Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Chapter 4. The Land of Revelry and Culture, Uruun.
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Judah gave a wry smile at Wolfram's words. He already knew everything the man was so kindly explaining. How could he not? He was the one who had created that story, after all. It was like drawing wrinkles on a caterpillar.
"I'm grateful for the advice, but I have no intention of changing my mind just yet. If a war really is coming, that makes it all the more reason for me to go."
"You're insane! You could die if things go wrong!"
Wolfram scowled in frustration at the firm refusal.
"How can someone be so stubborn? I'm not saying this for no reason. If you get caught up in a war and die there, it'd just be a meaningless death, wouldn't it?"
"I understand your concerns... but no matter how many times I think it over, now is the only time it'll work."
"Sigh, why exactly?"
"Elves are already known for being reclusive, but if war breaks out, it'll be impossible to even meet them. They'll grow distrustful of humans and kill anyone who enters their forest on sight. That's just how they'll have to live."
"You think they'll welcome you if you go now?"
Whether in wartime or peacetime, it was only natural for elves to be wary of humans. They were jewel-like beings of beauty, and humans—ever eager to show off—had always coveted them. Humans envied their looks and their abilities. Once they gained the power to enslave them, humans captured elves and flaunted them like prized gems.
As a result, very few elves—save for the odd eccentrics—ever left for the human world. Beastkin fared a bit better than elves, at least. Though fewer in number than humans, their superior physical prowess allowed them to form small but formidable kingdoms, and some even lived alongside humans.
In any case, Wolfram was right: even if they headed to the elven forest now, they wouldn't exactly be rolling out the welcome mat. He was pointing that out. Judah shrugged.
"I've got my ways."
"Sigh... fine, just one thing, then."
"Yes."
Wolfram glanced at Arhil. Her expression had turned uneasy upon hearing they might have to go somewhere a war could erupt.
"Have you discussed this with Miss Arhil and made the decision together? What's her take on it?"
"......"
Judah fell silent for a moment at his words. Fair enough—he couldn't just ignore her opinion outright. But since she was already bound to him, she wouldn't refuse to go. He gathered his thoughts and spoke.
"If Miss Arhil doesn't want to go, then we won't. I'll give her that choice. But I do want to tell her that this is probably the last chance we'll ever have to see the elven forest. If she trusts me, won't she come along?"
"Going on trust alone would be a foolish choice. I'm not trying to belittle your intentions. I'm only saying this because I value your lives and don't want to see them wasted."
Judah nodded lightly at his words.
"I know. I know you're not saying it with any ulterior motive. Alright, Arhil. What do you think? Shall we head to the Byron Empire? Or come with me to the elven forest?"
"Uh... I..."
She felt like arrows were suddenly flying her way. Her eyes darted between Wolfram and Judah, but her agonizing didn't last long. In a fit of resignation, she made a pouty face and sighed. It was both funny and endearing.
"I'll go with you, Judah. Yeah... what choice do I have? It's the leader's call."
"No, I'm asking for your opinion."
Wolfram seemed more flustered than anyone. But Arhil hadn't agreed to follow Judah without thought. She knew he possessed a Fragment. The strength of Fragment bearers had long been proven across the kingdoms and empires of the First and Second Continents.
"It's fine. I trust him."
Wolfram turned to Jeanne next, as if pleading for her to talk some sense into them. But Jeanne wasn't on his side either.
"Don't worry too much, Sir Wolfram. Judah is more than we realize."
More than we realize or not, he was still just a kid who'd barely reached adulthood and was wandering the world. Wolfram wanted to shout that no kid was that impressive. He swallowed the words rising in his throat, sighed deeply, thumped his chest in frustration, and finally nodded.
"Urgh... well, if that's how it is, I won't say more. Do as you like."
Resigned, he turned and headed back into the mansion. Jeanne bowed her head and followed.
"But are we really going to the elven forest?"
"Scared?"
Arhil looked at Judah with eyes glistening with a hint of tears.
"Of course I am! A war might break out—ugh. Why did I even say I'd follow you back then?"
Judah burst out laughing at her petulant tone. It wasn't resentment, just simple griping.
"Yeah, why'd you bring it up instead of staying quiet?"
"It looked fun."
"It won't be fun. Not like everything in Regen was pure joy. We saw horrors, suffered through them, and only tasted sweetness at the end. This might be the same. No regrets?"
"...I'll regret it, sure? But that won't change my mind. Even if we went back in time, I'd make the same choice."
Judah stared at her blankly like an idiot as she stuck out her lips. Going back... It was a plain, ordinary phrase, but it hit him unexpectedly, leaving him dazed.
"Judah? What's wrong?"
"...Nothing. Let's head inside. We should talk with the count and Sarah before we leave, right?"
"Yeah~ We should. It's obvious we'll suffer ahead, so I need to rest up until then."
Judah chuckled as he followed her slouched, dragging steps, matching her slow pace.
"So, when do we leave?"
"Sunday. Someone named Roxin will come for you at dawn—don't freak out, just follow him."
"?"
Arhil tilted her head in confusion. They were leaving, sure, but why dawn of all times? And who the hell was 'Roxin'? What did "don't freak out and follow him" mean? Wasn't he coming along?
Question marks flooded her mind, leaving her bewildered.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll understand when the time comes. I could tell you now if you want... but you might be too mentally rattled to rest properly until Sunday."
She groaned at the implied choice, pondered, then shook her head. She was curious, but she didn't want the psychological burden of knowing. "Pass," she said, waving her hand—then yelped "Ah!" and stopped in her tracks.
"Sarahhhh!"
Leaving Judah behind, she dashed toward Count Jenua's daughter, Sarah, who was waiting at the entrance with a joyful cry. Sarah called back "Arhilhhh!" and ran to meet her. They grabbed hands and jumped up and down in excitement.
'They've gotten close.'
Arhil was a commoner priestess, unbound by status in that sense, but it was still surprising to see a noble like Sarah acting so friendly. Judah felt a twinge of loneliness watching them enter without him, then followed.
That evening, they informed Count Jenua and his wife of their impending departure and enjoyed a dinner together. They savored delicious food and pleasant conversation, spending that night in perfect peace.
Nothing special happened afterward. They slept in until the sun was high, took leisurely strolls, had tea times with the count or his wife, and read books from the mansion's library, passing the days in lazy comfort.
It was a truly relaxing and sweet respite.
But it ended on Saturday night. Fortunately, he'd finished the book he'd been reading right on time. Closing it, Judah stretched grandly, loosened up, and flung open the window. He filled his lungs with the cold, fresh night air and exhaled.
"Time to go."
Ignoring the perfectly good door, he placed a foot on the windowsill and leaped out energetically. His mana-reinforced body bounded upward with astonishing leg strength, landing lightly on the garden path before soaring again.
He touched down on the roadside after scaling the wall, then casually pulled a coat made from Requiem's leather from his <Bag>, slipped it on, shoved his hands in the pockets, and started walking as if nothing had happened.
+ + +
#The street where Count Seronic's mansion was located.
The guards responsible for Uruun's security hadn't had proper rest lately, all because of one elven thief. They could catch a break during the day when crowds were out, but at night, they had to patrol armed, lest the thief appear.
Fatigue was piling up immensely. If only they could sleep properly—but the situation made it impossible. Day shifts, night shifts. Even with rotations, the entire guard force was mobilized, so they catnapped on the move. The mounting stress was no joke.
"Damn it all."
The elven thief hadn't shown up in days, yet the nobles' alert order wouldn't lift. Two guards walking a dark street under the half-moon sighed heavily.
"What the hell is this mess because of that elven thief?"
"Yeah."
"That bastard's probably cuddling up with an elf right now, snickering away."
"Probably."
"Sigh—damn it. He's stolen how many elves already? Why come back for more? Too busy shaking his hips at night. Makes me jealous as hell."
"Tell me about it."
"I'm dying here. If they didn't feed us decently and pay extra, I'd have quit ages ago."
The guard gripped his spear tight. The only reason they endured was the nobles handing out generous "hardship bonuses" for the nonstop shifts.
The other guard walking beside him nodded a beat late.
"Yeah, exactly."
"...What? Why so down? You sick? Something up?"
He'd eyed his partner intending to snap about the half-hearted reply, but the guy's steps were listless. Checking his face for illness, he asked. The partner let out a long sigh.
"Nah, nothing special... or is there? Anyway, you know I'm dating Daisy, right?"
"Yeah, I know."
"We set a date for the night before last a week ago. But... with this mess blowing up, I haven't even seen her face, let alone dated. She got fed up and came to the guard post this morning, chewed me out. 'You could've at least told me!' she said."
What, a relationship issue?
He felt stupid for worrying.
"I wanted to tell her! I missed her like crazy and wanted to say something—how? How do you say 'gonna step out real quick' in this situation? Sigh—I should've deserted my post to tell her. Or sent someone. She was mad at first, but now I think I screwed up... ? You listening?"
"......Yeah, listening."
To a single guy like him, his partner's woes were utterly deflating. The guard didn't hear his muttered "fuck," gazing at the starry sky as he continued.
"Was gonna propose next week. Of all times, we fight now. Daisy won't hate me, right? Once this shift ends, I'll apologize, date her, and propose real slick...? Huh?"
Talking while looking up, he casually turned his head. In the pitch-black alley where neither moonlight nor starlight reached, a figure stood like a beast, red glows emanating from its eyes.
"Uh?"
He made a dumb noise, froze, and stared blankly.
========== Author's Note ==========
Death flag for Guard #2.