2.3

A real zealot

When they arrived back at the town, the streets were deserted. This was par for the course, everyone here went to their workplace in the morning and stayed there. But the moment nightfall, the place would be bustling with people. Still, it was strange for Hiro at first to see a town so full of life completely devoid of people like that.

Entering the tavern was a complete change of scenery, however, the place was full of people. The workers here were allotted different lunch times, this seemed to be the first group seeing that they were still setting the place up.

“Ah, welcome back” The owner turned to Hiro and greeted him warmly.

To hear those words struck the young man in a way he hadn’t expected. After being isolated by a language barrier for so long, it was strangely comforting to be able to understand the people here, finally.

This earpiece here was incredible. A device given to him earlier by Willow, the thing could translate anything in real time. To even mimic the inflection and accent in the translation were achievements that Hiro didn’t know was possible. It was the same voice, the same tone as normal tavern owner. Just that, this time, he was speaking in fluent Japanese.

“Good morning” Hiro said, his voice shaking.

Two simple everyday words but they made the entire room turned to the speaker. They were all surprised by what they heard, that they could understand the stranger. There was a moment of silence then everyone burst out with joy and excitement, congratulating the young man.

An overwhelming reception, but Hiro was somehow unfazed by that. He had gotten used to the town overenthusiasm.

But still, to hear his own language spoken by these people affected the young man more than he had expected. Enough to stop him from questioning how could a device in his ear translate his own speaking to others.

“So, you managed to find him after all” Commented the owner toward Willow who nodded happily. She actually first arrived here before meeting with her Herald.

“Wait” Questioned Hiro “You didn’t meet the knight? I thought he stay here”

The barkeeper interjected “He left early this morning to help the workers, he does that ever since arriving here”

Hiro had no idea, the young man felt rather guilty lazing around all day now. After the incident with the monster, he did try to communicate to his fellow outsider to no avail. Was it because of cultural difference or a reluctance in disclosure? Probably both. In the end, he learned nothing of the knight, even his name. Although his wound from the battle seemed serious, judging from Caron’s reaction. The man never showed any sign of pain… or his face for that matter.

“Why don’t you take a sit, lady” The owner continued “Running around all morning must have been tiring”

“Thanks for the offer” Willow sat down.

“Running around?” Hiro questioned out loud.

“Well, she has been looking for you all over, going to every house even. The people from the capital are certainly thorough” The owner said to Hiro as he polished a cup “I told her that you would return eventually but nope. She must be really looking forward to seeing you”

The young man turned to the girl who was blushing slightly.

“It’s just my duty” She muttered unconvincingly then looked at her glass of water.

[That’s strange] Commented Momo-chan, when they met the girl earlier she didn’t seem too tired nor particularly sweaty.

Hiro: {…}

Momo-chan: [Are you there?]

Hiro: {…}

Momo-chan: [OI, ANYONE HOME!]

Hiro: {What, no need to be so loud. I nearly fell from my seat there}

Momo-chan: [What were you even thinking about]

Hiro: {Nothing, I was thinking about… nothing}

Momo-chan: [Don’t tell me…]

Hiro: {Tell you what?}

Momo-chan: [Are you having a crush on that girl or something]

Hiro: {No, of course not, what are you talking about!}

Momo-chan: [Jeez, she about my age and you just met]

Hiro: {I told you it wasn’t like that!}

Momo-chan: [Besides, isn’t she a tad bit zealous, that type is dangerous]

Hiro: {True I am a bit interested in her but definitely not like that, she is about Yuuko’s age you know}

Hearing that name out of nowhere startled Momo-chan greatly. Especially after not talking about her at ever since they came here.

Yuuko was Hiro and Momo-chan dear younger sister.

The disembodied voice had been thinking about her night and day, since the beginning. How was she doing, was she alright, was mother taking care of her properly. The fact that he couldn’t be there for his sister truly bothered him to no end. But still he had been silent since his older self hadn’t mentioned her even once. Up until now at least.

Hiro: {For a moment, I feel like Willow resemble her a bit…}

Momo-chan: [I don’t really see it]

Hiro: {That’s why I said ‘for a moment’. But still, you may be right}

Momo-chan: [About what?]

Hiro: {That I have a small crush on her. After all, I haven’t received that much attention in so long, her actions have touched me to no end. Even if she is a crazed fanatic I am contented}

Momo-chan: [Wait… You are just messing with me now!]

Hiro: {Of course, I won’t let you tease me and get away with it, just you, never}

Still, the young man answer was layered with enough details to mislead Momo-chan. What if the joke wasn’t a joke at all! Hiro mentally giggled as the voice tried to figure out if it was all joke or not.

The answer that it wasn’t, the part about having a crush a joke of course but there was truth to the rest. Devoid of any sort of acknowledgment or attention, Hiro was truly touched. But the same could be said about Owain, Caron or anyone here… even Suiren. Besides, he already had a crush.

Meanwhile, Momo-chan was still trying to find the message behind his words. Completely ignoring Hiro trying not to giggle outside for real. Technically, the young man had no idea what was going on inside his younger self head. But, it was still his younger self, he could still make an accurate guess.

The young man joy ended abruptly, as he could feel a tender finger touching his ear.

Momo-chan: [What the!] Hiro: {What the!}

The two felt chill down their spine, even Momo-chan who technically didn’t have a body. It was Willow, who was actually reaching for the earbud in his ear.

“What was that for” The young man asked.

“I just changed the language setting on your earbud. I want to talk to you and it may involve sensitive information so I don’t want the people here to hear them”

“That’s… reasonable” Hiro looked around, it seemed like no one actually understand asides from them. The owner took that as a sign and went to mind his own business.

“Still, I should have asked for permission, I have overstepped my boundary. My sincere apology, Herald. I am willing to do anything as punishment for my transgression!”

“There’s no need for that!”

Having Suiren following his words was already uncomfortable enough already. He didn’t need another one, especially as ‘punishment’. Gosh, just thinking about that was inappropriate.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“Well, I want to ask… how are you finding this place, our world so far?”

Momo-chan: [That was light]

“This place is certainly wonderful. Everyone has been so hospitable and the air is so fresh. I kind of grow up in a cramped city so the wide open fields are truly relaxing. Although, there are many thing that I don’t understand though, ha ha”

Momo-chan: [That was such a text book answer]

Hiro: {All the time spent in school must paid off somehow}

While Hiro truly believed that Willow had good intention and wasn’t lying. Her kind of zealous behaviour was a bit disconcerting. He didn’t know what a girl her type would do if the switch in her was activated. And so, the young man tried to be as civilized and neutral as possible.

Willow still seemed normal, a bit flustered actually but she had been like that for a while now. The girl seemed to be trying to think of something, she finally continued.

“I… also grow up in the city”

“Really, what is it like there?”

“Ah, it is a really nice place…” Willow was taken aback, she didn’t expect a question out of nowhere like that “The people there does different things to the people here but they are still the same. Everyone is very nice and… welcoming and happy, under the Divine. Yes, I am very fortunate to be under the light of one of the great Divine. To be serving in the castle, carrying out duties for his highness is an honour! Yes, it is an honour that everyone can have just by accepting the Divine into their hearts! Yes, I, Willow von Brandt and every citizens are eternally happy and grateful to feel the Divine infinite love and care!”

Momo-chan: [The transition between grade-school level of speech to fanatic is too fast!]

Hiro: {That’s quite observant of you there}

Momo-chan: [Are you teasing me…]

Hiro: { That’s quite observant of you there }

Willow, meanwhile, was so enthusiastic that she immediately stood up and salutes. Strangely enough, no one in the room noticed that but Hiro. The people here truly were masters of minding their own business. But having one audience, no, having the Herald as audience was enough to make the girl red in the face. She quietly sat down, clutching her empty glass. Her ears burning up.

“My sincere apology, I… overstepped my boundary again”

“It’s alright” Hiro comforted the embarrassed girl. This was the first time he had seen someone here reacting to their own overenthusiasm though, quite adorable actually… If only it didn’t sound like an over zealot “You are certainly passionate about the Divines, to have such drive at your age, I find that admirable”

Momo-chan: [You forgot crazy]

Hiro: {Be diplomatic, Momo-chan, be diplomatic. Besides, that wasn’t exactly a lie}

Momo-chan: [… You are too creepy]

Hiro: {Hey! How did that even come up!}

Momo-chan: [Nowhere, I just find you creepy, that’s all]

Hiro: {That hurt, Momo-chan!}

Momo-chan: [Anyway, enough joking around, don’t you think there is something about her speech? I mean something other than the overly enthusiastic thingy…]

Hiro: {Hmmm, not really, what did you see}

Momo-chan: [Nothing, I just felt that seemed a bit… what’s the word for it, insecurity!]

Hiro: {You really think so?}

Momo-chan: [Well, that’s just a hunch… It’s probably nothing]

Hiro: {…}

Outside, Willow looked at Hiro with sparkling eyes. She still seemed rather embarrassed but his compliment had great effect.

“Thank you, I don’t really deserve such kind words, Herald”

“Of course you do, no need to worry about that”

Hiro reached out his hand and pat the girl on her head. Willow was at first surprised but soon found the gesture strangely calming. She soon found herself rubbing her head with the Herald hand slightly. The girl immediately wanted to stop, she was overstepping her boundary… again. But still, she found herself remained quiet of any objection.

Willow didn’t want this to end. Why? Her mother pat her like that as well but there was something different here. It was warmth, from someone whom she just met. The girl shook her mind of the heretical thought. She retreated back to holding her empty glass, her emotions in turmoil.

Meanwhile, in Hiro’s mind.

Momo-chan: [WHAT IN ALL THAT IS HOLY WAS THAT!]

Hiro: {I DON’T KNOW!}

Momo-chan: [WHY DID YOU EVEN DO THAT IN FIRST PLACE!]

Hiro: {I DON’T KNOW! MY HAND JUST MOVED BY ITSELF!}

Back to what was happening outside. Hiro scratched his head “Sorry, that was… I overstepped by boundary there”

Momo-chan: [More like zooming past it on a continental rocket that had too much coffee]

Hiro: {What with the colourful analogies}

Momo-chan: [Well, you can’t talk back here so I am just making the most out of the situation]

Hiro: {I swear, I will tease you to death later}

To both the young man and the voice surprise. Willow seemed rather unfazed, in the outside at least. Maybe she was more adults than the both of them.

“It’s alright, Herald… There is something I have to tell you”

“Well, what is it?”

“My mission is to escort you back to capital to meet the Divine”

“I see, sound reasonable”

“In truth… this is my first assignment ever. Even though there were many more qualified I still insisted on going. That was selfish of me but with all that is going on. I wanted to do something, to contribute, to help. And so, there is not much I can offer but I promise to try my very best. I will try to be of use to you, Herald!”

The girl looked straight at Hiro, her eyes filled with determination. The young man could’t help but feel… moved.

“I am new here as well. There is still so much for me to learn and do. So let’s do our best together”

He extended his arm and luckily, handshake is a thing in this world. Willow held his hand tightly, a promise then. Hiro still had something to say though.

“Come to think of it, is your offer earlier still stand. To do anything for me?”

“Of course, Herald!”

“Then I have only one thing to ask of you” Something he had already requested actually “Call me by my name”

“Uh” Willow looked at him, puzzled, before smiling brightly “Yes, Hiro”