Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Back to Francia (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Allen hid behind the cart and watched the entire scene of Jenes annihilating the bandit horde.
Even so, he could hardly believe it.
The reality unfolding before his eyes felt as distant as the hero tales he'd heard in childhood.
Each time a blue flash erupted from him, it was followed by thunderous explosions, and the bandits were scattered across the plains as chunks of meat.
A flock of arihawks circled above their corpses.
The field was dyed red.
Corpses lay sprawled far and wide, and the flags symbolizing them along with the weapons they clutched protruded like weeds amid the bodies.
At the center stood Jenes alone.
Sunlight streamed down upon his head, sword dangling at his side.
He looked just like a god of war.
To think he'd sweep away hundreds of bandits so effortlessly.
It was the moment it truly sank in that Jenes was a Sword Master.
“…….”
Allen simply stared blankly until Jenes drew near.
Jenes's appearance was so neat it didn't suit the man who had wrought such carnage.
Even the bandits' blood seemed to have parted around him.
“What are you doing? Not getting ready to go?”
* * *
Allen stared at me with a dazed look in his eyes despite my question.
Not the kind of gaze I wanted from a grown man.
I smacked the back of his head.
Crack!
“Gah!”
His eyes cleared instantly with the short scream. Ignoring Allen as he clutched his head, I climbed onto the cart and looked down at him.
“Want another one?”
Allen pouted and rubbed his head as he climbed into the coachman's seat.
The cart began rolling forward.
I lay back, using my hands as a pillow.
The sky was a brilliant blue.
Unlike the hellscape spread across the field below, the sky was peacefully serene as always.
That's why I like the sky.
The drifting clouds made me drowsy. I closed my eyes.
“Jenes-nim.”
Allen spoke up. When I didn't reply, he tried again.
“Are you asleep?”
“Why?”
I answered without opening my eyes.
He glanced at me once before continuing.
“You know, it's random, but it just hit me. Being by your side makes me feel like a character from some grand epic. Like the tale of Great King Ispiril driving monsters into the Black Forest—you know, those epic sagas of heroes preserved in song. They always have at least one side character like me.”
Allen continued in an unusually serious tone, unlike his usual self.
“If that's the case, then this story's end will bring that dreamlike independence for Francia, right? Maybe I'm even gracing the first page of an epic that'll live on in song.”
“Allen.”
I called his name softly.
He turned from the coachman's seat. Misreading my intent, he quickly added,
“The protagonist is obviously you, Jenes-nim.”
Still with my eyes closed, I said,
“I'm going to sleep, so be quiet.”
“…….”
Allen stared at me wordlessly for a moment before turning away and mumbling to himself.
I shut his mouth with a light kick to the cart.
The plains fell silent once more.
I let my lips curve slightly upward as I felt the cool breeze brushing my hair.
The scent of flying grass tickled my nose.
* * *
Iriel awoke from sleep and flung the window wide open.
Warm sunlight poured in alongside a refreshing breeze that grazed her earlobes.
In just a few days, her long hair had been cropped short like a man's.
Feeling the odd emptiness, Iriel stroked the back of her neck once before leaning on the railing to gaze at the small garden.
Vibrant flowers and pruned trees came into clear view at a glance.
Yet Iriel's eyes trembled anxiously despite taking in the peaceful sights.
The story Lucian had told her still lingered in her mind like an afterimage.
# Ten days prior.
Seated at the head of the table, Lucian patted the shoulder of Iriel, who sat beside him.
It was a cautious touch, like stroking a wild beast.
“Sorry. You're the only one suited for it.”
Lucian spoke as warmly as a winter night under a down quilt.
Even so, Iriel shot him a sharp, needle-like glare.
“The Cray branch is finally settled, so now you're sending me to Francia?”
“You wanted to go there too.”
Lucian gave an awkward smile. Iriel intensified her glare.
“Wanna die?”
This time she even raised a small fist and huffed.
Lucian pushed a cookie from the table toward her.
Nothing soothed her temper like freshly baked cookies.
Iriel popped the cookie into her mouth but kept her eyes fixed on Lucian.
It was true she'd said she wanted to return to Francia.
Her homeland, long since left behind.
But the way she'd wanted it wasn't like this at all. And Lucian knew that full well.
“Hear me out to the end, and you'll understand. Like I said, no one else can do it.”
“Even so, how could you hand off your precious little sister to some no-name punk you barely know!”
This was the part that infuriated Iriel the most.
Entrusting a lovely sister like her to some mysterious guy he'd met just recently!
Her brother was absent-minded enough as it was.
Of course, Iriel knew Lucian wouldn't assign something dangerous without reason.
This mission was undoubtedly crucial, and her help was essential.
Still, this was going too far.
Lucian fumbled onward.
“I don't know him that well either, but he's no punk. You know I can judge people.”
“I took one look and thought punk.”
Iriel stuck out her lips.
They'd only exchanged a few words, but nothing about him sat right with her from one to ten.
His name especially grated like a mosquito bite.
Using the same name as the dead Crown Prince without proving his identity.
It had to be an alias.
The intent was unclear, but deeply unpleasant.
“Honestly, I don't want to send you either.”
“Then?”
“Like I said, no one else is suitable, and above all, it'll be safer by his side. He might look like a punk to you, but his skills are the real deal.”
“I know, a Sword Master, right? But is that for real? He looks about our age.”
“No one in Francia can match him.”
“That make sense?”
“I think it's nonsense too.”
Iriel scraped her cheek with her tongue.
If Lucian was that convinced, there was no doubting his strength.
He'd supposedly taken down Urno in one stroke, so he had to be strong...
Even so, she just couldn't accept it.
How could someone that age be so powerful?
Iriel said,
“But if he's really a Sword Master, what happens to us going forward?”
“A lot will change. We've finally gained the power we've longed for.”
Iriel let out a deep sigh, munched on her cookie, pondered long and hard, then spoke in resignation.
“Well, he'd make a good escort.”
Only then did a smile play on Lucian's lips.
Her response was as good as half-approving the journey with Jenes.
Iriel grabbed another cookie and said,
“But seriously, what kind of mission is it that you absolutely need me for?”
They had finally reached the main point.
Lucian steadied his breath and looked at Iriel. Then he pried his lips apart with effort.
Knock knock.
The knocking pulled Iriel from her thoughts. She turned.
“May I come in for a moment?”
It was the voice of Yuri, who attended her.
“Yeah, come in.”
Yuri entered the room and immediately relayed the message she'd brought.
Lucian was looking for her.
* * *
“Jenes-nim! Allen!”
As we stepped down from the carriage, Freddy and Ches were the first to greet us.
Having wrapped up everything at the Cray branch, we'd just arrived at headquarters.
The two grinned broadly, baring their teeth.
“Your faces have gotten plump while I was gone.”
They'd been lounging comfortably at HQ.
Still, affection is a scary thing—they were welcome sights.
Ches smiled and quipped,
“Hey now, plump? We spent nights sleepless with worry for you and Allen.”
“Hard to believe, but it's true.”
Freddy chimed in from the side.
I looked at Allen and said,
“I'll meet Lucian, so go catch up and swap stories.”
I set the three free.
Allen, buzzing with excitement, took the lead and strutted ahead.
He looked itching to spill his tales already.
The guy who'd trembled behind the cart every time bandits appeared, but his mouth would run rampant for sure.
They hugged and headed to the tavern in broad daylight.
They must've been bored stiff, so let them enjoy.
After sending them off, I headed to the strategy room.
I'd received a message to go there upon entering HQ.
As I entered the central courtyard, Lake came out to greet me.
“You're here.”
“Lucian?”
“He'll be along shortly. There's someone I want to introduce you to, Jenes-nim.”
“Yeah?”
I replied indifferently and stepped inside.
“How are the plans?”
“We've prepared everything so you can depart right away.”
Meaning the board was set to take down Halent Barrein.
I looked at Lake with keen interest.
To think it was ready already.
The guy's mind worked faster than I'd imagined.
“We've received the full report on the bandit subjugation. You handled it spectacularly. Thank you for fulfilling the request. We'll discuss the upcoming schedule once Lucian arrives.”
“Do whatever.”
I entered the meeting room and flopped into a chair.
Lake left the seat across from me empty and sat beside it.
No sooner had we settled than footsteps echoed down the corridor. I could easily tell who they belonged to just from the sound.
One set was Lucian's, the other—
Knock knock.
With the knock, the door opened, and Lucian entered.
Following beside him, as expected, was Iriel.
Her hair had been cut short like a man's.
Sensing something off, I glanced at Lake.
He said,
“This is the person who'll be traveling with you from now on.”
In disbelief, I turned to Lucian.
“What's this about?”
“You can tell from the hair color and looks—she's my little sister. We've met once before, right?”
Lucian pointed at Iriel as he spoke.
It was information I already knew, and cared nothing for, so I asked what I wanted.
“Why her specifically?”
“With her right here, you call her 'this guy'?”
Iriel shot me a triangular glare.
She clearly wasn't thrilled about traveling with me either.
Lucian gave an awkward smile as we glared at each other.
As I recalled, Lucian doted on Iriel greatly.
A total sister fool.
Even when she acted wild and caused trouble, he'd always smile at her so gently.
In any case, for a guy like that to entrust his sister to me, someone he'd met so recently, there had to be a reason.
Lake stepped in to clarify.
“To take down Halent Barrein, we need to head to the capital first.”
The governor's office was in the capital, Magnet, so it was only natural.
“Killing Halent is important, of course, but there's also a rumor that needs confirming there. Only Iriel can verify its truth, making your joint travel essential.”
“What rumor?”
At my question, the three faces stiffened momentarily.
A sign of how grave the matter was.
Lake opened his mouth heavily.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is alive.”