Chapter 342
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Another Tale (4)
-Pamon! Are you okay now!?
The magic tome was rarely worrying about its master.
Because its master was rarely in such a depressed state.
It had been a time that was short if short, long if long.
The forest witch Pamon had lost herself.
Like driftwood floating on the sea.
"Yeah."
But now.
She had regained her usual vibrant self.
-Yeah...?
Rather than relief, the magic tome Duran felt more concern at Pamon's demeanor.
Because it knew the reason she had fallen into that depressed state and fully understood her feelings.
After 'that incident'.
Pamon's intuition had conveyed one possibility to her.
The possibility that she might never meet Rishir again.
"We'll definitely meet Rishir again."
Pamon had successfully escaped from that possibility.
-...Do you really think that?
Duran cautiously observed Pamon's complexion.
Even if it was a book.
If the hope she was leaning on turned out to be in vain—
She wouldn't be able to endure it when it crumbled.
"Of course. Our disciple said so~?"
-What...?! Pamon, do you remember what happened in there!?
"Hmm~ It's still hazy. Like wandering through a forest shrouded in thick fog. But one—one fragmented memory comes faintly to mind. Like the texture of grass brushing my fingertips."
Pamon couldn't remember the details of what happened in the nightmare.
The colossal clash of wills that formed it was not something a mortal could fully bear.
Thus, what remained for Pamon was an indescribable sense of liberation from something horrific tearing away—
And hazy, fragmented imagery.
Pamon reached out toward that imagery once more.
Then, it felt like his voice was reaching her.
"We definitely said we'd meet again. And soon."
In the center of her silver eyes, an unwavering strong light held its place.
At the very least, it wasn't the eye of a pitiful fool chasing vain hope.
-...Right! You're correct! Rishir! That guy's not the type to vanish so meaninglessly!
"Exactly, exactly~ Our disciple~"
-And speaking of which now— wasn't it too sudden from the start!? Rishir being connected to that phenomenon! Even if he's a unique and special guy, there's a limit!
"Hmm~ True enough. That makes sense. But then—what exactly was that?"
Pamon placed her hand on her chest.
The touch that had saved her from the divine and ominous power.
Probably a fragment of another divine being.
That fragment, which had felt so vivid right after the incident, was fading in presence as time passed.
As if it had truly become a part of her.
Even so, Pamon recalled the memory from then.
That sensation.
The aura felt from that fragment.
"..."
Was it just her imagination after all?
Had she unconsciously thought of her disciple from the aura of that fragment?
To judge accurately, the master had been separated from her disciple for too long.
Besides, the disciple's aura back then had been as feeble as a chick just hatching from its egg.
Above all, it was too unrealistic.
Her once adorable disciple becoming a divine being in the short time they hadn't seen each other.
Normally, one would conclude it was all a delusion.
But—
-Pamon. Are you thinking of what Lady Lavella said?
As Duran said, Pamon was bothered by her master's words.
"...Yeah, Master definitely said that."
"Definitely—"
"Definitely..."
"Bu—"
"..."
"..."
"Master...~"
Pamon knelt down.
The image of her master from memory scolded the unworthy disciple harshly once more.
It took quite some time after that for the unworthy disciple and master to regain composure.
The master Lavella that Pamon knew wasn't the type to say such flippant words.
-Damn, it's frightening. Rishir. What kind of man has he become to elicit that reaction from Lady Lavella...!
That was why she felt confusion in the current situation.
In that sense, it was fortunate.
Pamon had the end to the mystery tormenting them right before her eyes.
"Well, we'll find out soon enough~?"
Her footsteps halted.
A dark elf raised her head and took in the sight unfolding before her.
The full view of the city Bondales.
She intuited it.
That her reunion with her disciple was as close as that city, right before her.
The husband-and-wife(?) con artist duo mobilized.
Rishir personally stepped in to correct the outer sword's misunderstanding(?).
The woman he had seen overlapping with his master was a swordswoman once infamous as a murderous demon—
But now, she had gained a new self, he said.
Surprisingly, it was the pure truth, without even a hint of lie.
"Is that so? It was my mistake then."
Outer Sword Rodan murmured lowly.
"..."
Rishir's eyes, facing him, rolled sideways.
Klana, casually playing the role of 'Rishir's fiancée', was sitting right next to him.
A reluctant feeling danced on the tip of his tongue.
Even if it was for each other's sake, was this really the right way?
"Hoo."
It was then.
Rodan let out a deep sigh.
Then, a relieved smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, it must have been a mistake."
"Rodan? Are you alright?"
"To be honest, I'm quite relieved."
"Relieved?"
"Yes."
Rodan looked down at his hand.
"Now that I think about it, I've had considerable doubts about Master's teachings."
Back then, like his moniker Mad Swordmaster, Rodan had walked the precarious line between apostle and righteous path.
The Blue Lotus had tried to fully draw such a him into apostleship, making him tread the same path as itself.
"I still regret not receiving all of Master's teachings even now, but at the same time, I'm glad. If I'd fully accepted them, I would be a completely different person today."
He raised his head to look at Rishir.
A pleasant smile rose on his face.
"I wouldn't be able to stand before you so proudly, like now."
"..."
Rishir was considerably surprised.
Because Klana's diagnosis had fit perfectly.
He resolves his intent and ascends the righteous path.
For Outer Sword, who had thus completed his imagery, reuniting with the murderous demon was more loss than gain.
'Did Klana know this and say that?'
Rodan smiled at Rishir.
"A reunion doesn't have to be ideal just because it's welcome, right? Isn't that so, fellow disciple?"
There wasn't even a fragment of the shadow of delusion.
Unconsciously, Rishir overlapped another figure onto him.
Mad Swordmaster, Outer Sword—
The Rodan from when they first met.
"..."
Finally, a pleasant smile rose on Rishir's face too.
Comparing directly made it even clearer.
Rodan.
The current him seemed ideal in himself.
As if only betterment lay ahead—
And thus, no more was needed.
"Well said."
"Yes. I thought a fellow disciple would understand."
By the way—
Rodan, who had burst into pleasant laughter, soon composed himself and spoke gravely.
"Speaking of Master— Rishir. During my travels, I met your magic master."
"What!?"
Not only Rishir, but even the consistently apathetic Klana widened her eyes in reaction.
"Y-Your magic master— you mean—"
"Just to check, do you know a dark elf proficient in nature magic?"
"Master Pamon!?"
"Oh, right. That's exactly who I met."
"Wha— how— where did you meet her!?"
Rishir, rarely excited, couldn't contain himself, his eyes shining.
And Klana and Rodan couldn't hide their surprise at Rishir's rare sight.
"Well—"
Rodan's tale began in the now-heated air.
"How'd it go? Did the talk resolve well?"
Right after Rodan left the place.
Fienne's group, waiting nearby, immediately took his spot.
Roera, faster than anyone, leaned against Rishir from behind like hugging him.
"..."
Nearby women's gazes concentrated on her.
-What.
-It's my little brother, got a problem?
Roera was brazen.
"Huh?"
It was then.
Roera leaned forward to check Rishir's face.
"Oppa?"
"Hey, Rishir?"
"Are you okay?"
Then Fienne and Rona voiced their concern.
They had belatedly noticed Rishir's oddity.
He was deep in thought, unaware even of Fienne's group entering.
"Huh? Everyone, when did you—"
Once he snapped out of it, puzzled gazes focused on him.
"Ah."
Rishir smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry, everyone. I was lost in thought for a bit— so, what did you say?"
After glances exchanged, the chaotic air settled.
Fienne, sitting opposite, brought it up.
"That. Did it resolve well? The issue with Outer Sword."
"Ah. Yeah. It resolved well."
"Really? Then that's the end of it?"
"The end?"
Fienne's finger pointed at Klana.
"This woman's fiancée act."
"Ah, that— ...not yet."
"What? Not yet? You just said it resolved well?"
"Separate from that— I think we need to keep this up until Rodan leaves Bondales."
"What!? Why!?"
As Rishir explained the reason, Fienne's eyebrows gradually tilted.
Bam!
Unable to hold back, Fienne slammed both palms on the table.
"From the start, isn't it weird!? Out of all methods, why pretend to be fiancée!? Do you know how troubled I've been because of that!?"
"Troubled? What's there to trouble you?"
Klana, who had been sitting demurely but now lounged comfortably, interjected.
"Troubled, you ask!? Of course there is!"
Fienne stood up and pointed at Rishir.
"This man's real fian, fian, fian— fiancée is me!"
And she said it with an attitude that was brazen yet not quite.
Fienne's pale cheeks flushed faintly.
Klana furrowed one eyebrow.
Not only that, Rona and Roera each showed confusion.
"Fienne? What do you mean fiancée?"
"First I've heard of it?"
"First you've heard!? Roera— I get it from others, but you can't say that! You're not going to claim you don't know about the engagement between me and Rishir, are you!?"
"What~? When was that old story? Besides, isn't that already over?"
"En-en-en-ended!? How does an engagement end like that!? It's not some romance you can just end easily!?"
Even as she seemed infinitely brazen, her fumbling made it lacking.
Fienne's hard-won initiative slipped from her grasp pathetically.
The others sharply pressed Fienne.
"Argh, whatever! I'm just stating the facts as they are! Anyway, Rishir! Why have you been silent since earlier!?"
"M-Me...?"
"Someone might think— I, I, I made up some nonexistent story alone!? Y-You say something too! About what relationship we have!"
Rishir was flustered at Fienne's intense questioning, unable to meet eyes even as she grilled him.
Separately, gazes from Fienne and the others focused on him.
"No—"
Rishir couldn't steady himself under the pressure from all sides.
It was then.
Their gazes turned to the door.
Something enormous was approaching from beyond.
A vast aura instantly filling the place—
"—...Ri, RishirRishirRishirRishirRishirRishirRishirRishir!!!"
No, noise!
The being bringing a wave of noise was none other than the monitor Ratsil.
"Rishir!"
Following her, Dark Elf Princess Katría appeared.
They said to Rishir with worldly shocked expressions.
"Fiancée, really!?"
What now.
The other women's sharp gazes swept the room like blades.
"..."
Rishir choked under the intensified pressure.
"You're here to find your disciple Rishir...!?"
"Ha, huff...! You're the one!!!"
Pamon was considerably shocked.
Having tracked her disciple's whereabouts to the Gray Magic Tower.
And there, weren't they welcoming a dark elf like her with open arms?
Even that wasn't the end.
Murmur murmur—
Waiting in the guest room as guided, a commotion came from outside.
Moments later, the door opened—
Pamon's group couldn't hide their bewilderment.
Fine, multiple masters including a white-haired elder lined up outside the door.
"Ooh, so this is—"
Aren Sum Palag, who happened to visit the Gray Magic Tower,
And Remier, lord of the Gray Magic Tower bearing a star's name.
It was far too many people gathered just to greet one dark elf.
-What is this!? Surely not a dark elf hunt!?
Pamon's group naturally showed confusion.
At that, Tower Lord Remier immediately spoke.
"Please forgive us— Upon hearing that 'his' master had arrived, everyone couldn't overcome their curiosity. I apologize on behalf of the tower."
It was a rare occurrence.
The Wandering Star Remier formally receiving a guest.
-My god, what kind of treatment is this. Rishir, that guy. Could he really be something like the next tower lord!?
They could no longer picture Rishir in their minds.