"Good evening, mister."
"Oh? You're..."
Hugo Clay had spent the late afternoon scouting the areas where the Arachlaws had been sighted, carefully examining the surrounding tracks to estimate the number of monsters and the threat they posed. By the time he returned to the village and headed toward the inn provided by the Village Chief, the sun had already begun to set.
He was surprised to find Jasmine, the young girl he had met earlier that day, waiting for him.
"You're Jasmine... right? Why are you here?"
"Just Jasmine is fine. I don't like it when people add '-chan' to my name. I... I wanted to apologize for how my brother acted earlier today."
Yugo realized she had been waiting specifically for him to make amends. Touched by the girl's concern for her brother, he offered her a gentle response.
"You really didn't have to worry about that. Honestly, I'm not angry at all."
"Thank you. But I heard you left the village after talking to the Village Chief, and I was worried you might have left for good because my brother was so mean to you."
Despite her youth, Jasmine was remarkably perceptive and thoughtful.
As Yugo reflected on how both she and Fee shared a certain maturity, Jasmine continued her explanation.
"My brother... he isn’t usually like that. He’s just a bit harsh with people from the outside... Um, well..."
"I'm Yugo. Yugo Clay."
"Thank you. It’s not that he has anything against you personally, Yugo-san. Really, he’s a wonderful brother."
"The Village Chief mentioned something similar. It sounds like Gamba is a good man."
Jasmine gave a small, firm nod.
Since both his sister and the village leader were quick to defend him, it was clear Gamba was kind to his own people. If that were the case, Yugo wondered why that same warmth didn't extend to those from beyond the village.
As if reading his thoughts, Jasmine's expression clouded with sadness.
"It happened years ago. Our mother was killed by a Magic Armor Beast. The Knights eventually came and took care of the Arachlaws, but several people—including our mother—died before they could get here."
"I see... I'm so sorry. That must have been incredibly hard for you."
"My brother was devastated. He blamed the Knights for not arriving in time. He couldn't understand why they hadn't rushed here sooner..."
Yugo could easily empathize with a child losing a parent to a monster. He understood the grief, and he understood the desperate urge to blame the protectors who hadn't arrived soon enough.
"I think that was when it started," Jasmine continued. "That’s why he’s so hard on outsiders. I think... I think being around people from the outside just reminds him of that day."
"......"
Yugo had felt no malice toward Gamba even before hearing this, only curiosity. Now, knowing the full story, he felt only deep sympathy for the young man.
Jasmine looked up at him, her eyes pleading.
"So please, don't hate him. He really is... a good brother."
"Yeah, I understand. If his sister is willing to go this far to defend him, I’m sure he’s a brother to be proud of."
Yugo offered a reassuring smile. He was an older brother himself; he knew exactly what it felt like to worry about a sibling. Gamba had clearly worked tirelessly to raise Jasmine after their mother’s death. His overprotectiveness was understandable, and his hostility toward a stranger like Yugo made perfect sense in that light.
"Don't worry. I don't hate your brother at all. You can rest easy."
"Thank you, Yugo-san. You have a villain face, but you're a really good person."
"Ahaha! Yeah, I get that a lot."
Yugo gave a wry laugh at the blunt comment about his villain face before looking back at her with renewed intensity.
"Leave the Arachlaws to me. I won't let anyone in this village experience that kind of fear again. Any evil that lurks here—I'll perform a speed extermination and clear them out in a flash! You'll see!"
"Okay!"
He gave her a confident thumbs-up as he delivered his hero-like vow. Jasmine beamed back at him and nodded.
Realizing her brother would likely be upset if he found her talking to him, Jasmine bowed politely and hurried away from the inn.
To think those two had such a painful past... I won't let a tragedy like that happen again.
Learning about the shadow that hung over Gamba and Jasmine only strengthened Yugo’s resolve.
As a hero, I’ll protect everyone.
He made that vow deep within his heart... but what would come next?