Episode 24: Make me some beef stew

  Uta teleported out of the village ruins and chased after the ``Red Fire.''

  In a village where the scars of the tragedy were still clearly visible, a girl was sitting with her knees hugged to her chest.

  "Haa... what am I doing..."

  A girl in a red robe was sitting on the ground, not minding if her clothes got dirty.

  No. 7 of "Flare's Hand". It was "White Fire".

  "White Fire" had removed the hood that she usually wears pulled down over her eyes, revealing her pure white hair and red eyes.

  "What am I doing...?"

  I tweeted again, to no one in particular.

  Uta did not kill the White Fire.

  It's not that it was overlooked, it was just put on the back burner as a priority.

  If I was going to run away, now would be the time, but...I just didn't feel like it.

  "White Fire"...Her real name is Stella.

  She was a child of low social status born to parents who were slaves kept at the temple, and was fifteen years old this year.

  If she hadn't been discovered to have a rare talent for nullifying magic, she would probably be cleaning gutters and chimneys just like her parents.

  Stella has white hair and red eyes.

  In some countries, these people have a appearance known as albinos.

  Both of her parents had different hair and eye colors, which made them very annoyed with her.

  When Stella was chosen as Flare's Hand, she jumped for joy, thinking that she could finally say goodbye to her painful life.

  I thought that this would help me escape from the slave job that everyone would hate, and the abuse I received from my parents.

  I was happy.

  I felt proud.

  God had reached out to me, a lowly person... That's what I thought.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  However, when it came down to it, the work of "Flare's Hands" was also dirty work.

  The job is to kill people who get in the way of the temple.

  Days spent staining my hands with blood and then washing my dirty hands with blood.

  Stella's first order after joining Flare's Hand was to torture a traitor and a disloyal person.

  I got the job and quickly realized it wasn't for me.

  Still, once I got into the job, there was no getting out.

  If they were to say they wanted to quit, they would be in danger of being killed to keep them quiet.

  I didn't want to do it.

  I didn't want to hurt anyone.

  Still, I had no choice but to do jobs I hated in order to survive.

  I was crying almost every day. After work, I always ended up throwing up everywhere.

  Even so, she continued to work as a member of "Flare's Hands."

  "So this is the result..."

  You will be killed by an unknown enemy in an unknown way.

  Is this the result of working hard and enduring a tough job?

  "...It's the worst."

  "What's the worst thing about it?"

  "...So you've returned. What happened to that person?"

  "he turned to dust. Just like the green guy from before."

  When Stella looked up, she saw Uta there.

  He stands there with a calm smile that doesn't look like he's killed someone.

  "...I'm the only one left."

  "That's right."

  "Well then... here you go."

  "Yeah?"

  "I won't resist. Do as you please."

  Stella had already made up her mind.

  She has taken the lives of many people, and now her turn has come.

  If I resisted, I would feel sorry for the people I had hurt.

  "Oh no...I ended up missing dinner. I guess I'll have to rely on my portable food again today."

  "picture…OOOO-------…?"

  Uta said in a disappointed tone and walked off somewhere.

  Leaving Stella sitting there.

  "Um, um!"

  "Yeah?"

  "Are you not going to kill... me...?"

  I think I'm asking a stupid question.

  It's crazy to go out of your way to step on a tiger's tail.

  "Um... why?"

  "Why...?"

  "Why should I have to kill you?"

  Uta frowned in confusion.

  "You haven't done anything, right? There's no reason to kill you, right?"

  "I-I'm your enemy though..."

  "Really? I just remember them shooting out white flames, but I don't remember them doing anything in particular."

  Stella's white fire has the effect of nullifying magic.

  However, that power has no effect on Uta.

  To Uta, Stella was like a magician who suddenly produced white flames.

  "But... I... the people of this village..."

  "You didn't kill him, did you? Exactly."

  "picture…-----------…?"

  "You don't smell like death. No one in this village has killed anyone, right?"

  That's right... I didn't kill anyone.

  It was the "Red Fire" and "Green Fire" that burned the people of this village, and Stella did nothing.

  "B-But, I've known so many people..."

  "Well, that doesn't really matter."

  "D-do you care?"

  "I don't care where you killed who you killed. If you didn't kill Beefstew, it doesn't matter."

  "Beef stew..."

  "Oh, I wanted to eat beef stew."

  Uta cried out "Ugh!"

  The village was burned down and most of the villagers were killed.

  He didn't even care why "Flare's Hand" was targeting him or not.

  From start to finish, the only thing on Uta's mind was beef stew.

  "If it's beef stew...I can make it..."

  Stella muttered this absentmindedly.

  Uta turned around as if he had been bounced.

  "Really?! You can make it?!"

  "Ha, hahi!"

  Being pressed, Stella's shoulders jumped in shock.

  "I was in charge of cooking, preparing the camp, and other chores. I have some ingredients in my item bag, so if I have time..."

  "Yay, thanks!"

  "Yeah……"

  Uta grabs Stella's hands and raises them in the air.

  "Make it! Make it! Make it! Beef stew, beef stew!"

  "I, I understand... please wait a moment."

  "Yay!"

  Seeing Uta's childlike joy, Stella felt a mysterious heart emerge.

  An hour later, Uta was smiling as he stuffed his face with his favorite beef stew.