Chapter 344
Chapter 344
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 344
Chapter Title: Side Story 28. Blue Spring to You (10)
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The fact that Gargaren was behind the terrorism was kept as a top-secret matter.
The incident had been resolved smoothly, and there was no need to stir up unnecessary anxiety.
Lanse and Sechika believed the explosion had been the work of terrorists, so only Naviroje and the Mother of Fire knew the truth.
Baren's eyes nearly bulged out when Naviroje explained the situation to him.
"Wh-what do you mean? A bomb terror attack nearly happened at the Flame Palace?!"
"Yes. Lanse and Sechika did a great job. For now, Professor, just keep it between us until the field trip ends. Then we can commend them properly."
"Aaaah... To think something like this would happen while Ronan isn't even here."
Baren clutched the back of his neck.
The dizzying sense of déjà vu was similar to what he'd felt as advisor to the elite adventure club.
Lanse's group returned at dawn the next day.
After chatting with Navardoje all night, they slipped into the crowd of students during morning roll call.
"Lanse, where were you holed up last night? I thought you were sleeping, so I went to put toothpaste on you, but you were gone."
"Why would you put that on me, you idiot? I told you I was going to meet a friend of my dad's for a bit."
"Oh, right. Anyway, what a depressing morning. The Flame Pouch... no, I really wanted to see Lady Navardoje..."
Willump sighed deeply, as if the ground might cave in.
Fortunately, no one had noticed the three sneaking out.
Lanse and Sechika had cleaned up thoroughly afterward, and no sound had leaked from the Flame Palace.
"So, Sechika. Did you kiss Lanse yesterday?"
"K-kiss? I didn't go to meet him or anything."
"Don't lie, you rascal. You were trying to get ahead before that transfer student Narro or whatever swoops in. So, how was your first kiss? Did you use tongue?"
"Aaaah! No!"
Sechika's hair flared up like flames.
She had to work hard to fend off her interrogating friends.
It was a sight that naturally brought a smile to one's face.
Naviroje, watching the two fluster, muttered softly to herself.
"Five days."
That was how long she could maintain her life as the girl Naro.
She should have reverted to her twenties appearance by now, but she'd asked Navardoje to let her stay like this until the field trip ended.
There was no special reason.
She just wanted her friends to remain friends.
The rest of the trip went smoothly.
"Naro. How's this necklace? It's not really Sechika's style, is it? Since you're a girl too, I wanted some advice..."
"That child would love anything you give her, so don't worry. Even if you pulled some roadside weed, she'd jump for joy."
"N-no way. Don't joke around—give me real advice. Just so you know, it's just a thank-you gift. No special meaning. Don't get the wrong idea!"
"Sigh... You don't have to take after your father in this way too."
Naviroje sighed.
The stuffiness, like she'd swallowed five sweet potatoes, was something she'd felt from Ronan and Adeshan before.
She was dragged around by her two new friends, fully enjoying the sights of Adren.
【Ah, I know who you are. You're Ronan's and—】
【Mage Asel's descendants, right?】
"Y-yes... But which one is the Dragon Lord?"
【Haha, those kids—】
【asked the same question.】
They toured Adren together.
"Now, this is the spot where Great Mage Asel prevented Adren's fall. The magic circle on the floor belongs to the heinous Nebula Klazie..."
"Naro. This is boring. Wanna go get dessert? I saw a place."
"Shouldn't you listen since it's about your father?"
"Ugh. How many times do you think I've heard this? My siblings love it, so the Adren epic comes up at dinner once a week. My role is doing the giant impression."
"In that case, nothing to be done."
They skipped out sometimes.
Nothing special.
Just an ordinary school trip for teenagers.
Except that it was so fun they lost track of time.
The final day arrived before they knew it.
Navardoje, seeing the students off, spread her wings.
【Farewell. Children of the earth. May you all one day become the dawn that illuminates this star.】
"Whoaaa!"
The students gasped in unison.
Back in her true form, Navardoje was too massive to take in at a glance.
The span of her fully spread wings far surpassed Adren's length.
"Mother of Fire! We will never forget this grace!!"
"You are the true master of this star!"
Willump and Sensen banged their heads on the deck, tears streaming.
Navardoje had molted sooner than expected, allowing them their dream audience.
Though no commemorative photo, her overwhelming physique would be etched forever on the boys' retinas.
"Th-that's her true form... She's huge."
"I didn't know there was a dragon bigger than the Dragon Lord. Well, she has to be that big to be the Flame Pouch..."
"Flame Pouch?"
"Oh, nothing. It's a thing."
Lanse and Sechika clutched each other's sleeves, shivering in awe.
Her human form had been shocking enough, but nothing compared to the original.
"...It's over now."
Only Naviroje remained expressionless.
Leaning on the railing, she watched Adren recede into the distance.
Suddenly, Navardoje's words flashed through her mind.
Regression wasn't to one's prime, but to the era one longed for.
She hadn't understood at first, but now it was starting to make sense.
She turned to Lanse and Sechika with a faint smile.
"I get it now."
She must have missed it without realizing.
Not the battlefield, but the youth that had flashed by.
The blue spring that should never have returned.
Naviroje called to the two.
"Hey."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Thanks to you, it was fun. Hanging out with friends really is enjoyable."
"...Out of nowhere?"
Lanse tilted her head.
They'd hang out again after returning, so she couldn't fathom why say it now.
Sechika scampered over and linked arms with her.
"I had a blast too! Thanks to you, I had an unforgettable experience. Hehe, let's come together next time."
"If there's a chance."
"Of course there will be. You're way stronger than us, Naro. Lanse and I will work hard not to fall behind. Right, Lanse?"
"O-of course. Next time, I won't lose."
Lanse nodded vigorously.
Her resolute expression suggested she'd grown a lot from this incident.
Yes, that's how children grow.
Naviroje looked back and forth between them and chuckled softly.
"...Yeah. Someday again."
The sky was clear.
The airship, riding the wind currents, safely carried the students back to Phileon.
After that day, Lanse and Sechika never saw Naro again.
One month later.
"Ugh, finally done. Why'd you have so much stuff piled up?"
Ronan wiped his brow.
His sweat-soaked sleeveless shirt revealed beast-like, honed muscles underneath.
He'd just finished helping his old master sort luggage.
Naviroje said,
"Quite a bit, huh. Good work."
"No trouble. Felt good to sweat after so long. But seriously, how many years' worth is this?"
Ronan clicked his tongue.
He'd thought so throughout the sorting, but the sheer volume was insane.
Naviroje's formerly messy home was now museum-pristine.
Gifts from students were displayed in custom cases.
"Who knows. Collected since I joined the Order... Easily over twenty years."
"No wonder it's endless. Explains all the weird stuff... Oh yeah, I saw some underwear earlier. Who was the pervert that gave you that?"
"...Beats me."
Naviroje shook her head.
Her reaction suggested keeping Adeshan's gift a secret.
Especially since it fit but she couldn't wear it, so she stored it.
"You two worked hard. Here's some water."
"Ah, thanks."
Adeshan brought cold water then.
Like Ronan, in a sleeveless top, she'd just finished major cleaning.
A rare sight considering her status.
The Grand General cleaning.
Naviroje downed the water and asked,
"Right. I get Ronan, but are you sure you're okay? You have national duties."
"It's summer break, no issue. Wanted to see you too, Instructor."
"Hot. Get off."
Adeshan hugged Naviroje like a doll.
The height difference let her fit perfectly.
Looking down suddenly, Adeshan tilted her head.
"But Instructor, you look prettier somehow."
"I'm always pretty."
"True, but your skin's more elastic? Hmm... Definitely changed, but hard to pin down. And your hair suits you perfectly."
"Is that so. Your eye's reliable."
Naviroje chuckled.
She'd kept the bob cut from Adren.
Cut to hide her identity from Lanse and Sechika, but it felt cool and nice.
Adeshan clapped.
"Oh. Any updates on your niece?"
"Niece?"
"Yeah. Naro? Lanse was complaining she hasn't shown up since they befriended her in Adren."
"Ah, that kid... Sorry, she won't be around for a while."
Naviroje shook her head.
With the spell lifted, she couldn't revert to girlhood.
"Ah... Can't be helped. Just tell her they miss her."
"Will do."
Lanse and Sechika had visited multiple times, but same answer each time.
It had been a midsummer night's dream, after all.
Suddenly, Ronan, browsing the living room, froze.
He pointed to the latest frame next to his and Schlieffen's photo.
"Oh, this from the last field trip? Think Lanse has one in his room too."
"Yeah. Taken right after stopping the terror."
"Photo with Navardoje? Lucky kid. As expected."
Ronan whistled.
Last time seeing the Mother of Fire, even in photo, was ages ago.
The shot showed the kid trio including Naro with Navardoje in a family-like pose.
Despite time passed, her imposing presence matched his student days' memory.
No joke, her head seemed bigger than his.
"Lanse must've loved it. But this Naro... really not your daughter? She looks too much like you."
"Why make a fine maiden into a mom."
"No... But seriously..."
Ronan stuck out his tongue.
The girl in the photo resembled Naviroje's childhood so much it was eerie.
Because it was her, naturally.
After admiring the photo, Ronan snapped his fingers.
"Ah, but one difference from you, sis."
"What's that?"
"Her smile's gorgeous. Just looking cheers you up."
Ronan tapped the frame.
Naro made a V-sign between Lanse and Sechika.
Pose a bit awkward, but expression spot-on.
"Pretty smile?"
"Yeah. You should smile like that more."
Naviroje silently gazed at her framed self.
Ronan was right.
A smile so radiant it surprised her she could make it.
Unconsciously, her lips twitched.
Adeshan's eyes widened beside her.
"Instructor, did you just copy it?"
"Urk."
Naviroje hurriedly covered her mouth.
Adeshan looked at her with utter adoration.
Naviroje brushed her flushed face and turned away.
"Quiet. If done, go home."
"Aw, don't be cold. Let's eat. Rare for us three."
"Yeah, Instructor. My treat."
"Don't make me laugh, you fluffballs. I earn plenty."
"Ooh, sis treating?"
"Obviously. Pick expensive. Got a good haul recently."
Naviroje said confidently.
Dragon Lord Azidahaka allowed five chests of gold from his treasury for saving Adren.
She accepted; few in Phileon were richer.
"Expensive... Nothing jumping out. How about Phileon cafeteria? Haven't had it forever."
"Wanna die? I eat there daily."
"Oh, right. Then..."
"Come on, let's decide outside?"
The three bickered over menus as they headed out.
A brilliantly blue sky stretched over the capital.
Massive cumulus like battleships; weather warm but late-spring-like, not hot summer.
Looking back, those two kids gave her much.
Naviroje murmured skyward,
"Youth."
"Pardon? What'd you say?"
Adeshan asked, but Naviroje didn't answer.
Instead, she let her unconscious smile bloom fully.
Her bright grin evoked sunflowers in summer.
Ronan raised a brow.
"Still looks like it... Not really your daughter?"
"Shut it. Let's go."
Naviroje strode ahead.
Cicadas at their peak sang, as if blessing her belated blue spring.