Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Blazing Flames (1)
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A secret room where not a single ray of sunlight penetrated.
Harab ran his hand along the long iron pole he held, relying on the faint light of a small lantern.
The Francia flag, made at Genesis's request.
That very same one had been fluttering atop the Arsen Spire that morning.
Harab recalled the words Genesis had given him along with it.
-It'll be used again soon.
Words that stung at his heart.
From the moment he'd asked for such an enormous flag, Harab had roughly guessed how it would be used, but he'd tried hard to deny it.
No matter how much he thought about it, it didn't make sense.
Yet Genesis had gone and hung it on the actual Governor-General's office.
'Even if I die, no regrets...'
No. He had to live.
He had to live and see it again.
Harab rewound that moment, which still felt like a dream.
People climbing onto streets and rooftops.
The sight of them all placing hands over their hearts, gazing at the Francia flag—it was the grandest spectacle he'd witnessed in his entire life.
He probably wouldn't forget it for the rest of his days.
Even though it was the same ritual they performed once a week without fail, everything looked different the instant the flag before them changed.
'No, it really was different.'
The teary-eyed faces staring at one spot were still vivid in his mind.
Every single one filled with感動.
His own face must have been no different.
In that moment, everyone's hearts were united.
They all felt the same emotion.
Countless people, bound by one mind and one will.
The thrill from that sense of unity...
If someone had ordered a charge against the imperial forces right then, he would have grabbed even a stone from the ground and rushed in.
He wouldn't have felt the pain in his knees as he ran.
It was that overwhelming a moment.
'To accomplish something so monumental all by himself...'
Harab naturally thought of Genesis.
A young man still blue in years.
Who could have imagined that the always impassive man would ignite such a massive blaze in people's hearts.
It was truly a feeling beyond words.
He'd fully grasped just how immense the power of a Sword Master was.
'Hmm.'
And because Genesis's abilities were so extraordinary, there came a natural worry in its wake.
He was a man who could pierce the Governor-General's office alone and hang the Francia flag atop it.
A man who casually accomplished what no one had managed in the past ten years.
When Francia finally achieved independence, could this country not become his?
Could it truly embrace such a sharp sword?
A blue-haired youth floated into his mind.
Always relaxed in demeanor, with a constant smile on his face.
Having watched Lucian since childhood, Harab knew well just how exceptional that child was.
The boy who never lost his composure in any incident, calmly pointing the way forward.
The boy who insighted the essence of the world faster than anyone.
Among all the people Harab had seen, Lucian was the one with the greatest vessel.
Capable of embracing anything.
Was it that Lucian had read his unfounded worries?
In his imagination, the youth smiled leisurely and nodded.
As if there was no need for concern.
Harab's lips curved up long at the sight of that smile.
'Right. If it's that Lucian.'
If it was the one he knew.
No, precisely because it was him, he could embrace even such a sharp sword.
For he was, in Harab's knowledge, the one most suited to the throne.
Moreover, by his side was the 'Star of the North.'
She couldn't possibly be unaware of the danger Genesis posed.
With his thoughts sorted, one side of his heart lightened.
Only then could he fully savor that感動 once more.
He stroked the long iron pole bearing the flag like a cherished toy.
"I have to see it hung again, even if it's the last thing I do before I die."
* * *
When I returned to my room after handing the flag to Harab, Allen and Iriel were already inside, ahead of me.
What the hell.
"Genesis!"
Allen came rushing over with teary eyes, making a huge fuss as always.
Looking ready to hug me if I let him, I smacked him on the head.
Thwack!
"Argh!"
He crumpled to the floor right there, clutching his head and letting out a short groan.
But this guy.
Has he finally lost it?
No, that couldn't be.
My knuckle sandwich mixed in the Interrogation Blood Point technique, so it should clear the mind more with each hit.
Maybe I didn't hit him hard enough?
Why's he grinning after getting smacked?
"I was truly so moved today."
He looked at me the way he'd look at Daisy and continued.
"Today's experience will be drinking fodder until I go to my grave."
"You trying to go to your grave today with those eyes?"
"What's wrong with my eyes?"
"You're looking at me like Daisy."
"Oh, really?"
He hurriedly relaxed his eyes.
"How about now?"
"Not bad."
"Anyway, what the heck happened?"
"I'll explain slowly."
"For real? Promise. Promise!"
Light returned to his eyes.
I gave him a cold stare.
"Planning to head to the grave before even hearing the story?"
Startled, Allen swept a hand over his face and switched to an impassive expression.
I nodded in satisfaction.
Of course, I knew exactly why he was making such a fuss.
And seeing him like that, I knew the message I'd wanted to convey to the people had gotten through.
Everyone must have felt the same.
I'd said it once before.
Francia was festering.
Solving each person's story one by one would never end.
So it had to be cut out whole.
I hoped this incident had at least carved out some of their festering wounds.
And I believed it had.
However.
"Why's she glaring like that?"
Allen turned at my glance and flinched at Iriel's fierce eyes.
He scratched his head and continued.
"...Maybe 'cause she's so happy?"
"That?"
Allen couldn't answer easily.
He had no idea why Iriel was like that either, and anyone could see her face wasn't one of joy.
Red flames flickered in her eyes.
"Who's happy about who!"
Allen's head tilted.
Mine too.
What out-of-left-field nonsense is this.
She must have misunderstood in her anger.
Iriel puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish.
"Why didn't you tell me!"
"Tell you what?"
"That you'd hang the flag. That you might not come back until dawn!"
Iriel wrinkled her nose like a wolf.
Not scary, but pretty fierce.
Anyway.
"Didn't I say?"
Thinking back, I'd only asked Harab to make the flag; I hadn't told them about it separately.
Riding the momentum, Iriel pressed on.
"Yes! You didn't! Don't you think about the people waiting? Do you know how worried I was when you were later than expected!"
So that's why she was so pissed.
Jeez.
"I've told you over and over: no need to worry about me. Did I go there to die?"
"Still, I worry! I know how strong you are, and I know you're overflowing with confidence because of it! But I still worry! Got it?"
I stared at her steadily.
She seemed genuinely angry.
Her temper was foul, but even in my past life, I hadn't seen her this sincere often.
Well, with their level, they couldn't grasp how transcendent my realm was.
That's why the world's greatest, invincible me always got them fussing and worrying.
"Of course! It's just worry as comrades. We've been traveling together, you've even said you'd make my brother king, so yeah, that's why I worry. So don't get any weird ideas!"
Iriel spat out excuses unasked, like a thief's foot going numb.
Felt like she'd been veering off strangely since earlier.
"Weird ideas about what?"
Has her head gone funny too?
"Th-that's none of your business. Anyway! We were worried sick from dawn! For hours! Look at Brother Allen's thumbnail. It's all worn down, see?"
"Right! We were super worried!"
Allen jumped in, his emotions reignited, adding his bit. Emboldened, Iriel crossed her arms and lifted her chin.
"See? So from now on, when you go somewhere, tell us when you'll be back, what the plan is, even roughly. Don't make people worry."
"Got it."
I nodded readily.
It wasn't hard.
"..."
Iriel deflated like a punctured balloon, losing her steam at my easy agreement.
"...For real?"
"Yeah."
"Feels kinda anticlimactic since you accepted so readily."
"Yeah."
Allen nodded blankly beside her.
Guess they lost their drive since I agreed too easily.
Even when I say I will, they go off rails like this.
I swept them with a dissatisfied look.
"Fine, want me to swear on it? If you're done, both of you get out. Capital schedule's over, so prep to move out. We're leaving tomorrow."
I shooed out the two standing dumbly like flies.
"Oh, right. Did you cut off Halent's head?"
Allen poked just his head back in to ask.
Iriel's head popped up below his.
"Yeah, what happened?"
"Cut it off without cutting it off. I'll explain details later."
"Oh, okay."
They nodded and vanished.
Finally, some quiet in the room.
Time for me to rest.
I'd used some strength after a while, so I needed recovery time.
Especially since we were moving out tomorrow; I needed my condition at peak.
Next destination: Porsen Port.
Nederman was already there ahead.
He must've scouted something.
From the info gotten from the fake Halent, everything tangled in the Small Sea.
Things would probably resolve there somehow.
* * *
"...Hoo."
Back in her room, Iriel let out a small sigh, careful not to let it reach the next room.
Knowing Genesis's ears were sharper than a ghost's, she couldn't even sigh freely.
She trudged to the bed, flopped down, and buried her face.
Her words from moments ago echoed in her ears.
What the hell was wrong with her lately.
Had her head really gotten injured?
Felt half out of her mind.
"Sigh."
Just thinking about it brought a deep sigh.
A reason she could no longer deny.
Waiting through the night for Genesis had let her confirm her feelings.
She had no idea why this had happened.
But no matter how she thought, the answer was one.
Watching her pathetic, awkward self around Genesis, she couldn't deny it anymore.
'...I like that guy.'
Quite a lot.