novelraw Chapter 83 : Chapter 83
Chapter 83 : Chapter 83
Chapter 83: Convalescence (2)
I had to go and report.
Ellen wouldn't let me get out of bed for anything, but she didn't stop me from reporting.
It was because a reward would follow the report.
Killing a 5th Rank mage was a great achievement.
'I'm mostly healed.'
My body was in a state where I could slowly return to the battlefield.
In fact, Ellen had been a bit fussy lately.
I could guess the reason.
To her, who possessed Innate Strength, I must have seemed very fragile.
She must have judged that I needed a good rest, since I had been constantly suffering from aftereffects.
It wasn't a wrong judgment.
It was just surprising. I never thought she would take care of me so devotedly by my side.
'It's going smoothly.'
We had grown closer than I had expected.
My interactions with Elaine were few, but it didn't matter.
Elaine and Ellen.
It was fine to become close with just one of them.
In the end, they were the same person. If Ellen changed, Elaine would change too.
'Ellen is better.'
Elaine had resolved to live by her cock, but in the end, she was no match for Ellen.
Wasn't Ellen a person born for freedom in the first place?
She was the true nature of the person named Elaine.
"Sorry, you must have been in the middle of something."
"We're not like that."
"How could that be?"
Toremot couldn't understand how a man and a woman who weren't in that kind of relationship could stay in the same room.
"I'm already taken."
"Lady Ellen is a one-night stand?"
Toremot was appalled.
"You have abnormally large guts."
"..."
'He's a passionate knight, they said.'
Toremot was passionate in many ways.
The distance between my annex and the Grand Duke's residence was not far.
But Toremot's steps did not reach the Grand Duke's residence. He was taking a detour, as if on a stroll.
"If you have something to say, say it."
"You're quick on the uptake. Is it because you're a mage?"
"Mages are usually like that."
Toremot's pace slowed.
It seemed he had a lot to say.
"I heard you're hanging out with Cassion."
"It's not so much hanging out as we eat at the same place. Kubel is a very good cook."
"He's a mage too. And yet Cassion can't even be in the same space as a mage."
Toremot muttered as if to himself.
He seemed to be wondering about the secret to being able to hang out with Cassion despite being a mage, but in reality, it was the opposite.
Toremot, who had stopped walking, was not looking at me.
He was suspicious of Cassion.
"What about Sir Cassion?"
"It's hard to explain in words. It's a cumbersome feeling."
"Was it always like that?"
"No. Recently."
It must have been after Cassion's identity as a mage was revealed.
From then on, Toremot's sense of smell had caught a different scent from Cassion.
'He's worse than a real beast.'
Even I got a little creeped out.
"It's not to the point of being unsettling."
In unsettling cases, they were usually enemies, Toremot added.
Thus, a Sword Master's intuition is often special.
Among them, Toremot's was even more exceptional.
"It's not a problem you need to worry about. His Grace the Grand Duke knows everything."
"I understand. Thank you for looking out for Derrick and Pisaro."
Toremot immediately agreed and changed the subject.
It was a passage where one could glimpse his loyalty and trust towards Grand Duke Aratus.
"I just made an achievement."
"You could have easily built it through Derrick and Pisaro."
It was the option Ellen had mentioned, of using the two as shields.
But I had chosen the path of self-sacrifice.
"You must cherish them a lot."
"They are my subordinates and comrades. They are no different from my own life."
Comrades.
That must be the answer to why the Toremot of the past life had died.
No matter how excellent his intuition, if he didn't follow it, it was as good as not having it.
That passionate Sword Master had died for that reason.
Because he chose his comrades over his intuition.
Because he equated his own value with that of other knights.
If he could save several comrades, Toremot was a knight who would readily offer his own death.
It wasn't a problem to worry about now.
Toremot's death was years away.
Of course, as the future changes, variables would arise, but I would be able to deal with them.
The regressed me had gained considerable influence over the 1st Knights.
"Make good use of Kubel. He will surely be of help."
"I doubt he'll be better than you."
Toremot's gaze was intense.
Anyone could see the covetous look in his eyes.
"Unfortunately, I have a lot to do."
I was a person who could not be confined to just the 1st Knights.
"Kubel also knows a lot. Sometimes he might be better than me. He doesn't know as much as I do, but he has no prejudices."
"What should I do for him?"
"Please keep him from dying, and raise him as a comrade."
"Pisaro seems to be particularly fond of him."
It meant he would match Pisaro's search schedule. A satisfactory answer.
"How did you fix Gullen's foolishness?"
I smiled silently.
Gullen, upon his return, seemed to have chosen the axe.
"I said I don't know when you'll die. Like my family."
"Hahaha!"
At those words, Toremot laughed so hard it seemed the Inner Fortress would be shaken.
"Is your pride hurt?"
"No. It's the truth. It wouldn't be strange if I died at any time."
Toremot seemed to be a person who was detached from death.
Because he was always ready to throw away his own death.
Serzila, his comrades, and probably his son too.
To Toremot, there were many things more important than his own life.
"You said you were twenty?"
"That's right."
"You're several times more splendid than my son."
For Gullen's sake, I had mentioned my family.
Those who show their weaknesses are strong.
Toremot's gaze towards me grew more intense.
"The more I see you, the more I covet you."
"I am a mage, not a knight."
"It's shameful to bring that up now."
We had left the Boundary together, and I owed him my life.
To the 1st Knights, I was already a comrade.
It was then that my body felt heavy.
The air had changed.
"Oh dear. It seems my laughter was too loud."
To be precise, it wasn't the air, but Aura.
"He seems to be telling us to come in."
An Aura that had started from the Grand Duke's residence was calling for me and Toremot.
* * *
I had been mentally preparing myself for fifteen days.
However, I couldn't deny that my tension had loosened a bit.
Because the 1st Knights Commander Toremot was with me.
It was a miscalculation.
As soon as I stood before Grand Duke Aratus, I was crushed to the floor.
It seemed the only one Grand Duke Aratus paid attention to was his blood relative.
'Right.'
He's not the type to care about what his vassals think.
"I thought I told you not to make contact."
The Grand Duke's voice was murderous.
Do not make contact. He was referring to Ellen.
Once, the Grand Duke had warned me not to make contact with her.
At that time, I had replied that I would try.
That it was not a matter a hostage could decide.
"This time, too, she came to me, not the other way around."
"..."
"Next time, I'll tell her to get lost when she comes."
The Grand Duke answered with Aura.
I was pinned to the floor. My bones rattled and my insides churned.
That was all.
He hurt me, but he didn't torment me hard enough to leave aftereffects.
'He just dislikes it. He's not stopping it.'
The Grand Duke knew that Ellen was staying at my annex.
If he really disliked it, he could have isolated her.
But the Grand Duke did not.
'Because there's no justification?'
No.
Come to think of it, it was the same last time.
The Grand Duke had only warned me; he had never taken strong measures.
I was granted permission to enter the Boundary through the tunnels.
But when I went to the tunnels, Ellen was always with me.
Under the pretext of guarding the entrance to the tunnel while I was over.
'He wouldn't believe that we only went to the tunnel entrance together.'
The first time, maybe, but by now he must have realized that I was taking Ellen into the Boundary.
'That's a clear justification.'
The Grand Duke is reluctant to let his daughter enter the Boundary. That's why Hunting Day was created.
But he was turning a blind eye to her crossing into the Boundary through the tunnels.
'What's the difference?'
As I saw it, the only reason was myself.
'He dislikes me making contact with Ellen, but he needs to make us make contact. That's how it comes across.'
Why?
"As a reward, I will spare your life."
"I'd rather die."
I threw it out there just in case.
The pressure grew stronger. I was buried so deep it felt like the floor was a coffin perfectly fitted to my body.
That was all.
My bones felt like they would be crushed, but they didn't break. The internal injuries were also light. To the extent that I would recover after a night's sleep.
But it was excruciatingly painful.
The Grand Duke knew well how to inflict pain without causing damage.
'I think I'm right.'
He dislikes his daughter and I hanging out.
But regardless of his feelings, he needs to make us hang out.
The circumstances were saying so.
The reason was not clear.
Is he pleased with Elaine's change?
Certainly. The Grand Duke didn't dislike Elaine's decision to save the Tunnel-Digger, Rick.
But it's suspicious.
Such changes had only begun to be noticeable recently.
Ellen and I had been going to the Boundary through the tunnels even before that. The Grand Duke had known and turned a blind eye.
'There's another reason.'
The pressure lessened. It meant I should speak.
I cautiously raised my head. The Grand Duke's expression was unusual. It seemed I shouldn't bring up Ellen.
"I killed a 5th Rank mage."
"I know."
"The Ivory Tower's infiltration route is probably within the 1st Knights' search radius."
Psina was a cowardly mage.
She wanted to avenge her disciple, but she didn't have the courage to cross the Wall.
A person with no such courage wouldn't have just roamed the Boundary.
She must have used the same path as Ios and Compaso.
"Not enough."
It meant that if I wanted that information to be recognized as an achievement, I should draw a precise map of the infiltration route.
"I'll do that slowly."
It wasn't an urgent matter. The Otherworld of my past life did not prefer to cross the Wall.
I had to consider the variables of regression, but for the time being, increasing the surveillance on the Wall would be sufficient.
The Grand Duke slowly nodded.
It meant he understood.
"Do you happen to have a Magical Item like a round pebble?"
At those words, the Grand Duke's face wrinkled slightly.
It was a reaction not of someone who had been caught, but more like, what nonsense is this.
"If you don't have it, I'll take my reward next time."
I didn't particularly need anything right now.
I hadn't brought any mages, and the Magical Items the Grand Duke had collected weren't very good.
"Go to the 3rd Knights."
The 1st Knights had the drawing of the Wall, the 2nd Knights had the mastermind who had targeted the Grand Heir; there was always a reason for the Grand Duke's orders.
Not this time.
The Grand Duke simply ordered me to go to the 3rd Knights. To just go and get their recognition.
'I've finally passed.'
It meant I no longer needed to prove my abilities.
The Grand Duke had acknowledged me, the mage.
The head of a 5th Rank had a value that could not be denied.
"I am still a patient."
"I'll make you rest soundly."
"The tunnel issue hasn't been completely resolved yet."
It wasn't Rick or the broker that bothered me, but Isotta.
The mage of the mask. She belonged to the Liberation Tower. I didn't know when the Liberation Tower would make its move.
'I have to check the tunnels too.'
There were thirteen tunnels in total.
Of which, ten had not yet been checked.
Now that the giant had been observed on the Deep Sea Path, I had to find another path connected to the Red Tower's Magical Item.
"I'll sort it out for you."
It sounded like he would sort out my life.
"I will depart tomorrow morning."
* * *
"You, did you always report like this?"
Toremot was impressed as soon as we left the Grand Duke's residence.
"How on earth are you still alive?"
"I know His Highness to be fond of audacious people."
"There's a limit. I thought your injuries were concentrated in your head."
Toremot observed me as if looking at a strange person.
"It's the first time I've seen His Highness press down on a subordinate."
"It's probably because I'm a hostage, not a subordinate."
"It means he's that fond of you."
"That is?"
"Even though you're a hostage, it ended with just being pressed down, didn't it? As you know, His Highness is not a merciful person."
Toremot's words had a point.
Although I was pressed down every time, I was alive.
I had thought the reason was because I was capable and audacious, but perhaps there was another reason.
Toremot was one of the people who knew Grand Duke Aratus well.
"You probably won't be departing tomorrow. It'll be winter soon."
I tilted my head.
"Even if His Highness doesn't show it, he's concerned about you."
Toremot said no more and left.
He had to return to the garrison.
I immediately returned to the annex.
Arika was sitting at the dining table.
"What are you doing?"
"Having a late-night snack."
Arika answered without even looking at me.
The late-night snack was meat. It seemed she was sharing Ellen's late-night snack.
"Why are you eating here?"
"Shura is sleeping."
It meant she couldn't be noisy in Kubel's annex.
However, Arika had manners.
She ate her food without making a sound.
'I don't think Shura would wake up.'
Shura sleeps on the second floor.
But Arika had chosen this place. It must mean she didn't dislike or feel that uncomfortable with me.
"Isn't your throat getting dry?"
"Please give me some water."
Thus, my relationship with Arika was also smooth.
"Eat slowly."
"I have to eat and work."
It seemed late-night work was a daily routine for Arika.
"You have work left? I heard all the brokers were caught."
If you go to the domain's square, not a few heads are on display.
They were the heads of the brokers brought by the Intelligence Bureau.
Among them were northern nobles and Imperial nobles.
"It's something you... don't need to know."
Arika put meat in her mouth.
To my eyes, it looked like she was stuffing her mouth with meat.
In the meantime, Ellen came down.
"What happened?"
"I decided to take the reward later. I couldn't think of anything right away."
I relayed my meeting with the Grand Duke.
I left out the part about being pressed down.
"You're going to the 3rd Knights?"
"I have to get their recognition."
I had to be acknowledged by all the knights of the north.
Not to survive, but to stand by Elaine's side.
"They probably all acknowledge you already, though?"
There was already a mood of tacit acknowledgment.
Because the events of the 1st and 2nd Knights had been passed down.
Killing a 5th Rank mage must have spurred that mood on.
"Still, hearing and experiencing firsthand are different. You know that difference best."
"When are you going?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Ellen furrowed her brow.
"You're still not fully recovered."
"This is as good as fully recovered."
This command had no special content.
Just getting recognition was a very easy task for the current me.
"But still, isn't that too harsh? They should let you rest a bit."
"Well, what can I do. It's His Grace the Grand Duke. If he tells me to do it, I have to."
"Should I say something?"
"Can you do that?"
"Why can't I? We're relatives."
Actually, she's his daughter.
But that's not her personality.
The Ellen before me seemed serious.
Anyone could see she was an angry person.
"I'll just accept the thought."
"...Okay, I get it."
Ellen immediately walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I have to get my clothes. Comfortable ones."
"Clothes?"
"We're going into the Boundary, aren't we?"
When going into the Boundary, neither Elaine nor Ellen wore magical beast hides.
It was because they considered even the harsh environment of the Boundary as part of their training.
It was an idea only the strong could have.
"Why are you packing that now?"
"You said we're leaving tomorrow morning."
"I'm the one who's going?"
"So what."
Ellen seemed full of intent to go with me.
It seemed she was obsessed with the Moon's Prophecy.
After all, I had almost died this time.
There was no reason for me to refuse either.
Normally, I would have worried about my achievements being stolen.
'It should be fine.'
Thanks to killing Psina.
Now, even with Ellen, my achievements wouldn't be stolen that much.
Who was a knight who had recently killed a 5th Rank mage?
As far as I knew, the last official record was ten years ago.
"Um..."
Arika, who had been glancing over while eating her late-night snack, spoke up.
She had a dumbfounded expression.
She was surprised by Ellen's attitude, acting as if she would confront the Grand Duke for my sake.
"What is it."
The voice that came back was sharp.
Arika glared at me. Ellen had become strange.
"...That order will probably be cancelled. Isn't it winter soon?"
Arika said the same thing as Toremot.
Ellen and I tilted our heads.
I might not know... but Arika was momentarily at a loss for words.
"When winter comes, the Imperial delegation arrives. Searches are also suspended, so they won't let a mage loose in the meantime."
Outwardly, it was an order, but in reality, he had given me a break.
'So that's why Toremot said that, that the Grand Duke was concerned about me.'
But as I saw it, Toremot was wrong.
Ellen was the proof.
"Ah."
She opened her mouth as if she just remembered.
"Did you hear something?"
"No. His Grace the Grand Duke probably forgot too."
Grand Duke Aratus had never once personally greeted the Imperial delegation.