The Hero Took Everything from Me, So I Partied with the Hero’s Mother! Chapter 23: Kaito

"Ceres, you're here."

I'm now at Kaito's (Sayo's husband) place.

And I have to ask him to give Sayo.

Unlike Kazuma, Kaito is a stern, muscular father.

It would be hilarious if I wasn't nervous.

"What are you doing! Sit the f*ck down! You idiot."

"Yes..."

I did as he said.

But it's strange.

I thought I wasn't welco... until I saw the feast in front of .

"First, let's get so booze! And now you can drink, right!"

"Yes, a little."

"Okay, I'll pour it for you then. Co on!"

"Thank you very much!"

He even offered a drink.

Of course, I poured him a drink in return.

Kaito is older than Sayo, roughly in his mid-30s.

This is indicated by the fact that he calls himself 'Washi (儂)[1]'.

He used to have hands like logs, but I think his hands have gotten thinner.

"Heh... You've grown from a boy to a man with a man's face."

"Thanks to you, I've made it this far."

Even though I lost my parents, the village did not take my house away from . Instead, they shared their food with and gave the things I needed to make a living.

This village is kind to the weak.

Although there is envy towards the successful, as is often the case in villages... I don't think there is a village in the world that is so kind to the weak.

Perhaps if I had been born in the next village, I would have been sold into slavery or beco an orphan.

"No need to thank you, I only taught you how to work in the fields and care for the livestock."

"That's not true... it's because Kaito-san and the others told an adventurer to stop by our village and teach this boy sothing."

"Really? Could that have happened? I've already forgotten."

"Not only that... Kaito-san gave an old pottery wheel... and so furniture..."

"What are you talking about? A brat is in trouble. The villagers will help. That's obvious."

"Still, I'm grateful..."

"Hey, you're really getting into trouble. You're the only brat I've ever t who'd miss this harsh old man."

"I don't think you're harsh at all... you even made a bamboo dragonfly (bamboo-copter) and stilts... you were just like a father to ."

"Even my daughter doesn't like this old man... but you still miss so much, I can't help it..."

The truth is I didn't really miss him.

I was an orphan, and that's how I had to live.

Fortunately, I had so mories of a previous life. However, they're a bit fragnted, which is why I lived in a deceptive way.

Compared to my boss in my forr life, my stubborn father was a cute guy.

My heart ached.

"For , the villagers are my father and mother."

"You've always been like that... and I already know why you ca. It must be Sayo, right?"

"Yes."

At least be prepared to get punched in the face.

"What? Why are you not looking in the eyes...? You want Sayo, so I'll give her to you... but seriously... you just want secondhand goods."

Well, it's true that I don't rember ever buying anything new.

But this is different.

"Even though you say that..."

"Anyway... Sayo has no good mories of . When we were first married, my old man was still kicking, and even though he was dying, he used to yell at , 'Why do you have a daughter, why don't you have a fine heir...'. Sayo must have had a hard ti because she couldn't have a boy. Even after my father died, I treated her in a certain way. But it was too late... we couldn't mature into a man and a woman... it was inevitable... Besides, my old man and I often called her bitter and stinking. It's no wonder we can't build a relationship again."

"Indeed, even to as a kid, Sayo-san looked bitter."

But Kaito was just a bad-mouthed man, and I didn't see him being violent.

He just didn't know what to do... that's all.

"Haah... nothing I can do about it now... But you've been chasing Sayo since you were a kid, right...? You can have her."

"I'm sorry..."

I apologize, and when I try to take the money out...

"I don't need it. I have enough money from l... and no need to apologize. Still, I really wanted to give you l, in the beginning, but I can't anymore... so I'm giving you a wife instead of a daughter. Well, good luck with the rest... Sayo, you can co in now."

She opened the door and ca in.

"Dear, I'm sorry..."

"Sayo, why are you apologizing? I failed to protect you from my father, and I blad you together... and I'm the one who should be apologizing."

"So what are you going to do now, Kaito-san?"

"? Now that I don't have this bitter old hag anymore, I'm going to buy a young slave maid with lots of money, hahaha."

"Dear... may I have a word with you?"

Sayo's face turned black, and I felt the temperature drop.

"Sayo... you belong to Ceres now, you're not my wife... so you can't complain."

"Heheheh... that's true, but allow to say one last thing."

"What is it?"

"I hate you..."

"I don't like old hag either."

Obviously, there's a discrepancy.

Maybe he's trying to make and Sayo feel better by saying that. And the real aning is...

'Make her happy.'

With that thought in mind, I left Kaito's house.

"That sour look on your face is annoying, so, Ceres, you can have Sayo now... and get out of here. She's making sick."

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you... I really hate you..."

Wait, she's really acting, isn't she?

[1]Washi :

This is yet a further shortening of the word watashi. It is reserved for use by old n or n who for so reason have acquired a very slurred speech style. Perhaps they dropped the ta to keep themselves from spitting on people when they talked.