"Hey, kid, are you feeling okay?" a knight passing by asks. He lost an arm in the conflict, as I can tell, for his bandages are still stained with blood...

"Ah... I wonder where the adventurer Rodic is..." I ask with a smile on my face.

"Hm, he must have gone to the north gate to gather the dead enemies." The dead enemies...

"Thank you so much!" I say as I walk towards the gate where I once stood at the beginning of it all.

"Won't you want to eat?" The man asks as I walk away.

"I'm not that hungry, but thanks for your concern!"

Walking around the kingdom, I can get a better understanding of the damage that has been done. It will be difficult for the kingdom to cover the losses. I don't know how tax collection works, but I'm afraid that even with high taxes, it will be difficult to repair all the damage. Maybe the kingdom's economy will break.

Walking through the streets, I can still see some soldiers around. Some are wandering around, others are sitting on the sidewalk, staring at the ground. The feeling is one of melancholy. It doesn't seem like we've won any war, we've just killed each other to defend ourselves.

If I remember correctly, that man I faced was still alive, I just knocked him unconscious. I need to hurry, or something bad might happen!

Running with my body like this is almost impossible. I can't push myself too hard, but I should be able to walk at least a little faster than normal.

After a few short minutes, I can see the destroyed gate in the distance, and I can also see the trees I created in the battle.

Rodic... Where is he?

As I approach and passing through the trees, I have a complete view of the area. Some soldiers are being treated by other soldiers, while Rodic and other knights help carry the bodies of the enemies.

So he survived... fortunately.

A weight is lifted from my shoulders. I can't even imagine what would have happened if he hadn't survived. He must have put up a good fight against Marco. It took me a while to realize it, but Marco was tired when I first met him.

"Are you okay?!" I ask the adventurer, who is facing away, looking around with his hands on his hips. He turns to me and stares at me with expressionless eyes. His mask is now made of cloth, apparently he changed it while I was sleeping.

"I see you're alive," he says, his voice muffled by the mask.

"I should be the one saying that..." I say it quietly. "Anyway, it's good to see you alive."

"...?" Rodic turns his face like a dog while arching one of his eyebrows. I guess he's not very used to this kind of appreciative comment.

...

I forgot we are both introverts...

"It's amazing that you and your brother managed to survive..." He breaks the silence. "You did a great job, congratulations." Still, I wasn't able to save Yanma...

"It wasn't a successful mission..." My fists clench unconsciously, and my head looks at the ground in shame and frustration. "After all, I couldn't save an important person." My teeth grind in anger at myself.

I could have avoided that. If I had been faster and not been such a scared little shit... It's my fault, and the worst part is that I have no way of avenging her death...

Before I knew it, I felt a hand being placed on my shoulders. I raised my head and came face-to-face with Rodic. He had approached without me noticing.

"You seem like the type to suppress your emotions," he says. "Don't worry, you did your best to fight. Having the strength you have at your age isn't something that happens every day, so be proud that you're alive." I get it. I get what you mean, but still...

"But... it could have been different!"

"Use this to evolve, use this feeling you're feeling to strengthen yourself, and ensure it never happens again." Rodic says. "Remember, boy, no adventurer dies without taking guilt to the grave. Get stronger so you have fewer possible ones."

So does this mean being an adventurer? Living surrounded by death and regret?

His words echo in my mind. I seem to be missing something...

Something that means more than that, something that rewards all the effort...

...

That's it, I get it.

I must become stronger to protect what is important. I will only be surrounded by death if I cannot protect people. That is what it means to be an adventurer—to become stronger and stronger.

"I feel like I understand what you meant..." I say to him. "Thank you for the words. I have to strengthen myself, not only in body, but also in mind."

"No need to thank me, after all, there are many adventurers who think differently than me." He turns and walks towards the gate. "About Yanma, we will give him a dignified funeral once everything is settled."

"Thanks again."

"You should rest, your body needs to recover its energy." He glances back slightly. "I think the knights are making a stew in the square."

He's right, it would be wise for me to take some time to recharge my batteries.

With that in mind, I turn to go back when I remember my opponent that I had defeated!

"I almost forgot, but did you find any men wearing a white cloak?" I turn back to question the adventurer.

He stops and looks at me silently.

"Yes."

"Is he alive?"

"I executed him."