Lucy (part.2)

"So… Will you take Lucy with you?"

I still haven't responded. I don't know how to say anything. Like my voice completely disappeared.

"You see…"

The old lady continued.

"... I was the only one Lucy had all this time. Her parents died in an accident when she was little. She was the first child so she doesn't have any siblings. My son was also an only child. Which leads to her not having any uncles, or aunts either. I haven't told her about this whole dying thing. I don't want to see her sad. It's the last thing I would like to see before going away."

"But… why us? Are you sure we are the right ones for her?"

She took a deep breath.

"Look."

She pointed with her finger behind me. After I looked back I saw Rio, Maria and Lucy playing with garden hose and laughing.

"She isn't laughing often. But when you came in the carriage, she was looking at you through a window. She saw how you fell while getting off a carriage, but then got up and still offered to help girls get down. She started laughing. I immediately knew that you were the right ones."

And that's all? Just because I fell back then she is able to tell that she is ok with us?

"Please consider it. I know she doesn't look all that strong, but I hope she will be helpful in your next adventures. And you won't be doing it for free, obviously. I already found someone who wants to buy a house. And I'll send all the money to you. Unless you will make any use of this house?"

I don't want it. I don't want a house. I don't want money. I don't want anything. What is this feeling? Why am I so sad? I know them for only about an hour.

"N-no… we don't need a house."

"Then please think about it all and come and tell me what you will do before you leave. You can go ask your friends. But be carefull, so Lucy won't hear you."

She told me and started walking away.

What should I do? There is only one solution, right? At least there is only one solution that I find good. But can you really call anything 'good' in a situation like this?

"We will do it!"

Old lady stopped. And after a few seconds she turned her head to me, with the teardrop coming down her cheek.

"Thank you."

She said.

"Please take care of my Lucy."

And she walked away.

I think I'm gonna cry.

I need to go back to them.

"Look who's back!"

Rio said.

"What were you talking about, master?"

"Nothing important."

It actually was very important.

I feel like I'm gonna fall apart. My legs feel like cotton. Deep breath. I need to put on a smile.

"Lucy! I have a once in a lifetime opportunity for you!"

"What? For me?"

"Yes for you."

"What is it?"

"Do you want to join my harem?"

I don't believe I've said that. But I can't break a character. Not now.

"Are you for real? You know she is still a child…"

I gave Rio a look. I don't know how, but I think she read from it that something is going on. She really reads me like an open book, it's not the first time. Am I this easy to read? Did Lucy notice something too?

She doesn't seem like it.

"What is a harem?"

"I meant to ask you if you want to join us on our adventures."

"Really!?"

She looks so happy, so clueless. It makes me even sadder.

"Yes."

"Let me go and ask grandma!"

"I already asked her. She said you can go with us."

Old lady just appeared on the porch.

"Really!?"

Lucy yelled to her.

She gently shook her head up and down.

"Yaaay. Let me pack some of my things. I will be back in a minute."

"What's going on?"

"What's going on, master?"

Girls asked me while Lucy was packing things at home.

"I can't tell you now. We will talk about it later."

When Lucy already packed up her stuff. She ran back downstairs, hugged and kissed her grandma. And soon we were off.

During our road back girls were talking and even laughing a little together, but less than earlier. I guess they caught a little bit of my mood. I spent the whole road back without saying a word. Staring at everything we were passing by.

A week passed.

I started slowly forgetting about what happened in the countryside.

We are currently staying in an accommodation near the guild. I just haven't been feeling like picking up any quest because of this whole situation. I feel like there could be some new ones though.

Today, girls have sent me to look for groceries, while they are taking care of our accommodation.

Person running the grocery store was a big hit, whose muscles were… I don't know how to describe them, but they were definitely too much for one person. The weird thing was his hairline. Usually these buff guys are bald (no offense), but he had long hair tied up in the back of his head.

"You look familiar."

He told me.

"Maybe you are mistaking me with the hero who defeated a demon lord. I get told a lot that I look like him."

I casually responded. It's not like I need to hide that I'm blood related to him, but I just don't feel like walking around and telling this to anyone.

"That's good. I don't really trust that guy. This whole defeating thing seems a little bit too easy for me."

Well… it actually was kind of sudden. But from my experience, I mean all the manga I've read and anime I've watched with "overpowered protagonists", this doesn't seem this unreal at all.

I grabbed all of the things that I needed to. In the meantime, the big guy still complained about my brother. I paid for the groceries and told him not to worry so much, and then left.

"I'm home!"

I yelled and placed a bag with all the fruits and vegetables I bought on the ground, to take my shoes off.

Still no one responded. Maybe they're out or something.

I picked the bag up again and went to the kitchen. But then I saw Lucy through an open room door. I went in to talk to her when I saw it.

She was holding a piece of paper in her hands. She was holding onto it very tightly. I couldn't see her face.

Then I saw an open envelope on the ground. I looked again at Lucy's face. She was looking at me with her glassy eyes, she wasn't crying though.

This is… a letter! How could I forget…

Next chapter on Tuesday (26.07)