The Traveling Hero Won't Let the Innkeeper's Son Escape

(... ah, don't think about it forever!Just forget it now!)

Ruth tapped his cheek lightly to calm himself and decided to call out to Danielle, who was walking a little in front of him.

"Nevertheless, Daniel, don't go up much.I mean... "

"That's right, it's a beautiful hill.It's just the point that the village can look down. "

Ruth and the others are heading for a place where the area is a highland meadow with views of the new village.Animals also move around occasionally, but they don't stay long because the view is too great.Large animals are more likely to be a target for hunting, so they don't appear too prestigious.

"Is that where the prey is? Really?"

"I'm here. I've seen him over and over again.I'm sure you'll be here today.I won't move because I'll be there forever, so I'm going to let you catch me. "

"You want me to catch you?"

It was unusual for Danielle to say "get caught" instead of catching it herself.He is a type of hunter who wants to take his own prey, not leave it to others.

"Why don't you catch him yourself?Are you so sensitive to the signs? "

"I'm sensitive to signs... I wonder if I can dive out of here..."

Following Daniel's voice, they all held back the signs.Breathe in and sneak up to the high ground.Eventually, he lurked in the shadow of a large tree on the high ground side, and Colt and Fritz checked his condition and headed ahead.

"... I can't catch that thing anyway."

"What? Daniel can't be caught... what kind of prey?"

When I was talking to Daniel, Colt and Fritz returned.

Daniel, you got it.

There he is.

I knew it.

"You seem distracted, so I haven't noticed yet, but maybe we should hurry."

Once again, the four of us begin to move without warning.After a while, I saw a gap in the forest.Beyond this is a meadow where grass grows about the height of a knee, and when Ruth and the others stand up, they become completely visible.

Colt peered into the grasslands from the shadows of the trees.

"It's still here. It's not moving."

"I didn't notice...."

Ruth, get ready.

"Eh, am I the only one going?"

"That's why you're the only one who can catch me.We can't go there. "

"Well, no, so what? I'm the only one who can catch him."

"Come on, be careful.I'll keep the bow, the arrow and the annoying knife. "

Yeah!?

Fritz takes away the bow and knife, which are hunting tools.As Daniel pushed him out of the shadow of the tree, Ruth jumped out toward the meadow.

(Ah....)

At that time, for the first time, Ruth realized what they meant by "prey.”Turning around, the three are laughing.

"Ruth, grab him and come home with me."

"Whatever we say is futile, you have to do it."

"We'll wait here.Let's go back to the village together. "

The three men who threw Ruth into the meadow waved gently as they said so.

If the prey had been told “something” from the beginning, he might have hesitated.I may have thought of something unnecessary such as not to disturb you.

But if I had come this far, I could have decided that I would have to do it.

"... thank you, everyone. I'll catch you."

Ruth thanked the three and approached the “prey”.

(It's a little slow.....)

The golden color of the sunset meadow is as sparkling as it was the last time we saw each other.However, his back, which was always stretching with confidence, tilted slightly and cast a shadow on the invisible side.The golden aura, which was so powerful and full of vitality, will soon be dull and disappear.

(You must be tired...)

Three years after breaking up, he said he lacked the manpower and supplies everywhere, and he was always busy flying around the world, saying he didn't have time to calm down.The letters always spelled it well, but I'm not tired of traveling around the world to help people.I have never seen him whisper in the past three years.

(You must be feeling responsible...)

Ruth knew that, so he couldn't say, "I want you to come back."

(― Alec)

Looking down at the village, I haven't noticed any sign of Ruth yet.I'm just stunned by the tired atmosphere.It is impossible for him to do such a thing.On the contrary, I heard that he was so mentally exhausted.

"I don't care about other people in red." I knew Alec didn't really think so.I also knew that I felt more responsible than necessary for the incident three years ago.Even if it wasn't what he did himself, he knew that many people felt that the damage was caused by the use of his power.

That's why Alec is still flying around the world to help people, even though his friends are already back everywhere to start a new life.Over and over again, his friends said, "I've done enough," but he didn't stop helping people.

(But you're at your limit...)

Alec's spirit stood in a critical position, and I saw it on his broken back.

Together with his people, I was willing to keep an eye on him until he was done, but I still had to stop him.

That's Ruth's job.

Ruth approached without warning and opened his mouth a little bit later.

"Why don't you come and see me when I'm here?"

Ugh!

His back bounced small, as if he had noticed for the first time the presence of Ruth.You really didn't notice any sign of Ruth.

"Oh, no!"

Looking at Alec trying to move, Ruth grabbed the arm aggressively.

Ugh!

"Alec, don't try to escape!"

Ruth clings to Alec's arm with his whole body.If I let him go now, I don't know when he'll come back.Only this time, I didn't let go even if I was swinging around a little.

"I still have work to do.It's not over. So now... "

"--When will it be over?"

Huh?

"When is that gonna end?What are you gonna do to end this?--Are you sure it's over? "

― ―

Alec's arm stopped moving as he tried to escape.I felt the muscles loosening all over my strong body.

When Ruth understood that Alec was no longer going to pretend, he said he would relax a little and not turn around yet.

"Alec, you have to decide for yourself the end of what Alec wants to do.Otherwise it won't be over forever. "

In the incident three years ago, many people felt responsible and each traveled thinking about how to take responsibility.

They will still suffer as much as Alec.And perhaps you can't escape that suffering forever.But I'm moving forward.Everyone divided their responsibilities.

(Besides, I'm not responsible either....)

If Ruth hadn't ridden on Addy's invitation and realized Zagreth's thoughts, if he had understood the suffering of light in his previous life in the first place, this might not have happened.It may have ended in a more peaceful way.

(But... if I say that, I won't be alone...)

If we push it, we will not be able to say that the citizens who lived in peace are completely irresponsible.

They lived without knowing the hardships of those who became the pillars of Gio, who kept the world at peace.They were saved by the strong as a matter of course.I didn't know that many people were dead and suffering because of their peaceful lives.Originally, Zagres was created to make their lives peaceful.The “I don't know” should not be a symbol of impunity.

"Alec, what does Alec think now?Do you still want to go on? An endless journey. "

There must be endless suffering.The suffering may persist even over generations.That's why it's impossible to take full responsibility in the first place.

This is what happened when everyone just wished everyone and their own happiness.It's not someone's fault.It's not a question of someone taking responsibility.

"I think Alec did enough."

So even if the world says Alec hasn't fulfilled his responsibilities yet, Ruth keeps saying, "Enough is enough."

What matters to Ruth is not obeying the will of the world or penetrating justice.Just stay with Alec and save his heart.I take Alec's happiness more seriously than anyone else.Alec takes precedence over the world.

Ruth should be the one to do it.Even if it seemed irresponsible from the perspective of others.

(I may be wrong... but still...)

Ruth couldn't keep quiet any longer about an important person who was about to be crushed by his own responsibility in front of him.

"I told you before you started your journey.... he said he'd do everything in his power. "

Ruth hugged Alec, who hasn't come near yet.

"If someone still blames you, I'll apologize together and suffer together.So... please stop suffering alone, Alec. "

Alec's body hasn't moved yet.

"If you don't stay with me, you won't suffer with me, right?Don't leave me... come home, I miss you. "

At the end, the truth came out.

Ruth hugged Alec with his hands around his back.Don't let Alec go on a journey alone.

The wind runs through the grasslands. The sunset became slightly darker again.

"... Ruth... I..."

Alec, who was hesitant to touch Ruth, sliced his shoulders and hugged him to collapse.

"... I want to go back..."

With a sweeping voice, there are no tears from the green eyes.

"I want to go home to you.I want to be on the side. I don't want to think about responsibility... the danger of being swayed by power when I'm on your side... I don't want to think about it... anymore. "

Loose seemed to be stuck by a small child because her back was trembling, even though she was hugged by a larger body than she had been before the trip.

"... Alec"

Alec, who has used his power to confuse the world, is about to rip open his chest when he thinks of his suffering.

When I heard Alec's quiet, scattered voice, Ruth was more likely to cry.

(Alec, you have me... it's okay.)

I won't let you go anymore.

"Right? So let's go home... huh? So, let's take a bath, eat, sleep... and think about what we're gonna do together.We're not alone, we're together, right? "

Ruth meditated and shouted brightly.To reassure Alec.

"... yeah"

As Ruth stroked his trembling back, he noticed Alec nodding with his nose.I'm relieved you honestly nodded.

"All right, steak today!I'm ordering from my mom, who loves Alec! "

Ah.

When Ruth hit Alec on the back, he pulled himself out of his arm and grabbed his hand.

Shall we go back to the inn, Alec?

Red Alec around her eyes relaxed her green eyes.

Ruth's feelings warmed up slightly with a smile that soaked up a little joy in a lot of suffering.

"... ahh, I'm leaving."

All right!

The two of you slowly start walking toward the woods by joining hands on the red-dyed grasslands at sunset.

As he approached the forest, Daniel, who was at the top of the Buddha from the shade of the tree, came out with his face.

"Did you finally catch that stone head... damn it, hurry up.It'll be late, won't it? "

Colt smiles and peeks from the side.

"Don't worry about both of you.Daniel was just saying, "If Alec tries to escape, we'll get him."You're not being honest at all. "

"Don't be ridiculous," said Fritz, staring at Daniel from behind Colt.

"Don't talk, I'll be back soon.And Alec, the farm tools are not working.Be sure to look at it tomorrow. Thanks to this, farming is inefficient... and I'll give you my vegetables for your reward. Eat them properly. "

"Yes, take a look at my freezer!I couldn't fix it, and somehow my father got mad at me.You're being unreasonable... "

"It wasn't your stepfather, the village chief said he wanted to talk to you about something, so show your face to Marianne."

Looking at the three of them as usual, Ruth and Alec looked at each other and smiled slowly.

"Oh, let's go back to the village!"

Oops!

Daniel's decree set the five of them off the mountain, and Ruth pulled Alec's hand slightly paranoid.

Alec turned around and smiled.

"Welcome home"

"I'm home."

They walked out at the same time.To our village. To where we can be together.

The wind runs into the meadow where nobody is gone.

The sunset illuminates the earth, eventually dyeing it into darkness, and then lighting a new light again.

It leads to the future of a changing world.

― ― The last brave man finished his journey this day.

The son of the inn stays with the brave traveler.

End of story