"Yakiro-sama, please take a rest. Don't push yourself."

Koneko was sitting on the chair beside my bed holding my hand. She had that lonely look on her face and made me think that she had been crying.

"Where's Ayumi? Ugh..."

I held my head out of pain. I haven't fully recovered yet and my wounds weren't fully healed. I have bandages wrapped all over my body, which made me think that I look like a mummified corpse.

I thought I was done for. My life was barely hanging on a thread and just a touch on the thread would've been the end of me.

It was thanks to Ayumi that I've survived that agonizing night. If it weren't for her shadow scope, I would have not lived another day to tell a tale.

Shadow scope is a thief skill. It enhances your sense of sight and gives your eyes a zoom. She was able to see Koneko kilometers away.

She's helped me not only once but twice. I couldn't blame myself if I had already fallen in love with her. She's extraordinary and her talents are limitless.

Koneko stared at me with a teary eye. She clasps my hand and proceeded to lean on me. Her eyes began to drizzle as her tears drop on the bed.

"She's fine, Master. Please... get well first..."

She was a sight to be seen. I know it's out of place for me to be this mesmerized but she looked adorable and sweet. Her crying melancholic face brought warmth into my heart.

"Stop crying, Koneko..."

With my free hand, I reached for her head and gently pat her. She let out a soft smile yet her tears didn't stop.

"I'm glad... I'm glad you're alive, Master Yakiro-sama..."

It has been two days already yet I felt like it only happened yesterday. I was able to know what day it is today thanks to this world's system. The time and date are placed on the lower left corner of my eye. This place really feels like a game. But pain and death are real here.

"Where's Ryan, Koneko? Is he alright?"

The door creaked open, and a little boy covered in bandages walked in together with Ayumi.

"Y-you're awake... You're awake!"

Ayumi began to run towards me. She stood beside me and held me tight with her embrace. Her tears began to fall as well.

This made me bewildered and embarra.s.sed.

"H-hey no fair! I didn't get to hug master too!" Koneko angrily implied.

"Ayumi nee-san gets all lovey-dovey with, Yakiro-sama!"

Ayumi released me and clenched her fists.

"You're wrong! I was just worried that's all!" Ayumi pouted.

"So you are worried about me?"

I smiled at her. She was surprised, her eyes widen, and glared at me.

"I-idiot! It's not like I'm really worried about you! It's just I didn't want to lose a friend! Idiot! Stupid Yakiro!"

Heh. Even though my wounds hurt, her words hurt even more.

"Thank you... For saving me..." Ryan who stood there quietly began to thank me reluctantly.

"Ryan..."

I stood out of my bed and went to face him.

"Master, you shouldn't move yet. Your wounds haven't recovered yet." Koneko said.

"That's right Yakiro. You should stay in bed for a while."

I ignored them. As I face Ryan, I bow my head to the ground. My tears began falling to the floor made of brick.

"I'm sorry Ryan... I couldn't save them... you were right about me being weak... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry Ryan... I have failed... I'm worthless..."

Koneko ran towards me and hugged my pitiful self.

"No... You're wrong... In fact, Ryan was grateful to you for saving him... If it's anyone's fault, it should be this village..." Koneko held me tight.

"Thank you, Nii-san! For saving me!" He bowed his body strongly. His tears began to fall and his face grimaced with sadness.

I lifted my head and saw him crying. He was crying out of happiness, his smile was wide and pure. But his face was still covered with tears and snot from his nose.

He wipes them off then lifts his head. He breathed in like he was about to say something big. His eyes were closed then abruptly opened with a fixed look.

"I've decided to be an adventurer. I'm going to continue my journey to Warrenio."

"You can't!" Ayumi screamed.

"What's wrong Ayumi?" I asked.

"The way to the Nation of the Demi-humans are very perilous. Warrenio is a nation where demi-humans and humans live together in harmony. But the path going there is surrounded by high-level areas. Why would you go there?!"

"Because life here in Chesprych sucks!" He angrily replied.

"Mom wouldn't have died together with Rina and Edward if only this village wasn't in control of that ugly Queen!"

"I don't understand, Ryan. What do you mean?"

"The reason we went out of the village was to escape. This village used to be peaceful until the Queen decided to take over this village. This village didn't belong to any nation before. The queen tricked us into believing that this country needed support. But her plans were really to expand her nation and to take the money from the poor. My mother wasn't able to pay her tax and was indebted to the nation. We weren't able to live peacefully here and the knights would always destroy our home unless we pay. Even though our money wasn't enough, we were able to save and we brought a repel item."

Ryan took out a green crystal.

-Repel Item-

Monsters of level 30 and below are repelled.

So this world has similar items found in RPGs. But the Orc Warrior was level 35.

"Why did you go out during the night? You could've gone during the day."

"We couldn't. If we did, the knights would kill us if we took a step in the forest. During our first escape, we found you fainted on the Easy Gra.s.s Valley and decided to go back as we pulled you. We thought you fainted because there were monsters that attack you. That's why we decided to buy repel and go out during the night. We thought we were safe and believed in this item. The store owner told us that the path only contained level 30 and below. But we encountered a level 35."

"The store owner tricked you... He was connected with the queen."

"That's sad.." Koneko said.

"I'm sorry, Nii-san. But I used your Red Ruby to pay the queen. That's why tomorrow, I'll try again to walk on a journey to Warrenio." He implied.

"What? Then what about your wounds?" I said angrily. Those were supposed to be paid to the priest so that his wounds will heal. He doesn't have his left arm anymore and he still had guts to continue his perilous journey.

"I'm fine... Once I get to Warrenio, the medic there is free."

"You don't know how far the path is. You don't even have food to last on a seven-week journey. Warrenio is very far from Chesprych. And are you sure they are willing to accept a stranger immediately and heal you?"

Ayumi scolded him.

"I have to try. At least that's what my mother wanted for us."

His mother... I wasn't able to save her mother too. I remember a strip of clothing on the orc's mouth. That belonged to his mother.

I began to cry again.

"Yakiro!" They said in unison as they hold me.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save your family. I'm weak. I'm useless. I'm the weakest human being in this world."

"Yes, you are weak!" Ryan screamed.

"Hey!" Ayumi angrily reb.u.t.ted.

"But it doesn't mean you aren't strong too! You're the weakest of them all but you're my hero! You can get stronger, aniki!"

(Aniki and Nii-san means Big Brother)

My eyes widen at his words. His words gave me hope.

"One day. I'll be a hero. I'll save everyone. Just like how you saved me. Not all heroes can save everyone. All he needs is to save the people he sees no matter how weak he is."

"Ryan..."

Ayumi and Koneko ran to him and hugged him.

"H-hey!" Ryan tried to speak but he was being pinned by two girls.

They were crying and Ryan started to cry too.

I can't believe how matured Ryan is. I thought he was just stubborn and noisy at first. But being alone in this world, losing the people he loved and being weak, he still had hope. He had become my goal. One day, I'll become a hero too.

"Ryan.." I took out something from my pocket.

"This isn't much but this will help you last for a week."

I gave him my last two remaining Fox Demon Berries.

Ayumi stared at me with shock. She bit her lip and went to her bed.

"What's this?"

"It's a powerful berry. Use it only when a monster appears. You'll be able to outrun it immediately."

"Here." Ayumi came back with her black dragon knife. Her most expensive weapon.

"ayumi!" We screamed in unison.

"Just accept it! Instead of running away, You should fight it instead and gain a lot of experience. Level up and become strong. Yakiro has believed in you and trusted his two remaining berries. Don't worry, I still have my Igneous Lava Dagger."

Ryan nodded at her and smiled. He thanks both of us and went outside the room.

"Geez! I'm jealous! I didn't give him anything!" Koneko pouted. She seemed upset and felt out of the group.

I pat her head and told her:

"You and I, Koneko, are one. That means you gave him that berry too."

"Really? Yaaay!" Koneko smiled happily.

"Hmmp!" Ayumi sounded irritated.

"What's wrong, Ayumi-chan?"

"Nothing! Stupid Yakiro! Go and die!" She jumped on her bed and cowled on her blanket.

I didn't bother asking her again and felt that I should leave her alone for a moment. I went back to bed and Koneko sat beside me and held my hand.

I've decided to grind my level tomorrow. I'll get stronger and stronger. I'll be a hero that everyone deserves. No more running. No more suicidal thoughts. I've regretted that I couldn't save everyone. But I can still live on and help others so that they won't experience the same thing.

I'll be the hero.

I feel myself slipping away. I had already exhausted my body. I couldn't wait for tomorrow. I'll eat lots of food and then I'll hit the valley.

I already fell asleep.

*CURSE: REPENT*

+Unable to obtain cla.s.s deleted.

-CLa.s.s OBTAINED!-

-Unlocked: Hero Cla.s.s-