Might
That's right, I'll go out for awhile.

Might decided to leave the temple.

In front of the temple, Leica was preparing to go somewhere.

Leica
Yo, Might. Isn't that the face of someone who doesn't know what to do?

Might
Yeah. For the time being I'm trying to go out but... Where will I go?

Leica
Ah, just a minute. How about it, if you're not doing anything, how about coming with me? I think we'll be able to kill some time.

Might
I see... If I go with you it shouldn't be boring.

Leica
Ha, well said- Then let's stop talking. If you're coming get your stuff quickly!

The two people rode horses to the west. They ran the horses for half the day when they finally reached it, a town that seemed to have become desolate.

Furthermore in that desolate town were desolate streets... Leica gathered the horses at a shabby building at the end of the town.

Might
Leica, this is...

Leica
...An orphanage. But then should it be called a "former" orphanage now?

When they heard the sound of the hooves, the children came out from the building one at a time.

Child
-Ah, it's Leica-onii-chan after all!

Child
Everyone~! Leica-onii-chan came!

At once children surrounded Leica. From their appearance the children were poor, but Might imagined that they simply trusted Leica with all their hearts.

Leica
Good good, have you been good kids?

Leica picked up the children one by one and nestled his face against their heads.

Eventually, he called the boy that he thought was oldest, and a small bag that was lowered from the horse's saddle was taken out. It was the bag of prize money that Leica had won from entering singing competition a few days ago.

Might
(That's from the other day...)

Leica
Sorry that I'm late. Since there's so many leaks in the roof to fix, did you spend your current food money on it?

The boy who received the bag of gold that Leica gave him was surprised by the weight.

Boy
And so much... As always, Leica-san, thank you very much.

Leica
You're welcome. You protect that.

Leica answered with an embarrassed looking smile.

Boy
By the way, Leica-san, this person is...?

The boy noticed Might there.

Leica
Oh, sorry, I forgot. This guy is Might. We met by chance and now we've been traveling together.

Might
P, please to meet you, I'm Might...

Boy
Pleased to meet you, Might-san.

Might
Umm, all of you and Leica...

At Might's question the boy smiled and answered.

Boy
Leica comes around to this orphanage sometimes and helps us with money and food. To us, Leica is a friend of righteousness that we've come to depend on.

Leica
C, cut that out. Don't say such exaggerated things, it's an awkward feeling.. .

Leica shyly turned towards the day after tomorrow. Might let a muttering spill out.

Might
...This is surprising. This type of thing doesn't suit Leica at all.

Leica
H, hey...

Might
Something like this might be called *"Oni no Kakuran". Or possibly there's some secret motives...
*"Oni no Kakuran" is basically saying a demon getting a heat stroke. In other words, someone who is usually never sick falls ill. Might is talking about Leica having a weak spot.

Leica
Might... I'll hit you.

Leica immediately started repairing the leaks on the roof with the children. Might offered to help too, but Leica politely declined him.

Leica
Aren't you a guest? You should drink some tea and relax.

Might heard about the orphanages situation from the boy that was the leader of this orphanage.

It was a private orphanage. But many years ago the self-sacrificing owner had a sudden death, and their helping hands were cut off, and the children were left by themselves.

At that time, it was Leica who stayed with the orphanage and offered to help.

Though the children were bewildered at first, after he always came to visit once every several months, their hearts gradually opened up and they were completely attached to him now.

Might
That's incredible... When Leica only wanted money I thought he was a greedy person, but he was keeping up such a wonderful thing...

Might
But, you said that Leica spends a certain amount of time here, but what about you...?

At Might's question the boy's face dimmed.

Might
Ah... No, it's fine if you don't answer that.

At just that time, Leica came back with the children.

Leica
We've started it, most the repairs are placed. Tomorrow we'll go to town and buy materials for the rest.

Child
Eh, then Leica-san, you're staying here tonight?

Leica
Ah, of course that's the plan... Might, is it ok?

Might
Yeah, if it's ok with everyone here, I don't mind.

Leica
Good, it's settled. Might-onii-chan will stay with us today, too! Let's all play a lot-!!

At the signal of Leica's voice, all the children gathered around Might.

As it grew dark, the children prepared for dinner. Though the menu was fairly simple, today everyone loved Leica, and his friend Might-- He thought that all the children seemed to have a different type of happy evening meal.

Might helped the children prepare in the kitchen. When he spoke about living in an orphanage when he was young, and progressing to the training school, all the children watched Might with respectful gazes.

As they were slowly able to prepare the meal, one child said they couldn't find Leica anywhere. It seemed no one had seen Leica for a little while.

Might
Well then, I'll go look for him.

At that time, the boy leader called Might to a halt. He said that perhaps Leica was in the backyard of this building. Might thanked him and left the kitchen to search for Leica.

He accomplished it, finding Leica in the backyard of the building. Some pieces of wood were crudely put together, and at a glance he knew it was a marker to a grave, and Leica was standing alone in front of it.

Leica was offering a wreath knitted with wild grasses to the grave marker, without a word.

Might
Leica, this is...

Timidly, Might called out to Leica. After a brief period of silence, Leica slowly opened his mouth.

Leica
...It's my, partner's gravesite.

Might
Partner... a bounty hunter?

Leica
Ah, how many years has it already been...

With his back turned to Might, Leica began to speak gradually.

Leica
At the time, my partner and I were young and took on dangerous work that other bounty hunters shirked, and were minor celebrities. Naturally, the rewards of such work encouraged us.

Leica
It was that sort of time. Just around here there was a request to exterminate a monster stronghold. It was 30 times bigger than a regular reward. The extraordinary is the extraordinary, and such a large job might never come again. I readily undertook the job.

Leica
But, my partner wasn't interested. There was so little information on the catch, so he couldn't set up counter-plans. But I had to have my way. I was mesmerized by that extraordinary reward.

Leica
-But, it was sweet. That demon had power far beyond anything we knew. All the monsters we had fought up to then weren't comparable.

Leica
We were at our wit's end when we met the demon's counter-attack, and were hunted down. At that time, I lost my right eye and left arm, and my partner.. .

He saw Leica grind his fist firmly.

Leica
He was great. While his stomach was being scooped out, I escaped here. As expected of my partner... Hey, Might...

Leica
...I'm alive thanks to their treament. Only I survived...

Might
...That's so...

That was all Might could say with all his power. Leica, that Leica had been carrying such a heavy burden. Something tightened in Might's heart.

Leica
Since then, when I was visiting the grave site, I heard the story that this orphanage was going to go bankrupt several times. I thought it was nosy, but even if it was just a little bit I wanted to help.

Leica
I was the guy... It was the same as killing my partner. So, even if it was hypocritical I wanted to maybe heal my crime even a little by helping these children... It's a selfish story.

Might
...

Leica
Since then, I've continued working alone as a bounty hunter. I tried to act smart, after all after my partner's death I was probably scared. At that sort of time... Might, I met you.

Leica
At first I wasn't aware of what I was doing. Only when I was traveling with you there was something interesting, traveling with you was such a light feeling. But, eventually I noticed it.

Leica
Might... You remind me of my partner when I look at you. When you hold your sword seriously, you have a mysterious charm that attracts people to you... I can see him in you...

Might
Eh...?!

Leica finally turned towards Might. His expression wasn't very visible in the twilight, but Leica's usual cheerfulness wasn't there.

Soon Leica slowly approached Might, and embraced his slender body.

Might
Ah...

Leica
I, I don't want to lose my important person again... So in our final battle with the devil, I'll protect you no matter what. I'll defend you with my life-!!

As Leica said that his arms embraced Might powerfully.

Leica
So, I want you to know how I truly feel about you. Might, you're my-

If it was as usual Might would tell him to "Stop joking" and throw him off, but that remark didn't come out now.

Instead, as he was embraced by Leica, Might noticed a peaceful feeling growing somewhere in him. If it was possible, he wanted to devote himself to him forever as it was.

But, at the same time Might's doubts rose to the surface. That was-

Do you just see me as taking your partner's place?

When you look at me do you not see your partner's face?