Chapter 339: Surprisingly Clumsy (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 339: Surprisingly Clumsy (1)
She had said she liked common things.
"Then, in Viscountess Bern's eyes, is that common or not?"
The question came from someone who detested common things.
Although not everything in the world could be divided into the common and the uncommon, Euria asked out of curiosity. The recipient of the question, Hina, pondered seriously for a long while before replying.
It seems… common.
Of course, Euria thought. No matter how you looked at it, even from the middle of the ocean, the daily rising sun couldn't be anything but common.
Just as she was about to nod in agreement, Hina’s hands moved again.
But still, it’s special.
Euria tilted her head, unfamiliar with the sign. Noticing this, Hina pulled out a notebook, wrote down the word ‘special,’ and showed it to her. Only then did Euria recall the gesture she had learned recently. She clumsily mimicked it and asked, "How can something be both common and special?"
Because it's the first time… the sun has turned the sea… the color of Tunteuni.
Euria could relate to that. It was her first time seeing the sun rise from a ship as well. She had never seen the sun stretch out against the horizon—as if the water’s edge were holding on, unwilling to let go—before it became perfectly round. Just as Hina said, it was indeed her first time witnessing the rising sun dye the blue ocean in a mysterious light, a blend of silver and gold.
"But we see it every day."
That didn’t make the sun special, did it? That was the thought behind her words.
Then, to you, Association President, does it look common?
"It doesn't rise every other day; it rises every single day. So I thought it was common."
They say the same sun rises, but actually, every day, it's a different sun.
"I suppose so. I thought it was common. This is difficult."
Last night, Eila, who had little interest in watching such things, had been the first to leave. Kyrie, needing to attend to Calian in the morning, went to rest soon after, followed by Hina and Rachel. Arsen had held out until the very end, claiming he would just close his eyes for a moment, but he had either fallen into a deep sleep or simply died on the spot. In any case, he never returned.
One by one, everyone had vanished, leaving Euria alone.
It wasn't that she had any particular thoughts weighing on her, but sleep eluded her. She spent the night gazing at the distant sea, and just as the darkness began to lift, Hina had come back out. That was how they ended up here, chatting quietly while watching the sunrise together.
"Indeed. Since it's my first time seeing a sunrise in the middle of the ocean, I suppose we could call it uncommon. I was the one who asked, but it was a difficult question."
Even though they were looking at the same view side by side, Euria had to periodically look at Hina’s hands. While it might seem inconvenient, she willingly turned her gaze. After all, shouldn't people look at each other when they talk? A magnificent sunrise was nothing compared to that.
As Euria focused on her, Hina’s hands moved again.
Just like how… in this world, 5th Circle mages… might be common. But if you get to know them… everyone is special.
Hina smiled brightly, casually uttering words that would make any other mage feel deeply wronged. She probably thought that way because she worked in Valkan, surrounded by high-Circle mages. In reality, where on earth was a 5th Circle mage considered common?
But instead of pointing that out, Euria waited for Hina to continue.
The Division Commander's lightning… is faster than anyone's… and the Vice-Commander… is really strong, but he actually… likes explosions more. So I think… each and every one of them… is special. Especially… the Association President's 5th Circle… is even more so.
Hina spoke of Needlen’s rapid lightning, which burrowed into an opponent’s skin the moment it was cast, and of Arsen’s eccentric power. Then, she turned her gaze to Euria.
Was it merely a matter of being uncommon?
It was thanks to her unique attributes that Euria had so effortlessly dealt with a higher-Circle mage who was even wielding the power of a Black Stone. How could anyone call that common?
Euria, understanding most of what Hina was saying, gazed a bit longer at the sea sparkling in the color of Tunteuni. Then, she turned back to Hina with a look of wonder.
"We were talking about the sunrise, but you suddenly read my mind, Viscountess Bern. I didn't happen to throw a drunken fit at some point, did I?"
Seeing that Euria wasn't displeased, Hina smiled and replied.
No. It just… seemed like you were still worrying… about what happened with my brother… that day.
"Actually, the thing I've heard most in my life is, 'Why go out of your way to suffer? Once you pass the 7th Circle, your attributes don't matter anyway.' Ah, of course, that was from people who never learned magic. The ones who did just said, 'Wow, cool,' and left it at that. I spent my life ignoring those words just to create a single bolt of lightning, and I was fine even when I met Jina in Bridget Forest. But Adelia… that white-haired geezer was just too strong. So it suddenly hit me. What if I had just mastered one attribute? Like this."
Because she had killed many but rarely protected anyone, she was now needlessly second-guessing her past. When she realized that if Alan hadn't come, not only Kyrie but Hina and the rest of their party would have been in danger, she couldn't help but have such thoughts.
If, instead of stubbornly trying to create lightning, I had just focused on one path, wouldn't I have reached a higher Circle by now? Have I been wasting my time on useless things all this while?
I've… had similar thoughts… before.
"You have?"
Yes. When I was young… I stood out a lot. My ears were this long… and I didn't know how to speak… so I drew a lot of attention. My brother… fought a lot for me… and got hurt a lot. It happened so often… whenever he was hurt because of me… I would cry my eyes out. Even though I know… things are fine now… it still reminds me of back then.
Euria nodded, listening without a word.
Then one day… my brother was badly hurt again… but we didn't have money for medicine. He said he was fine… and I cried a lot that day too… but suddenly, something miraculous happened. His wound healed… and after that, little by little… I realized what I could do. Sometime later… while talking with my brother about our mother… I said… if only I had known about my power sooner… maybe I could have saved her too.
Euria watched Hina’s hands move, remaining silent. She knew she was someone who had lived without ever having to face such worries, so she didn't dare offer presumptive sympathy or praise.
Hina smiled faintly and continued signing.
Somehow, it felt like… I had done something wrong, so I felt regret, and it was so deeply unfortunate…
"I see," Euria said with a short sigh. She recalled the lightning she had hurled at Adelia in Marquis Lin’s mansion, how it had vanished helplessly with a single gesture.
"I… don't know if I'd call it regret, but I did wonder what it would have been like if I had been less stubborn. It felt strange, having something I took so much pride in vanish in an instant. It's not that I never thought I'd meet someone that strong, but I never imagined a situation so utterly hopeless. It's too late to regret insisting on dual attributes now, but I do wonder if things would have been a bit better that day if I'd thought about this sooner. It’s not a serious worry, just a random thought."
Hina's reply came, as slow and deliberate as the rising sun.
My brother… told me this. There is no one… who can turn back… what has passed. Even if you go back… and change your choice… or find what you missed… it doesn't mean… everything will be resolved. In the end, other mistakes… will happen… unexpected things will occur… and there will be… other regrets. So he said… let's not think like that. Of course… it was impossible not to think about it… but still, he said… let's try not to spend time… regretting the past. That is… how I try to live.
Euria nodded slowly.
What happened that day… was because my brother was weaker than that mage… and because I rashly drew attention. You, Association President… did everything you could. The one who did wrong… was that mage, not us. And I think… your lightning, Association President… resembles you, so it is… exceptionally cool.
"Resembles me? Me?"
Yes. It resembles you a lot. At least, that's what I think.
"Right. That's nice."
Hearing that she wielded a power that resembled her made her wonder why she had been harboring such useless thoughts.
"Since I've been told it's exceptionally cool, I suppose I'll have to become exceptionally stronger. To look even cooler."
It wasn't that Hina thought Euria was cool because she was strong, but she simply nodded quietly.
Her silver hair swayed, sparkling in the color of Tunteuni's fur. Hina smiled, pleased. She felt it was a great relief that her hair, having no special color of its own, could sparkle so beautifully in the light.
*
Franz frowned. Calian smiled.
The breakfast table was laden with white bread studded with mild cheese, served with olive oil and minced pickled olives. There were tomatoes topped with chewy cheese, asparagus and string beans wrapped in bacon, and a thick, well-seared beef steak covered in a sauce of mild mushrooms.
So far, nothing was out of the ordinary.
The problem lay with the yellow omelet. Next to a fluffy omelet wafting the savory scent of saffron was a separate one made with only white cheese. Naturally, it was for Franz.
It was obvious they hadn't prepared two kinds from the start; Chase must have seen the saffron omelet and spoken to the chef. The cheese omelet had, after all, arrived noticeably later.
When Franz shot him a look, Chase smiled with a face that looked exactly like Calian's.
"I noticed you didn't touch it last time, so I wondered if you disliked it, Crown Prince Franz."
During their stay at the villa, his younger brother had relayed every one of his preferences to the chef, resulting in flowers, seafood, rabbit, and even strong-scented truffles being completely banned from the menu. Raw onions, bell peppers, and grapefruits were also forbidden. In their place, dishes with peas appeared with ridiculous frequency, but Franz had simply pretended not to notice.
He could let that slide, but the chef on this ship belonged to the Secritia royal palace, not the villa. It seemed the extremely picky palate of the Crown Prince of Kairis was about to become famous in the kitchens of another kingdom.
"Is there any need to force yourself to endure it, Crown Prince Franz?"
"You do not need to go to such lengths for me."
"Not at all, Crown Prince Franz. I hope you will view it as the sincerity of a host treating his guest, Crown Prince Franz."
"Yes." Franz forced his brow to smooth out, then added a single word toward the purple-eyed king who was watching him with a bright smile. "…Your Majesty."
Calian, sitting between them, let out a small chuckle. Franz's tone made it sound like he was about to declare his immediate ascension to the throne just to get it over with.
As Franz watched, thinking there wasn't a single ally for him on this vast ship, a voice reached him.
"The steak is delicious."
It was his younger brother, who seemed to need meat first thing in the morning just to find the energy to live. It was likely Calian's attempt to take his side, but it didn't seem very helpful.
"Indeed. I was worried since it has been a while since we shared a meal, but I am glad it is to your liking," Chase replied. He had the exact same look in his eyes as Calian did when watching Hina eat ice cream.
Franz wondered if Chase knew that his brother would say the exact same thing after roasting and eating a freshly caught wild boar.
Frowning again, Franz helped himself to the saffron-free omelet. His palate, thoroughly saturated with sweets, had no interest in meat. He filled his stomach with spinach and oat soup, bread, and the cheese omelet. At least in that, Franz was different from Calian.
Meanwhile, Chase ate a similar amount of similar food as Franz before putting down his utensils. Recalling Chase’s eating habits from their previous meals together, Franz turned his gaze to Calian.
"So it wasn't a trait of the royal family."
"No. I just eat a lot. Though I didn't originally eat this much," Calian said with a grin, having neatly polished off a whole plate of steak and mashed potatoes. He was making it clear that his massive appetite was not a genetic trait of the Secritia royal family.
"After all, I'm still at a growing age."
He said this despite being of a similar size to Franz and only about a finger's width shorter than Chase.
Chase, who had been watching their conversation, nodded. "Naturally, it must place a heavy burden on your body, using the physical strength and power of ten years in the future."
"Ah, that…"
Calian looked at Chase, unable to hide his momentary embarrassment. But the words were already out.
Right.
So it was only ten years.
A strange gleam flickered in Franz's eyes.
"Ten years, is it?"
He had roughly figured out his younger brother's age. Having traveled back ten years, and with about three years having passed since, Calian was younger than Chase. And yet, he had looked at Franz and said things like he was still young or needed to grow more.
"And you dared to say such things to me, my dear younger brother."
"I have no idea what you are referring to."
"Perhaps you were even younger than the 'past' me."
"That is not true."
"Then you must have been a year or two older. Twenty-six, or twenty-seven."
Thanks to Franz's unnecessarily quick calculations, Calian, his past age thoroughly exposed, shut his mouth. A corner of Franz's mouth curled upward.
"Have you not told Crown Prince Franz about that yet?" Chase asked.
"I was planning to tell him… later."
"Oh dear. I have made a mistake. Again," Chase replied, having so handily exposed the secret Calian had been keeping for his own amusement. His tone was one of genuine error.
Whether it was truly a mistake, or whether it was a calculated move to show Franz why Calian was overexerting himself to the point that even eating so much couldn't compensate.
Like a sly old fox, Chase had revealed not only Calian's real age but also the fact that, at most, seven years remained before the event that had turned back time. He then looked out the window. The ship, having completed its long voyage, was drawing close to the harbor.
"I am scheduled to have lunch with the Crown Prince of Tensil today. Will you stop by the royal palace?"
Calian, who had been letting out a deep sigh, shook his head. "I will stop by Bridget Forest first. I can meet the Crown Prince of Tensil after that."
"Very well."
"Yes. I will come to see you again after that."
"Do so whenever you wish," Chase said with a faint smile.
By the time Calian visited Bridget Forest, met the Crown Prince of Tensil, and finally returned to the palace, it would be to bid farewell before returning to Kairis.
Even Franz knew that while they had handed over the crystal plate, facing each other in person was different. No matter how often Calian might visit through Alan, it was a far cry from staying on the same land and sharing meals whenever they pleased.
"Then, I shall take my leave first."
"Yes. Have a safe trip."
Even so, Chase showed no sign of such thoughts as he rose from his seat. And Calian's reply was even shorter than his.
*
The long quiver was securely fastened to Raven's saddle.
Even so, Yan needlessly untied the leather strap and fastened it again. Beside him, Relic, doing the same for Estina's saddle, wore a similar expression.
Who on earth goes hunting without a wink of sleep after falling into the sea at night? And all the way to the distant Bridget Forest, at that.
Seeing their faces, Franz said nothing, while Calian merely laughed. He had already repeated that he was just going to "loosen up" too many times to say anything more.
"It's just a hunting bet. Don't worry."
"It's amazing to me that you're even in the mood to shoot arrows right now," Yan muttered.
"Why? We can just take our time and rest along the way."
Knowing he couldn't change their minds, Yan nodded, the corners of his eyes drooping.
An out-of-the-blue hunting bet.
It had started as Calian and Franz were leaving breakfast.
—No matter what you say, brother, could your archery skills possibly match mine? I am not only good with a sword.
—I wonder if my dear younger brother has ever actually seen me shoot to harbor such arrogance.
—Arrogance? That's a bit harsh.
—If thinking that being good with a sword means you'll also surpass me in archery isn't arrogance, then I don't know what is.
Their light bickering had escalated into a bet. Chase had then suggested they go to Bridget Forest, a place no one had visited since the incident where many soldiers had died.
The bodies had been recovered long ago, and new trees had been planted. The suggestion was a way to bury the past and encourage people to visit once more. It also sent a clear message that Secritia would not blame the mages of Kairis for what had happened.
—Bridget Forest. Sounds good. I'll take this opportunity to see the archery skills you've only boasted about, brother.
—If you lose, I hope you will never talk big in front of me again.
—If I lose, I will gladly do so. However, if I win, I will ask you to grant me a very big favor, so keep that in mind.
—As you wish. Do as you like.
There was always a reason when Franz spoke at such length, wasn't there?
Naturally, their bickering provided the perfect excuse. They needed a reason to visit Bridget Forest; they couldn't just return to the site of an incident that had endangered Euria and Rachel and resulted in so many casualties without a proper pretext.
Of course, the only ones who knew it was a ruse were those privy to Calian's secrets, which only served to deepen Yan and Relic's worries.
"Don't worry too much. Take good care of Lucy, Anne, and Coco."
"I'm only watching Coco. Relic is taking care of the cats."
"Right."
"Anyway, if you come back with even more scars, Prince…"
"Yan."
Calian cut him off before Franz had even arrived. Yan, who had pieced together a rough idea of the situation, nodded reluctantly. He was convinced the angry red scar on his otherwise flawless prince's back was entirely Franz's fault.
"Yes, yes. I understand."
Just as Yan finished speaking, Franz emerged, dressed in his usual light-colored attire. Seeing Franz mount his horse, Calian smiled brightly and waved to Yan.
Euria, Rachel, Hina, Yan, and Relic—none of whom could know the real reason for the trip—remained at the villa. Alan, who had brought them from the ship, had already returned to Kairis. Which meant…
"I was unaware that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince—briefly the Corps Commander, and now returned to his post as Vice-Commander—knew how to handle a bow."
It also meant Arsen was accompanying them. To be precise, the party consisted of just Calian, Franz, and Arsen. And so, the small but boisterous group set off.
"Raven will find his own way there, but please be careful once you arrive. At this point, I trust Raven more than you, Prince."
"I said I got it."
That had been his farewell to Yan. And since Calian was a man of his word, Yan believed he would return safely, just as he'd promised.
But a short while later…
—Whizz!
A vicious whistle tore through the air. In its wake, a fine spray of blood followed the arrowhead’s path.
Exactly two men. The arrow grazed both their necks, leaving identical wounds as it passed between them before sinking deep into a distant tree trunk.
"You really don't know the meaning of an empty boast, do you, Brother?"
"Hardly as much as you."
Calian chuckled as he looked at the arrow. It was a display of skill that fully backed up his confidence—a silent demonstration that he could have easily killed them, but had chosen, with exquisite control, to let them live.
"…I thought you disliked hurting people."
"I didn't realize they were human."
"Aren't they a bit large for game?"
"I thought they were just big game."
Bridget Forest.
It was an absurdly casual conversation, considering they were watching a group of knights threaten a lone survivor in a field of corpses.
The knights—including the two whose necks were now bleeding for having "looked like big game"—all turned toward Calian in unison. Spotting a remarkably familiar face among them, Calian raised a hand in greeting.
"What are you doing here? Among the 'game'?"
There stood Serjein—the very woman who was supposed to be having lunch with Chase, now moments from being killed by a band of unknown knights.