The Greatsword Is Not My Main Body!

"Haa… I really don't know how to cheer Noah up."

Rubia sighed deeply, lightly kicking at the ground as they walked.

"Did something happen between you and Noah, by any chance?"

"Well…"

As the two strolled through the streets bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, Rubia roughly explained the events from earlier to Hephaestus.

"Anyway… she was squirming, trying to cover herself as she turned her back to wash her face, and it was just so adorable that I couldn't help myself…"

Of course, I was also… a little annoyed with Noah.

She kept thinking about that inhuman so-called master of hers, and it was driving me crazy.

"Hm… Well, Noah doesn't get angry very easily, so you probably acted like that naturally, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so. But… I think I went too far this time…"

"I can kind of understand the feeling, though. Well, not from your perspective, but from Noah's."

"…What?"

Rubia blinked, puzzled by Hephaestus's unexpected words.

What did she mean she could understand Noah's perspective?

"The reason Noah doesn't usually get angry might be because she's afraid… afraid you'll abandon her if she does."

"Afraid I'll… abandon her?"

"Yeah. That's what I think. I mean, I felt the same way." Hephaestus smiled wistfully, her expression distant.

"This is just my personal experience and opinion, so I'm not saying it's exactly the same for Noah, but… I think it might be similar."

With that, Hephaestus paused, taking a moment to gaze at the twilight sky before continuing.

"I'm really happy now, so I'm not saying this to talk about how miserable I used to be or to get sympathy. I'm just telling you because… I want you and Noah to work things out."

"As I mentioned before, I was abandoned by my parents. They sold me, and after that, I spent my days being beaten by the slave traders and bullied by the other slaves. I hated the world… I hated people."

"And then Yuria came. She looked at me and said, 'You'll do nicely,' and bought me."

"I still don't know why it was me. There were plenty of other slaves, stronger ones, prettier ones, healthier ones… I was probably the worst of them all. So why me?"

"Anyway, back then, I couldn't trust her. I thought, 'If she bought a slave so easily, she'll probably throw me away just as easily when I'm no longer useful.' I was terrified of falling out of her favor, so I did everything I could to stay in line."

"And then… one day, I made a huge mistake. I broke her most treasured flowerpot. And… well, it's embarrassing to admit now, but I thought… instead of being sold back into slavery, I'd rather just… end it all."

Hephaestus pulled down her scarf, revealing a faint, jagged scar running directly over her carotid artery.

"So I took a shard from the flowerpot and cut my throat with it."

Rubia's breath caught as her eyes fixed on the scar.

"But here's the funny part. Yuria wasn't even home at the time. She always left around that hour and didn't come back until the evening. Yet somehow, the moment I did it, she came running."

"And then… hehe… she was furious. I'll never forget her face. She cussed me out like crazy… standing there, screaming at a person who was half dead!"

"She kept yelling and yelling… then, she started smashing the rest of the flowerpot—her most treasured flowerpot—with her foot. She stomped on it, threw the pieces everywhere, and cursed even more. After a while, when she seemed to calm down, she poured some purple liquid into my mouth. The wound on my neck healed instantly after that."

"She said that normally, it wouldn't have left a scar, but the potion was still incomplete, so it couldn't fully heal me. That's why this faint scar remains."

"And then she yelled at me some more. I still remember her words like they were yesterday: 'You dare try to die without your master's permission? You've only just become useful, and now you're scared over something as stupid as a flowerpot and trying to kill yourself? If you really want to be punished, then spend the rest of your life stuck in my house working for me'."

"Afterward, she told me never to think about dying again."

Hephaestus brushed a tear from the corner of her eye, taking a deep, steadying breath.

"Hoo… Anyway, after that incident, I stopped worrying about whether I'd be abandoned. Once I felt secure, I started arguing with her, pouting, even running away from home sometimes."

"Before I trusted her, I was scared. Scared she might hate me, scared she might abandon me. So no matter what she said or did, I'd just smile and go along with it."

"But once I felt safe, I started to want things. I wanted her to understand my feelings. I wanted her to know me, my true self, and accept all of me. Even the parts I was afraid to show."

"That's all it is! Sorry if I got a bit carried away with my emotions and dragged it out too much… but I think Noah's probably feeling something similar. Judging from how she is when she's hunting, she's not the type to let things slide easily. For her to act so cheerful and laid-back all the time… there's probably something deeper going on."

"Hephaestus… I didn't realize—"

"No, no. You don't have to comfort me. Really. I'm happy now. What matters right now is Noah!"

Hephaestus smiled brightly, her expression radiant and carefree.

Rubia found herself at a loss for words.

She didn't believe in weighing her misfortunes against someone else's. She'd given up that foolish comparison a long time ago.

But still… in terms of experience, in terms of maturity, shouldn't she, Rubia, be the one who was more grown-up than Hephaestus?

And yet, right now…

Why did it feel like she was the younger one?

She didn't know Hephaestus's entire story, but the one thing she'd never experienced before—

Was love.

Of course, she loved her family. But the love Hephaestus was talking about… it was different.

What was love, really? How could it make someone so strong?

"Hoo…"

Rubia pushed aside her wandering thoughts.

For now, Noah's feelings came first.

"Hephaestus… I'm sorry to ask this, but can we get our food to go instead? I think barbecue would be a good choice. Noah… really likes it."

A subtle, mysterious smile spread across Hephaestus's face.

"How about we also pick up some sweet drinks and jelly? I bet Noah's already eaten all the jelly by now."

There's no way she could've eaten it all already… not after being that mad…

* * * *

"...There's no way."

"Hehehe… but I'm telling you, that's probably exactly what's happening."

Hephaestus gestured subtly toward a distant window.

The lights were on in the room, and through the gap in the curtains, faint shadows danced across the fabric.

One of them clearly showed Noah stuffing something into her mouth.

"...Here I am, completely losing my appetite. Haa… Fine. Let's buy plenty—enough for her to choke on jelly."

"Yes, ma'am!"

With a cheerful smile, Hephaestus walked ahead.

Rubia followed, her thoughts tangled up in what she'd just heard.

Could it really be true that Noah was afraid of being abandoned by her?

Absolutely not. That would never happen.

Even when they reached Cartia village, she'd make sure to hold on to Noah no matter what.

But still…

She'd told Noah about her own past, about her own struggles.

And yet, Noah hadn't shared anything in return.

It was childish, but… Rubia couldn't help but feel like it was unfair.

She hadn't opened up expecting something in return, of course.

Still, after hearing something like that, wouldn't it be natural to open up, even just a little?

She'd thought their bond had grown deeper all this time, but perhaps it wasn't enough after all.

Then again…

The fact that Noah had gotten so angry earlier…

Didn't that mean they'd grown closer?

Rubia's lips, which had been pursed tightly, began to curl upward just a bit.

And yet, a part of her couldn't help but laugh at herself.

"Haa…"

A deep sigh escaped her without realizing it.

"Rubia, hey."

"Yes?"

She raised her head to see Hephaestus staring intently at her with a mischievous expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that…?"

"Well…"

Hephaestus rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head, as if trying to figure something out.

"What do you think about Noah?"

The words were casual, but the undertone wasn't.

"What do I think? She's just… a friend. A friend and… like a little sister I need to look after."

Although, if things got dangerous, it was always Noah looking after her instead.

"Hmm… that's such a vague answer…"

Rubia's frustration with Hephaestus's cryptic attitude grew, so she decided to press the issue.

"What exactly do you mean by 'vague'?"

"Well, sometimes it feels like… Rubia, you're in love with Noah."

"L-Love?! What are you talking about?"

Rubia's voice cracked as she instinctively reverted to informal speech.

"But then, other times, it doesn't seem that way at all. Hmm… What could it be?"

"Why are you asking me that?!"

"Oh, I was just thinking out loud."

Hephaestus flashed a sly smile, then turned back around to continue walking.

"Let's hurry up and buy the food! Noah must be starving!"

That.

That ridiculous level of shamelessness—what was that?

"Oh, and Rubia, how about dropping the formal speech, like you just did? It makes things feel more friendly."

"I've been using formal speech for so long, it's a hard habit to break, but… fine. Let's… do that. You should speak casually too, Hephaestus. Don't think of me as some sort of priestess."

"Really? Then I'm totally going to tease you and joke around a lot!"

"Sure. That's fine. Just think of me as your big sister."

For some reason, Hephaestus's face lit up with emotion, her eyes glistening.

"Got it!"

* * * *

"You actually… ate all that jelly?"

"See? I told you so!"

W-What is this…?

I thought they'd take at least another hour to get back.

Why… why are they back so soon?!

I had been keeping my senses expanded just in case something like this happened.

But of course, just when I stuffed my mouth full of jelly—thinking I still had time to enjoy it—they showed up.

I tried my best to chew and swallow as quickly as possible, but I'd stuffed way too much into my mouth.

I couldn't swallow it, nor could I properly chew it.

And so… here I was, my cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, mouth completely stuffed with jelly.

"Chew slowly and swallow carefully. You don't want it to get stuck in your throat," Rubia said, sounding genuinely concerned.

This was so embarrassing…

After what felt like an eternity of chewing, I finally managed to swallow it all down.

Once my mouth was clear, I cautiously opened it to speak.

Since I'd decided not to talk to Rubia, I turned my attention to Hephaestus instead.

"You… you're back early."

"Oh, yeah! Rubia said we should eat at the inn! She even picked the menu!"

Hephaestus swung the paper bag in her hand cheerfully.

The aroma wafting from it was…

"B-BBQ…?"

"Yep! Rubia said it's your favorite!"

I kept my head turned away, but my senses were locked onto Rubia's expression.

She still had that abandoned-kitten look on her face.

I can't give in.

I can't let my resolve waver…

But… ugh.

"Come on, let's eat, everyone!"

Right on cue, Hephaestus grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the table, seating me in front of it.

Well… I guess I had no choice but to sit, right?

Yeah. This wasn't me sitting down willingly.

I was just being a good… um, adult, humoring my younger companion's request.

I made a point of looking annoyed, turning my head sharply away.

Even as I kept my head turned, I didn't stop monitoring Rubia through my senses.

She still looked utterly defeated, her mood visibly gloomy.

"Noah…"

Her voice was heavy with guilt, tugging at something in my chest.

I wasn't planning to talk to her today…

But since she went out of her way to buy my favorite BBQ for me… I could at least respond, right?

"W-What is it…?"

"Later, when we go to bed… could we talk for a bit—"

"Oh, uh, tonight… I'm sleeping in Hephaestus's room. R-Rubia, you can sleep alone—"

Thud!

The sound of something collapsing cut me off mid-sentence.

"U-Um, Rubia…?"

It was Rubia.

Her face looked like she'd just lost the world, and she slumped down into her chair, utterly defeated.

"Y-You're… sleeping in Hephaestus's room… just the two of you…? At night…?"

She repeated my words slowly, her voice trembling as her wide eyes stared into nothing.

Her whole body started to shake.

Did I… did I go too far?