh, well. I blew them out without any second thought. Claps erupted from the guests, and it seemed that Clara was the most enthusiastic.
“Congratulations! You’re an adult now!”
“Yeah, that I am….”
Much as I wanted to, I couldn’t be in a celebratory mood. I knew what I had to do the next day, after all.
Here comes the weird gifts.
It was first Gilbert’s turn. He handed me a steel card that had my name and face carved into it through magical means.
“Your Mercenary License,” he said with a gruff voice. “If any high-ranking Mercenary wants to harm you, just show them this. But don’t go around and abuse it too much.”
I held the card close to my chest and bowed. “Thank you….”
Clara was next. She smiled as she placed a pink ribbon on the table. “W-Well, I think your long hair is gonna get in your way. But you don’t seem too intent on cutting your hair.”
Well, I liked my long hair. As long as it didn’t go past my hips, I’d leave it alone. Still…. I grabbed the ribbon and tied my hair into a ponytail with it.
“You know me best, Clara.”
“Hah, that’s a given. You’re stuck with me being your only friend now that Fred and Freya are gone.”
The mention of Freya’s name shot a sharp pain through my heart. I was sure Gilbert felt it too. He just didn’t show any emotion and just stared ahead blankly.
It wasn’t as if Clara was being rude. Gilbert and I had decided that it would be best if Freya’s death remained a secret.
Last but not least, Chef Joseph. He’d taken care of me for the few months before I came begging at Gilbert’s feet. And for that, I was eternally grateful to him. His gift did nothing but to amplify my sentiment.
“For you, a Mana stove.”
My eyes lit up. T-This…. Fuck Gilbert’s card! This was leagues better! It meant I wouldn’t have to go through the agonizing process of collecting wood every time I camp outside!
I snatched the stove and hugged it dearly like I was holding a newborn child. My newborn child. With a wide smile on my face, I bowed deeply to Joseph.
“Thank you!”
The party ended soon after that. Chef Joseph had to restock his kitchen for tomorrow, and Clara had to return to take care of her grandparents.
Now left alone at the wooden table with Gilbert, I sunk into my chair.
“Tonight….”
“I know.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I have to admit, it’ll be much more lonely with you two gone.”
“About that….” I placed my hands on the table and fiddled with my fingers. “I’m thinking of leaving her here with you.”
“...Are you sure?”
“Hey, at least one of us sisters should have a normal childhood. Now that I’m entrusting her to you, if I return and see a scratch on her body….”
Gilbert chuckled and held up his hand like he was surrendering. “Fine. Fine. I’ll try my best to be the father she never had.”
“Well, she had one. He’s just a fucking maniacal asshole.”
I scooped up the last of the cake and gulped it down. Then, I opened a trapdoor under me to get my stuff, which was already packed. “See you, whenever that may be.”
“You’re really insisting on leaving early, huh?”
That was right. “It’s for the best. I don’t think I can bring myself to leave if… if Nowa begged me to stay.”
“...Take care. Send Fred and Lua my regards if you ever see them.”
“Will do.”
Without turning around, I grabbed Requiem and walked out the door. However, a shadow was already waiting for me by the doorway.
“N-Nowa? I thought you were asleep?”
“Nn…. I wanna tell you something….”
Trying my best to hide the massive backpack on my back, I crouched down to meet her eyes. “Alright. One single thing and you’re going to bed. You have school tomorrow.”
She rubbed her eyes and gave me a slight smile. “Nee-chan, do you remember our training?”
“How could I not?” She was practically in my face at least once a day for the past years.
“I will do it… with my special someone… tomorrow.”
“Is that so?” My eyes turned sad. I wouldn’t be able to be there. To judge who this bastard was that seduced my sister.
But I was confident Gilbert would kick that guy’s arse if he turned out to just be playing with me dear sweet little sister.
Suddenly, the bells of a clock rang, signifying that it was midnight.
Even more suddenly, Nowa dashed forward and pressed her lips against mine. Her tongue pushed into my mouth before I could recover from the surprise.
Only when I was almost out of air did she push me out of the house, hid behind the half-opened door, and poked her head out, revealing only her flushed face.
“G-Go now. Save our Mom.”
So she knew….
My smile grew softer than before. I approached the door and ruffled her hair.
“Be safe, ‘kay? Listen to Gilbert and don’t miss me too much while you’re at it.”
With a squeal, Nowa slammed the door shut. I could hear her rushing upstairs and closing the door to our room with equal force.
Well, I guess that’s it.
My feet took me to the edge of the town. One final check. Requiem was on my waist as always, and I had everything I needed for a long trip in my backpack.
Most importantly of all, my Mana stove was safely secured.
Though, I still had one lingering question.
Was Nowa’s special person me?
If so, I pray that she would forget about this silly little crush quickly and find love of her own.
After all….
“I don’t think I’ll be seeing you anytime soon. Take care, my dear little sister.”