Not Sure, Another World Reincarnation

Chapter 74: I Actually Don't Mind Helping Out, Rather I Like It

The girl looked at me with a surprised expression on her face.

Huh? Did I tell you my name? Huh? You didnt tell me your name. Right? Then, how?

Triela looked very confused and flustered. Just like back then at the orphanage. She was always worrying and taking on the burden by herself. It feels nostalgic. I gingerly lowered my hood and the girl stared at my face.

Does she understand now? She understands, right?

Um, what? .huh? Eh? But huh? No way?

One more push, then? I took off my glasses and called out to her.

Its been a while, Triela. ..Ren? Yes. .Lies, Ren isRen is supposed to Im right here. Lies Its not a lie. Uaaaaaa!

Triela hugged me. She was hugging me really tightly. To be honest, it was painful.

You were supposed to have fallen off of a cliff and died, you were supposed to be dead. Im not dead. But, because, soI Its alright. Im here now. Uaaaaaaaaa!

She was crying. The girl who was always resolute in front of everyone was now clinging to me.

I heard that you died, so, so-! Yes, Im alive. Im not dead. So its alright.

She continued on incoherently, and I continued on reassuring her that I was alright as I stroked the back of her tearful, clinging body.

Ren, Ren, Rennn. Yes. Uuuuu.

I kept stroking her back until she stopped crying and calmed down.

Uu-

Triela looked embarrassed and had her hands on both cheeks. Cute. To be frank, I want to hug her. But wait? Was Triela always the cute character type? Huh~?

Did you calm down? Yes, Im alright. Ive calmed down.

She seems to have finally regained her composure and was now staring at my face as if she were inspecting me. Uh, Im the real deal, okay?

.Youre really Ren? Its not a lie? Its not a lie. I really am Ren.

She continued on checking by poking and pulling my cheeks.

I-It-huurtss. Ah, sorry.

It felt a bit painful. But this kind of exchange felt nostalgic.

That unnecessarily formal speech and the similar face, it is you, Ren! And the plumpness of your cheeks are also the same!

Eh, what is with that confirmation method.

Incidentally, my formal speech is a habit from my previous life. Basically, I would speak formally to everyone except my relatives. Somehow, I didnt lose that habit even after being reincarnated and not having any memories. Rather, the look of my face

Did my face change that much? Its completely different! It was already cute before, but now its completely different! Rather than just cute now, its super cute! Its outrageously cute!

Huh, that much? Being told that I changed that much by someone who knew me in the past makes me realize just how much Ive changed. Right, but Ill still continue hiding my face. That way is better.

But youre alivereally. Well, yes. But there were various troubles.

As expected, I couldnt speak about the skills, so I explained everything while omitting various things.

I went with the story that after falling off the cliff, I somehow managed to survive, and then barely managed to live on through eating bark and drinking muddy water. As for Norn, I brushed through it by saying that I was able to obtain her through a chance encounter during that time.

Ugh.lying to my first friend in this world, and also my closest and one of my only friends at the orphanageit makes me want to die of self-loathing. Uuuuuuu!!

I see, youve been through a lot. Well, basically. So youre helping out with blacksmithing there now? Well, theres various reasons.

There was just too much to explain. And I didnt want to.

But you are doing something there right now. Right, its at the extent that I dont have to worry about living expenses. I see-.

After that, we enjoyed talking about various things for a while. But the topic of the conversations were mostly about life after becoming an adventurer. Incidentally, I was also given info about the toad-faced merchant who funded the orphanage.

In the past, there have been several girls who have also learned a rare skill like me. Likewise, there have been times where they were also attacked by bandits while traveling and went missing.

However, there hadnt been any searches conducted during those times, and this time I was treated like I had died. Which means I didnt have to worry about pursuers anymore.

And naturally Triela would never give me away! Or so I was told. But Ill be careful just in case.

She said she and several girls were currently staying at a cheap inn near the outskirts of the city, and they had rented a large room since there were a lot of them.

In the end, I just cant tell herbs apart. Even when I ask the older adventurers, they only say that its something thats very difficult to learn. I also cant take on any subjugation requests, and even if I try to defeat monsters by claiming it as self-defense, its hard to do so with a shabby weapon.

Triela, didnt you listen to the explanation given when you registered with the guild? Eh? I did? Or rather, what about it? The resource room, did you use it? Whats that? .So you didnt listen to the explanation. Eh? What do you mean?

I explained about the Adventurers Guild resource room. About how it was free to use, and how there was information and pictures of herbs, and how there was even information regarding the ecology of monsters and how to counter them. There was also information on the requirements for learning skills, which was helpful for those who wanted to obtain skills.

Incidentally, Ive already confirmed that the guild in the royal capital also has a reference room. But there werent any branch locations, so it was only in the royal capital guild headquarters which was located in the second division where the wealthy class lived.

No way~ if there was such a place, you should have told me about it first.

Well, thats why I asked about the explanation to begin with.

Triela, youll be able to get information you need now and for later in the future if you go there. From there on, itll be up to your own efforts. I see, thank you! As expected, Ren is amazing! Thats not true. No, no, youre just being modest. .By the way, Cain is actually also here with us. You dont want to meet, right? I dont want to meet. Absolutely not.

Cain was someone who used to bully me back at the orphanage. He was really persistent with the bullying too. To be clear, hes currently the person I dislike the most in this world.

Cain was the leader of the kids in that town, and it was because of him that the children of the orphanage wouldnt be bullied by those with parents. Looking back, Cain was the only one who bullied me in the orphanage, which probably kept back the other potential bullies.

Now that Ive regained my memories as an adult from my previous life, I could understand the reasoning. But before from a childs perspective, it just seemed like he was bullying me to keep me down, or because I was annoying, and such.

Its easy to understand from an old mans point of view, but it still wasnt something that could be excused. Essentially, Cains bullying was a bit too excessive.

I had been chased and forced to tears countless times. A few of the more developed girls, including myself, had their food taken away and were told that we were too big to need it. There were countless nights where we would be unable to sleep due to hunger. In truth, he was actually giving the meals he took from me to the younger children. But that and my hunger are two different matters.

Its not like I wanted to be taller. And even though I was taller, I was still skinny under the clothes. It was to the point where my ribs were showing through my body, and my limbs were so bony that it would make you want to look away!

I suppose he was just trying to protect everyone else and perhaps look out for the younger children. But that didnt mean the remaining few of us should be left to starve. If he had explained his reasoning to us, and asked us to split our meals and been nice about it, it might have convinced us.

But instead he just ate his own meals regularly, and when he took mine, he didnt even bother to explain he was sharing it with the younger children. Plus, he was bullying me relentlessly too.

It was possible that my excessive dislike for men might actually be due to mild trauma from Cains bullying, rather than it being a correction from being an old man in my previous life.

Thus, after taking those into account, I couldnt forgive him. Even if he apologized, I still wont ever forgive him. I dont even want to see his face. Arent I supposed to be a mature adult on the inside? That doesnt matter. Grudges related to food are dreadful. Im able to eat my fill now, but thats that.

Im being narrow-minded? Say whatever you like. Its hard even for older adults to overlook and forgive that easily. In other words, what Im trying to say is, I hate him! And thats basically it.

Ahhhhhhhh, Im getting more and more angry now that I remember! That a-hole! Ill never forgive you! Never!

Please dont ever bring him here. I dont even want to see his face.

Seriously, he should just die already.

I thought as much~ I understand, Ill do that.

*Gurrrr..urghhhh

As we were talking, Trielas stomach suddenly grumbled.

Sorry. Dont worry about it, how about we eat?

I accessed Storage, but I pretended I was taking out food from my bag. Egg sandwiches and orange juice. And some apples.

Here, this is for Triela. Wait, I cant accept that! Its fine.

I forcefully gave them to her.

But I wont take it back even if you refuse. Ill just leave it out here. .Alright, Ill accept it. Thanks for the meal. Yes.

When she took a bite, her eyes became wide, then after the second bite, she began wolfing the food down. Since she had finished the portion I gave her so quickly, I took another one out of my bag and gave it to her.

Here.

She was a bit hesitant, so I pressed it onto her. I was going to force her to eat. To be honest, she was too skinny. It was painful to look at her since she was so skinny. It seemed my intentions were conveyed to her, so she took it and finished it instantly. I handed her more. And she ate. I gave another. And she ate.

When I looked at Trielas face, she was crying a little. I wasnt sure why she was crying, but that didnt stop her hands from continuing to eat.

Thanks for the food. I ate a bit too much, so as expected, Im feeling stuffed. It was nothing. Did Ren make this? Its very good. And youre able to buy eggs too.youre really working hard. Yes, Im doing my best.

Right, Im working hard. Mainly on various hobbies.

Heres some for the other children. Please have them eat them.

I handed her some extra sandwiches. I didnt just give her egg sandwiches, but several other kinds like ham sandwiches and the likes.

ThisI cant accept all these Its fine. ..But Cain is also there? Then thats just how it is.

Cain being there was unrelated to the hunger of Triela and the other children. Triela was my first and closest friend in this world. Or at least, thats how it was for me. She was well-liked by everyone, so I might not be viewed the same in her eyes, but that was a separate matter.

Alright, Ill accept them. Please come back whenever youre free. Ill give you more at that time too. .Okay.

Did my feelings reach her? Im not too sure.

And also, take this.

I took the sword on my waist and held it out to her.

This is a sword I made. I want Triela to use it. No, I cant take anymore after everything youve already done. I wont take no. It doesnt matter how Triela feels.

Trielas arms were preoccupied with the sandwiches, so I was able to do whatever I wanted. I removed the dagger on Trielas waist and strapped on my sword. I couldnt stand the idea of the girl I considered to be my closest friend, being put in danger due to poor equipment. It was simply my own selfishness.

The occasional pushy side of you hasnt changed. Of course. Im me.

We exchanged those words with each and for some reason began laughing.

Please come again. Theres so much more I want to talk about. Yeah, I also have a lot to talk about, so Ill definitely be back.

After promising to meet again we separated, and I continued on forging swords in the afternoon.