I’m Just Leveling up Efficiently, but for Some Reason, the People Around Me Seem to Be Looking at Me With Disapproval - Chapter 6

Erin was shaking with her hand pressed against her chest.

From far away she could hear the sounds of battle.

Clashing swords.

Angry shouts.
Screams.

And every now and then, beast-like roars.

Those were Yushuu’s.

“Yushuu…”

Erin called his name like a prayer.

Her husband Yujin was gathering the nearby villagers and desperately looking for an escape route.

He probably wanted to run back to Yushuu right away.

But he didn’t.

He couldn’t waste the time Yushuu was risking his life to create for them.

Just thinking about that made Erin’s chest feel like it was going to rip apart.

“If only I… If only I was stronger…”

Erin was from the White Wolf race.

Her physical abilities were higher than a normal human’s.

She could use a little healing magic too.

But she wasn’t built for fighting.

She hadn’t trained enough to battle.

If she faced the Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs rampaging in the village now, she probably couldn’t even buy time.

So she had no choice but to run.

Leaving her son behind.

That fact was tormenting her.

“Erin.”

Avi, who was next to her, spoke up softly.

“…Are you okay?”

Normally Avi didn’t show her emotions much.

But this time was different.

Her hands were trembling.

Her eyes were red.

Even so, she was trying her hardest to support Erin.

Seeing Avi like that made Erin’s heart ache.

This girl was scared too.

She was being crushed by the fear of losing Yushuu.

Yet she was still worrying about Erin.

“…I’m sorry, Avi.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I’m his mother but… I couldn’t protect Yushuu.”

Avi shook her head.

“That’s not it.”

“Huh…?”

“I think Yushuu… didn’t want to be protected.”

Avi clenched her fists tight.

“I think he wanted to protect everyone. The village, Yujin, you Erin… and probably me too.”

Erin caught her breath at those words.

Yushuu had always been a kind boy.

Ever since he was little.

He couldn’t just ignore someone in trouble.

That’s why he was out there fighting while getting hurt so badly.

How much weight was that small back of his carrying?

Just thinking about it made tears threaten to spill out.

That was when it happened.

A villager came running out from deep in the forest.

“Yujin! Erin!”

Yujin turned around.

“What is it!”

“There’s a huge one in the center of the village!”

“A huge one?”

“Yeah! It’s not a normal Ugly Pig Tribe Orc! It has horns! It’s giving orders to the other orcs!”

The air around them froze.

Horns.

A commander.

A higher-ranking one.

Yujin’s face changed color.

“Don’t tell me… it’s an [Ugly Pig Captain Orc].”

“You know about it?”

When Erin asked, Yujin nodded with a bitter look.

“I heard about them back when I was traveling. They’re higher-ranking orcs that lead normal Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs. Their level and fighting skill are on a completely different scale.”

“No…”

Strength left Erin’s knees.

Yushuu was already fighting normal Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs with his life on the line.

And now there was something even stronger.

If he fought that, no matter how blessed Yushuu was——.

“Yushuu’s going to…”

Avi muttered.

Yujin closed his eyes in pain.

“We have to stop him. But…”

But how?

Right now Yushuu was the only one in the village who could beat the Ugly Pig Tribe Orcs.

If they stopped him, villagers would die.

If they didn’t stop him, Yushuu might die.

No one had an answer.

Avi looked toward the village while trembling.

“I…”

Her voice was tiny.

“I’m going.”

Erin’s eyes widened.

“You can’t, Avi!”

“But!”

Avi’s voice shook.

“I hate just waiting around anymore…! I hate just praying from far away while Yushuu is the only one suffering…!”

Erin was speechless.

Right then, a faint light appeared at Avi’s feet.

“…Eh?”

Avi blinked in surprise.

The light wrapped around her body and slowly gathered.

It was the light of a blessing.

The gift from the gods that came around age thirteen.

“Avi… you…”

Erin muttered.

Avi looked down at her own hands.

“Status.”

She said it with a trembling voice, and her eyes shook a little.

She must have seen it.

Her own power.

The possibilities she had been given.

But Avi quickly bit her lip.

“…I’m weak.”

She had only just received her blessing.

Of course she was.

There was no way she could fight like Yushuu right now.

Even so, the hesitation had disappeared from Avi’s eyes.

“I’m still going.”

Yujin spoke in a strict voice.

“You’ll just get in the way.”

“I know.”

“Yushuu will try to protect you. That will put him in even more danger.”

“I know that!”

Avi shouted.

Then with a face that looked ready to cry, she continued.

“But… if Yushuu dies while I do nothing, I’ll never forgive myself.”

No one could say anything to that.

Avi started running.

With legs that were still shaking.

With a body that had only just received its blessing.

Still, she ran toward the village where Yushuu was.

Erin reached out toward her back—— then stopped.

Did she even have the right to stop her?

Both Yushuu and Avi were still children.

Yet they were running off to protect someone.

All the adults could do was watch them go.

“…Yujin.”

“Yeah.”

Yujin gripped his sword again.

“We’re going too. Even if we can’t fight, there are things we can do.”

Erin wiped her tears.

“Right.”

She couldn’t just keep praying anymore.