Alone

Aside from the excruciating, agonizing death that had made Subaru feel as though he were drowning in flames, the oil swamp near the village was practically a gift from heaven.

Its supply was inexhaustible.

Hagen continued making the casings, while Subaru gathered raw materials and assembled them. Subaru's task was clear: make it easy for everyone in the village to use fire. Of course, he also intended to make money along the way.

"Hey, kid! How's it going today?"

"Not bad. It's great weather for sleeping in."

"Sleeping?! How can you sleep at your age? Get out there and sell some lighters! At the rate you're making them, when will everyone in the village get one?"

"Aren't I up already? You really do think of nobody but yourself."

"Kid! Thanks to that iron box of yours, when my old chills flared up again yesterday, I got up in the middle of the night to light the stove, and one click was all it took-it was so convenient!"

"No need to thank me. I made money from it too."

Subaru had become a real celebrity in the village. After hearing that it was technology from his homeland, most of the Oni villagers put aside their disdain for the "weak human" and began to see him in a new light.

"Could it be that Subaru made that magical box that lights with a click?"

As usual, Rem had brought Subaru breakfast, only to find that the villagers were many times more enthusiastic toward him than before.

"Is that what people are saying? Well, it's true. It's a common bit of technology where I come from. So, Rem-chan, are you proud of me?"

"...It's true, then. Subaru has become so popular. Just like my sister."

"Ram? Hmm... I hardly ever see Ram, so I don't really know what people in the village think of her."

"Oh, right! Rem, please take this! Of course I remembered to save one for you. How could I possibly leave out the most important person?"

"No. Rem doesn't need one."

"Don't be shy. It's a little something from me. I always repay a favor-that's how I do things. If someone does you a favor and you don't repay them, you'll go to hell."

Subaru insisted on pressing the lighter into Rem's hand.

"Be careful not to burn yourself. Of course, a little thing like this can't possibly repay you for all the meals you've made me, so look forward to what's coming."

After Subaru's persuasion, Rem finally accepted the lighter. She held the little cold metal box in her palm without opening it or playing with it.

"...Well then, since Subaru has more important things to do now, I suppose you don't need to work with Rem anymore."

"About that... I'm really sorry! Everyone's been pressing me so hard." Subaru pressed his palms together and bowed slightly, his face full of apology.

"I see. It's all right. Subaru, go take care of your own work."

Rem nodded calmly, turned around, and walked to her workplace alone. Subaru stood where he was and watched her leave. Why did it feel as though he'd abandoned her? He shook his head a moment later, thinking he was reading too much into it.

They were just working in different places now, not ending their friendship, and Rem wasn't that petty.

Subaru got even busier.

Of course, he didn't forget to keep improving his strength while making money.

After familiarizing himself with the magic pistol, Subaru felt that a pure mage was doomed once an enemy got close.

As it happened, he had the extremely heavy shortsword Hagen had given him, so Subaru decided to add close-combat training to his routine. He couldn't wear the sword at his waist; with more than thirty kilograms hanging from it, his lower body would collapse on the spot.

So he found a sturdy leather strap, sheathed the sword, and carried it on his back. Viewed from the front, the hilt was just visible above his right shoulder.

Just like Zelda... Link, he only had to reach back and grab the hilt to draw his weapon.

Then he asked Antares to keep absorbing mana from the air and strengthen his body slowly and steadily.

He had to strengthen himself with mana and train with weights. Only then could he call it a well-rounded regimen!

Subaru pushed himself hard in his training, and he also forced himself to work for a whole day. As a result, when he returned to the cabin that night, he took the sword off and set it on the floor, then collapsed straight onto his bedding and fell into a deep sleep before he could even eat dinner.

Early the next morning, the first thing Subaru did after waking was run to Rem and apologize profusely. "I was really exhausted yesterday. I couldn't keep myself awake and fell asleep-I'm so sorry! I made you come all that way for nothing!" Rem merely nodded calmly and said, "It's all right."

Subaru stared at her face for a long time, hoping to find some trace of anger or disappointment, but he saw nothing. He wasn't sure whether Rem blamed him for accidentally standing her up.

On the new day, Subaru was still busy as hell.

Word of the lighters had spread everywhere, and nearly everyone in the village was convinced of the magical iron box's convenience.

Subaru spent the entire day assembling lighters from morning to night, but that was far from all he had to do.

To placate the villagers who were eagerly waiting, Subaru decided to introduce a reservation system. Just the day before, he had discovered someone hanging around outside his door and reselling them.

The guy had secretly followed Subaru around, buying up each new batch the moment Subaru finished it, then selling them for several times the price to people who couldn't get a place in line.

As a result, a long queue had formed right outside Subaru's cabin, blocking the entrance completely.

Subaru stood at the door, looking at the winding queue stretching out of sight. So many people had gathered outside his shabby little cabin that even the chickens next door had been crowded into a tree.

He realized that perhaps the reservation system hadn't been a good idea. But everyone was already here. If he canceled it now, wouldn't he just be messing them around?

So Subaru gritted his teeth and began taking reservations one by one, deciding that he had to hire someone to help tomorrow. Otherwise, forget training-assembling lighters alone would work him to death.

That evening, Rem came to Subaru's cabin carrying a plate of steaming dinner.

Then she discovered that she couldn't get inside at all.

"Oh, you really came in person. You're Lady Ram's younger sister, aren't you?" A villager at the very end of the line had spotted Rem.

"Yes. Rem is my sister's younger sister. May I ask what this is?"

"The kid asked us in advance to apologize to you for him. As you can see, he's quite the popular fellow in the village now."

The villager rubbed his hands awkwardly. His face was apologetic, but he couldn't hide his eagerness for a lighter.

"I hope you can understand. Everyone wants to get their hands on such a useful tool as soon as possible."

Rem stood where she was, holding the plate. People hurried past her one after another, going around her, ignoring her, and joining the end of the long queue.

Some villagers didn't even notice she was there. Their eyes were all fixed on the black-haired boy at the cabin door, and on the iron box that was said to light with a click.

Those enthusiastic, expectant faces, smiling as they sang the praises of the name "Subaru," swept past the edge of her vision one after another.

Rem was silent, her thoughts unknown, and lowered her gaze. Then she turned around and left.

On her way back, Rem passed a wooden barrel by the roadside used for kitchen scraps. She walked up to it and stopped. Then she raised the plate of still-steaming dinner, turned her wrist, and tipped it all in.

The food landed at the bottom of the barrel with a soft, muffled sound.

She didn't look back. Her figure slender, she walked slowly toward home.