Chapter 162, Not Peaceful At All (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

A rainy night.

 

The moon must surely be bright. It was just that it cannot cast its light down because of those dark clouds that veil the space between the earth and the sky.

 

How wonderfully atmospheric was a rainy night where even the moon, which would surely be bright as always, cannot be seen. So surely everyone has had at least one day when they felt that such a rainy night was a true delight.

 

Of course, that was under the premise that the place where one had arranged their sleeping quarters was not outdoors.

 

If only it were not outdoors, it would have truly been delightful. Thoroughly soaking in the mismatched sentimentality that flows down with the rain, holding a glass of beer or perhaps Himolika, which was well known as the most potent drink in Cyries, really any alcohol in hand while gazing out the window would be great.

 

And then, watching the falling raindrops, one would have revisited some bitter memories of Magic of other Elements that one had given up long ago.

 

[That house I burned down back then must have no traces left now… Ha, how futile time is.]

 

Such reminiscence began.

 

“It shows no sign of stopping at all.”

 

Whether it was rain to bid farewell to spring or rain to summon summer was unclear, but the rain continued falling regardless.

 

But for now, there was no window to allow for such sentimental indulgence, nor any roof to provide the sound of falling raindrops. The fact that this place was not the warm indoors was also a major complaint, but above all, there was no alcohol to hold in hand. That was the greatest complaint.

 

“Ah. I want to drink.”

 

So Euria let out a bit of her dissatisfaction by voicing this instinctively honest remark.

 

*Crack crack…*

 

As if providing an answer to those words.

 

A spark from the quietly burning campfire scattered into the air and soon extinguished and disappeared. As if telling her not to even dream of hopeless hopes. So Euria followed where the light had vanished with eyes full of even greater dissatisfaction.

 

Soon, Euria’s gaze turned toward the distant sky.

 

“I’m really bringing trouble upon myself.”

 

Those words were spot on.

 

While Arsene, who was traveling with her, had to take this path because of Kalian’s orders, Euria did not. Kalian did not even know why Euria had come to this place. So secretly making excuses and coming to this place was indeed trouble that Euria had brought upon herself.

 

“It’s fortunate that you’re aware of it.”

 

Someone talked back to Euria. Naturally, it was Arsene.

 

“There’s also someone here suffering troubles they didn’t ask for, so don’t feel too wronged.”

 

He created an Ice Barrier that would not melt to serve as the roof, used Magic to dry the rain-soaked ground and firewood, and kindled flames that would not easily extinguish to set the firewood ablaze.

 

All of this was done single-handedly by Arsene, who spared no effort in deploying his Magic. So, complaints would naturally pile up.

 

“Well, then should I do it?”

 

Euria said this after hearing Arsene’s words. [I’m older than you, I’m stronger than you, and I’m more emotional than you. Why should I do that? I’m already busy being sentimental about the falling rain.]

 

“By the way, I wonder if those chirping birds have managed to get their meals in this rain.”

 

Euria said this while continuing to follow the sparks jumping from the campfire with her eyes. It was after she had extended her Mana to the vicinity to confirm that Chase’s ‘birds’ were still following behind.

 

“What? Do you want to provide them with meals?”

 

“Coward. Are you that wary of them?”

 

“Ha, there’s that personality of yours coming through again.”

 

She does not give any opening for a word.

 

After creating what could only be called a massacre by sending forty men side by side to the afterlife, Arsene glanced at Euria, who was unsuitably worrying about others’ meals, and asked.

 

“Do you really not know why they are following us?”

 

“Uh, I don’t.”

 

Euria, who answered like that, opened her mouth with some anger.

 

“But if they follow us for one more day, I’ll have to catch them all.”

 

Knowing that the birds were following them, they had been changing routes, which only delayed their schedule. Thanks to that, she could not even drink on a rainy day. How could she not be angry?

 

At those words, Arsene, who had now become adept at troubles he did not ask for, diligently flipped the wild boar meat to cook it. Just in case she might try to catch a blue-haired Mage instead of the birds.

 

Because of Euria’s words, that meat was best when chewy, the already muscular meat that had been cut thick was not easy to cook. She had even said that meat tastes as good as the cook’s devotion, so he had given up trying to cook it subtly with Magic.

 

So Arsene, who had been watching the meat slowly cook with vacant eyes, asked another question to change the topic.

 

“By the way, is it really alright not to inform His Highness? About where you’re going and why.”

 

“He would prettily tell me to stay away since it’s dangerous, so why bother.”

 

Of course, Kalian, who valued proper etiquette, would never say such a thing in that manner. Still, the meaning was conveyed

 

Anyway, Euria was investigating the black stone that Kalian possessed. During that investigation, she had seen records of a scholar who claimed he could ‘create Divine Artifacts’. Thus, she was on her way to visit the research facility where that person was last known to have lived.

 

Then, she encountered members of the group that had attacked Kalian. So, she disposed of them all. What had been following since then was interestingly not more of those guys, but Chase’s birds. So Euria was currently contemplating whether to kill the birds as well.

 

“Isn’t the Crown Prince of Secritia investigating the same thing?”

 

“The meat is burning.”

 

She was not trying to change the subject. It was really burning.

 

Even during this serious conversation, Euria was only worried about the meat. A principled attitude of not looking away from anything but what she was interested in. It was the befitting attitude of a skilled Mage.

 

Arsene, who had hurriedly stirred the meat that had been divided into exactly eighteen pieces with the same care he had when catching the wild boar, looked at Euria.

 

“That could be. But it’s strange, you know. I can’t understand why the Crown Prince pays so much attention to our Prince. Sometimes, I think maybe he’s trying to help so they can get along well when His Highness ascends to the throne, but then I see he does not show off his help at all, so it doesn’t seem to be the case either.”

 

Generally, when helping someone expecting something in return, one would show off saying, ‘I did this much for you, so you should do at least this much for me in return.’ However, Chase avoided doing that. That was why Euria found it strange.

 

“He just pays attention without showing off. Even Count Manasil takes it for granted.”

 

“The Commander can be like that.”

 

Arsene nodded his head greatly and answered.

 

“Isn’t Count Manasil the very person who believes that everything living and breathing in this world should naturally help His Highness? So, even he can be like that. But His Highness is not such a person.”

 

There was no way Kalian would not know about Chase’s help.

 

Moreover, was Kalian not someone who refuses to accept even the smallest thing without compensation? Yet he readily accepted only Chase’s help.

 

“If such a Prince accepted help just like that, it must mean he’s someone trustworthy. That’s what I think. Since he’s not someone who would accept help of unknown intent, we should just leave it be.”

 

Arsene, recalling Chase whom he had encountered in front of Arpia Palace, said this and stirred the meat once more.

 

A Mage who could not stand curiosity was saying this. In other words, there must be reasons for everything, reasons that cannot be said, so just trust and move on.

 

The day of the second battle with those guys. Thinking of the two who had sent Allan to Chase and Knight Taillan to Kalian, Euria muttered “Is that so?” and pressed her lips together.

 

“By the way, isn’t it dangerous for a kid like you to go alone?”

 

It was said that what had dealt such great harm to Kalian was someone with mastery over the sword close to that of a Sword Master. This meant Kalian had been beaten even though his opponent was not a Sword Master. If even one of those Euria was currently chasing possessed such skill, Euria too might not be safe.

 

“That’s why I’m taking you with me, no?”

 

Arsene had still sparred with Kalian quite a few times. Moreover, most of those he had faced during that time were also sword users. So, when it came to fighting against Knights who moved quickly and knew how to use the sword properly, Arsene was often the better.

 

At the words that she had already planned to take him to the destination, Arsene answered with a voice full of dissatisfaction.

 

“Also, I have work to do.”

 

“Oh. I’m planning to go there too. I’ll help you, so you can help His Highness too.”

 

Looking at the distant, small lights of the Count’s Territory, Arsene let out a deep sigh.

 

“I have work to do in the Count’s Territory, and there must be work piled up in Valkan too. Those guys are definitely doing things their own way, and His Highness’s older brother, Deputy Commander Plants, isn’t someone who would help with my work. Besides, aren’t there many idle Mages in the Capital?”

 

Hearing those words, Euria smiled beautifully instead of getting angry. Then she brought out a line that Arsene could never refuse.

 

“The Teleportation Magic Circle is almost completed. If you help me, I’ll give you a ride.”

 

Trying to entice him with something like a Teleportation Magic Circle…

 

[No matter if I had never used a Teleportation Magic Circle before, aren’t you looking down on a person too much?] With such thoughts, Arsene placed the plate with neatly arranged cooked meat in front of Euria and said.

 

“You need not bring that up, Enclave Head. Where is your trust in me?”

 

In the end, Mages were indeed Mages.

 

* * *

 

[Kalian was always like that.] Though Plants had never once asked the reason for it, he had already noticed long ago. Thus, on the day when Kalian drew out Bern, he placed his sword away, prepared to receive and not retaliate.

 

“Where are you going, older brother?”

 

“Wilhelm.”

 

So, after climbing all the stairs and about to leave Heisia Palace, Plants answered Kalian, who came asking, like this.

 

It was partly because he had to handle the work left behind by the other Deputy Commander, who seemed to have gone around in circles and then some, and also because if he returned to Chermil, his thoughts would continue again in that dark room of his.

 

Once that work was done, maybe he could go to the training ground and grab Kyrie.

 

For some reason, he felt like today would be good to properly receive that murderous sword of his.

 

“Let’s go together to Wilhelm Hall. To the training ground.”

 

It was a suggestion to spar.

 

When he looked at him with eyes asking what he was thinking, he heard an answer as if it was nothing special.

 

“Around this time, Your Highness should be at Chermil. I heard he is coming. I’m sorry but I’m a bit tired to meet him.”

 

The news that Rmain was coming was naturally something Plants had heard too. However, since he was told Rmain was coming to meet Randel, he had not paid much attention to it.

 

“You say you’re tired, but you suggested sparring?”

 

Saying he was tired to meet Rmain but suggesting sparring did not make sense. Anyway, it was doubtful whether this guy knew how to lie.

 

Kalian, who chuckled “Is that so?” answered back.

 

“Actually, I don’t particularly have anywhere to go. If I go anywhere looking like this, everyone will worry.”

 

If he went to Ian, Ian would worry, and if he went to Allan, Allan would worry. Even Raven would worry, so he could not even go to the forest.

 

He was making such well-fed complaints.

 

[Isn’t this the guy who boldly wore only black clothes while carrying around a white cat? His water-soaked appearance would immediately return to normal with one word of his Spell.]

 

In short, those words Kalian gave must be a second excuse he was clumsily making up because he was concerned about Plants. He who had plenty of people to worry about him in this palace, where no one would worry about Plants.

 

“… How broad-minded my younger brother is.”

 

“Are you only realizing this now? I thought you were as quick-witted as you were smart.”

 

“Barking again.”

 

After he made one remark, he went one step further. Toward the person who had watched that expression when looking at the Arcus Tempus just moments ago.

 

[How did things turn up like this?]

 

*… Ha.*

 

Plants, who had nothing more to say, let out this short sigh.

 

“Do whatever.”

 

In the end, he nodded and answered as Kalian wanted, like this again. He was ready to die at his younger brother’s hands today, but what could he do?

 

Plants was the one who had dug up and messed with what he was trying to hide, yet it was Kalian who was being considerate. Since Plants knew this, he had no choice but to endure the annoyance.

 

Seeing such a Plants, Kalian smiled broadly and turned around to step toward the outside of Heisia Palace.

 

Then, he stopped again.

 

It was because he sensed something from inside Syspanian’s room that he had just walked out of. When he looked around, Plants had a face that noticed nothing. The Mages guarding the surroundings were the same.

 

Only Kalian was sensing an energy that no one else knew.

 

Kalian, who looked around with sharply honed eyes, opened his mouth toward Plants. A voice full of wariness, more than ever before, flowed out.

 

“I’m sorry, but could you go ahead?”

 

“Why.”

 

“I was going to visit, but it seems they’ve come to find me. It seems like they’re calling for me…”

 

Toward Plants, who noticed that Kalian had sensed something unknown to him, Kalian said this without hiding it further.

 

“The owner of Heisia Palace, that is.”

 

Plants’ eyes narrowed, and a deep arc formed on Kalian’s lips.