CH 6

2-6 Homecoming

It was a room with a very special meaning in the serene and majestic royal palace.

Originally, the royal palace was supposed to be properly decorated. When it comes to the audience room, the amount of effort put into the interior, starting with the throne, is exceptional and it leaves the visitor with the impression that it’s the embodiment of opulence and luxury…

This general theory was not well supported here in Fermina.

In the beginning, the country was reluctant to even build a royal palace. When the king was about to take office in a single-story building like a cowshed, the people around him stopped him and he reluctantly signed a permit for the construction of the royal palace.

As a result of the tearful efforts of his retainers, the palace was completed with an appearance that could be described as luxurious. However, in spite of the various decorations that have been added to the palace over the years, only the humble interior of the audience hall has remained unchanged.

“…… I see, I hope nothing goes wrong.”

The close vassals knew.

In the audience room, the only thing that really needs to be seen is the figure of the king, not the inorganic objects.

And there’s no decoration that can compare to that glow.

“But the best thing is that there was no damage. I’m glad you both made it back without incident.”

A softly spoken voice with a thick core echoed through the thick walls and was absorbed by the hearing of the three kneeling in front of the throne.

“It’s been a long time, Miss Frostline. It’s good to see you in such good health.”

The king relaxed on his throne, his dazzling blond hair seeming to glow in the color of the lighting.

“…… No, it’s all my fault. I’ve been prepared to face the consequences…….”.

“You can’t say it was a hasty decision, considering that it would have happened sooner or later. It’s just a matter of luck that they came along. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“…………”

“Good. Your maneuvers were unknown to us from beginning to end. Therefore, we can’t hold you responsible for this operation.”

The hair on Lefilia’s head, which was hanging low, touched the red carpet noiselessly. Leon’s expression relaxed and Chris let out a soundless sigh.

“I’d like to hear about the details of the mission. The story of this monster is very interesting. ……”

“Ha. It was about three times as tall as a man. It had a body surface that looked like folded over white paper and it used a kind of elastic cord. It’s resistance to magic was so high that it was a wonder we made it back alive……”

“Huh…? And how did you get rid of such a monster?”

Feeling Intrigued, the king floated on the throne.

“No, it was …….”

“It was killed by a swordsman who came from ‘his land’.”

Chris interrupted him. Of course, her tone was a happy whimper.

“Swordsman? Who was it…?”

“Unknown. It seems he was looking for someone who crossed the border, but he didn’t do anything in particular and left immediately.”

“…… Hmm, was he in human form?”

“Yes. His equipment was striking, but as for his appearance, he wouldn’t have been out of place in a crowd.”

“I see… Fufufu.”

The king put his hands on his chin and meditated on something, happily spreading his lips. He slowly lifted his arm and the gesture of brushing something away with his palm was repeated twice.

“…………”

The vassal at the back of the throne bowed and turned his head. In the meantime, the attendants kneeling in the corner and even the soldiers of the Kingsguard, left their posts and disappeared into the cuffs.

“Father?”

“I got rid of them. Let me see what you look like. I’ve heard it’s not difficult for you to blend in with the crowd.”

Leon looked dubious, but behind him, he heard the low sound of the door shaking slightly. In front of the three of them, who turned and braced themselves at the same time, the door, which could only be opened from the inside, opened with a low-pitched whine and slowly stopped moving.

The swordsman stood on the other side of the sunlight that entered their open vision.

“You’re …….”

He wasn’t wearing the suffocating magic power that he had when he had faced the monster, but the jet-black armor was still intact.

The sound of footsteps echoing in the space where the words were interrupted stopped immediately in front of the throne where the king sat. While the three who had faced him the other day took a breath, the swordsman slowly broke to his knee in a very natural gesture.

“Please show me your face……?

“…… Yes.”

It was a very short reply and a dark, shadowy expression appeared beneath the helmet. The swordsman-Sage slowly raised his face in the rugged atmosphere, bathed in various colors of gaze.

“I’m really glad you’re safe …….”

With a trembling voice, the king bowed his head deeply while sitting.

Forgetting to correct his posture, Sage jumped up and his toes hit the helmet he had just taken off with such force that a high-pitched, ear-piercing sound reverberated through the room.

“Your Majesty, what……!”

“Whenever I looked at that wall of light, I asked myself if I had made the right choice in sending you out. I’ve never been able to come up with an answer…”

“Did my father call you?”

Lefilia looked up at Leon’s profile which looked rather dismayed.

Contrary to Leon’s enthusiasm, the King’s reaction to the question was terribly plain.

“I told you I would take care of it. He saved your lives, what are you so upset about—?”.

The king himself interrupted with his next words.

“…… is that young lady your companion?”

Everyone except the king turned around at once. Something quickly hid by the door that remained open and after a short pause, Marie showed up as she had thought.

“Marie-chan!”

Chris, who was the first to react, held her hands as they hesitated to enter the room.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you…… Are you okay? Are you injured?” (Marie)

“I’m fine. My magic will recover soon.”

“Marie, you’re being rude in the castle…….”

Oh. It was Chris, not Marie, who turned around and spoke up.

“Isn’t it fine. She had great merits in that battle.”

She stroked Marie’s head as if to hug her. Marie’s face remained expressionless as she twisted her fingers around Chris’s hand and gently pulled her off.

The king walked up to Sage, despite the two of them being free and familiar with each other. He put his fingertips to his wrinkled brow and looked even more mysterious than when he had received the report from Lefilia and the others.

“I see, you’ve made up your mind to stay in his land for the sake of this child, haven’t you?”

“No, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood the situation…….”

“What reason do you have for abandoning your honor, your position and even your homeland to live in a new world?”

The king suddenly changed his tone. The downturned expression, which even seemed to be dark, regained its vitality in a breath and he looked straight at Sage who choked on his words.

Lefilia, who’d been listening to the exchange from afar, glanced sideways at Leon, who was smiling as if looking at someone else’s affair.

“What is it?” (Leon)

“…… No, I can see the blood connection with that nasty trick talking.”

“You make me sound like a jerk…”

“I’m sorry, but you can’t deny it.”

Lefilia, who cut off Leon’s complaints, turned her eyes to the exchange in front of her. The profile of Sage, who kept looking straight at the king was wet with an amount of sweat that couldn’t be said to be due to the season. As if to endure the intimidation of silence, the king softened his expression, stubbornly watching Sage’s expression who stubbornly tied his lips.

“Huh…hahaha! I’m sorry about that. I’ve left your room as it is. You can rest and relax until you’re ready.”

“………I didn’t ask for that though”

The king’s expression froze at Sage’s words, which slid slow, like talking to himself. He turned away from Sage and let out an embarrassed sigh.

“Ever since Christia returned from his land, it’s always been Sage-sama! Sage-sama! It’s noisy day and night……”

“Hey…”

Chris screamed as her white skin turned crimson in the blink of an eye. Marie, who was still being held in her arms, poked her fingertips on the back of Chris’s hand, adding to her shame.

“You’re really into him, aren’t you ……?

“Stop it, Marie-chan, seriously……”

The king and Leon both smiled nastily at each other. Their gazes were soon distracted by the sight of Lefilia, who was watching them with blank eyes.

“…… Well, there you have it. Let’s listen again when the opportunity to talk comes.”

“Thank you for your kindness…..”

Sage and Marie were the first to leave, followed by Lefilia, who graciously left the room while pulling Chris, who was still stiff with her hands on her face.

Leon, who had been left behind, watched for a while as the others moved away from the open iron doors. The king was still seated on his throne, but he did not speak and a strange silence followed.

“—-By the way father.”

Leon started off with his back turned, maintaining his posture.

“…What.”

“That monster, it kept muttering the word ‘chaos’ all the time.”

Leon walked toward the door with the sure footsteps of a stage actor.

“I know it’s trivial, but I just wanted to let you know.”

Without waiting for an answer, he walked through the door without looking back. He walked down the long corridor for a while and when he was almost out of earshot, he looked back. Leon squinted, looking at the small, but certainly drooping king at the far end of his gaze.

“Hmm…..”

He spat out a heavy soliloquy on the thick carpet, and turned on his heel again.

When his back was completely out of sight, the area was enveloped in complete silence.

The only person left behind, as if cut off, was the king, who slowly opened his depressed lips.

“Chaos ……!!!”

The mouth that had been whispering Leon’s words suddenly twisted in pain. The king was struck by an indescribable sense of incongruity as if his exhaled breath had been pushed back into his throat.

Looking at the corridor which was certainly unmanned, the king took a deep breath and let out a long sigh that seemed to carry words he could not put into it.