The Tale of the Teapot Hero’s Revenge Chapter 2 - See you tomorrow

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Chapter 2

See you tomorrow

 

Jumping off the carriage, I stepped on the soil of my hometown.

Ah, I'm back, I'm back.

The government official who escorted me, the Teapot Hero, couldn't hide their annoyance and rudely slammed the carriage door. The horse was startled, but it's okay; they're delicate creatures.

As the carriage rode away, I felt a sense of liberation. In the snowy mountains, surrounded by trees, was the village of Ribo. Since no one was notified of my return, everyone would be surprised, I supposed. Mischievous thoughts begin to bubble up within me.

"...Oh, is that you, Kyrie?"

My dear friend, Alka, who was walking while carrying a bundle, noticed my presence as I stood at the entrance of the village. Just as I expected, she reacted with surprise and ran towards me.

Ahaha, she even dropped her firewood!

"You're back? Why!?"

"I'm back! I was deemed useless, so comfort me."

"I see. If you're useless, it can't be helped... I'll go and tell the whole village."

"Wait, Alka! Wait! Don't do that, it's embarrassing!"

Laughing together, we chased each other through the village. This reminded me of the past. Alka was the only one close to my age, so we often played like this. Oh, after this, Alka got scolded by her family for scattering firewood. After playfully interacting with my best friend, it's finally time to go home. I felt a bit nervous, though.

How should I say it? That I've returned because I'm unfit for the war?

"I-I'm home..."

I timidly opened the door and cautiously peeked inside. My gaze met my mother, who was washing dishes.

"K-Kyrie...?"

"Yes, it's Kyrie... I'm ashamed to say that I'm back..."

Before I could finish, my mother rushed over, and embraced me tightly, oh so tightly. Since my father passed away seven years ago, my mother had raised me and my sister all on her own. Her gentle scent and warmth almost made me cry.

"I... I thought I'd never see you again... You've come back well, Kyrie..."

"H-Hey, Mom, don't cry. If you cry, I'll start crying too."

I managed to hold back, just barely. After all, my sister was watching too. I couldn't show her how pathetic her older sister could be.

"Onee-chan, is it really you...?"

"It's really me. I'm Claire's onee-chan."

"Onee-chan... Onee-chan! Onee-chaaan!!"

All she's saying now was ‘onee-chan,’ my dear sister. Following my mother, Claire also clung to me. That's right, I knew they would accept me. They were my family, my precious ones.

****

***read at novelworldtranslations.blogspot.com***

For dinner that night, we had my favorite dish, deep-fried Snow Rabbit. The taste I loved, my mother's homemade flavor.

"Mom's cooking is delicious, as always!"

The meat was crispy and its exterior was salted. When I bit into it, the juices soak through; it's even more delicious than the castle's cuisine.

"Oh my, thank you."

"Claire likes this meat too!"

This appreciation for the warmth of a family gathering, which I thought I would never experience again. It sunk into me once again. Even after knowing that my own power was too weak and got me kicked out of the castle, my family accepted me without a hint of laughter. Someday, I might embark on a journey with someone, somewhere, but for now, this was where I belong.

As the night deepened, it became pitch black outside. The feeble light of the lamp inside the house was the only source of light. The royal castle was bright throughout the day, but I find solace here. However, the air was cold on winter nights.

"Mom, I'll help with chopping firewood tomorrow. And also ship of logs."

"Oh? What's brought about this change of heart?"

"Oh, come on! I'm offering to help, but you're dampening my enthusiasm..."

"Hehe, just kidding. Thank you."

With her rough hands, she gently stroked my head. It felt nice, like I'd become a child again. Thank you, Mom, for raising me despite your worn-out hands. From now on, I'd help with household chores and work.

...Well, saying that out loud is a bit embarrassing, so maybe I'll wait until tomorrow.

I can say it anytime, after all.

"Onee-chan, are you going to bed already? Claire wants to sleep together!"

"Sleep together? My bed is small, you know? Claire has grown, and we won't fit if we squeeze in."

"Mhm... Then let's talk until we get sleepy!"

"Yeah, well, that's fine."

"Yay! Alright, alright, let's go quickly!"

Even though she's ten years old, she's still a little child. I wondered if she's in the phase where she wanted to be pampered. She pulled my hand insistently, leading me to the bedroom.

"Okay, I get it. Stop pulling me. Well then, Mom, goodnight. See you tomorrow."

"Yes, goodnight."

With a serene smile on my mother's face, we exchanged these words, and I then closed the door to the bedroom.

"Oh, come on, Claire, what kind of story do you want?"

"Well, um, the story of the castle!"

"Fine, even though I don't have many pleasant memories of it..."

I sat on the bed and started telling her about the grandeur of the castle and the meals there but I left out the unpleasant parts. In the meantime, Claire nodded her head up and down and started rowing an imaginary boat.

"Are you sleepy?"

"Not yet, stiww awake..."

"You're sleepy, aren't you? We'll talk more tomorrow. Okay?"

"Nooo, I want to stay with you more... Mmm..."

"...She fell asleep."

Finally, she leaned against me, completely lost in her dreams. She felt so heavy. It felt like just a little while ago she was so tiny. I gently stroked her brown hair, just like mom did to me, and cradled her in my arms. I then lifted her to deliver her to her own bed. Her room and my room are connected by a single door, so it's easy to go back and forth. I laid her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

"All right, all done! ...Hm, what's this?"

On the table, there's a hair accessory shaped like white wings. The shape was a little off, but it looked usable. And beneath the hair accessory, there's a letter.

"Big sister, happy birthday," it says, written in somewhat legible handwriting.

"I see... I missed receiving this present."

Because I was taken to the castle.

They had made it for my birthday.

"Thank you, I'll cherish it."

In front of the mirror, I tried pinning the left side of my bangs. It added a nice touch to my plain, shoulder-length, brown hair.

I gave a grateful kiss on the cheek of my beloved sister, who was peacefully sleeping. I'd properly thank them once tomorrow comes.

"Goodnight, Claire."

Leaving those words behind, I left my sister's room. With the hairpin still in place, I climbed into my bed and laid down. It's a bit firm, but it's still comfortable, and it's much more calming than the beds in the castle...

***

I wondered what time it was now. I sensed someone running outside. I felt like there's someone inside the house. In the dark room, I opened my eyes. Before me was an unfamiliar man pointing a sword at me.

"...!?"

I couldn't even scream. I grabbed the blanket I had on and quickly sprung up to the side. The sword was thrust into the spot where my heart would be. There's no mistaking it; he intended to kill me.

There's no time to think. I covered his head with the blanket I grabbed, obscuring his vision. In the midst of his panic, perhaps surprised by my unexpected counterattack, I seized the sword from him.

How could an amateur like me accomplish such a thing? Was this the power of desperation? In any case, I acted instinctively. Gripping the stolen sword, I thrust it into the man's abdomen.

"Aaargh!!?"

I felt the unpleasant resistance of tearing flesh. I withdrew the sword and thrusted it in again.

Thrust, thrust, thrust.

The man collapsed, his knees giving way. But he might still be alive. I continued thrusting until he no longer twitched.

"Haa, haa, haa, haa..."

When I came to my senses, my arm was stained bright red with the spattered blood. I had killed someone for the first time. But that's not important now. Why did this happen? Who was this man? Was he a bandit or something? I removed the blanket and checked his appearance. At first glance, he looked like a typical lightly equipped bandit.

"Haah, ha... Th-That's right, Mom, Claire... Are they safe? They must be safe, right...?"

Yes, my family... They must be safe without a doubt. This man must have entered my room first. I must have misremembered the blood already coating the blade when I seized the sword.

"They're safe... They must be safe, they're definitely safe..."

With trembling hands, I twisted the doorknob and opened the door leading to Claire's room.

"...Ah. Ahh, aaaaahhh..."

 

A pitiful voice escaped my mouth, a voice I'd never heard before. Right after I opened the door between the living room and Claire's room, she must have been stabbed there. Mother... she's dead.

And on the bed...

"Uaaahhh, why... aaaaahhhh..."

My sister, with her eyes wide open, lay immobile. The blanket, her small body... everything was soaked in crimson. I thought I could say it tomorrow. Why didn't I say it today? Tomorrow would never come for the two of us anymore.

 

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