Volume 3 Chapter 31 The Difference Between Brave And Hero (Part Two)
When I asked him, Relix tilted his head in confusion.
"Being Brave is something as simple as being chosen by a goddess, it's just about wishing for it and becoming one..."
"Whether it's a goddess or a landlady, it doesn't matter. I'm asking if you wanted to be Brave."
"Well, that's――"
Relix's mouth stopped as he tried to answer. Perhaps he had never even thought about whether he wanted to be Brave or not.
At that moment, I finally understood.
Why I hadn't held as much expectation towards Relix as everyone else. Why I had kept a distance, despite being friends.
Just like Relix seemed to harbor "jealousy" towards me, I too felt a tinge of frustration towards him.
"You're always like that. Always striving to fulfill someone's wishes, no matter the cost. It may seem noble to others, but to me, you're just a puppet."
"A puppet―― Am I a puppet?"
"That's right. Always being manipulated by someone else's desires, a marionette on strings. That's what you are."
"I-I have my own will! I'm not some puppet being controlled!"
I responded to Relix's rising anger with cool detachment.
"Then tell me, when you were chosen as Brave, did you have any hesitation at all?"
"――――!?"
Relix's breath caught in his throat once again.
"Even though you were burdened with the monumental task of saving the world, did you still accept becoming a Brave without hesitation?"
If I were in Relix's shoes, I would have had some choice words for the goddess, questioning her decision. Even if it was an inevitable fate, I would have had the confidence to wrestle with my doubts for days.
So, this guy here...
"Well, I've been through it too, you know? I mean, if I'm not around, the village's defense weakens. Is it okay for me to just leave behind the villagers who raised me, who took care of me, and suddenly become Brave?"
"So basically, you didn't have any hesitation about becoming a Brave, right?"
It's always about someone else, isn't it? Because he's worried about someone.
"Don't twist my words! My parents and the villagers helped push me when I was wavering. So, I chose to walk the path as a Brave!"
"Either way, you can't leave it up to others, right? I wonder if your own will was even there."
"Yukina!!"
Relix grabs me by the collar. And I―― or rather, anyone who knows Relix well would never have seen this before―― it's the face of Relix's anger.
"You can make that kind of face too? It's surprising."
"Me too. It's surprising that I could feel this way towards someone."
Our gazes collide. It's funny how I feel more connected to Relix now than before.
"No matter what, you're always putting others first. It's noble to fulfill someone else's wishes, but your own intentions seem to fade into the background."
Sure, he might make judgments about right and wrong. But ultimately, Relix only forms his own intentions once he has someone else's wishes in mind.
"That's why you're always late to the party. While you're moving based on someone else's wishes, I'm moving based on my own desires. That's the difference."
"But what if... What if the desires of the people conflict with yours?"
Anguish mixes with anger in Relix's expression, perhaps because he's imagining what he's just said.
"Are you afraid of being scolded by others? You're such a good boy."
"Is that how you're going to make fun of me again?!"
I feel like I'm dealing with a child who's having a tantrum. No, scratch that, Relix actually has those vibes.
He has always been good at doing what he's told. Got praised for it non-stop. So naturally, he started listening to others even more. It's like raising a kid, for crying out loud.
Unknowingly, I was getting ticked off by his lack of initiative.
"I said it before. I do things for myself, on my terms. I couldn't care less what others think."
"That's just selfish."
"You know I'm selfish, too. Don't act like you don't."
The real deal is whether you can stand by your own actions. Even if it means facing regrets down the line, are you willing to accept that?
"But―― then why did you fight the demon? Weren't you fighting the demon and defeating the evil dragon for Aina-sama?"
"She was in danger because of the demon. It was only natural to put my life on the line."
"In the end, you did it for someone else! You're just like me!"
No matter what, does Relix just refuse to acknowledge our differences? Maybe acknowledging them would mean accepting my words, and that's terrifying for them.
Still, I spoke up.
"It's not just for someone else."
I grabbed Relix by the collar and pulled him closer. The distance between us became even shorter, our foreheads almost touching as we locked eyes.
"Aina is already a part of me."
She's not the only one.
"Kyunei, Mikage, and Aina. They're all a part of me now."
It's because of them that I am who I am today. I can't even imagine myself without them anymore.
No, that wouldn't be me anymore.
"If any of them are in danger, I'll do whatever it takes to protect them. After all, the one in danger is me."
"That's... reckless."
"Whether it's reckless or not doesn't matter. That's just who I am."
After saying that, I shove Relix away. His hands slip off my chest in the process.
"In short, you're only fighting because you're a Brave, not because you want to. Your will has got nothing to do with it."
"N-No, that's not... I... I..."
"I'll tell you straight. Being 'Brave' and being 'chosen as Brave' are two entirely different things. If you don't realize that, you're doomed to fail."
"Doomed? What do you mean I'm doomed?"
I'm not exactly sure what that means myself, but I'm sure of one thing.
"If I'm called a Hero, the biggest difference between you and me lies there. I can never stop being me (Yukina), no matter what. But what about you? Can you keep being you (Relix) forever?"
"That doesn't... answer anything..."
"As long as you don't get that, you won't beat me."
I don't really have any intention of trying to beat Relix. But if Relix feels a sense of defeat towards me, it's probably because of this thing right here.
"I know I went all preachy out of the blue, but I see you as a friend from the same hometown. So, honestly, I don't want to see you go down. Keep what I said in the back of your mind, okay?"
I turned my back to Relix.
"I'm heading back to the room now. Despite how it looks, I'm still recovering from being sick, and this party thing has me exhausted."
Regardless of my physical condition, I was mentally drained. I'm starting to feel really sleepy, and I feel like I've said everything I wanted to say. It's about time to wrap up this conversation.
"...Yukina, can you answer just one last thing for me?"
"What is it? If it's the last question――"
"It's not about that. It's something different..."
Relix stumbled over his words, hesitating as if caught in a whirlwind.
"...What if, hypothetically..."
He finally managed to squeeze out the question.
"If hypothetically, our desires... clashed, what would you do?"
"That's obvious, isn't it?"
I didn't turn around.
"Whether it's a royal or a demon or even a Demon King."
And without hesitation, I declared,
"Even if it's you, Brave."
──If they stand in my way, I'll push through with all my might.
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