Chapter 257, Going to See the Sea (5)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

*Ding ding…*

 

[Black hair, red eyes. It’s you!]

 

*Kaaang!*

 

The air tore apart.

 

A flash poured forth from the crimson sword.

 

Unlike the sparks from the campfire that floated one by one over the lake like flames, these were sparks that seemed to leap from lava that would never cool.

 

*Kaang! Kaang!*

 

An eerie light flickered ceaselessly.

 

In an instant, several sword strikes were exchanged.

 

“Please step back.”

 

Just moments ago, Kalian’s words had been heard simultaneously with the bell ringing once more. The sudden spectacle unfolding before their eyes had followed immediately after.

 

There was no time to grasp the situation. While the Mages, including Nidlen, spread a massive shield and the Knights surrounded the Mages, more than a dozen flashes had already illuminated the darkness before vanishing.

 

*Ding ding…*

 

*Swish! Kaaang!*

 

Kalian’s figure could barely be seen.

 

Occasionally, the opponent’s pale pink hair would flicker into view before disappearing, but the Mages’ vision was too limited to distinguish Kalian’s shadow submerged in the darkness.

 

*Kagang! Kang!*

 

The sound of a black robe fluttering, the dizzying sound of bells, the sound of feet kicking off the ground, the roar of swords clashing. Between them came a low voice.

 

“Put out the fire. Just maintain the shield.”

 

Immediately after the words were spoken, Nidlen’s bluish current that had been flowing over the shield and emitting a faint light disappeared. Water poured from the transparent sphere that had gathered over the campfire.

 

*Tssss!*

 

The brightness that had illuminated the surroundings completely vanished.

 

The ashes left from burning became soaked in water, giving off that characteristic acrid smell before gradually fading away.

 

*Kaang! Kaaang!*

 

Darkness descended.

 

Within the even narrower field of vision, two shadows clashed again.

 

While the darkness that ordinary people could not see an inch ahead of them might have been an obstruction, Shiona was not particularly hindered by the dark. Therefore, there was no problem whatsoever in swinging and blocking the sword.

 

And for Kalian, darkness was—

 

*Kaaaang!*

 

A perfect hiding place.

 

The crimson Aura Blade that had flown over before anyone noticed stopped before Shiona’s heart. The sword that immediately disappeared from view extended from behind, grazing past Shiona’s neck.

 

The path of the sword could not be seen.

 

The crimson sword that scattered like dust after completing its attack, then appeared from somewhere and thrust again, left not even a trajectory.

 

*Kaang!*

 

Nevertheless, Shiona did not panic and raised her sword. She calmly blocked the sword that had grazed her neck and was now flying in from behind. The tip of Shiona’s curved sword aimed for Kalian’s heart.

 

*Ding ding…*

 

*Flap!*

 

Shiona’s sword was swung wide.

 

Simultaneously, a black robe with the moon at its back fell from the sky.

 

A sword was now held in the white hand that had held nothing.

 

*Kaaaang!*

 

A fight that had begun without any conversation.

 

The two swords became entangled again.

 

“Deputy Commander, please move to the rear.”

 

Nidlen spoke.

 

She had spread the shield to block all directions. Naturally, a Sword Master’s Aura could not be blocked, but other attacks could be.

 

*Kaang! Kaaang!*

 

After Kalian’s sword blocked Shiona’s sword, he immediately launched a counterattack. The crimson sword that had slipped along the slightly curved blade disappeared from Shiona’s view.

 

“Deputy Commander.”

 

At the second summons, Plants spoke.

 

“Just watch.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

If he had sensed the presence of others nearby, he was not the sort to tell them to stay back. If it had been a truly dangerous situation, he was not the sort to fight while wearing a robe. If it had been a situation requiring vigilance, he was not the sort to engage the opponent separately while leaving his companions behind.

 

Since they had extinguished the fire so that such a fellow could fight more comfortably, there was nothing more to do.

 

“There’s nothing more to do, so shut your mouth and watch as two Sword Masters greet each other.”

 

Crimson energy exploded forth.

 

The black robe merged with the wind.

 

*Kakagang! Kaang!*

 

Thus, for one hour, or perhaps two.

 

An amount of time passed that could not be precisely gauged. Although they had not checked the time, one thing was certain.

 

They had fought until daybreak.

 

The fight did not end even as the deep darkness lifted and the distant sky brightened like some Mage’s hair colour.

 

Around the time when Plants’ deliberation began regarding whether to tell them to stop maintaining vigilance, having already instructed them to lower their shields and only remain alert out of consideration for the Mages’ fatigue…

 

*Ding ding, Ding ding…*

 

*Kagang! Kaaang!*

 

The metallic sound that had not changed in the slightest shook the forest.

 

Even with the rising sun behind it instead of the setting moon, the crimson sword did not lose its light.

 

Plants, who had been watching the two, frowned slightly.

 

‘The smell of blood.’

 

It was because of the gradually intensifying smell of blood.

 

A Sword Master whose wounds had not fully healed.

 

A Sword Master wearing clothes that hindered movement.

 

Their fight was evenly matched. No matter if one wore a robe, the opponent was in an injured state. Nevertheless, the reason Plants deemed them evenly matched as he watched was simple.

 

*Flap!*

 

Sound came from Kalian, and his movements were faintly visible to the eye.

 

He knew that just as Shiona could not exert her full strength due to injury, Kalian was also not facing her with his complete strength.

 

*Swish! Kagang! Kaaang!*

 

Kalian’s sword, which had blocked Shiona’s attack that had extended as if spreading wide, gave the illusion of splitting into several branches. Shiona, who had retreated one step to avoid the attack, rushed forward.

 

As Kalian’s figure disappeared as if he had been waiting for this, Shiona twisted her waist and extended her sword.

 

Shiona stopped moving. Kalian’s black shadow standing with his back to the sun finally became visible. The scattering crimson sword remained as an afterimage in her eyes.

 

The rising sunlight was dazzling.

 

A momentary silence arrived. And then—

 

*…Thud!*

 

*Ding ding!*

 

The bell attached to the handle of Shiona’s sword fell to the ground.

 

“Sorry. It was noisy.”

 

Kalian’s voice was heard.

 

* * *

 

The place in Wilhelm Hall where the sunlight shone brightest.

 

In this cold Cyriesus, there could be no better place than somewhere the sunlight shone well. And Hina’s office was located in precisely such an excellent location.

 

Anne, who had followed Luci who had come to enjoy the sunlight, raised her front paw to push away the hand trying to touch her body.

 

When the hand that had lightly grasped that front paw and shaken it in greeting moved, a displeased sound briefly came from Anne’s mouth.

 

*Mieow…*

 

Since Luci’s fur had all been brushed, it was now Anne’s turn.

 

Therefore, Hina began brushing while gently coaxing the reluctant Anne.

 

Anne, who had been trying to avoid having her fur brushed, remained docile as if unexpectedly finding it pleasant, then yawned before long.

 

When the brushing was thus completed, the fully asleep Anne was carefully placed beside Luci, who had been curled up on a thick cushion. As if knowing that Anne’s grey fur had become soft, Luci made a pleased sound and moved her front paws to embrace Anne, beginning to doze together.

 

Luci was kind, so she takes good care of Anne. Anne, who was learning from Luci, would probably become a good cat too.

 

Eila nodded once at the rapidly written words.

 

Hina, who had visited Wilhelm Hall early in the morning, had confirmed that the two cats who had come to find her had full bellies and picked up a brush instead of treats. Eila had not said a word the entire time it took to carefully complete brushing the cats.

 

‘Would you like some tea?’

 

“I don’t particularly like green tea.”

 

At these words, Hina’s eyes widened.

 

Eila, recalling a similar incident she had experienced recently, spoke again.

 

“I can speak.”

 

She had opened her mouth to Veronica because of the over buttery lobster, and to Hina because of the astringent green tea.

 

‘I’ll bring something other than green tea, then.’

 

Valkan’s healer and Viscount.

 

Such was the guard protecting the healer.

 

Yet it was always Hina who prepared tea. Not because she had not yet shed the habits of being a Commoner, nor because Hina had a kind personality, but because Eila’s tea tasted too horrendous. Eila’s tea was far more dreadful than the numerous failed attempts among the teas Ian prepared.

 

Just because one liked tasty things did not mean one could prepare good tea.

 

The sound of water boiling came from the water dispenser that Allan had gifted, or more precisely, that Allan had stolen from the Arcane Enclave’s treasure vault and brought, which Kalian had picked up and placed in Hina’s office. In truth, Allan could create and boil water even without such a device.

 

‘I didn’t know you could speak.’

 

Eila shook her head at the words written in handwriting as soft as the bubbling sound.

 

“I just hadn’t had any particular need to speak.”

 

Arsene, who had brought Eila, had introduced them by telling each other their names. Afterwards, Hina had spent time making various remarks to Eila, while Eila had answered only with nods without ever opening her mouth.

 

‘I thought there was only one person who found speaking bothersome, but now there’s one more.’

 

Eila smiled slightly at reading the playful words.

 

She did not know whom Hina meant. Though she had worked as a spy, she had not yet met the Second Prince and could not know what his actual personality was like.

 

Hina poured the slightly cooled tea into a teacup and set it down in front of Eila.

 

Eila’s gaze touched upon the tea emitting a subtle fragrance. Hina wrote more words towards Eila, who was looking into it without even lifting the cup.

 

‘The blue tea is fascinating, isn’t it? I brought it because it seems similar to your hair colour.’

 

As Hina said, it was tea the colour of a clear blue sea, very much resembling Eila’s hair colour.

 

Eila nodded.

 

The white bead attached to the end of the hairpin in her hair swayed and sparkled in the early morning sunlight.

 

That seems pretty.

 

At Hina’s compliment, seeing her wearing a hairpin for the first time, Eila readily opened her mouth. She had noticed the intention to make her speak now that it was known she could, but it was not done with malice.

 

“It’s difficult to show you. It might be pretty, but it isn’t safe.”

 

Hina’s eyes widened again, then she made an ‘ah’ shape with her mouth.

 

‘A weapon?’

 

“Yes. It contains poison.”

 

Informing her that it was a hidden weapon and what kind of hidden weapon it was showed Eila’s own expression of trust.

 

‘I’ve seen many similar weapons, but this seems the prettiest among those I’ve seen.’

 

And Hina spoke this way, surprising Eila somewhat. She had thought Hina was someone who had lived without blemish, but if that were so, she would not have immediately thought of a weapon upon hearing it was not safe, nor would she have said she had seen many weapons.

 

Hina, who had diligently written something again, showed it with a bright smile.

 

‘Next time, please come wearing something you can show me.’

 

A small laugh came from Eila’s mouth.

 

‘Because it’s a nice place, you see.’

 

It was because she had seen the words that followed with lip movements.

 

A place where two cats slept on a sofa bathed in good sunlight. A place where it was acceptable to come wearing a hairpin without poison.

 

“Please teach me sign language then. I’ll learn.”

 

She thought that by the time she had learned all the words of the person with whom she would be staying in such a place, it would be acceptable to come wearing a hairpin she could readily show.

 

* * *

 

Kalian handed over the bell he held in his hand.

 

After remaining still for a while, Shiona accepted it.

 

With a small *ding ding* sound, the bell that had fallen was placed upon Shiona’s palm. Afterwards, Kalian received something from a Knight and directly handed it to Shiona.

 

It was clean bandages.

 

“The smell of blood is too thick. There’s someone in the party who’s quite sensitive, so I’d appreciate it if you’d cover it up.”

 

The brow of Plants, who had been sitting nearby, furrowed, and Shiona again accepted it without other words, nodding her head. Kalian, who had been thinking it might perhaps mean thanks, sat opposite her and spoke.

 

“I’ll help if you need it.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Kalian made an expression as if swallowing something bitter while looking at Shiona’s long, pointed ears fitted with silver rings. It was because the thought occurred again that Hina’s ears, which she had said she cut herself, must have originally been like that.

 

Shiona, who had removed her outer garment and roughly wrapped the bandages she had received over the thin black shirt she wore underneath, spoke.

 

“Shiona Hill.”

 

“I know.”

 

Shiona’s eyes turned towards Kalian. After shrugging his shoulders, Kalian conveyed his answer to the unspoken words.

 

“I’m someone who doesn’t need to introduce myself with my own mouth.”

 

He knew that having heard the other’s name, it was his turn to give his own name, but Kalian only said this much. In any case, this was about establishing mutual acquaintance, not truly an exchange of greetings between those who did not know each other’s names.

 

After Shiona nodded and put on her outer garment, Kalian asked while watching her begin retying the bell that had fallen from the sword handle.

 

“You should explain. Why did you come looking for me?”

 

“I wanted to have a look at what kind of sword the bastard who slit Sleiman’s throat had.”

 

“Lucky you’re an Elf. If you were human, you’d be executed for attacking Royalty, but I can’t arrest you.”

 

Shiona chuckled.

 

“You didn’t seem like someone so lacking in understanding.”

 

“Well, right now I’m not alone, and I’m also less generous towards Elves. So, I’d like you to explain properly.”

 

Kalian, who had answered with an amused expression, looked into Shiona’s golden eyes.

 

“Why did you come?”

 

killing intent that choked the throat pressed down upon the forest.