Untold Story of Ryuji Honda

The Journey to the Festival City, Mildiesta

Currently, Ryuji-san and I are riding in a horse-drawn carriage belonging to a merchant from the City of Mildiesta. Around me are all sorts of items, mostly musical craftworks such as music boxes, violins, and… the Tuincalo.

The Tuincalo is a trumpet-like musical instrument native to the City of Mildiesta. Its unique sound resembles the soft whisper of the wind. The Tuincalo is often used in nearly all the festivals held in Mildiesta.

"Miss and Sir, are you comfortable in my carriage?"

Raff-san asked as he steered the reins from the front.

"Yes, Raff-san. Thank you for allowing us to ride with you."

I replied his question with a smile.

"Oh no, Elena-sama! It's me who should thank both you and Ryuji-sama for saving me."

Yes… it all started during our journey when Ryuji-san and I stumbled upon a carriage being attacked by a band of goblins. Although not as terrifying as ogres, goblins are still dangerous armed monsters. Upon seeing the situation, Ryuji-san and I quickly ran to the carriage's aid.

That's how we met Raff-san, a merchant from Mildiesta who trades in musical items. At the time, he was returning home from Kaffkar Village, located west of Toffa Village. Unfortunately, his return journey was disrupted by a group of goblins.

"What brings Elena-sama and Ryuji-sama to the City of Mildiesta?"

Raff-san asked us once more.

"We're on our way to register as adventurers at the Mildiesta Guild."

"Ah… so Elena-sama and Ryuji-sama are not yet guild-registered adventurers? I would've thought you were both seasoned adventurers!"

We talked more after that. Raff-san shared stories about his journey as a traveling merchant dealing in musical wares. He spoke of his wife and child who lived in the City of Mildiesta. Our conversation revolved mainly around Raff-san's life as a merchant, a husband, and a father.

Meanwhile, Ryuji-san had remained silent, quietly gazing out the carriage window. His face looked calm and serene.

By observing him, I guessed Ryuji-san might be around twenty-five years old. That would mean there was almost a ten-year age gap between us. And as I watched him more closely, I realized that Ryuji-san was incredibly handsome—or more accurately, beautiful. His charm was evident with his long black hair tied back with a sleek black ribbon.

Oh dear… Ryuji-san truly is stunning. No wonder Rize's mother teased me slightly when I told her I was meeting him.

What would Raff-san think of us? Don't we look like a couple to him? Ugh… I was too embarrassed to consider the idea.

"What's the matter? Your face just turned red, Elena-san."

I was startled by Ryuji-san's voice.

What?! Red? Could it be that my face had flushed out of sheer embarrassment?

I stammered a reply, awkwardly trying to smile through my evident nervousness.

"Oh, n-no… I'm fine, Ryuji-san."

Ah, how foolish of me! What was I even thinking?!

Trying to divert his attention, I quickly changed the subject.

"What about you, Ryuji-san? What was your life like before coming here?"

"Me?"

Ryuji-san seemed taken aback by my question. He let out a deep sigh before speaking.

"Well… I suppose it's only fair to share, given how much you've shared with me."

He turned his face away, his gaze drifting to the scenery outside the window. Slowly, an expression of sadness spread across his beautiful face. Finally, in a low voice, he began to recount his life.

Ryuji-san's father was a man unworthy of being called a father—a swordsman who squandered his time drinking and chasing women. Every time he came home, he would yell, shout, and physically abuse both Ryuji-san and his mother.

"In short, he was a shameless scumbag!"

Ryuji-san spat, disdain coloring his words.

When Ryuji-san was seven, his mother fled with him to a remote village where they settled. Without family and solely responsible for raising her son, his mother worked tirelessly to provide for him despite having no education and coming from a poor family.

"She always smiled at me, even when her whole body ached from exhaustion."

Ryuji-san's voice trembled as he spoke of his mother.

By the time Ryuji-san was eleven, his mother passed away from overwork. With no one to assist him, Ryuji-san buried her alone. In the pouring rain of a dark evening, his small hands clawed at the wet earth to create a grave—a final resting place for the woman who had loved him unconditionally.

"That was the worst day of my life!"

Ryuji-san declared with palpable anguish.

Of course! I could only imagine how horrifying it must have been for a child, only 11 years old, clawing at the wet earth during the evening rain to bury his mother. Alone! It felt as though the gods themselves had been far too cruel to him. The poor child hadn't even been given a moment to breathe or weep for his loss. Perhaps… during that time, little Ryuji was frantically clawing at the wet ground, crying and screaming as he did so.

Unconsciously, my hands gripped the black dress I was wearing tightly. Tears began to stream down my face as I imagined everything Ryuji-san had gone through. Why… why was it all so unbearably sad? How could someone, only 11 years old, endure something like that?

Ryuji-san noticed my tears and spoke with a soft smile etched onto his sorrowful face,

"Come on now… didn't you want me to share my story? Should I stop here instead?"

I wiped away my tears with my left hand.

"Forgive me!" I blurted, trying to steady myself.

"Shall I continue?"

"Yes, please do."

Yes… I wanted to get to know him. I wanted to learn more about the man I had selfishly summoned to this world. The man who had saved me and the village where I was born.

"And on that night, just after I buried my mother, I met him… Eno-sama, Eno Hiroshima. He was the man who took me in and taught me the art of the sword…"

Ryuji-san continued telling his story about his life with his mentor, Eno Hiroshima-sama. He and his mentor lived deep in the forests of Kagoshima, on Kyushu Island. They stayed in an old hut owned by Eno-sama. There, Eno-sama taught him sword techniques and survival skills.

"He was a master who was always cheerfully and foolishly laughing. In his right hand, he always carried a shinai (bamboo sword), which he'd use to smack my backside!"

Ryuji-san described his mentor with a laugh.

After Eno-sama passed away, Ryuji-sama began living alone in the old hut his mentor left behind. At the time of Eno-sama's death, Ryuji-san was only sixteen years old. That meant he was the same age as me. Occasionally, he would leave the hut and venture into the cities of Kagoshima. He went there to challenge dojos in the city, eager to showcase the sword techniques taught to him by Eno-sama.

But… because Eno-sama never taught him social etiquette, his behavior was often viewed as arrogant and overly prideful by society. As a result, people distanced themselves from him. But it seemed Ryuji-san didn't care much about how others viewed him.

After all, he had always lived independently, without anyone's help. Moreover, both Eno-sama and his mother had raised him alone without any aid from others. Perhaps that was what shaped his antisocial personality.

"So, Elena-san… since this is your world and I don't know anything about life here, I've decided to join your adventure… ha ha ha ha…"

Ryuji-san finished his words with a soft chuckle on his face.

I responded to his words with a smile and a nod.

That was the end of Ryuji Honda's life story. A story that might have been painful for him to share with others. A story that perhaps he had never shared with anyone. A tale that he might have shared only with me.

"Miss, look! The City of Mildiesta is in sight!"

Suddenly, Raff-san's voice called out as he drove the horse-drawn carriage from the front seat.

Quickly, I rose and looked ahead. Before my eyes was a beautiful gate adorned with musical instrument ornaments along its walls. A gate that looked magnificent and festive. It was the gate of Mildiesta, the city famed for its thousands of festivals.

Spontaneously, I shouted to Ryuji-san while pointing toward the city gate before us,

"Look, Ryuji-san! That's the City of Mildiesta, the city known for its thousands of festivals!"

I explained this to him with a cheerful smile.

Ryuji-san tilted his head slightly forward to glance at the scenery I pointed out. A small smile appeared on his gentle face.

Yes… we had finally arrived. In the City of Festivals, Mildiesta!

†***********************†

This is the first chapter of this story (5–7). It serves as an introduction to Elena Fearis and Honda Ryuji.

Who are they, and what is their tale?

Stay tuned for the next chapter!