Legend of the Southern
Legend of the Southern
Contrary to what I had expected—that my back would be set on fire—Asilie simply held me tightly without a word, and that was the end of our long-awaited reunion.
Instead, Laika, who had bolted out belatedly, reacted with such ferocity that I had a bit of a hard time. Hearing the story, it seemed Laika had spent a month in a near power-saving mode. It was astonishing that was even possible, and equally surprising that Laika could voluntarily make such a judgment while lacking Magic Power. I'd thought Laika's intelligence would inevitably decline along with the vocabulary.
Anyway, after feeding Laika a generous amount of Magic Power, I sorted through the tools used on the journey while catching up on recent news from Asilie, which had been quite eventful.
From the moment the gate closed and Kakula vanished, the orcs had scattered faster than expected, and the chaos itself had been absolute, she said. On the surface, it was a good result, but the problem was that because the bastards had fled so quickly and swiftly, so many had survived that orc subjugation requests were now flooding in from every direction.
"So it turned out that the majority of adventurers who had volunteered or accepted requests for the orc subjugation at the time were struggling until recently and only just managed to return."
Since I was away, and they couldn't make such requests or demands of Asilie, who was very much my housemate, she had returned without any major trouble, but others hadn't been so fortunate, she said. Of course, they weren't exploited for free and were paid their due wages, so considering it was winter, they must have earned a considerable sum, but grumbling had arisen because they had no other choice.
"I heard Ms. Yekaterina came back yesterday, I think."
"Did you get in touch?"
"Yeah. We ended up moving together with Ragnis back then, and we hit it off pretty well."
Well... Yekaterina was a civilization warrior, after all.
In any case, it had only stabilized faster than other regions because it was the capital. Asilie explained that the shit-show I had witnessed on my way back wasn't confined to the East, but was a widespread scene across all of Itisel. Hearing that, it truly hit home just how many orcs had crossed over.
Pushing aside the uneasy premonition that spending this winter peacefully was already a lost cause, I settled Laika on my lap and began to talk about the things I had experienced. Honestly, I could have spent the whole day just talking about the orc-reeking incidents in the Great Grassland, but what could be considered the core of it all was ultimately the trophy I had obtained by killing Kakula.
"So that thing is Kakula's Axe?"
"Yep. It's a pretty good weapon, so I grabbed it while I was at it."
The events at Kelbast, the meeting with Cellevian, the raid on Count Mekelin's territory—I had a surplus of stories to tell. Though most of the tales nearly made Asilie grab the back of her neck, I firmly emphasized that they were never rash or foolish acts, so I barely managed to keep her calm.
"But as for my father-in-law and mother-in-law, there was nothing I could do, so I ran away."
In truth, that wasn't even enough, so I mixed in a bit of a cheat key. Hearing my words, Asilie's face flushed red to her ears. She shut her eyes tight and agonized for a long moment before vaguely saying she'd talk it over with them herself and handle it well, letting the timing for her anger pass right by.
"...Phew, so what are you going to do now? Things are likely to get busy for a while."
"First, I'll rest a bit today... and I need to get in touch with some people."
The royal family would already know I'd returned, so there was no need to bother with them, but it wasn't the same for others. I had just thought I was doing my work and living diligently, but having been caught up in a bizarre accident and returning after a month, the number of people I had to contact and check in on was so many that even I found it bizarre.
"First, I'll go see my teacher and meet Seneran while I'm at it. I need to see Sheryl and Ragnis. I should also check on Yekaterina since she's back, and I heard that Zikmel bastard took some care of things, so I guess I should see him too..."
Checking the list, I felt a fresh wave of dizziness. Right after escaping the gate, I had considered just starting today, but this was the kind of situation where if I didn't rest even today, I'd be perpetually exhausted, so I cleanly decided to give up and chatted lightly with Asilie.
The discomforts of traveling alone, the things that were more manageable than I'd thought—everything I had considered something to be handled mechanically because it was right in front of me at the time now transformed into memories that were truly bothersome, pleasant, or utterly disagreeable as I looked back on them from home, naturally carrying emotion. It was laughable to think I had briefly worried whether my emotions were becoming dulled while watching the slaves working in Irmiz.
Thanks to that, I felt like I'd undergone an unintentional emotional assessment, but it was rather good. As I chattered on for about two hours while drinking the tea and eating the refreshments Asilie had prepared, the living room door opened and Yen Tie, whom I hadn't seen in a very long time, showed her face.
"Have you returned, Eldmia?"
She was utterly composed, as if she'd known I would be there, her hands full of ingredients.
There seemed no need to ask how she knew. Asilie's eyes sparkled at the ingredients she had brought, and she immediately began a serious discussion with Tie about tonight's dinner. Chuckling wryly, I left the two of them behind, their minds already set on laying out a feast, and went up to the second floor, laying my body down on the bed I had missed.
"Ahh, the familiar ceiling."
Indeed, leaving home means hardship, and where the heart finds the most peace is home.
Strangely enough, although I'd clearly slept soundly until morning, I found myself growing drowsy. Without even a chance to remove Laika, who burrowed into my arms as if it were only natural now, I fell into sleep.
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When I opened my eyes again, it was surprisingly evening.
I had clearly thought I'd only nap briefly, but when I came to my senses and looked outside, the sun had already set and the streetlights were lit in various places on the street. It seemed I hadn't moved a muscle; even Laika, held in my arms, was in the exact same pose as my last memory.
"Whoa, shit, my arm's about to fall off."
No matter how strong you become or how much muscle you gain, you're still in a human body, so my arm, which had been pressed down for hours, had no sensation. As I shifted slightly, the blood rushing back into the vessels that had finally found relief caused a grand freak-out. Amidst the tingling chaos, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and Asilie opened the door and entered.
"You're finally awake?"
"Finally?"
"You wouldn't wake up even when I shook you to feed you lunch. Are you sure you really rested well while moving?"
Huh. Judging by the fact I had no memory of it whatsoever, I must have been in a very deep sleep. Perhaps reading my emotions from my stupid expression, Asilie just let out a small laugh and gestured.
"You must be hungry. Come down quickly. The others are waiting."
"Others?"
Why did I feel like I was only asking stupid questions right after waking up? I got up from the bed and followed Asilie, only then realizing that the first floor was quite lively.
"...What in the world is this?"
Coming down to the first floor and looking at the bustling dining room, people I had no idea when they'd arrived paused their conversations and turned their heads toward me. Not only my teacher and Seneran, Yekaterina and Rellie, Ragnis and Sheryl, but even that Zikmel bastard was sitting, occupying a seat, and looking at me very cautiously.
Before I could properly process the sight of people sitting in a combination I could never have imagined under normal circumstances, Yekaterina raised the beer mug in her hand and spoke.
"The Orc Slaughterer and hero of the Kingdom has returned in good health, so how could we not have a celebration party? Mr. Gin couldn't make it because he had work, though."
Seeing her so perfectly confident and natural, not only in front of my teacher, who had once been a Court Mage, and Seneran, called the Golden Mage, but also Ragnis, a Margrave, and Sheryl, the young lady of the Ogatorf family, was truly delightful. Rellie, beside her, looked utterly at a loss, which was also very amusing.
"...I have a lot to say, but. Since you came back unharmed for now, let's talk later."
Ragnis, who had been smiling politely while talking to my teacher just moments ago, now wore a sulky expression and issued a warning, or something like it. I glanced at Asilie, but she shook her head as if she had absolutely no intention of defending me.
"Of course you had to return safely. Otherwise, it's a breach of contract."
"I'm relieved that the content I'd organized for a month of your education didn't become useless."
Beside Seneran, whose dark circles had become excessively deep, my unchanging teacher added a word with a faint smile. Then Sheryl, sitting beside her, wrinkled her nose once and tapped the empty seat next to her, saying,
"Come quick. I'm hungry."
Well, this was a sight that brought nothing but laughter. To think there were so many people here to celebrate my return.
I was at a loss for words and just clicking my tongue when Asilie explained from beside me.
"As soon as they heard Eldi had appeared at the gate, they all came looking, even without being called. It wouldn't have been polite to just send them back, so Tie and I put in some effort."
I nodded and sat in the empty seat next to Sheryl as Asilie and Tie busily began carrying out the food. I was staring blankly at that when the Zikmel bastard, the most isolated one among them, met my eyes, smiled sheepishly, and opened his mouth.
"Well, I'm relieved you returned safely, Eldmia."
Honestly, even I laughed. Who would have thought that a guy I'd broken the leg of in Ogwen and left to live or die, whom I couldn't have cared less about, would end up looking after my family in my absence and even be invited to a meal like this?
"I heard about it. Thanks."
Since I'd already heard the gist of it from Asilie, there was nothing I could do for now but express my gratitude.
After a massive amount of food, enough to rival a birthday party, was piled onto the table and the situation settled somewhat, Yekaterina, who was cheerfully leading the atmosphere, handed me a full beer mug and asked,
"So what's your impression of the Western Kingdoms you flew off to right after making a legend in the South? Still a total mess, I bet?"
"...Your statue was impressive, Yekaterina."
"...Statue?"
When I told the Siege Ram Yekaterina legend to her, as she wore a look of utter incomprehension, the large-framed Yekaterina began to react as if she wanted to hide in a mouse hole.
Since it wasn't a private conversation, the immense interest of the others who heard us poured out, her broad shoulders hunched more rarely than ever, and Rellie finally burst out laughing.
There was no need for any particular toast. Perhaps because they had shared quite a few conversations while I was asleep, in an atmosphere where no awkwardness could be found, we were able to continue our pleasant dinner.
It was an impromptu meal, completely unplanned, but it was an immensely enjoyable one.