The Weaver in the Web That He Made (1)

"No," Luna said, holding out a hand to tell him to stop, "I'll take care of it, okay? Let me do my part."

So he felt relief, above all else, when Luna made her offer. He was tired of fighting. In his body there was still the fear of death, when he had nothing to fight for.

Hoping he wouldn't have to watch her die brutally, though it would only be the result of her own choices, Shuji heeded her. He remained in place, simply holding the strongbox. And watching.

As it turned out, he shouldn't have worried. The cyclops didn't stand a chance at all. Using magic, she snatched his own weapon and killed him with it. His headless body fell to the ground before he could blink.

He wouldn't be so sure. That he could do anything to her, even if he wanted to.

He remembered the way back well. The way to the gate, which was both entrance and exit.

"Where did you learn to do that?" The spell she'd used to snatch the weapon from the monster and use it against it would come in handy, certainly, but she was referring to magic in general.

"Not in an academy, if that's what you're thinking." Shuji hadn't been thinking of anything in particular. There were so many things he ignored about this world, even after spending two years here. Maybe that's why it sometimes gave him the feeling that he hadn't spent that much time. Because it was an empty life that could be summed up in days. "My parents could not afford such a thing. And I, to tell you the truth, never thought about it."

That was perhaps the strangest thing he had heard in a long time.

If he had been born into this world, he would have done anything to get the chance to learn magic. No explanation necessary. They were talking about magic, dammit.

But maybe it was different when you grew up seeing it everywhere.

When there was nothing magical about magic. He didn't know. He was having a hard time imagining complete disinterest, despite his attempt to rationalize it. Could it really be possible?

Her parents wouldn't have been able to afford to send her to a magic academy anyway, apparently, so her interest or lack thereof was unimportant. Best to move on.

"So?"

"I was forced to. Running away, I needed a way to defend myself, and training my body... It wouldn't have been practical, even if I'd had three meals a day and time to spare." Which she hadn't had, but she was right. Weapons helped, but there were fundamental differences between the strength of men and women that couldn't be overcome. Especially in a world like this. He doubted there were asteroids they could take. It was no wonder she needed something else to feel safe, that was what he was getting at. "So I'm left with no choice, really."

"I see. But that doesn't answer my question."

It had been interesting, but ultimately, she'd avoided answering. On purpose?

"Hmm? Ah, yes." She blinked, giving herself a moment. It seemed she hadn't, that she'd just been distracted with her own thoughts."I found a couple of books and taught myself. That's all."

"Amazing."

"Necessity, more like."

It was the same thing.

He had also done some pretty incredible things out of sheer necessity. But he chose not to say anything.

Shuji stared up at the endless blue sky, thinking of nothing. He barely noticed the weight on his shoulder. As if it was his imagination, a mirage.

"Let's go to..." He licked his lips. What had he been about to say? "Let's go."

——

"What next?"

"Try to sell some of this stuff in town. And keep the rest, I can't expect to get it all sold in one day."

He wanted to get these things off his hands as quickly as possible. Enrich his coffers, so to speak, not so much. He had money to spare to make ends meet, which would also be the end of his life. He had waited until he had put his affairs in order, and then this girl had come along to give him more trouble, more things to think about. Anyway.

"I meant rather that I'm surprised you're going to give it a try. You don't exactly look desperate for money. You have a house that only bandits or soldiers could take from you and a larder full of food to last you a whole winter."

A bit of an odd choice of words, since it was spring, but he couldn't say she was wrong.

"So why would you go out of your way to sell those things when you only have a month to live?"

He couldn't say she was wrong.

But he wasn't willing to agree with her either. She was too irritating for that. She had nothing, but still her cocky smile was perfect.

As if she knew something he didn't.

As if she could see through him like an open book.

"Because of you," he replied.

He enjoyed, most of all, that he had clearly caught her completely by surprise. Predict that.

"What do you mean?"

"When this month is over, I'll be gone. But you'll need money. Food. You'll need, at the very least, a starting point."

Shuji hadn't really thought about it, but it suddenly crystallized in his mind. It was enlightening. He didn't see a future because he didn't have one, but the weight in his chest lightened a little.

"It doesn't have to be meaningless," Shuji said aloud, not worrying about how she could interpret it.

This way he could give some meaning to his completely random suffering. The second chance he had begged for for seven days and seven nights, before he put the barrel of the rifle in his mouth, closed his eyes and prayed. Before this fool knocked on his door.

It was the best he could do.

Or maybe not, but it was something that seemed worth fighting for. One last loose cord to tie up, shall we say.

Now I understand. Now I understand why I moved even when there was no reason to.

It was worth another month, just one month, to do this. Maybe he wouldn't find peace or happiness, but this could save his soul. He'd equip her to survive. He would give her everything she needed.

And if she failed anyway and died horribly, that wouldn't be his problem. Nor would he be there to see it.

Well. He wasn't sure.

He hadn't really believed in things like gods or reincarnations before, but after being sent to another world, his mind was open to anything.

But one way or another he would know that he had done all he could, even more. That was enough.

Luna opened her mouth. But the moment passed quickly and in the end she just looked away in silence. Shuji let it be.

A walk back and in silence sounded great....

He hoped that didn't count as pushing his luck.

——

As soon as they arrived home, Shuji pulled the car out of the shed and unloaded a portion of the contents of the chest into the trunk. Without going overboard. Not as much as he could fit in the back, but probably more than he was going to be able to sell today. He didn't have great bargaining skills or anything like that, and besides, there were tons of adventurers making a living the same way he was. If it was that easy, he could just sit in that abandoned hotel, scratching his belly. It would be a long time before he had to enter a dungeon again.

"Can I come with you?" Luna asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Why?"

"Why not?" She answered him by throwing his own words at him. A question for a question, getting nowhere. Shuji couldn't help but sigh.

It seemed she was determined to be difficult.

He was doing the best he could, but she wasn't being very accommodating. Why was he the one who had to be accommodating in the first place? She was the intruder in his way of life. And of death.

Shuji sighed.

She'd listen to reason, perhaps, if he was direct.

"I asked you that question seriously."

"I know. Really, can you think of a reason for me not to go?"

This girl was too stubborn.

Shuji shook his head, half impressed. He gave voice to the first excuse that popped into his head, instead of listening to his own advice and being straightforward for once.

"Someone has to watch the house."

"And what would you have done if I wasn't there?"

It was a perfectly reasonable question, of course. Because it had been a hastily cobbled together excuse. Okay, he'd heard enough. It was time to cut the crap. Right?

"Because I wouldn't have any other choice."

"Do you really mean it, or it’s just to get me out of your way?"

Shuji sighed, again.

How tiresome, and he hadn't even been "married" to this woman for two days. Their married life, though fake, would only make him want to kill himself faster.