157 – Qualifications (3)

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Crunch,

The dry, cracking sound of the metal pieces interlocking rang in my ears.

Sylvia and I were trying on the armor that Sister Alice had brought ahead of our adventure tomorrow.

Sylvia seemed to be used to it already, and with deft hands she was putting on the armor and tying the leather straps that adjusted the area between her waist and armpits tightly.

On the other hand, I was so groping that I couldn’t even put the armor on properly, so much so that my older sister Alice had to help me put it on.

My sister told me to raise both my arms side by side, then she grabbed the string between my armpits, tied it tightly, and slowly stepped back.

Sylvia, who had finished her maintenance, was standing behind her older sister Alice and blankly staring at me in my armor.

“It suits you better than I thought.”

“No, where are you looking? To me it looks like a child playing knight.”

Sisters Sylvia and Alice each expressed their feelings as they watched me standing there blankly.

Perhaps Sister Alice’s assessment is closer to the objective truth.

Of course, there was no mirror, but even without looking into a mirror, I could tell that the armor did not suit me.

In the first place, just wearing it made my whole body sway, so there was no way it would suit me.

“Ash, try moving your body. Is there anywhere that feels like it won’t move or is too tight and hurts?”

“It’s better to wear something that’s a little loose than to wear it too tightly. If it’s too tight, the plate will pierce your skin when the armor is bent.”

The two of them poured out questions and knowledge towards me.

It would be well-worth listening to the advice of two people, a warrior and a heretic under the direct command of the Pope, on armor, but my ears, which were enjoying this luxury, were not listening to a word.

“… It’s, it’s heavy.”

The armor I was wearing for the first time in my life was heavier and more uncomfortable than I had imagined.

It was like I was carrying a bag filled with sand on my back.

The heavy iron weights placed on my chest and back were tied with leather straps at my armpits and waist, forcing my back to straighten, which caused my upper body to continually shake back and forth whenever I shifted my center of gravity.

“Sister, I don’t think this will work.”

“No, you have to wear it.”

“You’ll get used to the weight if you wear it. Just hold on for a little longer.”

The two people who were always bickering and having differences of opinion were now on the same side.

That would be right, since those two people agreed with one voice, but I had no confidence that I could run around like I trained while wearing this, so I protested in a small voice.

“Ah… But, I’m a wizard and a spirit master. I’m not fighting in the vanguard, so do I really need armor? It’d probably just hinder my movement…”

As soon as I finished speaking, both of them opened their mouths at the same time.

“Even if you’re in the rear, it’s a dangerous journey where you could die at any time with only cloth clothes and leather armor.”

“Besides, since I can’t let Ash go alone in the first place, the distance between Vanguard and Ash won’t be that great.”

“We don’t have enough people, there are only three of us, so we can’t always be by Ash’s side.”

“Even Maria, from that large party of warriors, wore armor.”

I could only nod my head helplessly, overwhelmed by the breathing of the two people who were singing a round song one after another.

It’s possible that these two people, who have learned firsthand that even the smallest detail that they overlook can lead to immediate death, are more concerned about safety even if it means pushing themselves a little too far.

Moreover, I am much weaker than these two people, so I cannot help but be more careful.

I once read somewhere that the greatest threat when crossing a dangerous line is not a powerful enemy, but carelessness.

These two people would have learned that saying from experience rather than words.

I sighed and slowly tried to regain my balance by adjusting my body’s center of gravity.

Sister Alice looked at me like that and spoke softly.

“Just like Sylvia said, you’ll get used to it if you wear it. Since you won’t be taking it off much during your journey anyway, I recommend you sleep with it on today. There are many things about armor that you’ll have to get used to besides its weight.”

“I see once again that my sister and Sylvia are amazing.”

“under…”

Sylvia came to me with her cheeks full of air and tousled my hair.

“What do you mean, once again? After all, I was the strongest person in this country.”

“Until recently, I was the strongest person in the Goddess Church.”

“…”

her,

That’s true.

This kingdom and the goddess religion.

No, now that the world is on the brink of destruction, these two may be the strongest people alive.

The two women standing before me looked truly majestic and confident.

Could it be because the sight of two people moving so naturally while wearing armor seemed unfamiliar?

Even though I clearly knew it in my head, it strangely didn’t feel real.

“…”

The weight of the armor pressed down more and more heavily on his shoulders.

My legs were starting to tremble under the overwhelming pressure.

The last chance for humanity to end the Demon King’s reign, who has tragically survived and is trying to recover.

There were only three people on that journey.

Sylvia. Alice.

And me.

“…Phew.”

There was no command from the kingdom.

There was no blessing from the church.

Without the support of any nobles or guilds, humanity’s last desperate attempt at destruction.

The only key to overcoming the dire circumstances was two strong men entangled in a web of tasks and fate, and a clown who egged them on.

I knew how great my sisters Sylvia and Alice were, but I was surprised again.

I realized once again how meaningful this journey before me is.

Honestly, I felt like I was going to fall apart.

A burden much greater than the weight of the armor was pressing down on my whole body.

I gritted my teeth and planted my legs firmly on the ground.

“… Okay. It wasn’t a situation where I should have been complaining… I guess I was lacking in tension.”

“Ash…”

“If I can’t even bear the weight of the armor, I won’t be able to overcome this journey. Sylvia and my sister knew that, and that’s why they tried to stop me…”

“… Yes, that’s right.”

“Honestly, I didn’t know. I just vaguely thought I could do it, but now that the moment has come where I have to do it, I feel the weight of the fate I’m carrying. Of course, what I’ve tasted so far is only a fragment of that weight…”

Sister Alice and Sylvia made no reply.

I slowly straightened my back and looked at the two people.

If it weren’t for Sylvia’s training, I probably wouldn’t have been able to even stand up in this armor.

Sister Alice must have known that, which is why she made time for me to train.

“It’s probably only a few pieces… but it’s heavy.”

Sylvia must confront the death of her colleague and her own failures.

Sister Alice was staring at her own death, a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

From the very beginning, when you showed reluctance to my ignorant suggestion to go and catch the Demon King, up until now, this very moment.

The two of them were facing the situation several times more seriously than I was.

‘The spirits said they loved Ash. Alice and Sylvia loved Ash too,’

The words Pia had said a little while ago lingered in my ears.

Pia told me that I deserved to be happy.

Despite all the mistakes and errors I’ve made, there are people who love me.

I said that I deserve to be happy because there are people who want me to be happy.

‘no.’

I denied Pia’s words in my mind.

Of course, I did not intend to fall back into the swamp of confused despair and continue self-destructing.

Because there are those who love me so much, I vowed to stop insulting myself and to move forward toward true atonement and salvation.

But that wasn’t the qualification.

Qualifications are not given, they are earned.

To help these two warriors, who have suited my three-inch tongue, no, my foolish stubbornness, kill the Demon King and bring peace to mankind.

That is the qualification I must strive for.

I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my fists.

“I incited Sister Alice and Sylvia, so I must take responsibility for it.”

“… Ash.”

“…”

The expressions on both of their faces were somewhat subtle.

It was a face that seemed to be a mixture of a little shock, regret, and worry.

Sister Alice reached out to me as if she had something to say, but Sylvia raised her arm and stopped her.

Then he looked at me quietly for a moment, then soon raised one corner of his mouth and smiled faintly.

“Isn’t it cool?”

“… Sylvia, I’m being serious.”

“You know, I meant it too.”

“…”

Sylvia came over to me and gently placed her arm on my right shoulder.

It certainly seemed like a light movement, but whether it was the weight of the iron gauntlets or her strength, the impact felt like a huge rock had landed on her shoulder.

For a moment, my right knee almost gave out, but I held on and stretched my leg as much as I could.

There was no trick to focusing only on my legs, so I focused on my whole body, and my shoulders started shaking.

Sylvia looked at me like that and spoke slowly.

“It’s cool, but it’s not enough.”

“… uh?”

“Ash, now I can tell what kind of condition you’re in just by looking at your expression.”

Sylvia said something similar to what Pia said.

Was he really the kind of person whose expression showed what I thought he was?

“You seem to be thinking of something strange again. Perhaps you have armed yourself with a sense of responsibility or duty or something like that.”

Sylvia hit the nail on the head with a light voice.

As I turned my gaze with bewildered eyes, Sister Alice nodded and looked at me, then opened her mouth.

“I’ve seen that face a lot. The look of determination before something big.”

“Honestly, it’s really cool. You have such a manly expression.”

Sylvia looked at me with a warm gaze, smiling wryly.

It was a gaze that seemed to easily see through my shallow mind.

It seemed that these two people, who had been through a lot, could see right through me.

Sylvia opened her mouth slowly.

“But Ash, in my experience, guys with faces like that usually die.”

“…!”

“He met his end with dignity and magnificence, but death is death.”

“…”

“And I can’t accept any situation where Ash dies.”

Sister Alice also chimed in.

“It’s already a dangerous thing, so I can’t let my mindset become dangerous as well.”

“No, can’t I control my own attitude? How could I have prepared myself…”

Sylvia cut me off coldly and firmly.

“That’s the problem.”

“… uh?”

“Ash, if you’re ready, you won’t even care about death. Don’t I know you?”

“…”

“That’s not courage. It’s thinking that you can die.”

“…No, I want to die too.”

“If I’m ever in danger, or if I can save Alice, Ash, I’ll do anything to save her.”

Sylvia’s sudden words left me speechless and I closed my mouth.

Not because her words were explicit, but because she was right.

If there was a chance to save two people by sacrificing myself during the journey, I would gladly throw this body away.

It wasn’t just because I cherished the two of them.

Strategically, I calculated that it would be much better for this journey if two people stayed behind rather than me.

“…Sylvia.”

Sister Alice frowned at Sylvia’s harsh remark.

Sylvia glanced at her older sister, then shook her head slightly and turned her gaze back to me.

It seemed that Sylvia also knew about Alice’s physical condition.

“I don’t want that, and neither do Alice. Right?”

“… of course.”

At the sight of Sister Alice answering so nonchalantly, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

No, you’re dying now.

If you say you could die tomorrow,

And yet you say something like that?

I said, pushing Sylvia’s arm away.

“Then, what do you want me to do?”

“…”

“I know. Honestly, I’m just a burden… But I also know that I have a job to do. I know that I have a role to play in this destiny, and if that’s being a scapegoat…”

“Ash…”

“Even if it means being a sacrificial lamb… I’m willing to do it.”

“We don’t want to,”

“I know! How much you two work for me. How much you care for me! But me? I also cherish you two. I love Sylvia too. I cherish Sister Alice too. Shouldn’t I die? The two of you? If Sylvia dies, if Sister Alice dies, do you think I’ll be happy?”

“… Sorry, Ash. That’s not what I meant.”

“What is it that is not true!”

When I shouted, Sylvia hesitated and took a step back.

Suddenly, a great emotion began to surge up from the back of my head.

The emotion came like a tidal wave, gathering in my eyes and slowly falling away like dew.

It was a sadness bordering on sorrow.

It was miserable.

I know why those two want to protect me.

It wasn’t a bad feeling to be treated so preciously.

The only problem was that I was too weak.

Because they are so weak that their lives are in danger, they must be protected.

The problem was that I, a weak person, couldn’t think of any way to show my determination, and I couldn’t think of any way to help them on this journey other than sacrificing myself for them.

Of course I don’t want to die.

If Pia and I can join forces and overcome such dangers and complete our journey, then we can do so.

However, even if you become weak, it is still like walking into the Demon King’s throat.

Without that level of determination, I couldn’t have overcome the weight that was weighing me down.

But these two people tell me not to even have that kind of determination.

I’m afraid I’ll die.

“Ash, listen carefully.”

Sylvia took off her gauntlets and slowly and gently held my cheeks.

Sylvia’s face was filled with embarrassment as she slowly looked into my face, wiping away the tears that had formed at the corner of her eyes with her thumb.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry though. I honestly had no idea what Ash was thinking.”

“… Ugh,”

“Of course. Ash would be sad if I died too, of course…”

A faint smile spread across Sylvia’s face, then gradually turned into a broken smile.

It was as if he was trying to suppress a smile, but it wasn’t going well.

Sylvia tried to calm her expression for a moment, but then gave up and slowly took her hands off my cheeks, placing both arms behind my cheeks.

And then he immediately hugged my neck and said.

“I should apologize to Ash for making him feel bad, but I’m so glad that he said… that he loved me, that he wouldn’t be happy if I died,”

“…Sylvia.”

“Wait a minute, I can’t stop laughing.”

I was about to say I wasn’t in the mood, but then I shut my mouth.

It was because I saw my older sister Alice glaring at us from behind Sylvia’s back, who was hugging me.

Sister Alice’s face was filled with intense irritation, along with a ridiculous laugh.

I patted Sylvia on the back and signaled her to get off quickly.

.