Shinwa Densetsu no Eiyuu no Isekaitan - Volume 1 - Chapter SS

Bonus Short Stories

The Markets of the Mark

In the southern quarter of Linkus, the largest city in the Gurinda Mark, the markets were bustling.

“Wow...” Liz looked around, awed. “I thought I’d never see anywhere busier than the boulevarde in the capital, but this place could give it a run for its money!”

Liz’s excitement was endearing, but Hiro couldn’t help but notice that her beauty was starting to attract stares.

“Are you sure?” he asked with a shrug. “The capital must be pretty packed.”

Hiro had never been to the capital himself, but he knew it by reputation. It was the most prosperous city in Soleil, they said—no less than one would expect from the Grantzian Empire’s seat of power. Its packed markets surely eclipsed anything some border town could offer.

“Well, maybe the capital’s a little bigger,” Liz admitted. “But Linkus is just as lively.”

“I guess that means the margrave is doing a good job keeping the peace.”

“But of course!” Liz nodded proudly. “Uncle always puts his people first.”

They strolled through the stalls for a while, trading conversation back and forth. Eventually, Hiro came to a stop.

“So, what are we doing here?” he asked.

A few paces ahead, Liz swung around to pout at him. “Don’t be a spoilsport. Do we really need a reason to have fun?”

He raised his hands defensively. “Hey, I never said that.”

“Good.” Liz held out her arm. “Now give me your hand.”

Where did that come from? Hiro’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Now just wait a...”

Liz looked down at her hand for a moment, wiped it on her shirt, then offered it to him once more. “There. How about now?”

“No, I... Oh, fine.” Hiro gave in and took it. A soft warmth spread across his palm.

Liz giggled. “Right, then. Let’s take a look around!”

She set out, pulling Hiro along behind her. Together, they spent the day window-shopping at the market stalls, marveling at the wares on display, exchanging words and grins with the shopkeepers. At midday, they took a break to sample the local cuisine, and as the evening set in, they retired to a nearby grassy sward to rest their feet. Beyond the skyline, the sun sank below the horizon. They watched it wordlessly for a time until Liz grew tired of the silence.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had some peace and quiet,” she said.

“Tell me about it.”

Hiro turned to look at her. In profile, the sunset set her crimson hair ablaze with vivid hues. She really was beautiful, this girl. At the very least, in all the time before he had come to this world, he’d never known anyone prettier, and he’d had her to himself all day. He couldn’t help but feel a little pleased with himself, in a way that he certainly never could have done in his old world.

Yet in the wake of that thought came another: how long could this last? One day, he would have to return home. What would they be to each other when that day came? Would they still share the same carefree friendship they did now—or, somewhere along the way, might things take a different turn?

“Hey, Hiro! Look at this!” Liz’s voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find her with her hand outstretched. She giggled. “Isn’t it lovely?” A bright red flower rested in her alabaster palm.

“Sure is,” he said. “I’ve never seen one before. What kind of plant is it?”

“How rude! It’s not just a plant, it’s a wildflower!”

“Sorry, sorry. A wildflower. It’s very pretty.”

“Isn’t it just? Here.” She proffered it to him.

He took it and put it behind his ear. “Um...how do I look?”

“No, silly! You’re supposed to put it on me!”

“Oh! Right! Sorry!” Flustered, he took the flower out from behind his ear and slipped it into Liz’s hair.

A smile blossomed on her face. “So? How do I look?

Nobody in the world could wear it better—is what he would have said if he’d had the nerve. As it was, he could only nod. She smiled happily regardless.

“Why, thank you. If only it could stay beautiful forever...”

Hiro nodded in agreement, but a part of him couldn’t help but feel otherwise. Time was precious because it was finite. It was only because their days were limited that human beings strove to make the most of what they had.

Eventually, he would forget this moment, but then, all things were forgotten in the end. That was the way of the world, and he saw no reason to lament it. After all, though this day would someday fade from his memory, the truth of its happening would never change.