Book 2: Chapter 54
Book 2: Chapter 54
When the Border Earl said so in a loud voice, the armed soldiers carried up their fallen companions – awakened those who fainted – and turned back.
「Reiji!」
The young lady who had been watching from afar, ran and hugged me.
「Reiji, are you okay? I know you said you can win, but I was still worried.」
「Like I told you, I won’t lose if I get serious. Though, I have destroyed the pavement, so that will need to be fixed.」
Feeling the young lady trembling, I gently stroked her back – but I still kept my guard up against the Border Earl.
「Kukuku. Stop looking at me with those eyes. It makes me want to fight you!」
「If you stand in my path, I’ll eliminate you even if you don’t wish to fight.」
「I just can’t get enough of you! Watching you fight the mediator was amazing, but now, I can’t even gauge your limit!」
The Border Earl got off his horse, and lowered his battle axe to the ground. Then walked over, while making loud clanking noises.
「Sorry that you had to deal with the soldiers of House Ebene. If anything, I was going to fight for you, but that doesn’t seem to be necessary.」
「What do you mean?」
「I have officially come to convey an apology from the Holy King.」
「I don’t need it. Because I’m leaving the Holy City and the Kruvan Holy Kingdom.」I said, shaking my head.
「Is that so…」
The Border Earl closed his eyes, with a stern look.
「This country is a fool… to treat you, who fought the mediator and saved many lives, like this.」
「No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the country. It’s just that I have something important to do. Let’s go, my lady.」
「…Yes.」
If he’s not going to stand in my way, then that’s fine. I took the young lady’s hand and passed by the Border Earl.
「Wait a minute. You’re not going to take Miss Eva, are you?」
「…And what if I do? Will you brandish that brutal-looking weapon against me?」
「Oi, Oi, there is a limit to picking fights too, ya know. Don’t pick nor get into unnecessary fights. I have nothing to do with Earl Sillys’ business. It’s just a confirmation.」
「…I suppose you’re right.」
The stimulus to fight may not have cooled yet inside me.
I have to calm down — or I’m no better than a mad dog.
「I decided to go together with Reiji. Farewell, Border Earl.」
When the young lady pinched the hem of her skirt and bowed like a noble daughter, the Border Earl nodded with a troubled look.
「Boy… No, Reiji.」
The Border Earl pulled out a sheathed dagger fastened to his waist belt and tossed it over. I flusteredly caught it.
The scabbard of about 30 cm, decorated with inlaid rainbow-colored shells, seemed to be of high value. When I pulled out the blade, a snow-cold white blade appeared.
「This is…? It seems to contain Mithril.」
「I guess I don’t have to say any more if you understand that much. I’ll give it to you. A farewell gift.」
「I can’t accept this. It’s too expensive.」
「Don’t worry about that. I have taken a liking to you. It’s a shame to see a man like you walk around unarmed. …And this is the money you should have received.」
He tossed over a leather bag this time. When I caught it, I heard the sound of gold coins clanking. I’m sure this is the holy gold coins that the Holy King promised me as reward. However, I feel that “reward” is just an excuse, and the Border Earl simply can’t bear to see me leave empty-handed – as if I am being driven out of the country – so that’s why he’s giving me this.
「Understood. I shall accept it.」
I slid the leather bag into my pocket and clasped the dagger in my left hand.
This person, this person alone, treats me without any ulterior motives among the nobles. I’m sure he knows that I have black hair and black eyes—even more so since he came as the Holy King’s proxy. I thought it would be rude to not accept it if he’s going out of his way to send me off like this.
…No, but what if this is also a ploy to deceive me? If that is true, then I will never trust another noble ever again in my life.
「Take care. Also, if you feel like it, come visit my territory. That invitation is valid until the day I die. Wahahaha.」
We bowed to the heartily laughing Border Earl and started walking. The knights of House Sillys tried to chase after us, but the Border Earl stopped them. “Don’t get in the way of a man’s departure.”he roared. He’s a real man… I can revere him if only he didn’t look like a Berserker.
We gradually moved away from the Sillys residence.
I walked through the “2nd Holy District” while holding hands with the young lady.
The streetlights by the magic lamps illuminated the roads, but there were no passersby. This is where the upper-class people of this country live.
If I think about it, the young lady might have never travelled through this street other than in a carriage. Ah, no, there was once where she walked. That time when we went to see the streets disguised as commoners.
「…It’s quiet.」I said.
「Yes, it’s so late at night after all.」
The lights in the houses were all turned off and I didn’t feel any signs of people.
It even felt like the young lady and I were the only ones in the world.
「Where were you born, Reiji?」
The young lady suddenly asked such a question.
「…A town in the countryside. Acres of rice fields spread around a big river flowing across. Every day I went to school by passing by the rice fields.」
Curiously, my answer was my memory from Japan.
「Rice field? School?」
「Rice fields are fields that grow certain types of grains. As for school… there are vocational training schools for commoners in this country, correct? The school I attended is for learning general education.」
「Are you from a noble family, Reiji?」
「Fufu.」
I laughed unintentionally. I couldn’t help laughing thinking if my father, who was a civil servant in a local city, was a noble.
「I’m not a noble. I am from a common household… but it wasn’t too bad.」
I did recall the memories of my previous life at the Sixth Mine, but mysteriously, I didn’t feel anything like nostalgia or homesickness. It may be because I died properly in my previous life, or because I’ve been living in this world for a long time, or because it’s more like a distant memory.
But right now, I am unbearably missing living in Japan.
I wanted to walk with the young lady in that town where nothing exciting ever happened.
「Reiji, then…」
The young lady then asked a lot of questions. It may have been the first time someone has dug so deep into my private life so far. Favorite food. An interesting book I’ve read. Someone who left an impression.
However, that will soon come to an end.
What appeared in front of us was the “3rd Wall” that separates the “2nd Holy District” and the “3rd Holy District.” Guards who were equipped with exceptionally large magic lamps were observing people entering and exiting.
When the guards questioned me for being out this late at night, I presented the crest of House Sillys and they stepped back. I’m no longer a member of House Sillys, but the Earl hasn’t told me to “return” it, so it’s okay.
Since it was late at night, the gate of “3rd Wall” was closed, but since we were going out, they went through the trouble to open it. When the gates opened, the darkness of the “3rd Holy District” spread and a cold wind blew.
「My Lady.」I said.「This is where we say goodbye.」
The young lady looked up at me in surprise.
「…Eh?」