Chapter 46 - Lively Voices
After parting with Kyle, Flora and I walked slowly along the path leading to the center of the village.
The warm sunlight shone on us, and a pleasant breeze stroked our skin.
Greenery spread out pleasantly all around, with villagers' houses scattered here and there.
Perhaps because the time for heading to morning work had passed, there was no one around.
Only the sound of mine and Flora's footsteps and the faint sound of plants swaying in the wind could be heard.
Looking at this scenery alone, it felt as if Flora and I were the only ones here.
When I turned my gaze toward Flora beside me, she noticed and immediately looked up at me.
And when our eyes met, Flora gave me a bright smile.
Being directed such a wonderful smile by Flora, I smiled back brightly while feeling a bit flustered.
Just knowing that Flora was looking at me and caring about me made me feel very happy.
I probably had a very silly expression on my face right now.
Just walking side by side with Flora like this was happiness.
I thought so as I walked slower than usual to match Flora's pace.
As we walked while feeling the nature of Nordende, Flora murmured softly.
"...Summer is approaching, so the sunlight has become hot."
"You're right. Lately, I've started to sweat while working in the fields. Maybe I should prepare a hat or something."
"In that case, I have one I made last winter, would you like to use it? It's a bit misshapen, though..."
Flora said, smiling somewhat shyly.
"Really? Even if you say it's misshapen, the straw hat you wore during field work was very beautiful, Flora."
Yes, the hat Flora wore when she helped me with field work had very careful stitching and a beautiful shape. Knowing the reserved Flora, she was probably being humble.
"No! That... that was a hat my mother helped me with for the most part, so it's only beautiful because of that! If it's something I made alone, it's much rougher!"
When I asked, Flora waved her hands frantically in denial.
"Actually, I'd like to make a beautiful one from scratch for you, Aldo-san, but it won't be in time for this summer, and the hats my mother made were sold to the peddler, so they're gone..."
"No, I'd like the hat you made, Flora, so you don't have to worry that much."
If it was a hat made by the person I loved, I wanted to use it.
Even if other villagers had better hats, the one I would choose was the one Flora made.
"I understand. It's embarrassing, but once we reach the house, I'll give you the hat I made!"
"Yeah, thank you."
I thanked Flora as she spoke with a happy smile.
"...Ah."
Then, as we walked while the conversation paused, Flora's hand brushed against my right arm.
A short sound escaped naturally from Flora's mouth.
It was just a momentary touch, but I could clearly feel Flora's smooth, soft skin. That sensation that had passed in an instant was dear to me, and I even thought I wanted to touch her more.
I didn't know if Flora, walking slowly beside me, thought the same, but she was acting somewhat suspiciously.
Averting her gaze, glancing at my hand.
Flora probably wanted to hold hands too, right?
I had thought about not holding hands because it would be embarrassing if the villagers saw us, but since no one was around right now, it seemed fine for a little while.
I wanted to understand a woman's heart a little and show my manly side.
Having made up my mind, I reached out.
When I reached for Flora's arm and grasped her hand, Flora's shoulders jumped in surprise.
Flora, her cheeks slightly flushed, squeezed my hand back as if accepting it.
A soft sensation, different from my own rugged, hard hand, was transmitted through my fingers.
Flora's body temperature and softness were transmitted directly, and my own heartbeat quickened. My face turned red and I felt nervous, but my heart was filled with warmth.
"...Your hand is large and powerful, Aldo-san. I feel very safe when you hold my hand."
"...I feel very safe holding your soft hand too, Flora."
While saying so and smiling at each other, we walked while swinging our joined hands widely.
Moving our fingers as if to confirm, grasping as if to envelop.
For a while, we were immersed in an indescribably sweet and sour, happy sensation.
It was a pity that we would have to let go once we approached the center of the village where there would be villagers.
I wanted to hold her hand all day today.
I wondered how far I could hold Flora's hand, and looked around to see if there were any villagers.
Then, in front of a house on the left, an old man was staring intently at us.
D-Dammit.
"Old woman, those two finally hooked up."
"My, my, finally. It was so frustrating just watching them. Let's see? Ah, Flora-chan has such a good expression. She's a perfect maiden."
The old man and old woman directed smirking gazes at us. It was incredibly uncomfortable. I wished they wouldn't look at us with those smirking eyes.
"—!?"
Flora beside me must have noticed their voices too, as she turned red and tried to pull her hand away.
But I prevented that by gripping her hand. Flora looked up at me with a stunned expression. A look that said she was happy I was holding it, but it was a bit embarrassing right now...
However, since we'd been seen, I didn't think there was any point in letting go now.
That said, I didn't intend to be exposed to those smirking gazes forever.
"Flora, let's run a bit."
"Y-Yes!"
At my words, Flora was stunned for a moment, but then she nodded with a mischievous smile as if she understood.
And so, I pulled Flora's hand and started running.
"Oh, they ran, they ran."
"We're perfectly the bad guys here, but it's not a bad sight to see."
If I concentrated my hearing, I could faintly hear those voices from behind us.
In a way, I felt like I could never escape the words of those two.
◆
After the old man and old woman disappeared from view and we walked a bit more, we let go of our hands as if reluctant.
This was because the grassland gradually changed into fields, and people began to appear sparsely.
After walking for a bit while waving and greeting the villagers in the distance, Flora and I reached the center of the village.
"Ah! It's Aldo!"
"Is it true?! Colette!?"
"The person who defeated that amazing monster with a sword?"
Then, many people, starting with the children in the square, came toward me.
What's this? What on earth happened?
Flora and I were bewildered by the villagers who suddenly surrounded us.
Among them, Colette, who arrived first, spoke up.
"Hey, hey, did you defeat a monster called a Red Bear, Aldo?"
An active-looking boy followed, pressing in excitedly.
"Is it true you defeated it alone using a sword?!"
Hearing that, I understood.
It seemed the news that I had defeated the Red Bear alone had spread throughout the village. It was a bit embarrassing.
So this was what Kyle meant when he said that with a smirk.
"Well, yes. I defeated the Red Bear using a sword."
"""Ohhh!"""
When I answered Colette and the boy's questions with a bashful smile, the villagers, including children and adults, let out voices of admiration.
As my rank as an adventurer rose, the hurdles for the work I was expected to perform naturally increased, so it was nice to be appreciated for exterminating a monster.
When I was A-rank, reporting the defeat of a Red Bear to the guild didn't make anyone happy at all. Rather, there was an atmosphere as if to say that was only natural for someone of my level.
Of course, if I exterminated a monster for a client or in a village I happened to stop by, they were happy, but once my status was known, the feeling that an A-rank adventurer should be able to do this easily was conveyed.
It was my job, so I didn't mind much, but because that kind of thing had continued for many years, I might have been able to quit so cleanly because I could no longer find joy in being an adventurer.
"I heard its stomach was cleanly cut in half, is that true?"
"That's right. I stepped into the opponent's range and it was one hit."
I answered with gestures to the question from a girl who had a somewhat calm atmosphere.
Stories of subjugating monsters that threatened the village seemed popular among the villagers who were starved for stimulation, and they would beg for stories every time a subjugation was finished.
"Awesome! Show me your sword next time! I've never seen a sword before!"
The active-looking boy asked with sparkling eyes.
"Hmm, a long sword is dangerous so that's a no, but I can show you a short sword for self-defense a little."
This type was the kind who would whine about wanting to touch the sword once they saw it. I wanted him to be satisfied with a short sword for self-defense so there would be no danger.
I didn't think he'd realize it was the Dragon Slayer's sword, but it was better not to show that for various reasons.
"Ehh, show me the long sword instead~"
"You'll just say you want to touch it once you see it, right? It's dangerous for Chlor, so just stick to being shown the short one."
As expected, the boy named Chlor was being lectured by the girl with the calm atmosphere.
"They say even if dozens of hunters surround a Red Bear, there will be deaths, right? How did you win alone?"
"It just means Aldo was that good of an adventurer, right? If such a strong hunter keeps an eye on the mountains, we can live in peace."
While the children were asking questions one after another, the adults were having such conversations behind them.
"Hey, were you okay, Flora-chan? I heard you were attacked?"
"Y-Yes. I'm fine! I have no injuries!"
"Why did you go to the west forest in the first place?"
"T-That's, well..."
"Don't you know? It's because she went to pick that! That flower in the west of the forest!"
"Flower...? Ahh! That one!"
In the back, Flora was surrounded by the village women.
Flora's embarrassed screams and the excited high-pitched voices of the women echoed.
"Going to pick the Flower of Connection and being attacked by a monster. Then her beloved with a sword appearing gallantly and cutting down the monster—what kind of story is that!"
"So, you gave him the flower in the end, right? What happened?!"
Hearing the women's excited loud voices and the term 'Flower of Connection', the villagers all looked at us at once.
That's right, many people had seen Flora with the Flower of Connection. Regardless of Kyle or whatever, it was in a state where it had naturally already spread.
""How was it?""
"H-How... well..."
Pressed by the villagers, Flora cast a glance toward me as if seeking help.
With that, all eyes were pierced into me.
There was no point in hiding it anymore. Or rather, it was going to be conveyed anyway, so it was the same if I said it now. I should just think of it as being able to go home holding hands openly.
I approached Flora while thinking about how to say it.
Then, I grasped Flora's hand, held it up, and said one thing.
"We are connected."
And then, a cheer loud enough to split the air echoed in the center of the village.