?: "There. All patched up."

?: "Thanks, Hirugh."

Hirugh: "No problem, Derev."

Derev flails around his arm which just had new bandages applied.

Dever: "Heh. If it weren't for you, I'm pretty sure I would've been dead by now. And it's not only me."

Hirugh: "Don't say such things. Besides, all I can do is basic wound treatment. I can't even cast magic."

It was already noon and that was the situation in a certain house which is now being used as a sort of hospital for people who got hurt during the mabeast attack.

Of course people who couldn't walk were given treatment in their house, but that's besides the point.

I don't even want to think about the fact that the person who lived there is dead now.

I was walking around and surprisingly it wasn't that uncomfortable. You might be asking why it should be uncomfortable and the answer to that question is the fact that right now I'm the size of an actual child.

I still haven't fully recovered, which isn't surprising. I mean, I got reduced to such a small size that I could fit in one hand.

Thankfully, I had a spare part in Seira's pocket, so that's a plus.

Why did I have it there? Turns out, when I left to stall the mabeasts, I instinctually left a part of me in Seira's pocket to make sure I could protect her when the time is right.

That was actually the reason I could use Beelzebub from so far away. I used the part as a catalyst.

I tried to make another one with those properties and I succeded, but it takes about one minute to setup and whenever I use it, I become a little bit smaller and weaker, you also need to give it some mana to keep it alive.

It's not like I can regenerate the lost part either, because I have to keep the connection between me and the part. And regenerating the lost part will break that connection since my body goes: "Hey this guy doesn't need the connection to that faraway part, he has this one that is close." so it just breaks the connection.

It's a situational ability that I will probably never use, but hey, it's cool... I guess. I decided to call it 'Cellular Division'.

Anyway, onto the more important topic: My clothes automaticly fit my size. That means that even tho I'm a child right now, my clothes perfectly fit me. My sword is a different story tho...

I used to brush it off, but it's time to finally accept it: I grow.

My maximum size becomes bigger and bigger. Even tho the growth is slow, it's still there.

And my sword seems to grow with me. It doesn't fit whatever size I'm at, it fits whatever my max size is.

This means that using my sword at my current size would be incredibly difficult.

And it's yet another reason to not use Cellular Division.

The more I think about it the more useless the ability becomes. It's kinda like me in that way. There I go with self-deprecating thoughts again. I can never get rid of them no matter what I do, it seems.

Right now I'm carrying the sword in my stomach. Another fact that I forgot to mention previously: putting my clothes or my sword in my stomach doesn't require any mana.

But enough about me, let's talk about what happened after the attack.

After everyone went to congratulate the White Dragon's Scales on their victory, we found out that they were severly damaged.

Since we didn't have a healer, and I sure as hell wouldn't use my cells to heal anyone when they're not in critical condition, we gave them basic treatment.

After that some knights from the Argyle estate came, and the White Drago- you know what? Calling them that everytime would take too long. I'll just call them WDS. So anyway-

After that some knights from the Argyle estate came, and the WDS and the village elder explained the situation to them.

knight: "The Sin Archbishop of Gluttony?! We haven't had many sightings of him, so you telling everything you caught while fighting him would be greatly appriciated."

That was the reaction of the knights when the WDS mentioned Lye. Apparently their injuries didn't come from fighting mabeasts, but from fighting him.

Not surprising. I thought when I heard that information. He's much more dangerous than some mabeasts.

After that the talk went as you would expect. And by 'as you would expect' I mean the fact that I got too bored and stopped listening in.

After that we all made a grave for the people who died. The whole village mourned their death.

It wasn't my fault.

WDS went pack to Priestella and I decided to stay here until I fully regenerate. After I regenerate I would hop on a carriage and go back to the capital.

That's right, I would go to the capital, not Priestella.

This incident made me realize that I need to train under Wilhelm for a bit more. If I had more skill I would've been able to fight against both the mabeasts and Lye better.

I can also try and make some stuff from my old world back in the capital where I have at least some connections.

The very first thing I'm going to make is probably peelers. It's the easiest one to make and it's not something that you need a lot of, so no need for mass production.

The only problem is the fact that Subaru might get suspicious of me for knowing about them, but I'm willing to take that risk. Besides, Al is also from another world and that doesn't bother Subaru much, so I should be fine.

Chisou: "Cilob-sensei! Train me!"

I will never get used to him calling me seinsei.

Chisou was right in front of me. It was pretty weird to look at him, considering that previously I had to look down to look at him, so seeing him from a different perspective was... somewhat uncomfortable. Blursed, some would say.

Cylob: "Alright, I will-" I stop talking as my breath gets caught in my throat.

I forgot how baby-like I sound right now! I got caught of guard!

Cylob: "But first: Have you properly eaten?" I try to do a lower voice, but it sounds just like a child pretending to be an adult.

Guess I can't escape from this voice. I just gotta accept it.

Chisou: "Hai!" That shout caught me off guard.

Oh, that's right. I'm talking to someone. At times like this I really wonder whether I have ADHD.

Cylob: "Did you get your mom's permission?"

Chisou: "Of course I did!"

Cylob: "Did you sleep well?"

Chisou: "Oh, come on! Stop being such a worrywart!"

Cylob: "Alright, alright. I'm just playing wid ya. But where did you even hear that kind of word?"

Chisou: "? Which one?"

Cylob: "Worrywart. That's not something that's used often."

Chisou scrunched up his face, trying to search his memories.

Chisou: "I... don't remember."

Cylob: "Well, it's not like it's anything important. Let's go practice now."

Chisou: "Hai!"

I've only said 'Hai' once and now he's using it all the time. Sure I understand it, but what about other people? They won't know that hai means yes.

We start walking to our usual place.

After a bit of silence Chisou speaks.

Chisou: "You're so cool."

That came outa nowhere.

Cylob: "What makes you say that?"

Chisou: "You're always so serious. It's so much like a cool hero!"

Cylob: "Really? I don't think I'm all that serious." 'At least I don't want to be' I mumble.

Chisou: "What do you mean? You always have that cool expression."

A cool expression? Ah, he means my poker face that doesn't go away no matter what I do. Only when I am extremely happy does my face change and even then it's only for a couple of seconds. Anger, sadness, no matter what it is, it doesn't change if it isn't happiness. And if it does change, it's only for a split second, and the most that happens is the fact that my eyebrows rise.

Cylob: "It's not always good to have this kind of expression, you know?"

Chisou: "Really? But it looks so cool! As if you know exactly what is happening and everything is going exactly as you planned! Isn't that how a cool hero acts?"

I underestimate how mature kids are and it's because of moments like this.

Cylob: "Say that you need to comfort a friend, for example. Would your friend be more glad to see you with a neutral expression as if he doesn't matter, or with a happy expression to make him feel better, or with a sympathizing expression to make him understand that he isn't alone?"

Chisou: "I... You're right! But you could do all of that right? You could do both! Help your friend with a happy face and fight with a cool face!"

Yeah, that's the ideal person. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of this poker face most of the time.

Cylob: "That's the kind of person you should strive to be."

Chisou: "So I'm gonna strive to be just like you, Cilob-sensei!"

Cylob: "Huh?! Where did that come from?"

Chisou: "Well, I was talking about you! You can do both, right?"

He was... talking about me?

Cylob: "No, I can't."

Even when I'm sad like this, my face doesn't change. So, what even gave him that idea?

Chisou: "But you made my sister and mom feel better, didn't you?"

Cylob: "? What do you mean?"

Chisou: "I could see how less happy my mom was becoming, but then you came. After you came to the village she became happier. So you can do both, can't you?"

All I did was cry in front of her... right?

Cylob: "Either way, you shouldn't strive to be like somebody."

Chisou: "Even if it's the best person in the world?"

Cylob: "Yes." Even if it's Reinhard.

Chisou: "Why?"

Cylob: "You should always strive to be a better version of yourself. Trying to become like somebody will just make you worse. Don't use somebody else as your end point, use a better yourself."

I'm not sure why, but Chisou put on the biggest smile and did a salute.

Chisou: "Hai! I won't!"

Cylob: "Good."

After that, the walk was silent.

.▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒.

"Rrrr"

A completely out of place sound reverberated.

Cylob: "Time to go eat."

Chisou: "I know."

Cylob: "You go. I'll stay here and wait for you to come back."

Chisou: "Hai!"

Chisou started running to his house.

It's already... I look at the sun. about 15:00, huh. Time flies fast.

I couldn't practice my sword right now, so my mind just started thinking about random stuff.

What should I do now? I know I'm planning to help save people in Arc 5, but what should I do in the year before it? Should I train as much as possible or do something else?

...

I could... try to rehabilitate Elsa.

Right now she's in my stomach, so she can't do any bad, but if I release her the damage would be... uncontrolable.

The worst part is her Curse Doll ability. Even if I bind her she'll just cut off her parts that are bound and escape.

Is she... even redeemable at this point? Can I even change her way of thinking?

I know what made her this way, but that won't be enough to convince her.

Another problem is the fact that Meili hates Subaru because he killed Elsa.

So if Elsa's found out to be alive, will she still kill Subaru in Arc 6? Would her hate be big enough to push him off the edge?

I... wouldn't be able to take Meili's job in killing Subaru. Even when I fought against Lye I wasn't prepared to kill him, so who says that I will be able to kill Subaru, who's innocent?

It would also make no sense to 'Na■s■■■ Su■■■u' on why Meili Portroute killed Natsuki Subaru when Elsa is still alive, so that's another reason not to.

So once again I ask myself the question... What do I do?

...

No need to think a year ahead, is there?

So for now let's just train with Wilhelm and see what comes up.

Maybe I'll go on an adventure to help people. Maybe I'll do something else. But all of that is in the future. So for now... I'l just enjoy this normal village and then train with Wilhelm.

No need for something complicated.

After sorting my thoughts, bad thoughts started rising in my head again.

What if Pandora is after me? All of these people are dead because of me. I'm the reason for this attack.

But I quickly put 'em in the back of my head, hoping to never think of them again.

Putting my problems on the back burner once again. I'm pathetic, am I not?

But I have no choice, do I? If I keep thinking about negative things like that I'll just never do anything, so I'm not ignoring it for no reason.

Is that a genuine reason or just an excuse? I don't know. All I know is that they're going to bite me in the ass in the future, but I'm too scared to confront them right now.

Chisou: "I'm back!"

I turn to where the voice came from.

Cylob: "That was fast. Are you sure that you ate good enough?"

Chisou: "Of course! It's you who said that eating good is important! So why would I go against your advice?"

Just how much trust does he have in me? I'm nowhere near worth it.

Cylob: "It's good that you don't. My advice is very important after all."

Chisou: "Hai! But I've never seen you eat besides when I invited you to my home, Cilob-sensei. Do you not follow your own advice?"

Should I lie or tell him some of the truth?

Cylob: "...I'm very different from most people. I don't need to eat."

Chisou: "You don't need to eat?! That's... so cool! You can train for as long as you want! Without any interruptions! But... then how do you know that I should eat good when you haven't eaten yourself?"

Cylob: "When I was younger I had to eat, so I know how important it is."

Chisou: 'When you were younger...' He put on a thinking expression. "What were you like when you were younger?"

What I was like...

I was... the same. I haven't changed at all. I was lazy, but smart and tallented. I didn't put any effort into anything I did. Just like right now.

I was... useless.

Just like right now...

...

No.

...

I have changed, haven't I?

I'm still lazy, smart and talented, but atleast I'm putting effort into something now.

I'm still not that good of a person, but atleast I'm better than I was before.

Cylob: "I was... a worse version of myself. I was everything that I am right now, but worse."

Chisou: "So that's what it means to become a better version of yourself!"

He's... right.

I followed my own advice without even being aware of it. Heh, that's kinda funny.

Cylob: "That's right! I became better and so should you!"

Chisou: "Yes, Cylob-sensei!" He did a salute. And then pointed at me. "And I told you you could do it!" His smile became even bigger.

Cylob: "Do what?"

Chisou: "Smile when you need to!"

What does he mean by that?

Oh wait... I'm... smiling right now. I guess... I can smile when I need to. Chis is one hell of a kid, huh.

Cylob: "We're getting too far off topic. Let's start practicing again."

Chisou: "Hai!" Yet another salute.

.▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒.

Every day in the village was basically the same.

From evening to morning I focuse on my regeneration (when I focus I heal faster).

After that I take a walk around the village, enjoying the atmosphere.

When Chisou inevitably finds me, I train him.

I train him for the whole day and then the cycle repeats.

Every day is nothing special, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it.

Actually, the repetitiveness makes me calm and relaxed.

I wish this could go on forever.

That kind of thought was constantly on my mind.

To be completely honest, I haven't relaxed at all before coming to this village.

So when I understood that, a thought came to my mind that I didn't expect at all.

This is my home.

And that was... true.

A home for me is a place in which I can fully relax, let my feelings out and do whatever I want without worrying about the judgement of other people.

And I don't have one of those in this world.

No, I didn't. Now I do.

I'm glad that my home ended up being such a normal place.

If my home ended up being something as unreasonable as Crusch's mansion, then I think I would've lost myself. I would've forgotten what normal is.

That's why... Thank you Obuch.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.