Ending Maker Chapter 4
Ending Maker Chapter 4
Chapter 1 - Pleiades #4
The next morning.
Yuder woke with a groan and thought:
'I really am frail.'
He had received healing from Cordelia, but the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage was still the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage.
After sleeping and waking, his body felt heavier than usual and his head was dizzy.
'I really need to hurry.'
He couldn't wait half a year—he couldn't even wait a month. He had to treat the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage as soon as possible, even a day sooner.
'There's no time.'
There were still a few years left until the Great Summoning Ritual, but the Great Summoning Ritual wasn't the only problem.
The various fortuitous encounters and items placed throughout Hero Legend 2.
They were literally lying abandoned. In other words, there was every possibility that someone other than Yuder or Cordelia could get their hands on them.
Even in Hero Legend 2, if you missed a specific deadline, it was common for some completely unexpected character to obtain a fortuitous encounter or item. In this world where everything had become reality, that would be even more likely.
With his current body, where just taking a short night walk in the garden ruined his condition, the things he could do were far too limited.
He had to be reborn into a healthy body as quickly as possible and begin the optimized route.
'Alright, first let's submit a date reque—no, a quest request.'
With Cordelia having accepted his proposal, Yuder managed to preserve his peace of mind, got out of bed, and began his morning routine.
Waking, washing, eating.
Normally, greeting his parents would have been included, but right now both his father and mother were away from the mansion.
'Thanks to that, submitting the quest request is easier too.'
Since this was a full-fledged da—no, outing that even involved riding a carriage, normally just getting permission would have been difficult because of Yuder's weak body.
'Of course, it probably won't be easy now either.'
After finishing his meal and returning to his room, Yuder glanced to the side. Perhaps because of the strange conversation he'd had with Cordelia yesterday, Maia's gaze was different from usual.
It was a look mixed with worry, concern, and suspicion that the young master might have truly lost his mind.
'And in the middle of all this, I have to say I want to propose a carriage date to Cordelia.'
Come to think of it, how exactly was he supposed to make the request?
It wasn't like reality where you set a meeting place through a messenger, chat a bit, and then just meet up on the day.
'No, maybe it's similar.'
According to Yuder's memories, you wrote a letter requesting a meeting and sent it to the Count Chase Household, and if the Count Chase Household and Cordelia approved it, you set a date and met.
'It'll take about two days.'
But it couldn't be helped. Even though they were engaged, they were both still minors, and one of them had a weak body.
"Um, Maia."
"Yes, young master."
"So... I mean, I..."
"Yes, young master."
"So... Yellow... no, I want to submit a quest reque—no, propose a da...te to Lady Cordelia? You know... um, go out for a carriage ride somewhere nearby with nice mountains and water... and, uh, yesterday! Right, she came to visit me yesterday since I was sick, but we didn't get to talk properly."
Why did he have to say he wanted to go on a carriage date with Yellow Storm, of all people, in this way?
Yuder wanted to fall into deep anguish right then, but what mattered now wasn't his inner torment—it was Maia's help.
No matter how much both his parents were away, Yuder couldn't do everything as he pleased.
Without the help of Maia, who was highly respected and recognized within the household and was practically like an older sister to Yuder, leaving the mansion was impossible.
So Yuder looked at Maia's lips with nervous eyes.
He'd already spouted a ton of "nonsense" over the past few days—what if she told him to rest and recover at home?
'Please, please Maia!'
Don't make me say with my own mouth again that I want to date Yellow Storm!
Perhaps Yuder's earnest feelings got through.
Instead of a cold expression, Maia smiled softly and nodded.
"Understood. Let's make the preparations."
Then she smiled again, and... how should he put it?
He could practically hear her thoughts: So that's how it was. You actually wanted to get closer to Cordelia. You were just embarrassed yesterday. I thought our young master was all grown up, but he's still a child. No, is this what being grown up means? Hehehe—something like that.
'Sob sob, no it's not? It's not what you're thinking right now?'
But Yuder was in no position to openly deny it.
"Then let's hurry and write the invitation to Lady Cordelia. For the first line, how about 'My beloved Lady Cordelia'?"
Maia Tantalot.
Yuder Bayel's personal maid.
Because of her usual cold expression, she was nicknamed the Ice Princess, but in reality she was a meddlesome young lady who doted on him excessively.
"R-right...."
Yuder agreed with a long sigh and picked up his pen, then began writing the love letter to deliver to Cordelia.
* * *
And two days later.
A two-horse carriage that had departed from the Count Chase Household and passed through the Count Bayel Household ran briskly along the highway connected to the Belcain Mountains.
There were four people riding inside the carriage.
Two were Yuder Bayel, the second son of the Count Bayel Household, and his personal maid Maia Tantalot. The other two were Cordelia Chase, the second daughter of the Count Chase Household, and her escort knight Dahlia Eil.
The people from the two households took seats facing each other.
In other words, Cordelia was sitting across from Yuder.
'You hate it? I hate it too.'
Because Cordelia had also had to reply to the love letter Yuder had sent.
Since they were at the stage of going out on carriage rides together, Cordelia's letter was also a love letter.
'Yeah, I know how you feel.'
Because he'd felt exactly the same way when writing his letter.
But instead of sighing, Yuder let the corners of his mouth curl upward at the sight of Cordelia sitting in front of him.
'She's in full gear.'
Since she was going flower-viewing with her fiancé.
She wore a wide-brimmed hat to block the sunlight, and a white dress that made Cordelia's near-pink red hair stand out—a heavy dress with a long skirt and lace hanging all over.
It wasn't as though the dress didn't suit her.
Because Cordelia was a peerless beauty that anyone would have to acknowledge.
Honestly, if he set aside the fact that she was Yellow Storm and looked only at her appearance, she was pretty and cute enough to draw applause just by showing up.
'Yeah, if only she weren't Yellow Storm.'
Thinking that the lovely girl before his eyes was Yellow Storm, who insisted that "fuck" was an interjection, he kept letting out little snickers.
'Well, I'm in the same situation.'
Yuder had also come out dressed up with every possible adornment. Moreover, Yuder was also a peerless pretty boy. Perhaps because of that, Cordelia's cheeks were flushed red as she looked at him.
'As expected of Yellow Storm. So true to her instincts. She's just a beast, a beast.'
'No I'm not? It's not like that? You're the one whose eyes have gone completely red?'
They had only exchanged a single glance, but it felt like they could hear each other's inner voices.
And Maia and Dahlia each watched the two of them with pleased faces.
'They're such a well-matched pair.'
'Both of them are so adorable.'
Maia and Dahlia mistook the growling and sneering for shy exchanges of glances, and their already pleased smiles deepened even further.
Like that, about half a day passed.
The carriage finally arrived at its destination, midway up the Belcain Mountains.
* * *
"M-my, the weather is so nice, isn't it?"
"It really is. The flowers are so pretty. O-of course, not as much as you, Lady Cordelia."
"O-oh my. Stop it. If you tease me like that...."
They exchanged stiff lines as though they were reading from a script.
After finally putting some distance between themselves and the fondly watching Maia and Dahlia, the two of them let out long sighs at some point.
"F**k, I really can't do this."
"I don't care if you say 'f**k,' but smile when you say it. They can see your expression."
"Oh my, f**k. Seriously, f**k. I can't do this, f**k."
Yuder felt wretched watching the beautiful girl curse over and over—and at the same time, ashamed that his heart had fluttered, if only a little, at how she had looked before the cursing started. Dizzy with self-loathing, he opened his mouth.
"Anyway, we made it here."
"So what now? It's still pretty far from here to the seal site."
"I have a plan. More importantly, did you bring all the supplies?"
"Hmph, of course. Who do you think I am?"
"Yellow Storm, #2 on the server."
"Yeah, I'm the server... You wanna die? No, should I just go home?"
"Oh, come on, our #2. Don't get angry, and keep smiling—they're watching from behind. Come on, smile?"
Instead of a smile, Cordelia raised her middle finger and glared at Yuder with a smile, and Yuder cleared his throat before speaking.
"Anyway, so you brought them."
"Hmph, I went through hell hiding them under my skirt."
She said this while lightly shaking the hem of her skirt.
"Good. As expected of Yellow Storm. I believed in you. That's our Yellow Storm."
"I have no intention of being your Yellow Storm, so just tell me the plan. How are you planning to get from here to the seal site?"
If they had come alone, it would have been one thing, but Maia and Dahlia were watching them like hawks.
Yuder subtly shifted until his back was completely to Maia and Dahlia, then spoke in a whisper.
"It's simple. See that cliff over there?"
"I see it. The edge of the flower field."
"We go near it, and then you grab me and jump right off."
It sounded close to insane, but Cordelia accepted it. If Outboxer009, with all his knowledge of the map, was saying this, he had to have a plan.
"Is there a secret passage under the cliff?"
"Not exactly a secret passage, but if you go down about ten meters, there's a path under the cliff. We'll use that path to get to the seal site."
Yuder had been checking various terrain features on the way here.
And he had confirmed one fact.
Although there were very slight differences, the overall terrain of this world matched Hero Legend 2.
Of course, that was confidence only a rotten fossil like Yuder could have.
"Won't Maia and Dahlia chase after us?"
"It's ten meters, so they won't be able to come down recklessly. And I have a solution for that too."
"What is it?"
Instead of answering immediately, Yuder paused. He waited until Cordelia, growing frustrated, was about to let loose her usual favorite expletive before he finally spoke.
"First, make me one promise."
"What promise?"
"Promise you won't throw a fit after hearing what I say. And don't hit me."
"......Go ahead and say it."
"You promised?"
"Yeah, so what the hell is it?"
"So...."
Yuder began to speak in a low voice.
And a moment later.
At the edge of the flower field.
Yuder glanced back and signaled to Cordelia.
'Right now!'
As they had planned, Cordelia suddenly grabbed Yuder's hand. The bold move made Maia and Dahlia gasp in surprise, but there was still something even more shocking to come.
"Jump!"
Yuder and Cordelia ran toward the edge of the cliff and leaped before anyone could stop them.
"Young master?!"
"My lady?!"
What were two people who were already engaged doing? It wasn't as though they were tragic lovers leaping to their deaths so they could be together in the next life.
Anyway, the startled Maia and Dahlia reached the cliff edge in the blink of an eye, then let out sighs of relief at almost the same time.
They had seen Cordelia land safely with Yuder in her arms using Fly magic.
"Young master!"
"My lady!"
Maia and Dahlia called out and anxiously looked around for a way down.
'As expected!'
Dahlia didn't know how to use Fly magic.
Yuder hurriedly urged Cordelia on, and Cordelia shouted with her face beet red.
"I-I want to have some private time with Lord Yuder! We'll be back before dinner, so wait for us! Don't worry!"
"My lady!"
Dahlia cried out in alarm, and Yuder urged Cordelia once more.
"Hurry! Hurry, next line!"
"W-we won't do anything weird! So don't worry! L-Lord Yuder is a gentleman!"
That was enough.
After all, the only people here were Maia and Dahlia. The coachman of the Count Chase Household was napping far away, so as long as Maia and Dahlia kept their mouths shut, there wouldn't be any gossip.
Anyway, they had put some distance between themselves and Maia and Dahlia, and they had also finished making their excuse to buy time. Now all that remained was to hurry to the sealing site.
"Let's go! Hurry!"
Cordelia reacted quickly to Yuder's urging. She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.
A few minutes passed like that.
Once they had moved to a place where Maia and Dahlia were completely out of sight, Cordelia exploded in anger.
"Ah, seriously! Why do I have to do it! No, I'm the one holding you when we jump off the cliff, I'm the one making excuses—at this rate it looks like I'm the one pouncing on you!"
Her expression made it clear she found the idea horrifying.
For Cordelia's sake, Yuder explained in the calmest tone possible.
"Like I already said, I have the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage. How could I hold you with these skinny arms? And how could I pounce on you? It would only make sense if you pounced on me. What's wrong with you, I'm a man with the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage."
"That damn Nine Yin Meridian Blockage! Nine Yin Meridian Blockage! Nine Yin Meridian Blockage! Just wait until it's cured!"
"Sure, once it's cured I'll hold you, and pounce on you too."
"No thanks? What the hell is this crazy bastard talking about?"
"Sure, sure. Anyway, you feel better now, right? Then let's hurry. We don't have much time."
The probability that Maia and Dahlia would truly sit back and wait converged infinitely toward zero. They had to finish the job before the two of them came looking.
"Haa, seriously. Just wait until the Nine Yin Meridian Blockage is cured."
"Sure, once it's cured you can roast me or boil me however you like, but first let's go to the seal site."
"Lead the way."
"Follow me."
Yuder swept his gaze over the surrounding terrain, then strode forward.