Side Story - Side Braver, One
My name is Relix.
I lived in a village far away from the royal capital, just an ordinary young person-- until the day a group from the Fonia Church visited our village.
They were led by a bishop named Pain, who claimed that I was chosen by the God to be a Brave.
The Fonia Church is the most widely practiced religion in this country. It is such a large organization that it even has branches in this small village. Its influence reaches as far as the national government. And their god is the one who selects a Brave.
--In this world, a calamity known as the 'Demon King' appears once every few hundred years.
This person brings destruction and chaos to the peaceful world, putting it on the brink of destruction.
And there is something that can stand against them: the 'Brave'.
A chosen being of hope by the God.
A hero (Eiyuu) who carries the hopes and destinies of the people, and defeats the Demon King.
It's a fairytale that I have heard many times since I was young.
Even now, I can't believe it. That I, the chosen Brave of the God.
But Pain-san said it.
"You should have a birthmark on your right hand. That's what they call the 'Stigma,' a mark bestowed upon those chosen by the God. It's the undeniable proof that you are a Brave."
As he said, there is a birthmark on my right hand. According to my parents, it was already there when they found me.
Yes, my current parents are not my real parents.
When I was young, I was abandoned at the entrance of the village on a rainy day. There were hardly any clues to verify my identity, except for the high-quality cloth that was wrapped around me.
The parents who took in the abandoned child, they treated me like their real son and raised me. The people in the village also treated me kindly, even though I should have been an outsider. I am endlessly grateful.
One day, I will definitely repay everyone in the village. I had always thought that, but when I was told that I was a Brave, my feelings wavered.
As a Brave, I am destined to fight the Demon King. Eventually, I will have to embark on a journey to defeat the Demon King. I cannot stay in this village.
Pain-san told me that I should go together to the royal capital. It seems it is necessary for me to gain power as a Brave.
I was troubled by my thoughts, but it was my foster parents who pushed me forward.
"Relix, ever since we found you, I knew this day would come."
"Father..."
"You don't have time to stand still in a small village like this."
"Mother..."
Encouraged by my parents, I made up my mind to leave the village. When I told everyone in the village about it, they gave me many words of encouragement.
I haven't been able to repay any of the favors yet, but when I mentioned it, the village head patted my shoulder.
"Don't say such foolish things. There's no one in this village as impressive as you, Relix. Stand tall, you are the pride of this village."
Everyone who was listening nodded in agreement with the village head's words. I was so happy that I almost started crying right there, but as a Brave, I couldn't show any weakness. I mustered all the strength in my eyes and held back my tears.
However, the words that the village head said afterwards stuck in my head.
"Seriously... Compared to that Yukina, you're really... And why doesn't he even show up at the meetings?"
Yukina... a young man who lives in the village, around the same age as me.
We weren't particularly close, but I hesitated to call him just an acquaintance.
He's a little different from the other villagers. I can't help but feel that way.
Even though there isn't anything particularly outstanding about him, I can't help but notice his actions. This time, although almost all the villagers have gathered here to listen to me, he is the only one not present.
The villagers all say they are "proud" that I was chosen as a Brave, but Yukina treats me just like an acquaintance, as he always has. In reality, I am just an acquaintance to him--
To Yukina, I am just an acquaintance, even if I were a Brave. However, the way he treats me makes him a slightly special presence to me.
--Now, I am about to depart for the royal capital, to gather strength for my journey as a Brave.
And at that time, wouldn't it be nice to take someone from the village as a companion? It would be distressing to have no acquaintances in the new royal capital.
So, I asked Pain-san for a favor.
--To take Yukina with me.
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