第２３２掘：茶話と懸け橋の子 (Part2)
"It doesn't matter. Tori is kind to me and talks to me normally. My mother told me that what's important is to talk to people. She said you shouldn't fear or reject someone just because of their home or rumors, especially if you haven't even met them. My mother said that even though she and my father, whom she'd never met, fought a lot at first, they came to understand each other's good points as they talked. And then I was born. That's why I can endure."
"...Riel."
"I'm sure I can get along with everyone in the village like I do with Tori. So, I'll endure. My mother said that fighting doesn't lead to progress."
Hearing that, I asked Grandpa about Riel, and that was a mistake.
As soon as Grandpa heard about Riel, he became furious and told me not to go near him.
The next day, when I went to see him, Riel's face was swollen.
"Riel, what happened?!"
"Ah, yeah. The village chief came and, I don't know why, he hit me. He said if I dodged, he'd kick me out of the village. My mother's grave is here, so I just took it. It doesn't hurt that much?"
"That's a lie. I'm sorry, it's all my fault for telling Grandpa about you."
"...I'm okay because Tori is here."
Even though I was young, I wanted to know why Grandpa had done such a cruel thing, so I decided to discreetly ask around the village.
That's how I found out why Riel was being ostracized.
Riel was the son of my father's younger brother. He married Riel's mother against Grandpa's wishes.
This created a rift between Grandpa and Riel's family.
Furthermore, Riel's hair, which should have been one color or the other, was a mix of both. He was called an "unwanted child" and was hated.
Riel's father died of a plague. When it was just Riel's mother and Riel, things became difficult. The villagers, under pressure from Grandpa, couldn't help them.
Then, Riel's mother died, and they succeeded in driving Riel into a dilapidated hut.
...But nothing progressed after that.
Riel stubbornly believed his mother's words and endured, believing they could eventually get along.
I tried to find a way for the villagers to accept Riel, but it was too late...
Before I knew it, Riel's mother's grave had been destroyed. That night, Grandpa and other adults gathered, saying they would kill Riel.
I couldn't wait for the day we could get along like Riel's mother had said.
Because if things continued like this, Riel would be killed.
"Riel!!"
As I called out, I visited Riel's hut...
"Ugh, Mother, Mother, how long do I have to endure...? My mother's grave was destroyed, I'm so sad."
He was crying, hugging the small gravestone of Riel's mother.
Seeing him, I made up my mind.
"Riel, let's run away!!"
"Huh? Tori? B-but..."
"Just do it!! It's better to find our own way than to wait here!!"
I said it desperately.
There was no need for Riel to be in a village like this.
There must be a place that would accept him.
"...Okay. ...Mother, someday, someday I'll come back."
Riel must have understood the danger to his life from my desperation.
He gently placed his mother's gravestone down and quickly gathered his belongings.
"Alright, then follow me. Tori, you've never been outside the village, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Then, let's go to town first and find some work. Once we save up money, let's see... become adventurers and search for the place my mother spoke of, where everyone can get along."
"Yeah, I'm sure we'll find it."
"That's right, with Tori, I feel like we can find it."
"...And so, we safely left the village, worked hard in town, became adventurers, got caught up in a war in Roschur, and came here."
"Yeah, yeah, that's about right. Wow, I'm a little embarrassed."
Riel covered his face and whimpered, but everyone else was listening with serious expressions, surprised.
"No, Riel, that was a really hard and deep story."
Ratz said, and everyone else nodded.
Yeah, that's Riel for you.
"Yes, Riel-san, have you never thought about revenge against the villagers?"
Lurua asked Riel, looking surprised.
"Never. Because it's just like my mother said."
Riel said, a happy smile on his face.
"...What do you mean by that?"
Seraria asked Riel, looking puzzled.
"I adventured with Tori, and even became a slave, but we came to Weed. I joined the police, and although there are many problems, everyone is working hard to live together in harmony, to survive. See, it's just like my mother said. And..."
" " "And?" " "
Riel's smile widened beautifully...
"I met Yuki-san, who says my hair is cute. And Tori is also a good man who will accept me. Right, Tori?"
"Yeah, that's right."
As I said that, everyone laughed.
"I see. Now I understand why my husband brought you two, Tori and Riel, to the police, and to Zilba where demi-humans are discriminated against."
Seraria nodded happily.
"You two are a bridge, aren't you?"
Ratz said.
"Yeah, Yuki-san said so too. He said we'll do the most important thing on the new continent, though I don't quite understand what that means."
"Well, that's just like you, Riel."
"Ah, I'm not an idiot! Yuki-san praised me for asking questions when I don't understand!!"
"Riel-neechan is amazing!!"
"Amazing, indeed!!"
It's amazing. I'm glad I came to Weed and am with Yuki-san.
And from now on, I'll keep working hard for these smiles.
Now, do you understand the importance of Tori and Riel on the new continent?
Perhaps Yuki is thinking that these two are precisely that.
Ah, if you want to hear stories about other Yūkis falling in love, you can ask me directly in the Q&A corner. I'll do it during a pitfall or something.