900 Small Ripples, Part 4 - Children's Decisions ① -

Jake and Nellie repeated the kind of interaction they had today more than once, but there was no way Jake could have told the truth. Dora was also cautioned by secrets and Miriazal, and most importantly, Jake himself could not have spoken. To whom would you explain and believe that Dora is the legendary knight Dortmund? Even Jake, who confronted him, is still unrealistic. And even with such an opponent, it's also true that Jake couldn't possibly have said that he had Crudas killed, that he missed the congratulations without being able to do anything.

But you just felt the limit, and Jake took Nellie to an unpopular vacant classroom half forcefully when he sighed one. Sometimes I didn't want to make any more noise, but if I left it like this, Nellie could come with me until the next class.

"Nellie, how many times do I have to tell you? I won't tell you anything."

"Me too, I'll ask you as many times as I want. Dora, tell me about you."

"I won't talk"

You don't say, "I don't know."

Nellie's eyes stare at Jake. Jake is not confident in lying. I've been dealing with Lisa before. I know as much as a bad lie doesn't work for Lisa, so I started to think lying was pointless. It's relatively recent to learn that others are a little duller, but nevertheless Nellie's intuition is considerable as well. Jake didn't want to lie, regardless of his silence.

Nellie looked sad about Jake's troubles like that on her face.

"You really won't tell me?

"... oh, I can't really say"

"Is that on a knight's vow? Or on Jake's own pride?

"Both."

Jake's sincere eyes and Nellie's burning gaze often staggered. Time passes, but neither tries to take his gaze off. It was Nellie who took her gaze off first to see how much time had passed. As she sighed, she got annoyed.

"Yes... you really won't talk to me?

"Yes."

"Is that a big part of Arnelia's whole thing?

"I can't even say that"

"Dead or alive?

"I can't say anything. Guess what, Nellie."

Did you understand his annoyance at Jake's squeezing voice? Nellie also turned her back like she had finally given up.

"... Okay, I won't ask anymore"

"Do that. I'm tough, too."

"Instead, I made up my mind. I, the Pilgrim, decide to go for it"

Jake looks up at Nellie's words as a fit. I thought maybe it didn't leak and Nellie knew about the pilgrimage, but I didn't expect that word to come out of her mouth.

"What? You're telling me you know what that means? Pilgrims are..."

"I know. It is convenient for those in Arnelia who are particularly competent to take up their posts, a practical unit that acts as a dark part of Arnelia, if necessary. Otherwise, I will also take on the work that should be called the end shop. Is that what this is all about?

"Na"

Jake was stunned. As a Temple Knight, Jake had heard what the Pilgrims would do. Sure, some of Arnelia's particularly competent people will be selected, but I know that their job descriptions are never just gorgeous and that some people often take on dirty jobs. Inevitably, the danger is also a very high task.

But how does Nellie, who is just a general student, know about it?

"Nellie, how could you..."

"Jake, I'm not stupid either. I think a lot about my future, and I was going to stay with Arnelia. I've already talked to Miriazal about field training after the formal process. And I've been sneaking around, but I've been training as a Sister for about a month now. It's a little early.

Little by little, it also comes into my ear that I can't tell the outside world. Besides, isn't it convenient for you to go out of your way to pilgrimage and take on tasks other than inspectors and monster crusades? Well, I guess there's a lot going on in there, but I can imagine what kind of work they'd do if I got a little head around it. It is only natural to consider the profession you want to take up, the dangers and future associated with it. I can't be a kid forever, and I don't think Jake or Lisa will be safe forever. That's what happened on my last assignment. Fine. You guys always live in a world of death and neighborhood.

If Lisa or Jake dies, I'll be the one taking care of the little ones downstairs. Yeah, it was you guys who told me that back in the day. Responsibility won't let me be a child. Even Jake, right?

Jake has shut up. Nellie was absolutely right. As I decided, Nellie had a second thought. Jake was ashamed that he didn't see anything.

"Well, I sure did. I always thought I was the one to protect Nellie, but it's getting a little different."

"Right. I would have liked to have been in a position to be protected a little more if I could. It's like the last expedition."

"It's not usually that dangerous, is it?

"It's not dangerous. There's no such thing as a mission. Any little thing, fighting means always putting your life on the line."

As Nellie shrugged her shoulders small, Jake was ashamed of his unknown again. I thought I didn't know which one was on a regular mission.

Continued