Chapter 352: A Place to Return to

Chapter 352 - A Place to Return to

As the light of the watch subsided, I looked around and saw that the landscape had changed.

But I knew the place right away.

In the forest facing the sea.

This was the port town of Ghenkan.

"Am I..... back?"

『I suppose so.』

Not just the location, but the time too?

But right now, there is something I need to do before I can confirm anything.

"Those guys! Espie! Slayer!"

Is it a little off from the original location?

Where are they?

What's the margin of error?

When I thought that......

『Child, over there! There is a campfire....... in that direction...... 』

"Oh!"

The smoke from the campfire rose like a smoke signal.

That's where it all started.

I didn't even need to use radar. It's a waste of time to even use it at all.

『Go, Child!』

"Yes! Breakthrough!"

It's just a short trip. That's why I even used the breakthrough.

To get there as soon as possible.

"Espie...... Slayer ......"

For me, it was just a moment ago.

―― Big brother...... ugh, b...... b...... Big brotheeeeeeer!

――Bro...... ther...... ah......

Even though they were still in such pain, how many years did I make them wait?

More than ten years, from before I was born until now.

I made them wait such a ridiculous amount of time......

――Hello, big brother who makes his little sister cry♪.

――You... who are you?

――Huh~...... pisses me off~...... that you don't know me...

She's my little sister! The little sister I've kept waiting for over ten years!

――Aren't you going to buy it?

――Ah, erm... are you... the clerk here?

――Hmm? Oh...... you don't know me?

He's my brother! The brother I've kept waiting for over ten years!

No wonder he was so annoyed.

It's only natural to be disappointed.

What did I do to them......

――Hey, wait a minute, you! If you'd just shut up and listen to me, what the heck is going on! I mean, what is one of the Seven Heroes even doing here?! Is Amae the sister who I made cry?! If that's the case, we've already settled it. We've already made up and she even kissed me on the cheek!

――...... Hmm?

――I wouldn't leave my little sister crying! Or what is it? I don't know what's going on, but I've heard rumors that you're like a sister to my parents! Aren't you just complicating things for some reason? Aargh?

――............

――To start with, the shopkeeper there also suddenly shows up, blabbering on and on with a blank expression on his face about ...... how much he loves curry!

――......... unh......

Damn idiot! Damn idiot! Damn idiot! I'm such a damn idiot!

――Hmm~, he got mad because of Slayer.

――You made him angry, you know?

――You're both to blame, damn it! You guys are so annoying!!

Scumbag! Scumbag! Scumbag! Such a scumbag!

――In the first place, there's so much I don't get, from the moment you first appeared to this very moment! The only thing I know about you is that you are one of the seven heroes, you are the manager's girlfriend, and you are kind of a pain in the ass! And you're asking me to do you a favor? To help you out? I don't get it!

Drop dead, stupid bastard!

"Ua, ah, aaaaaahh, damn it! Stupid! Stupid!!"

I've never felt more stupid and like scum than I do today.

"I... what have I done to them... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!"

Even though I didn't know the circumstances, what did I say to those guys who finally came to see me after waiting for over a decade?

I can't stop crying.

"Ah......."

And then there they were.

"..............."

"..............."

After more than a decade, Espie and Slayer were now older than me.

They stood side by side in front of the fire, staring at me.

"Hah~, hah~...... Espie...... Slayer ......"

""Eehh!??""

The moment I called their names, they both flinched and shook their bodies.

And......

"O, oh? You're back~, d, d... did something happen to make you look like that? You're the worst kind of person who makes your little sister cry... b... Big brother?"

Espie quipped with a smirk.

But I get it. It's not sarcasm, it's confirmation.

She wanted to make sure I'm really "me".

Her eyes were already brimming with tears and her voice was shaking.

"No."

"...... Huh?"

"I'm...... the worst bastard in history... I made my beloved little sister and brother cry!!"

"Ah......."

Tears spilled from Espie's eyes and Slayer's eyes at my words.

"...... it's been over fifteen years, you know?"

"Espie......"

"Since then... we're now much older than you... it's too late now!"

That's right. I'm late. Much too late.

"It's true......

"Slayer ......"

"You came to us out of nowhere when we were all alone... taught us warmth... and love...... and made us like you so much... yet you just disappeared without a trace... don't mess around."

Yes. It's only natural that they would hate me. I deserved to be punched in the face.

"Oh...... really...... even if I apologize, I can't atone for it......"

Sorry. Such words are too light.

Even if I put together all the words of apology that exist, they would still be too light.

But......

"Espie, Slayer ......"

I walked over to them and put my hands on the heads of my older sister and brother, who had grown up.

"You've gotten... so big......."

""Huh!?!""

"I'm sorry ... for making you wait until you got so big... really, I'm sorr―――"

The next thing I knew, they both jumped on me at the same time, knocking me to the ground, and they just hugged me......

"Uh, uh, ah... Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Big brother... Big brother!"

"Uuuuugh, B-Brother! Brother! Brother!"

The eyes of the sobbing two were just like they were back then.

"Big brother!"

"Yeah."

"Brother!"

"Yeah!"

I could easily be pushed down like this by the two hugging me now.

"Idiot, idiot, idiot! You idiot! Big brother, you idiot big brother! I won't forgive! I'll never forgive you! Ugh, I'll, I'll beat you up... so!"

"That's right, I'll never forgive you! This Brother...... this Brother!"

And they were smacking on my chest.

Again and again......

"Yeah...... beat me up...... keep hitting me... until you feel better."

I accepted it all and hugged them both.

I'll never let go again!

"I've been doing my best, since then...... I cried a lot, I fought, I waited...... I wanted to go see Big brother, but I thought maybe I shouldn't change the future, so I couldn't go until the very last moment......"

"So much has happened between us! Since then, there have been so much that we can't talk about...... all this time, preparing for this day!"

"Yes. Yes...... tell me all about it...... we have plenty of time now. Even if you all disappear from my sight this time, I'll chase after you... we'll be together. This time for sure......!"

This time, I will keep the oath and promise I made back then.

"Espie...... Slayer ...... from now on, let's talk a lot...... let's play a lot...... and let's spend a lot of time together...... will you stay with me? I...... I'm younger than you guys, but... I want to be your... Big Brother again――"

""Of course!!""

Holding them both in my arms, I slowly raised my body... they're heavy... ah, really heavy... I'll never forget this weight for the rest of my life.

"Hey, Espie...... Slayer ...... do you want to make some curry first?"

""Huh!?!""

And the two of them, who had been sobbing, smiled at my words, even though they were in tears.

"Un! Of course!"

"Let's make it! Let's eat! Lots... and lots! From now on too..."

The two of them jumped to their feet and quickly began getting ready.

And then......

"Ah, that's right, Big brother!"

"Ah, that's right, Brother!"

They turned to me, and then......

""Welcome back!!""

"Eh!?"

Those words soaked into my soul.

My journey took me away from my home, across the world, and even through time.

At the end of it, I arrived at the place I could return to.

「Tre'ainar. My journey isn't over yet, but from now on, these guys will also... is that okay?」

『Why ask such obvious questions now?』

Tre'ainar nodded, smiling, and I said to the two of them......

"Yeah. I'm back!"

I swear it once more.

Even if I turn the whole world against me, I'll stay with these guys.

――End of Part 7――

TL's Note

Aaaand, another arc done!!! A nice heartwarming reunion, before the chaos resumes... I guess. What were they doing before the Time Jump??? Might need to re-read that.

Anyway, gonna take a short break, then be right back at it. Earth still has heroes and Supremacy he is yet to bump into, ya know.