Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Leaving Home
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".....!"
Returning to the office, I pulled out the letter under the silently flickering light of the magic lamp.
Opening the envelope coated in gold leaf revealed a single line.
"Ah, Aegis...."
The name stood out clearly at the end of the letter addressed to "Dear Sir Kayer."
It was written: Aegis von Bazran.
I quickly scanned the letter.
"Dear Sir Kayer, I am writing these few lines hastily upon hearing that you will attend Father's birthday celebration...."
And so began the unexpected letter from Princess Aegis.
She wrote that just thinking of the day we flew together on Bebeto kept her awake with longing.
Her earnest wish as a girl shone through: that someday, no matter when, such a day might come again, and she awaited it eagerly.
"...I will be waiting. For the day I can see you, Kayer...."
The short letter ended with the name Aegis von Bazran.
"Haa...."
A slight headache crept in.
The emperor's birthday party—I still hadn't decided whether to attend.
It was certain that the crown prince and a few other obnoxious nobles were waiting for me to show up.
"What a headache."
But at the same time, I needed to see the emperor at least once.
For now, I still needed the name of Bazran.
I had impulsively slain Raviter Empire's gold wyvern and imprisoned their prince in a cave—a grave crime.
If discovered, Raviter's forces would attack without question.
That's why I needed time.
Even if they found out, the name Bazran would give them a moment's hesitation in their brief agony.
"Even if they don't find the prince, learning of a gold wyvern here will raise suspicions."
I had left the lives of the grateful prince's entourage—who gave me the wyvern—to the heavens.
I could have buried them alive, but my heart wasn't hardened enough to kill Raviter's prince and his royal guards, who hadn't directly attacked me.
Of course, I had killed before.
But only to protect Neruman's soldiers and people, who were like my own blood.
"I'll have about a fortnight. The key is how quickly they find the prince, and it'll take time to uncover why a gold wyvern is in Neruman."
Wearing the helmet hid my black hair.
But the curtain wouldn't hold forever.
The gold wyvern had been seen by countless eyes.
The empire couldn't remain ignorant of that information.
"The emperor's birthday party... Maybe it's time to properly pay my respects."
As Rosero had mentioned, etiquette toward the emperor.
Those directly invited by the emperor across the vast Bazran Empire territories must present a precious gift.
"I've slept enough today anyway."
Grabbing my helmet, I stepped outside.
Among my possessions, the most precious were items from dwarves and elves.
I chose the elves.
'Narmias....'
Thinking of the elf village brought the image of one elf woman naturally to mind.
That sad gaze directed at me.
"Hoo...."
A long sigh escaped.
A sigh whose meaning even I didn't know....
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'Leeches dropping onto the magic books. Lucky break.'
As I headed out of the office, the beastkin—who had apparently woken up—were waiting outside.
Beastkin who clung like they would die if they let go, even though I wasn't their mother.
I handed them a few 5th-circle magic formulas.
Unique formulas only Master's disciples could decipher—Gandalf Master's specialty.
The beastkin took them and promptly forgot about me.
No, they were absorbed in the magic formulas.
'Night flights are the best, as always.'
Shiiiiiing.
The short rainy season had ended, ushering in sweltering heat.
Not quite a heatwave, but the salty sea breeze mixed with the scorching sunlight tormented Neruman's lands.
But it couldn't touch the open sky.
Rows of winds brushing past Bebeto's wings.
Thanks to the air plate, I felt no heat, but just watching was refreshing enough.
'I need the elves' help.'
Treating their illness had maxed out their affinity, but harmony with the elves as a whole was still difficult.
Elves who had built walls against humans for over a millennium.
Moreover, to these long-lived beings who endured centuries, the humiliating racial war with humans from the previous generation was an indelible scar on their pride.
'With the elves' spirit power and magic, I could stabilize Neruman in one go.'
What Neruman needed now were high-level talents like spirit users and mages.
In that regard, no one on the continent matched the elves' perfect qualifications.
Doooong.
I broke through the illusion magic circle over the elf village.
'Amazing no matter how many times I see it.'
An 8th-circle spell still far beyond me.
After piercing the illusion, the elf village's scenery filled me with awe once more.
'Are they all asleep?'
It was late.
I arrived at the elf village with no prior notice.
A place no human had visited except Master Gandalf and me, now deeply immersed in the dawn's silence.
Flap flap flutter.
I carefully landed Bebeto in the village clearing.
Pababat.
In that instant, I sensed several presences.
'The elf warriors are awake.'
The sharp auras of the elf warriors I'd met once before locked onto me.
Srrrk.
But only for a moment—they vanished into the darkness like shadows.
"Tch."
Even the elf warriors ignoring me in this situation.
I stood in the clearing like a sack of barley, looking around.
'Hm?'
But soon, someone rushed from the village.
An elf flying toward me almost.
'Narmias!'
It was her.
As if she'd been waiting all this time, the elf approaching me—when no other welcomed me—was Narmias.
"Y-You've come."
She'd run so hastily barefoot, without even her wooden elf shoes.
Forgetting elven greetings, she smiled joyfully at me.
"May the blessing of the green branch be with you.... Have you been well?"
"Yes... It's been a while since you visited."
I hadn't come during the monster subjugation or rainy season.
Long by human standards, but for elves living centuries, it was like a day or two.
Yet Narmias smiled as if she was thrilled I'd finally come after so long.
'Ugh.'
My chest suddenly tightened.
I couldn't guess why this elf looked at me that way.
I wasn't a fool, and elves couldn't lie.
'She likes me?'
I'd welcome an elf maiden liking me with open arms, but Countess Irene's words lingered.
That I was more of a playboy than I seemed.
I hated to admit it, but it felt like I'd become one without realizing.
"No injuries? You look tired—shall I cast a heal spell? Have you eaten?"
"....."
As I stayed silent, Narmias bombarded me with questions.
I was flustered.
By this continent's common knowledge, elves weren't this forward.
"I-I'm fine."
"Yes...."
She beamed at my words.
Her silver hair, tinged half with blue unlike Irene's, shimmered mysteriously in the moonlight.
"But what brings you here this late at night...."
"Haha, I suddenly missed you, Narmias, so I came."
"R-Really!!"
'No, that's not what I meant!!'
A pickup line slipped out unbidden.
'Am I really a playboy? Is that it?'
An awkward smile formed on the overjoyed Narmias's face.
"You seem even more beautiful after just a few days. Your skin looks lovelier too...."
'Ugh! That's not it either!'
The lines kept flowing.
I couldn't control myself.
There was definitely another me inside I didn't know.
Otherwise, these cheesy lines wouldn't spill out like Vienna sausages.
"Y-You look even more gallant too, Sir Kayer. More than anyone in the world...."
Narmias gazed at me with dreamy eyes.
"....."
The mood turned strange.
The elf woman seemed ready to throw herself into my arms, calling "Oppa."
A temptation hard for a stormy adolescent to resist.
"What brings you here so late at night?"
'Elder Parkiano.'
The 8th-circle mage had appeared silently.
True to the saying that the elderly need less sleep, he was here without rest.
I felt slightly resentful amid the faint gladness.
"Have you been well?"
I bowed to greet the elder.
"I've been fine. The monsters outside were noisy for a while, but that was the issue."
Many monsters had fled to the mountains during the subjugation.
So the mountains must have been chaotic for a time.
"I'm sorry for the disturbance."
"No matter. It caused us no harm anyway. So, what brings you here so late?"
The elder looked no older than 40.
Yet an elf like 400-year-old wild ginseng.
His characteristically indifferent eyes met mine, and my mouth opened.
"Please give me one mithril armor suit made by the elves."
"Mithril armor?"
"Yes. I must visit the emperor urgently, but have no suitable gift, so I came to ask."
"Hmm... Mithril armor...."
It might annoy him, but it wasn't hard.
With mithril mines, excellent magic skills, and endless time, elves could manage.
Elder Parkiano pondered briefly.
"Well, it's not a difficult request, so I'll grant it. But is that truly the only reason?"
'What does this guy expect me to say?'
His eyes subtly glanced between Narmias and me.
"Haha, how could that be the only reason? I also missed you, Elder, and Narmias here."
"You're good at lying. It might be for Narmias, but surely not for an old elf like me. I wouldn't either."
"....."
Even innocent elves seemed to grasp the ways of the world after long centuries.
Parkiano pinpointed my lie exactly.
"H-Ha...."
An awkward laugh escaped.
"Narmias."
"Yes, Elder."
"Bring a mithril armor suit for Kayer."
"Understood."
Narmias bowed at the elder's command.
Rustle rustle.
She dashed into the village with nimble steps.
"Do you know of the fever elves suffer?"
"Pardon?"
"Elves are born attuned to nature, protected by it, living in harmony until death. We live 500 years at most, 400 at least."
Parkiano spoke of elves.
Precious knowledge unheard elsewhere, so I listened intently.
"Humans might call us passionless by comparison, but we elves do know love. Not fiery, but with devotion rivaling fierce emotions. Unlike humans, with their partings, once we choose, we gaze at one life till death—that's our elves' pure love."
'Wow, total ideal wife material.'
Even on 21st-century Earth, such elven love might exist.
But humans wound and torment themselves too much to truly cherish someone.
Young as I was, I didn't know much.
But raised on mass media tales of modern love.
21st-century humans' way: can't live without love.
Thirsting for love, yet buying instant drinks from the street instead of digging a well—falling in and out easily.
I'd never met anyone loving like elves.
Even my supposedly lovey-dovey parents fought like battles sometimes, and I'd heard plenty of divorce threats.
'Enviable.'
Pure envy.
I'd seen some friends in love.
But never envied.
Rather than missing each other when apart and cherishing memories, they suspected cheating first. I understood those yelling "solo paradise, couple hell."
"Open your heart. Then you'll see."
Elder Parkiano dropped words like a Zen master's koan.
Tadadak.
In the brief silence, time passed. Narmias returned, clearly having flown, beaming like a moonflower in full bloom, holding the mithril armor effortlessly.
Her face brimming with happiness at whatever joy she felt.
'Sigh....'
No need to open the mind's eye.
For whatever reason, Narmias showed me utmost devotion.
I worried deeply about hurting her pure heart.
I was a human living in turmoil, she an elf living one lifetime true....
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"While I'm gone, Derbal takes charge as proxy lord. You can handle it, right?"
"My lord, go without worry!"
Neruman plains, where the real heat had begun.
Midday sun felt harsher thanks to the sea breeze.
Thankfully low humidity kept it from being muggy, but summer was summer.
Yet the office, cooled by air-conditioning-like temperature magic, was perfectly refreshing.
I consulted Derbal on key matters.
"Hashipot."
"Speak, my lord."
The beastkin leader Hashipot showed no fatigue despite pulling all-nighters on those magic formulas.
"If any wyverns disobey, beat them short of killing."
"Got it. Don't worry."
Hashipot nodded vigorously at "beat."
He'd be useful later.
"Derbal, focus on Armis's protection. Assign capable knights to guard her always."
"Understood."
They might call me nagging like an old man, but worries were real.
The territory wasn't fully stable, and enemies had grown.
Leaving briefly gnawed at me.
'No trouble, surely.'
The emperor's party: two weeks quick, twenty days max.
Pushing worries aside, I thought ahead.
"Sirs Jenis, Raiker, Sedlian—I'm counting on you."
"Go worry-free, my lord!"
"My lord, reconsider once more? If something happens in the capital, a talent like me could help. Take me! I'll guard you with my life!"
'Persistent bastard!'
Early morning office gathering of key knights.
While others answered stoutly, Raiker clung to join me.
His dark intentions were transparent.
Not guarding me, but itching for noble ladies in the imperial capital.
That's why I couldn't take him.
That 2-meter lout with nothing but women and booze in his head—his mistakes would dishonor me.
"If you want to go so bad, Sir Raiker, ride a horse."
"R-Really!!!"
He asked again, shocked at my permission.
"But on horseback."
"....."
His joyful face froze, rotting slowly.
Stepping on him like this kept him quiet.
'Endure a bit. I'll make beauties flock to Neruman.'
I'd make it a place even the emperor envied.
A dream territory all the continent coveted.
"I trust you all."
"Loyalty!"
The knights saluted, shouting "Loyalty!" vigorously.
'Time to go.'
Outside waited Irene and the royal Sky Knights.
I stepped toward the open office door.
Briefly foreseeing the fate awaiting me in the capital.
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"Bebeto! Fly!"
Kuoooooooo!
Flap flap flutter.
At my command, the impatient Bebeto spread wide wings and roared.
Thump!
A light lift-off sensation.
Shiiik shiiiik shiiiiing.
Boom boom! Boom boom!
Soldiers seeing me off drummed thunderously.
'Hope nothing happens....'
Like parents leaving children, worries welled.
'Armis, be well.'
Armis stood waving farewell.
Whiiiing.
I circled the Sky Knights once, then turned toward Bazran Empire's capital.
Shiiiiiiing.
Behind me followed three black wyverns.
A tinge of sulk mixed with worries.
That odd feeling of leaving home enveloped me.
Neruman, where I'd grown attached.
No separate hometown.
Where thick bonds lingered.
That was my heart's true home.