Taisetsuna looked at her hands that were resting over the table, grabbing each other to stop them from shaking. She sighed and asked in a low, sad voice. “Why are you telling me this now? You said you wanted to tell me before someone else told me. With whom did you speak about this?”
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“I told Princess Mere that I remembered another life after that rock, and I told Miss Koyaga some minutes ago. I didn’t go into so many details as I did with you because they didn’t need to know that much, but it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t tell you everything. See why I kept this to myself? I didn’t want to see that sad face you have right now.”
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“Yeah… How couldn’t I be sad? Maybe I lost my Nozomu forever, my friend, my brother. It was easier to think that you had lost your memories, and you were now cooler than you used to be, as if you had gotten older, but one day you would recover your memories, and we would laugh about this. Now… I felt nothing except sadness. What… How… I mean, what can we do?”
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As he explained, Nozomu held her hands and felt her trembling. “I want you to see me as your friend. Probably not one that grew up with you, but as a good friend that will forever be at your side, if you want. Or if you prefer, I can go away, and you will never see me again if that would be easier for you.”
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“No, I don’t want you to go away. I like you and the old Nozomu. When I look at you, I see the little kid that used to climb trees to get fruit for me because I was afraid of heights. I see the little kid that broke his arm one of those times because a branch broke, and he held his screams of pain so that I wasn’t worried. At the same time, I see the seriousness in your eyes, and it puzzles me. I want to know you better. I want you near me, Nozo, or Jack. Nozo… Yeah, Nozo sounds better, because Jack is a weird and stupid name. What kind of parents would ever name a child like that?”
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“It was the name of my grandfather, from my mother’s side. I used to have his eyes. So, we can be friends even if I won’t ever remember growing up with you? Because ever since I met you, I keep on thinking that I have never met such a cool girl, and I want to know what kind of strong woman you will become.”
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That comment granted him a slight punch straight to the chest. “I am already a woman, moron! I am an adult and can have babies! Stop pulling the older card on me, will you? Even if you remember being older in another life, in Azurath, we have the same age! Dumbass…”
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Nozomu made a pained face as he grabbed his chest, making Taisetsuna laugh. “Oh, the pain! The unbearable pain! Yeah, I prefer to see you laugh instead of sad. I am sorry for this, but I had to tell you. Are we cool?”
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“Thanks for telling me, Nozo, and yes, we are cool. Besides, what would you do without me around to save your butt? You would die in two days with your reckless behaviour! If it wasn’t for me, you would be dead like three times already!”
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“Yeah, you are right. One with that rock, two with that explosion in the back garden, and three in that cave. Meaning, I need to save your life twice, because I also saved your life in that cave. So, we are at two to one, and you are winning.”
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Taisetsuna tapped his hands as she spoke. “If you stay around, maybe you get that chance. We have the Academy to face and the Quests after graduating. Unless you changed your mind because if the Princess gives us a Noble title and lands, we don’t need to work as Adventurers to save money for a farm.”
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“You say that, but I see your eyes glowing with the thought of going on Quests, killing Monsters and saving people. Whatever you decide to do, I will be right by your side. Maybe not forever, but I will be for as long as I can because I don’t want to die too young, and being an Adventurer is extremely dangerous.”
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“With me around, you don’t need to worry. I will be right there next to you, saving your life once again. When we decide to stop and settle down, I hope we have a few hundred people that are alive because of us. That would be a good story to tell our kids.”
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Nozomu offered his hand for a handshake. “We have a deal, Taisetsuna Kawa!”
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“We have a deal, Nozomu Shinchaku!”
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They shook their hands, and then Nozomu got up, and as he was heading to the door, Taisetsuna asked, “Tomorrow you are going with Miss Koyaga to more Cities, right? Do you think you will finish in time and that we will have enough money to apply to the Academy in a few days?”
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“I think I will. If I don’t get money from the licences in time, we just need to sell a few more Healing Potions to the Guild Master. Or make more that we can sell in other Cities. Whatever comes first.”
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Taisetsuna hugged him and whispered in his ear. “Thanks for telling me everything, Jack Snyder, but to me, you will always be my dear Nozo.”
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“Thanks, Suna. I feared losing your friendship the moment I told you, but I had to explain everything to you. Have a good night.”
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He left, and Taisetsuna sighed after closing the door. She went to her bed and mumbled as she sat on the edge. “Darn it, I wasn’t counting on that. I almost kissed him when he said he was someone else. Now I understand why he seemed so different. He looks like my crazy Nozomu, but the way he spoke and the way he looked so concerned, that wasn’t my dumb Nozomu. He is so cool… No wonder that even the Princess seemed to feel so comfortable near him… But he sees me only as a friend… That stupid soon-to-be Viscount Robert Keskula might be right. I like this Nozomu… I suppose I could try… make him fall for me… Not sure if he will ever… Argh! Why are men so difficult?”
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While Taisetsuna was mumbling, Nozomu was in his room, walking back and forth and thinking.
The proposal that Koyaga told him about had its pros, but it also had a pretty good number of cons.
One thing that concerned him was what would happen if he met someone he liked and she refused to accept the arrangement.
He measured that against the possibility of the Princess never getting an heir, and that frightened him because he could very well see all those greedy Nobles in her court starting a civil war to get the Throne for themselves. That was something he knew he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if, because of his refusal, the country went into a civil war.
Even worse would be if the Empire saw that turmoil as an opportunity to invade and annex the once free country. So, if he found someone that didn’t accept to be with him as a concubine, then he would have to find another woman. There was no way he was going to cause the deaths of so many people!
Another thing that crossed his mind was what Taisetsuna would think about that, considering he couldn’t tell her anything about the agreement. Considering her character, she would think that was strange, but she would accept it and most probably be happy for him.
What was also a problem was that if one day in the future he wanted to leave that arrangement and live a different life, considering that the future is always open for everyone, he understood that was not even a possibility if he accepted. If he said yes, it would be forever. Considering the advantages of that new life and the peace it meant for the country, together with the happiness of two women that he cared about, that was not even a sacrifice.
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He went to the mirror hanging on the wall in front of the basin that had a bucket with water underneath and mumbled to his reflection, “If it was you, Nozomu, I bet you would love to be with two women. Lucky for me, I am not like you. You were a total stupid brat, weren’t you? I think I know what I will do. I guess I already knew the moment Koyaga told me about her talk with the Princess. Being with Mere would be nice, but I would probably compare her with Theresa, and that wouldn’t be fair to her, and it would be too painful for me. It’s better this way.”
…
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In the morning, Nozomu was in front of the oven, taking out a batch of pizzas, and when he was placing them on the counter, the Guild Master entered the kitchen and surprised him with his excitement. “Nozomu, I finished counting the sales of the last few days, and your share is more than enough for you to pay the tuition for you and Taisetsuna in the Academy! When your money comes from the sales in other Cities, you will have enough money for all the extra expenses!”
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“Really? Nice! I need to tell Taisetsuna about that!”
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“I will tell her when things calm down in the main room! There is a big line of people waiting for pizza, chocolates, and that new version of chewing gum! Let me make more pizzas and you go away! Koyaga was helping Taisetsuna, but the four extra helpers that I hired are already with her. Two of them will help Taisetsuna, and two will come to the kitchen. I needed to hire more people because in a few days you both are going to the Academy, and I need helpers that already know how to make your food!”
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Nozomu placed the last pizza on the counter, and the Guild Master pushed him out of the kitchen before he had time to ask who those new helpers were.
In the main room, Nozomu saw four youngsters, two boys and two girls, hearing Koyaga. The moment she saw him arrive, she told the girls to help Taisetsuna, and the boys ran to the kitchen, almost bumping into Nozomu.
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He looked back to check on them and asked, “Miss Koyaga, are those…”
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Before he could finish, she grabbed his right hand and guided him to the outside. On the main street, the line went on and on, way past the Church, which was right after the stables. Nozomu nodded and greeted with a smile everyone that was waving at him, and just inside the stable, Koyaga slowed down.
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She opened the door of the cubicle that had the Unicorns and said, “We have more Cities to visit, and the ones that are next on that list of yours have the Guild of Adventurers a little farther from the Magical Circle. Not every Guild is inside a City, you know?”
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Nozomu cradled her arm to make her stop and look at him as he spoke. “About our talk last night. I will do it. I had already decided the moment you talked, but I needed time to think about everything. I will be with Mere as many times as needed for her to get pregnant when she decides it is the right time, and I will be her consort. Like that, you can become a Captain of the Royal Guards, and live in the Castle. The Guild Master just told me I have money to pay the tuition of the Academy for me and Taisetsuna, so everything is set on my part.”
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Koyaga hugged him with tears in her eyes and spoke while making a big smile. “Thank you, Nozomu! I know we asked too much of you, but I was sure you would say yes! Oh, I can’t wait to tell Mere! She will be so happy! It’s probably better if I sent a Messenger to her! I bet she is as nervous as I was, and she is dying to know your decision!”
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She hugged him again, and they then left the stable with the Unicorns, speaking in a low tone about what they had to do and what to avoid, so that no one got suspicious of their arrangement.
…
ns 172.69.7.47da2
and then Add to home screen.