New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Red and White Warriors
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And that day arrived. It was the day Lindsay’s party members were coming back. To welcome them, Lindsay and I were lazily spending time in the garden, basking in the sun.
Last night, I recalled the information about the party that had been given to me in advance.
The name of the party is said to be ‘Chevalier de Liberta’. It seemed it was named with the meaning of warriors seeking freedom through adventure.
The leader’s name was Alfred. He served as a melee combatant as a swordsman. His entire body was in red, from his hair to his clothes, making him stand out even from a distance. Just as that image suggested, he was skilled in fire magic and sometimes weaves fire magic into his swordsmanship during battles. He was said to be a rough person who didn’t care for the details, but he possessed decisiveness and is suitable as a leader.
The other swordsman, Tristan, was the opposite of Alfred. He is taciturn but gentlemanly. He was skilled in lightning magic and reportedly fights well using electric shocks.
Dwayne, a backline mage like Lindsay, was a calm and collected individual who playd the role of the team’s strategist. He was more proficient in dark magic and light magic than Lindsay. He was also said to intervene in the members’ disputes.
Lizbeth, the archer who was also a long-range supporter, was a bright and optimistic woman, but perhaps due to her personality, she was said to constantly argue with Alfred over differing opinions.
It was a well-balanced party. Including the members’ areas of expertise and their personality strengths and weaknesses.
According to Lindsay, they were all childhood friends who formed this bond, but perhaps it was because they get along so well that they came together. Having learned such information the night before, I had a hard time falling asleep more than usual.
With a tense expression, I awaited their return. In contrast, Lindsay seemed to be dozing off slightly. With her eyelids dropping under the sunlight, Lindsay radiated a certain divine beauty from her lovely features.
“Lindsay! Lindsay!” (Jack)
“Hmm… what is it?” (Lindsay)
“Do you think the party members will recognize me?” (Jack)
“Well, that depends on you, Jack, doesn’t it?” (Lindsay)
Her response was somewhat careless, as if she was sleepy. But that didn’t mean Lindsay thinks little of me. She took the trouble to bring me all the way to the shopping district of Barwitch to buy clothes for me, despite my reluctance, in order to improve my appearance. So, that I could look more like an adventurer and be accepted by the other members. Lindsay’s meddlesome nature seeps through in her words and actions. That’s part of her charm.
—
As the sun began to set, the grassland started to be painted in orange, and the wind grew stronger. The return of the members of Chevalier de Liberta was delayed. The day ended up being spent sunbathing. And then it happened.
“—Oh, they’re back!” (Lindsay)
“Huh? Where? Where?” (Jack)
“Look, you can see that red one over there!” (Lindsay)
There were four figures walking towards us from the town along the country road. Indeed, the central figure was dressed in red and had hair that seemed to be ablaze with red. The sunset made them difficult to see. However, their appearance exuded a valiant atmosphere and presence.
“Everyone! Welcome back!” (Lindsay)
Lindsay called out loudly, waving her hands enthusiastically. In response, a few of them slowly waved back.
“Hey, Lindsay!” (Alfred)
The red warrior, who was carrying a heavy sword on his back, was Alfred-san. He seemed more like the mood maker of the team rather than just a leader. He responded cheerfully.
“Alfie, welcome back. I’m glad everyone is safe!” (Lindsay)
“We wouldn’t have any trouble. It was just an ogre hunt, after all.” (Alfred)
Interjecting was a short-haired woman carrying two quivers on her back. That must be Lizbeth-san. Her sharp gaze was focused straight ahead, exuding a certain intensity as if to say she was still ready for battle. By the way, although she called it “just an ogre hunt”, I had heard that ogres are rather dangerous demons, despite their low intelligence.
Following those two were two men. The white knight-like figure, carrying a sword at his waist, was likely Tristan-san. The one in a brown leather vest, giving off more of a scholar than an adventurer vibe, was probably Dwayne-san. Both men spoke little, but the white knight had a stern expression while the scholar in the leather vest had a softer one.
The four of them seemed to be happily discussing the results of their ogre hunt and the spoils of their battle as they reunited with Lindsay. It seemed undeniable that they were childhood friends, truly enjoying each other’s company. Meanwhile, I, who stood blankly beside Lindsay, felt completely invisible, as if I lacked height, presence, and everything else. However, one of the central figures suddenly noticed me and gave me a puzzled look.
“Huh? Lindsay, who’s that little guy?” (Alfred)
“Oh, this is Jack.” (Lindsay)
“Jack…?” (Alfred)
Alfred-sab began to scrutinize me from top to bottom. Since he was tall, my height, which reached about Lindsay’s chest, seemed more like waist height in front of him. With his puzzled gaze still on me, he opened his mouth.
“Is he a new pet?” (Alfred)
“Yeah. I picked him up off the street.” (Lindsay)
“I see. Lindsay is good at feeding, after all. What a troublesome thing.” (Alfred)
“Hey! Wait a minute! I’m not a pet!” (Jack)
“This dog just talked…!” (Alfred)
“Do I look like a dog?! …Hey, Lindsay!” (Jack)
I clung to Lindsay’s waist, pleading with my eyes.
“Jokes aside…” (Lindsay)
Lindsay coughed to change the atmosphere.
“I was thinking of scouting this kid to increase the members of Liberta.” (Lindsay)
Lindsay explained in a calm tone.
Everyone was astonished by those words. However, Lindsay continued without caring.
“I picked him up while he was about to die in the rain in Barwitch. According to him, he says he’s an orphan, so his circumstances aren’t that bad, right?” (Lindsay)
“Yes…!” (Jack)
Lindsay signaled with her eyes, so I responded cheerfully. The first to answer was the central figure, the leader.
“Lindsay.” (Alfred)
“What?” (Lindsay)
“I did say that I would take a kid. I remember it, and I still think so.” (Alfred)
“Then…” (Lindsay)
“—But what I said was that I wanted a kid who would be worth training.” (Alfred)
Alfred-san emphasized his last words in a somewhat frightening tone. The three letters of ‘rejected’ floated in my mind, and I felt the sound of my faint and ephemeral hope crumbling away.
That’s how it is.
In response, Lindsay firmly retorted.
“We won’t know if he’s worth training yet.” (Lindsay)
“No, I can tell. I don’t feel any aura from this guy.” (Alfred)
It was a cruel remark that followed.
“I can’t expect anything.” (Alfred)
“He’s just a 10-year-old boy, and he can be trained plenty from now on—” (Lindsay)
“You already saw it with the Managram, right? By my estimate, his ability is below average. How about it?” (Alfred)
“…Th-that’s…” (Lindsay)
Lindsay had no room for argument anymore. My abilities were below average, on top of having zero magical power. Even a professional salesman would find it impossible to sell this talent, and I understood that myself. However, Lindsay was trying to evoke sympathy at the end.
“Can’t we at least watch him for a while? Even as a trial—” (Lindsay)
“Lindsay!” (Alfred)
“…!” (Lindsay)
“This house isn’t a daycare. Just picking up a kid doesn’t mean we take care of everyone.” (Alfred)
It felt like we were on the verge of a fight. Alfred-san left those words behind and started walking towards the entrance, shaking off Lindsay and me. He was completely different from the impression I had been given in the introduction beforehand. Lindsay had said he was the one most likely to accept me as the leader…
But I had no intention of throwing a tantrum like, “This isn’t what we talked about”. It was only natural. My intuition skill told me that Alfred-san was likely being strict on purpose. This was a reasonable response for a leader considering the future of the party.
Lindsay was also flustered. While she agreed with Alfred-san’s intentions completely, she couldn’t overlook me, a child. It felt like she was caught between conflicting emotions.
“…W-well, what do the others think?” (Lindsay)
Not giving up, Lindsay called out to the other members nearby. I felt bad for going that far. If my presence was making the atmosphere around us tense, I would rather disappear from that spot.
“Lindsay, I also agree with the leader this time. I was against having a child from the start, and we need someone more experienced.” (Lizbeth)
After saying that, Lizbeth-san gave me a slightly apologetic glance and followed after Alfred-san.
“I think so too, leaning more towards that. Even if it’s Lindsay’s request, this time…” (Dwayne)
Dwayne-san followed suit. It wasn’t just Alfred-san’s unilateral decision anymore. It was being rejected by the majority.
“Can I say something?” (Tristan)
Suddenly, Tristan-san, who had been staying silent, spoke up and raised his voice.
“I think it’s okay to welcome this kid.” (Tristan)
“Tristan!” (Lindsay)
Lindsay cried out in joy. The person who seemed the most indifferent, and whom I thought was a bit scary, was now on the side of support.
I had completely judged him based on first impressions.
I’m sorry, Tristan-san.
“What?” (Alfred)
Alfred-san, who already had his hand on the entrance door, turned back with a displeased look. He walked back quickly.
“Hey, Tristan, what do you mean by that?” (Alfred)
“I mean, I think it’s okay to add this kid to Liberta.” (Tristan)
“Why?” (Alfred)
“Isn’t it too early to make a decision here?” (Tristan)
“That’s why! I have no expectations for this kid!” (Alfred)
Alfred-san pressed forward toward Tristan with a fierce attitude, but Tristan remained calm and composed.
“Fred, that’s your bad habit since long ago. You decide too quickly and misjudge.” (Tristan)
“Misjudge? So, you think this weak-looking kid can keep up with us?” (Alfred)
“Well, that’s hard to say.” (Tristan)
“Hard to say?!” (Alfred)
“Yeah.” (Tristan)
“What the hell! I thought it was rare for you to give an opinion, and now your reason is ‘I don’t know’?” (Alfred)
Tristan-san stood there, calm and expressionless. The red knight, filled with irritation, and the cool-headed white knight faced off in the sunset garden. The two stared each other down for a while. The tension was so thick that it felt like a duel could start at any moment.
“…Alright, I got it. I’ll calm down.” (Alfred)
Finally, Alfred-san relented. It seemed that his position as leader had held him back.
That’s what makes a leader. It’s clear that one can’t simply act on emotions.
“I just got back from a journey and I’m tired, and there are things to do… So, I’ll give it three days.” (Alfred)
With that, Alfred-san held up three fingers.
“Three days from now at noon, I’ll assess this kid’s abilities.” (Alfred)
“Alfie!” (Lindsay)
Lindsay rushed over to Alfred-san, as if to say he understood her.
“…However! There’s a condition. If I’m not satisfied at that time, this kid will have to leave.” (Alfred)
“Alfie, thank you!” (Lindsay)
Then Lindsay hugged Alfred-san. She seemed to blush a little. As a child, I felt a bit of jealousy.
But I am just a freeloader. No matter how much I try to stretch myself, I could never match the bond these people had built over time. Will I ever have such a presence someday…?
“Hey, brat! Respond!” (Alfred)
“…Y-yes!” (Jack)
As usual, Alfred referred to me as ‘brat’.
And I, Jack, also known as ‘brat’, had somehow taken a step closer to the people of Liberta.
—
That night, I had dinner in Lindsay’s room. She apologized, but I felt like I should apologize instead. I had soured the atmosphere of the party a bit. If closing myself in my room could ease that tension even a little, I would gladly retreat.
I could hear the voices of the Liberta members through the wall. They were sharing stories from their travels, sounding cheerful. This feeling reminded me of the time I spent at the Aldridge estate. I was used to it because of that.
I had been worried that a rift had formed in our relationship, but it didn’t seem to be a problem at all. After all, those five had been together long before I ever appeared. Their mutual trust wouldn’t easily break. And as the time for their gathering ended, the house grew a bit quiet, and I could hear the sounds of everyone returning to their rooms.
I planned to visit Tristan-san’s room. Lindsay had already told me about the layout of the house and the allocation of the rooms. Most of the rooms were on the second floor, except for Dwayne-san, who had a room on the first floor.
I knocked on Tristan-san’s door. There was no response, and suddenly the door opened.
“It’s you.” (Tristan)
“Oh, um, I wanted to thank you for earlier…” (Jack)
“Come in.” (Tristan)
I was ushered into the room. It was neatly organized, with nothing that seemed like a personal touch. It felt somewhat bland. Well, if he had just recently started living in a new place, it made sense.
Even in his own room, Tristan-san didn’t seem relaxed. He stood the whole time. He had a handsome face, one that I thought would not go unnoticed by the women in town. However, he also had a blank expression, making it hard to know what he was thinking, which gave me a bit of a scary impression.
“Jack, right?” (Tristan)
“Yes. Thank you for earlier.” (Jack)
“No problem.” (Tristan)
“You’re a kind person, Tristan-san.” (Jack)
“Not really.” (Tristan)
“…” (Jack)
“…” (Tristan)
The conversation didn’t continue. He really was a quiet person.
“Um, why would you—” (Jack)
“Don’t worry about it.” (Tristan)
The topic was shut down. I felt very uncomfortable. Maybe I should just go home?
“Jack, you’re still a kid. You don’t have to try so hard.” (Tristan)
Perhaps sensing my feelings, Tristan started the conversation.
“No, um… Anyway, I’ll do my best in three days.” (Jack)
“Fred is probably just tired from his journey and surprised. He won’t kick you out in three days.” (Tristan)
“Really? Is that so?” (Jack)
“Yeah, so don’t worry.” (Tristan)
His tone was very cold, but his words were warm. It made sense that he had grown up in the same environment as Lindsay. However, I didn’t just want to stay here because I wanted to be part of the group. I wanted to become a true adventurer, to grow stronger, and to be a warrior who could protect someone. I hadn’t forgotten that feeling.
“But I want to get stronger. Once I can stop being a burden, I want to go on adventures together.” (Jack)
“…” (Tristan)
Tristan-san didn’t respond, but his eyes seemed full of kindness.
“I see. Then, I’ll train you.” (Tristan)
“Huh!?” (Jack)
Without mocking me or stopping me, Tristan understood my feelings.
“Is that really okay…?” (Jack)
“Yeah. But be prepared for it to be tough.” (Tristan)
“…Yes! I’ll do my best!” (Jack)
“Good spirit.” (Tristan)
Saying that, Tristan-san knelt down and patted my head. He was such a handsome man. If I were a girl, I would definitely have fallen for him.
“Then, let’s start training tomorrow morning.” (Tristan)
“Yes!” (Jack)
“In the morning, come to my room.” (Tristan)
“Understood!” (Jack)
The white knight calmly relayed the plan. I was going to receive training. It was an incredible opportunity. Still, I wondered why he cared about me so much.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t mentioned my dismal ability stats yet. Would he be disappointed…? Would Tristan-san look at my hopeless status and think, “You can’t do anything with this”?
I had that thought but ultimately couldn’t bring myself to say it. A kid with zero magic power. It was clear that Alfred-san was right in his judgment. With a complicated mix of feelings, I left Tristan-san’s room and returned to my usual sleeping spot, Lindsay’s chair.
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