Shichen ignored the man's speechless stare. He raised a hand, palm facing the man-eating flower monster, and gathered his mana.
A golden beam of magical energy fired out. The destructive power swallowed the monster whole, erasing it in an instant.
The man's mouth fell open. He froze.
That monster he couldn't deal with… this guy—who looked way younger than him—had wiped it out with one move.
So strong?
So the red-haired kid wasn't lying after all.
"Well?" Shichen lowered his hand and grinned at him.
"Huh?" The man was still stunned.
"Am I handsome or what?"
"So handsome! So cool! You're totally my idol!" the man blurted out, overexcited.
He'd already given up hope. He was waiting to die, replaying his life in his head.
The red-haired kid showing up had given him hope again—until it turned out the kid was a fool.
Thank goodness the "big bro" he kept talking about really was that incredible.
If you can live, who wants to die?
That rush of surviving made his mind feel clear for the first time in forever.
"Hey! I'm warning you—don't steal my big bro from me!" Stark barked when he saw the man instantly start worshiping Shichen.
"Who's stealing him from you…?" The man stared at Stark like he couldn't believe it. "Wait—don't tell me you're…?"
"What am I?" Stark didn't get it at first.
"Nothing… I respect your preferences, but don't worry—I'm into pretty older ladies."
"What do you mean, 'into'—no, what are you even talking about?!" Stark finally realized and exploded. "I just respect my big bro! Stop saying weird stuff!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Now I'm relieved." The man let out a long breath.
"That's more like it—wait, what are you relieved about?" Stark snapped, narrowing his eyes.
"I was worried you were interested in me. You charged in to save me without thinking twice—I was shocked."
"...I shouldn't have saved you."
"Oh come on, we're acquainted now. Don't say something that heartless."
"You little—"
"Can you two still argue right now?" Shichen cut in calmly. "You're both up to your necks in mud."
"Ah! Big bro, save me!"
"That's my big bro!"
"You two are something else…" Shichen shook his head. "Honestly, you might actually get along."
"Wait! That's a swamp ahead—!"
"Relax. I know."
Shichen stepped onto the swamp… and didn't sink.
A sheet of ice formed under his feet.
The swamp froze solid.
"Th-this…!" The man's jaw dropped again.
Wherever Shichen stepped, the ground turned to frozen earth, as if he were walking on flat land.
Who was this guy?
"See? Told you my big bro is amazing!" Stark declared proudly.
"Yeah… he really is," the man murmured.
"I said he's my big bro!"
"Stark, your possessiveness is kind of intense," Shichen teased. He grabbed Stark by the collar, lifted him easily, and tossed him onto the shore.
"I'm proud to be big bro's little brother!" Stark shot back.
"Yeah, sure."
Shichen did the same to the man, hauling him out and tossing him onto the shore as well.
"Ow…" The man hit the ground and groaned.
"Are you even a man? That's nothing!" Stark mocked.
"You're a warrior, aren't you? Thick-skinned and tough. I'm not like you," the man retorted.
"You're still a man! You can't handle that? Aren't you embarrassed?"
"...I'm not arguing with you."
"You're both filthy. I'll rinse you off," Shichen said, looking at the mud caked all over them with clear disgust.
"No need—my village is close, I'll just go back and—Gah?!" the man started, but—
A torrential downpour suddenly poured from above, soaking him like a drowned rat.
Stark got drenched too, but he looked like he was enjoying it.
They sometimes slept outdoors, and after training, Shichen would "rinse" him like this.
Then—
"Whoa—what is this? It's warm!" the man yelped as he felt heat bloom through his body. The water on his clothes evaporated almost instantly.
"Big bro can do anything," Stark said smugly.
"Seriously…" The man stared, stunned.
There wasn't even the faintest stench of mud left on him. That rain wasn't normal water.
And that warmth… it was like it appeared out of nowhere.
He'd never seen magic like this—there hadn't even been signs of a spell being cast.
This wasn't ordinary magic.
This man wasn't ordinary.
"Alright, Stark. Let's go. We saved him," Shichen said once their clothes were dry.
"Yes, big bro!"
"Um—wait!" the man called out.
"What is it?" Shichen looked back.
"Do you… want to come to my village? Let me repay you for saving my life."
"Oh? Not bad, old man. You've got manners," Shichen said.
"Can you stop mocking me? Seriously, kid—are you ever going to let it go?" the man sighed. Stark's childishness was obvious, but he was a middle-aged man. He wasn't going to keep playing along.
"It's because you tried to steal my big bro."
"I'm not stealing him, alright?"
"That's better."
"So… will you rest for a bit?" the man asked Shichen again.
"Pass." Shichen shook his head.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because it's nighttime. Bad timing," Shichen said vaguely.
"Huh?" The man didn't understand.
"Anyway, I appreciate it, but it's not the right time. Maybe we'll meet again, if we're fated to."
Shichen cared about timing and circumstances—if they didn't happen to reach a village at night, he usually wouldn't stop. They didn't lack supplies or shelter anyway.
"I see… alright," the man said, disappointment flickering in his eyes. Something felt hollow.
He didn't know why, but he had the strange feeling that if he could get them to stay, tomorrow might be different.
Looks like he still couldn't change anything.
"Let's go, big bro. Old man, see you if fate allows!"
"Yeah. Bye."
The man waved goodbye and stayed there, watching as Shichen and Stark left.
Then he realized—he hadn't even asked their names.
But maybe it didn't matter.
"Wait."
Shichen suddenly stopped, turned, and looked back.
"What?"
"I'll give you one sentence."
"One sentence?"
"How long are you going to keep your childhood friend waiting?" Shichen said, then turned and walked away.
"I… you…" The man stood there, dumbstruck, eyes wide.
He knows about me?
How does he know?
Does he… know—
The man immediately chased after them, but by the time he burst out of the trees, only the wagon's tail end was visible, already far away.
He caught a blurry glimpse of someone on the wagon—a silver-haired girl.
She looked familiar… like the mage from the hero party.
He felt like he understood who Shichen was.
So they were still adventuring.
Then why shouldn't he go adventuring too?
He'd just faced death. What was he still afraid of—being "too old" to go out?
And Shichen was right. His childhood friend was still waiting.
The man smiled at the retreating wagon.
In that moment, his heart felt clear.
"Shichen-sama, what's with that guy? Why is he smiling?" Fern asked from the wagon. She'd noticed the man behind them.
"Don't worry about him. He probably figured something out," Shichen replied.
"Figured something out?"
"It's nothing."
"Hey—why is that old guy following us?" Stark noticed too.
"Probably can't bear to part with you."
"Eugh. Big bro, please stop talking," Stark begged.
"Heh."
"Shichen-sama, did you and Stark do something?" Fern pouted, suddenly unhappy.
"No. We just saved someone," Shichen answered.
"Saved someone?"
"Yeah. That guy behind us."
"Oh… I see." Fern relaxed, finally reassured.
"By the way, Fern—you still haven't taken the mage rank exam yet," Shichen said with a smile.
"The mage rank exam?"
"Perfect timing. We can go see Serie," he replied.
~~~
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