She Becomes The Hero In Another World - Chapter 222

In the end, Robin only took half of the man’s treasure, and returned the other half to Felix’s dad.

When he tried to refuse, Robin convinced him to keep it for Felix’s sake. She felt that with that treasure, and her recommendation to Marin, the boy might be able to at least become a wizard if he tried hard enough. The remainder of the treasure was split three ways among Chelsea, Liam, and Jasmine. They did the work; they got the prize.

Robin finished up by secretly paying for both the party, and the father-son’s stay at the inn, before herding her group out. If they stayed any longer, the father might have discovered her deed and tried to repay her. As it was late when they arrived back at the mansion, everyone opted to head straight to bed. Any further business was set aside until the morning.

——

Birds chirruped outside the window. Sunlight shone onto Robin’s face, slowly rousing her from her sleep. But, just as she was about to wake up, she turned over on her side, away from the sun, and continued sleeping.

Considering her workload yesterday, Robin saw no good reason not to sleep longer. No one would fault the hero for taking a good rest. Also, the blanket and pillows were just too comfortable that morning. Once more wrapped up in fluffy dreams, she descended into the oblivion of sleep.

She might have slept a bit longer, too. Yet, perhaps she heard something move. Or, perhaps, she felt a presence. Either way, she surfaced from sleep so quickly that she had to blink away the afterimages. Sitting up, she realized that everyone was sitting quietly in the room, waiting for her to wake up.

As it had been late when she arrived, Robin had slept in her clothes, minus the boots and the belt. Brushing her fingers through her hair, Robin felt thankful that she hadn’t changed. Next time, she would definitely check that the door was locked.

“…What’s the occasion?” Robin asked, yawning a bit.

“We all came to wake you up, but…” Keith shrugged. “You looked like you were enjoying it, so we didn’t want to ruin your fun.”

“Oh? How thoughtful. But, if it’s something important, next time, you can just wake me up, okay?” Robin permitted.

“It wasn’t urgent, so we decided to wait until you wake up.” Christian added. “You don’t usually show how tired you are. But you were sleeping on your feet yesterday. And proper work requires proper rest.”

“Hmmm…” Robin glanced at the group in thought. “Then, good morning, I suppose? Is it even still morning?”

“It’s half til noon, technically still morning.” Jasmine replied, taking the opportunity to step out. “I’ll let Sebastian know to set out the brunch.” She waved in passing.

“That’s good then.” Robin nodded, her eyes sparkling with an intelligent gleam. “So? What’s the situation?” She asked.

“One word: Dragon.” Keith replied.

“…Liam?” Robin asked, looking at Liam in confusion.

“No. Ra’oru. Throm’s paternal guardian.” Liam replied.

“You mean his dad?”

Liam shook his head. “A guardian is different. Not a dad.”

“Isn’t Throm Ra’oru’s son?” Robin asked, confused.

“It’s a long story.” Keith interrupted. “But, long story short, a certain ‘dwarven king’ couldnae help but show off to a certain ‘dragon’, and now said dragon is throwing a fit. He wants something even better looking than what we gave Throm.”

“This is a problem, why?” Robin asked.

“It has to be something completely new: something no one has ever seen before.” Keith sighed. “He even added that he wants it to be enchanted. while we have Liam as an artisan, we don’t have something like that in our current company.”

Robin pondered for a moment, then her stomach rumbled. “Well, I may not be an expert on enchanted items, but I happen to know a certain wizard who might know a thing or two. How about we consider this issue after brunch?” She set the issue aside.

“But Robin,” Christian began, “If we don’t deal with this-”

“We’d be meeting him eventually. Consider it an opportunity to get on his good side. I have made it a habit never to back down from a good challenge. I don’t intend to start now.” Robin smirked and shrugged roguishly. “Whatever we need to do, if we neglect our own self-care, then we will inevitably lose the strength to shoulder now what we could shoulder yesterday. Food first.”

Robin swung her legs over the side of the bed. “At the very least, we will merely be troubled, instead of troubled and hungry on top of that.”

Christian raised his hands in defeat. “Fine you win. The Hero is always right, after all.”

“Thank you for your empty words of praise.” Robin laughed.

“It wasn’t empty; I’m serious!” Christian insisted, feeling disregarded.

“I’m suddenly very curious about how I appear in your eyes.” Robin raised a quizzical eyebrow. She couldn’t understand just how Christian could see her in such a positive…near-omnipotent light.

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re the Hero, after all!” Christian replied.

“That is exactly why I don’t understand.” Robin said with a self deprecating smile. “I too am a human being just like you or anyone else. I am prone to the same strengths and weaknesses alike. The fact that you’re placing me up on such a high pedestal is baffling. The Hero is still human regardless of whether he is a hero or not.”

“But you’re different, though!” Christian insisted. “You’re a good man, which is more than I can say of most.”

Robin rubbed the bridge of her nose, feeling a prick in her heart. “Well I can only say that I don’t see myself in that light.” She replied. After all, how could she be a good man when she wasn’t even a man? Moreover, right now she was hiding her gender, so she also felt a tinge of guilt every time sweet words popped out of Christian’s mouth.

“Why not?” Christian asked, feeling annoyed at Robin’s lack of self confidence.

“Let me ask you…” Robin sat back on the bed, and tilted her head to look up at Christian. “If a dog were to kill his own master, and then another dog comes along and kills the first one, does that make the second dog good?”

“What?” Christian asked, taken aback by the sudden question.

“It doesn’t.” Robin gave the answer. “Rather, it merely makes it another dog who kills-moreover, one who kills it’s own kind: just another murderer.”

“I… don’t understand.” Christian frowned.

“What if the man who the first dog killed was a psychopath who was brutally torturing the dog? Does that justify it killing him? Wouldn’t that make the second dog a villain for killing the victim of a criminal?”

Christian remained silent.

“That’s why, just because I fight evil, doesn’t mean I’m good. It just means I know whom I ought to fight….” Robin sighed, and muttered half to herself. “Is a hero’s goodness dependent upon if they fight? If so, then a hero is rightfully a terrible and miserable existence, but….I find comfort in that heroes emerge to protect. Yes…”

“‘Heroes emerge to protect’ huh. A good saying.” Christian noted.

“It is, but why do I find it so familiar?”; Keith agreed, pondering on the words.

“Hmmm?” Robin looked up, “It should be. My dad liked saying such things a lot to us.”

Her dad had always followed up by chiding her brother to look out for her and protect her. ‘As an older brother, if you can’t even protect your sister, then you can kiss your dreams of being even a normal hero goodbye.’ was what usually followed.

Robin wasn’t sure she would have been able to pick up her blade if she were required to go and fight a war as the hero. She had learned most how to protect herself and others. She had neither the skills nor to d.e.s.i.r.e to commandeer an army. You could say that, instead of leading an army, she had forged herself into a one man tank.

“Ah, that’s why it’s familiar!” Keith realized. But at that point, Robin had slipped ahead with Christian to go eat.

—

After brunch, they sought out Marin at the magic tower, dragging Felix and his dad along. After testing him, Marin agreed to become his teacher. This had Felix and his dad overjoyed. But, as for enchanters…

“If you’re looking for skilled enchanters, then I do know of some.” Marin said, troubled. “However… currently, they’re in a bit of a bind.”

“What do you mean?” Robin asked.