Episode 2-b. For Freedom and Adventure (7)
Even as she ran, her lips kept pursing in a pout. She knew logically it couldn't be true, but confronting the fact that he'd gotten even a little close to another woman made her body react first. Emotions didn't just settle because she'd sorted out her thoughts. It wasn't full-blown rage boiling up or crushing sorrow, but she still wanted to express it by pouting and demanding answers.
And trailing far behind her as she dashed toward the orphanage was Eileen, barely keeping up.
"Lady Asha, huff... haaah... slower, please, slower... heek..."
"... "
Was she afraid Asha might cause a scene, or worried about her safety? Whatever the reason, Eileen's pathetic form—gasping like she was about to drop dead but still struggling to follow—somehow calmed Asha a bit. Maybe because of that, watching the ugly sight of Eileen made her heart settle. The jealous flare of emotion eased thanks to the girl charging after her, brown hair whipping every which way.
In other words, Eileen looked so exhausted that Asha felt guilty even pouting and showing her displeasure.
"Huuuek... ugh. Ah, I think I'm gonna puke... hnnk, huff..."
"I won't kill her. I'll question her when we get there, but I'm not some random murderer—what's with all the suspicion?"
Aside from that one time her identity was exposed, Asha had never shown her emotions bursting out uncontrollably. And yet Eileen still feared she might kill someone? It stung a little.
As Asha watched with those thoughts, Eileen paused her panting on the ground, lifted her head as if to respond.
"Haaah... sniff. Hnn... it's not suspicion... ah, my head's spinning... uwaa."
"If it's not suspicion, then what is it?"
At Asha's sharp question—what else could it be?—Eileen pursed her own lips and shot back.
"It's worry, worry! You've been stuck in the city lately, Lady Asha, haa... no time to vent your emotions... they build up, and you might slip up. You're human too, after all."
"... "
"Hoo... ah, I'm alive. Grandma kept tugging me—I almost followed her without thinking..."
"... "
Eileen really is a weirdo. She'd fled in tears, snot, and even peed herself in terror, yet now she clung to Asha's hem without a care. She'd been too scared to even meet Asha's eyes, trembling nonstop, but now she grinned goofily and extended a hand like she expected to be helped up. Bizarre.
"And hey, why's a mage so good at running...? Ugh, aren't mages supposed to be frail...?"
"...Just exercise consistently. Rest up if you're tired. I'll walk slowly."
"Yeees... um, could you maybe carry me? My legs are jelly..."
They'd already reached the duchy—she should part ways now—but Eileen had insisted on helping and tagged along. It made no sense.
"Then stay sprawled there. I'll run ahead alone."
"Aaah! I'm kidding, kidding! If I run again, I'll really die!"
Even as Asha ticked her tongue and acted annoyed, Eileen beamed and stuck to her heels.
"Whoa, Lady Asha smiled!"
"...I didn't smile."
She'd coaxed Asha's lips into the slightest upward curve anyway. Really a weirdo.
They walked slowly and arrived at the orphanage.
"Better than I expected? Hmm, can orphanages really be this big?"
"... "
As Eileen said, it was far too grand and spacious for a place caring for abandoned kids. The wide grounds were enclosed by a neat fence of moderate height. The four-story building gleamed clean and luxurious, like it was meticulously maintained. Beyond the fence, dozens of children played— all smiling brightly, all in spotless clothes, bouncing around happily.
And then.
"What brings you fine folks here?"
An elderly woman approached with several children in tow, greeting them warmly.
"Ah, um... we're here for the noble lady who entered earlier."
Eileen glanced nervously at Asha before explaining.
"Ah, guests of Lady Lucia. Please, come inside. I'll guide you."
"Y-yes, th-thank you!"
"No trouble at all. I'm Tersi, caretaker for the children here."
The old woman smiled kindly, introducing herself. She gazed at the kids with gentle affection, stroking their heads softly as she led the way.
And so.
"Oh my! To visit me so soon—were the commoners that starved!? W-well, it can't be helped then. We must fetch the head chef at once and feed you a hearty meal!"
"... "
"... "
Meeting the odd noble lady again just reconfirmed she was utterly bizarre.
"I-if you're that hungry, at least have the snacks I brought for the kids...!"
Asha's gut said this would drag on forever if left alone.
"Sorry, but that's not why we're here. Lucia Vicente Todorica Simeo, I'm here for Ain."
"Pardon...?"
Asha cut her off straightaway with her real purpose.
"I've come from the Empire looking for Ain."
"Y-you're looking for Ain...?"
Bluntly declaring it made her tilt her head in confusion, staring at Asha.
"Yes, he's important to me."
"Er, um..."
"Do you know where he went?"
She looked frustratingly dumb as she kept tilting her head, lost in thought.
"Ah!"
"... "
"No way... are you that gray... light... or whatever...?"
Something clicked; she clapped her hands and peered slyly at Asha's robe, as if hoping to peek inside.
Did you even tell this outsider I'm your comrade—and that too, Ain? Asha knew it was for her sake, but it still sparked pointless anger and jealousy. Pouting, she shrugged off her robe.
"Wow... such a beauty. Hold on, you're not gray? Did Lucia Vicente Todorica Simeo commit the rudeness of mistaking you...?"
"... "
Only the three of them were in the room, so Asha unfastened her necklace, bracelets, and anklets. Her appearance shifted smoothly. Her ordinary hair and eyes took on a dull, ashen hue; her heavily suppressed mana writhed and leaked out.
And then.
"...P-please spare me."
"I won't kill you. And your speech changed."
"Spare me, desu wa yo."
The noble lady calling herself Lucia threw up both hands, eyes glistening as she stared at Asha.
"I said I won't kill you."
"B-but that commoner behind you..."
Her trembling words were odd, so Asha glanced back. Eileen had sneaked up, grinning mischievously with arms spread wide.
"Kekekeke, better kneel and beg quick! Unless you wanna taste the wrath of the fearsome gray—Lady Asha!"
"... Eileen."
"Yes?"
"What are you doing?"
"Teasing her? Can't do it once she knows everything. Hoping she'll pee herself and join the club."
"... "
This wasn't just weird—it was insane. Asha bound Eileen's body tight with mana and tossed her into the corner.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
Her muffled screams echoed, but Asha ignored them casually and bowed to the noble lady.
"Sorry. My companion was rude."
"Uh... i-it's f-fine, desu wa yo..."
She's not even an adult yet—a childish brat. Hope she forgives with magnanimity.
Anyway.
They talked for quite a while at the orphanage. Midway, Asha freed Eileen, and the three chatted amiably.
Such conversations as:
"Hee hee! Falling for my noble grace, even Ain becomes mine... desu wa yo!"
"Gasp."
"...What did you just say?"
"Eh, wh-what's wrong with that, desu wa yo...?"
"B-beg for mercy, quick. Hurry...!"
"Did you just say Ain is yours? Regretting those words?"
"Spare me. I was wrong. It was a joke. I-I have no feelings for Ain beyond comrade. I take it back!"
"Good girl...! You saved your life, milady!"
Petty jealous spats like that cropped up.
And as talk flowed, noble-exclusive chatter slipped in now and then.
"Gasp... such a romantic journey! Eileen Phrygia Delfinium, you are the model noble... desu wa yo!"
"Lady Lucia Vicente Todorica Simeo, who helps commoners—how admirable!"
"If my noblesse oblige merges with your romanticism, we'll birth ultimate nobility... desu wa yo!"
"Exactly, milady!! Wanna travel with us too!?!"
Did nobles share some secret code? They linked arms, bouncing excitedly like kids.
After endless nonsense, Asha glared irritably, and they both raised hands in unison: "Sorry!"
And then.
"Ain left the duchy for Litera, desu wa yo."
"I see."
"That's right. Ah! Tersi downstairs came here recently with Ain's help—talk to her before you go, desu wa yo!"
Amid the long chat, Asha got what she wanted: Ain had headed to Litera village. According to Lucia and Eileen, it was where letters flew in—for select few only. So she'd go there too.
Asha bowed in thanks. Lucia puffed out her chest—slightly larger than Eileen's—with pride, bidding farewell.
"Nobles have small chests, huh."
"No! How rude, desu wa yo!"
"Right, that's rude, Lady Asha!"
Asha smirked at their pouts and stepped out.
Sunset had fallen. The once-noisy orphanage now hummed only with kids' soft snores after playtime.
"Leaving now?"
"Yes, thank you for guiding us."
As they walked the hall, the elderly woman approached first.
"Got everything you wanted?"
"One thing left, but Lady Lucia said to ask you—may I?"
"Haha, what could an old crone offer...?"
Asha asked her.
"How was Ain in Litera?"
"Ah. Aah..."
She nodded, reminiscing.
"Haha, you came tracing your benefactor's footsteps. Well... he granted this old woman's wish."
"... "
"Kind and gentle, shining bright. His comrades too... probably drawn to his light, filling the space beside him, advancing together."
The old woman smiled wistfully, pulling a letter from her bosom with trembling hands, gazing at Asha.
"In my seventy years, I'd never seen such beauty. A world dulled by despair after losing two children—learning it could shine so brilliantly was new then."
"I see."
"Others might disagree, but to me, it was the loveliest light he'd created. Did my ramblings answer your question...?"
Flames of brilliance burned fiercely in her eyes.
"Yes, perfect. Thank you."
"Haha, then I'll check on the kids. It's late—safe travels."
She bowed and faded down the hall, her back brimming with vitality. Not deathly at all, for an elder.
And so.
Asha and Eileen left the orphanage as night neared, strolling the streets.
"We can leave tomorrow! Village where letters fly in... so romantic!"
"... "
As Eileen said, tomorrow would do. Asha felt great—the day had gone well, steps light, a smile tugging unbidden.
And, well.
"Mission accomplished—let's grab a celebratory beer..."
"Pardon...?"
Good mood revived memories of yesterday's bittersweet, nutty brew swirling in her mind. The faint taste seemed to brush her tongue.
"We're leaving tomorrow anyway— one last beer before bed sounds perfect."
"Huh?"
"To the tavern."
Truth be told, that liquid feast sliding down her throat had felt pretty good. Aside from the splitting headache next morning—she got why people drank.
"No, no...! If you pass out drunk again, I'll ditch you and head to the inn alone this time?!"
"Sip slowly, just a little at a time."
No chugging, and it'd be fine.
So.
Asha went with Eileen to the tavern, ordering beer and light snacks.
"Eileen."
"Yesh...? Glugh glugh...?"
Eileen, miffed she couldn't drink as a minor, chomped snacks and eyed Asha.
"Just eat your fill. Looks good on you."
"Yaaay~"
Asha chuckled at the sight, sipping beer cautiously. As expected, slow sips avoided face-planting. The pleasant buzz warmed her with each swallow, lips curving happily.
They chatted idly in the rowdy tavern, other voices drifting over.
"Heard about Litera? Crazy stuff."
"That tale of dozens of letters flying in at once? Heh, you're behind, friend."
"So, fake news? Selecting that many at once doesn't add up."
Asha grinned broadly.
Their words matched what she'd heard earlier.
"Nah. Hundreds of adventurers saw it—how could it be fake? And get this: rumors say the incompetent Ain got three letters there."
"What...? Nonsense. Better he'd croaked in some backwater!"
To adventurers scorning Ain, the news widened eyes.
"That's what returnees from Litera say—whaddya gonna do."
"They all got hammered."
"Even his comrades got letters, but don't believe it if you won't. If true, more news on him'll come!"
The brilliant scene Ain wrought in that village spread slowly from mouths to mouths.
Clink—mugs met amid raucous cheers.
Asha sipped her beer there, smiling softly.
Ain was forging ahead far away.
"Eileen."
"Y-yes?"
"We're leaving right now."
"Wha—huh? So sudden...? Lady Asha, you've been drinking...?!"
"Destination: Litera."
So Asha would head to the land he'd stepped on first.