Lost Paths and Moonlit Confessions

I am the Hero, a gentle dove.

Justice resides within my heart.

I wield a Holy Sword, though it is stained with rust.

Today marked the second day since the four Heroes departed from the village.

“This world comprises five continents—Sein, Ace, Dean, Aileen, and Mansion. Each is named after the primary deity worshipped by its inhabitants, and each continent is governed by a dominant nation. The continent we currently inhabit falls under the rule of the great Caster Empire. We are now journeying from the border of the Sein Continent, which also marks the border of the Caster Kingdom, towards the Royal Capital.”

Crimson Aironi, clad in simple guard’s armor, spoke incessantly at the head of the party, much like a seasoned tour guide.

“So what? Who are you telling all this common knowledge to?” The hulking figure, wearing short sleeves in the cool autumn air and carrying a massive travel bag, was Helter. He was the team’s powerhouse, the only swordsman in the village whose combat prowess was off the charts.

“Isn’t there a certain old woman who’s been a shut-in for ages right here? I’m telling it to her.”

The young girl beside me, holding my hand and dressed in a miniature mage’s robe, was the “old woman” Aironi referred to—Naya, the party’s sole mage.

“Foot soldier, I appreciate your good intentions, but I am not ignorant. As a demigod in the past, I could discern such matters by listening to the messages of other deities; I hardly need you to inform me.”

“Tsk, how boring. So you’re not a country bumpkin after all…” Crimson Aironi twirled his spear, then continued walking with an air of nonchalance.

“I… um… I can’t even make sense of this map… I have absolutely no idea where we’re going next!”

It was I who spoke then. Indeed, after spending ten years confined to the village, I found myself breaking out in a cold sweat as I stared at the parchment map clutched in my hand.

“Huh?” Crimson Aironi froze, taken aback. “The great Hero, who has traveled across nations, can’t even read a map?”

‘Oh, how was I supposed to explain this?’

“Heh heh, there’s a rumor that the Hero is directionally challenged. It seems that news is true.” Crimson Aironi snickered, mocking me with a sly grin.

“Our Hero is indeed directionally challenged…” Naya chimed in, deliberately emphasizing the point.

“So what if I’m directionally challenged, hmph! If you’re so capable, then you lead the way! Is there something wrong with making someone who doesn’t understand maps look at one!”

“Alright, alright, you win, Hero.” Crimson Aironi readily took the map. “Wait a second, doesn’t this map look… off?”

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Don’t you think this terrain is all twisted! Is this even the Sein Continent! You must have picked up the wrong map!”

Helter also leaned in for a closer look.

“No, it’s not the wrong map, you sarcastic oaf. You’re holding it upside down.”

“Huh? Really? Oh…”

‘It seemed Crimson Aironi wasn’t much better at reading maps either; I was speechless.’

My suspicions were confirmed. Crimson Aironi fiddled with the map for ages but couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

“This, this, you can’t blame me! Blame this map for being too simplistic! Aren’t there any markings or anything! It doesn’t even have a starting point!”

‘And he had the nerve to call me directionally challenged… his own incompetence wasn’t far off from mine!’

“Let me handle it.” Helter took the map.

‘Ah, yes! Helter had traveled to the Royal Capital by himself back then! When it came to the journey from the Newbie Village to the capital, he ought to be the most familiar with the route!’

“Straight ahead through the mountains.”

Step, step, step, step—

“Turn right.”

Step, step, step, step—

“Turn right.”

Step, step, step, step—

“Straight ahead.”

Step, step, step, step—

And so they walked until dusk fell!

“Helter! Don’t you think we’re going in circles!”

“Hmm? Are we? Straight through the mountains ahead, just follow my lead.”

“You’ve said that exact phrase three times already!”

‘Oh, my heavens! Was the only one who seemed reliable also directionally challenged?!’

“Is that so… Ah… it seems we’re lost,” Helter informed us with a perfectly straight face.

“This is all your fault! We wasted an entire day! It would have been better if I’d just looked at the map myself!”

Exhausted, I slumped to the ground.

“Naya, are you tired?”

“Mhm, tired…” Naya’s usual vivacity had been completely worn away by the tedious detours.

“Let’s camp out here then… How about we take turns standing watch?” I suggested.

“Alright.” Everyone agreed unanimously.

Then… in the middle of the night…

“Awooooo—”

The howl of a wolf sent a shiver down my spine! It was all a lingering effect from that fool Helter.

“Why are you awake?” It was Helter’s turn to stand watch.

“That wolf howl was too frightening…” I slowly shifted my body, trying my best not to disturb Crimson Aironi and Naya, who were sound asleep beside me.

“Did you think I’d turned into a werewolf again?” Helter asked, idly playing with a blade of grass.

“Well, you were terrifying when you transformed into a werewolf…”

“Heh heh, it’s truly strange. I never knew I was a werewolf, and I have no memories at all from before I was eight years old…”

“Aren’t I the same? I have no memories from before I was six either… Don’t be self-conscious about it,” I offered comfort.

“It’s not self-consciousness… it’s fear. Those eight blank years, the mystery of my origins—it’s all a puzzle.” He said, as he put the blade of grass he’d been playing with into his mouth.

‘Regarding those blank memories, I too felt a pang of fear. Sometimes, I felt as if I hadn’t just lost six years of memories, but half a lifetime’s worth…’

“Go to sleep. Since I’m awake, I’ll take watch.”

“You get some rest. It’s fine, I can stand watch all night if needed.”

“Sleep.”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Why not? Don’t overthink it; becoming a werewolf really isn’t a big deal. Even if you are a werewolf, I’ll still consider you my brother for life!”

“No, no, no. It’s not that that’s keeping me awake…” Helter waved his hand, looking at me.

“What is it then?”

“Crimson Aironi, that guy has a terrible habit when he sleeps. For some reason, he just loves to curse at me, and he curses me so loudly it keeps me wide awake…”

With that, we both looked towards Crimson Aironi, who lay sleeping not far away.

“You big oaf! Don’t think you’re so great just because you’re a down-on-your-luck swordsman!”

“Pfft. Does he only curse at you when he’s asleep?” I asked.

“Yeah, you two might not hear it when you’re asleep, but I hear every single word when I try to sleep… Sigh, his ability to mock is truly unparalleled…” Helter shrugged, a gesture of utter helplessness.

“In that case, how about I keep watch with you?” I asked him with a smile.

“Together…”

“Yes, isn’t standing watch alone dreadfully boring? You’ve nearly plucked all the grass bare here.”

Helter immediately looked down at his hands, which were still playing with grass. “It is a bit boring…”

“There you go then! I’ll keep you company, good buddy!” I settled down beside him, side by side, and looked up at the sky.

The moon tonight was perfectly round and exceptionally bright, appearing flawlessly pure amidst the countless twinkling stars.

“We’ve left the village now,” I mused aloud.

“Indeed, we’ve left the village,” Helter echoed. “This is my second time.”

“What strange adventures await us next, I wonder?”

“I don’t know.”

“I hope everything goes smoothly.”

“Mhm.”

“The moonlight is truly beautiful~” I stretched leisurely.

“Mhm.”

‘Hold on, why did that last sentence feel so strange? It was as if some meme was surfacing in my mind… Wait, what even is a meme?!’

“What’s wrong? Why did you suddenly space out?” Helter lightly tapped my head.

“Nothing… it’s just that the thought of embarking on an adventure as a Hero fills my heart with immense anticipation.”

Thanks to Key, I became the Hero; otherwise, I might never have left that village my entire life.

‘By the way, where is Key? She’s been offline for ages!’