It took me the whole day to calm down again.

  So much that I even skipped dinner.

  That would've shown uncertainty about my position that I couldn't afford.

  Though, I doubt that anything I might do is actually going to change their mind.

  Yes, they got some good reasons, but I don't feel quite like accepting those.

  All these stories of adventurers speak of people who went out and grew in the face of adversary, beyond their limitations.

  So why shouldn't I be able to do the same, only because I'm small, not the strongest, and caught up in this place?

  Argh, I'm just so frustrated about all of this crap.

  As if starving myself did anything for me.

  Maybe I should've just accepted my place as is.

  I go to bed, hungry and irritated; however, when I get to breakfast in the morning, I can't help but notice that my portion of porridge is big enough to make up for yesterday.

  "Seems like someone is hungry today." (J)

  My mother is right, I'm kinda ravenous.

  For my small size, I’ve always had quite an appetite.

  I don't know why this never helped me develop any muscles.

  It all seems to simply disappear.

  "Do you have any plans for today, Yomi? You know, it's such nice weather. Why don't you go out for a bit and have fun?" (J)

  That's typical for my mother.

  She just acts as if yesterday didn't happen.

  It doesn't come as a surprise.

  This is basically her tactic.

  If I give up talking about it, they win.

  Personally, I hate it if things remain unresolved like this.

  I prefer more direct interactions, like with Mr. Kalros.

  However, I doubt that bringing yesterday up again would do much good here.

  Our positions are just too far away to get worked out.

  They want me to inherit the shop, but I want to protect the people.

  Yet what truly hurts about this is how they act like my dream is simply crazy.

  As if I'd be the only one enlisting.

  Most of my friends are soldiers, which only makes sense, with how it's basically the job almost everyone got here.

  Many of them were the children of soldiers, and as such, had the opportunity to follow their parents, to protect this country.

  Oh damn, this reminds me!

  "Actually, there was something I have to do today." (Y)

  "Yomi, we just got a huge delivery. The hides need to be prepped before they spoil. You know how that's going to end, right?" (T)

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  "Yes, I know, but I promised Ethan that I'd come over today, and it's kinda important." (Y)

  Ethan is an old friend who just joined the military.

  I'm going to help him move his stuff to the barracks, as his application was accepted a short time ago.

  "Ethan? Why? Is there a reason for this?" (J)

  "Sigh. You know, he enlisted this cycle. So I promised I'd help him pack up his stuff before he has to switch his childhood home for the barracks and bring it over with him." (Y)

  Dad looks quite unhappy at my answer.

  Maybe, because I put him on the spot there, by saying I already promised.

  "Damn, what poor timing." (T)

  Timing?

  I have the feeling he isn’t speaking about the delivery of hides.

  Is it something else?

  "Poor timing? What do you mean?" (Y)

  He seems reluctant to answer this question.

  "Your father has some acquaintances in the upper ranks. They say the orcs are growing bolder these days. There's talk about them approaching some of the forward outposts." (J)

  "Which is one more reason why you absolutely shouldn't join the army! It's bad enough if your friend gets deployed to the front!" (T)

  "Tomin, there's no reason to get loud." (J)

  "You know that I have other friends as well!" (Y)

  "Sigh. You know what? Go to your friend. I guess it's a good thing for you to meet up." (T)

  Usually, I'd be happier about getting my will, but Dad made it sound as if I'm never going to see him again.

  But, be that as it may, I don't intend to leave him hanging.

  I promised Ethan, and have to see this through.

  I move up the main street, in the direction of the first inner wall.

  There's always a lot of traffic, so one has to be careful not to end up in front of some heavily loaded carriage.

  I sure hope that won't become all that much of an issue when we get to carrying his stuff.

  Yet, the occasional army checkpoints help a great deal in regulating the traffic, and it should be fine around the inner gate.

  Also, it's not all that far away.

  I particularly like the way the buildings were built so closely next to each other, to not waste any space within the walls.

  On the other side, they even set up small parks for the populace.

  In general, the town is built very orderly, just as I like it.

  However, I still have a bit of a bitter feeling.

  Aside from what father said, I already thought of this as some kind of last activity with one of the few remaining friends of mine who hasn't already left for the aforementioned military barracks.

  While there is no rule that prohibits the soldiers from leaving the inner military facilities of the town, experience tells me that I won't spend as much time with him once he has gone there.

  Usually, they stick with their squad.

  These comrades become important to them, and so my friends start to spend increasingly more time in the barracks than outside with their old pals.

  In addition, there is also not much of a reason to leave them.

  After some time, Ethan will only visit the town while on guard duty.

  Maybe he will come back occasionally to stroll like we do today, but this will eventually cease as well.

  And then all of them will be in this place, which to me appears like a different world.

  I wish I could join them too, but with my parents, that doesn't seem feasible.

  Maybe I could just force my will, but would it really be worth it to cripple the relationship with my parents?

  Destroy everything I know just so I can chase my dream?

  I mean, I also can kind of understand that they would like to have someone to take over the shop.

  But while I'm for this reason prevented from pursuing the career I want to take, this kind of goodbye situation with yet another one of my besties leaves a foul aftertaste.

  However, let's not show this and make the best out of it!