Volume 2 - CH 29

I sat down on a bench we’d set up overlooking the training grounds once I finished with coaching. As I was sitting there, Orphe came over. He held some wooden cups in his hands.

It was probably the fruit juice that had gotten popular in the village recently.

“Would you like orange juice or grapen juice?”

“…Orange juice please.” The werewolf who acquired cooking technique made it in a store that was set up for them. People who were thirsty during the breaks between their work would head over to the werewolf’s shop to get some juice.

“Looks like training is going along pretty well.” Orphe looked to the training grounds with a relaxed expression.

“You’re right… We might be able to handle it whenever the werewolves invade.”

“Yeah, we can probably handle it. At the very least, we’re a lot stronger than the northern werewolves I know.” Orphe let out a sigh as he smiled, before looking to the ground with somewhat sad eyes.

“…Think the werewolves are going come down south?”

“Yeah, there’s no way they won’t.” affirmed Orphe.

“So it’s safe to say it’s inevitable?”

“Yeah, it’s inevitable. There are far stronger monsters living further north from the village where the northern werewolves live. They’ve come out to threaten the village several times. That’s why they’ll definitely come down south in search of new comrades to bolster their strength.”

“Their strength, huh.”

“They’re afraid.” So it’s out of fear. …They’ll use their strength as a threat to get others to do their bidding. Based on how the slime tribe treaded us, it’s pretty obvious what that looks like.

As I watched Orphe’s expression I noticed he seemed to be grieving so I asked, “Is it painful having to fight against the northern werewolves?”

Orphe looked at me in surprise as I spoke. Then he put his hand on his face and made a bitter smile. “…I wonder about that. Some of them definitely betrayed me. But some of them were simply forced to obey my brother’s orders.”

“…I see. It would be good if we could save those people.”

“…Do you intend to save them?”

“If possible. Isn’t it better to have more companions?”

“Is it?”

“Yeah, isn’t it more fun that way?” I joked as I took a sip of orange juice. …Personally, I think it’s better to have more companions after all. Of course the problem of food could come up, but that’s not really a problem with cultivation technique and some land.

Orphe let out a small sigh as he looked down at his grapen juice. “My brother was… a kind a strong person.”

“…Is that right?” I was under the impression that he was a terrible brother from the way Orphe and the other werewolves spoke about him. I couldn’t conceal my surprise at what Orphe was saying.

“Yeah… A long time ago anyway. My brother… I guess he must have slowly gotten weirder over time. I don’t know exactly when he went crazy, but I always thought I would work under my brother to protect all the werewolves.”

“…Is that right.” Orphe let out a deep sigh before leaning back on the bench.

“…We used to be really close siblings. I wonder where it all went wrong.”

“You got along well with your brother, huh.” I wasn’t really fond of the word ‘siblings’. …For me, home wasn’t a place I could relax. Everyone was like an enemy, so it really didn’t feel like a home.

You killed our mother.

If only you had died instead of mother.

My chest tightened up as I recalled the words of the fourth son. He was the guy to say the words I hated most without even batting an eye.

…I’d never heard my mother’s voice before. I’d never even seen her figure. The only thing I knew of my mom was from the pictures of her decorating the house.

I mean, I was born through my mother’s stomach after all.

“What if… you could go back and do it all over.”

“…I guess so. If I could go back I could see where exactly my brother went mad. It might be nice to be able to go back to then.”

Maybe I was being weird again? …Well, we’re just daydreaming here I guess. Besides, it I wasn’t sent down to the lower world I wouldn’t have made any of the friends I’d found here. I quite enjoy my life right now.

Orphe looked to me with a serious look. “Crest. When we fight the northern werewolves, I want you to leave my brother to me.”

“…Will you be alright?”

“Yeah. At the very least, it’s my job as his little brother to fix our family matters.”

“Okay. Then I’ll leave everything regarding your brother to you. Just don’t lose.”

“Of course. I can’t embarrass myself in front of our boss. I’ll make sure to carry out my duty as your sword, Crest.”

…It would really help me if you stop saying things that put me above you. I couldn’t point that out to him though, since Orphe was wearing a really wide smile on his face.

Orphe and his brother. Also the northern werewolves. I’d really like to give them the opportunity to do things over again if possible.