Chapter 228 Please Forgive Me
Alicia Gale was the absolute leader among the boys and girls living in the village.
Since she was young, she had been extremely mischievous, quick to fight, and boasted an undefeated record even against older boys. When she was a child, girls tended to grow faster, so she had an advantage in size over her peers and was about the same height as slightly older kids.
On top of that, Alicia was good at fighting.
Being good at fighting, in simple terms, means having "no hesitation."
In children's fights, you don't need advanced techniques. Those who have no hesitation in attacking others, especially vulnerable spots, tend to win more often.
In this regard, Alicia was exceptional.
"――Hiss!!"
After locking eyes with the village's troublemakers for a few seconds, it was always Alicia who first ignited the battle.
Instead of starting with a cautious approach, like most would, Alicia charged in without a moment's hesitation.
Caught off guard from the front, the troublemakers struggled to fight back, and it became a daily sight to see them kneeling before the tyrant Alicia.
However, the troublemakers weren't just going to take it.
To counter Alicia's tyranny, they sometimes banded together, sometimes set ambushes, and sometimes launched surprise attacks, trying to regain their pride as defeated troublemakers by challenging her again and again.
Normally, the troublemakers would have had a solid chance of winning.
But――――the talent for violence that Alicia possessed far surpassed that of the troublemakers.
"Do you think you can take me down just by surrounding me?!"
Sand-blinding, a critical hit that no man can endure――a low blow. The troublemakers, trying to surround Alicia and restrain her from behind, were injured by her merciless bites. Alicia, on the other hand, swung her 'Holy Sword Bloody Bell' (a training wooden sword) with a confident stance, which she always carried around.
――Alicia won against the troublemakers even when outnumbered.
At that time, Alicia was 11 years old. It was the moment when the eternal honorary leader of the kids in Kalts Village was born.
This battle would be passed down among the boys and girls of Kalts Village as the "Battle of Turtle Hill"...
Meanwhile, although Alicia had taken all the troublemakers under her wing, her parents were optimistic. She was still a tomboyish and mischievous daughter, but as she grew, the physical strength difference between boys and girls would cruelly widen. If that happened, she wouldn't be able to win against boys her age, and she would naturally grow up to be more feminine...
"Dad! Mom! I'm going to be an explorer in the future!!"
――But she didn't.
She didn't turn out the way her parents expected.
To make her dream of becoming an explorer come true, Alicia began training with the village's self-defense group alongside the adults. Her parents tried many times to persuade her to reconsider, but Alicia never changed her mind.
"I'm not a girl who's going to end up in the countryside!! I'm going to Necronia, the holy land of explorers, and I'll reign at the top there! I'll make my name known all over the world!!"
As Alicia spoke to her parents, there wasn't even a hint of anxiety in her eyes. Only a shining confidence, similar to a conviction that it would definitely happen.
"It's impossible! You don't understand how dangerous being an explorer is!!"
Her father shouted in an attempt to convince me, but Alicia's determination didn't waver.
"What's so dangerous about it! If you're afraid of danger, you can't achieve great things!! Plus, it's useless to try to make me give up! Bill and the others are saying they want to become explorers with me!"
Bill and the others――those were the troublemakers around Alicia's age. They were the kids who lost to Alicia in the "Battle of Turtle Hill."
They used to compete with Alicia for control of the village, but now they had completely become her followers, determined to follow Alicia as she aimed to become an explorer.
Alicia was planning to take them as her party members and rise to power in Necronia!
However, her father still opposed her! He said being an explorer wasn't that easy.
"If you want to be an explorer so badly, then defeat me first!! If you can't even beat me, then becoming an explorer is just a dream!"
"Bring it on!!"
And so, the two faced off in the yard.
Alicia's father, Jobs, had a general-type job as a 'Farmer.' Compared to combat-type jobs, it was pretty weak, but it did give him a slight boost in physical ability, and on top of that, he was part of the village's self-defense force.
No matter how strong Alicia was, she was still just a kid. Plus, at 12 years old, Alicia didn't have a job. There was no way she could win.
"――Guuwaaaahhh!!?"
But Alicia's natural talent far exceeded her father's imagination.
Eye poke! Groin kick! Bloody Bell! Bloody Bell! Bloody Bell!!
"Take that!! You jerk!!!"
Alicia won, and as her father crouched down holding his groin, she placed her foot on his head and raised her wooden sword, letting out a victorious shout.
――Thus, there was no one left to stand in Alicia's way as she steadily eliminated the obstacles to becoming an explorer.
However.
When Alicia was 13, an incident occurred.
It was――love.
Alicia was a girl too. As she grew both in heart and body, it was only natural for her to want to experience love.
And the one Alicia fell in love with was Darryl, a boy who lived nearby and was 2 years older. Unlike the troublemakers that surrounded Alicia in their rural village, Daryl was gentle, kind, and adored by the younger children. Now 15, he had recently gotten a job as a 'farmer,' and Alicia found him to be someone she could rely on.
Having fallen in love――at the moment she realized her feelings, Alicia took action.
"W-What is it, Alice (Alicia-chan)...?"
Alicia called Darryl out!!
Standing confidently with her arms crossed in front of the nervous Daryl, she confessed.
"Brother Darryl! Marry me!!"
"――Huh!?"
Speed is of the essence in battle!!
Alicia wouldn't waste time with dating! She proposed marriage to Daryl!
And on her face was even a fearless smile. She was confident! She had no doubt he would say yes! After all, she was a beautiful girl! Plus, she was strong in fights and planned to become the strongest explorer, gaining wealth, fame, and power in the future!
There was no way a guy like him would turn her down!!
Alicia was sure of it!!
On the other hand, the moment Alicia confessed, a silent shock ran through the air.
In the village square, the children gathered around, watching Alicia and the others from a distance. They were all eagerly waiting to see how big brother Darryl would respond.
"Uh, um...!! A, Alicia...!!"
Among them, young Bill was extremely anxious. He had a crush on Alicia. Just looking at her, she was definitely a beautiful girl. Plus, Bill had developed a strange desire to be dominated by a strong-willed beauty, making Alicia the perfect match for him.
However, he never expected a rival to show up. This was because Alicia ruled over the boys and girls in Kalts Village as an absolute tyrant.
Bill thought that no one else in the village could possibly have feelings for Alicia besides him!
And to think, Alicia might actually fall in love with someone!
In front of the anxious Bill and the other children, Darryl closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them with a determined look on his face as he knelt before Alicia.
He then took something out of his pocket and respectfully offered it to Alicia...!!
"Th-this... please forgive me!!"
Darryl was shaking with tears!
What Darryl offered to Alicia――was not a ring or anything like that! It was his entire fortune, packed in a small bag!!
Darryl thought that if he refused, he would be killed, so he decided to give all his money to be forgiven.
For Darryl, Alicia was a symbol of fear!
――And so, the incident of Alicia's crushed love came to an end.
By the way, 2 months later, Darryl ended up marrying his childhood friend, who had a big chest.
* * *
Thus, Alicia graduated from love and decided to work hard every day to succeed as an explorer.
As time passed, about 2 months ago, Alicia turned 15.
On the day she turned 15, Alicia selected a combat-type job at the church and obtained the 'Beginner Swordsman' job.
However, even after turning 15, she had not yet left Kalts Village. The reason was simple: some of her friends, who she planned to form a party with, had not yet celebrated their birthdays.
But that would only be a matter of a few days.
In 3 days, the last member of the party would celebrate their birthday, and the next day, they would all set off for Necronia.
――And that's why.
The reason young Aaron hid his sister's 'Holy Sword Brynhildr' was that he thought if the sword was gone, his sister would stay in the village.
Aaron loved his sister――of course, as family――but he loved her a lot.
Sure, her personality was that of a tyrant, and she often bullied him and made him cry, but that wasn't all there was to her. There were times when she was kind, times when she played with him, and whenever the village bullies picked on him, she would always come to help and beat them up.
...Well, the reason the bullies picked on Aaron was actually because they couldn't get back at his sister Alicia, but young Aaron didn't realize that. He probably never needed to.
――Anyway.
To Aaron, his sister was a hero and someone he admired.
That's why he didn't want her to become an explorer, which was said to have a high death rate, and he wanted her to stay in the village forever.
"......"
Alicia noticed Aaron's inner feelings.
After finding out the hiding place of the 'Holy Sword Brynhildr' from Aaron and getting it back, Alicia and her family were having breakfast.
At the table, Alicia spoke to her father.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hm? What's up?"
"I don't have to help in the fields today, right?"
"Ah, we will go to the fields later, but today there's training for the self-defense group, so you all can take a break. ...Alicia, are you joining the training today?"
"I'm taking a break today."
She said this and then turned to Aaron.
"Aaron, we're going to play by the river today!"
Alicia said with a big smile, and Aaron, who had been sulking, finally cheered up and smiled back.
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