Chapter 258, Going to See the Sea (6)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

There had been a day when she stepped inside a rainbow.

 

She had done so because she was curious what it would feel like to enter it. When standing in the world and looking at a rainbow, all colours could be seen, so she had thought that if she looked at the world from inside the rainbow, might it not appear in only pretty colours without any black? With such thoughts, she had gone to find the end of the rainbow and stepped inside, only to ultimately be disappointed on that day.

 

*Swoooosh…*

 

A great sound of water could be heard and droplets like mist splashed onto her face. Two rainbows floated in the spray of the waterfall cascading down from the edge of the cliff.

 

[I was probably around the same age as now.]

 

Kalian, who had recalled the memory of some day he could not remember when it was, chuckled.

 

It was because while the silver-white horse standing at the water’s edge drank the clear, cold water, he glanced around briefly and saw Plants moving his feet towards the end of the rainbow.

 

[Everyone has the same thoughts at this age.]

 

Kalian, who had been thinking about telling him ‘older brother, you’ll only be disappointed if you go in there,’ simply kept his mouth shut.

 

Plants was usually only curious about things like: the meaning of his name, how long Luci’s waist really was, and matters involving Bern. This seemed to be the first time Kalian had seen him curious about something else, so he left him alone.

 

Whether Plants, like a tiny pea, would be disappointed or gain a new memory, either was better than what he had experienced while always stuck in the Royal Palace.

 

[So really, it’s all His Majesty’s fault.]

 

Not only did he name the child Plants, he never took him outside, and did not even get him a cat in that huge Palace. No wonder he turned out to be so needy.

 

And when they got home, Kalian would have to look after that golden corn, which was even worse than this pea.

 

[Come to think of it, aren’t I supposed to be the youngest one here?]

 

[Ah. I suddenly want a drink.]

 

“You’re not listening to me.”

 

“I am listening. You said let’s make a deal. So, I’m thinking.”

 

Kalian answered Shiona and looked away from Plants, who was standing inside the rainbow with his hand outstretched. He spotted the crazy Mages who had waded into the valley and were shooting flames at the water.

 

“…Why are they trying to set fire to water?”

 

“You said you were thinking.”

 

“I am thinking.”

 

Kalian ignored Shiona’s look that seemed to say ‘you’re pretty weird too for instantly understanding why someone would shoot fire at water.’ He deliberately turned from the Mages to look at the Knights instead. They were resting, leaning against trees or sitting on rocks. Their clothes might get wet, but those fire-breathing Mages would dry them off anyway.

 

Still, it was fortunate there were those who had not gone mad.

 

Without the Knights, Raven would have most likely been the most rational here.

 

“Actually, there are three things I dislike.”

 

Kalian, who had glanced once more at the Prince inside the rainbow and the Mages shooting fire in the water, spoke while stroking Raven’s neck with particular care.

 

“Elves. Fighting with Elves. Making deals with Elves.”

 

Kalian, who had said this, looked at Shiona with a bright smile.

 

“So, if an Elf who drew a sword on me says she came because she wants to make a deal with me, would I like it or dislike it?”

 

“You seem to have forgotten that before being an Elf, I am a Warrior of the Great Dunes.”

 

“Ah. And I also don’t particularly like the Wolves of the Great Dunes either. The Wolves of the Great Dunes following me, or the Wolves of the Great Dunes attacking me. You alone manage quite a lot, so would I like it or dislike it?”

 

Shiona closed her mouth for a moment.

 

For now, she was not particularly concerned about being addressed informally by a Prince who seemed about twenty years younger than herself. Their species were entirely different, setting aside status, so it was not something to worry about.

 

Therefore, Kalian simply continued speaking informally.

 

Thinking that this much was acceptable since there was the fault of having drawn a sword and attacked first.

 

“I can find where the Elf City is hiding even if it takes days. And it’s difficult to accept the vague promise of investigating Zeon together in exchange for the information I have and the black pebble.”

 

Helping find the Elf City and share the results of the investigation into Zeon while Kalian had to give what he had learned so far and the black pebble he possesses.

 

Shiona, who had discovered the campfire Kalian’s party had lit on the way out of the Elf City, had said she came looking for Kalian to say this. Upon meeting him, an unnecessary competitive spirit had arisen so she had started with a fight, but in any case, the purpose of seeking Kalian had been thus.

 

And Kalian had risen and left as soon as the word ‘deal’ came from Shiona’s mouth, ate breakfast, and moved on again. Then, she had seen the water flowing below the waterfall and had stopped briefly to rest the horses as well.

 

Kalian continued speaking with a face where the smile had not yet faded.

 

“You didn’t say how you knew I had the pebble, or how you knew I was pursuing Zeon either.”

 

“The reason I cannot explain precisely is because I too cannot completely trust you, and the reason I’m specifically saying to make a deal is because I don’t want to take it by force, so further explanation isn’t necessary, is it?”

 

“You say interesting things, Shiona.”

 

A small laugh was barely audible, covered by the sound of the waterfall.

 

Kalian’s eyes held a cold energy.

 

“Take it, you say. I didn’t kill you because you seemed hurt. You know this too, so why say such things?”

 

Shiona nodded without any particular reaction.

 

Therefore, Kalian was inwardly very slightly surprised.

 

In truth, Kalian could not see Shiona’s Aura right now. And when Shiona had seen Kalian, she had said ‘black hair, red eyes’. She had recognised Kalian by appearance, not by his Aura.

 

What this implied was one thing.

 

Their Auras were the same or similar. In other words, neither could see the other’s Aura.

 

However, even Kalian had not noticed Shiona’s approach until he heard the deliberately made bell sounds. Therefore, Shiona must also know the same fact.

 

“You’re right. I said something strange.”

 

“You acknowledge it too quickly.”

 

He had been thinking it was unexpected because Shiona had readily acknowledged that Kalian had spared her. A certain ill-natured Elf Kalian had encountered would not have bent over their pride like this.

 

“It’s a matter of the Great Dunes. You probably know too, but the power possessed by the group called ‘Zeon’ is not ordinary. After a chief of the Great Dunes with whom I have ties with asked me to look into them, the bastards I was pursuing attacked your subordinate recently and were killed by you. When I examined the corpses of the bastards you buried, all their hearts were split.”

 

“…You mean the bastards who attacked Lord Hertz.”

 

He recalled the matter of burying everyone after killing those who had attacked Arsene in the forest, before Allan arrived. He had done so because if Allan saw them, he would worry more than Kalian himself.

 

It seemed Shiona had confirmed those deliberately buried corpses.

 

“Right. Then a month ago, I met other bastards from Zeon here and fought them, killing one, and something similar came out. If I’d remembered the ones you met, I wouldn’t have stabbed the heart, but I didn’t think of it, so the stone shattered along with it. It’s been over a month since I parted from those bastards and it won’t be easy to find their trail again, so I thought it would be better to share information with you instead.”

 

In the end, it meant she needed the black pebble for the same reason as Kalian.

 

In truth, for Kalian this was welcome. In any case, she already had several of the problematic black pebbles, and if an investigation was conducted from the Great Dunes side, information from a different angle might help confirm certain things he had already gathered.

 

However, there was one problem.

 

“Explain how I should trust you too.”

 

“You must not know, but Elves do not lie. The Mother Tree dislikes lying, you see.”

 

When told he disliked Elves, the response had been that she was a Warrior of the Great Dunes, and when told he could not trust Elves, the answer was that since she was an Elf, she did not lie. Kalian frowned, reminded of a certain fellow who freely changed titles between Prince and Deputy Commander whenever it suited him.

 

Shiona, who had been looking at such a Kalian and could not think of another way to make him trust her, fell into thought with a *Hmm…* then spoke in a serious voice.

 

“If that won’t work either, I suppose I’ll have to fight and take it after all…”

 

“Do you perhaps use Magic as well as the sword?”

 

She seems quite belligerent, rather like a Mage.

 

Watching Kalian chuckle at such a thought, Shiona spoke again.

 

“You know it’s a dangerous object. In any case, even if it falls back into those bastards’ hands, things will not change much, will it? In that case, investigating together would be better.”

 

After thinking for a moment while tapping Raven’s saddle, Kalian spoke.

 

“I’ll agree to exchanging information we learn going forward. But I need time to think about handing it over.”

 

Kalian’s finger pointed to the bell hanging from Shiona’s sword.

 

“I’m not certain whether wearing that is confidence or arrogance. There’s also no guarantee you won’t use its power in a strange direction.”

 

Shiona frowned.

 

As if unconcerned, Kalian tilted his head slightly and added.

 

“Guide us to where the Elf City is. You don’t seem to have much to do, so lend your strength until this matter ends. If I’m pleased, I’ll give you what you want. How about it?”

 

After briefly weighing the gains and losses of catching the bastards’ trail again and obtaining the black pebble versus following Kalian for several days and obtaining it, Shiona said.

 

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

 

“Good.”

 

Kalian, who had thus ended up making a second deal with an Elf, added one thing as if it were an important matter.

 

“Ah. If you also like grass, get your own food. I don’t know much in this regard.”

 

Shiona nodded.

 

She omitted mentioning the fact that she had been raised by the hands of the Warriors of the Great Dunes since childhood, which she could not even remember, and that there was not much grass in the Great Dunes, and therefore that she was an Elf who ate meat quite well.

 

* * *

 

Kalian, who had been listening to the sounds of grass rustling, spoke.

 

“Congratulations.”

 

“For what?”

 

“Thanks to Shiona, we’ll return to the Royal Palace a bit sooner, won’t we?”

 

It was said because in any case, the time spent wandering searching for the Elf City had been reduced.

 

Plants, who had nodded without denial, looked at Shiona going ahead in the distance and spoke.

 

“She seems trustworthy enough.”

 

Kalian looked at such Plants.

 

Since he was making the expression he wore when hearing incomprehensible words occasionally, Plants spoke again.

 

“She could have taken the party hostage and threatened us, but she didn’t.”

 

“You mean the dawn incident?”

 

Plants nodded.

 

Rather than taking Valkan’s members or Plants hostage, she had openly stepped forward, started with a fight, and then brought up the main point, so with that kind of personality, shouldn’t she simply be trusted? Such was what he meant.

 

In a situation where they were going to converse with Elves, having Shiona would be more advantageous, yet it was unlike Kalian to have engaged in such long verbal sparring to avoid joining hands. Had he not joined hands without particular suspicion with even the ever inscrutable Randel, and also with Plants?

 

“She cannot threaten us. The moment she enters into range, she’ll die.”

 

Plants chuckled.

 

What tremendous confidence.

 

“It’s because she’s an Elf. Not all the Elves in the world are like Hina.”

 

“But it means there are Elves like Hina.”

 

Of course, but Hina was a Half-Elf.

 

“Have you now learned the method of teaching as well?”

 

In any case, Kalian had understood Plants’ words just now as meaning that since there were Elves like Hina and Sia, there was no need to mistrust all Elves.

 

“Understood. I’ll look and think without prejudice.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Kalian laughed and nodded, then brought up a question.

 

“Older brother, what colour were you trying to see when you went inside?”

 

“Colour, you say?”

 

“The rainbow.”

 

“No.”

 

“Then why did you go in?”

 

“To confirm something.”

 

“May I ask what you were confirming?”

 

“No.”

 

“Alright then.”

 

Since there was no thought of particularly bothering him about not wanting to speak, Kalian nodded without regret this time as well and turned her gaze forward.

 

“To confirm that water doesn’t stain.”

 

Towards the younger sibling who did not ask twice, Plants said this.

 

“Haven’t you lived wanting to confirm this until now?”

 

“I wasn’t certain.”

 

Kalian, who had once more wiped away the grass stains that had been troublesomely erased all day, spoke.

 

“Even if the surroundings were all grassland, peas are always pea-coloured. Grass stains are still grass stains.”

 

“Because the surroundings are all grassland, my little brother barks well without discrimination.”

 

“Originally I bark better outside.”

 

Nidlen, who had been coming from behind, wore a truly puzzling expression upon hearing the riddle-like conversation that emerged at any time proceed smoothly, though they did not notice.

 

In truth, it would be correct to say they had not paid attention.

 

Probably only Kalian understood the words confirming that even while buried in that splendid Beurisen until now, Plants was Plants, so there was no need to observe others’ expressions or cast Silent.

 

“We’re here.”

 

Thus, with one side enduring and one side barking, bickering as they went, Shiona’s voice was heard.

 

Shiona, who had already stopped at one place, was waiting for the party.

 

Kalian, who had nodded, went to the front of Shiona first, and Nidlen came to the front of Plants in Kalian’s stead.

 

Shiona first set foot on a certain point in the forest. Then she disappeared before the party.

 

Since it was something already experienced before, Kalian entered after her without hesitation. Then Nidlen and Plants, and afterwards all the members entered.

 

“Ah.”

 

A short sound came from someone’s mouth, though it was unclear whose.

 

It was both an exclamation and an expression of surprise.

 

“How fascinating. The village we found last time wasn’t like this, but their city is indeed a city.”

 

Kalian conveyed his impressions, and the others did not open their mouths further. It would be correct to say everyone had lost their words.

 

The crystal glasses placed on the dinner table came to mind.

 

The chandelier that sparkled in rainbow colours in all directions when placed under magic lamps came to mind.

 

In the distance, there was a tree that emitted light in all directions beneath the transparent sunlight. A tree so enormous one might think it as large as the perimeter of Cyries Royal Palace. Before their eyes was the city the Elves built within and around that tree.

 

And beyond it—

 

“…The sea.”

 

A sea so vast as to be overwhelming spread out.

 

“Yes. In the end—”

 

Kalian, who had entered the forest and faced the sea, answered Plants’s words in a quiet voice.

 

“We did come to see the sea.”

 

Like stepping into the rainbow of one’s imagination.

 

Like advancing just one step from the forest and entering an entirely different world.

 

After staring at that beautiful sight for quite a while, Kalian spoke.

 

“But how on earth do we burn that down?”

 

They had said it was a tree, so Kalian thought it was a tree.

 

Sea or whatever, for now, that tree was not any tree he knew of.

 

At the words that had not forgotten at all the original purpose of finding this place, Plants, who had told him to ‘abandon prejudice’, chuckled. The Knights gripped their sword handles with faces steeling their resolve, while the Mages, including Nidlen, fell into deep contemplation.

 

From a place not far away, a group of Elves approached.

 

Kalian’s red lips, having completed preparations to bark properly, drew a deep arc.