Volume 4 Chapter 15 Lost
Moruru came back after hunting monsters.
"Give it to Mama Toxy and Brother Clay! It'll boost your energy!"
The creature she hunted was a Winged Bull. Moruru seemed to have struggled to bring it alone and set it down in the yard with a grunt.
"Wow, you really brought back a big catch."
"I know! It was easy to defeat, but heavy!"
The Winged Bulls live in a group just outside the city walls. There are quite a few of them, and they have a gentle temperament, so adventurers who are really struggling for food use them as their own food rather than for delivery.
This is because pre-cut Winged Bull meat from managed farms is readily available in the market. If you have the money, you'd rather buy it.
It's not worth hunting them down specifically. Disassembling them is a hassle, and one can't bring them back alive easily. Since they are monsters, they resist being captured.
I sighed and patted Moruru on the head.
"Well done. Let's work together to dismantle it. It's barbecue party today."
"Barbecue! ...What's barbecue?"
"It's like grilled meat chunks."
"Not raw meat!?"
"Moruru eats a lot, so it's all milk and raw meat..."
Since Moruru eats raw meat deliciously, it's often just sliced and served on a plate. I felt a bit sorry for her, but she didn't seem to mind.
"Grilled meat is really interesting!"
"Oh, I see."
"If it's delicious, I'll grill it myself next time. Boo!"
Moruru breathed fire.
"You can breathe fire, Moruru!?"
"I can. I just realized it recently."
"Wow... Moruru is growing rapidly."
"Moruru is a growing girl. Moruru will join Papa's harem someday."
"I wonder about that..."
"Papa, do you hate Moruru!?"
While patting Moruru's head as she teared up in surprise, I shook my head.
"No, no, it's not like that. Parents and children don't have that kind of relationship. Moruru will find her own lover properly. Then Papa will fight to see if it's suitable for Moruru."
"Moruru's lover will die."
"I won't go that far."
Probably.
While exchanging such conversations, I brought tools from the warehouse and started the dismantling work. With gravity magic, dismantling was easy.
As I was working, Ice and Sandra appeared.
"Wade-kun, what are you doing with Moruru...?"
"Wade, dismantling? I'll help."
"Oh, thanks. Moruru brought back the Winged Bull, so I thought we could have a barbecue."
"Eh...! Moruru brought it back!?"
"As expected of Moruru, or rather, Mor for short."
"Hehe."
Moruru proudly puffed out her chest. Even her fluffy hair seemed to shine.
I handed tools to the two of them to help with the dismantling. We tore the skin, peeled off the meat, and placed it on a clean board. With a considerable amount of meat, the pile grew rapidly.
After finishing the dismantling, I instructed Sandra and Moruru to prepare charcoal for the barbecue, while Ice and I moved on to prepare the ingredients.
"...But it's good, right? Toxy-chan and Clay-kun seem to have recovered..."
While cutting the meat with a knife, Ice said so.
"That's right... I made them go through a tough time. But I was surprised. They didn't have any intention of quitting as adventurers."
"Of course... We are Wade's party, after all."
I looked at Ice with her strong tone. She was calmly cutting the meat without any doubt.
"Among us, there is no one who would leave the party just because of a life-threatening situation. If someone were to leave, it would be when they feel truly powerless."
"What do you mean by powerless?"
"When they feel they can't catch up with you, Wade-kun, no matter what they do."
Ice looked at me. Through the gaps in her bangs, her hidden, strong gaze could be seen.
"If selling your soul to the devil still doesn't work, then that person will surely leave on their own. But if they can keep up by selling their soul to the devil, everyone will sell their soul without hesitation. That's the kind of party we are."
"...Did that happen without my knowledge?"
"Hehe. Maybe... It's all your fault, Wade-kun. You're just too cool. Everyone got burned by the fire of admiration for you..."
While speaking poetically, Ice chuckled and continued working. I couldn't help but feel a sense of truth despite knowing it was a joke.
"In front of the door of Eiosnight."
I spoke my mind.
"I thought everyone would scold me. But the sparkle in everyone's eyes was beautiful. I was prepared to be hit, you know... but everyone just laughed."
I drew a knife and smoothly cut the meat.
"Maybe I was the one who wasn't fully prepared. Everyone else had already decided. To move forward even if it means death. To become stronger. That kind of determination."
"...There's no one in front of you, Wade-kun. Everyone looked at you with admiration and determination."
"If you lose your determination, you won't stand a chance," Ice comforted me.
"But, I'm scared that everyone will die."
I said. Then, I added.
"It's okay if I die. I'm just a skinny dog from the slums. But I don't want to lose everyone. Besides, I... I probably won't die. No matter how dire the situation, I'll probably survive."
"..."
"I had a dream where everyone was killed by Eiosnight. I could do nothing but watch helplessly as everyone was killed. In other words, I was the only one left unharmed."
I connected my words,
"I surely have the strength to protect myself. But I still lack the power to protect everyone. I need to become stronger to protect everyone――――"
"Wade-kun, that way of thinking is wrong."
Ice said firmly, looking at me with a stern expression.
"We are Wade's party. Not a group protected by Wade-kun, but a gathering that fights alongside Wade-kun. Don't misunderstand that."
Ice continued,
"So, we have already made our determination. We are ready to follow your orders. What Wade-kun should do is give orders and think of ways to accomplish them."
So, leader, please give us your command.
"Get stronger. Become so strong that you won't lose to anyone without you, Wade-kun. Say that, show us the way, and there won't be anyone who won't follow..."
After Ice's words, I could only stare blankly. I blinked a few times and tried to digest those words.
Then, Sandra and Moruru returned.
"What Ice said is right,"
Sandra said.
"Wade, you must have been hesitating. What to do. How far to push us."
"Sandra..."
Sandra looked me straight in the eyes.
"To cut to the chase, it's okay no matter how far, Wade. If it's the path you believes in, we won't hesitate."
Upon hearing those words, I realized that everyone's intentions were clear. Not a single person had any doubts. They had been thinking single-mindedly and stubbornly about becoming stronger.
I relaxed my expression and said,
"I have an idea. Can we discuss it while having a barbecue together?"
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