Several days had passed since Izayoi and Yuka exchanged information. They both found themselves at an impasse, unsure of their next move.
Yuka was racking her brain trying to figure out how to hide the fact that she was a hero and return to her previous life. The occasional suggestions she heard were all impractical. Ideas like wearing a mask sounded like desperate attempts. A mask would just look suspicious...
Izayoi was also in a similar state, unable to make a decision.
Images of everyone's smiles kept flashing in his mind, making him yearn to be a part of that world again.
Both Izayoi and Yuka were stuck. They eventually concluded that overthinking wasn't helping.
They decided they needed a break to clear their minds. However, they were right in the middle of the Demon King's castle on the demon continent. The surrounding areas, once bustling castle towns, were now barren wastelands. Going for a walk would inevitably lead to encounters with monsters, which wouldn't be relaxing at all.
So, their activities were confined to the castle.
That's when Izayoi remembered that Yuka's weapons and armor were practically useless and recalled the existence of the treasure room they had nearly forgotten.
As the name suggests, the treasure room stored various treasures they had acquired over time. Among them should be magical artifacts and weapons and armor.
To be honest, Izayoi didn't have a detailed understanding of the treasure room's contents. He vaguely remembered Rem explaining everything to him a long time ago, but he had completely forgotten the details.
Moreover, when they defeated heroes, a plethora of items from the hero's inventory would spill out. Organizing them was a hassle, so they just dumped everything into the treasure room, making it hard to identify anything now.
Feeling a bit carefree, Izayoi decided to bring Yuka to the treasure room.
Yuka was speechless, seemingly in shock at the haphazardly piled up items before her.
"...Wha-? What is all this...?"
After a few moments of bewilderment, Yuka regained her composure. Still, she seemed hesitant to step further into the room.
"What is all this mess? And that pile of swords! They look so powerful. And... wow, a mountain of gold coins..."
Gently nudging the overwhelmed Yuka, Izayoi stepped into the dusty treasure room. It showed signs of age and neglect, and he wondered how it hadn't collapsed.
Izayoi began to rummage through the treasures, hoping to find something interesting. Yuka hesitantly reached out towards the pile of swords.
As they searched, they found a variety of items, including a non-functional golden sword and a wand emitting a sinister aura, amongst other fascinating finds.
"…Hmm? This robe..."
Izayoi casually picked up a black robe, comparing it to the one he currently wore. Both were black, but his current attire had noticeable decorations. Wearing the simple black robe might make him less conspicuous if he were to visit the human continent.
He sighed at his indecisiveness.
"Why the sigh?"
Yuka, with sharp hearing, asked. Izayoi shrugged, trying to divert the conversation.
"Did you find anything useful?"
With a slight frown at his attempt to change the topic, Yuka said, "There's too much stuff here. How did all of this accumulate?"
"They just come from the heroes we defeat."
"All of this? From the heroes?"
"Yes."
Yuka looked around with a complex expression.
"It feels wrong, like I'm grave-robbing."
"It'd be a waste to just let these treasures gather dust."
"It's not about logic..."
Yuka gazed at a sword stained with dark red spots, probably from a hero they had defeated before.
Izayoi decided to find a suitable weapon for Yuka.
"How about this?"
She cautiously accepted the armor Izayoi offered and began to equip it. As she was doing so, Izayoi continued searching for other notable items.
"Ah, is this... wine?"
Izayoi found a wine bottle, likely left by one of the previous heroes. He sniffed it, detecting a rich aroma, suggesting it was of high quality.
Drinking wine after such a long time might be a good idea.
As he set the wine aside, Yuka finished equipping the armor.
"How do I look?"
Yuka struck a pose. The armor was simple, not restricting movement, and suited her well. But...
"Is it a compliment to say that armor looks good on you?"
"It's quite disappointing."
Yuka looked slightly irritated.
"Now, about the sword..."
As Izayoi searched for a suitable sword for Yuka, he mused aloud, "You seem more suited for hand-to-hand combat than wielding a sword."
He vividly remembered her punching through a defense barrier, so the image of her swinging a sword didn't come to mind.
The story depicts a moment in the lives of Izayoi and Yuka as they navigate the challenges of their unique circumstances, highlighting their bond and individual personalities. "I'm stumped..."
The image in his mind was so strong that he couldn't imagine himself holding a sword.
Standing in front of a pile of swords, Izayoi was pondering when Yuka sat down next to him.
"I've been thinking of leaving here tomorrow."
"...Really?"
Clanking with the sound of metal, he tried to reply neutrally to what she told him.
"My right arm has healed, so I'll be fine."
"Is that so..."
Such a severe injury healed in a week. The common sense from their old world doesn't apply in this one. However, Izayoi felt that even the norms of this world might not apply to the girl in front of him.
"So... um..."
"What is it?"
"Well, hold on a second..."
After a deep breath, Yuka mustered the courage to speak.
"What are you planning to do from here on?"
Izayoi stopped what he was doing and glanced at her. Yuka was looking back at him with a worried expression.
What should he do? No, what does he want to do?
To be honest, the answer was already clear in Izayoi's mind, believing his choice was the best. However, he still lacked confidence in his decision. Perhaps because mistakes from his past haunted him. He knew the pain of loss, feared making mistakes, and was scared to decide.
"I'm so weak," Izayoi thought.
Unable to bear the silence, Yuka hesitantly spoke, "You know, I'd really like if you came with me... I mean, you're strong. Traveling alone can be unexpectedly unsettling. So... um..."
She rambled on, like a child searching for the right words, being careful not to touch on the real issue. Yuka was being considerate of Izayoi, reluctant to force her wishes upon him, which is why she couldn't express herself clearly.
Izayoi shifted his gaze back to the pile of swords. A particular sword caught his eye. It wasn't extravagantly decorated but gave off a straightforward, robust impression, indicating unbreakable strength.
Picking up the sword, he presented it to Yuka.
"How about this one?"
Yuka silently took the sword and swung it a few times. Apparently satisfied, she nodded and held onto the sword tightly.
Having ensured her choice, Izayoi lightly tapped her shoulder and left the treasury, picking up a bottle of liquor and a robe on his way out.
Walking through the aging corridor, Izayoi mumbled to himself, "I really am weak..."
The wind that blew through the hallway made the robe flutter.