Saturday morning has arrived.
The exact moment I open the front door of the house, Cheddar-san’s younger brother Gouda-san jumps off his horse and dashes toward me, fast enough that a long cloud of dust forms behind him. His entire body is covered in sweat.
Even though it’s still early in the morning, his sweat is already dripping on the gro—I mean, he’s as energetic as usual.
Gouda-san holds great semblance to Cheddar-san. He has large sharp eyes. Naturally stiff hair the color of mustard, reminiscent of the bristles of a scrubber. He’s also so tall and buff that he often hits his head against door frames.
Aside from this, Gouda-san has done many heroic deeds, not losing to Cheddar-san.
The story of his deathly struggle and victory against a two-headed wild boar, and with only his bare hands to boot, is particularly interesting. Gouda-san kept the boar’s giant tusks as spoils of war, which are on display at his house. He’s let me take a look at them before, and they’re humongous.
He’s just like the explorer Gorgond.
If I get the opportunity in the future, I want to try fighting a two-headed wild boar with my bare hands too.
Gouda-san is a man of valor, but he’s currently convulsing with sobs, snot running down his nostrils, as he runs toward the house. His eyebrows furrow in sadness, and his face is pale and wet with tears.
“Gouda-san? What happened?”
Once he reaches me, he stops, grabs my shoulders with his callused bear-like hands, and wails, “Ahh!! Al!! This is really bad!! I-I—what s-should I do?!!”
“Really, what happened? If you keep crying, I won’t know what’s going on.”
“It’s, it’s—yesterday—at the mountain…” he says in between gasps, before once again bursting into wails.
I repeat my question for the third time, trying to make my voice sound comforting.
Here, I finally get a clearer response. “It’s—it’s Mite!!” he exclaims.
“What happened to Mite?”
Another wave of tears flows down Gouda-san’s face.
I give up.
This conversation’s going nowhere.
Just as I wonder whether I should call Cheddar-san and have him talk to Gouda-san, the Cheddars exit the house.
I’m saved. And just in time too.
In their gloved hands are large brooms, dustpans, and hoes. It looks like they plan on cleaning the barn at the back of the house.
“Hey!! Who on earth’s making a racket so early in the morning… Huh? Gouda?! You brat, your voice is too loud! Don’t you know how hard it is to manage the sheep once they start panicking?! They’ll all try to run away, and I won’t be able to clean in peace!”
Upon seeing Gouda-san, Cheddar-san’s wife says, “Oh my! So it’s Brother-in-law! Why have you come so early in the morning?”
“B-brother! Sister-in-law! It’s about… Wahhhhh!”
“Argh, seriously Gouda! Men shouldn’t cry so loudly with snot on their faces! It’s too shameful!”
Gouda-san flings himself at Cheddar-san and clings onto him, crying out, “But—but— B-Brotherrr!! This is just too dreadful—ow!!”
“So noisy!” roars Cheddar-san after punching him on the head, the impact sounding like a bell was heavily struck near us.
Even Gouda-san seems unable to endure it. He crouches and bows his head, low groans leaving his lips. He also stops crying.
YOU ARE READING
Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death
Roman d'amour"Please, I implore you to save the world." This is what a goddess in white says to me in a pure-white space. Such is the standard line that suggests the game is about to begin. Please say this stirring line to boys and girls with sparkling eyes! It'...
