A new kind of beginning? (P.1) - Chapter 13

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On the way back home, Aya was very quiet, and she didn't seem to inquire about anything with the ghost inside her.

She knew that Hiroki had acknowledged the tournament, which is why she was beginning to grow a little curious as to how this could elucidate her situation. 

She had become a little more confident in her own skills as a fighter, so she wasn't all that nervous about joining a tournament.

However, she would rather avoid any attention from anyone if it were possible. But on the other hand, if this was going to solve the misunderstanding of her white hair and the thing with the strongest knight, she was willing to do so.

….

At the abandoned house where Aya and Hiroki had temporarily created their base, they were preparing their own equipment before heading outside the town.

Hiroki was waiting for Aya outside her body, looking at her with a relaxed gaze.

"Do you blame me for your white hair?" 

Hiroki suddenly inquired after sensing that Aya's silence was becoming a common factor between them. He knew that Aya was currently facing a lot of trouble, and it wouldn't be surprising if she thought that this all happened because of Hiroki.

"Eh?....Ah, no. If anything, I'm very glad that I was able to meet you. It was all thanks to you that I was able to reach this rank, and it's thanks to you that I'm able to protect myself... or those who are close to me."

Compared to the usual clumsy innocent girl who was abused as bait by different adventures, she has now become someone who is able to take full responsibility for what she does. 

And she was fully aware of the influence that Hiroki had on her the whole time. If it wasn't for him meeting her that day, she would've lost all hope and died.

Even right now, as she was recalling her first time meeting the ghost, she still couldn't help but softly smile at her pathetic past self. 

"I'm glad that you feel this genuine about me… I can feel it in our connection that you are strong-willed in your heart." Hiroki responded with the same kind of soft smile of acceptance. "After all, this is another thing that makes you very valuable to me."

"What does that mea…" Aya attempted to ask at the confusing statement that Hiroki just made.

"I feel like I should be telling you this." 

Hiroki suddenly cut her out before she could finish. 

"Things are going to become tougher for us from now on, both mentally and physically, especially after we return from the wild forest today. Because I plan on entering the town with you by my side."

Aya's eyes widened at this sudden statement. She knew that her benefactor wasn't a demon, but he clearly had the closest appearance to that of a demon. Or based at least on the legendary description that was passed down through each generation.

"I know what you may be thinking, but I think this should be okay for me. Even though people might recognize me as a demon, they still won't consider me an immediate threat."

"...I'm sorry, but I still don't understand."

After seeing the confused state of the young girl, Hiroki crossed his arms as he was about to explain what he thought if he revealed himself.

"You already know that I have a special skill that allows me to take on a visual that resembles a human. However, despite that, I am still not able to touch anything since this skill is only an illusion to trick the human mind. Next, people only think of demons as legendary beings that have gone extinct. Or at least, that's what they think happened. Meaning… Humans don't believe that a demon would wander around the town without causing any commotion. And lastly, this whole town is surrounded by an invisible barrier that can detect any sort of monster or dungeon outbreak that is nearby." 

"Wait…. So that means!" Aya gasped in realization.

"We've entered and exited the town many times, and not once was the barrier able to detect me." Hiroki confirmed with a smirk on his face.

Despite the fact that Hiroki was confident that the whole town wouldn't get worked up because of his appearance, Aya was still worried about his well-being. 

She was the one who knew him best, and she surely didn't want any trouble or misunderstandings that would cause a bloodbath within the town.

She just hoped that everything that Hiroki was planning wouldn't go down a path filled with discrimination, hate, and death…