Chapter 108, The Other Side of the Abyss (4)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

Marquis Evan Beurisen, having spent an adequate amount of time at the festival, departed from his seat.

 

Soon someone walked over to Plants and conveyed a message, and Plants could be seen leaving with an expression that clearly showed his annoyance. At this rate, it was no different than openly declaring he was going to prepare for the battle for the Crown Prince position.

 

Allan, who had been quietly observing, casually remarked.

 

“It appears I alone was oblivious to the fact that Your Majesty’s final days have been counted as today or tomorrow.”

 

“What nonsense are you talking about now?”

 

“The way Prince Randel and Marquis Beurisen are continuing, it seems they’re on the verge of upending the country. At this rate, I’d sooner believe they’re preparing for a war over the throne itself rather than merely vying for the Crown Prince position.”

 

It was an observation on their lack of concern despite the King, still young and with a bright future ahead, watching them with sharp eyes.

 

“Is the lack of enthusiasm because the position has been precarious for more than just a day or two?”

 

“’Precarious,’ that’s the perfect way to put it. Hahahaha!”

 

Sleiman burst into laughter as it had been a long time since he had witnessed Allan Manasil open his mouth.

 

“Do you intend to continue watching as Prince Randel and Evan behave so recklessly, without any sense of decorum?”

 

“How would he have the energy to worry about that while things are so ‘precarious’? Just let it go.”

 

While Rmain could not fully stand behind Kalian, he also could not comfortably watch such behavior. With his cherished Disciple bearing the weight of it all alone, Allan found himself unable to remain silent. Seeing this, Sleiman stepped forward, sincerely offering his aid.

 

“Please, stop talking, both of you.”

 

Naturally, if those words could close their mouths, they would not have opened them so readily as if they had been waiting for this moment.

 

“Since I’ve already been called in, I might as well step in myself. It won’t take long anyway.”

 

“That’s welcome news to my ears. Just clear them all out and come to my new Territory. You’re quite good at protecting things, so I’ll make sure to hide you well!”

 

It was truly fortunate that this is a ballroom.

 

If not for the music from the musicians and the voices of people, by now, there would be nothing but the sound of saliva gulping.

 

Rmain frowned and replied.

 

“Alright, enough.”

 

With an Archmage and a Sword Master pressing from both sides, only the utterly ordinary human sitting in the middle had to worry. No one would likely know just how terrifying the conversation that had just passed between the three great pillars supporting Cyries had been.

 

Knowing that Rmain was truly troubled, thankfully Sleiman stepped in to change the subject.

 

“I heard the First Prince tried to make a big move and got caught?”

 

[Haaa… the previous conversation might have been better…] Rmain sighed in his weary heart…

 

At this tactless question directed at Allan, Rmain once again pressed a hand to his forehead.

 

Allan, unconcerned, nodded and replied.

 

“He was caught red-handed by my lovely Disciple. So. yes, indeed.”

 

“Speaking of which, you’ve really found yourself an excellent Disciple. And let me tell you this again! Your Disciple’s hands were so quick, just swinging that sword outright…!”

 

Sleiman, who had been speaking up to that point, asked with round eyes.

 

“By the way, is the First Prince still alive? Being caught by your Disciple, it would have been difficult to remain unharmed.”

 

“Why would my tender-hearted Disciple use force so recklessly? Don’t worry. He’s alive and well.”

 

Kalian had not yet told Allan about Randel’s threats. It was because Kalian himself needed time to organize his thoughts. Had he known, Allan would never have been able to say, ‘Randel is alive and well, so don’t worry’.

 

In any case, unable to endure such joke-like remarks from the two who were completely unaware of the truth, Rmain finally rose from his seat.

 

“Rmain, are you leaving already?”

 

“Go get some rest.”

 

At Sleiman’s blunt words, Allan smiled as if to say goodbye. In the end, Rmain left for Arpia Palace, leaving behind a deep, deep sigh.

 

And so, of the original four seated at the table, only Sleiman and Allan remained.

 

Sleiman, who had been laughing and talking as if nothing in the world could stop him just moments ago, had become very quiet as he drank a glass of wine. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he opened his mouth.

 

“There are exactly three things in this world that I fear the most.”

 

“The man who holds the continent’s second sword sure has a lot of fears.”

 

When Allan looked at him as if asking what could possibly frighten him, Sleiman continued.

 

“My respected and beloved Seri, and the dog Ian.”

 

Seri was Sleiman’s wife.

 

And the dog Ian referred to the actual dog Ian at their Ducal residence. How could he give his son’s nickname to a dog? No matter how much it resembled his son, was it not too much? Then again, it was truly just like Sleiman.

 

“Because of that mutt, I don’t have any shoes left.”

 

Anyway, the Sword Master, who had said the brown poodle at Siegfried Territory was the second most frightening thing, looked at Allan and said.

 

“And the third is that mouth of yours.”

 

Allan burst into laughter.

 

“Yes. My mouth has indeed been acknowledged by our lovely Prince as well.”

 

Despite their age difference of nearly ten years, their mental ages were quite similar. It had been over 20 years since Allan achieved his Seventh-Circle and started living against the flow of time, when they both decided to put everything aside and just be friends.

 

Having mentioned all three frightening things, Sleiman paused briefly before speaking.

 

“But now there’s one more.”

 

As he said this, Sleiman’s eyes turned toward Kalian’s back, seated at a distance.

 

“There’s good reason to be afraid. Our Prince is no ordinary person.”

 

“I’m not joking. That’s the first time I’ve experienced such killing intent. It still gives me chills.”

 

Sleiman, stroking the scar on his neck, continued.

 

“I really almost died that day.”

 

“I understand you’re just saying that I’ve found myself an excellent Disciple.”

 

Whether Sleiman lived or died was of no concern.

 

Allan simply replied like this, with a pleased smile.

 

* * *

 

Seeing Plants leave after Evan, Dmirea opened her mouth.

 

“It seems I’ve fulfilled my role as a shield.”

 

“Yes, you couldn’t have done better.”

 

Kalian expressed his gratitude once more with these words.

 

Then Dmirea made a humming sound before turning to Kalian and speaking.

 

“The First Prince’s side should be quiet too.”

 

Kalian let out a low laugh.

 

Since Dmirea was also a Siegfried. There was no reason to hide what had happened yesterday. Therefore, Kalian had already told her about his encounter with Randel.

 

“It won’t last long, but for now, he won’t be able to meet anyone from outside. If he had intended to kill me immediately, he would have made his move yesterday, but since he did not, that’s fine for now.”

 

“Won’t you clash again soon?”

 

“Whatever lies on the other side of that abyss, I won’t lose.”

 

Kalian answered as if to say not to worry.

 

Then, with a gentle smile completely contrasting his sharp gaze, he opened his mouth.

 

“Because I’m not such an easy person to deal with.”

 

It was a very confident and spirited answer.

 

Hearing those words, Dmirea smiled mischievously and retorted.

 

“I heard you cried.”

 

[Ah, that Baby Elephant!] For a moment, Kalian lost his words and hesitated, then attempted a lie with an extremely awkward expression.

 

“I didn’t cry.”

 

“I heard your eyes turned red.”

 

“They’re always red.”

 

Dmirea’s face showed an expression like looking at a younger sibling hiding candy behind their back. It seemed everyone in the Siegfried Family spoke their mind with their faces.

 

Anyway, Kalian needed to clear up the misunderstanding that he had cried out of fear of Randel, so he answered as if giving up.

 

“Just… I had a dream.”

 

Hearing this, Dmirea looked at Kalian’s face for a moment. It seemed unlikely that Kalian, unlike Ian, would cry over just a nightmare.

 

Dmirea opened her mouth with a smile exactly like the ones Ian sometimes showed.

 

“How good of a dream was it to make you do that?”

 

How good of a dream was it that you did not cry during the dream but after waking up? That was what she was asking.

 

After laughing for a while, Kalian gave an answer that sounded like he was talking to himself.

 

“Yes, because it’s a dream I’ll never have again.”

 

* * *

 

After leaving the still bustling Siegfried Hall, Kalian sent away both Ian and Kyrie and moved alone.

 

Since Plants had given him time to think about other things, it was time to stop being so frustrating.

 

He was finally going to meet Chase.

 

Kalian’s feet, which had been moving so resolutely until the entrance of Rubia Hall, paused for a moment.

 

[Maybe I’ll come back tomorrow? Am I too late? No matter what, we aren’t currently close enough to drink and talk all night like in the old days. Would it be okay to visit so abruptly like this?] All kinds of thoughts crossed his mind.

 

So he considered returning to Chermil Palace and coming back later. But feeling that if he did so, he might never take these steps again. So, he forced himself to move forward.

 

The dark blue cape swayed with Kalian’s steps.

 

[Eila…] Perhaps because of the cape that appeared and disappeared with each step, he suddenly thought of Blue Warbler.

 

[Damn it. Hadn’t I resolved to abandon the image of Bern and live fully as Kalian after experiencing that incident with Eila? This time should be no different.]

 

[I am not the same brother. I’m just a different person with memories of Bern. I should not forget this fact. This is just a matter of talking casually with a smile and then leaving.]

 

Such thoughts kept running through his mind endlessly.

 

Because of this, he failed to notice.

 

That Chase had been watching Kalian for quite some time, for a very long time.

 

“Kalian.” Chase, who had been observing his hesitant steps, called out to Kalian first.

 

Chase was standing under the large silver fir tree planted in front of Rubia Hall. In the shadow of that big tree, Kalian could see nothing but Chase’s feet.

 

Kalian’s feet stopped again.

 

Although he had heard the voice and seen where he was, his feet would not move.

 

Long ago, when Bern first said he wanted to become a Knight.

 

Taillan, trying to break Bern’s stubbornness, had once made him run around the training ground all night. Right now, Kalian’s legs felt as heavy as they had on that day when he had endured and finally convinced Taillan.

 

*Step*

 

Kalian repeatedly lifted his feet and placed them back on the ground. Then, thinking that at this rate he would be standing in the same spot all night, he clenched both fists tightly and moved his feet again toward where Chase was.

 

*Step*

 

Bern had been completely forgotten in this world, so he should not act with lingering attachment. He could not just leave everything behind and go to Secritia either. His mind was filled with such thoughts.

 

[Now my name is Kalian. I know. I know that! But…]

 

“…Why.” Kalian’s gaze wavered as he got closer to Chase.

 

Kalian lowered his head.

 

[Ah, this. This is cheating. This is really too much…]

 

Chase smiled.

 

“Your hair, why…”

 

He was smiling with that long hair cut short.

 

The memories buried deep in his heart finally opened.

 

He recalled when Chase had protected Bern from Debeullan’s roaring. He recalled the smile Chase had while waiting for Bern to solve the difficult problems he had given him. He recalled the voice that had steadied and comforted Bern when he first fell off a horse. He remembered the painful expression Chase had shown when knighting Bern.

 

The day, everyone died.

 

He recalled Chase’s tear-streaked face as he held back Bern, who was going out to block the gates.

 

In front of Chase, he recalled how he as Bern had answered that he would return.

 

The weight of those accumulated thoughts was too great, and Kalian finally could not longer hold back.

 

For the first and last time, he collapsed for just one day.

 

“…Older brother.”

 

For the first and last time, just once.

 

He cried in Chase’s arms, who told him to rest a little.

 

Because he was so sorry that he could not come back as he said he would.

 

Just like a fifteen-year-old child, he cried so miserably.

 

[Older brother… older brother… older brother…]