I Am NOT A Hero

Chapter 35: The right man in the wrong place...maybe

"I wanted you to see what real courage is... It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

                                               — Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

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"So where was it again?"

"The Fox xian village, they should be moving to safety in right now, or at least, that's what he told me."

"And your son?"

"He and his wife should be with them..."

"Was he the cook back at Wei? In one of the big restaurants?"

"...How did you know?"

"Well, I met him once there. He gave me a free meal, of course, I remember him. Somehow, he knows that I helped you carry that sack of rice."

"Hmm, I did mention your name in one of my letters to him."

"So I guess I paid for the food with this one, no?"

"...I suppose."

"I did owe him for the food anyway."

The circle inside the closed and dimly lit Dojo glows in blue and white, surrounded by the runes.

"Are you sure about this?"

"...as long as you keep your promise, yes, I'm sure."

There was a pause, then a soft sigh. "...This is very selfish of me, but...good luck, young man."

"...Thanks, do prepare some buns when I get back."

The old voice chuckled, "I'll see what I can do."

–

30 minutes before - Herumi was in Old Man Tang's Bakery's shop.

Herumi sat on a low wooden stool in the corner of the dimly lit bakery. The warmth of the lighted-up kitchen failed to chase away the cold knot in his stomach.

Next to him was the old man Tang, hunched over a small table, his hands shaking as he held a bundle of crumpled letters. His wife Chen Hua hovered beside him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She kept one hand on her husband's shoulder, squeezing it every time his voice broke.

"...where should I start?" the old man muttered, looking down, his voice barely a whisper

"It's...our son, Chen Yi." he closed his eyes, a hand rubbing his temple, going down to wipe his eyes,

"He is in Fox Xian Village. Said he wouldn't leave, not when so many people needed help."

"But...but now, we fear he's...." he couldn't finish the sentence, and tears were trickling down his weathered cheeks,

The old man gritted his teeth, eyes narrowed, and his voice...was broken. "I can't do anything."

The words hung heavily in the air as the old man Tang held her wife's hand, Chen Hua, offering comfort to each other.

Herumi remained silent, listening to his voice, each word coming out like it weighed a hundred pounds.

He would have asked to be specific, but figured that the situation might not be appropriate, so he held his tongue.

Though he had a rough guess about what he was talking about. This world is not like the ones his other souls lived on in peace, but is filled with many dangers, including the monsters.

Hence, many people lived within the three kingdoms' walls so they could live. Most people, while they could wield magic, just had to live to live. It goes without saying that not many people would risk themselves fighting monsters head-on.