Chapter 61 – Wild Changes (4)
“It’s just that I don’t like you and I don’t want to?”
Russ was speechless at Stion’s direct words.
Being hated by Starchis’ family hurt more than he could have imagined.
Ade’s party members also watched Russ in a light mood, but Stion took the weight, so they changed the mood seriously.
It was only a few times in a year that Stion would set such a serious mood.
Russ thought of reasons for Stion to hate him.
He continued to say that the case for the B-class request was fine.
I understand that it is an unavoidable accident.
So that’s not the reason.
Then all that’s left is…
Russ clenched his already clenched fist even tighter.
I hoped not.
“… Did you say Starchis was difficult?”
“Did you know I was having a hard time?”
“…”
I knew.
But since he didn’t tell me, I just thought it might be worth it.
I thought that if I worked a little harder and got him, all my problems would be solved.
However, he was driven to a cliff enough to consult with his brother.
He didn’t have the slightest leeway.
In the end, it was an illusion brought on only by the self-confidence that he would tell him if he had any concerns.
“…Yes, I expected it, but you didn’t tell me-“
“-How do I talk to you?”
“Yes..? …That’s why I’m your best friend-“
“-You are also the perpetrator of that worry, so how do you talk about it? “
Russ’ eyes trembled.
‘…Me too?’
Not.
Russ shook his head.
Even though it was a burden, I thought I was better.
“No..! Starchis himself told me until yesterday that he would be comfortable with me.. I mean…”
Russ’s voice diminished with confidence at the sight of Stion staring at her.
An uneasy mind continued to bloom.
I didn’t want to hear the uncomfortable truth.
“I’ve been able to afford it lately, so I guess. But until a few days ago, you didn’t even give Stachis time to rest. Would it have been comfortable to meet you back then?”
Russ opened his mouth blankly and began to reflect on the past.
Either way, Stion told her painful words.
“Even my family is annoying when I meet them when they are busy. Do you think it would have been different for you? What kind of confidence do you have?”
It reminds me of Stachis, who smiled awkwardly and greeted me.
Looking back now, it was a smile that seemed a bit awkward.
He was hiding pain underneath.
“Do you know what kind of god Starchis is? They get angry when stimulated and suffer when pressured. It’s not like nothing happened.”
Russ’s heart sank when he heard clearly that he had made it difficult, even though he couldn’t help him.
I have always thought that Starchis did not hinder even if it did not help in achieving my dream.
Now even that trust was about to be shaken.
“You worked hard, Starchis. How many times you sighed in front of me.”
Russ thinks of him sighing in pain.
Suddenly, a terrifying question occurred to me.
The body stiffens.
“…Does Starches hate me?”
That scared Russ more than anything else.
Could it be that at some point he hated himself?
Maybe he is thinking that he wishes he would disappear from my side.
I know he’s an unpretentious person, but fear clouded his judgment.
“…No.”
Starchis is not a person whose nature hates anyone.
Even Stion was frustrated.
Russ, who was nervous, let out a strong breath as his body relaxed.
“Haha…”
“How are you?”
No matter what Russ looked like, Stion had no mercy.
He didn’t show the slightest bit of sympathy.
He didn’t like Russ.
“You’ve done everything to be hated, and now you’re reacting like that?”
“…Yes?”
“I heard you knew you were having a hard time.”
“I told the other kids-“
“Done. Decided. Go back. Develop your skills on your own.”
Stion didn’t want to hear Russ’ excuses.
Whatever the reason, it didn’t change the fact that he was giving his brother a hard time.
He wouldn’t have gotten involved if it had only been hard work.
But since his brother had acquired a possibly permanent disability, Stion could not stand it any longer.
He didn’t want to talk to Russ about her anymore.
I tried to get up before the car arrived.
Russ hastily stopped him.
“Ha, I’ll ask you one more time. I don’t want to go through the experience of losing Starchis again.”
“That’s me too.”
Stion looked at Russ with hard eyes.
“But what the hell does that have to do with me teaching you and my brother being safe?”
“All right, next time I’ll protect Starchis.”
“It doesn’t have to be you.”
-Thud
Again, Russ’s heart drops.
“It doesn’t have to be you to keep Starchis by your side.”
“I… I… “
“Since you said that, how about leaving the party?”
“…Yes..?”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if someone thought more of Starchis?”
‘Leave the party?’
That meant, in other words, stay away from Starchis.
The dagger flew endlessly from Stion’s mouth and lodged in Russ’ heart.
If it were someone else, I wouldn’t have cared too much.
Starchis’ older brother and the leader of the A-class party said so, so even she was hit by her blow.
While the tears were running down one cheek
A voice interrupted Stion.
“Steon, go there. That’s none of your business.”
A man with a chilly atmosphere goes against it.
It was a bald man.
“The party should grow naturally. The more you join, the more damage Starchis can do. You know?”
Stion was not unknown.
The work of a gatherer does not require only combat skills.
Trust, momentum, confidence, and stickiness between party members are as important as risking one’s life.
The unnatural act of forcibly removing someone from the party and putting it in could not have a positive effect on the party.
Stion pondered the words of Boyle, the bald man, and was quick to admit.
He noticed he was furious.
“…Yes, that’s right. Russ, forget what you just said. I was so excited.”
As if reflecting, Stion brushed his shoulders to calm the excitement left in his body.
He sat back in his chair.
Then Seira returned.
“Now, who’s the car… Huh?”
She looked at Russ in tears and then at Stion.
Then she quickly grasped the atmosphere and handed out the tea she had brought.
She went over to Russ and patted her on the shoulder.
“Sion, calm down. This kid must have made a lot of decisions.”
Stion let go of her eyes, which had risen involuntarily at Seira’s words.
He quietly nodded his head.
“…Surely so.”
Stion also conceded.
“…Okay. I don’t like you, but I think it’s good that you’re pursuing a change like this. I like that the reason is my younger brother.”
She slurped her tea and pointed at Russ.
“But it’s hard to understand why you’re doing this. If you want to improve your skills, you can practice alone.”
“..That’s not enough.”
“So. Why is that not enough As I keep saying, it was an accident that my brother was injured. Based on the news I hear now, those swordsman monkeys might be evaluated as A-class monsters. Just slowly rise from your level. “
Russ had many reasons for wanting to be taught by an A-class party.
Among the various reasons, the biggest reason is
“…That’s why I can’t make Starchis’ dream come true…”
Starchis thanked her Russ for helping her achieve her own dream.
She didn’t want to be ashamed to hear that.
The Ade party members all looked at Stion.
Stion sighs and laughs.
“It’s for my brother, I keep saying. I don’t know how you’ll throw away the Starchis after learning from me. My brother seems to believe in you, but my brother is still young. He said that he trusts people easily because he has never been betrayed by people.”
“I will never…!”
“To what extent can a friend do that for a friend? Unless a person has personal reasons, he doesn’t move that far. You, I clearly told you to be honest.”
Stion warns.
“Even when I hear it, I keep getting confused. So be honest.”
He sneaks up on Russ.
“Do you like my brother?”
Russ had been anticipating that this moment would come, ever since Stion demanded an explanation for not empathizing with him.
And during that time, she thought about many things and now made up her mind.
She decided to take him away anyway.
Anyway, I decided to be as honest as possible in this conversation.
Even if she flowed into Stachis through Stion, she was willing to risk everything.
Tears flowed for a moment, wiping her messy face her,
She looked at Stion with moist eyes.
Beside her, a sharp-looking woman looked at her and heard her say something.
“It is pretty.”
Says Russ.
She was tired of hiding any longer.
“I love you. Starches.”
