Homecoming (2)
As I lay there without moving a muscle, all sorts of idle thoughts crept in. I had never truly rested before, so the exhaustion must have been bone-deep. I fell asleep like that, and when the next day came, my eyes snapped open at the first light of dawn. The moment I woke, I headed straight for Doren's house.
"Snrrk…"
"Ugh. The stench of booze."
Doren was sprawled across his bed in a ridiculous pose, and the house was the same disaster it had always been. I muttered under my breath as I picked up the scattered clothes and folded them roughly.
"You really ought to clean up once in a while if you're going to live like a human."
After that, I made my way to Taron's house and knocked on the door. He opened it almost immediately.
"You're up early."
"So are you, sir."
I stepped inside and took a seat. Taron poured me a cup of coffee. I savored the aroma for a moment before taking a sip.
"So. Are you planning to settle down here now?" Taron asked, adding sugar to his own cup.
"That's the idea."
"And how do you plan to live?"
"I was thinking of focusing on rehabilitation."
"Rehabilitation?" Taron tilted his head, not quite understanding.
"I want to relearn the sword with my left hand."
"Hah..." Taron let out a heavy sigh. "All swordsmanship is taught on the premise that both arms are fully functional. You know why that is, don't you?"
"Because a one-handed sword is inferior in every way unless you're using a shield."
"And can you even hold a shield with that arm?"
"Of course not."
"Haa..." Taron sighed again, deeper this time.
"It's your choice, so I won't stop you. But you'll only be able to use ten percent of your talent."
"I'm aware."
Remembering my original purpose, I glanced around Taron's house. As expected of a swordsmanship instructor, various blades were displayed throughout the room. Reading my gaze, Taron let out a third sigh.
"...They're my prized possessions, but you can take one of the lighter ones."
"Thank you."
I accepted his kindness and examined the swords before drawing one from a brown sheath. The blade was sharp and well-honed. And it felt the most comfortable in my grip.
"I'll take this one."
"...Ugh." From Taron's reaction, it was clearly one of his favorites.
"I'll pay you for it later."
"I-it's fine..."
You don't look fine at all.
I had a considerable amount of savings and items stored in the bank from my adventurer days—money I'd barely touched. I'd deal with the items later, but I should have withdrawn some coin if I'd known this would happen.
I ought to stop by the bank, withdraw some money, and give the old men a nice surprise. Both Doren and Taron.
It had been a long time since I'd felt this warm satisfaction at the thought of doing something good for the people who had shown me kindness.
******
The Southern Continent Adventurer Guild headquarters in the capital of the Bartion Kingdom was bustling with people as usual. On the top floor of that massive building, Guild Master Rosetta clutched the eyepatch that covered her right eye and burst into roaring laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Gulp after gulp, she drank straight from the bottle, dressed in her bold, rugged clothes. Rosetta's secretary, Marien, adjusted her glasses but couldn't quite fix the grimace twisting her face.
"What good news has you drinking so early?"
"What? Marien. Are you mocking me for drinking all the time?"
"I said no such thing."
"Shut up! You think I don't know what's going on in that head of yours?!"
Rosetta shot up from her seat and put Marien in a headlock. Marien's body wasn't nearly as strong as her boss's, so she quickly began tapping out on the floor.
"Ack!! I surrender! I surrender! My glasses fell off! You crazy woman!!"
"Hahahahahahahaha!!!"
Rosetta picked up the fallen glasses from the floor and handed them back. Marien snatched them with a flushed red face, gasping for breath as she glared at her superior.
"This is exactly why you can't get married!"
"......"
"Huh?"
Marriage. As her secretary, Marien knew exactly what that word meant to Rosetta. Realizing her blunder, she quickly changed the subject.
"O-oh, that's right!! We received urgent information..."
"How many times do I have to spank you?"
Feeling her life in genuine danger, Marien spoke quickly.
"That! Crown-rank adventurer Kael has vanished, they say."
Rosetta, who had been eyeing Marien's backside with a gleam in her eye, suddenly froze.
"What?"
"To be precise, it's been over a month since he disappeared."
"......"
Rosetta's face grew serious. She returned to her seat, crossed her arms, and leaned back in her chair. Marien cautiously spoke to her brooding master.
"Do you think he's dead?"
"No." Rosetta swept back her long black hair. In this serious state, she radiated a charisma that made her untouchable. "He won't have died. I know his strength better than anyone."
"Hmm. Is that so? Now that I think about it, you've always kept a close eye on Kael, Master."
"He's a Crown-rank adventurer. Having him active in the southern adventurer circles would be an enormous help."
"Hmm. That's true, but..."
Marien still looked unconvinced, but she finished her report and left the office. Once alone, Rosetta gently touched the eyepatch over her right eye.
"Kael..."
Five years ago. Having finally reached the highest adventurer rank she had dreamed of—Crown—she had been even more arrogant than she was now. She had never met anyone stronger than herself, and her combat sense allowed her to escape any crisis with ease. Everything had come easily to her. She had laughed at those beneath her.
From Crown rank onward, one could take on calamity-class requests. She had naturally assumed this one would be easy too. But then...
"Ugh—!"
Even though the eye had been cleanly removed, the phantom pain still came sometimes. Rosetta clutched her eyepatch and writhed in agony, but it wasn't simply because it hurt. It was something deeper.
I'm sorry. I should have come faster.
The man whose face was hidden behind a mask had seemed slightly younger than her. He had protected her when a magic beast pierced her right eye, even while his own stomach was run through.
"Uwek—. Ugh. Wek—."
The bright red blood he had shed to protect her. She had been nothing but a burden. It would have been better for her to die. Even though those thoughts had filled her mind, he had saved her life.
Incompetence. Stupidity. Arrogance. His back had been like a mirror, forcing her to truly see what kind of person she was.
"Huk…. Huk…."
After vomiting up all the alcohol, Rosetta collapsed onto the floor. When she came to her senses, she was lying on the old bed in the inn where he had stayed. She hadn't even been able to thank him. They said he had paid for ten days' lodging and left. She had seen him fighting while holding in what looked like his spilling intestines. Only after she became Guild Master did she learn how he had survived.
"Saint Mano."
The phantom pain had ended, but her entire body was drained. "Dead? No way."
She had shown absolute faith in him, but a sliver of anxiety still drove Rosetta to her feet. She pulled out a small, spherical magic communication device from her pocket, contacted Marien, and spoke.
"Marien. Prepare the fastest carriage immediately."
-Pardon?
"Where was the last place Kael took a request?"
-Um, one moment… Ah! The Northern Continent.
"I'm going on a business trip. Right now."
When she ended the communication, Rosetta's expression was sour. The reason was simple: the Northern Continent Guild Master was a strange woman commonly known as the "Witch."
******
"You wish to return to your hometown?"
"Yes."
"Sir Katia. Are you in your right mind?"
"......"
King Aldrick Vaster of the Bartion Kingdom stroked his long white beard as he spoke. Behind him stood his royal guards in formation, and kneeling on the red carpet with her head bowed was the Ice Knight, Katia.
"To the northwest lies the Kardion Empire, and our longtime enemy, the Herban Kingdom, has its forces arrayed against us. At the border, our soldiers risk their lives day and night to protect our people and their families. And you wish to return to your hometown in the middle of all this?"
"Yes. I will return."
Bang!
In his fury, Aldrick slammed his fist on the throne. The vassals and royal guards flinched in shock, but Katia remained completely expressionless as she raised her head and spoke again.
"I will return."
"Request denied."
"Please consider the devotion I have shown to both Your Majesty and the kingdom until now."
"Isn't that exactly why you should know better than to ask?! If you leave your post, they will surely set their sights on this small kingdom. Countless soldiers will lose their lives in an instant. Does that mean nothing to you?!"
"It does not."
Katia's expression remained icy. No—it was colder than it had ever been.
"It is none of my concern, King Aldrick."
"Hah..."
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the room. Aldrick glared at Katia with burning eyes. The tension stretched taut, ready to snap, when—
"Now, now. That's enough. Father, Sir Katia, you went too far as well."
As if he had been waiting for the right moment, Crown Prince Rafael Vaster stepped between them to mediate. He offered Katia a slight smile before turning to his father.
"You were too harsh, Father. You know that since becoming a knight, Sir Katia has served the kingdom without taking a single day of leave, don't you?"
"W-well, that is true… but the current state of affairs—"
"Which is precisely why this is necessary. The soldiers' morale has plummeted after such a long stalemate. Sir Katia must be feeling the same."
Rafael gave Katia a subtle wink. She turned her head sharply away. Aldrick fell into thought at his son's words.
"Hmm..."
"The enemy is in the same position. According to the latest intelligence, they plan to withdraw a significant number of troops from the border. This is the perfect time to send an envoy to the Herban Kingdom and establish a temporary truce, Father."
"...Hm. Is that so? Very well. We will discuss the details in council and decide. Sir Katia."
Katia, who had been listening silently, answered.
"Yes."
"I apologize for earlier. I am well aware of your contributions. It is thanks to you that this kingdom maintains its peace. I will do everything in my power to ensure you can take the long leave you have earned."
"......"
"However, until everything is settled, I cannot send you away immediately."
"......"
With the situation having come to this, Katia could no longer press the matter. As she bowed to the king and left the throne room, her retreating figure looked incredibly bitter in Rafael's eyes.