Chapter 2 Part 5
☆★☆★☆★
And the next day ──
・Regarding Ephthal Alcott’s Misconduct
The blackboard was filled with various accusations and charges under the title of ‘Ephthal Alcott’s Misconduct’.
In summary ──
・Repeatedly disrupting classes
・Retaliated against being warned for disrupting classes by suddenly attacking the education officer from behind during a mock battle between the student and the education officer, causing injury
It was a headache-inducing read.
As Anastasia, Maria, and I stood speechless, the education officer laughed triumphantly and said,
“Hahaha! Therefore, Ephthal, you are ordered to be suspended.”
“Um, er… that’s too harsh! It’s baseless!”
Despite Anastasia’s protest, the education officer showed no remorse.
“This guy defied me. Isn’t that a fact?”
Yeah, this person is beyond hopeless. I cannot understand why someone this stupid is an education officer. Well, Merlin did say he was someone to be wary of.
“In other words, during the mock battle between student Maria and me, he attacked me from behind and injured me.”
“As Anastasia said, there’s no such fact!”
“Facts don’t matter. If I say it’s black, even if it’s white, it’s black. I don’t need students who defy me. And you girls…?”
The education officer looked at Anastasia and Maria alternately and smiled vulgarly.
“Those who showed an attitude of protecting this guy are also guilty. Well, if you come to my room tonight in your underwear and pour me a drink, I might forgive you.”
“Hey, are you serious about that!?”
“What’s with the way you guys have been talking to me since earlier? You’ve been so defiant towards me. I’m definitely going to make you serve me in your underwear! At least, choose some sexy underwear to please me.”
“……”
“Well, I might make you do other things besides serving me drinks. Hahaha!”
This person is truly horrible. The fact that he can do such things without any sense of guilt means that it has been allowed to happen until now. In other words, the style of using one’s position to assert authority has been effective up until now.
Thus, if he can intimidate and subjugate his victims through violence, injustice, and fear, then it is a done deal. Probably, this is how he has created only young boys and girls who simply obey his orders, completely bound by fear and intimidation. Naturally, there should be more than just one or two victims.
I see. This is something that cannot be simply ignored. As someone who had taken on apprentices, I was also partially an educator.
At that moment, Maria stood up and tried to attack the education officer with bulging veins in her temple ── I grabbed her arm.
“Stop it, Maria.”
“…Ephthal? What’s wrong with… your atmosphere?”
Ignoring Maria’s curious gaze, I spoke like I was spitting out the words on the spot.
“From here on out, I’ll handle it.”
Chapter 2 Part 1
Chapter 2 – The Forest of Another World
After having lunch and chatting idly for a while, Father and Mother stood up now that their stomachs were settled.
“Well, Marie and Leon can go play while your mother and I prepare for the evening shift.”
“That’s right. Be careful, you two.”
As soon as they said that, Marie suddenly stood up from her chair as if she remembered something.
“I forgot! Big Brother, you promised to go to the forest with Big Brother Nikola and Luke today!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Did you forget, Big Brother?”
“N-No, I remembered. We need to get ready quickly!”
I answered Marie, feeling a bit flustered inside. Indeed, I found a memory in Leon’s mind of making that promise.
It is inconvenient that I must actively search for memories like this one. But it is better than having no memories at all, so I am grateful for what I have.
According to Leon’s memories, Nikola and Luke are children from the tool shop next door. They are childhood friends who play together frequently. Nikola is the same age as me, and Luke is the same age as Marie, which explains why we get along so well.
“You two are going to the forest today? Don’t forget to bring the beast-repelling bell.”
“Right. We won’t forget. We’ll pick lots of fruits!”
The beast-repelling bell is apparently something you would always bring when going to the forest. It is like a bear bell in Japan. According to Leon’s memories, there are no monsters in the forest, only small animals and bears. Moreover, dangerous beasts like bears live in the deepest part of the forest, so they hardly ever encounter them in the shallower parts. If we wore the bell, we would not encounter any beasts.
In another world, it is typical for there to be monsters, but I wonder if they do not exist in this world. Maybe they only exist in stories. Well, if they do not exist, then that is a good thing. Actually, fighting monsters is impossible and too scary.
“Okay then, let’s get ready, Big Brother!”
Saying that, Marie took my hand and led me up the stairs to the storage room on the second floor. When we go to the forest, we change into leather boots and bring a knife, a leather bag of water, and a basket to carry the harvest. Right now, I am wearing pants made of the same material as my slightly stiff shirt, which is tied with twine, but it seems we will go to the forest in the same clothes.
Alright, I’m ready. It is kind of nerve-wracking to have a knife at my waist. It truly is another world to have even children carry knives. It would be impossible in Japan.
“Marie, are you ready?”
“Yep, I’m ready!”
“Okay, let’s go after we fill up the leather bag.”
We moved to the well and drew water, putting it into the leather bag. The well is the type that you pull up with a rope, not a pump, so it isn’t easy. Alright, we are all set now. We went to the kitchen to say goodbye to our mother and father.
“Mother, Father, we’re going!”
“Take care of yourselves.”
“Make sure to come back before it gets dark.”
“Okay.”
“Yes!”
We replied to our parents and left the house, running to Nikola and Luke’s. Although I said we ran, we arrived quickly because it was just right next door.
The neighboring house is built like ours, with the dining room serving as a tool shop. They sell various tools for daily use, such as knives, leather bags, and hemp bags.
“Hello! Are Nikola and Luke here?”
“Oh, Marie, welcome.”
“Good afternoon, Auntie.”
“Oh, Leon’s here, too. I think Nikola and Luke will be here soon. Just wait a bit.”
It was Nikola and Luke’s mother. Although I called her ‘Auntie’, she is still young and about the same age as my mother. She is a slightly plump and kind person, sitting in a chair behind the counter where she worked as a cashier, smiling at me.
“Is Uncle not here today?”
“Ben went to buy supplies. I’m sorry. He should be back home when you guys return from the forest, so you can see him then.”
“Yay~! I love Uncle!”
“Haha, Ben would be so happy to hear that.”
Ben is Nikola and Luke’s father, a very cheerful and lively person. Marie seemed to love the uncle and often came to see him. By the way, the aunt’s name is Sarah.
“Leon, Marie, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s okay, Nikola. We haven’t been waiting that long.”
Nikola opened the door and came to the shop. With green hair and green eyes, the color was quite unusual from my perspective as a Japanese person, but it is ordinary color in this world. From Leon’s memories, Luke had blue hair and blue eyes, which is also an amazingly normal color. In this world, hair and eye colors seemed to be colorful.
“Luke will be here soon, too.”
“Big Brother Nikola! Let’s pick some fruits today!”
“Marie, that’s a good idea. Let’s pick a lot.”
“Yeah!”
Nikola seemed to treat Marie like his own little sister. He was still gently stroking her head with a gentle expression. Nikola is quite reliable and can be counted on.
“Sorry! Did I keep you waiting? I couldn’t put on my shoes properly.”
“It’s okay, Luke. Did you manage to put them on?”
“It’s perfect now!”
Luke put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest, looking proud of himself. Although Luke was a bit mischievous, he seemed like a good kid with a kind side.
“Luke, you’re late! We must go quickly, or we won’t have enough time to pick fruits.”
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll help pick Marie’s share, too.”
“Really!? Yay! Thank you, Luke!”
Marie was initially angry, with furrowed brows, but as soon as Luke offered to help pick her share, she smiled wide. According to Leon’s memories, the only sweet thing Leon had ever tasted was forest fruit. It seems that fruits are a precious source of sweetness here.
“Shall we go then? You have the bell to ward off beasts, right?”
“I have it!”
After Nikola’s final check, we set off.
In Leon’s memories, the royal capital was not surrounded by walls. After passing through the densely populated areas, such as the residential areas, there are vast fields and ranches, with houses scattered here and there. I thought that cities are surrounded by walls and such in another world, but it is different here. Are the cities facing the border all like that?
As we walked along the beaten path in front of the houses, we saw fields and ranches in the distance. Then, there was a road that veered to the right, and after walking for about ten minutes, we arrived at the forest.
We walked silently and briskly without chattering and arrived at the forest at a pretty fast pace for children.
“Okay, shall we rest briefly and then look for fruits?”
“I’m still fine, Big Brother Nikola. Let’s find fruit quickly!”
“Get some rest first. We have to walk back home even if we get tired.”
“Okay~”
It would be terrible if we could not walk back home. We had no means of communication, and there were no cars here. As Nikola said, we decided to take a break and sit down. Although it was only a thirty-minute walk to the forest, it was quite tiring for children.
“Big Brother! Can we pick lots of fruits?”
“It’s not really the season yet, so there might not be a lot to pick.”
“What? Geez~”
“Big Brother Nikola, we won’t be able to pick many fruits?”
Marie became teary-eyed upon hearing that there were a few fruits to pick. Marie and Luke do not seem to remember which fruits can be picked at what time. Certainly, Marie and Luke have only been going to the forest since last year or so in Leon’s memories.
“No, there are still some fruits that can be picked at this time of year! Right, Leon?”
Nikola!? Marie looked up at me with tears in her eyes. Let’s see, according to Leon’s memories, what can be harvested at this time of year was…… raspberries! Raspberries exist in this world, too. Come to think of it, when I had lunch earlier, I thought that this world has the same kind of plants as Japan. The steak was made of beef, so I wonder if the animals are similar, too? I do not know the reason, but it is easy to understand for now, and I am grateful.
“Marie, we can pick raspberries at this time of year. Shall we look for them?”
“Really!? I love raspberries. They’re sweet and delicious!”
“We can pick raspberries!? Yay! I love those.”
“Then, shall we go look for raspberries today?”
“Sure!”
Marie nodded with a smile on her face, seemingly to have cheered up. I let out a sigh of relief and gave Nikola a stern look. Nikola, how dare you sacrifice me like that! As I stared at him, his eyes met mine, and he apologized to me with an apologetic look on his face. Seeing him like that, I felt a little pathetic as a 20-year-old mentally and decided to stop blaming Nikola.
Since I became Leon, my actions and thoughts seem to have regressed to that of a child. Maybe some parts of me are being influenced by this young and growing body of mine. Well, for now, since I’m a child, being influenced by my body might be just normal.
“Shall we go look for raspberries, then?”
“Yeah.”
Chapter 1 Part 2
This is the second reception room of the guesthouse. Here, the Duke’s daughter, Odette, and the 8th Princess, Iris, are facing each other.
“It’s been a while since we talked alone like this, Your Royal Highness Princess Iris.”
“Please call me ‘Iris’, Odette.”
“Then, with your permission… Say, Iris.”
Odette cleared her throat and continued,
“I’ve been thinking about it since earlier, but isn’t your attitude a little strange? Yuuki Grossalia passed the knight candidate exam and became your knight. He declared that he would forget about his past and prioritize you above all else. As a princess, shouldn’t you be happy about that?”
“…I know, Odette.”
“Then why?”
“Lately, I’ve had some strange dreams.”
“Huh?”
“A few days ago, I had a fever, remember? Since then, I’ve had some strange dreams.”
“What kind of dream?”
“I am in a certain old castle, and being taught by someone. That person has lived for a very long time and has been alive since my parents were children… like a village’s guardian deity.”
“I see. An immortal being, huh?”
“I’ve loved that person since I was little. But that person ── whom I called ‘My Lord’ ── died because of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’.”
“…It’s a strangely specific dream.”
“Moreover, it was my father who killed ‘My Lord’. My father was evaluated by the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ for killing ‘My Lord’, and he received the Holy Sword. But upon researching it, the sword had the effect of destroying evil and reincarnating good alignment beings.”
“Oh, I know.”
Odette clapped her hands.
“Is it possible that ‘My Lord’ had black hair and black eyes, was blunt but kind, and was strangely friendly?”
“How did you know, Odette!?”
“In other words, ‘My Lord’ is just like Yuuki. I see.”
“A-Anyway… the dream is very vivid, almost like another reality… and it subtly matches history.”
“How so?”
“The epidemic of the ‘Death Crest Disease’.”
“Oh, yes, such a thing did happen. Two hundred years ago, a deadly disease called ‘Death Crest Disease’ broke out twice.”
“That’s the one that appeared in my dream. When the ‘Death Crest Disease’ broke out for the second time, my parents Lyle and Remilia, used purification magic while giving blood to my newborn sister… I saw that in my dream…”
“I see. I understand.”
“You understand!?”
“Your ‘My Lord’ in the dream looks exactly like Yuuki Grossalia, and you were in love with that person in your dream, is that right?”
“……Ehhh?”
The princess’s face turned red all of a sudden. She covered her face with both hands, surprised by the sudden surge of emotions.
“……Y-Yes, that’s right…”
“Then let me tell you what the dream really is.”
“Is it a memory from my previous life…?”
“No, it’s a love disease!”
Odette declared, pointing at the princess.
“You fell in love with Yuuki, didn’t you?”
“T-Then, what about the dream? The people that Yuuki-sama mentioned in the dream, why did they appear in my dream?”
“Because you want to believe that it’s destiny between you and Yuuki, right?”
“Destiny?”
“Yes, you fell in love with Yuuki at first sight. But because love at first sight is a matter of the heart, you haven’t fully accepted it in your head yet. That’s why you created reasons to be interested in him. You heard about Yuuki’s dream and wanted to dream the same thing. That’s why the same characters appeared in your dream.”
“Isn’t that a bit different!?”
“Is it?”
“It is! Because in my dream, I liked the person who looked like Yuuki-sama very much… and that’s why the villagers… sent me away.”
“But there’s no way to find out, right?”
“…There is.”
said Iris, picking up an inkwell and pen from the desk. She then placed parchment paper on the desk and slowly ran the pen across it.
“In my dream, the villagers told me that if I ever met ‘My Lord’ in the future, I should look for this crest. They said that the village would prepare for our future by making it easier for us to find it.”
On the parchment was a crest that depicted a bat, with something like the shadow of an old castle floating behind it.
“They told me to find this crest and visit it with ‘My Lord’…”
“May I borrow this parchment paper, Iris?”
Odette took Iris’s hand and spoke.
“I have seen this before. We might be able to confirm whether the dream is true or not.”
“…Odette?”
“Hehe. I’m starting to enjoy this.”
said Odette, flashing a mischievous smile.
The next day, I was heading to town with Odette.
“Today, I’ll show Yuuki around to a recommended place.”
“A recommended place?”
I looked at Odette. Both of us are wearing long robes over our uniforms of the ‘Magic Guild’. This seemed to be the formal attire for the guild’s mages when they went out.
“Yes. It’s called the ‘Grail Trading Company’ with a long history. It seems to have existed since before the ‘War of the Eight Kings’.”
Odette said proudly.
I am glad to have her show me around town, but ──
“Why there?”
“Yuuki just came from a rural territory, right? It’s important to know about companies in the royal capital. As a mage, you may also acquire valuable items during exploration. After exchanging them, you can’t just leave the money in the dormitory.”
“I can’t imagine getting such valuable items, though.”
“What does someone who pulled out the Holy Sword say?”
Odette shrugged in disbelief.
“I told you before. The discovery of a new ‘Ancient Artifact’ raises the family’s peerage by one. You can even build a new house. Yuuki already has that right.”
“I didn’t find the Holy Sword. It was already there.”
“It’s as good as nothing if you can’t use it. If it becomes public that you removed the seal of the Holy Sword, the Baron Grossalia family’s peerage may be raised. With an elevated peerage, you should be able to increase your dealings with merchants.”
“In short, I should know about companies in the royal capital just in case, so to speak?”
Odette certainly has a point.
The ‘Holy Sword Rinkal’ is currently left in the Holy Sword’s cave because no one but Alice and I can pull out that sword.
After talking with Princess Iris and Odette, we decided to either replace it with a replica or publicly announce that we had removed the seal, whichever came first.
Odette’s invitation was in case I chose the latter.
“As expected of Odette. You are so dependable.”
“…Ehhh!?”
“I’m a countryside noble, so I don’t know these things. I appreciate your support. I really am glad that I met you, Odette.”
“W-W-What embarrassing thing are you saying!?”
“I just wanted to express my gratitude.”
“Nobles don’t say that directly. They write letters! They would usually speak about it in more roundabout ways in person. I’ll teach you next time!”
“Thank you, Odette.”
“Remember the way to the company. You may have to guide your family there someday.”
“I remember. Cross the first bridge and go through the noble’s gate, right?”
“That’s right… Oh?”
Suddenly, Odette stopped.
Beyond the cobblestone road, a pure white carriage was parked.
“Oh my. A carriage in a place like that. And that is what the royal family uses for their secret outings. Well, how strange.”
“But, why does Odette know about the secret carriage?”
“The Duke family is a branch of the royal family. But more importantly… My, my, what a surprise. That is Princess Iris. What a coincidence.”
“It’s not a coincidence, is it?”
It is impossible for Princess Iris to go on a secret outing when we are going out. They must have planned it from the beginning.
“…Well then, Your Royal Highness, I will come to pick you up later.”
“Thank you, Barnes.”
“I think it will be okay as long as you have Yuuki-dono and the Sorey family’s daughter by your side, but please be careful.”
The coachman driving the carriage was General Barnes. He waved his hand to Odette and me before riding off with the carriage.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuuki-sama, Odette.”
Princess Iris lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed. She was also wearing the uniform of the Magic Guild, with a long robe on top and a hood to hide her identity.
“I will accompany you to the company.”
“Your Royal Highness, is it okay for you to walk around like this?”
“I am also a trainee of the ‘Magic Guild’. I sometimes go out for guild work.”
“I thought I would let you two learn about society together since you haven’t used the company’s services before.”
Odette winked at me.
“I understand. I will accompany Your Royal Highness.”
“…Yuuki-sama, um, you don’t have to use honorifics.”
“…Is that so?”
“It’s a problem to be called ‘Your Royal Highness’ in public. So please call me Iris.”
“I understand. Then, Ali ──”
“Yes. My ──”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Iris.”
“T-That’s right, Yuuki-sama. Let’s go.”
“…Hehe.”
Odette’s meaningful smile bothered me, but we headed toward the town anyway.
“This is the famous ‘Grail Trading Company’ in the royal capital.”
Odette stopped in front of the building facing the street.
In front of us was a large building. It was bigger than the Grossalia family’s mansion where I used to live. The height is about three stories high, and the width is about the size of several ordinary households lined up side by side. In front, there is a double door guarded by armored guards wearing armor.
“The ‘Grail Trading Company’ has branches throughout the kingdom. You can deposit and withdraw money at any branch. In addition to handling the distribution and sale of goods, they also invest in other companies. They have branches in other countries, so it is said that the ‘Grail Trading Company’ will not fall even in times of war’.”
“I had heard about that, but this is my first time seeing it…”
Princess Iris’s eyes sparkle as she looks at the building.
“The ‘Grail Trading Company’ doesn’t do much business with the royal family. Even if they did, it’s unlikely that any of the royal family’s children would come this far. That’s why Iris didn’t recognize that crest.”
Odette pointed to the sign above the front door. Next to the name of the ‘Grail Trading Company’ was a small crest with a bat and a castle.
…That castle looks very similar to the old castle that I know. Is it just my imagination…?
While I was staring at the crest, Odette approached the security guards.
“I am Odette of the Duke Sorey family. We have an appointment with the general manager. Please confirm.”
“Understood! Please come this way!”
The security guards opened the door as Odette spoke. Iris and I followed Odette into the building.
“…Why are we meeting with the general manager?”
“When I said that I wanted to talk to an important person about an important matter, this is what happened.”
“I thought we were just here for a tour of the company?”
“Yes, we are here for a tour. We are just going to talk to an important person while we’re at it.”
Odette shrugged.
“I’m sorry, Yuuki-sama. I asked Odette to help me.”
“Iris-sama did?”
“I’m interested in this company’s crest. So Odette arranged for me to speak to the person who knows the most about it.”
“Even though I didn’t mention Iris’s name…”
“But still, we’re being treated like this. Odette is truly amazing.”
“It’s nothing. The Duke Sorey family has had dealings with the ‘Grail Trading Company’ for a long time. I have also deposited about a hundred gold coins.”
“As expected of the Duke family.”
“My family motto is ‘save money in preparation for a crisis’.”
As we talked, we were led to the reception room of the ‘Grail Trading Company’. We sat down in chairs and waited for the general manager to arrive. When I looked closely, there was the crest with the bat and the old castle. This one was a relief carved into a copper plate.
A bat and an old castle.
I wonder if this crest means anything to the company. Could it be related to me ── or, more precisely, to my previous life as Dean Nosferatu…?
“I apologize for involving you in this, Yuuki-sama.”
Suddenly, Princess Iris spoke up.
“But I must confirm it no matter what. Whether the contents of my dream are true or not.”
“The contents of your dream, whether they are true or not?”
“Yes. I was told to go to the place where this crest is with you, Yuuki-sama.”
“In your dream?”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“…The man who was my father in my dream. Lyle Carmine.”
── Eh?
“Iris… could it be…”
“After I met Yuuki-sama, I fell ill and had a fever. Since then, I have had some strange dreams. In the dreams, Yuuki-sama and I were really close to each other.”
Princess Iris grabbed my hand.
“I don’t mind if you laugh. I just really want to know if that dream is true or not.”
Her slender fingers slipped between mine.
This was Alice’s favorite way of holding hands with me two hundred years ago. “My Lord always runs off somewhere, so I devised this way of holding hands so you couldn’t escape”. That’s what she told me, and I remember it.
If she knows that, then… Princess Iris is ──
“Excuse me.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Thank you for waiting. I am Rhodelia, the general manager of the ‘Grail Trading Company’.”
The door opened, and a woman with gray hair entered. She is a tall woman, wearing a white shirt and pants and a tie.
“I haven’t seen you in a while, Odette Sorey-sama.”
The woman who introduced herself as Rhodelia stood before us and bowed deeply.
“Nice to meet you, Your Royal Highness Princess Iris Restia. It’s an honor to have you visit our company.”
“You recognize me?”
“If the general manager of a company doesn’t know the faces of the royal family, they wouldn’t be fit for the job. It’s an honor to meet you in person.”
“N-No, it’s me who should be thanking you for listening to my sudden request.”
Iris seems a bit confused still. She returns the greeting while still holding my hand.
“Odette-sama, could you introduce that person over there?”
“This is Yuuki Grossalia, the second son of the Baron Grossalia family. He’s an important friend of mine.”
“I see. Thank you very much for visiting us.”
The general manager, Rhodelia, bowed deeply to me, too.
“I am aware of Baron Georg Grossalia’s military achievements. I heard he defeated three enemy generals in battles against the eastern ethnic groups. I have been wanting to meet him in person.”
Impressive. The fact that she remembers my father’s achievements is remarkable. As expected of the general manager of a great company. She is still young, but she must be exceptionally talented.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuuki Grossalia.”
I greeted Rhodelia in return.
“However, I don’t quite understand the reason why I came here…”
“I will explain that to you.”
Iris looked at me with a serious expression.
“Rhodelia-sama, are you the general manager of this ‘Grail Trading Company’ and the chief executive responsible for the entire company?”
“That’s right, Your Royal Highness Princess Iris.”
“I heard that the ‘Grail Trading Company’ also has records from before the ‘War of the Eight Kings’.”
“Not all of them.”
Rhodelia shook her head.
“However, I have inherited the most important matters from all the general managers of past generations.”
“Then I will tell you. You can laugh it off as a child’s talk if you want.”
Princess Iris took a deep breath and continued,
“I am told that when Alice Carmine and My Lord meet, they should visit the location of the crest with the bat and the old castle when they meet. If they go there, they will receive ‘blessings’. Today, I came to confirm that.”
“………”
The company’s general manager opened her eyes wide at the princess’s words.
“…What does that mean, Your Royal Highness Princess Iris?”
When I asked, Iris whispered,
“…I came to confirm if the dreams I had were true or not.”
“…The dreams you had?”
“Yes. If those words are true, then they are memories of my previous life.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s a hundred percent the case. By the way, what were you told?”
“To fulfill the promise.”
“…The promise?”
“Yes. ‘We will prepare a dowry for you if you find ‘My Lord’ in the future. The entire village will work together, earn, and save money, and prepare for that moment by passing down the tradition for generations. When the time comes, you can withdraw and use it’, was what I was told.”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait.”
What are the people of ‘Feela Village’ thinking? The dowry… could it be for when Alice gets married? But it has been over two hundred years. Something like that should be impossible. If that had been passed down to this day, ‘Feela Village’ would be a cheat village…
“Yes, I understand.”
However, Rhodelia simply nodded.
“Do you know about it!?”
“Of course. This ‘Grail Trading Company’ exists for that reason.”
“…Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Where did the ‘Grail Trading Company’ originate?”
“I’ve heard it’s a village deep in the mountains. The first generation left there and started a business. That’s why the company uses the crest of a bat and an old castle to remember the scenery of that time.”
said the general manager, Rhodelia, politely.
“There is a legend from the first generation of the village.”
“A legend?”
“‘No matter how much time passes, we are the people of My Lord’, was passed down. I will explain in detail. Please come this way.”
She prompted Iris and me to move to another room. By the way, Odette is sitting in a chair, with her mouth open. I’ll explain it to her later.
We were guided to the basement of the ‘Grail Trading Company’. The general manager, Rhodelia, opened a sturdy iron door with two keys and beckoned us in. On the other side of the door, there was a board that appeared to be made of crystal.
“Please sign here.”
“What is this board?”
“It is an ‘Ancient Artifact’ that the general managers of the ‘Grail Trading Company’ have been protecting for generations. It is probably an original.”
“An original ‘Ancient Artifact’!?”
Princess Iris exclaimed.
Well, I can understand why she was surprised. ‘Ancient Artifacts’ are a hidden treasure among hidden treasures, and even the ‘Magic Guild’ only had replicas.
If this is really the original, how much would it be worth? Or rather, where did the people of ‘Feela Village’ get this from?
“This doesn’t have much power. It simply authenticates the handwriting and magic power of the registered person.”
Rhodelia then handed me the crystal board.
“Go ahead and sign.”
“Me?”
“That is what the legend says. In your own way, use your true name and magic power.”
“Understood.”
I dipped the pen in blood and wrote my name on the crystal board.
‘Dean Nosferatu.’
“…Yuuki-sama… ‘My Lord’.”
Tears fell from Princess Iris’s eyes.
“……Huh? That’s strange… my tears… won’t stop… why?”
“You’re Iris Restia… right?”
“I don’t know… I really don’t know… but… for some reason, I’m so happy.”
“Authentication complete.”
said Rhodelia.
The crystal board was glowing blue.
“We have been waiting for this moment for two hundred years, since the first generation.”
The general manager, Rhodelia, got down on her knees on the floor.
“I apologize for the delay. The general manager of the ‘Grail Trading Company’ has always been a descendant of the first generation for many generations. We have heard these words from our ancestors… from long ago.”
Rhodelia took a deep breath and looked at me.
“‘No matter how much time may pass, My Lord who saved us from the disease of death and sacrificed his life for us is the true ruler’, was passed down from our ancestors. I, Rhodelia Koofy, pledge my loyalty to you. And I will tell you what happened after My Lord and Alice Carmine departed on their journey…”
Chapter 4 Part 1
Regarding Alma’s true identity and the conversation they had, Reid was frank with Elria and told her everything.
Elria nodded and simply replied, “I see”, which surprised Reid a little, but he realized that Elria’s apprentice had also inherited the name of Caldwen and left a name for future generations, so it was similar in a way.
As for the mysterious points, they concluded that, “There is not enough information to speculate on past events”, so they decided to maintain the current situation and gather more information. After all, they are still students of the academy, and there are limits to what they can investigate. Therefore, it was safer to leave it to Alma, who held the position of a special rank mage.
Thus, Reid and Elria continued their peaceful academy life. Wiesel and Millis were given daily challenges, and they would say, “I want to have another safe day tomorrow”, but they seemed to have become much more relaxed when compared to the first day.
And just as the day after tomorrow approached, which was the day of the examination ――
“―― Hey, everyone, do you have any plans for the day off?”
Millis brought up a topic after finishing their meal in the dormitory’s dining hall.
“I’m planning to go back home and adjust my magic tools. There’s a lot of them, so it’s going to take a while.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a lot of work for you, Wiesel-san…”
Over the past month, they had come to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Wiesel did not excel in any particular magic, but he is able to use multiple magic tools based on the situation and is specialized in support rather than combat.
“Well, I plan to spend it completely focused on the examination.”
“What…? But I was thinking we could all go out together on our day off…”
“Didn’t they explain that the day off before the examination is meant for adjusting magic tools and recuperation? You’re the only one who wants to go out.”
In two days, the ‘Conditional Examination’, which would determine their individual evaluations, would be held.
The students were given a day off before the examination, not only to ensure that they could take the examination in perfect condition, but also to allow the academy to prepare for it as well.
“You were praised by Elria for your magic control, but she probably told you to work harder on your combat skills. So, you should be doing that.”
“But… but I’m already receiving Alma’s absurd training every day!! And to top it off, the royal capital, which is the envy of the countryside, is nearby!! Isn’t it okay to have a little fun as a reward for working hard every dayyyyyyyyyyyy!!”
However, Millis could not give up and slumped over the table, pouting her lips.
“I understand how you feel, but give it up.”
“Are you a demon, Reid-san!? Girls are the kind of people who can’t live without those kinds of rewards for themselves!! Elria-sama is the same, isn’t she!?”
Millis turned to Elria as she puffed up her cheeks, but ――
“………”
There was no response from Elria.
On the contrary, she nodded her head, as if she was tired.
“Oh my… she seems quite exhausted.”
“Lately, she hasn’t been feeling too well. She’s doing some magic research and staying up late, so sometimes I go to bed before her. It’s tough because she also wakes up late.”
“Speaking of which, you two often come to the classroom at the last minute, like on the first day.”
In reality, the mornings for Reid were very busy.
He would soothe Elria, who had entered a lethargic state, help her take a bath, and even help her change clothes while he was blindfolded, sometimes even carrying her halfway.
“If it’s Elria, she probably doesn’t have to study for examinations, and she probably wouldn’t be exhausted from training with Alma… I’m starting to get a little worried.”
“Oh… I-I’m sure it’ll be okay! Elria-sama is someone who everyone at the academy is paying attention to, so she’s probably just working hard to achieve results that are worthy of that attention!”
“…Do you know something?”
asked Reid, narrowing his eyes. Millis jumped and started sweating from her forehead.
Recently, the two of them had made it a daily routine to go to the large bath together, and there were also times when Elria would stop by Millis’s room, saying, “I’m going to teach Millis some magic”.
Elria considered Millis to be a close friend of the same gender, so there might be conversations that she did not want to be heard by Reid, who is a guy. Elria did not say anything, but seeing Millis’s behavior, his assumption seemed incorrect.
“A-Anyway, what about you, Reid-san!? You’re also getting just as much attention as Elria-sama now, so you can’t afford to mess up, you know!?”
Millis tried to change the topic, feeling the situation was worsening. However, it is true that Reid himself was also receiving attention from others.
Not only did Alma, a renowned special rank mage, become their homeroom teacher, but in addition to that, Elria was able to keep up with the special rank mage, Alma. Furthermore, Reid had caught and mowed down the tenth tier magic unleashed by Alma with his bare hands.
The topic quickly spread among the students. And perhaps because of such circumstances, talks about Reid have also gradually been spreading.
“And you’ve been talking with Alma-sensei lately, too, right?”
“Come to think of it. You were called ‘Your Excellency’ before. What was that about?”
“Oh… it’s just a nickname. Alma-sensei is the granddaughter of someone I know, and that person used to call me ‘Your Excellency’, so she knew about it.”
“…No, but how did you get that nickname in the first place?”
“I guess it’s because I kept winning at chess against the old man. Something like that.”
After that incident, Reid and Alma exchanged information several times after school, but when Alma talked to him, she started calling him ‘Your Excellency’, and it became a habit. There was a time when they passed by each other in the hallway, and she greeted him with an “Oh, it’s Your Excellency. Good morning”.
At the time, Reid told her to be careful about it, but she just laughed it off. It was an attitude that did not seem to befit a descendant of Lyatt.
“Well, in my case, it depends on the content of the examination. There’s a possibility that the content may be something that I, who cannot use magic, can’t do anything about. I won’t know until the day of the examination.”
“Certainly, being unable to use magic is a big handicap, but Reid’s power is beyond common sense. If it’s used properly, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
“That’s right! At the very least, you have the strength to stop Alma-sensei’s magic!!”
Encouraged by the two, Reid made a wry smile, but at that moment ――
“―― Tch… annoying commoners are making a racket.”
Such audible words were directed at them.
When Reid turned his face in the direction of the voice, he saw the figure of Faregh. While his expression had less fatigue compared to the other students, it was clearly unpleasant.
“Not only are the people around us irritated by the unpleasant commoners, but we are also bothered by those who forget that this is a place to dine in and are making a fuss. Truly is the worst place to be at right now.”
“Ah… I-I’m sorry.”
Perhaps realizing that they had made too much noise, Millis bowed her head frankly. However, Faregh sneered at her actions.
“Hah…! Do commoners even know how to apologize? When bowing your head to someone in a higher position, you should prostrate yourself and rub your forehead against the ground.”
“…I apologize for causing a disturbance. However, there’s no need to say something like that.”
Millis could not bear Faregh’s words and returned them by starring daggers.
“…What? Are you saying that to me?”
Looking at Millis’s rebellious attitude, Faregh smiled sadistically.
“The difference between you and me isn’t just our positions. Even our talents for handling the great magic created by the Sage are different!!”
And then ―― he drew his magic equipment from his waist.
A small sword unfolded in Faregh’s hand.
Seeing the shocked expression on Millis’s face, Faregh laughed.
“Commoners!! ―― Don’t you dare oppose me!!”
A dazzling light was born from the tip of the small sword, creating a bright red flame.
Just as the flame was about to explode in front of the standing Millis ――
It was crushed by Reid’s left arm, which extended instinctively.
Without turning back, Reid waved his hand lightly and spoke,
“Hey, kid.”
“K-Kid…!? How dare you call me that, a proud member of the Welminan family ――”
“What’s wrong with calling a brat like you a kid?”
Reid turned his head and directed a sharp gaze at Faregh.
“Do you understand what you did?”
“Huh…? I just tried to educate the commoners ――”
Faregh’s words were cut off, unable to continue.
“I’ll teach you if you don’t understand.”
Reid stood up and grabbed Faregh by the head, causing him to scream briefly.
“Magic is something that has taken the lives of many people. Using it on others means that you must be prepared to receive the same fate.”
Faregh was completely overwhelmed by Reid’s gaze and intimidation.
“You said it was a ‘great magic created by the Sage’. Unlike you, that ‘Sage’ didn’t use magic for fun. She risked her life and everything to create it. It’s not something a kid like you can just play with like a toy.”
As Reid tightened his grip on Faregh’s head, a pained scream escaped from his mouth.
“If you want to talk about yourself, talk about your own actions and accomplishments, not just the prestige of your family. Instead of sulking and complaining about things you don’t like, why don’t you show others something to be proud of? If you can’t do that… then you ought to know your place.”
Reid threw Faregh to the ground and left him there.
“Kuh… damn brute with stupid strength…!!”
“After commoners, now it’s brute. Well… I should give punishment to those who don’t listen.”
After exhaling lightly, Reid reached out to the small sword that was rolling on the floor and broke Faregh’s magic equipment with a loud sound.
“MY MAGIC EQUIPMENTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!”
“Here, take this and get lost.”
Looking at his broken magic equipment, Faregh shook his shoulder and folded his knees, feeling devastated.
“My magic equipment… the precious magic equipment bestowed upon me by my father…!!”
“Faregh-sama! Please be strong!!”
“Let’s just tape it up or something so that your father won’t notice!!”
The two followers who had been watching the situation dragged the dejected Faregh out of the dining hall.
After watching them leave, Reid returned to his seat.
“Millis, are you hurt or anything?”
“Ah, no… thank you very much…”
Millis nodded in a daze. However, she suddenly raised her head.
“What are you doing trying to act cool like that!? You can’t do that without Elria-sama watching!!”
“Don’t suddenly start talking nonsense.”
“By the way, did Lady Elria not wake up in the midst of all the commotion just now?”
Turning to Wiesel’s words, Elria was closing her eyes and rocking her body.
“Hey, Elria-sama? You can’t sleep here, you know.”
“Mmm…?”
As her body was shaken, Elria opened her eyes slightly. Then, rubbing her eyes, she stood up and sat on Reid’s knee. She then squirmed to adjust her position slightly and leaned back onto Reid’s body.
“……Mm.”
And so, as if nothing had happened, Elria began to sleep.
“…Hey, it’s just her changing her sleeping place, that’s all.”
“Eh? What’s this? Isn’t this cute creature dangerous?”
“It seems that Elria’s homing instinct is registered to ‘Reid’ as her home base.”
As they watched Elria sleep peacefully on Reid’s body, each of them gave their thoughts.
“Hey, Elria, wake up. If you’re going to sleep, do it after going back to our room.”
Shaking her body again ――
“……Nooo.”
She twisted her body and buried her face in Reid’s chest while pushing her head against it.
……………
…………………
“Hey, wait, wait! You can enter your dozy lethargic state just like that!?”
“What do you mean by that, Reid-san?”
“Well, even if you ask me, it’s hard to explain…!!”
But judging from her reaction, Elria is clearly in a lethargic state.
“Simply put, it’s a state of being very sleepy.”
“Heh… So when Elria-sama is drowsy, she becomes even more childlike than usual.”
Seeing Elria in a lethargic state, Millis pokes her cheeks, and Wiesel strokes his chin with interest.
“Hmm. It’s possible that consciousness is not completely aware when prematurely awakening from a deep sleep, but it’s rare for it to happen in a light sleep.”
“You’re unusually calm about it…”
“I’ve spent enough time with you guys that I’m not surprised by most things. Anyway, if we stay here in the dining hall, we’ll attract attention.”
Upon being pointed out by Wiesel, they notice that the students in the dining hall are looking at them due to the commotion earlier.
Considering Elria’s behavior when she’s in a lethargic state, it is not good to stay in a place where people can see them for too long.
“Sorry, but we’ll go back to our room first. Can we leave the cleaning and such to you?”
“Understood. Millis and I will take care of it.”
“Yes, yes. See you again the day after tomorrow.”
Carrying Elria on his back and drawing the attention of the students, Reid left the dining hall. During this time, Elria clung tightly to his neck, pressing her head against him.
“Seriously, I don’t know what you’re doing, but don’t push yourself too hard.”
“But… I want to make Reid happy…”
“……Me?”
“Yes… I’ll do my best to make you smile like you used to in the olden days ――”
Suddenly, Elria’s words stopped.
Thinking something was wrong, Reid turned around and saw Elria with a bright red face.
“Eh…? Why am I… on your back…!?”
Moving her mouth shakily, Elria confirmed her situation with words.
Maybe because she had taken a nap, her lethargic state only lasted a short time.
Covering her reddened face with both hands, Elria swung her legs back and forth.
“I-I… I’ll get o-off!”
“Don’t struggle in that state. You’ll bite your tongue.”
“B-But… I’m heavy…!”
“Far from being heavy, you’re so light that I’m worried.”
“Eh… bu-… but…”
“Just stay still until we get back to our room.”
“……Yes.”
With a faint response, Elria’s presence seemed to shrink on his back.
As they began to walk again, Elria spoke to Reid over his shoulder.
“…That said, I might still do something reckless.”
“Okay, just don’t overdo it.”
“…Don’t you want to know why?”
“Millis seems to know what’s going on, and she’s not the kind of person who would hide something dangerous from me. So, I think there must be a reason why you’re not telling me.”
“…Being too perceptive like that is not good either.”
With a dissatisfied voice, Elria lightly tapped his back. It’s unreasonable of her to complain when he was trying to be considerate by not asking.
“Well, if something happens, you can rely on me. Do whatever you want.”
“Okay… thank you.”
Burying her face in his back, she murmurs with a tired voice.
“Right now… I feel really safe because Reid is with me.”
After saying that, the sound of her quiet breathing could once again be heard from his back.
Chapter 1 Part 2
2
It was the morning of the graduation ceremony at the military academy that everything was unwound. The dazzling sunlight lightly burned my cheeks. At the same time, I felt a slight chill. The wind had not yet warmed up. If my memory serves me right, this was supposed to be the day when a decisive catastrophe would ignite the spark between the Kingdom of Leshfeld and the Vulcan Empire.
To an ordinary person, it would be the worst day ever. But to me, it was nothing but a day that could be seen as a turning point in my life. Therefore, I was not pessimistic. I still had hope that things would somehow work out.
“Haa, graduation, huh? I still can’t believe it… Is it the feeling of being a student? I can’t seem to shake it off yet.”
“Maybe.”
While walking towards the military academy with Steano, I pondered about what would happen next.
“I still wanted to play around more. Once I join the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order, I won’t even have time to play around… and the training seems pretty tough.”
“Maybe…”
I gave a vague response while walking beside him. Steano seemed to be thinking about his future as well.
Although our intentions were different, we both imagined an unseen future and had hope swelling in our hearts. His eyes were sparkling with a gleam that could be seen from afar.
Unfortunately, I could not picture such a bright future. Since I knew the outcome would be disappointing, all I could think about was how to survive in that future or how to change it.
“Hey, Al. You’re going to join the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order after graduation, right? And we’ll be in the same unit, right?”
“…Come to think of it, yeah. I was supposed to join the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order, too.”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
He gave me a suspicious look.
“Did you forget where you’re going to work?”
“It’s not that I forgot. I was just thinking about something…”
“I see.”
Unintentionally, I had already decided to give up on joining the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order.
My assignment was already decided, and my path after graduation was set. I have passed the exam, and next month, I will be serving as a member of the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order. It was a relatively fortunate path. If I followed the original path, that was what I would become.
However ―― I could not accept that.
“……Steano, you know what? I’m thinking of not joining the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order.”
I had no intention of walking down the wrong path again. Even if I continue down that path, there is only a future of regret waiting for me. I would have become an enemy of Princess Valtrune, knowing her kindness, yet continuing to engage in futile battles with the Imperial Army for the sake of the kingdom. Knowing such a future, I thought I should make a different choice at this crossroads.
“Hey, you’re not joining the chivalric order…!?”
Steano looked like he wanted to say it was a lie, but before he could say anything else, I continued,
“I’m serious. It’s not a joke. I’m going to the Vulcan Empire as soon as I graduate.”
“To the empire…? Giving up becoming a knight of the kingdom?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I’m not going to become a knight. Sorry for the sudden news, but I’ve already made up my mind.”
In the first place, my existence itself was unexpected. I’m not someone who should be in this place.
“But… it’s not like you, Al. I thought you were the kind of person who would think more before acting. This is the first time something so unexpected has happened…”
“I also… until recently, thought that I was that kind of person.”
I miss my time at the military academy. I had been careful not to stand out too much during my student days. Even in practical exams and studies, I had been quite lazy. It was a miracle that I was allowed to join the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order.
“You won’t have this kind of opportunity again…”
“Maybe. It’s a miracle that I was allowed to join the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order with my grades.”
“You idiot, I know you were slacking off during the exams. I wasn’t talking about that, but the fact that we could join the order together as peers.”
Steano has a sad expression on his face. He had been looking forward to joining the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order with me. In my previous life, we were assigned to the same unit and saw each other every day, just like we did in the academy.
However ―― I could not save him.
That is why I have decided at that moment not to join the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order. I want to save the man in front of me.
―― I could only watch as he was dying. But now, maybe I can change it.
“Hey… this is a personal matter I want to consult you about.”
I stopped and grabbed Steano’s hand. His light brown hair swayed slightly.
“…What is it?”
“I know it’s a pretty unreasonable request, but if possible, would you consider going to the Vulcan Empire with me after graduation?”
―― He must have thought, “What? Why?”.
At the time, I wasn’t interested in the Vulcan Empire. After graduation, I unconsciously decided to find my career path in the Kingdom of Leshfeld.
“Me too? To the Vulcan Empire?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s pretty sudden… Are you telling me to resign from the Kingdom’s Chivalric Order, too?”
“Sorry, that’s not my intention…”
“I understand. So, don’t apologize.”
I’m only able to ask something like this because it is my second life.
I will never side with the Kingdom of Leshfeld now. I cannot work in a country that betrayed me after I served it. But if Steano stays in the kingdom, there may come a day when I have to turn my blade against him. I definitely want to avoid that.
“I’m sorry… Can you give me some time to think about it? It’s too sudden and confusing.”
Steano asked me to put my Vulcan Empire plans on hold.
“Yeah, thank you.”
To be honest, it was unexpected. It was just wishful thinking that I asked for on a whim. I was happy that he seriously considered it without immediately rejecting it.
In addition, if he has the slightest intention to do so ―― it might be possible to change the future where he dies.
Chapter 1 Part 1
Chapter 1 – A Wish That Was Never Meant to Come True
1
Placed on the execution platform, I was supposed to be killed just like that… or so I thought.
When my consciousness returned, I found myself on a bustling main street in a familiar city where people were laughing and having fun. There was no trace of the post-war atmosphere of violence and turmoil.
―― Huh? No… wait, calm down. Think about what is going on first.
If my memory was correct, this place was not within the territory of Kingdom Leshfeld. It was a completely neutral area located between the kingdom and the empire. The lively town of Filnots spread out around the Filnots Military Academy, built to train officers to command the military. It was a unique place that did not belong to any country. At the same time, the town’s surroundings were enclosed by high walls, making it a fortified city.
However, Filnots had disappeared without a trace due to the war between the kingdom and the empire. For both countries, this place was an important area that could greatly change the course of the war. It goes without saying that fierce battles were fought to secure this place.
―― Yet the town that was at the center of such a disastrous war was still alive and well, bustling with people.
This place should not exist right now, and yet, Filnots maintained its beautiful townscape and lively environment. It was impossible.
It felt like the lively atmosphere of Filnots that I had seen before the war. I have not breathed in such a peaceful atmosphere in a long time.
“This is… impossible.”
―― I felt like I was in a dream.
However, the scenery was so vivid, unlike a fleeting memory. I could feel the wind blowing on my skin and smell the scent of chicken skewers and alcohol coming from the food stalls. It was a normal and everyday atmosphere that surrounded me.
“………”
Was this a false world created by my own delusion?
“I don’t understand…”
“That’s my line.”
On my shoulders, someone’s hand was grabbing onto it while my thoughts were still a mess.
“Hey, Al. If you keep spacing out here, you’ll be late for graduation. Don’t mumble to yourself. Let’s go.”
“…Huh?”
When I turned around, my friend, who was supposed to be dead, was standing there.
“What’s with that look on your face?”
“Well… I mean, you…!”
“What? Are you so happy to see me? Geez, I’m not happy that a guy likes me at all.”
―― What is this…? Is this… still a dream?
“You’re… Steano, right?”
“Have you forgotten the face of your best friend, Al?”
I opened my eyes wide and froze.
It was impossible for him to be alive because I was the one who witnessed his death.
“H-Hey… your grip is too strong.”
I let go of his arm that I had unintentionally grabbed and looked down at the ground.
Steano Regul.
He was from the kingdom. When we attended the military academy, he was like a close friend who was always with me.
I became a knight of the kingdom and served my country as a knight, just like him.
But why…?
“Why… are you… alive!?”
When I said that, Steano furrowed his brow and tilted his head. His face was filled with countless question marks, as if my words were incomprehensible.
“Huh? Of course, I’m alive. What, did you have some kind of elaborate joke about making me dead? I hate to say it, but you don’t have a shred of humor in you, huh?”
He was not an imposter. The light brown hair and gray eyes. The slightly playful attitude was undoubtedly the same person I knew. I could never mistake the face of my best friend, with whom I ran on the battlefield and entrusted my life to.
“I mean, there’s no way it’s a joke, right?”
“No, no, don’t give me that serious face… What’s wrong with you, really?”
He taps me on the back with a puzzled look on his face.
“Seriously, are you still half asleep? Did you have a nightmare or something? That’s not like you.”
“A… dream?”
“You were too excited for today and stayed up late, right? Haha, even Al can get carried away!”
Steano lightly taps my shoulder and quickly walks ahead.
“………”
“Hey, Al. We should get going soon, or Petra will nag us. The road is crowded, and we might even get a beating if we’re late.”
With a faint smile, he acts as if he’s forgotten about what just happened.
However, I had no room to spare for worrying about his behavior. Because the fact that he was talking to me like this was abnormal in itself.
―― I’ve never heard of anything like the dead coming back to life.
Certainly, he died a heroic death on the battlefield. In my eyes, he protected me and died a terrible death.
I also cremated his dead body…… Or rather ――
“…Hey, can I ask you something?”
―― I thought of something I wanted to confirm more than being able to talk to him.
“Mm?”
I ask him, who seems to be thinking of nothing.
“What year is it in the kingdom’s calendar right now?”
It had been a question on my mind for a long time. I felt a sense of discomfort looking at the peaceful streets of Filnots. In addition, seeing the figure of my dead friend made me curious about it. It is important to organize my emotions, but I wanted to understand the current situation more than that.
‘Time Regression’… I could not help but think that this possibility was becoming a reality.
Steano had a face like, “What’s he talking about?”, but reluctantly told me.
“It’s now March of the year 1241 in the kingdom’s calendar… Why do you ask?”
“1241, huh… I thought so.”
“………”
The moment I heard his words, my previous doubts turned into certainty. I remember clearly the day I was executed.
It was June of the year 1247 in the kingdom’s calendar… and now it’s March of the year 1241.
In other words, this is six years before that day when everything came to an end. It is the era before I lost everything precious to me.
“…I see.”
―― Just before the graduation ceremony of the military academy.
The idea of time regression gradually became clearer, replacing the vague notion from before. Did I get the chance to rewrite my history full of regrets from that time?
Either way, for now, that bloody war has not yet happened.
“Al. Are you really okay?”
Although he was worried that I might be feeling unwell, my state of mind was surprisingly calm.
“I’m fine.”
“Well, you say that, but… Haa, forget it. Let’s hurry up and go, or we’ll definitely get glared at if we’re late.”
Even hearing his exasperated voice, I did not feel any discomfort.
It is a miracle to be able to have a conversation like this with an old friend.
This is what is called ‘regression’, I suppose. It is something I have only heard of in fairy tales and the like, but it clearly applies to my current situation.
Is this some sort of prank from God? I do not know how this happened, but it does not matter. Right now, all I have to do is firmly acknowledge the situation that has unfolded before my eyes.
―― I would not have this chance again.
I cannot afford to make a mistake this time. I have been given a chance to return to the stage where I can once again hope for a bright future that I missed before. There is nothing left for me to do but to do what I can. That is what I have decided in my heart.
Chapter 3 Part 4
◇
After saying goodbye to Elria at the student dormitory, Reid waited alone in the classroom for someone to arrive. With a loud creak, the door opened, and he slowly raised his head.
“Sorry for making you wait. Elise’s lecturing was so long…”
said Alma apologetically while scratching her head with a smile.
However, Reid did not change his expression.
“So, I can assume that you came here with the intention of talking.”
Reid is treating Alma as a ‘foe’ to be wary of, rather than as a teacher.
His birthplace, Altein, no longer exists. Its existence has disappeared from the history of later generations. And yet, Alma was raising its military flag on her own magic equipment.
“I’ll ask you again, why are you waving around the military flag of Altein?”
Reid asked Alma the exact same question again.
However, Alma looked puzzled.
“From the way you talk… ‘Altein’ is the name of a country, right?”
“Don’t try to play dumb now, after waving it on your magic equipment.”
“I’m speaking honestly. In fact… what’s been bothering me is that you called that piece of cloth a ‘military flag’.”
Seeing Reid’s vigilance, Alma sighed conspicuously.
“Now it’s my turn. Why did you call that cloth a ‘military flag’?”
“Are you asking because it’s not normal for someone to recognize it as a ‘military flag’ just by looking at it?”
“That’s right. As you said, what I have attached to my magic equipment is undoubtedly a ‘military flag’. But… only those who have inherited the name of Kanos should know about it.”
This time, Alma directed her caution toward Reid.
“Answer me ―― Who are you?”
As Reid stared at Alma, he remained silent while contemplating.
Even though Alma did not react to the word ‘Altein’, she knew it was a ‘military flag’.
This situation was something that should not have been possible.
However, Reid had already experienced things that were considered impossible.
In a world a thousand years later, the ‘Sage’ and the ‘Hero’ were reincarnated once again ――
This feeling of discomfort was definitely related to Reid and Elria’s reincarnation.
That is why… Reid nodded greatly.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that.”
“Hmm, are you going to play dumb about that now, too?”
“No, on the contrary, I’ll answer anything else. I won’t reveal anything about myself, but you’re free to deduce my identity from my answers.”
“…I see. You thought this out well, didn’t you?”
Alma smiled, perhaps realizing Reid’s intentions.
Questions… in other words, the choice of information to give and withhold is up to Alma, and if she can answer something that only a limited number of people would know, it would be possible to deduce Reid’s true identity.
On the other hand, Reid can make Alma speak unilaterally and deduce her trustworthiness without revealing his own identity.
“Go ahead, ask whatever you like. I’ve been doing all the asking until now.”
“Okay then… what do you think of the ‘moon’ shining in the sky?”
“I think it’s beautiful except during night raids. But that’s just my personal opinion.”
“That’s fine. Next question… what do you think of someone meticulous?”
“They’re serious and diligent, inflexible but not a bad person. If I had to choose subordinates, I think that kind of person would work well.”
“I see. Then how about ――”
Without a clear direction, they repeated the question-and-answer session while trying to probe each other’s intentions.
They asked multiple questions, such as responses upon waking from a nap or reactions upon seeing the sea, to specific ones like dealing with someone who broke the rules or important considerations on the battlefield.
As they continued, Alma’s expression began to change.
Her tense expression softened, and she began to speak with a calm smile on her face. It was as if she was flipping through the pages of an album filled with memories.
Eventually, Alma slowly nodded.
“Well then, let’s make the next question the last one.”
“What, is it already over?”
“Yeah. You… no, I’m sure you can answer it.”
Before hearing those words, Reid already knew what he would be asked.
The questions Alma had been asking until now were things that only one person would know.
Although their relationship lasted only a few years, Reid remembered that person well.
That person was a meticulous individual who accompanied Reid in his final years on the battlefield, listening intently to every conversation and casual chat and taking notes at every opportunity.
“―― Do you remember ‘Me’, ‘Your Excellency’?”
In response to those words, Reid replied with a smile.
“There was only one guy who called me ‘Your Excellency’ instead of General.”
The man who belonged to the Altein Army, and remained by Reid’s side as a dedicated flag-bearer for the ‘Hero’.
The man who also mourned the death of the ‘Sage’ alongside Reid and shed tears at their farewell.
“Yeah ―― ‘Lyatt’.”
Reid called out his former subordinate’s name, superimposing his image with that of Alma’s.
Upon hearing that, Alma breathed quietly, with her head down.
“…You’re the ‘Your Excellency’ mentioned in the notes.”
With tears in her golden eyes, Alma muttered quietly.
“Just to confirm, are you related to Lyatt?”
“That’s the name of my ancestor. He was the one who left behind the notes that were passed down to the Kanos family, and he was also the man who served as the flag-bearer of ‘Your Excellency’.”
Lyatt not only served as a flag-bearer, but also assisted Reid during peacetime.
He looked at the aged Reid with envy and respect, and was such a serious and meticulous person that even the small conversations they had on that day were recorded in his notes.
“Haa… He’s really a meticulous guy, leaving behind his notes for a thousand years.”
“Perhaps my ancestor admired ‘Your Excellency’ that much.”
A thousand years is not a short time.
Nevertheless, Lyatt continued to pass down his notes to future generations.
He left behind the figure of the ‘Hero’ he admired, who had been by his side.
“As promised, I won’t ask you in detail about yourself. Like why a human from a thousand years ago is still alive.”
“Thank you. To be honest, I don’t know either, and that’s why I talked to you.”
“…I see. In that case, I’ll tell you what I know. Otherwise, my ancestor might get angry.”
“Yeah, he was really scary when he got angry.”
They both chuckled, and Reid’s expression changed.
“Still, let me ask you again. You don’t know anything about ‘Altein’, do you?”
“No. I’ve never heard of that country’s name, and as for the military flag, it was passed down to me with the notes, but the name has never appeared in it.”
It was not impossible.
Lyatt admired Reid, but shed tears of disappointment at the country’s decision to march after the death of the sage.
In that case, it is possible that the name of the country, ‘Altein’, was deliberately erased.
However, not only Altein, but another word also did not come up.
“Do you have any memory of the names ‘Hero’ and ‘Reid Frieden’?”
“I do have some knowledge of them. I’m researching magic, so I’ve also looked into archaeology and magic history and researched elves’ oral traditions and legends in the process.”
“But they didn’t appear in the notes at all?”
“Yeah, personally, I’ve been thinking that there might be something…”
One essential aspect of discussing Reid is the title ‘Hero’. Although Lyatt often called Reid ‘Your Excellency’, he occasionally used the title ‘Hero’, too. So, it is impossible to imagine him not using that word even once in his notes.
In other words ――
“―― Someone deliberately erased the existence of the ‘Hero’.”
Upon hearing those words, Alma furrowed her brows slightly.
“But… those are personal notes, you know? While it might be possible to erase something from official records, it seems unlikely that someone could erase something written by an individual. And if the notes were tampered with, wouldn’t there be evidence left behind?”
“Common sense would say it’s impossible. But… in the current situation, impossible things are happening too often.”
The same could be said about the Kingdom of Altein. It was understandable that they would erase the name of the Hero who had lost the war from history. That was why Reid did not pay much attention to it.
However, after reuniting with Elria, that suspicion resurfaced.
If Altein was a great superpower that had once ruled over half the continent and had been defeated, it would not be surprising if its name had been recorded in the history of Vegalta even after its fall.
To confirm this, he read multiple history books at the Caldwen family’s mansion. But from all those books, the name of Altein had disappeared. This changed his suspicion into a conviction.
“Moreover, it’s strange that among the elves, the existence of the ‘Hero’ and my name is known. If they were erasing information, they would erase everything all at once, right?”
“…Well, maybe in the case of the elves, it was passed down by word of mouth.”
Alma speculates, placing her hand on her chin.
“Because the elves are immortal, they have a history of passing down exclusive information and techniques orally, without leaving any records behind. I’ve heard that stories about the ‘Sage’ and the ‘Hero’ are based on tales passed down orally.”
“…I see. Then it’s understandable that it only remained among the elves.”
Elves have a lifespan of almost three times that of humans, and it was common for them to live for nearly three hundred years.
Assuming that the concealed information only pertains to books and writings and cannot erase even the ‘memories’ of that time, it was understandable that it was only passed down among the elves.
“I don’t think the barrier between the races would disappear in a few decades. If we consider that it was important enough for those people at the time to pass it down orally, they wouldn’t have casually shared it with humans. It’s likely that those people are no longer of this world, and the oral tradition was spread as a fairy tale.”
“At the time, the existence of the Sage was likely integral to the foundation of the country, and even if there were facts or legends about someone that stood on equal footing with the Sage, it would be inconvenient for the country, so they wouldn’t acknowledge it.”
That’s why both the ‘Hero’ and Altein were wiped out of existence.
And then ―― something happened after Reid died.
However, there is not enough information currently available to speculate.
“Well, it’s fine. If you notice anything else, please let me know. If you were researching history, you’re definitely more knowledgeable than me.”
“I don’t mind, but… you’re already addressing me casually and trying to order a special rank mage around… you got some guts, don’t you…?”
“Can’t I? I’m ‘Your Excellency’ that your ancestor respected, after all.”
“You don’t have to answer this, but is it the same for Elria-chan?”
“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”
“Wow… so did I just pick a fight with the real ‘Sage’? I said we would have a rematch after she has graduated from the academy, but if she gets serious, won’t I be turned into ashes?”
Alma looked up with a pale face, seemingly realizing Elria’s true identity.
No one would have guessed that the opponent she fought against, in an attempt to teach an impudent student a lesson, turned out to be the very ‘Sage’ who had created magic.
“Well, at that time, you will have to brace yourself and get beat up.”
“At least help your subordinate’s cute descendant.”
“I’m just an incompetent person who can’t even use magic, unlike ‘Sensei’, who is a special rank mage.”
“Hahaha… How impudent for a ‘student’…!”
Ignoring Alma’s words, Reid calmly stood up from his seat.
“We’re done talking. If anything happens, I’ll rely on you.”
After Reid said that, Alma also stood up.
“Yeah ―― Leave it to me, Lord Frieden.”
While saluting as Reid’s former subordinate did, Alma showed her teeth with a huge grin.
Chapter 3 Part 3
◆
As the end of the school day arrived, the students were released from the different space they had been in.
“―― Whew… my body feels so relaxed now…”
Millis let out a sigh as she sank into the large bath.
Elria also breathed out softly in agreement.
“Yeah… it feels so good to be in a large bath.”
“I know, right!? The bath in our room is convenient, but I used to soak in a hot spring near the mountain every day, so it was a bit unsatisfying for me.”
said Millis as she and Elria soaked in the dorm’s large communal bath, relieving their fatigue from training.
“Um… thank you for inviting me to the bath.”
“No, no, I should be thanking you for carrying me all the way here…”
Millis replied, smiling, and bowing her head slightly.
Since most of the students could not move, those who were still conscious in the classroom had to carry them to the dorm. Ideally, they could have used teleportation magic to move directly to the dorm, but such magic required the use of sixth tier magic or higher. Hence, they had to use lower tier magic to bind and carry everyone instead.
Nevertheless, Elria was genuinely happy to have been invited to bathe together. Being naturally shy and uncomfortable with other people’s gaze, going to a large communal bath alone was a great hurdle for her.
“Still… Elria-sama and Reid-san are amazing. You two could handle such a reckless task and are still energetic…”
“If it’s something like that, Reid and I are used to it, so it’s nothing.”
Compared to the battlefield, where they sometimes had to move for three days and three nights without sleeping and often could not even get enough rest, their current fatigue was nothing significant. Rather than the physical body, one could say that the mental side is more fatigued.
“Anyway, Elria-sama was really close to winning. Even though the match was interrupted before it could be settled, you can use magic from the tenth tier. That’s practically a win, isn’t it!?”
“Mm… thank you.”
Thinking that Elria was feeling down, Millis clenched her fist to encourage her.
In reality, Elria was not really concerned about the mock battle with Alma. Instead, she was more concerned about the two of them.
Why did Alma know the catchphrase that Reid used to say?
Why is she raising the military flag of Altein, which should have perished?
Reid should be heading towards Alma’s location to hear about these things, but Elria could not calm down as her heart was filled with unease.
Lost in thought, she noticed that Millis was staring at her.
“…What’s the matter?”
“Well… I just thought that… you’re so cute, and your hair is silky and beautiful, your skin is also transparently white and smooth, and your breasts are quite something… Isn’t this cheating?”
“Mm, I don’t think my breasts are that big…”
Elria sank deeper into the bath as Millis pointed out.
“Speaking of size… I think Millis’s are bigger.”
“No, no, it’s not about size. It’s about shape! Elria-sama has a perfect shape, not just your breasts but your buttocks, thighs, back, and stomach! You look so smooth and soft that all of humanity will undoubtedly cheer for you as the most beautiful! Don’t you agree!?”
“Your voice…! Keep it down because your voice is too loud…!!”
Due to Millis’s voice echoing inside the bath, other students also turned their attention to them.
After calming down Millis’s excitement, Elria let out a small sigh so as not to be heard.
“By the way, Elria-sama, what do you do on your days off?”
“……On my days off?”
“Yes. You are allowed to leave the academy on your days off, and I was wondering what kind of elegant activities that someone from the Caldwen family would do.”
“On my days off, I read or take naps.”
“You live a more relaxed, slow life than a country bumpkin like me, huh…!?”
“Also, sometimes I compare different types of tea.”
“Oh! That sounds great! In my region, tea is more like dandelion tea, so I would love to learn about other teas!!”
“I don’t hate dandelion tea either.”
“Have you ever had it? It tastes like dirt and roots, doesn’t it!?”
“But it’s really good for your health. I like it.”
“I understand! It’s kind of subtle, but it’s addictive, right?”
In response to Elria’s words, Millis gave a friendly smile.
While Elria generally has difficulty with socialization, she did not dislike people like Millis who approached and talked to her or provided topics of conversation, such as chatting in the communal bath.
It might be more accurate to say that choosing a topic of conversation to match the other person is more difficult than the conversation itself. So, while she can talk at length about magic-related topics, she tends to stumble over her words when it comes to other topics.
In that sense, Millis is someone Elria could get along with very well.
She is a really good person, changing the topic and bringing up cheerful conversations like earlier to show her concern for Elria.
That is why Elria also decided to bring up another topic.
“By the way… there’s something I want to ask Millis.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I want to give someone a gift, but… I don’t know what to get.”
“Oh, is it a present for Reid-san?”
“I-I didn’t say it was for Reid…!”
“Well, anyone can tell just by looking that you really love Reid-san. You’re emitting that kind of aura.”
“I-I’m not emitting anything like that…”
“…Ah, so you’re unaware of it yourself.”
Observing Elria’s reaction, Millis had a distant look in her eyes.
Elria was conscious of Reid, but she had not yet conveyed her feelings to him, so she had been trying not to blush too much. However, judging from Millis’s reaction, it seems that everyone around them had already figured it out.
“The other side seems to be aware of it, but it’s kind of a weird situation where you’re both a little off, or rather, as a result of it, you two seem to be getting along well and ultimately want each other to be happy. It’s kind of mysterious, isn’t it…?”
“A-Anyway, let’s focus on the gift for now.”
Elria lightly tapped Millis’s cheek to bring her back to the topic at hand.
“I want to give something as a congratulatory gift for getting admitted into the academy.”
“Hmm… to be honest, I haven’t known you two for very long, so I don’t have much advice to offer. How about giving something that Reid-san likes…?”
“Actually, I’ve never given anyone a gift before…”
“I see. In that case, why don’t you give him something that you think he’d like?”
Elria thought about what Reid might like.
……………
…………………
“……Whetstone and oil?”
“Oh, I can picture Reid-san being genuinely happy with that.”
“I’m pretty confident about this choice.”
“Well, it’s just my impression as a fellow countryman, but taking care of tools and such can be quite enjoyable, so Reid-san would probably be happy with it as well…”
While Elria mentioned it as something used for maintaining weapons and armor, Millis, who did not know anything about their past, would probably have such an impression.
“But if you’re going to give it as a commemoration rather than just gratitude, I think something more tangible would be better than consumables, don’t you think?”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s easier to remember as a memory that way.”
“I see.”
While listening to Millis’s words, Elria nodded.
And now, she tried to think of something tangible that Reid would be happy with.
……………
…………………
“……I can’t think of anything.”
“Don’t give up yet. It’s too early to look so hopeless!!”
Encouraged, but she still could not think of anything.
Although it was a short time since she started spending time with Reid, they had been together for over fifty years, yet she could not come up with anything, which was a bit shocking.
Moreover, considering her previous life as well, she had lived for nearly two hundred years, and it made her hate herself for not being able to think of a decent gift for the person she loves.
“This sadness runs deep…”
“Oh no! Elria-sama, don’t sink into despair! It won’t solve anything!!”
Seeing Elria sinking deeper and deeper, Millis quickly pulled her out of the bath.
Watching Elria’s state, Millis let out a deep sigh.
“Well, Reid-san is kind of detached and has a sort of carefree attitude, making it difficult to grasp him… so when it comes to giving gifts, it might be tough after all.”
“……Yeah.”
“Maybe you should think back to when Reid-san looked happy? You might come up with something related to that.”
“When Reid looked happy…”
Elria desperately tried to recall a moment when Reid looked happy.
……………
…………………
Ah, there it was.
“Reid looked really happy when he’s fighting.”
“…Eh? Like a battle maniac?”
“No, when Reid fights, he smiles and looks like he’s really enjoying himself.”
Elria was mesmerized by his radiant smile, which conveyed a sense of genuine enjoyment from the bottom of his heart. It was the smile she had always loved.
“So, I thought I’d give Reid something that would make him smile like that.”
As soon as Elria said that with a smile on her face ――
“―― You’re so cuteeeeeee!!”
Millis screamed as she dove right into Elria.
“What is this!? If you show me such a maiden-like smile, I’ll also be in love with Elria-sama because you’re just too cute!!”
“U-Uh… i-it’s ticklish…!”
Millis voraciously stroked Elria’s head and nuzzled her cheek.
Finally, Millis was seemingly satisfied and raised her eyebrow while clenching her fist.
“All right, I have decided! I want to support you with everything I have, so please don’t hesitate to tell me if there’s anything I can do to help!”
“…Really?”
“Of course! I’ll be on your side whether through fire or water!!”
“…Is that okay?”
“Yes! As long as it’s within my capabilities, please don’t hesitate to ask me anything!!”
Millis is a very straightforward child.
However, just hearing her say that makes Elria feel happy.
“Well then, shall we get out now? We talked a lot and stayed in the hot bath for a long time. It won’t be good if we get sick from staying here too long.”
“Okay.”
After a short exchange, they left the bath and headed for the changing room.
And while they were getting dressed ――
“Speaking of which, I have been curious about something…”
“Mm…? What is it?”
As Elria wiped away the water and put on her underwear, Millis seemed to want to say something while glancing at her. She looked slightly red in the face. Then, Millis whispered into her ear.
“…You like that kind of underwear?”
“……Underwear?”
“Well… I just thought you were wearing unexpectedly daring underwear.”
Upon hearing this, Elria looked at her own underwear again. It was black with floral lace in places. However, Elria tilted her head curiously.
“…Was there something strange about it?”
“Oh, no, it looks good on you, but it’s a bit lewd for the usually quiet Elria-sama, and even as a girl, I can’t help but get a little excited…!”
“Mm… I don’t really care much about it, but my mother told me to wear appropriate underwear as a child of Caldwen before entering the academy, so she bought me new ones.”
“Wow… Your mother is really looking ahead…”
Hearing that comment, Elria tilted her head again, and Millis put her hand on her shoulder.
“Elria-sama, let’s go buy some everyday underwear on our next day off.”
“…But I also have other underwear?”
“Let’s save those for special occasions. Someday, when you think the time for a showdown has come, please wear that underwear and face the challenge head-on.”
“O-Okay… I understand…?”
Elria could only nod in confusion at Millis’s unusually serious expression.
Prologue Part 2
2
“We will now proceed with the execution of Aldia Graetz by hanging.”
―― Ah, is this how easily my life comes to an end?
I swallowed my saliva while sitting on the gallows, feeling the noise around me.
My dry throat felt like it was being stabbed from the inside by needles, and a feeling of regret overwhelmed me more than fear in my chest.
―― The life that person saved, now ending here.
“The defendant, Aldia Graetz, has been communicating with the princess of the Vulcan Empire, Valtrune von Felsdorf, since before the war and has been leaking information about our kingdom to the empire. Furthermore, he was involved in helping the princess escape after the war. In addition ――”
The Hearing Officer read out my alleged crimes one by one.
All of them were lies. Fabricated and distorted information was read out as if it were true. The many charges against me were just a prelude to stop my heart’s beating, but the pain and sadness I felt had long been numbed and disappeared.
I felt nothing ―― just emptiness. Even the meaning of lamentation was taken away from me.
“―― That is all. With that, it has been concluded that the death penalty is appropriate for Aldia Graetz. We will now proceed with the execution of Aldia Graetz by hanging.”
―― Is it finally starting?
The end of my life was about to come. The executioner appeared right beside me and tied a strong rope around my neck. If the door beneath me opened and I fell, the execution would be completed.
It is truly humiliating. The curious crowd, the gazes of the nobles and royalty that looked at me as if I were mere garbage. All of them are watching me.
“Why was I such a fool…”
―― I really did something stupid.
Princess Valtrune saved my life. And yet I did not choose to wield my sword for her until the very end.
―― Why was that?
Because she and I were enemies… that was the only reason.
When facing the enemy, Princess Valtrune was the only one I did not kill. However, I achieved some results on the battlefield. I killed countless Imperial soldiers. I sacrificed even my rest time and fought tirelessly. Looking back now, I wonder why I was trying so hard to kill them. What was the meaning of doing such a thing… I asked myself.
A knight who fought for the kingdom is ironically killed by the kingdom’s people on charges of treason.
“How could this… how could this happen…? I fought to protect the country, and now everything has been taken away from me, even my life…!?”
No one pays attention to my outburst. They probably only see me as a criminal with a bad attitude.
“Haha, listen to the criminal talking.”
“Does this traitor think he has the right to speak?”
“What a fool.”
“We don’t need someone like you in this country!”
“Just die already, you traitorous scum!”
Amidst the insults being hurled, I simply trembled in place. I controlled my ragged breathing and bit down on my lips. When was the last time I felt this much anger boiling up inside of me?
No matter what I said, my words would not resonate with anyone.
“This is ridiculous… what have I been doing all this time?”
―― Then, I remembered something just as I was about to die.
I saw in my mind the slim and beautiful hand of Princess Valtrune that was offered to me.
‘To be frank… could you join the empire’s side? I don’t want to fight against you… No, that’s not it. I want you.’
During a battle, when I met Princess Valtrune for the third time, she asked me to join her side. However, I did not accept her proposal.
‘…I’m sorry. I have friends and family in the kingdom. That’s why I can’t betray them by siding with the empire…’
‘I see… I’m sorry. You have your own reasons. Let’s forget about this.’
―― In the end, my friends and family disappeared before my very eyes in the midst of the war.
And now, I am also about to disappear.
By choosing to fight for the kingdom, I was left with nothing. The princess of the enemy country who had been kind to me died without fanfare. The friends I had been close to were swallowed up by the repeated ravages of war and never returned.
“…I have nothing left anymore.”
My words were filled with all my feelings.
I even wanted to curse this irrational world.
―― Looking back, I realized that my life had been full of regrets. I had spent several decades wondering what I had been living for. When I was surrounded by malicious looks from those around me, I could not help but feel lost. I felt a vibration in my feet. The door under my feet opened, signaling that I was about to fall. I had done something foolish… I was truly a fool.
―― If I had made a different choice back then, would anything have changed?
‘Could you join the empire’s side?’
If I had accepted that proposal, would my life have been different?
‘I want you.’
If I could have walked through life with the person who sought me out, I wonder what would have become of me.
At the very least, I might not have ended my life filled with so much regret. There could have been a possibility for me to have a happy future.
However, I did not seize that opportunity… I didn’t even try.
That choice at the time was supposed to be the most important turning point in my life ―― but everything that happened after that was brought on by the weakness in my heart. I had listed superficial reasons, such as fighting for the kingdom or having someone important, to avoid thinking about anything.
The outcome of my meaningless words led to an equally meaningless end.
“Pull the lever!”
The executioner pulled the lever of the device on the gallows. With a dull thud, the door beneath the gallows opened, and the rope, now noose, quickly tightened around my neck.
“…Ugh!?”
My face was engulfed in heat. Nausea and fading consciousness made me feel like I was about to vomit out the contents of my stomach. It was regrettable to think that I would die like this.
―― It hurts… I can’t breathe. Where did I… go wrong?
“Guh……!”
It was truly the worst possible end.
I would be exposed in front of the public and continue to be mocked even after death as a ‘fool’.
There was no salvation. Who would want to lead such a pitiful life?
“―――― !”
―― I have killed many and will surely fall into hell.
Without thinking about the meaning of killing, I have simply taken lives. It was war, so there was no other way… I knew it wasn’t something that could be easily justified. And yet, I continued with my inhumane slaughter.
Without stopping my foolish acts, I have accumulated sins. That is why I know that receiving this punishment is inevitable. It is the price I pay for the sins I have accumulated so far, and it is just natural retribution.
“…! …Kugh!”
The sound of the thread of life snapping could be heard.
My shaky vision suddenly turned pitch black.
“……”
The knight of the kingdom, Aldia Graetz… This is where my life comes to an end.
The final moments of someone who had secretly been known as the strongest knight in the kingdom, it is such a pitiful end. No matter how strong I was, in the face of power, I was powerless, and because I lived without any purpose, I could not accurately identify what was truly important to me.
At the last moment of my life, I thought of her face and made a wish.
If I could meet her again ―― I want to live by her side this time.
Chapter 1 Part 1
Chapter 1 – Report on the Completion of the Examination and Princess Iris’s Concerns
The ‘Selection Examination’ to become Princess Iris’s knight escort has ended.
I teamed up with Odette, and we safely reached where the Holy Sword was located, deep inside the cave. It was unexpected that we were attacked by Gilvan Kiers, possessed by the Dead Priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘. I had to draw the Holy Sword to exorcist it, but as a result, I learned the secret of my reincarnation.
── My reincarnation was due to the power of the Holy Sword.
── Also, Alice Carmine, who was my family in my previous life, was reincarnated in this era.
Therefore, I decided to search for the reincarnated Alice. That said, I do not have any leads at the moment.
After the exam was over, the on-site verification by the examiners began. Odette and I were there to attend it.
“As expected. The amulet is destroyed.”
said Demeter, the examiner mage.
This is the entrance to the Holy Sword’s cave on the first floor of the “Capital of the Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium“. Other mages have also come to check the walls of the passage.
An amulet is an item that repels monsters. Apparently, the one that was placed in the passage was destroyed. That was why we were attacked by the priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, who was a high-ranking ghost.
In the “Capital of the Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium“, which only members of the ‘Magic Guild’ can enter, the fact that someone can do such a thing means that there may be someone in the guild conducting sabotage, and there is a possibility that they are sympathizers of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘.”
Come to think of it, the private tutor, Kachel, also praised the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘. In that case, it would not be surprising if Kachel had associates among the nobles or in the ‘Magic Guild’. What a troublesome person.
“May I speak with you for a moment, Gilvan Kiers-sama?”
“M-Me?”
“Yes. Regarding the undead that attacked us.”
When I said that, Gilvan looked reluctant.
Gilvan himself told us that the Marquis Kiers family was trying to manipulate the undead using Guiel Wolfgang. Demeter and Barnes also knew that the Count Wolfgang family is a lineage of ‘Necromancers’. To those who thought that this incident was Guiel’s own decision, Gilvan confessed that it was requested by the Marquis Kiers family.
It was apparently because of the pride of the nobles, but if that were the case, I wish that they had not interfered from the beginning.
“…Feel free to ask me anything. We have had our qualification to join the ‘Magic Guild’ revoked, and are awaiting judgment.”
Gilvan-Kiers slumped his shoulders.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Was it true that Gilvan-sama and Guiel-sama planned to interfere with the exam by using undead?”
“Yes. But… we never intended to summon the Dead Priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘! It’s true!!”
“Just using Skeletons and Ghosts to slow us down?”
“Yes. That’s why Guiel was taught special ‘Ancient Magic’ by the Count’s acquaintance. But I’m sure he didn’t think it would turn out this way, either. Even I wouldn’t have asked for this if I knew… “
Gilvan Kiers covered his face with both hands.
“You guys are amazing. Defeating the Dead Priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘ with ‘Ancient Magic’ and saving Guiel… It’s my complete defeat. Please forgive me… Yuuki Grossalia.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Is that so…”
“More importantly, please investigate the person who taught that magic to Guiel. And also, the person who knows about this exam. Who was it that tried to make Guiel use necromancy at the moment the amulet was broken… That’s what I care about.”
“Wait! Do you even know what you’re saying!?”
Gilvan Kiers raised his face.
“Are you saying that the Marquis Kiers family and the Count Wolfgang family have worshippers of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘?”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“But that’s an insult!!”
“I just don’t want the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple‘ to cause trouble. That’s all.”
“Yuuki is right, Gilvan Kiers.”
Odette interrupted us.
“You understand the gravity of the situation, don’t you? If Yuuki didn’t defeat the Dead Priest, Guiel Wolfgang might have been turned into a vessel for the Dead Priest.”
“…Guiel, as a vessel for the Dead Priest?”
“He would have been used as a source of magic power, and in the end, even his spirit would have been consumed. We cannot let those who caused him such fate go unpunished, even if they are from the Marquis or Count family.”
“……You guys are right.”
Gilvan Kiers nodded dejectedly.
He was then supported by the mages and walked toward the exit of the dungeon.
The questioning and searching for the culprit will be left to the ‘Magic Guild’. For now, I must find Alice’s reincarnation.
“We’ll also return to the surface. We have to inform Her Royal Highness about the Holy Sword.”
“…Yeah.”
Odette and I decided to return to the surface.
“I have received your report. It seems that Yuuki-sama was the first to clear the exam.”
This is the reception room at the guesthouse. Odette and I sat across from Princess Iris, with a table between us.
“Of course, I have also heard about the accident. That Guiel Wolfgang was possessed by the Dead Spirit of a mysterious priest, and that Yuuki-sama and Odette defeated it with magic.”
“I didn’t do anything. It was Yuuki who defeated the Dead Priest.”
“No, if it weren’t for Odette’s help, it would have taken more time. It was thanks to Odette that we were able to save Guiel.”
“If Yuuki hadn’t pulled the Dead Priest off Guiel, I wouldn’t have been able to attack it.”
“During the exam, Odette and I were equal partners. So Odette should also be given proper recognition.”
“Yuuki is so stubborn!”
“That’s my line!”
“…Ahem.”
The Princess cleared her throat in the reception room.
I looked over and saw that, for some reason, the Princess’s cheeks were twitching, and she was looking at Odette and me.
“…You two seem to be very close.”
“I apologize. Yuuki is already the Knight Escort of Princess Iris, isn’t he?”
“Yuuki-sama will not be appointed as a knight escort until he receives a formal award in front of Father… which is fine, but…”
Princess Iris muttered, looking down.
“His achievement is important, but the fact that Yuuki-sama drew the Holy Sword was more significant.”
“I would like to try drawing it again later in the presence of Princess Iris. Then we can decide what to do with it.”
I said.
“However, I don’t want it to be known. If it’s known that a Baron family’s illegitimate child obtained an ‘Ancient Artifact’, it will cause a commotion among the nobles.”
“I understand. Let’s keep this a secret.”
Princess Iris nodded.
“After confirming that Yuuki-sama has drawn the Holy Sword, we will decide whether to study it ourselves or establish a separate research team.”
“Understood.”
“…Yuuki-sama is… truly amazing.”
Princess Iris stared at me.
Large blue eyes. Beautiful lips. The shape of her ears ── she really resembles Alice. But Princess Iris is two years older.
There are several ways to confirm whether she is Alice’s reincarnation.
First, her blood.
After reincarnation, I can use my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood‘ just like in my previous life. Therefore, the blood that I gave Alice in my previous life might have left some effect behind.
If Princess Iris is Alice’s reincarnation, there is a good chance that she has blood similar to ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood‘. However, that does not mean I can ask for her blood directly…
The second method of confirmation is to let Princess Iris touch the Holy Sword, Rinkal.
Alice was also reincarnated with that Holy Sword. So even if I draw the Holy Sword and then let Princess Iris touch it, if there is any hint of ‘Erosion, Hacking‘, it should indicate that the Holy Sword is reacting to her.
The third method is to confirm it from her attitude and knowledge.
However, I have already told Princess Iris the names of Lyle, Remilia, and Alice. I told her it was a dream, but my intentions should have been conveyed if Princess Iris was Alice. If she still remains silent, she might be a different person, or her memories may not have returned yet…
Or could it be that she knows but is remaining silent? Since it is Alice we are talking about, there is a possibility that she is happy just by seeing my reaction.
Confirming whether the other person is a reincarnation of an acquaintance is rather difficult.
“…What’s the matter, Yuuki-sama?”
“It’s impolite to stare at the Princess’s face like that.”
“I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought.”
“You’ve just arrived in the Royal Capital, Yuuki-sama. It’s only natural to have a lot on your mind.”
Princess Iris smiled.
“However, I believe you will adapt quickly. From now on, Yuuki-sama will always be by my side as my knight escort.”
“…Yuuki.”
Odette nudged me with her elbow.
“…This is the perfect moment to say something clever. Princess Iris seems quite pleased that you’ve been chosen as her knight escort.”
“Got it.”
Something clever, huh? Well… I cannot think of any.
I was a village’s guardian deity in my previous life, and I am just the second son of a countryside noble in this life. I have never been in high society, and I have never been a knight. So I cannot think of something clever to say, even if I want to.
“I, Yuuki Grossalia, promise to become the knight who protects and serves Your Royal Highness with absolute loyalty.”
“Thank you very much!”
Princess Iris shook my hand.
Standing next to me, Odette sighed and said,
“…That’s just barely a passing grade.”
Well, I am sorry about that.
“The tea has gone cold. Let’s have it made again.”
Princess Iris rang the bell, and the maids entered. They took away our cups and made new tea. There are a few cookies on a small plate. If any is left, I’ll take them home for Martha and Remy.
“By the way, Yuuki-sama. You mentioned that you were told to protect me in a dream before, right?”
Princess Iris said as she held her cup of tea.
“Did I say that?”
“You did, right?”
“…Yes, I did.”
It happened on the day after I arrived in the Royal Capital.
Summoned by Princess Iris, I asked if Lyle, Remilia, and Alice were her ancestors. Ultimately, I could not determine whether the three of them were Princess Iris’s ancestors. During our conversation, I told her that I had dreamt of the three of them, and they had asked me to protect Princess Iris.
“Were they Lyle-sama, Remilia-sama, and… um, that appeared in your dream, Yuuki-sama?”
“You remember it well.”
“It was a memorable story.”
With the cup in her hand, Princess Iris looked at me and said,
“…Those people must have been important to you, Yuuki-sama.”
In a calm manner.
“That might be true.”
I took my time to reply.
Princess Iris then asked me with a gentle smile.
“Could it be that… one of them was Yuuki-sama’s former lover…?”
“No.”
“…Is that so?”
“I have never had a lover.”
“B-But… surely, there must have been someone important to you…?”
Princess Iris leaned towards me.
*Nudge. Nudge.*
Odette nudged me again.
“……Do you not understand how Her Royal Highness feel, Yuuki?”
Odette whispers softly into my ear.
How does Her Royal Highness feel? Then ── does that mean Princess Iris is Alice’s reincarnation, and she is asking if there is someone important to me among Lyle, Remilia, and Alice?
── I could not help but think that, but of course, Odette’s words were different.
“You will become the Princess’s knight.”
Odette looked at me with a serious expression and continued,
“As a knight escort, you must prioritize protecting the Princess. So Her Royal Highness wants to make sure you have the resolve to do so.”
“Thank you, Odette.”
She is dependable, as always.
As the soon-to-be Princess’s knight escort, I should respond accordingly.
“Of course, the most important person to me is Princess Iris Restia. Even if I had a lover or someone I used to have feelings for, they would not surpass Princess Iris. I have forgotten the past and know that my life is for Her Royal Highness.”
“……Is that so.”
“Oh?”
said Princess Iris with a slow reaction, and Odette made a strange voice.
“Wait, Yuuki, stay here for a moment.”
“Eh?”
“Princess Iris… no, Iris. Can we have some time to talk as childhood friends?”
“Eh, ah, yes. Of course. Odette.”
“In that case, I will borrow another room for a moment. You stay here, Yuuki. It’s a girls’ conversation, so don’t eavesdrop!”
said Odette, taking Princess Iris to a different room.