Chapter 227 She Is A Tyrant
"――Fiona, if you want to know more, you should visit the orphanage where Aaron lived. The director there is the same person from when Aaron was there. I'm sure they can tell you a lot. ...I'll ask them to share some things too."
"Mr. Lion... thank you. Please do."
Fiona bowed her head to Lion, the guild staff member sitting across from her, who wore an eye patch.
The day after deciding to take Ickle as her daughter, Fiona went to meet Lion with Lucia. She managed to get some time to learn about Aaron's past, which she didn't know.
That said, what Lion shared was about the event that led Aaron to the orphanage in Necronia. He also talked about how he met Aaron after he became an explorer and why Aaron, who had closed himself off, was able to connect with Lion and the others.
After finishing his story, Lion mentioned that there was someone who knew more about Aaron's past before he came to the orphanage――he introduced Fiona to the director of the orphanage where Aaron lived.
Fiona deeply bowed her head in gratitude to Lion for sharing such difficult things. Just as she had expected, Aaron's past was not something that could be easily discussed with others. Still, Lion must have shared it with Fiona because he trusted her.
As Fiona raised her head, Lion shook it with a wry smile.
"Well, I should be the one thanking you. ...We could only remove him from the party when he showed the 'Limit Mark'... I thought he would definitely die if we kept the party together. But he chose to continue exploring alone. Still, I didn't strongly oppose it because I thought he might survive better than if he went deeper with us..."
Lion quietly spoke, thinking that Aaron would wander in the lower floors for a long time.
He also saw that the chances of dying were quite high.
"But we couldn't make him stop exploring... And then, after ten years, he was able to dive deep all by himself. I was surprised and happy at that time..."
Lion was happier than Aaron that his friend's efforts had paid off. But at the same time, he felt anxious.
"I was worried that he would take even more reckless risks now that he had gotten stronger... And then, the stampede happened..."
Three members of the ≪Sword of Glory≫ died.
After the stampede settled down, Aaron looked like he had lost the will to live. Losing close friends due to the stampede was a huge wound for him.
However, Aaron slowly started to recover. Of course, he was concerned about himself, but there was someone who reached out to him much more forcefully than he did.
Though the approach was a bit rough, it quickly became clear that this person was trying to cheer up the depressed Aaron.
"Thank you so much for helping Aaron back then, Fiona."
Lion sincerely bowed his head and said that.
* * *
The day after Aaron finished making the wooden sword.
Early in the morning, after Lucia teleported them to the grasslands outside Necronia to check the "Platinum Sword," Fiona and Lucia returned to Aaron's home and immediately set out again.
They were heading to a nearby orphanage located in the slums that spread across the western and northern areas of the outer district of Necronia.
Upon visiting the orphanage, the two were quickly guided inside and taken to a room in the back.
When they introduced themselves, they were told, "We've been informed about your visit," so it seemed that Lion had arranged everything in advance as promised.
Without waiting too long, an elderly man entered the room where Fiona and the others were waiting.
He had white hair and a gentle face.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ordahn, the director of this orphanage."
Fiona and the others stood up from the sofa to return the greeting.
Once both parties settled down across the table, the conversation began.
"Now then... I've heard from Lion that you want to know about Aaron's past... is that correct?"
"Yes. Um, I know it might seem strange to ask about this in his absence, but――."
Just as Fiona was about to continue, Ordahn interrupted her, shaking his head and saying, "Oh, no, no."
"I've already heard about your relationship with Aaron from Lion. Normally, this wouldn't be a conversation to have without the person present, but if Aaron were here, he would interrupt us, right? It can't be helped. ...Besides, since you are someone important to Aaron, I don't mind talking to you."
At those words from Ordahn, Fiona's face turned a little red, and she wondered how Lion had explained their relationship.
Meanwhile, Ordahn observed Fiona's reaction and smiled as if he understood.
"I'm glad to see a young lady like you by that boy's side. ...Now, shall we get started? Let's talk about that boy, Aaron..."
"Please."
* * *
As for the sister――she is a tyrant.
The 3 countries around Necronia, the Urmut Empire, the Margrave Lorentz territory, and Kalts Village, are peaceful places that make a living through agriculture.
Monsters rarely appear, and in this idyllic village with vast farmlands, a young boy's voice rang out.
"Hey, let me goooooo!!?"
It was a scream.
The desperate cry made anyone who heard it turn to see what was happening. However, help did not come for the boy.
This was the yard of the Gale family in Kalts Village.
The boy who screamed was Aaron Gale, a ten-year-old boy, lying on his back on the ground.
"How dare you hide my 'Holy Sword Brynhildr,' Aaron!"
On the ground, holding down Aaron with both of his ankles in her hands, was a girl with long, shiny black hair tied up in a ponytail.
Her name was Alicia Gale. Fifteen years old.
She had a very strong-looking face, but if you looked closely, you could say she was a beautiful girl. However, she was looking down at her brother with the cold expression of a bandit leader looking down on a subordinate who had made a mistake.
"I can't believe that on the day of my important departure, my little brother would pull such a prank on me... I'm so sad, Aaron."
The trouble started when Aaron hid his sister's possession, the 'Holy Sword Brynhildr (a poorly made iron sword).'
When Alicia woke up and realized this, she immediately got furious. To make Aaron confess where he hid the 'Holy Sword Brynhildr,' she caught him as he tried to run away, rolled him on the ground, and lifted his ankles――this is how things got to this point.
"It seems like... I didn't teach you enough, did I? Maybe it was a mistake to go easy on my cute little brother?"
"Y-you're kidding me, you flat-chested girl!!"
Aaron was furious at his sister's silly teasing. Teaching? Going easy? What a ridiculous thing to say.
"You always try to solve everything with violence!! That's why Big Brother Darryl is also frustrated!!"
Darryl was a young man who lived nearby and was 2 years older than Alicia. He was the one Alicia had confessed to in the past, only to experience a tragic yet comical failure.
However, that was a sensitive topic for Alicia.
"———Huh? ...Who are you calling flat-chested?"
"Eek!?"
Alicia asked in a low, intimidating tone, her hands grasping Aaron's ankles, forcing his legs apart.
Then, she placed her right foot on Aaron's groin area.
Aaron trembled. He had experienced his sister's violent behavior many times before, which had left a traumatic scar. His body shook involuntarily, anticipating what would happen next.
"No, stop it!!"
"Who said I had small breasts?!"
With a rapid and continuous motion, Alicia stomped on Aaron's groin area, causing him immense pain.
It was clear what Alicia was doing. She was stomping on Aaron's groin area with her right foot, rapidly and repeatedly.
"Ahh, ahh, ahh!!" Aaron screamed in agony.
"You're still not listening, are you? You think you're better than me?! I'll teach you a lesson as your sister! You're so stupid and don't understand anything!!"
"Stop, stoppp!!"
"I'll make you remember my greatness!! You'll never dare to disobey me again!!"
"I'll tell you the hiding place?! I'll tell you!!"
"It's too late for that!! This is education! This is love! I'm doing this for your own good!!"
"Aahhhhhh!!? S-someone, help me!!"
Aaron's painful cries echoed throughout the village. However...
"Hey, isn't that the Gale family?"
"Yeah, they're always energetic in the morning."
"That sister and brother get along so well, it's enviable. My siblings are nothing like that..."
――Yes, the voice asking for help was definitely heard, but no one paid it any mind as it was just the usual thing. The aunties chatted as they walked past the Gale family's yard toward the shared well in the center of the village.
And the punishment from his sister continued for several minutes――Aaron was finally set free.
"Hyuu...hyup, hyuu...!!"
And there was Aaron, breathing irregularly as if he was having a fit.
Lying on his back on the ground, his eyes stared blankly at the sky, devoid of light. Tears had streaked down from the corners of his eyes, and his clothes were disheveled as if they had been roughly handled. Perhaps because he had been screaming with all his might, his cheeks were flushed even though his expression was blank. Drool dripped from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't even have the strength to wipe it away.
If there were any perverts with a thing for young boys here, it would have been a very dangerous sight.
"Fuu...!! As expected, teaching my little brother a lesson is the best entertainment!"
Hearing Alicia say this while looking down at Aaron, who was lying on his back, Aaron renewed his determination.
This was something he had always felt and engraved in his heart.
"Those who use violence are the worst...!!"
"Huh?"
"Even when I grow up...! I won't be like you, sis...! I will never become someone who makes others listen through violence...!!"
Aaron, using his sister as a negative example, vowed to become a kind-hearted adult in the future.
He swore he would never get into bar fights when drunk, never punch someone just because he didn't like them, and never threaten others with violence――Aaron made that promise!!
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