In such a world, he could still have such a vibrant smile, and this passionate heart, then his blood had not been shed in vain.
This was light and heat comparable to the sun.
When Su'er realized it, he belatedly discovered that his cheeks were wet. He didn't know when, but he had already been moved to tears, and the uncontrollable tears kept flowing.
Blinking hard to make himself see the world clearly again, Su'er saw from a distance at the far end of the crowd two figures, one tall and one short, who had not taken off their hoods even in the cave. What was surprising was that although they appeared here with Su'er, no one seemed to notice their existence at this moment, as if they were ignored.
Did they use magic?
Indeed, it's hard to imagine that an Elf and a Flügel would also participate in such a celebration.
Wiping away the tears overflowing from his eyes due to excitement and joy, his image no longer mattered. Su'er shouted loudly, wanting the people in the settlement to put him down—it had no effect.
On the contrary, his shouts made the cheers even louder, as well as the words of thanks.
Just those words...
"It's all thanks to you, Brother Su'er!!"
"If you, Su'er, hadn't sent the information back, everyone would probably still be constantly on long expeditions outside!"
Huh?
"Anyway, you're finally back. It must have been hard for you outside, Brother Su'er!"
"Yeah, every time I ate those things, I felt sad in my heart. I don't know how much hardship you went through outside for those things, Brother Su'er..."
Hmm hmm?
"Exactly! Damn it! Now I want to cry too..."
Hmm hmm hmm??? Wait a minute?
What exactly did Riku tell the people in the settlement??
Su'er, who was being constantly tossed up, felt as if his tears were flowing back out of thin air, and his whole body became stiff—wasn't it supposed to be that the supplies were delivered to the settlement through a coincidence that would absolutely not arouse suspicion!
Su'er wanted to ask Think specifically, but from this angle of being tossed up, he couldn't see that woman.
Or is this another kind of coincidence?
Did Riku put the credit on his head to cover his tracks? Uh, it doesn't seem like he's claiming credit... Am I claiming credit for myself?
He let out a "Nani" sound.
Finally, the cheers and the enthusiastic crowd finally calmed down a bit. The simple people didn't have the wicked humor of tossing Su'er up and then watching him freefall. Instead, they carefully helped him stand steady.
It only took a few seconds for the warm cheers to return to silence. Su'er panted and looked at the two people who walked through the automatic channel in the crowd to stand in front of him—two people who were exceptionally important to him.
"...Welcome back."
Even though he tried to suppress it, his face showed obvious joy, and the corners of his mouth couldn't fall. The usually serious white-haired boy, who was always serious in front of everyone, slowly opened his arms as if to embrace him, but someone got there before him.
Bang!
"Su, Su'er!!! Sister missed you so much, wah wah wah!!!!"
Just as Su'er also opened his arms to hug Riku, a red whirlwind directly crashed into his arms. Su'er even felt the air in his lungs being squeezed out directly.
Ribs! Someone save my ribs!!!
Hey hey hey, this is with protective gear on! Couronne, does it really not hurt!!!
"Cough cough, cough cough cough! Co, Couronne, I, I, I really... missed you so much," coughing with difficulty, Su'er rolled his eyes weakly. The fact that he could still stand without being knocked to the ground could be said to be a testament to his perseverance.
Watching Su'er weakly wave his arms twice to signal to him, Riku didn't mind this small matter. He just retracted his arms and smiled. He was already very satisfied, and even his determined but lifeless eyes were flickering with a vibrant light.
Although he always proclaimed to the people in the settlement that Su'er was still alive, only Riku himself knew that in his heart, he had already considered Su'er to be a sacrificed person. Everything he did was just his little act of willfulness, a hope that he had established, a tribute to that man... that man who was as close as a younger brother.
He was still alive, and living well.
This was already perfect.
Riku narrowed his eyes in joy.
"...Why didn't you come back all this time! Do you know how worried I was, Sister!! I asked Riku so many times and he wouldn't tell me clearly! You two are really too much!!" Burying her head in Su'er's shoulder and crying bitterly, Couronne's two overly forceful arms were squeezing Su'er until he felt like he couldn't breathe.
But neither he nor the people around him had any intention of blaming her—it was a fact known to everyone in the settlement that Couronne had always regarded Su'er and Riku as her own younger brothers.
And that familiar small figure with blue-purple hair, behind her, Marta was also smiling and bending over, whispering something in her ear, and gently pushing her on the back.
It was Nonna, a Nonna who had grown up a bit. In just two years, Nonna, who developed earlier than boys, had grown half a head taller.
Smiling and nodding, there was no need to speak. Su'er just extended one arm. The next moment, Nonna hit his chest like a cannonball, and even Couronne, who was already there, was attacked.
No, I can't let this child follow Couronne all the time. She can seriously injure someone.
He couldn't help but grimace, giving his companions around him a wry smile. With his other arm around Nona who had thrown herself into his arms, Su'er gently patted her back.
Nonna was already in tears.
Su'er felt a little relieved and sighed inwardly.
That little girl back then has grown up... but she's still as much of a crybaby as she was back then.
"Oh! Right! I suddenly remembered, aren't there two guests who came back with Brother Su'er!" Credo, who was also a close companion and had been smiling and surrounding them, suddenly exclaimed.
"Huh? Guests?" Raising her head from Su'er's shoulder with teary eyes, Couronne looked over at the crowd in confusion. She, who had arrived later, didn't catch the initial scene. She thought only Su'er had returned.
Credo's shout was like a signal, waking up the few people who had first witnessed Su'er, Think, and Jibril walking in—oh, sorry, Su'er wasn't walking.
Did the magic lift?
While guessing in his heart, Su'er also looked over at the crowd.
How to put it...
He suddenly felt flustered.