The girl clinging to me and crying bitterly is called Noah Gran. She's my Oshi.
Thinking about it a bit, I should be surprised that she can touch me. I thought it was definitely an incorporeal monster.
Ah, but Noah is only holding the robe, so I guess that's why it can be touched.
So, this is Noah, who has reached her limit after eating skewers and is now crying while clinging to me. Well, it's understandable.
Even if you knew about Noah's situation beforehand, it's hard to see her looking so fragile. It's too hard!
After crying for a while, she looked up at me with her eyes red and swollen, and asked me a question.
Looking up...it's too powerful. I may be a monster, but inside I'm a normal man. Of course, it would be exciting to have someone I loved in my previous life cling to me with their eyes looking up.
"Are you... on my side...?"
Of course. You're my Oshi, you know? Of course I'm on your side.
When I nodded, Noah looked like she was about to cry even more, but she held back and smiled like an angel.
"Fufu... Thank you."
Noah gives me a smile that doesn't seem like that of an 18-year-old.
Is it some kind of technique for charming men that she's acquired through her turbulent life?
In any case, it has enough power to shake the heart of even a monster like me. This is dangerous. I have to protect her.
I was overcome with a mysterious sense of mission, but that's not important so I'll put it aside for now. The problem now is how to get Noah back.
In the original story, Noah managed to break through the Demon lands and return to North Territory by herself, so even if I left her here, she would probably be able to return home eventually.
...But I couldn't just leave a girl there like that.
In the original game when you meet her, she is one-eyed. Considering that the girl in front of me has both eyes intact, it seems that she will lose one of her eyes in the upcoming battle with a monster.
I'm not the kind of human who can tolerate that. ...Let's put aside the fact that I'm not human to begin with.
I can't just sit back and relax and enjoy my monster life while I leave a girl for dead in the demon lands.
So, from now on, I'm going to make sure I don't leave her side. Since I can't speak, I'll have to communicate through my actions, but I don't think that will be a problem.
"Can you talk?"
I try to shake my head. I don't know if I have a neck.
"You understand the words."
I nod my head in response, hoping the point gets through to her.
"Hehe. That's kind of interesting."
Really? I don't think it's that unusual.
Perhaps my feelings were conveyed to her, as she began to speak.
"Fufu, hahahaha! It's all a mess. Ever since I was born, I've lived a hellish life. No one helped me, and I thought it was normal to be treated like an object. But to think that the hero who saved me was a monster... How ironic, isn't it?"
Even if you say that with a smile like that... Are you okay? Are you losing your mind?
No, I didn't see any depictions like that in the original work, so I think it's okay.
"Hey, monster. Do you have a name?"
A name, a name. I wonder how many years have passed since I was reincarnated. Probably several decades. I haven't counted how many nights have come and gone.
I could dig through my rusty memories, I'm sure I would find out my name from my previous life. But this life is this life. I don't have a name in this world.
I slowly shook my head.
"I see. That's right. Normally, monsters don't have names. ...Okay! Then I'll give you a name!"
Noah declared with the biggest smile I've ever seen.
I can get a name from my Oshi! I'm so happy! I'm really excited!
As I was excited to find out what the name would be, Noah spoke.
"Hmm. It looks like a ghost, how about Rei?"
Simple! Overwhelmingly simple! But that's fine!
I nodded my head vigorously.
"Did you like it? I'm glad!"
Yes. My Oshi looks happy, so I'm happy too.
Now that I've decided on my name being Rei, what should I do next? I have to decide. But I can't speak. I thought I could communicate by writing, but although the language spoken in this world is Japanese, the writing system is unique.
This is a game made in Japan, so the language seen on screen is Japanese, but I think that the actual language in the games world is different.
Therefore, to communicate my intentions, I have to nod "yes" or shake my head "no" or use body language such as gestures.
When this happens, it becomes difficult for me to proactively communicate with humans. I will inevitably end up in a passive position, but I will have to accept that.
For now, I'll keep an eye on Noah and what she decides to do next.
Some time had passed since I made that decision. Noah was still sitting on the bed, both physically and mentally unhealed. I could heal her physically with my abilities, but it would take time to get all the injuries to heal.
While I'm thinking, I continue to grill the wild boar meat and offer it to Noah. Every time I do, she smiles at me and says "thank you," so I can't stop.
I almost offered up some grilled wild boar skewers like my grandparents did when we got together with relatives over New Year's, but I restrained myself.
As it began to get dark, Noah spoke up.
"Listen, I'm thinking of going back. I feel bad for you, Rei, but I can't survive in the demon world. Besides, even a place like that is my hometown... I don't have even a single good memory, but I still love that place. No, maybe I don't love it at all. Maybe it's just engraved in my instincts that that place is where I belong. But..."
You're so kind. You're too kind. I just remembered this, but the fact that you still feel nostalgic after everything that happened to you is beyond amazing, it's almost scary.
Well, I have a bit of nostalgia too, even though my memories are pretty rusty now, but that's because I have so many good memories of the town within the game.
However, perhaps it is normal for humans to think back to their hometowns, no matter how many bad memories they may have.
"So, this is where I say goodbye. Rei cannot come to the town, and even if you did, you would be killed by the border guardians. …It's a bit sad, but I'm going."
Noah said as he stood up from the bed he was lying on and walked towards the door.
There was a weight on her back, as if she was prepared for something.
...Noah, you're serious. If that's what you want, then you can go.
But, I couldn't let you go alone!
...? Eh, isn't that obvious? Why did you think I could abandon my Oshi? Whatever reasons she gives, there's no way I could leave her alone. That's a given.
Above all, I'm strong. I'm not bragging, but I'm confident that I can defeat the monsters around here no matter how many are in the groups they form. I'd be perfect as an escort.
As for the border guardians, I don't really care. I'm always ready to die. As long as she can return to the town unharmed, I'll be the one to guard her until then.
After leaving the house, Noah immediately entered into combat with the wolf-like monster in front of her.
With her current strength, she could easily defeat one of those monsters. But I'll take it.
"...Rei?"
My power caused the monster to explode from the inside.
It's simple. Monsters have a weakness to "holy energy." My ability to recover using such holy energy is simply poison to monsters.
I approached Noah, who looked stunned.
"W-Will you come with me...?"
Of course.
I nodded vigorously, understanding what she meant, and this time Noah spoke with a big smile.
"Thank you!"