Withdrawal
“W-why is Commander Valdo here…!?”
Korn’s voice cracked, his eyes wide like he’d just seen something impossible.
“That’s my line.”
Valdo frowned suspiciously as he slowly walked closer.
Pressed by the sheer presence radiating off his large frame, Korn took a small step back.
“Korn… where do you think you’re going this early in the morning, carrying all that baggage?”
“Th-that’s…”
Korn’s gaze wandered. He froze, unable to find the words.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, timidly, in a thin voice.
“I-I… actually… I was thinking of leaving the Black Iron Claws.”
“… Oh?”
Valdo’s voice dropped instantly.
In that moment, even the air seemed to freeze. A heavy, suffocating silence settled over them.
But Korn shook it off as if forcing himself forward, raising his voice in an unnaturally bright tone.
“I-I mean, being a mercenary’s kinda… a bit too much for me, you know? And, well, there are more rules than I expected, and… I guess it just doesn’t suit me!”
He laughed, but the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
The way he shrugged and adjusted the straps on his pack was exaggerated. Too exaggerated. Almost hollow.
“So, umm… I figured I’d head to a town and find some easier work, you know? But if I said that, everyone would probably chew me out, right? So I thought I’d just leave quietly.”
… Th-that’s not it, Korn!?
That’s not why he’s leaving.
It’s because he hurt Valdo, the man he admired…
And because he couldn’t be of any help to him, and couldn’t stand it!
So why are you lying…?
If you say it like that, everyone’s just gonna think you’re some irresponsible guy!
And then, it hit me.
… No way. Is that what he’s aiming for?
If he told the truth, Valdo, being who he is—, would probably just laugh it off and say, “Don’t worry about it,” and stop him from leaving.
So to prevent that…
he’s deliberately making himself look bad… trying to leave as the villain?
N-no! That’s not okay! No way!
“Nya~!”
I clung desperately to Korn’s boot, crying out again and again.
I wrapped myself around it with all my strength, claws digging in, refusing to let go.
“N-ngh, what the…! Let go!”
Korn bent down in a panic, reaching out with both hands to pry me off.
As he did, his face tilted downward, at an angle Valdo couldn’t see.
And in that instant, his expression crumpled.
Like he was about to cry.
“… Thanks, Al. But… don’t bother with someone like me…”
“Meow…”
My chest tightened as I looked up at him.
Just then, I heard footsteps crunching through the snow nearby.
I turned, and before I knew it, Valdo was standing right in front of Korn.
His looming shadow fell over us, and the already heavy atmosphere tightened even further.
But Valdo crouched down, silently picked me up, and held me in his arms like he was soothing me as I mewed softly.
Then he looked at Korn with a cold gaze and spoke.
“If you’re leaving, I’m not stopping you. It’s your life, do what you want.”
“Eh…?”
“Meow!?”
H-hey, Valdo!?
Don’t tell me you’re actually taking Korn’s words at face value!?
My eyes went wide in his arms.
Korn, too, twisted his face into something like a tearful smile, his lips trembling.
“Y-yeah… I mean… someone like me… it doesn’t really matter if I’m here or not…”
At that weak voice, Valdo let out a short, derisive snort.
Then, with his sharp gray eyes, he fixed Korn with a piercing stare.
“But listen, Korn. If you’re going, then pay back what you owe first.”
“Owe…?”
Korn blinked in confusion.
Valdo curled one corner of his mouth into a grin.
“What, you already forgot?”
“N-no way I forgot!”
Korn raised his voice in a rush, desperately continuing.
“I-I messed up on the battlefield and dragged you into it, Commander Valdo, and caused trouble for everyone else too… There’s no way I could forget something like that…!”
“Oi. What the hell are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
“Meow?”
Wait, what? That’s not it?
I looked up at Valdo in surprise. He let out a big sigh and scratched his head roughly.
Then his gaze locked firmly onto Korn.
“What I’m talking about is, ten years ago, when I saved a scrawny little brat who was about to get eaten by monsters… along with his little sister.”
“…!”
Korn’s eyes flew wide open, his voice shaking with shock.
What do you think about this chapter?
