It didn't take long to get to Rata Village. It was only a quarter-day's walk away from the City, and I realized that I didn't need food…
Seriously, I didn't feel a single pang of hunger or even thirst the whole day after eating that roast boar yesterday afternoon.
Is it because I'm a Heroic Spirit… not necessarily human?
I shook my head clear. There's no use in questioning that since it's not like not being hungry or thirsty was a bad thing. It would actually help if I were immune to starvation or dehydration, just in case something happens to me that prevents the acquisition of food or water.
Finally making it to Rata Village, I ask the locals for directions to the address listed on the Request tag. They pointed me to a little house at the far end of the Village.
I knocked on the wooden door and heard the familiar high-pitched voice of a child. "Coming! Who is it…?"
A little girl with brown hair tied in twin braids opened the door, another girl with lighter brown hair stood behind her.
"Ah…! Hello…? M-Miss, what brings you to this little Village in the middle of nowhere…?"
The little girl seemed a little nervous. Probably because I was wearing high-quality clothing. I might look like nobility to a regular Villager from the sticks.
"Hi! My name is Astolfo! I'm actually here for a Request." I said as I put my hands on my knees and leaned slightly down to her level.
"Oh! You saw my request at the Mercernary Guild!"
Her request? Did this cute little girl go all the way to the City to make a request? That's… totally adorable… I mean, cliche! I want to help even more.
The girl invited me in and even made me a cup of tea. I wasn't really into tea, but since I'm now in the body of a Legendary Englishman Hero of Myth, I quite like it now.
"Are you sure you want to take this job, Miss Astolfo? The Guild warned me that no one would take it because I couldn't offer much…"
'Miss' Astolfo… Jesus, you're killin' me, little girl.
"You can just call me Astolfo, Marca. And it's fine, I want to help since you're so cute~!"
Marca, as she's named, blushed and looked away. "Cute?! I mean, th-thank you so much!"
At first, she was embarrassed, but it turned into excitement right away once she heard that I would do the request. "Then can we do it right now, Astolfo?!"
"No."
She flinched and her smile froze, like she turned to stone in disappointment. I patted her head in some comfort and smiled. "I can't take you out~. Not without your parents' permission, silly~. It's already crossing a line for a stranger to be in here without a guardian present!"
Saying that, I took our conversation outside, all the while Marca looked crestfallen. As I made myself more comfortable on the bench outside, I chuckled.
"While we wait for your parents, do you mind telling me why you took it upon yourself to issue a request to the Mercenary Guild?" I asked.
Marca took a seat on the bench, dangling her legs. She looked away from me and started her explanation as her little sister played with a straw doll across from us.
"…Our Dad passed away last year and our Mom had been working to raise us all by herself…"
Goddamnit! My tears are already starting to fall!!!
"Dad used to gather herbs every year and make medicines that we could sell. I'm sure if I gather the herbs we need, Mommy will be surprised! Not only that…"
She turned to me, flashing the most innocent smile, "I want Mommy to be happy!"
"Ah, Miss Astolfo?!" Marca panicked a little when she saw me trying and failing to hold back my tears.
I swear I was never this sentimental! Sure, I cried when I watched '1917', but that's a war movie, so of course a man could cry!
But this? It's just too adorable and sad and precious!
"I'm fine, Marca…! Just a little moved by your story…! *hic*!"
After getting a hold of it, I find myself hyped up for herb gathering of all things.
"Worry not, Marca! We'll gather all the herbs you need and more! Hahaha!" I declared as I pointed my sword to the sky.
Soon, her mother, Seona, arrived and I introduced myself. She was shocked that her daughter placed a request, but pleased with me for staying put until I had permission.
Of course, Seona asked me to just go alone, fearing the monsters in the forest might hurt her daughter, but since Marca needs to do this, I put her worries to ease.
"I'm powerful, Miss Seona. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. See? Watch…"
I swing my sword to the right, the weapon breaking up into segments tied to metal wire. It cut a tree a dozen meters away in half. I didn't stop there, though.
With a flick of my wrist, I whipped the sword and grabbed the top half of the cut tree and pulled it hard towards me.
"Miss Astolfo?! Watch out!" Seona yelled.
I just smiled and snapped my sword back to normal.
In a flash, I cut the wood into perfectly fine firewood. Though, I'm not as tactful as to make the firewood comically fall into a perfect stack like you'd see in shows.
"Wow…!" Seona's reaction was of awe.
"Wow!!!" Marca's, and her little sister Helina's reaction, was one of excitement.
I sheathed my sword and smiled at the family.
"See? You have nothing to worry about. I will protect Marca with my life, if I have to." I said as I struck a fist to my chest.
Seona slowly nodded after recovering from the shock. "Yes… I think you might be right… Just, please be careful…! Don't risk your life and just run away if something that dangerous appears…"
I nodded in agreement. Safety first. "Well, Marca? Lead the way!"
"Yes! Thank you, Mommy! I'll make sure to be extra careful!" Marca gave her mother a tight hug before running to the forest edge with me right behind her.