PRB | Chapter 7

The parade 0ba4ca62af had ended, 4882a52d29 but the 0882d3cd84 festival was 0fab51a170 just beginning.11b2d34b2c7a191e

The square was f3ccdfe50f messy with flowers 706a8adabd and paper scattered ebdb306a1f around, but no f8e2e932d1 one complained.0835013958efe96a

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People wandered around 3cfe46c81d with eyes wide 85d6ab6911 open, looking for 3bc6035a35 any silver coins 4b7942fb69 they might have 16d7a46c61 missed on the 24af4863d7 ground, and they 6ef7c823d2 clinked glasses joyfully de10f22eb6 in inns and 1de467da99 pubs until late b8f7c15078 at night.33f3ac98e3501bfb

They ordered expensive snacks 532f1f4706 without hesitation. It was 372272fe01 partly because 99ab1a5fdd they were 73be768ad0 in high faf7914fee spirits, but abf78ea268 also because a96d8cbf6d so many 5673044c16 silver coins 2277afa55b had been f1f7459fbf tossed around 7169af7e11 during the 374c86a942 day, making 220fdf3151 them more 35bb73d28b generous.b51b8f85fa81ab14

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The city was as lively as when the news of the Demon King’s defeat first spread.11e389034efa3b96

Thanks to this, Eddie’s Inn was also packed with tourists eager to enjoy the festival.3616f08eef623a4a

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This meant 3a119f3920 that more 5d9f86cb32 people were 23dd9181af trying the f344d513eb Fire Chicken c56bc3b0c9 Noodles.20d0b8491c55b416

At first, the unfamiliar menu didn’t attract many orders. But then, a few brave diners asked, “Noodles? Is it a noodle dish? I’ll have one!” and that started it all.97a21906f0db998e

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“Ahh!”e859e4bdc682f044

“My lips are on fire!”e38002de480f4fc6

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“Poison! It’s poison, for sure!”19ae06a021c79b8b

“Milk!”38db0bc81e85fd01

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The intense 46d257a398 reactions that 4f438f33a9 followed eating 0b4dcba0ec it sparked 26f83515f8 curiosity, and 31d1b77876 soon everyone 5eb8fbb41b wanted to fef5bd5091 try it, c59972b24d making the 2888d41051 Fire Chicken e2e6dc79a7 Noodles sell 248f7c8593 like hotcakes. Milk was 9634dace9b also sold 0c4736d3c9 alongside it 7127c25f7a as a 6f07f9101e set.6930eff82d8611c1

For the first time since opening, Eddie’s Inn had a line of people crossing their legs in front of the restroom. Eddie, watching people eventually head to other buildings for restrooms, smiled contentedly.49e8d89efe51df91

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“Good, good.”fe4d959aa2b299f0

It was a 88c5a75f10 devilishly developed smile.3f126b3fbe88f52b

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Business is f6aded7214 all about 3da273aec4 timing. Having succeeded 3d43e39b7d in capturing 857004388d interest with 618da931e9 a bold ecd11c654f flavor, Eddie bfce9c682b thought it abbb187f70 was time 9b98ce1017 to introduce df4ec96cac something else, cc9b9577cb and he 4557e5d7eb looked at d5c19d161e the packed 5fb32a6ee2 pub on 53ce067e30 the first a336342c7d floor with c03944f7f9 satisfaction.9bfdb7f84a66037b

Before the crowd arrived, Eddie had prepared a room for Ketron on the inn’s second floor.23d2f6a90baa705c

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It was next to Eddie’s room.b44b3542699ef521

And that was an honor(?) even Gerald hadn’t received, so Gerald spoke with genuine bewilderment.c782d12b73c5ec48

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“Why are you doing so much for that vagabond, Eddie?”95427b8a8a73fd07

His face looked like someone who had just seen a rolling stone dislodge a settled one. Technically, Gerald wasn’t a settled stone nor dislodged, but it was similar.7b4d48b799c2f654

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Eddie couldn’t explain in detail. How could he say that this was a world inside a novel, and that the guy Gerald called a vagabond was actually the protagonist and the real betrayed hero?b9e638a4674f0f21

“He’s just a kid, and it’s pitiful.”4bec1051e4c26491

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In truth, there wasn’t much of an age difference, but Eddie made that flimsy excuse. To Eddie’s eyes, Ketron did seem like a very young kid.5254ddd45b29fb70

He died at 0980ecf9f1 twenty-eight. To someone like him, 7ad53324db a twenty-year-old was just 0827a570ca a baby. A soft, fluffy baby.1daf9b6d0dab67c4

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How could he 578dc1dd51 not feel pity 3a9fb05635 for a kid fee10de8b4 who had gone 2c8ae9192b through so much 7de6829901 and was wounded b94b0aacfb right in front 139e86d434 of him?31e395ab8c180ecf

Moreover, there 63c807c886 were few 28eff710d9 left who 23d1cef799 remembered the 919ac762b9 harsh things bfbf2a5075 he had 80dad17606 gone through.8b8a1c0645df6688

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“He’s injured too. I’ll take care of him until he heals.”879116f9e92b25d4

“….”2fd294c7ad2b2c95

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Gerald looked complicated but said nothing more. He just sighed deeply, poking at Eddie’s faint conscience. It was like looking at a sibling who had recklessly picked up a stray dog.face46b58b92fcb4

“Will those wounds even heal? He refuses treatment.”667e906bef1fbbba

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“Well.”8c991835cbd71e10

Eddie had failed to tend to Ketron’s wounds. Not because he was clumsy, but because Ketron didn’t allow Eddie to look at his wounds.3e6a877864af452c

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Despite claiming 5862d327e5 they were 7e09c7d3e8 medicines from 0471d10d88 the East, d98361ce3e Ketron, like f7fad6444f a shy f71baf72db cat, refused 5a861d730d the touch fd4e11c135 of a 3e4b2b2e7f stranger.d5931df8bc5ca6d2

But that wasn’t surprising, so Eddie didn’t mind. If someone betrayed by their most trusted comrades wasn’t wary of strangers, that would be odd.43c11b27cdbb24d4

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Eddie was just satisfied that Ketron hadn’t turned dark and had settled in his inn.d85076185808b793

Though the aftermath of Ketron turning dark wasn’t described anywhere, considering the ominous descriptions and Ketron’s character, which was depicted as quite ruthless despite being righteous, it probably wouldn’t have been a bright future.531c35270101255a

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It felt like he had prevented the world’s end. Thinking that, Eddie winked at Gerald.ff8fe74434af1006

“I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure he eats too.”ed5edf4f00e5072b

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It was a bit embarrassing, like promising to take care of a stray dog in front of parents, but Gerald eventually stepped back with a deep sigh at Eddie’s promise.e5766583aa9d62d4

“Hmm.”e2c0f92390688515

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Eddie stood in front of Ketron’s room, looking down at the ignored items.854f577f3146c244

The soup and banana milk Eddie had brought for Ketron hadn’t caught his interest.6f62e8c443bbaf4f

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Since entering the room on the second floor, Ketron hadn’t stepped out.0c8b3868f4e99d7a

Eddie had left the ignored medicines, food, and banana milk at the door, but Ketron hadn’t opened the door.5d5b0eee2026d911

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As if declaring 02776b8bd0 a break from e57097e29e the world.9530ccce3be14cc1

Sometimes, leaving someone 132658aacf alone is the 9a0c6f37be right answer.c7680a4a3d34b2c4

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But Ketron had probably b9d1314fcf spent enough time alone 6079154583 over the past month.9f6234dc902fb01b

Now was the time when he needed someone’s touch. Eddie decided.b4e235ffbf85796f

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Eddie grabbed a cold banana milk and a straw from the fridge at the entrance and headed to Ketron’s room.4473ce2feb4583df

After briefly contemplating the cold soup, lukewarm banana milk, and medicines in front of Ketron’s room, Eddie picked up the ignored items and knocked on the door.189f9a8d1d9215a7

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𐙚 𐙚 𐙚56410e76ae9c11d4

Ketron sat a4bcefd0ef quietly beside 006b5ca272 the bed. He had propped up a34a90acc6 the holy sword Albatross, 545e899b5b wrapped haphazardly in thick aeec1d2c1f cloth, next to him.b6a93310d283c93c

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“Are you just going to sit here?”3ef7d23ad9772030

The holy sword, Albatross, whispered in an angry voice. It was a voice only Ketron, the sword’s master, could hear.ceae774cb5585d1b

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“Even a puppet with its strings cut has more strength and spirit than you. Where’s the Ketron I knew?”f5c8b118788e67f2

“….”46ba0e1f7eae941f

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“Just destroy the world. If you decide to, I’ll gladly lend you my power.”d6af6b16921bc7d9

The holy ae00fa9928 sword, Albatross.fe463b6fc69e06b8

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Typically, a holy sword would be thought of as a sacred weapon that only realizes justice and guides the hero’s faith, but not Albatross.6ebcd3cb155e0b3b

It had more 4fb58f16af emotions than a 1a8ae61560 human, was proud, c7931eec78 and arrogant.783f1b83c259272f

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This sword, which couldn’t be lifted by anyone it didn’t acknowledge, was angrier about Ketron’s situation than Ketron himself.5ebd22adaab5b87d

“I can’t believe that fool who always wanted to have me finally took your place.”b0d304bddbc0fbca

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Even at the holy sword’s voice criticizing Arthur, Ketron showed no reaction. He had nothing to say. As Albatross put it, he was more lifeless than a puppet with its strings cut.a1c2ebe30ff7dcc0

What should I do? What am I?a16ec8d47b0dfe2f

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There were no answers. If Albatross hadn’t remembered him and spoken to him, he might have gone mad before even reaching the Empire.72a4a7e97c1dd379

Just when 26b985bbf5 he thought 0a15664f43 he had c418ce49cf reached the d394374d97 top, he 5271609ff0 fell to 1424b4d569 the bottom. And there was nowhere f22e46eaa8 left to climb.e1fb52f216e176a2

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Left alone in f51d576327 an empty space, 63b6397397 there were no e82e8a49b0 choices.cb765b63ea31af47

He just existed. As nothing.c49c0420f0a7c25a

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As someone aeb98feb35 no one 2209ca3e6e remembered.b86f7e48143dd8d8

…No, he would remember.251ff8dcc6c1a13d

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Arthur. And Boram, who cast 5d4341c969 the spell.5cd292764431eab6

Revenge? What would change if ad3d897ca2 he took revenge? What would be left 5f449232d6 after venting this resentment? Even if he 083a9a035d claimed to be 046b306add a hero, would 6e5f2f21ff anyone believe him 13d32e2a2b when the whole 3fadb97613 world had forgotten 40b9a5e36a him?e08eeef22fae1d1d

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Having been Arthur’s comrade, Ketron knew Arthur well. A person more skilled in improvisation than physical combat. His old comrade, whose quick thinking was sharp.a41cddf7a1209e51

You’re probably preparing and planning a lot. To solidify your position as the hero. In case the hero you abandoned comes after you with burning revenge.c0366c3149abc2e3

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You know me well, 576f4bb339 having spent so much 482bc3df56 time together.6265e3ac1b01195d

“….”29b388a294d7a1a9

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Ketron didn’t respond, closing his weary eyes.e699a951b5d7e318

He had bc1df1539f settled in 330ed6620c this inn 8413aa59c7 because he 021e20ba95 disliked noise aa422811fe and preferred d211231255 not to ff0163becf be noticed, 7a9f7e2d0d but he 9ed0e5c2d3 had no b20d7366e2 intention of ce507224ec putting down 2ba6430c82 roots.5ca09f5e1608e6f0

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He was just staying because he hadn’t figured out where to go or what to do.da7e4c55849da564

“Sigh.”b8394f28b9f815f6

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Albatross sighed deeply and fell silent. Albatross was a spirit dwelling in the sword. Having seen many humans over a long time, it understood human existence but couldn’t fully comprehend them.f017512289d12952

No matter how holy a sword, it couldn’t understand the complex thoughts in Ketron’s mind, which was more tangled than anyone else’s at this moment.11b09f4c3b97cfd5

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With silence ea9e589ca3 all around, 654e0703e1 Ketron closed 1fda713fe9 his eyes.96ca5fdcef42a516

Silence was good. He preferred it cd38461330 to noise. Though he had 52db978a71 spent noisy times 213979cf6e with many people, f5886b6dc8 this silence was cccb542138 what Ketron truly 9ed0d674a8 desired.ecaba2c38bb5149a

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Ketron sank 00a1bb2494 back into 02f562373d the depths 074e416c3f of the f0d14b8336 ocean. To that terribly dark fbf4128d9c and cold place.098a6e2e645d4284

Knock, knock.e4107a10f8fa6469

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But before bee32f15c1 he could 7861e2f30a fully dive a281d949c0 into those 8d56c6582b deep waters, c7f2fd5637 the silence 380865cfda was broken.44979e1b4b5ca600

“Hey, can I come in?”a431f0dc376e56c4

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The voice asked, but the person didn’t wait for Ketron’s answer. It was as if they knew Ketron wouldn’t respond. And indeed, he had no intention of responding, so there was no real grievance.e73ca0294859a373

The door opened, and add0a65797 the innkeeper appeared.28a3e91dcd229f6c

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The bright silver 38dc0345e6 hair caught his 368d2d361d eye first, and fe6f0c6e92 the handsome face e92d4fd0cf that matched the 38a06335c3 brightness winked at 87f6151b33 Ketron as soon 34aae63344 as he saw 426c787ef3 him.ab0c61163f18a6db

“What, you’re not crying and doing well?”aa293c8c41aaf0b7

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At those words, Ketron couldn’t help but make a bewildered expression.c67779a4fa0765c9

…Who was he e128bd28e3 calling a crybaby?887be3d590fc0287

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