Shizu's determination

" Shizu! Hey Shizu!"

" …Please don't bother me, it's only morning."

" It's already afternoon!"

" … Let me sleep a little longer…"

" Hey!"

Satsuki kicked open the door to Shizu's room, knocking her to the ground. Under normal circumstances, there was no way a mage like Satsuki was strong enough to make Shizu fall. Satsuki grimaced at Shizu's current appearance. Only 5 days had passed but she looked like a zombie, with furniture scattered all over the room, which was strange for someone who was always tidy like Shizu. Recently Shizu has been refusing to meet everyone except Satsuki.

" How long are you going to stay like this?"

" I…I don't know. I don't want to fight anymore…"

After a moment of silence Satsuki spoke, her voice choked a bit.

" …Shizu, please understand. If it was before, we would have had a chance to say that but not now, we are the only hope of this country!"

" P-Please, I do not care… Torei…Torei has… Not a day, not a day goes by that I didn't see his face! His groan… It just kept appearing in my head! I can't… I just can't, sorry…"

" Shizu… what about me? Haruki kun? Midori? How would you feel if we died?"

" P-Please don't say those things!" - Shizu held her head

" Do you regret saving Haruki kun and us?"

Would it be better if we all died? Do you think Torei kun would want that?"

" Shut up! Please stop!"

" I… won't say anything anymore. It is just that there's gonna be a training session. It'll be harsher and more dangerous than before, if you don't want to go you can stay here…"

When she came here Satsuki wanted to get Shizu up and give her a good beat, but before she realized, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She pulled a box from her inventory and placed it on the table.

" Just now... there was some old pervert who wanted to give this to you."

Leaving only those words, Satsuki left the room. Shizu dragged her heavy body to close the door. Just as she was about to return to the bed when her eyes landed on the black box, it was shaped like a heart, above it was a letter.

" Some old pervert…"

Shizu opened the letter, and her tears began to drip onto the table. When she opened the box, there were round brown candies in it. Chocolate, they shouldn't exist in this world. She picked up one and put it in her mouth. Although the taste was a bit strange, they were really similar. Shizu hugged the letter tightly, changed her clothes, and quickly ran out of the room.

In Bobert, it was already dark, the once-bustling city had become deadly quiet. Not only this place but this situation occurs in almost every city of Argatha. There were too many deaths, too many losses. Countless houses were destroyed in the war. During the past 5 days, almost no restaurant, food stall, or bar in the area was opened. There was only one place in all Borbert. The temporarily patched Drunken Bear board was dangling in the front. It said to be open but inside the tavern was empty. The jingle coming from the bell signaled a customer entering the tavern.

" It my pleasure to welcome our first customer!"

" Abert san…"

" Shizu kun, here it is. Although the quality is a bit bad, it is the best we have at the moment."

After thinking for a while. Shizu took the wine glass and took a long drink.

" Sorry. I should have come to check on you, but I don't think I'm qualified to do so. My mission in this city has failed."

" Please don't say that… Abert san also tried his best. I am very grateful for that."

" Is that so…"

Abert forced a smile. His whole body was now bandaged everywhere. Right now, in the entire large tavern, only he and Shizu sat face to face at a table, with cups.

" How's Miro?"

" The kid…, she was transferred to the church. She still can come here on weekends."

" That's good..."

" You may not know but another girl he saved has also been transferred to the church, she is still in the process of recovering mentally. And one more person he saved was the old man in front of her. It's funny, isn't it, I'm supposed to be his protector, but…"

" It's because I said those words…"

" What do you mean?"

" I called him a coward! Just because of me –"

[Slap!]

" Ah…"

Her cheeks flushed red at the sudden slap from Abert.

" Shizu kun, I know you've known Torei for a long time but can you stop looking down on him like that?"

" I-I…"

" Come on! You think he ran out in the middle of a chaotic battle to save a child because of you? You think he even chose death because of you to distract the monsters? You know nothing! That's always been who he is!"

" ..."

You probably had heard of adventurers who were always rushing into dangerous places like dungeons, jungles, and labyrinths. Just like the hero squad, we always work as a team, putting our lives in the hands of others is a common occurrence. The first time I saw Torei, I knew he was one of those people I could put my life on.

Abert sighed, he poured more wine into Shizu's cup.

" So don't blame yourself. It was never your fault, feel proud that you have such a friend."

" I-I never…"

" Did you read that letter? He worked really hard to make it. Valentine or something. Is it a special day in your world? I don't quite get it, but it's delicious. Sorry for eating a few before giving it to you."

" Yes, it was delicious…"

Like that all night, Shizu asked about Torei's life while he was here. She drank a lot, a lot of alcohol, but the more she drank, the more awake she became.

" That kid was very interested in the idea of opening this inn, do you know why?"

" He told me he hated it and that it was Abert san's idea."

" Hehehe that's my idea but he was still working hard, wasn't he? If he hated this bar so much, he could have left with the extra money in his pocket. This was a gathering place for adventurers, buskers, soldiers, and even criminals. This is the place where he can safely gather information. You know, every time someone mentions the hero group, even if it was just a brag. He also listened attentively to the point of forgetting to work."

" Is that so..."

" Especially when someone mentions you, the kid always made some strange face."

Abert described Torei's face with his.

" Come on, Albert-san! Although Torei was silly, he would never look like that!"

" I'm telling the truth!"

" Abert san… thanks, thanks to you, he has lived comfortably."

" It's nothing… Shizu kun, Torei's belongings, do you want to take them."

" Is Albert san planning to leave this place?"

" No, unless Sarila kick me, but she won't. Even if I go, I'll let you know."

" So can you help me keep them, please?"

" Okay."

" I… I have something I need to do."

" Go. Whatever you need to do, I'll always be here praying for you and your team."

Shizu bowed to Abert and left, she started running at full speed. Through the forests, through the mountains, she made up her mind. She would save this place, the last memory of her best friend.