A Goodbye for the Sake of a Hello (2)

That night.

"Now, then."

The Smell Officer cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"In honor of Lady Erzena's remaining time, and in praise of her tireless service as our healer for a full month here at the Immigration Office..."

He drew in a deep breath.

Then, everyone raised their glasses together and shouted.

"CHEERS!!!"

For the first time in a very, very long while, a modest little dinner party was being held at my house.

The Five Senses Officers, Erzena, Elaine, and Mnassil — plus Noa, who had flown over the moment news reached her family home — and last of all, Agent R.

The living room, spacious enough to feel lonely on ordinary days, was for once packed with people, and the sight was quite the spectacle.

"And why, pray tell, are you here?"

Because I certainly hadn't invited that last one.

"Ah, well — the Director instructed me to provide security for the departing national during the grace period. For her personal safety, you see."

Security, my foot.

That was almost certainly a lie. More likely, since her status had been revoked, he'd been assigned to keep watch in case she did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything rash.

Knowing Melanie, that tracked.

The agent read my expression and shrugged.

"That's the official line."

He said that, but the glass already in his hand was showing its bottom.

Come to think of it, this man had gone through quite a lot on our account too.

"...Care for another drink?"

"Thank you kindly!"

I poured him another, and he accepted it without a shred of shame.

That's right. You deserve a break too.

The whole gathering had been entirely Erzena's idea.

"I'd rather not spend what time remains with just the two of us. I want to thank everyone else as well."

The bonds she had forged here weren't mine alone.

She'd come to know that many people simply from living under the same roof.

I'd forgotten that I wasn't the only one Erzena was leaving behind.

Truthfully, I'd wanted to spend every remaining moment alone with her... but I knew perfectly well that would have been poor manners.

So I'd floated the idea, ever so casually: "Shall we throw a farewell party at my place tonight?"

Granted, who on earth would say yes when the boss invites you to drink at his house?

Who could have guessed that not one of these wretches would refuse?

By the time conversation had flowed and the mood had ripened, the Smell Officer leaned back against the sofa and spoke up.

"So let me get this straight — the Central Officer lived all alone in a house this huge, and then took in three gorgeous women, plus our adorable Hannah here, all under one roof?"

"No, see, it was a matter of duty—"

"Duty, my ass. If it were me, my eyes would've popped clean out of my head."

Was this guy already drunk?

Waving a hand with a faintly tipsy slur, he went on.

"The Central Officer has no masculine magnetism, none whatsoever. With women of such supreme— ahem, pardon me. With women of such magnificent charm right there, and you never laid a finger on a single one? Unbelievable."

The Hearing Officer, swept up in the mood, chimed in.

"Honestly, that part I can't forgive. Keeping your hands to yourself this long? It's a miracle, plain and simple."

When exactly did you two ever restrain yourselves, huh?

Seeing my face turn demonic, the two of them hastily averted their eyes.

But then, some people chose to take it as a compliment instead.

"Hm. At least someone here recognizes our worth."

"Supreme, was it? That does sound rather lovely."

"Mm."

Yes — the supreme women themselves nodded along, each looking thoroughly satisfied.

"...You're actually taking that as praise?"

Why did everyone's thought process seem to be drifting closer and closer to Lady Mnassil's?

Watching this, Noa beamed sweetly and said,

"Mom and Dad would die of joy if they knew about this. Good heavens — my big brother kissed Erzena that day."

"What?"

How do you even know about that?

"...Who blabbed?"

"Mr. Wolf over there."

I glared at the Smell Officer like I wanted him dead. But he was already sitting a good distance away, whistling innocently.

When had the rumor spread that far?

Finally, I couldn't hold it in.

"Say one more word and I swear you'll never set foot in the Southern Border again."

"Aw, why noooot—! You did it again at the border just now, didn't you? I heard everything!"

"When did you even hear about that!?"

Laughter rang out around the room once more.

Our house had already been filling with the sounds and warmth of people living in it of late, and now, rowdy and overflowing as it was, the noise strangely put me at ease.

Amid the brightened mood, Mnassil gave Erzena a light nudge.

"Hmph. I had thought you reached your resolution in the den of Nathan's mother, yet I did not expect you to choose your path so swiftly and decisively."

"Pardon?"

"I could feel it, you see. Has not your divine holy power grown stronger than before? That could only have come about because you steeled your heart."

She had never once set foot in the Immigration Office, and yet from her aura alone she had grasped exactly what state Erzena was in.

Erzena's eyes went round at the realization.

"You chose well. A bond forged while still wearing shackles only weighs the heart down heavier."

"Lady Mnassil..."

"Which means only you and Elaine remain, yes. Naturally, the first female holds the right of first mating. The real question is who shall be second."

"E-ehh—?"

At a remark so wildly alien to human thinking, it was Erzena who startled and let out a strangled squawk.

And that was when it happened.

"You can't leave us, Lady Erzenaaa...? What are we supposed to do if you go, waaaaah!"

Red-cheeked and flushed, the Taste Officer suddenly latched onto Erzena and burst into tears.

Caught slightly off guard by such an unguarded display of affection, Erzena patted her back gently.

"Taste Officer... I had no idea you held me so dear. Truthfully, I'm sad to be leaving you too."

The sobbing Taste Officer tilted her head.

"Hm? Not that — can't you leave some of your holy power behind when you go? Just in case?"

The golden aura around her contracted at an alarming rate.

"...Ah. So that's what this is about."

"Could you maybe store your holy power in a jar or something? I'd drink it whenever I get tired!"

"..."

So this lunatic wasn't sad to see Erzena go — she was sad about losing the holy power.

Exasperated, I turned my gaze elsewhere.

Hannah and the Touch Officer kept shuttling dishes out without pause, while the Smell Officer and Agent R devoured everything like starving wolves.

The Hearing Officer was deep in old war stories with Mnassil.

And Noa... was whispering poison into Elaine's ear — "You're next, Your Highness."

And so the party rolled on, chaotic, messy, and loud.

As I watched it all blankly, it suddenly dawned on me that tomorrow was a workday, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I spoke up quickly.

"Right, everyone. You'll have a light two or three drinks tonight, and then head home."

Everyone stopped mid-conversation and stared at me.

"Why?"

"Why?"

"I'm on my eighth glass already?"

"What dreadful heresy is this!"

"Wow, big brother, you're the worst."

The resistance was fiercer than expected.

"You all have work tomorrow."

It was not Friday. Tomorrow was not a public holiday either.

"Boooooo~. Down with bosses who bring up work at a company dinner~."

"This is my house. If you have complaints, feel free to leave."

You'll be a wreck tomorrow morning if you drink like this, people!

What a fine spectacle it would be, screening visitors with liquor fumes pouring off every one of you.

And then—

Tug, tug.

Erzena tugged at my sleeve.

I looked down, and she whispered, very softly.

"What's the harm? It's only one night."

"If I make an exception for that one night, the second time gets easier."

"Even if it's my farewell party?"

She looked up at me with those lovely golden eyes.

"Haah..."

I let out a sigh.

Fine. Tonight's guest of honor was Erzena, not me.

Oh, what the hell.

"Everyone will stay and sleep here tonight. In exchange, by six tomorrow morning, each and every one of you will be ready for work."

Merchant's Secret Technique: when you give, give decisively.

I'll take responsibility for your morning.

A cheer erupted instantly.

"YESSS!!! I'm not going home tonight!!!"

"Bring more booze — no, bring ALL the booze!!!"

"Miss Hannah? Since the master is helping, shall we make ten servings of roast turkey?"

"Rice, booze, rice, booze! Woo! Woo! Woo!"

Watching the rest of the Five Senses Officers — the Touch Officer excepted — and Noa transform into feral beasts, I let out yet another deep sigh.

And Erzena, smiling at all of it, wore somewhere in her expression a trace of wistfulness.

Some five hours or so later...

"Huurgh — hck!"

"Mmmnyaaang..."

"Grrrrgle..."

Everyone except me and Erzena — who had paced ourselves — lay sprawled out dead drunk.

"You idiots... I told you to drink slowly, a little at a time."

"Heheh. They were all having fun like children."

But even as we said it, the two of us were tired enough ourselves that we'd sunk into the sofa and couldn't move an inch.

"Still, here we are in the end — just the two of us. Just as you wanted, Nathan."

Then—

"Mmm. Sleepy, I am."

In a voice of extremely amateur dramatics, Mnassil, who had been feigning sleep, gave my back a sly nudge with her tail.

Push.

At the same moment, Erzena and I slid naturally, helplessly closer together.

"Nathan..."

"...Ah, Erzena."

Our breaths mingled.

Startled eyes met startled eyes.

But the fluster lasted only a moment before a different feeling filled us both.

"..."

"..."

A pleasant buzz. And a certain, unmistakable longing.

There was no need for words.

We were both feeling exactly the same thing.

"Um..."

If tonight was to be our last, then I had no reason to hesitate either.

Without a word, I took her hand and led her into my room.

Click.

And I locked the door behind us.

That night was long.

Long enough for us to memorize each other's bodies as deeply as we had memorized each other's hearts.

My masculine magnetism, it turned out, was higher than I'd thought.

And so we became one another's, and time flowed with heartless speed until the morning of the final day of the grace period arrived.

With a deep, ponderous groan, the great gate swung open, and the bright morning sun fell across Erzena's face. She looked up at the golem staring down at her, expressionless, and greeted it.

"Commander. Thank you so much for everything. Please keep protecting this border."

The reply came back flat and unyielding.

And yet, in a gesture utterly at odds with the words it had just spoken, the Gatekeeper drove its greatsword vertically into the ground in salute.

Just as Erzena had arrived with empty hands, she left carrying no luggage.

With a single exception.

One battered old guitar — the gift Nathan had given her.

Few had come out to see her off.

Nathan, Elaine, and Mnassil. Only the three of them.

The rest had stayed behind at the office, saying they didn't want to intrude.

She turned toward the pair — the man and the two women.

"Elaine. And Lady Mnassil."

Grab.

She pulled the two women into a sudden embrace.

"Wha—!?"

"My. So composed and dignified ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all this while, and the moment it's time to leave, you turn back into a child."

Red, brown, and sky-blue hair tangled together in a dizzying swirl.

From within the tangle, Erzena spoke, her voice edged with tears.

"...Thank you. Getting to know all of you made me so, so happy."

And then, quietly — too quietly for Nathan to hear — she whispered.

"Please take good care of Nathan. Make sure no other stray cats turn up."

Jolt.

Elaine flinched in surprise, while Mnassil merely arched an eyebrow, as if it went without saying.

"You love Nathan too — both of you. So... love him lots and lots while I'm gone. When I come back, for a good long while after that, he'll be mine alone."

It was a declaration of war.

At the same time, it was the great resolution she had reached on her own — and consideration, too, for the women who loved Nathan every bit as much as she did.

At the brazen proclamation, Mnassil's smile stretched from ear to ear.

"You were loved thoroughly last night, it seems, Erzena. The restless, sniping she-cat has vanished without a trace."

"To a degree, yes."

Erzena did not deny it.

"Fear not. I shall craft you some eight siblings for Kirba."

"...Please don't love him quite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that much."

At an answer so utterly Mnassil, Erzena finally broke into a pfft of laughter.

Meanwhile, Elaine, who had been quietly waiting, slowly opened her mouth.

"Er...ze...na."

The words came out with effort, one syllable at a time.

"!!!!!!"

Erzena whipped around, staring at Elaine in shock.

And under that gaze, Elaine pushed out two final syllables.

"Fri...end."

Erzena understood what that word meant to Elaine as deeply as Nathan ever could.

She pressed down hard on whatever was surging up inside her, and nodded.

"...Yes. We're friends. Friends who love Nathan — together."

As Elaine's hand stirred slightly, an unseen force gently swayed Erzena's hair.

Realizing that Elaine was embracing her with telekinesis, Erzena held her all the tighter.

What a strange, wondrous bond.

Three women with eerily similar circumstances, all meeting at a border.

Could a meeting like this — transcending status, nation, even species — ever happen again?

Erzena couldn't be sure. Which was precisely why it was beyond precious.

And so the three of them held each other for a long while, laughing at who knew what.

And the last person remaining was—

"Nathan."

"Erzena."

The very man she loved.

Nathan stood there, unable to fully hide his fatigue as always, yet standing perfectly straight, watching her with a small smile.

Their eyes met.

No more tears now.

They had already grieved more than enough.

All that remained was to smile, in hope of the day they would meet again.

"...I'm off, then."

Words that hid their true meaning: I will come back. Without fail.

And Nathan answered.

"I'll be waiting."

Words that hid their own meaning: I do not doubt it for a moment.

What more needed to be said?

When a bond far stronger than words had already been forged between them, what vow could possibly add to it?

Both of them knew that better than anyone.

She looked down at the battered guitar in her hands.

It had accompanied Nathan through his childhood, and now it had been tamed to her own touch.

She couldn't say why.

But somehow, it felt like a treasured gift.

As long as I have this... I'll be with you, won't I?

Erzena turned her head and looked toward the pilgrimage band waiting for her beyond the great gate.

"Sa... Lady Erzena!"

"Saintess!"

Mohaim, Commander of the 1st Paladin Order. And Kubian, Commander of the 2nd.

The two men knelt on one knee, waiting for her.

The time had come.

A farewell, made in order to return.

A small sorrow, for the sake of a far greater joy.

"Pilgrims! And my Holy Knights!"

With footsteps that would not falter, Erzena cried out with all her strength.

"We return to the Holy See!!!"

Let us go back.

Back to the place where I began.

Nathan murmured softly to Erzena's retreating back as she grew smaller and smaller into the distance.

"...Farewell, and safe travels."

And so, the kingdom's first asylum seeker left the Crossline Kingdom.