Chapter 313
Chapter 313
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 313
Chapter Title: Interlude (1)
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The night had deepened.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, brushing out her hair, Raniel suddenly glanced out the window. The vast snowy plain stretched out endlessly, bathed in cascading starlight. Her gaze lingered on the sparkling snow before she tilted her head up.
The wide-open night sky.
Come to think of it, the Shadow Dragon Lord's hair had been just that color, hadn't it? lost in such idle thoughts, Raniel stared up at the night sky.
Stars dotted the heavens.
The platinum star shone brilliantly, as always.
Raniel's eyes glimmered blue as she gazed at the star. Even as a little child, when she became the Ashen Mage Tower's next lord, and when she set out on journeys with Kyle... she had often looked up at the sky like this.
The shining stars were the same as ever.
But the eyes that beheld them—Raniel's eyes—had changed so much from before. That gaze was no longer indifferent. It wasn't the look of someone uninterested.
"......"
Doubt, suspicion, or perhaps anger.
Unaware of her own frown, Raniel rubbed the corner of her eye with her fingertip. A mage must always think coldly and objectively, never getting lost in a single perspective.
Chewing on that fact, Raniel shook her head.
It was too soon to draw conclusions.
She needed to think more.
And only judge after watching it closely with her own two eyes. It would probably be a matter she'd have to ponder for a long time.
Truly, for a very long time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
The Death Blade Ganikalt that appeared in the Kennel Snowfield.
The cursed dragon that attacked the refugees.
Though both disasters struck the North, the death toll wasn't that high. Most of the damage came from the latter, but since Kelrhalm and the Hero were there, the casualties were kept to a minimum.
'The terrain's been completely changed—might have to rename it Kennel Canyon now, but whatever...'
For the Death Blade to appear and the damage be this light was nothing short of miraculous. Even Raniel herself, who had stopped the disaster, thought so. In the past, halting the Death Blade had required sacrifices incomparable to this.
It was truly a feat worthy of the name.
To celebrate that accomplishment, the North held a multi-day feast. They mourned the dead and blessed the survivors.
"Eat and drink as much as you want. You are the North's pride."
Amid the feast honoring the heroes, Raniel rested her chin on her hand and stared at the table where she sat. It was the most ornately decorated four-seater, but she was the only one there.
Clink.
At the sound of a plate from the side, Raniel turned her head. An elf was there, chewing meat.
"...Right, you're here too."
"What'd you say?"
"Nothing."
"You gonna eat this? If not, I'll have it."
Remia reached for the plate in front of Raniel.
Raniel's eyes turned icy cold—frozen solid, even—as she shot her a glare.
"Aren't you an elf?"
"Obviously. Can't you tell?"
"I heard elves are vegetarians who only eat fruit. Isn't that right?"
"That's discriminatory talk against elves. Nowadays, elves eat meat too. Who told you that?"
"You, you little shit. You did."
It was what Remia had said after Raniel had painstakingly grilled meat from the demon realm and offered it to her—she'd thrown her plate at her, yelling that elves don't eat meat, so why offer it?
"Me? When?"
Raniel's molars ground together at Remia's shameless attitude. Suppressing the urge to hurl the plate at her, Raniel let out a sigh.
'No point arguing; I'll just get mad.'
Conversations are for humans.
Not that pointy-eared glutton. With humans. Calming her anger that way, Raniel turned her head forward. Two seats sat empty there.
The Saintess, Sara.
The Hero, Kyle Toven.
Their seats were vacant.
They had followed the ancient dragon's mage and hadn't returned even after a dozen days. Only a single letter had arrived.
「It'll take a while.」
「Don't wait.」
「We'll return when the time comes.」
It was written in Kyle's own hand.
In the end, the feast went on without its protagonists, and Kyle didn't return until it concluded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ah, Professor Lania."
I turned at the voice calling out as I tilted my glass. Rak stood there. Still not fully recovered, he limped toward me.
"Are you enjoying the feast?"
I swirled my glass and smiled.
"The booze is good. Shame there's no one to drink with, though."
I nodded at the empty seat.
Remia had complained there wasn't enough food here and moved to a table nearer the center. So I was sitting alone at this four-seater.
"Sit."
"Oh, alright then..."
Rak took a seat.
I took a sip of the remaining liquor and spoke.
"Feeling better?"
"Yes. Everyone's surprised, actually. They didn't expect my injuries to heal this fast."
"Of course they wouldn't."
I chuckled.
"You're halfway a Hero now."
"...Pardon? What do you mean?"
"You pulled the sword from the sanctuary's center, didn't you?"
The sword(?) Rak had drawn from the sanctuary's heart.
It was the blade once wielded by the first Hero Ganikalt—the original holy sword. Infused with vast starlight, Rak had gripped it, and the holy sword acknowledged him as its master.
"Wield a holy sword, and you're a Hero. What else?"
"Is that how it works?"
"That's exactly how it works."
Suddenly, I recalled words from the North's tower.
"If someone becomes a symbol of victory, if others find solace looking upon him, if the path he walks is righteous... then that person is the Hero."
I clapped Rak on the shoulder and grinned.
"That's what the sword's original owner said. By those words, you're a Hero too."
Rak's role in this battle had been huge.
Without him, I really would've had to put my lifespan on the scales again.
'And...'
If that had happened,
that place probably would've been my final stage. I'd truly been prepared to die.
"Thanks, Rak."
"Pardon?"
"You played a big part this time. In my eyes, you were a Hero. Thanks to you, I survived."
I handed Rak a glass.
"Care for one?"
"No, I still..."
"Hey, when an adult offers, you take it."
As I filled his glass to the brim, someone approached the table. Thinking it might be a warrior coming to stop me, I looked up. But it wasn't burly, muscled fighters.
Belnoa and Chloe.
The two who had drawn the most eyes at this feast smiled wryly at me.
"Saw you sitting alone, so we came over."
"We can't handle strong liquor like that, Professor. Lady Phelia prepared something special for us."
Belnoa and Chloe sat down.
Belnoa poured champagne from her glass into cups for Chloe, Rak, and me—one each.
"We'll have this instead."
I smirked and raised my glass. Clink. Four glasses met with a chime. Rak dumped his in like it was his first time drinking, Chloe sipped delicately, and Belnoa pretended to be tough while nursing hers. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hah."
They're still kids, huh.
'And.'
They're growing up well.
Watching these kids who'd shot up in that short time, I felt oddly like an old fogey. I smiled wryly and tilted my glass.
It wasn't a bad feeling.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 3.
After the feast ended, I prepared to head straight back to the capital. My business in the North was done. It had happened during the semester anyway, and plenty of people needed a full report.
Before leaving, I stopped by the White Mage Tower. They'd provided a lot of support items.
"Ah, you're here? I've been waiting!"
The White Mage Tower Lord greeted me with a bright smile upon arrival. That grin was starting to feel burdensome, so I instinctively stepped back.
"...What is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why come out to greet me? You're the Tower Lord."
"Of course I should greet an honored guest."
As I took another step back, she advanced one. We repeated this a few times until I held out a hand to stop her.
"I-I'm here to pay for the items...?"
"Payment? Oh, no need."
"...Pardon?"
The White Mage Tower Lord beamed.
"If we hadn't stopped the Death Blade, the whole White Mage Tower would've been obliterated. And honestly, just seeing it once was enough for me."
'It'?
As I blinked, she spread her arms wide, eyes sparkling at me.
"A colossal tree like the World Tree!"
She shouted loudly.
"A pillar of light piercing the heavens. Circuits so vast one couldn't take them all in at a glance...! Flashes from thousands, tens of thousands of spells erupting simultaneously...!"
The White Mage Tower Lord strode up and clasped my hands in both of hers.
"Seeing that was satisfaction enough for me."
"Uh, umm..."
"What, drag you into the White Mage Tower? That was arrogant of me. What was I thinking? I should take you as my master."
She pointed inside the tower.
"Forget payment. Shall we chat a bit?"
"No, that's..."
"Come on, just a little..."
"No, let go first...!"
"Cookies! Coffee! All sorts of treats are ready—just a moment of your time...!"
Sensing it would be a huge hassle, I shook her off and tried to flee, but she grabbed my collar and clung on. Right in front of the tower's mages watching.
"Please! Just a little!"
She even threw herself into the snow, pleading.
I couldn't quite ignore her tearful voice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An hour later, Raniel finally broke free and climbed into the carriage with hollow eyes. Feeling mentally exhausted, she leaned against the backrest.
"Ugh..."
I'm tired.
So very tired.
Letting out a long sigh, Raniel closed her eyes.
She had come north with Sara, but she'd return to the capital alone. No further word from Sara or Kyle.
There'd be much to do upon returning.
First, prepare for Rak and Belnoa to undergo their trials. And research the 'Convergence' ability Chloe inherited from Galahal.
'And also...'
As she pondered her tasks with eyes shut, the door creaked open. The coachman had opened it.
"Eh? Miss, when did you get here?"
"...Pardon?"
The coachman asked Raniel.
"Didn't you run off that way earlier?"
"...Me?"
Raniel blinked.
The direction he pointed was opposite where she'd come from. She pointed the way she'd arrived.
"I came from this side."
"Huh? That's weird..."
The coachman tilted his head.
After blinking a few times, he let out an "Ah" and muttered.
"Ah, looking closer, your outfit's a bit different. You look a tad younger too."
The coachman mumbled something incomprehensible.
Raniel blinked and shifted her gaze. To the direction he'd pointed.
There were no footprints in the snow.
"Miss, do you have a sister or something who looks like you?"
"No."
"Really? How odd..."
"Must've been a mistake."
Ignoring the muttering coachman, Raniel looked toward the direction he'd indicated. It was the Kurakt Mountains. No sign of anyone.
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