Nagai Koto Chapter 016

The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

Big Brother

TN: Expletives abound in this chapter. It was the only way to make the character feel even remotely similar to the original. Also, if anyone knows Egyptian lore, please help! We can’t figure out who or what シャークリュウ (Shakryu as translated here) is, but Neferti is referred to in a later chapter.

「Velt, what happened? You're staring off into the distance.」 (Forna)

「Nothing really. Just, giving my thanks to someone, somewhere far away.」 (Velt)

「What does that mean?」 (Forna)

「Not much. Here, I bought the ribbon, let's go.」 (Velt)

「Ah, w, wait a minute! After this we, we usually have tea and cake somewhere, ah, hey wait a minute!」 (Forna)

I did a little too much service. Even though she's a child, being spoiled too much isn't good, so this should be enough for today. Time to go home now, and practice making ramen and…

「Bastard, you trying to start a fight!?」 (???)

I heard an angry voice. It's sensei's. However it happened, we heard sensei shout angrily for once, so we naturally quickened our pace. I understood when a crowd had appeared in front of the shop. Wondering what in the world was going on, I pushed my way through the crowd, only to see a single person seated at the counter.

「I'll say it as many times as I have to. This disgusting enthusiasm, sickening smell, and what's more this small, shitty excuse for a store!」 (???)

「Woah there, sorry if I offended you, but that's just how this shop is.」 (Melma)

Sensei was in an argument with a mysterious man. He wore a purple mantle, decorated with the emblem of the Elfashia kingdom. The somewhat small man had long orange hair was tied back. What stood out, though, was the spear leaning against the counter, decorated with skull markings.

Laraana seemed to be shaken and was crying. What is she doing even though she's an adult, I thought, but I’ll forgive her because she looks cute. The problem is the foulmouthed mystery man.

「Hm? Hey, Forna I, I think I remember that guy.」 (Velt)

「What a coincidence, Velt. I seem to remember that man as well.」 (Forna)

With complicated and disturbed feelings, we watched as sensei and the mystery man continued their "conversation."

「More than that, I can’t let you off on these shitty things you call chopsticks. What’s with them? You can't even eat this crappy looking stuff with a fork. The thing I can handle the least is the taste. Even though it's horrible, why does it taste so good?」 (???)

「Haa? Kid, what's with you coming into this restaurant here spewing shit this and crap that?! And more than that it's horribly good you say? Why don’t you tell me what about my ramen is it that you're saying is disgustingly... good? What?」 (Melma)

「Are you kidding me? Garlic? There’s no way it wouldn’t be crap be putting in soup, so why is it so good?! It's addictive!」 (???)

「O, oh.」 (Melma)

Ah, we know this troublesome man that's stupid in the head.

「Brother Farga!」 (Forna)

「Farga!」 (Velt)

At our words, the man turned to look. With a glare as sharp as a dagger, he was the man we thought he was.

「Yo. Dumb sis. Stupid bro It's been two years?」 (??? à Farga)

That man is not only Forna's brother and two years older, but has been away from the country despite being the prince.

「Wh, What? Hah? The princess' brother? Eh?」 (Melma)

Having learned that the man is Forna's brother, sensei turned pale. Well, it's only natural. After all, who would think that this repulsive man was actually a prince?

「Elder brother. It, it has been a long time. Ever since you joined the adventurer's guild and left the country after becoming a hunter, I have not heard from you. What have you been doing?」 (Forna)

「Well I mean I got away from home after fighting with the king and queen, but I somehow ended up coming back!」 (Farga)

It's been two years. In spite of that, the sharp and condescending glare in his eyes was still going strong. That exchange of words with sensei earlier was just the same as always.

「Hmph, so little sis'. How many kids have you had since I left?」 (Farga)

「What?」 (Forna)

..........................?

「Tch, you look like you're married like that. Dumb bro. I told you make her pregnant when I was gone didn't I? Did you forget I was going to make myself king when I came back? Goddamn couple.」 (Farga)

Yep. His train wreck of a mindset is still going strong. If I remember correctly, he was fifteen years old two years ago, so he’s seventeen now right? The same age as Asakura Ryuuma was. If he went to school, he absolutely wouldn't make any friends at all.

Wait, why do I even care?

「Screw you man! Thinking about how we met back then, you said some really crazy shit! Use your common sense, idiot!」 (Velt)

「Haa? You worthless dumbass who can’t even get it up, it’s cause of your stupid dick and it’s weakass white stuff.」 (Farga)

「I'm ten years old, there's no way we’d be doing it! Care about your sister's chastity a bit more!」 (Velt)

「Chastity? This damn kid. Not only no kid, you haven’t even had sex yet?」 (Farga)

「Of course we haven't! Aah, I can't take it anymore, talking with this guy is disgusting.」 (Velt)

He is Forna's real brother, Farga Elfashia, heir to the throne. However, there were some family circumstances and he fought with his parents and ran away, just another delinquent you can find anywhere. There were rumors going around about how he joined the adventurer's guild that exists all throughout the continent, like how he defeated demonic beasts, subdued groups of thieves, and even managed to take down a giant dragon.

「Brother, please don't speak so improperly in public!」 (Forna)

Yes, that's it, tell it to him straight, little sister.

「Velt and I have our own order to things. At the very least, please wait until we are twelve years old to expect children!」 (Forna)

「Don't go saying something that'll make me feel bad! Brother and sister both, don't make your stupidity level go up!」 (Velt)

I can't take it anymore. That's right, when these two are together, it always gets worse. I've been responding to their idiocy all along, but ever since my memories as Asakura Ryuuma returned, something has felt more uncomfortable. Right as I was deciding to change, someone troublesome came back.

「So, you, why'd you suddenly come back? Make peace with the king? The queen's not here though. Been away on an expedition for a while.」 (???)

「Peace? 'Course not. If I'm here, the big man will just chase me away.」 (Farga)

「The big man, huh? Hey hey, you're rumored to be the strongest hunter in all of humanity, what could you be scared of.」 (???)

My interest was piqued, and as I passed by Farga...

「The damn hero and the allied forces that were fighting Shakryu of the seven demon lords came back to the country.」 (Farga)

..................What?

「Wh, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?」 (????)

「B, brother, is that true? Then in the meantime, Shakryu destroyed the kingdom of Bolbardie...」 (Forna)

「Yeah, After that, the damn hero and allied forces went to fight. They couldn't kill the demon lord, chasing it all over.」 (Farga)

The demon army, is coming to this country? Why? What is the hero doing Wait, really?

Woah, just like I thought, those words started to cause a panic in the onlookers.

「The guard at the border's been strengthened. This time it's General Taira's damn turn.」 (Farga)

For a while now, my heart that was supposed to be calm and at peace, has become uneasy. I’ve always felt indifferent to war, but is one going to start nearby?

「Are those weird-looking bastards......Coming? Are they... to this country... 」 (Velt)

「Velt...」 (Forna)

「Tch. This dumb bro.」 (Farga)

I suddenly recalled my mom and dad, and tightly clenched my fists. And then, Farga sent a high kick, right to my head.

「Ow, wh-what the hell are you doing!?」 (Velt)

「Little bro. You don’t need to overthink things. With the defenses at the border of this country, there’s no way that some shitty monster’ll make it to the capital.」 (Farga)

「Wha?」(Velt)

「Besides, I’m here now. I won’t...... I won’t let something like that happen again. Whether or not it’s a demon, the demon king himself or...... even demi-humans.」 (Farga)

I involuntarily clicked my tongue. Farga’s expression didn’t change, but he tightly gripped the fork he was holding.

「Farga, did you hear? About my mom and dad?」 (Velt)

「I heard about what happened earlier. It was a pretty shitty surprise. Especially since those two took good care of me when I was young...」 (Farga)

Feeling somewhat angered, I found Farga’s words reliable...

「As long as I’m in this country I won’t let those shitty bastards do something like that ever again... That’s why I won’t let you lose your family again, mark my words.」 (Farga)

As ever, he was someone with a terrible tongue and way of thinking, but in reality he had always been a really good guy, and because of that, I’m glad.

「O-oi, Velt, is this guy really the prince? Or rather, is he actually a good guy?」 (Melma)

「He really is the prince, and he really is someone good. Well, his tongue and the look in his eyes might make him seem like a mess, but he’s tolerable.」 (Velt)

It was more or less the truth. As a friend of my family, I felt that he was trustworthy. I don't want to turn him into an enemy, though.

But at that time, including me, nobody could have anticipated what was coming.

I was told that I absolutely did not have to do anything, even though the demon lord was coming, but exactly because it was the demon lord, I went all-out.

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Nagai Koto Chapter 015

The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

I Don't Hate The Current Me

Before I realized it, I was constantly being covered in oil and fire.

「Here ya' go! Fried rice is ready! Gyoza in a second!」 (Velt)

「Velt-kun, water please!」 (Customer A)

「Sure thing!」 (Velt)

「Velt~ Is my ramen ready?」 (Customer B)

「It'll be ready in a sec'!」 (Velt)

「Velt boy, hurry up and bring the order! Lunch break is going to end!」 (Customer C)

「I said it's coming, 'ya oaf!」 (Velt)

Give me a break, so noisy. Everyone is saying Velt this and Velt that, I'm not the bell you ring! Rather, this place is doing too well. In any case, sensei's cooking is tasty. However, there are empty dishes moving about near the ceiling, as my levitation magic has advanced considerably. Because it's my own special training, I can't complain about it At first I wanted to tell sensei to not spoil me, but I'm glad I didn't. In this world without labor laws, even children are worked to the bone.

(TN: Many places in Japan have a way for you to call someone to your table, either with a bell or a button or something similar.)

「Velt-kun. You don't have to help any more after this. Children will be coming to help out.」 (???)

However, there's only one person that spoils me at the shop. That would be her.

「Kami-san, yo.」 (Velt)

「*Mou*, please stop it with Kami-san already.」 (??? --> Laraana)

(TN: Kami-san is one way to refer to someone’s wife.)

Coming off of break and putting on an apron, was sensei's wife 『in this world.』 Her name is Laraana. Her hair is only down to her shoulders, but one or both of her eyes are often hidden by her bangs. She looks like the plain and docile type, the one that reads a book in the corner of the classroom.

But, the other day, I happened to see it. With her bangs out of the way, she's very pretty. Her age is unexpectedly high at twenty eight, but she appears to only be in her teens. Unfortunately, I realized it. Sensei is thirty two but married at nineteen, and has been married for thirteen years. In other words, Laraana-san married sensei when she was fifteen. Though it seems you can get married at fifteen in this world, the problem wasn't that. It was that the formerly fifty-year-old high school teacher went and married a third year middle school kid. I was hit hard when I asked sensei, 「Isn't it a crime?」

「*Fuu~* Tired~ I feel like I've suddenly run out of magic power.」 (Velt)

Since mom and dad passed away, I'm staying at sensei's house. After I stopped going to school, I've been helping out with the shop and learning how to make ramen, so I'm normally busy.

「Velt-kun, is now a good time?」 (Laraana)

「Hm? What's up, Kami-san.」 (Velt)

「Yes, your salary. Thank you for working here as always.」 (Laraana)

「O, oh... Wait, what? This, this is quite a lot isn't it? Did you not pull out my room and board?」 (Velt)

「Hey now! Children shouldn't be worrying about that. Velt-kun isn't a freeloader, but my child, so there's no problem.」 (Laraana)

「No, but... Well... thanks.」 (Velt)

「*Fufufu*, that's good! You've done enough for today, so why don't you go buy something to give to the princess?」 (Laraana)

「The princess who can get whatever in the world she wants?」 (Velt)

「It's the thought that counts!」 (Laraana)

Ever since I talked about being a freeloader, Kami-san has welcomed me normally. Well, they don't have a child, so I'm something like their child now. I'm still conscious of being polite to everyone I meet. Furthermore, I'm still somewhat embarrassed from being regularly spoiled by Kami-san, but I think she and sensei really are happy.

「Forna, huh... What should I get?」 (Velt)

Later, though this is somewhat unrelated, I discovered something. At first I originally offered to work at the ramen shop to improve myself, but I'm filled with a sense of fulfillment now to be honest. I never even worked part-time as Asakura Ryuuma, but I don't dislike having worked by the sweat of my brow now.

If I had happened to work hard at farming, I might have come to like it just as much. Just maybe, mom and dad would have been overjoyed. As I thought of that, I still had my regrets as expected, so I've decided not to dwell on it any more. From now on, I don't want to have regrets like that again.

「Velt, you're done with work already?」 (Forna)

Forna already knows the timing of my shift perfectly as she suddenly showed herself. Though I thought she was just a noisy brat before, I've begun to think differently as of late. Of course, she's not an object of romantic interest, but something like noticing the younger sister is a brocon. (TN: Brother complex, look it up if you're unsure of the meaning.)

「Ah, good timing.」 (Velt)

「That's right. You're not causing trouble are you?」 (Forna)

「Are you my mother?」 (Velt)

「Of course I'm worried. Ever since that horrible food that you said was your resolution.」 (Forna)

「Well, that was, I was still training.」 (Velt)

It’s the opposite of nagging and talking about love. She's worried about how I'm doing, so she came to see me after all.

「Here, let's go.」 (Velt)

「Wa, wait I said! Where are we going?」 (Forna)

「Around the town.」 (Velt)

「What? Around the town, what does that mean?」 (Forna)

「Nothing really. Just that I'm taking you on a date.」 (Velt)

Well, with money in hand, I could treat her a... wait, wait. Why is she trembling there in shock and awe.

「Ve,... Velt... Velt invited me on a date!」 (Forna)

「If you don't want to...」 (Velt)

「Eh, no, ah, I don't mean that I hate it, let's go! Yes, yes, let us go!」 (Forna)

I see. When she's not setting the pace, she's normally cute. It's just, I wish she would stop dragging me along and clinging to me. Especially since she's beet red in the face from her embarrassment and skinship.

「Velt... What's happened to you lately? You were a little mature before, but now you're more honest.」 (Forna)

「You think so? Then, doesn't that mean I've grown up a bit as well?」 (Velt)

「~~~~...*Ufufu, ufufufufufufufufu.*」 (Forna)

「What?」 (Velt)

「♪」 (Forna)

For some reason Forna became really happy. She began to swing my hand back and forth, all while humming a tune. As we walked around the capital with our usual banter, though the atmosphere was just alright, worrying seemed to be a pointless endeavor while I walked about with my intimate sister.

「Oh, Velt, are you on a date with your wife since your shift's done?」 (Person A)

「Not just today, it's only the usual~」 (Velt)

「Next, get better at making ramen you hear?」 (Person B)

Before, I thought that the bustle of the city was irritating to hear, but somehow I feel that it's alright now. Also, though it's only the usual banter, when mom and pop died, many people visited their graves and cried. Though everyone pokes at me and jokes around, in actuality they're worried about me. Having come to understand that, I've been smiling a lot more whenever I run into them now.

「*Mou*, Velt is popular now.」 (Forna)

「Ha? I'm not really popular. They're just interested in the neighborhood brat.」 (Velt)

「That's not it, Velt is popular! Don’t forget, I am the most popular one, more than Velt!」 (Forna)

「...You, you're smart but, aren't you a bit dumb sometimes?」 (Velt)

「Saying that with a straight face is rude! *Mou*, now I'm mad, it won't do unless you have a present to give me!」 (Forna)

「A present? Well, I just happened to get paid, so as long as it's not too expensive...」 (Velt)

「Velt has present! Wait, you, are you really my Velt? This isn't some transformed monster from the forest, and it's not a dream I'm having is it!?」 (Forna)

「...You don't want one?」 (Velt)

「I, I want it! Want! Need! I, I'll, I'll take it! Umm, what should...Maybe...Ah!」 (Forna)

「Something like a wedding ring is denied.」 (Velt)

「Eh... Wh, why?」 (Forna)

「...Ha....」 (Velt)

「Wh, what's with that astonished face! You're too cheeky for just being Velt! But, wait a bit please. Hm, umm, at the accessory shop, ah, but something that matches... Umm...」 (Forna)

Are we a comedy duo? What a terrible act. I think it's a bit fun though. Forna wandered back and forth in front of the booth at wit's end. The people in the area were laughing quietly and smiling.

「Sheesh, here, it's not that expensive, so, how about this ribbon?」 (Velt)

「A ribbon! Umm, umm, ummmmmmmmmmm...」 (Forna)

「Hey, don't think so hard. If something caught your interest, say it.」 (Velt)

「Be silent! I'm thinking seriously here, be quiet!」 (Forna)

「O, oh.」 (Velt)

It's weird. Just yesterday I was stuck between being Asakura Ryuuma and Velt Jeeha, with no interest in the world nor reason to live. However, with just a small change in thought, all the small, pointless things began to plenty my heart.

If I think about it, living as Asakura Ryuuma during high school might have felt like this. The days where all I did was fight were empty. I thought those who enjoyed school and school life were fools, and I was uninterested.

However, my way of thinking suddenly changed one day. The way I felt about school life reversed completely.

「*Mmm*, how troubling. Pink and white... Which one...」 (Forna)

That's right, when I came to think that school life was fun, it felt just like this. The change in Velt Jeeha's way of thinking is thanks to sensei, mom and dad, and this precocious brat. And, Asakura Ryuuma's change was thanks to...

——Isn't it fun, Asakura-kun!

「Kamino... Right now, I'm having fun you know? How are you doing...?」 (Velt)

Someday, I'll show you the me of today, and thank you for helping the me of yesterday.

That feeling, has become even stronger.

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