– Where are we going? — Kai asked, not taking his gaze off Hermes's back.
– You know, I was so excited by the fight between Hestia and Apollo that I completely forgot to have lunch. So I'm heading to one of the best places, — he said, without turning around.
– … But I don't have any money.
– Don't worry, Kai, it's my treat. So you can relax… And here we are.
– The Benevolent Mistress? — Kai read aloud.
– Yes, the Benevolent Mistress is one of the best places, — said Hermes, and entered without delay. Kai, after standing for a moment, followed him.
Entering, he was met by a lively atmosphere. Joyful shouts of those around, and along with the noise came the smell of wine and beer and, of course, freshly cooked food.
– Come here, Kai. What are you standing there for?
Hermes's voice pulled Kai out of his thoughts. And only then did Kai finally notice Hermes, who was already sitting at a table and waiting for him with a smile on his face. His usual hat had been removed.
Seeing him without his hat for the first time, Kai was at a loss, but it did not take him long to return to reality and quickly close the distance, sitting down opposite Hermes. All this time, Kai kept looking around, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
– What will you order?
Kai was so engrossed in looking at everything that he did not notice when they had already been approached.
Looking at the green-haired elf, who was patiently waiting and casually looking at him, awaiting the order, Kai hesitated. His eyes began darting around the whole establishment; he saw many dishes, but did not know a single name, since he did not know what to order.
– He'll have the same as me. Thank you.
Seeing Kai's predicament, Hermes decided to help him.
Kai looked at Hermes gratefully, but this gaze lingered only for a moment. He quickly returned his gaze to the departing elf's back.
And his gaze did not go unnoticed by Hermes. With an understanding smile, he spoke:
– Did you like her? I understand you, but know, it will be a difficult game.
– She looks familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen her.
Not understanding what Hermes meant, he shared his thoughts.
An understanding appeared on Hermes's face, but he said nothing.
– Did you watch today's fight, Kai?
In truth, Hermes already knew the answer; he had been watching Kai from the very beginning, but he needed to start a conversation, and this was the best start he could think of. Remembering the look on Kai's face during the watching, his smile widened. After all, he fully understood him.
– Yes! And it was wonderful, when the black-haired girl stopped everyone with magic! And Bell's magic was so beautiful and destructive! And the hobbit girl who could change her appearance! She managed to outwit everyone, which brought victory to all!
Kai began speaking in one breath, and, seeing that he was not going to stop, Hermes decided to channel his enthusiasm in the right direction, to the questions that interested him.
– I see you liked the fight, and, you know, I fully understand you. But I'm curious, what impressed you the most?
Not in the least indignant at being interrupted by Hermes, Kai seriously pondered the question. He began replaying the whole fight in his head, searching for what had shocked and impressed him the most. And he did not have to think long about this question. So, looking straight into Hermes's eyes, he said:
– Aspiration.
– Aspiration? — Hermes was surprised. He had expected to hear about Bell. But Kai's answer fully surprised him, which could not but please him.
– Yes, aspiration. That is what impressed me the most in this fight. Their aspiration to win, when all the conditions were against them. They aspired to win and put in all their effort for it, and their aspiration proved that even if their enemy has all the advantages, without aspiration, it means nothing. And that is why it is so beautiful.
– Ha-ha, I understand you, Kai. Their will to win is truly worthy of all praise.
Hermes was impressed and at the same time glad; Kai's answer fully exceeded his expectations. And then he understood that his opinion of this boy had been deceptive, which only excited him more.
Kai's observational skills were at a high level; even when he lost his memory, he remained an adventurer. Hermes even wondered if he had worried about him too much for nothing.
– Exactly…
Thud.
– Enjoy your meal.
Before Kai could continue, the elf interrupted him, placing dishes in front of him and Hermes.
– Thank you.
– Thank you, — Hermes and Kai said in unison to the already departing elf.
– What is this? — Kai asked, studying the dish in front of him with interest. It was the first time he had seen such food; in the dungeon, he had eaten only dried meat and bread. And, to be honest, they tasted so-so.
The smell of this dish alone told Kai that it would be delicious, and he eagerly picked up the cutlery.
– Noodles, — Hermes answered briefly and began eating the noodles.
«Noodles?» — flashed through his thoughts, before he followed Hermes's action.
And when Kai tasted it, he could not stop; it was too delicious. The dried meat and bread could not even compare to the noodles.
And before he noticed, he had already eaten everything. He could not even have imagined that one could get so much pleasure from food. He had thought that when books described these moments, they embellished them, but now he understood that it was true.
– Did you like it? — Hermes asked, already knowing the answer, seeing how he had greedily devoured the noodles with pleasure on his face, ignoring the fact that they had not even had time to cool.
– Very tasty!
– When was the last time you ate?
– Me?.. — Kai pondered. — I don't remember, — he said with a smile.
– I see… Kai.
– Yes?
– What do you think of Bell? — Hermes asked, changing the topic of conversation, asking the question that interested him. He wanted to know how Kai saw Bell.
Hearing Bell's name, Kai lit up even more.
– Bell is my hero.
At Kai's answer, an understanding smile appeared on Hermes's face. But he said nothing, letting Kai continue speaking. And he did not have to wait long, as Kai continued:
– I want to be like him… But I understand that it's impossible…
– And why is that?
– Because I'm a coward, — lowering his gaze, unable to look Hermes in the eyes. — You probably saw how I ran away, like a coward. When everyone tried as hard as they could to win, I just took off and ran… I was just scared then. I'm only level two; what could I do to that monster, I thought… But Bell wasn't scared; he was also level two, but he wasn't scared, didn't retreat, like me. And when he defeated that monster, that was when he became my hero… A hero from the novels; I thought back then that they only existed in books. But Bell managed to show the opposite…
Having listened to Kai, Hermes could now form a full picture of Kai at the moment. Kai liked heroes so much that he wanted to be like them, and Bell had become his standard of heroism.
But he believed that he could never become one because of self-doubt. He did not even understand that he was several times stronger than his idol.
Hermes's silence embarrassed Kai even more. But before he could drive himself further into embarrassment, Hermes finally replied:
– Kai, you see, there is nothing strange or shameful in the fact that you were scared. In truth, everyone is afraid, even Bell; he was afraid too.
– But he managed to overcome his fear. And I… didn't, — Kai immediately interrupted him.
– Yes, you're right, Kai, — Hermes smiled. — And do you know why he managed to overcome his fear?
– Yes, because he has someone to protect. In books, heroes always move forward, despite obstacles, to protect everything dear to them.
– Yes, Kai, you're right. But he also had faith that he would win. And you also need to find your faith. Faith that will allow you to defeat any fear. You must find your faith.
– Find faith? — finally looking into Hermes's eyes for the whole conversation.
– Yes, Kai, you understand.
– I don't know.
– And who knows? Bell believes that if he becomes stronger, he will be able to protect everyone. You know, he has another reason too, much stronger.
– He loves a girl, and for her sake, he becomes stronger.
– A girl? Which one?
– I don't know, but I have a guess.
– Who?
– The Sword Princess.
– ???
Seeing Kai's bewildered face, Hermes continued:
– You must have seen her; she is the golden-haired girl from the Loki Familia.
– I've probably seen her.
– You see, he has many reasons to become stronger… Faith can be anything: love, the protection of all dear people, faith in freedom, faith in your god… Do you understand?
– … Yes.
– Well then, Kai, it's already late. Time to wrap up.
– Yes, goodbye, Hermes.
Standing up, he said, without a second's hesitation, heading for the exit.
Hermes only followed him with his gaze; he was glad of the whole conversation that had taken place between them. He had given Kai much food for thought; the main thing was that he went down the right path.
Kai stopped and, turning around, smiled and said:
– Thank you, Hermes, for today and for the noodles too.
– Of course, Kai, anytime.
Waving one last time to Hermes, he left the "Benevolent Mistress."
No sooner had Kai left than a girl sat down at Hermes's table.
– Do you think it's a good idea to let him go so easily, Hermes-sama?
– Of course, Asfi. I'm sure nothing will happen to him; this conversation only confirmed it. It's better to focus on the current problems; let's leave Kai alone for a while.
Some time later.
Kai again spent all his time in the library, but after the conversation with Hermes, he could not fully concentrate on reading.
Every time he read, he kept returning to that conversation. And however much Kai pondered this topic, he always came to a dead end.
He hoped to escape his thoughts in books. But that only worsened his understanding. Which only raised more questions in him.
Whatever work he opened, every hero had a goal, a dream, and faith. They had everything that he did not have.
They all had friends to protect, a family, a dream they would definitely achieve. But Kai had nothing.
He had no friends; the only one he could call his friend was Hermes, and even then, the god probably did not think so; he probably saw him as a child who needed looking after.
Family? He did not have one either, not at the moment, but he hoped that the god who had given him the power of an adventurer would soon find him, and then he would have a family again.
And after all these reflections, he came to one decision.
Who said he had no friends, no family, no goal, no dream. He had simply forgotten them, that was all.
After this understanding, Kai finally had a goal he could strive for, and most importantly — faith.
And his goal was big, logical, and simple — to regain his memories. And if he regained them, then everything would fall into place; he would have real goals, friends, and family.
He believed in this. That was what his faith was. He finally understood.
No sooner had he rejoiced at finding a goal and faith for his path, than he quickly realized that he did not know where to start.
He decided to regain his memories, but he did not know what needed to be done for that. Where to start.
And without thinking long, he decided to ask others about it, but in truth, he did not know that many people; to be precise, he could count all his acquaintances on the fingers of one hand.
– Do you know how to regain memory?
– What?
Yami, as always, was busy with her own affairs; she had already gotten so used to Kai that she stopped paying attention to him, because, if one thought about it, the boy just read, and that was all.
And if suddenly, before the library closed, she did not remember him, she might lock him in this library for the whole night. Because she could not sense him.
At first, this frightened her, but then she got used to it, because in her eyes, this boy was not anything interesting.
In her eyes, he was too ordinary, and if it were not for her eyes, he would not have been remembered by this Yami at all.
And suddenly, for all the time he had been visiting the library, he started a conversation first for the first time. And this action fully pulled her out of her world for a couple of seconds.
But she would not have been an adventurer if she had not quickly returned to her former state.
– How to regain memory? — Kai repeated in a firmer voice.
– What? How should I know, — she said in such a voice, making it clear to everyone that she did not want to waste time on this conversation.
– You don't know? Maybe you have some thoughts on this. I want to know everything, — Kai said, not noticing her detachment and unwillingness to talk to him.
– Just leave me alone, go on and read your books… I already have a mountain of things to do, without wasting time on ill-mannered boys like you.
She said, and turned away at that very second and began moving away from Kai. But Kai followed her without hesitation, continuing to ask the same question.
Which fully drove Yami out of herself, and she chased him out of the library.
Kai seriously pondered, standing in front of the library. What should he do now, where to start.
He had planned to ask the old woman, and based on her information, come up with the next part of the plan.
But who could have known that his plan would fail before it even began. It was too surprising for Kai, so now he did not know what to do or where to go.
And then it dawned on him: he could ask the one who should definitely know, ask the one from whom he had always found answers.
And with new zeal, he set off in search of Hermes, burning with the desire to find him as soon as possible.
But, apparently, fate was not on his side, because after spending several days of continuous searching for Hermes, he never found him.
– Hey, boy, want to have some privacy? I charge cheaply… You won't regret it~.
A woman whispered right into Kai's ear, so that he felt her hot breath and a very strong smell of perfume. From which he felt sick.
– Sorry, but no, — he pushed her away, without using a drop of strength.
But she did not want to leave him alone so easily.
– I'll teach you many things, I promise~, — she began more insistently than before. But Kai paid no attention to her; all her touches and sweet words evoked nothing in him.
But when she began reaching under his clothes, it started to irritate him, but he held back, because, as he understood, this was their work, and it was not right for him to get angry at them just for doing their job; heroes do not do that.
Seeing zero emotion from Kai, her motivation to drag him into bed diminished. But even so, she kept trying with all her might; she could not let such a handsome man slip away.
Absolutely everything about this young man excited her; he was too perfect in her eyes. So she could even make love to him for free.
But however hard she tried, he never paid attention to her.
Understanding that the chances were small, she decided to retreat; she could not accept that such a handsome boy would not be hers.
Kai did not even notice the girl's disappearance; he was fully involved in his inner world.
This became, to put it mildly, a shock for him, and in a good sense. Because for a long time, as it seemed to him, he had finally encountered something new.
This district was the most colorful and crowded, even despite the fact that it was already night outside.
For Kai, everything in this place was new; half-dressed girls, who approached him a couple of times, but he never understood what they wanted from him; in truth, it was unpleasant for him when they got close to him, especially because of their sharp and specific smell.
###Corrected from 1 to 100 chapters. ###