Chapter 270, Himolika Is Delicious (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Meat.

 

After leaving the Elf City and exiting their boundary territory, evening arrived. No sooner had they reached a place where hunting was permissible than Kalian disappeared, only to return not long after dragging a rather substantial wild boar. Smiling so innocently without a single care.

 

Plants, thinking that Kalian’s face resembled that of a hero who had defeated the ‘Demon King’ at the end of long hardship and endurance, closed his eyes briefly and opened them again.

 

[I am a Prince and he is my younger brother. He is definitely also a Prince though…]

 

“Why…”

 

Forcibly swallowing the dozen or so troubled impressions that were difficult to voice.

 

[It is not my fault that he is like this. It is Chase’s fault. If you were going to drive the child out, you should have properly provided for him. How on earth did you do it that the child ended up eating chickens alone outside, eating pigs, getting drunk, rolling off cliffs… That is why the child turned out like this. Forget grilled cod, forget snakes, forget everything else…]

 

Plants had much to say to Chase. A deep, deep sigh flowed from his lips.

 

Whether or not understanding Plants’s heart.

 

The meat placed on the wide, flat griddle, that had emerged from a Mage’s Space Pocket, cooked nicely. Kalian, holding tea given to him by a Knight while waiting for the meat to cook, was far more excited than on the day when he had faced a meal at the end of a long, long fast necessitated by the hole in his stomach.

 

Thanks to this, a small humming flowed from Kalian’s lips, and Plants, hearing that sound beside him, quietly spoke.

 

“It seems my little brother has forgotten where he presently stands.”

 

A song.

 

Since no one would hear it anyway, and even if they heard, they would not know it was a Secritia song, but it was somewhat strange for a Prince of Cyries to hum a song with meat before him.

 

Kalian, who had too naturally brought forth Bern’s habits, nodded with a grin.

 

“Yes. I won’t forget.”

 

Bern, which had been full of nothing but lingering attachment on that day.

 

He had bid farewell to Bern on that last day.

 

And then Plants had brought forth what he had tried to bury quietly alone in his heart, unable to place it anywhere. He had buried it so that someone of unknown name and age could reach some distant sea. So that Kalian would not grieve again over the forced consolation for that Prince’s end.

 

“I suppose life has become liveable. For me.”

 

The blue flame thus set afloat.

 

Kalian had seen the blue lights scattered by Valkan’s members and the blue flame Plants had raised. Leaning against the sleeping Raven with legs folded and crouched, he had gazed endlessly at the blue light disappearing beyond the horizon.

 

Until the Moon set.

 

Until the Sun rising behind him illuminated the deep blue sea once more.

 

He had watched the sea for a very long time.

 

And naturally, he had said nothing to Plants about Cinnastar, that had been placed upon the sea. It could not be something to thank him for looking after, nor something to praise as well done, nor something to scold as a useless act.

 

So, he had said nothing.

 

He had only told him life had become liveable.

 

“I understand.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Understanding that it only meant he had not had nightmares and had returned well to his proper place, Plants understood.

 

“Has the chicken-eating Elf left?”

 

Plants did not mention that matter either. He showed no particular reaction to Kalian’s words and brought up another topic.

 

Kalian nodded and spoke.

 

“Yes. She said she would go to Siegfried Territory first. An Elf’s feet are fastest in the forest.”

 

There would be no particular reason, she had definitely gone ahead to eat proper meat.

 

“I see.”

 

“But you’re only now looking for Shiona, whom you haven’t seen all day.”

 

“…I was thinking.”

 

“What were you thinking about?”

 

“The horse’s name.”

 

“Have you decided?”

 

Plants nodded.

 

Kalian looked at Plants with the feeling of unfolding a dictionary of Secritia’s ancient language in his mind. Given Plants’s personality, he would surely try to choose a name in the same language this time as well.

 

“…Flower.”

 

Sure enough, Plants said this, and Kalian’s face showed considerable surprise.

 

[To think he would choose this of all things.]

 

“May I ask why you would choose such a name?”

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Since he did not want to tell, what more could be asked?

 

Kalian turned his head and looked at the silver-white horse tethered in the distance. Gazing quietly at that very well-trained, gentle horse, he spoke again.

 

“Estina.”

 

“I shall call her that then.”

 

[Calling a horse Flower…]

 

“Alright.”

 

The owner of Raven, imagining verdant grass riding upon a flower, shook his head from side to side.

 

“Your Highness, please have your meal.”

 

The same Knight who had brought tea earlier came again and handed them each a plate.

 

Having departed modestly, and because nothing as large as a table would fit in the Mages’ Space Pockets, both Princes ended up eating with plates in their hands. Of course, neither of them had any complaints about such things.

 

While watching Plants begin eating the wild boar meat without further comment, Kalian asked.

 

“Does the food we brought from the Elf City not suit your palate?”

 

“No.”

 

“But you’re not eating that and are eating meat instead.”

 

“You said we’re going to eat cod.”

 

The road to Secritia is even further, was it not? Plants had no intention whatsoever of selecting only food that suited his palate throughout the journey to such a place.

 

At those words, looking at his younger brother’s face nodding with an expression of ‘my, my, how admirable my older brother is’, Plants became annoyed and asked.

 

“Why are you going there?”

 

“To meet the snake.”

 

“Why do you want to meet it?”

 

“Are you worried?”

 

“No.”

 

“Sure.”

 

With a face that believed nothing at all, Kalian pointed to Plants’s sword.

 

“Secritia’s swords are stronger than Cyries’s. How could I, having become a younger brother, send only my frail older brother? I must provide escort.”

 

[Acting as attendant and providing escort. And barking so well…]

 

The younger brother, who busied himself without being asked, continued speaking.

 

“Debeullan won’t think I’ll come.”

 

“What will you do when you go?”

 

“I’ll think about it now. What to do when we meet.”

 

“…It would be better not to encounter him.”

 

“Are you worried?”

 

“No.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Having answered in a light tone, Kalian smiled slightly and spoke.

 

“It will be fine. I’m not going alone.”

 

[If by chance nightmares come again, he will wake me once more.] Kalian thought.

 

[If by chance nightmares come again, I must wake him once more.] Plants thought.

 

Whether or not understanding that the answer roughly contained such meaning, Plants merely nodded without words.

 

“Finish your meal before it cools. If you’re going to eat it anyway, eat it all. Older Brother Chase is taller than you.”

 

And he began eating the meat on his plate again. Not because he cared about Kalian’s last words. Not at all.

 

*

 

Dark night.

 

He could not fall asleep.

 

He had indigestion.

 

“I should not have said that…”

 

To be precise, nothing was digesting at all. If he had actually suffered an upset stomach, the power of Syspanian’s Blessing would have fixed it on its own, but the problem created by the meat he had forced himself to eat to grow taller was simply ignored by the blessing.

 

Even after drinking all the strong mint tea Nidlen had brought, his stomach felt heavy, so Plants called out Kalian, who had been sitting face to face with Raven having a cosy chat.

 

Kalian, who had emptied three plates of the same meat, sat gathered with Valkan’s members eating plenty of cookies filled with fruit jam, and on top of that shared a heap of dried apple chips with Raven yet remained excessively well, rose without refusal and followed Plants out.

 

*Woo-oong!*

 

Since they were brothers who thought that when one’s stomach was tangled, nothing was better than a fight.

 

Kalian, whose digestion was fine, but who had no intention of refusing a fight, created flickering red flames at his fingertips.

 

Red Aura.

 

The unique Aura that emitted red light because he converted the ana used by Mages into aura transformed into two long swords.

 

And Plants, pondering which of his two swords to use since he had not yet reduced their weight and could not wield both simultaneously, drew his newly acquired Cinnastar. The sword blade of light that seemed refreshing yet carried a chill held a sharp energy.

 

*Clang!*

 

Like starlight, like moonlight.

 

Three swords of red and blue became entangled.

 

Because to use Beurisen’s sword, one must also know how to block Beurisen’s sword.

 

*Clang! Clang!*

 

Plants repeatedly blocked and split apart the red flowers created by Kalian’s sword.

 

After blocking the sword flying from the right, he bent his waist to avoid the second attack sweeping from the left. After that, he kicked off with his feet and leapt up, thrusting his sword towards Kalian’s shoulder blade.

 

*Crack!* *Clang!*

 

Instead of hiding his body in shadows, Kalian avoided Plants’s attacks at a moderate pace, gathering his two swords into one hand. Then, after striking up the blue-silver sword as it was withdrawn and returned, he separated them again and thrust from both sides.

 

*Thud!*

 

Plants, having swiftly swung his sword to block both attacks from both sides, rotated his body one full turn and aimed for Kalian’s flank with strong force.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

The sound of rending air continued.

 

Kalian, having held his right sword reversed to block the approaching attack, swung his left arm to strike down Plants’s sword. Plants, clenching his teeth to regain control of the sword whose direction had been sharply bent, turned his body in the opposite direction and swung his sword. This time Kalian’s left sword blocked the attack, and the sword in his right hand rushed at Plants’s neck.

 

*Clang! Clang!*

 

There was no echo resounding through the forest.

 

Because of the translucent barrier spread widely around them.

 

Instead, sharp metallic sounds were heard endlessly by the two people within the barrier.

 

*Clang! Clang! Crack!*

 

Yellowish-green eyes flashed sharply.

 

The bright red eyes facing that gaze filled with cold energy.

 

“…You cannot kill someone by stabbing shoulders and slashing flanks.”

 

A small, beautiful voice reached Plants’s ears.

 

At the same time, with a flashing sensation, a red sword struck down from the sky.

 

*Claang!*

 

Plants, having raised his sword with both hands to block the falling blade, moved his feet quickly. Soon the second sword, which had been flying towards where Plants had been, was withdrawn and returned.

 

“Especially, you absolutely cannot kill them if the sword is light.”

 

These were words that need not be said but were also necessary words.

 

Right now, Plants had never aimed for Kalian’s heart nor thrust at his throat. He had continuously aimed only at arms and legs, shoulders and abdomen.

 

*Clang! Clang!*

 

Two red swords flew from top to bottom, from right to left. After striking up one attack, as Plants pulled back to avoid the second attack, a third attack flew towards him.

 

Kalian, having eliminated the sword bouncing from the impact of striking up and creating it anew, rushed at Plants aiming for his heart.

 

One towards the heart, one towards the neck.

 

Which to avoid and which to block.

 

*Thud! Clang!*

 

Plants, having completed instantaneous calculations, turned the hilt to block his heart with the sword’s flat surface. And he lowered his head while striking his sword upwards.

 

*Claang!*

 

Simultaneously, Kalian’s fourth attack immediately followed.

 

Without even time to feel the chilling sensation of the blade, as light as it was sharp, before he knew it a stinging sensation was transmitted from his neck. Only then did he feel that the fifth sword blade, extending invisibly, had grazed past Plants’s neck.

 

As always, realising once more that his neck had been cut by Kalian’s sword, Plants lowered his sword.

 

But then.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

The red sword rushed towards Plants’s heart.

 

Seeing the sword charging without hesitation, showing no intention of stopping, Plants raised the arm he had lowered.

 

“Ah…”

 

Too late.

 

He could not block it.

 

Kalian’s sword did not stop.

 

While unconsciously imagining the sensation of metal piercing deeply towards his heart, Plants took a step backwards.

 

*Screech!*

 

And the unpleasant sound of metal forcibly grinding to a halt was heard.

 

“If you let go of your heart before sheathing your sword, you will die, older brother.”

 

He felt a thin trickle of blood flowing from the wound on his neck.

 

Plants lowered his head to look at his chest area and saw a thick shield. He also saw the tip of Kalian’s sword, embedded and stopped in the centre of the shield.

 

“I will not spar with you until you can properly attack.”

 

In a somewhat hardened voice, Kalian spoke.

 

And he turned his back and walked away first with heavy steps.

 

* * *

 

Bright night.

 

After the Sun set and darkness descended, Magic Lamps placed here and there throughout the Royal Palace glowed. The trees lining both sides of the walkway connecting the rear garden and the separate palace sparkled, receiving the light of the lamps.

 

Though it was already well past the time Louise should have returned to the separate palace, she continued walking back and forth along that walkway for the umpteenth time. Rather than for any particular reason, she simply could not go inside because her heart was anxious and noisy.

 

“The Crown Prince has been with His Majesty for over an hour now. Why is he there so long?”

 

“Please do not worry too much. Nothing will go wrong.”

 

Instead of an answer, a small sigh escaped.

 

“It is not the time to discuss official business, yet he was suddenly summoned, so my heart is troubled.”

 

“If you are so concerned, shall I go and check?”

 

Looking up at Chase’s room in the distant main palace, where no light was visible, Louise spoke these words, and the lady-in-waiting walking with her asked.

 

After thinking for a moment, Louise shook her head and answered.

 

“Never mind. It would not be good for my needless worrying to become known to His Majesty.”

 

*Step step step…*

 

Louise’s feet took a few more steps before stopping repeatedly. Each time, Louise raised her head to glance at Chase’s room and Debeullan’s office alternately.

 

“His Majesty asking for sleep incense to be placed again…”

 

“That again.”

 

Louise, having paused briefly, took a few more steps before speaking.

 

“Since we removed all the incense following His Majesty’s order to remove it last time, there is none remaining. I shall speak to His Majesty separately about that matter, so leave it be for now.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Louise nodded at the lady-in-waiting’s words, and her gaze turned towards the main palace again.

 

A gaze filled with anxious heart.

 

At the end of that gaze.

 

Debeullan’s office was brightly lit. This was because the chandelier imbued with Mana was emitting the brightest light.

 

The small but ornately crafted chandelier illuminated violet eyes.

 

“If there is nothing more to say, please permit me to withdraw.”

 

Having been summoned to the office and made to sit for an hour.

 

He had merely looked through documents and worked, periodically coughing, without speaking a single word.

 

Even to Chase’s words, having sat for an hour without the slightest movement, Debeullan showed no particular reaction and turned a page of documents. And he coughed.

 

Under the bright lamp, Chase’s two eyes closed briefly and rose again.

 

“I.”

 

Debeullan’s mouth finally opened.

 

“Have been thinking. I have been thinking for a very long time.”

 

A sunken, hoarse voice.

 

But a voice more composed than anyone’s.

 

Having finally heard that voice, Chase did not turn his head towards Debeullan. Nor did he disturb his sitting posture.

 

“What thoughts do you mean?”

 

“About the one who spoke to me through Rmain’s mouth.”

 

With a *thud*, Debeullan closed the documents he had been looking through and rose. And with flawless movement, he walked over and sat opposite Chase.

 

The sound of the sofa sinking deeply seemed louder than ever, creating an illusion.

 

“Escaping guilt for harming the Marquis by presenting my bird, which you happened to find. Creating an excuse not to respond to my summons by placing that matter upon my bird. Furthermore, demanding my silence. Finding another bird I was pursuing, then making it yours as if having no intention of hiding it.”

 

*Tap tap tap…*

 

Debeullan’s fingertips, placed atop his knees with fingers interlaced, slowly tapped the back of the opposite hand.

 

“So, I thought for a long time.”

 

The fingertip tapping Debeullan’s hand, looking into Chase’s violet eyes that resembled the late King’s exactly, stopped. A small cough followed.

 

But neither paid attention to such a sound. Neither Debeullan, nor Chase.

 

“How. That child you deliberately went to meet. Could think. Exactly the same.”

 

*Tap tap tap…*

 

“…Exactly as I do.”

 

Chase looked at Debeullan without answering.

 

Debeullan’s fingertip slowly drew one long arc on the back of the opposite hand.