Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

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The view of Lintpia from atop the statue was truly beautiful.

Today, I was a bit tired due to having done more work than usual, but all the accumulated fatigue felt like it was melting away at once.

Man, I might get addicted to this.

Dependency is what happens when a person leans on something during tough times, after all.

But still, this must be better for my health than booze or cigarettes.

Besides, I had to climb all those countless stairs just to get up here.

If I had my way, I’d just lay down right here and fall asleep, but that wouldn’t do.

“Leydan Tanton!”

Ah, there it was—the voice of the one I was just thinking about.

When the sun began to set, there would only be one person looking for me.

It was her.

“You’re here!”

I quickly wiped the tired look off my face and smiled as I turned around.

Then again, maybe it was more like a smile happened on its own.

But the expression I tried so hard to keep suddenly vanished due to what happened next.

Wham!

“Why didn’t you come back sooner?!”

She scolded me in a slightly teary voice, yet tightly hugged me while trembling.

What could possibly scare her so much?

There couldn’t be anyone stronger than her in this world.

“…Wasn’t today a dangerous mission?”

“It was.”

“Didn’t get hurt, did you?”

“Just a bit tired. I couldn’t possibly get hurt.”

I spoke the truth.

Yeah, I couldn’t possibly get hurt.

After all, I gained my strength thanks to someone.

“The knights who returned today all looked gloomy. What do you think I’d think if you weren’t among them?!”

“Haha. Sorry about that.”

I gently released her from my grip and looked at her awkwardly.

“Considering the blessings you’ve bestowed upon me, wouldn’t it be fine if all the divine races in this world came after me?”

“…Is that really something you should be saying?!”

I thought I made a valid point, but she still seemed flustered, so I smiled gently and continued.

“…I missed you just as much as you were thinking of me, Oko.”

“Ugh, ugh!”

With her cat-like eyes, the beautiful woman with flowing white hair widened her blue eyes in surprise at my words.

“Calling me by my name at a time like this is cheating!”

“Oh, oh no! St-stop! I’m going to die, I’m going to die!”

“Stop with the dramatics! You wouldn’t die because of my blessing!”

“Ahh! Oko is trying to kill me!”

Feeling bashful, Oko suddenly started punching me.

Each blow felt like it could crack my skull.

But I didn’t dodge.

It was true that I worried her.

Once she calmed down, I held her gaze, and her pouting expression softened.

Then she seemed a bit startled and blushed, staring at me.

“…?”

“Shall we head down now?”

“…Yeah.”

All the way down the statue, I wore a satisfied smile.

Today, Oko showed me a new side of herself.

It was certainly unusual for someone who was always rational and cheerful to display such emotions.

Getting to know someone in depth was truly enjoyable.

“Next time, wherever you go, at least tell me. I was really scared.”

“Okay. Sorry, Oko.”

Oko pouted again in response, and I nodded in understanding.

When we finally reached the bottom of the statue, I saw people walking down the street.

A man holding hands with a woman whose hair was blooming with flowers, both laughing and having a happy time.

An old man engaged in a passionate debate with a creature made entirely of white bones over a book.

In the streets of Lintpia, divine races and humans alike came together, creating a single beautiful scene.

I felt relieved.

Today, I had been able to protect this precious sight once again.

#

After calming down, Oko began to chatter away about the events of the day.

“I cooked something for you! Oh, it must be cold by now.”

“Oh! You cooked for me, Oko? So what if it’s cold? It’s still going to be delicious.”

“You sure know how to sweet talk.”

Oko said this with a bright smile.

Well, I was just stating the facts.

But she looked so happy that I couldn’t help but smile back.

As we turned into the alley back home.

A person emerged from the restaurant and wore a surprised expression upon seeing me.

It was the owner of the restaurant.

“…Leydan.”

“Hello, sir!”

Instead of answering my greeting, the owner just stared at me blankly as he approached.

Then, like he had seen something extraordinary, he gently brushed my shoulder with his hand.

Ah, I see.

It was clear from that touch he was filled with worry.

I looked at him with a slightly sad expression.

“Sir.”

“…So you returned safely. Thank goodness, thank goodness…”

It seemed the owner was waiting for me with feelings similar to Oko’s.

Did I really need to come back immediately after it was over?

This feeling made me feel like I had committed some terrible crime.

But seeing his face gradually lighten up, I figured there was no need to worry him like Oko.

Predictably, the owner soon laughed and playfully slapped my arm.

“Ow!”

“What are you whining about? It’s not like you got hurt. Ugh, how foolish of me to worry myself for nothing.”

“Were you worried about me, sir?”

“Goodness, you little rascal. You shouldn’t be so mean to people.”

“Haha, I’m sorry.”

Though a bit harsh, I knew those words were just playful banter, so I laughed in response.

“Have you eaten? If not, you should have some beef pasta before you leave.”

“Sorry, sir. Oko said she cooked for me today…”

“Indeed, sir. Leydan is having dinner with me!”

As I spoke, Oko folded her arms smugly, acting like she was showing off an object.

Oh, how irritating.

If I were the owner, I would have wanted to pinch her nose right then.

But the owner just laughed cheerfully.

“Haha! That’s right! I can’t take your time away, then. Who knows what might happen to me later?”

“Sir! You can’t say that! Anyone would think I did something bad…”

“No way! What could you possibly do to me? Just… uh, ahem.”

“Oh?! Don’t say things like that?! Sir!”

It seemed the owner was eager to tease Oko, as he suddenly wore a pained expression and disappeared inside the store.

There was no one around, but for some reason, that behavior seemed to rile Oko up, and she followed the owner inside.

– Ahh! She followed him inside! This is bad!

– Wow, she’s going all the way!

– At this point, I have no choice but to bribe them.

Seeing the amusing exchange made me feel so happy.

Yeah, this is the best way to spend my time.

The fame of being a knight is all pointless.

I declared myself a knight because I wanted to protect these people.

I wouldn’t get hurt.

And protecting this empire is going so well.

Would there ever be a time as golden as this again?

I was just plain happy.

“Leydan!”

Oko came rushing out with something in her hands.

It seemed that her bribe was just an excuse to prepare our breakfast.

I always felt guilty for not giving back anything to the owner.

“Did the owner give us more food again?”

“Yep! It’s chicken soup, your favorite!”

“Whoa.”

Watching Oko giggle, I exaggerated my reaction for no reason.

Seeing her shoulders lighten up made me chuckle unconsciously.

“Let’s hurry back! I’m starving!”

“Yeah!”

With quick steps, we returned to a cathedral-like building.

It had a uniquely remarkable appearance and was fairly famous even in Lintpia.

And in front of that door stood a grandfather waiting.

My biological grandfather.

Seeing Oko, he folded his hands and politely bowed before lifting his head with a kind smile.

“Have you arrived?”

“Grandfather, doing that makes Oko feel awkward.”

At my words, grandfather maintained his smile and replied.

“Intelligent beings all have their own ways of doing things, and not maintaining those ways leads to a loss of purpose.”

“…Well, that’s not entirely wrong, but…”

“…So, are you not hurt at all?”

I remembered people who were confused as to why grandfather paid attention to Oko before me, who was family.

Yeah, on the surface, he might seem very cold.

But I wanted to explain that it was not wrong for two reasons.

First, I could tell by the expression of worry on grandfather’s face when he asked about my welfare.

“Yes. It’s thanks to Oko that I couldn’t get hurt even if I wanted to.”

“…That is indeed true.”

And look at grandfather’s relieved expression.

He had just become a little more indifferent towards me, but that didn’t mean his concern had vanished.

And the second, most important reason.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Grandfather gestured as if drawing something in the air, then clasped his hands together and slightly bowed his head to Oko.

“…I thank you, Watcher, for protecting my grandson from evil danger today.”

…It was because Oko was the deity of the religion founded by grandfather.

 

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