Chapter 340: Surprisingly Clumsy (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 340: Surprisingly Clumsy (2)
The Axis of Time.
When it first appeared, Chase, Louise, and Devlan were said to have seen it together. Shortly after, Chase, who was left alone where the axis vanished, regained his memories. Louise and Devlan did not. Later, Louise and Devlan met the elves. Louise eventually regained her memories, but Devlan never did.
"Devlan never regained his memories, right to the very end. I suspect it might be because he had already died long before the events of that day, but I can't be certain."
Calian fell silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts before continuing.
"Brother Chase, who saw both the Axis of Time and its disappearance, dreamed of events from his own past. Meanwhile, Mother—who saw the Axis but wasn't there when it vanished—met the elves. She said her dreams only began after she saw a time she couldn't have personally experienced. And somehow, that very first dream she had felt similar to what I saw when I met the Mother Tree."
He didn't explain exactly what he had seen when he met the Mother Tree in the elf city. However, thanks to Calian's reaction the day he was handed Sinasta, Franz had some inkling.
He must have seen things he hadn't known before he died, Franz thought.
Calian knew Franz had likely guessed to some extent, even if he hadn't revealed everything. That was why he could speak so openly now.
"But that alone isn't enough to determine the criteria for regaining memories. Whether it's seeing the Axis of Time, or standing where it vanished..."
"I get it."
"Yes."
That they must have met their end before the Axis of Time appeared.
Franz, once again, tactfully cut off the words Calian found difficult to voice.
"At any rate, it's hard to establish the criteria with just those few commonalities."
"Or the reason why," Calian added.
"Yes. We don't know the criteria, nor do we know the reason they regained them. If it were only Brother Chase, I might have been able to make a guess, but then Mother started having those dreams, too."
One could hardly attribute Louise's dreams solely to her extraordinary affection for her son.
"Is that why you left them behind?" Franz asked.
"Do you mean Hina and Kyrie?"
"All three of them."
"Including Eila. Yes, that's right. Since I don't know the criteria, I left them behind."
Franz nodded.
The long walk to Bridget Forest had begun in silence, but boredom eventually gave way to idle chatter, which led them to their current topic: why Calian had brought Arsen along while leaving the Bern siblings and Eila behind.
"I wondered if the Mother Tree might also influence the return of memories. Although those three didn't see the Axis of Time, I was worried that even one of them might start having dreams, so I told them to stay at the villa. I want the three of them, at least, to remain forever ignorant of the past."
There was no need for them to dig up and carry wounds they hadn't suffered in this lifetime.
"I know Hina and Kyrie wanted to go to the forest, and Eila was curious too. But even if we all come back here together, it shouldn't be now. It should be later—when much more time has passed."
"Understood."
Franz nodded again.
Arsen, who had been listening quietly, looked at Calian. "Then is it fine if I regain my memories, Your Highness?"
It was a pointed question about being dragged along without his consent. Calian replied with a mischievous smile.
"If Sir Hertz regains his memories, I think it would be quite beneficial for me."
He coddles Hina and his other two lackeys so much, yet he doesn't care at all about this crazy one. Feeling that Calian would show more concern for a neighbor's dog, Arsen grumbled, "Your Highness, do you not worry about me at all?"
"No, I don't."
In truth, Calian wished neither of them had come. Just like the three left at the villa, there was no reason for the two men beside him to intentionally recall things that had already vanished.
He needed to find out if Franz had used the Axis of Time, why he had used it, and how. And who would know that better than Franz and Arsen? He knew this, yet he had still been reluctant.
—Brother, you plan to follow me, don't you?
—Naturally.
But when had the Pea ever been one to sit still?
Calian also knew that preventing those events from repeating was far more important than letting them remain ignorant. His reluctance wasn't born from a desire to keep them in the dark, but from genuine concern.
—Take the crazy blue-haired mage with you, too.
—Even Sir Hertz won't be unaffected if he sees his past memories.
—If he were someone who wouldn't be affected, I wouldn't have suggested bringing him.
—Then at least check Sir Hertz's willingness...
—I'll talk to him. Personally.
—Understood.
Of course, Calian hadn't known that Franz, after that conversation, would go straight to Arsen and summon him with a single command: "Follow me." He had simply resigned himself to the fact that since things had turned out this way, it would be better for either Franz or Arsen to quickly regain their memories so they could prepare for what was to come.
That was how they had brought Arsen along under the pretext of escort duty. To put it nicely, it was a sign of trust; to put it bluntly, he was a backup plan in case Franz's memories never returned.
"Are you reluctant to remember the past?" Calian asked Arsen.
"I have no reason to be. In fact, I think I would welcome it."
"Good. Besides, aren't you past the age of needing my concern, Sir Hertz?"
"I am, but the Association President still worries about me."
"Then go be the Association President's lackey."
"No, Your Highness. I misspoke." Arsen, who wanted to be anything but a lackey to Euria, quickly took back his words.
Chuckling, Calian feigned ignorance and changed the subject. "If you have any strange dreams after we visit the forest, let me know."
"If I remember, will you give me a gift?"
"I'll break a spoon for you."
"Excellent."
Arsen's face lit up. He was definitely a madman.
Whether he noticed Franz's dumbfounded expression or not, Arsen pressed his advantage. "While you're at it, how about a statue of you, Your Highness—"
"I could erect a statue of you, Sir Hertz. Complete with a memorial monument beautifully inscribed with that apology letter you wrote."
"Ah..."
"And I'll ask my brother to transcribe the inscription. He has excellent handwriting, after all."
"No, Your Highness. I misspoke."
Amid this lighthearted conversation, they drew closer to Bridget Forest. But the journey was long. Though they had set off from the villa early that morning, the sun was already beginning to sink below the horizon.
And then, they stumbled upon a scene.
—Swoosh!
Serjein was under attack.
"Even if you came straight here after lunch with the King of Secritia, the timing doesn't quite add up. What brings the Crown Prince of Tensil here?" Calian asked, his voice formal for the onlookers, but utterly devoid of respect.
"If things had gone as planned, I would have arrived at the royal palace on time," Serjein replied. "But things went a bit awry."
"Yet you seem remarkably relaxed."
"Now that reinforcements have arrived, I can afford to be." 'Serjein,' who had not revealed his real name, replied in a leisurely tone, as if he had already forgotten he was being threatened just moments ago.
"We have no intention of interfering in your business, however."
The knights, still grasping the situation, glanced between Calian's group and Serjein. Serjein pointed at Franz—specifically, at the massive, dark bow with beautiful silver scrollwork that he still held ready.
"For someone claiming you won't interfere, your stance is awfully prepared."
"We're in the middle of a hunt."
On one side were six suspicious-looking knights. On the other was a man they had met before, who, despite also being suspicious, was still the Crown Prince of Tensil. They had intervened to stop an assassination, but that didn't mean they were on Serjein's side.
"Why?" Franz asked curtly, his bow still aimed at the knights. Serjein's expression shifted subtly.
Calian quickly intervened. "He means that if you don't tell us exactly why you're here, we're leaving."
"...I didn't realize those words carried such a long meaning."
At that, one of the brown-haired knights gestured to the others. They knew who had just entered the forest; the newcomers' appearances were too striking to be mistaken.
Watching for an opportunity, the brown-haired knight gave a slight nod. It was a signal to withdraw. They had no chance of winning against Calian and Arsen. Just as the knights were about to move—
—Twang!
—Swoosh!
A single arrow blocked their path.
"I never said you could leave," Franz said in a low voice, staring at the arrow embedded in the ground right before the lead knight's foot. "Holy Knights."
The Holy Knights of Tensil.
Their eyes turned sharp. Though they wore light armor, there was no emblem of Tensil or any mark identifying them. But their identity had been recognized at a glance.
"No wonder you attacked them," Calian whispered. He had thought Franz wasn't the type to attack without reason, and now he understood. He must have recognized them from Lemain's Birthday Festival in Kairis, where the Holy Knights of Tensil had been disguised as healers.
Franz never forgot a face he'd seen once.
"Every time you act so brilliantly, Brother, I feel truly proud."
"Your excellent bite will soon be famous all the way in Tensil."
"They already know I bite well, so it's fine." After all, Calian was the one who had angrily demanded Randel expel the Holy Knights, even releasing his killing intent. He could only imagine what his reputation was like in Tensil.
"So. What are we doing?" Franz asked.
"Should we just kill them all?" Arsen added at the same time, his voice slightly louder than Franz's.
They could see the knights, caught between the two groups, tightening their grips on their swords.
Calian shook his head. There was nothing to gain from killing Tensil knights on Secritian soil.
"No, first—"
But at that moment—
—Whoosh!
Before Calian could finish, Serjein moved. He swung his sword at the knights, who had taken their eyes off him to focus on the trio. His boast of knowing how to use a sword was clearly no lie.
—Slash!
—Crunch!
A deep, fatal wound opened on one man's neck. Another's heart was pierced from behind.
—Thud!
Even their healing powers couldn't bring back the dead. The two knights collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Serjein advanced on the remaining four.
In the rapidly unfolding chaos, frost gathered at Arsen's fingertips, and Franz drew his sword. And Calian—
"We were having a conversation."
—was suddenly standing between Serjein and the knights. The wind, unable to keep up, gusted a moment later, brushing past the hem of his clothes.
—Hummmm!
A translucent red aura illuminated the darkening forest. Holding a longsword, Calian stared at Serjein with eyes redder than his blade.
"Explain why you're causing a ruckus in another country before you continue."
"...You really are fast."
"I know that better than anyone. Explain."
"If I explain, would you even understand?" Serjein, who had just killed two men in an instant, chuckled. His relaxed tone had been a facade; a closer look revealed an expression strained with suppressed anger.
"If you don't speak, you'll die too. By my hand."
"You have a vicious nature."
"It's better to kill everyone than to get entangled in something that will cause headaches for Kairis or Secritia. Disposing of the bodies is child's play." If he killed everyone and claimed he never met the Crown Prince of Tensil, who would know? And even if they did, they couldn't do anything without evidence.
"It's self-defense. The knights attacked first."
"You need to provide proof."
"The dead here are not Holy Knights. Bring your healer to check, and you'll see."
He spoke as if healers could recognize each other's power, but Calian doubted Hina, who was no ordinary healer, would know such a thing. Even if she did, he had no intention of bringing bodies to her for verification. Instead, Franz could do it. He would know if any of the dead were among the Holy Knights who had visited Kairis.
"I thought they were my escort knights, but they tried to kill me."
"Who is behind them?"
"I don't know. I'm trying to leave one alive to find out."
"Why did you come here?"
"To meet someone."
"Who?"
Serjein didn't answer immediately. Watching him, Calian spoke.
"Your Royal Highness."
"What is it?" Franz replied.
"Please send word to His Majesty the King of Secritia. Tell him the Crown Prince of Tensil is here."
"Understood." Instantly, the ring on Franz's finger began to glow.
The ring was an artifact Franz had received in exchange for the crystal plate, and its communication function was well-known.
"Wait." Recognizing the ring, Serjein stopped him. Then he spoke. "I came to meet someone."
"Who?"
"...The Mother Tree."
Calian's eyes narrowed. "Why would you meet 'Danu'?"
"Just to see her briefly." Serjein paused, and Calian didn't miss the slight flicker in his expression before it vanished.
"Serjein. How do you know the name 'Danu'?"
The Mother Tree's name was not widely known. Even Calian had only learned it from the words Sispanian had passed down to him. For Serjein to not only know of the Mother Tree's existence here but also her name was deeply suspicious.
"How interesting," Calian's amused voice echoed softly.
At the same time, four small daggers materialized behind him. They shot toward the four remaining knights.
—Swoosh!
By the time the knights saw the daggers, it was too late. The black blades, leaving red afterimages in their wake, could neither be blocked nor avoided.
—Thud!
Four dull thuds echoed as the men collapsed.
But even with his targets down, Calian's daggers did not stop. They converged in midair for an instant, then shot fiercely toward an empty point in space.
—Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out from nothing.
Confirming it, a beautiful smile played on Calian's lips.
"I wondered where she had disappeared to. So she went to you."
An ice spear formed at Arsen's fingertips, and Franz took a step back.
"Adelia."
Calian's chillingly beautiful voice was directed at Serjein.