Chapter 268, I’m Rather Good at Setting Traps (5)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

It did not matter.

 

Kalian had probably come outside the Elf City and broken the perfectly fine rock to check whether this sword could withstand Aura, or how strong it was. He had then learned as a bonus that his Aura colour had changed. Plants understood this well.

 

But it did not matter.

 

How good the sword in his hand was did not matter. It did not matter at all.

 

“Cinnastar…”

 

A sword of light that was neither fully silver nor fully blue.

 

The words, ‘do not leave it lying around this time.’

 

It was not the familiar dark grey.

 

Nevertheless, he could tell.

 

In a world where flames rose from a Mage’s fingertips and blades from a Knight’s fingertips.

 

A world that reversed time, erased the existence of one who had lived and breathed perfectly fine, moved his soul elsewhere. A world that even prevented his name from being passed down.

 

It would be possible.

 

The form before becoming a falling star.

 

The form before burning black both inside and out.

 

“It really is my sword.”

 

Truly, a fragment of a star.

 

Having recognised it, what could possibly matter?

 

“As expected of you, older brother.”

 

Kalian, who had briefly confirmed with his short words, showed a small smile and added his answer.

 

“Yes. It’s the sword you used to carry.”

 

Plants looked at Kalian for a long while.

 

Kalian simply continued smiling without saying anything.

 

“…You.”

 

Never once until now had Kalian addressed the past Plants in that way. He had tried by all means to see him as someone different from the present Plants, and had called him accordingly.

 

But not now.

 

The clever Plants understood that as well.

 

Even if he had caused all that chaos at the beach, in the end, it was a matter between the present Kalian and Plants. Even if that incident had made Plants truly regard Kalian as his younger brother, it had nothing to do with the past Plants. Yet Kalian had called the past Plants by the same name as the present. While bringing him a star-bright sword engraved with a name that only the Plants of that time would have given.

 

Plants understood that reason as well.

 

“You endured well.”

 

[You must have seen it. Seeing that day’s nightmare before your eyes, facing that day’s Plants, deciding how to treat that day’s Plants. Going even further, personally bringing back with your own hands the sword that that time’s Plants would have carried, now returning it like this. Thus, you’re smiling like that again. But, if you saw that day’s Plants, you would have seen that day’s Prince too.]

 

“Yes. I…greeted him. Myself.”

 

Bern.

 

The old Kalian.

 

A long sigh escaped from Plants’ lips as he watched the grinning Kalian.

 

“So, if someday in the future, older brother…”

 

“I understand.”

 

“Yes.”

 

From the beginning, Plants had never viewed that day’s self, which he could not even remember, as separate from his present self.

 

It had been Kalian who had deliberately made that distinction.

 

Because he could not resent the present Plants for that matter. Because he should not.

 

But now he had changed that mindset somewhat, Kalian was telling Plants. That even if someday, by chance, Plants should regain those memories, he would not view him differently from now, so if such a day came, he should not hide it but speak of it.

 

Understanding that Kalian had deliberately revealed what he had experienced inside to convey such a message, Plants cut off Kalian’s words. There was no need to put it into words and hear it with ears, was there?

 

“You could have just burnt it all down as you wished, yet you truly endured well, my younger brother.”

 

“Even after hearing Lord Tessman’s explanation, I couldn’t understand at all how to set fire to crystals, so I didn’t do anything. My primary element is wind, after all.”

 

“The blue haired Mage’s primary element is ice.”

 

A small laugh burst from Kalian’s lips.

 

Kalian nodded and spoke in a quiet voice.

 

“Even if I couldn’t approve of the method, I could understand why. Because I was somewhat glad and pleased to have seen it in that way at least. So I just came out quietly.”

 

Because while there are many teas with good scent and taste, there are also occasions when one must offer bitter medicine without scent.

 

As Kalian had done for Plants. As Plants had done for Kalian.

 

“…All right.”

 

He thought of Syspanian, who had offered comfort while wishing death upon someone who said he feared being forgotten.

 

Unable to decide again whether to curse or praise the Mother Tree, who had shown the way to bid farewell to the last lingering knot that even he himself could not resolve, Plants simply nodded.

 

“I won’t leave it lying around. Not this time.”

 

He made a promise instead.

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian smiled again.

 

Because he knew well that this place, where birds sang and wind blew and clouds floated in the sky, was better than the familiar path in his heart where no one stood below and a red star hung above.

 

* * *

 

First.

 

A life opened its eyes.

 

A pure life blooming alone helped the first green take root in this land.

 

A tree that received a share of life grew, extending branches and sprouting leaves. It became the source of all life to come.

 

The tree became enormous and steadfast, possessing a complete Will of its own. It came to know of things happening in this land.

 

—I saw you.

 

It entrusted everything to the flow of time and watched.

 

—And merely observed.

 

It remembered time being reversed.

 

It saw much and forgot nothing.

 

It did not go against it. It watched as things flowed.

 

—But you…

 

* * *

 

“So.”

 

It was some time later when Plants spoke.

 

“Why did you call me?”

 

Keeping his hand on the black letters on the sword resting on his knees, letters that would have been chosen by someone who had not even given his horse a name, Plants asked.

 

“I didn’t tell you why the Mother Tree called me, nor did we have any special conversation.”

 

“Exactly. This non-special conversation. What was it?”

 

“Truly nothing much.”

 

Plants’ lips curved upwards as he watched Kalian trying to hide something again.

 

“…Even if the Crown Prince of Secritia is busy, surely he can spare time to explain one word in the old language.”

 

[Ah, seriously. My older brother is as persistent as fresh basil sprouts at any time of day…]

 

Kalian made a truly complicated expression as he looked at Plants, who, having had his weak heart mended, was now threatening to ask Chase about the meaning of his name instead of his heart.

 

“I’m not telling you that for your own good, older brother.”

 

“Sure.”

 

“And why do your words only become long when you say such things?”

 

“It’s necessary.”

 

“When normally you’re so brief.”

 

“Because you understand. You do.”

 

[Ah, I’ve trained him wrong. I’ve completely trained his habits wrong.]

 

“So. What was it?”

 

His older brother, whom Kalian had raised this way himself, could not blame anyone else. Furthermore, the only person who might listen to his complaints was that older brother sitting right there whom he both loves and loathes. And if he could not speak to anyone else, his insides just kept rotting. But in the end, it was because of Kalian that Plants turned out this way. [Goodness, what am I to do?]

 

“I’m not sure whether to call it a request or advice. I heard such words.”

 

[What else can I do but tell you.]

 

“What words.”

 

Kalian did not answer immediately but recalled the Mother Tree’s words he had heard the moment he held the sword he had given to Plants, then spoke again.

 

—But you. This time. Whatever you may come to know.

 

“Whatever I may come to know… she said I need not comply.”

 

Words saying he need not comply.

 

Kalian had deliberately tried to hide it again, perhaps worried Plants might unnecessarily concern himself about what matter would require the Mother Tree to say such things, but Plants conveyed his calm response.

 

“I’m not worried.”

 

“…Why not?”

 

“She said you can choose not to comply. So, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

 

Kalian laughed at Plants’ answer, how truly skilled at not listening.

 

“That’s true.”

 

“Anything else?”

 

“No other words. Apart from opening the forest path to the Brigit Forest without delay.”

 

“I see.”

 

Having finished the conversation, Kalian nodded.

 

Then he pointed at Plants’ sword and brought up something else.

 

“Dmirea is keeping Evan’s sword. I wonder if it would be better to modify your sword somewhat like his. What do you think?”

 

He was asking whether it might be good to alter the form of the two swords Plants possessed so that normally they could be handled as one sword, but when necessary, could be used as two swords split lengthwise.

 

While shaving down already completed swords would not be easy, he already knew someone who could do it well enough, so it would not be a major problem.

 

“There’s no need to hide that you use two swords, but in any case, Beurisen’s swordsmanship is adapted to that form. It would also be better for carrying around normally.”

 

At those words, Plants looked down at the sword for a moment.

 

“I want to keep it.”

 

The sword’s name, which the past Plants had chosen for some reason he could not know precisely but could gauge, was it not written on the blade?

 

If he shaved down the sword, half the letters would disappear as well.

 

For that reason, he was not inclined to do so.

 

“I write well. I can re-engrave the part that gets erased.”

 

Kalian smiled and said this.

 

Saying he would transfer the part to be erased from the blue-silver sword onto the dark grey sword.

 

Having heard this, Plants quietly gazed at the letters, then soon nodded.

 

“All right.”

 

Because half of this name would belong to Kalian anyway.

 

* * *

 

The wind blew.

 

It was full of the scent of grass, and the sound of two horses’ hooves striking the ground could be heard.

 

The wind changed.

 

The salty smell of the sea could be felt, and the sound of the two horses’ hooves remained constant.

 

They had returned to the Elf City.

 

“You should give him a proper name.”

 

Kalian, who had glanced once at the enormous Mother Tree visible again in the distance, spoke. Then he pointed at the blue-silver sword he would carry for Plants for the time being and continued.

 

“Your sword has a name, and your cat has a name, and your younger brother’s horse has a name, but your horse alone has no name.”

 

Plants briefly closed his eyes.

 

He was holding back something he wanted to say.

 

At least Hina’s horse had a name with the meaning Hina most desired among names she could call by hand. What right did someone who had given such a magnificent horse the name of a black thing, or a large crow, have to say such things?

 

Raven made a *purring* sound.

 

Whether he liked his current name or not was unclear, but it seemed he was roughly responding to Kalian’s words.

 

“You wouldn’t have given him one anyway. Back then either.”

 

“You think so?”

 

“Doesn’t seem like you would have lived putting meaning in such things.”

 

Plants thought that in the past, he certainly would have ridden Raven. However, he believed he would never have given it a name until the end. Because he knew best that he was not someone who would have lived attending to such matters.

 

“Still, then and now are different. Since it’s a horse that will travel far with you, shouldn’t it have a name?”

 

“…Far, where?”

 

In the past, he would have thought ‘is that fellow now trying to take me to a tower,’ but not now. So this time, he simply looked at Kalian with eyes asking what scheme he had concocted.

 

But instead of answering, Kalian brought up something seemingly unrelated again.

 

“Older brother, have you ever actually seen me coat a real sword with Aura? Not the swords I make.”

 

“No.”

 

“Then have you ever seen me break rocks with Aura?”

 

“No.”

 

Kalian made a dagger with twinkling eyes. Then he threw it towards a rock about the size of a wagon wheel visible some distance from the path.

 

“Because I detest loud noises.”

 

*Crack.*

 

A sound quieter than Raven’s *purring*.

 

About the sound of a lump of dry sand crumbling.

 

Instead, the rock shattered into pieces and scattered on the ground just as it had at the gorge earlier. The roar from before did not burst forth at all.

 

“I already knew my Aura colour had changed when I tried wrapping Aura around my new sword, but I couldn’t tell what level of strength the sword I received from the Mother Tree had. But I couldn’t swing a blade freely inside the Elf City, so I went outside to try cutting some trees, and found someone waiting for me.”

 

“A Secritia bird?”

 

“Yes. But whether that bird was actually caught by me or deliberately let itself be caught, I’m still not sure. In any case, it hid immediately, so I moved while pretending not to notice. But as I went, I thought there was something I’d like to show that bird.”

 

Only now did he recall.

 

That his younger brother was a vicious fellow who never gains only one thing at a time.

 

While waiting for Plants, who would obviously come looking for Kalian, or instead of going back to fetch him, simply calling Plants to where Kalian was. While also drawing the attention of a certain bird that had been waiting outside the Elf City.

 

He had grandly broken a rock once, in other words.

 

“What did you want to show?”

 

“A method to deceive Debeullan somewhat.”

 

Kalian, who had turned his head towards the approaching Mother Tree, spoke while remaining in that position.

 

Plants nodded slightly as if to say continue.

 

“It suddenly occurred to me that my changed Aura colour resembles Zeon’s somewhat. The colour of the power they use is murkier, but on a bright day like this, don’t you think it might look fairly similar? If so, I thought I might try deceiving Debeullan into thinking I’m connected with Zeon.”

 

What Kalian had laid before Plants at the gorge.

 

Transparent red light Aura that might well be considered quite similar to what they had used.

 

“Why bother?”

 

“To divert Debeullan’s attention briefly. Towards Zeon.”

 

Plants did not answer, and Kalian continued.

 

“Now that he knows I’ve come here, Debeullan will absolutely not come to this place. Using the agreement with the Elves as an excuse to summon me and Hina, that has failed now that Your Highness’s letter arrived, and he can’t come to a place that’s obviously not safe. Meanwhile, older brother Chase will be trying to inform the Nobles of Debeullan’s illness. Because that’s what keeps older brother Chase’s position safe for now.”

 

“That would be so.”

 

Plants noticed the change in how Kalian addressed Chase but said nothing in particular.

 

“But the Debeullan I know can’t be handled with such a hand. When cornered like that, Debeullan will definitely do exactly what he did to me.”

 

Because this statement came immediately, rather than showing no reaction, it would be more accurate to say he could not show one.

 

“You mean he’ll try to find a weakness.”

 

A weakness.

 

Though Bern had never once spoken of why or how he had lived his life, Plants already knew. Kalian smiled quietly and nodded.

 

“Yes. If I were in that position, I would certainly have considered it. I was a snake’s offspring too, after all. And what I think, Debeullan will think the same.”

 

The same thought that Kalian had but did not execute.

 

And that Debeullan would execute.

 

“Arianneu, or else Royal Consort Louise… our mother. He’s someone who will use anything that can strangle older brother Chase.”

 

So, he meant to divert Debeullan’s attention briefly.

 

In any case, Debeullan knew Kalian was here. Since he knew a bird had been following, it was an obvious fact. In such a situation, Debeullan would notice that the Elves calling him for treatment was truly a dangerous invitation.

 

“So, I’m going to divert his attention briefly. If it appears that I’m on quite good terms with the Elves and have even obtained the power Zeon uses, since he’s already sufficiently suspicious of me, he’ll try to investigate Zeon as well. Regardless of whether Debeullan and Zeon have joined hands or not.”

 

“You won’t be able to hide it for long.”

 

“True. Even so, there will be a period of gathering information, so I think it can be hidden for about one or two months. That’s enough. In that time, I just need to do one thing Debeullan would absolutely never think of.”

 

“What.”

 

Kalian paused briefly and tapped Raven’s saddle. Having organised his thoughts as was his habit, words Plants had not anticipated came from Kalian’s lips.

 

“At first, you said you would go to Secritia, older brother, and I stopped you.”

 

Plants nodded.

 

Kalian’s lips drew a long arc.

 

“I don’t know if you realise this, older brother… but actually, I’m quite good at setting traps.”

 

[As if I wouldn’t know that.]

 

While Plants was thinking this, the next words continued to reach his ears.

 

“But with the traps I set, I can’t catch snakes.”

 

As he had said, because Kalian was a snake’s offspring.

 

“Instead, what I can’t think of, Debeullan can’t think of either.”

 

“…So.”

 

“Older brother. That grilled cod, are you truly thinking of trying it?”

 

Plants did not answer for a moment.

 

Because he had fallen into contemplation about how to properly ‘persuade’ Rmain again, who would absolutely not let him leave once they returned to the Royal Palace, what clothes he should pack and how many this time, and whether he would have to leave Luci and Anne behind again.

 

And one more thing…

 

About what name to give the white horse that would have to travel far with him.