novelraw Chapter 103 : Home (1)
Chapter 103 : Home (1)
Home (1)
"I hope you don't forget my warning... Ian Greysel. If you disappear on your own like that again... I don't know what I might do."
Aris left behind her warning and departed.
"......"
Ian lay sprawled on the grass, half-exhausted.
It felt as if a storm had passed.
He rested like that for about five minutes.
"Young maasteer Iaaaan!?"
"... Sophia?"
Sophia had returned.
"Gasp! Young master Ian...!"
"Ian Greysel!!"
Yuria and Charlotte were with Sophia.
They crossed the lawn and hurried to Ian.
"Young master! What on earth happened!? Are you all right!? Are you hurt anywhere!?"
Sophia was the first to rush over.
"I'm fine, Sophia."
Ian sat up with some effort.
"I'm really all right. Not hurt at all."
"Then why were you lying out here like that! I thought you'd collapsed! Are you sure you're okay?"
"I said I'm fine. I was just resting a bit before coming out to greet you."
His fingertips still tingled from what Aris had done earlier, but it wasn't worth making a fuss over.
"How about you? Sophia, are you all right? Not hurt anywhere?"
"Me? I'm perfectly all right! Young master, you watched over me the whole time!"
"And on the way back? Nothing happened while I was gone?"
"No. We just took the boat back. Right after you disappeared, the barrier broke."
"I see."
Ian let out a small sigh of relief.
Sophia seemed to be fine.
"Lady Yuria, and Lady Charlotte, are you both all right as well?"
"Y-Yes, I'm fine!"
"I'm fine too, as you can see... But seriously, what happened?"
Yuria sat down beside Ian.
"Do you know how startled my... all three of us were when you suddenly disappeared?"
"... I'm sorry."
He'd had no choice if he wanted to save Kargon, but from their perspective, it must have been quite shocking.
He'd been carrying them along, then suddenly dashed off alone and vanished.
"I'm not looking for an apology. I was actually going to join the search team for you as soon as we got back. But when I went to the investigation department, they said you'd already returned, so I came here."
"I see. I'll explain everything, step by step. What happened and how it all went down."
Ian began telling the story, starting from the moment he entered the portal.
"You... you threw yourself straight into the portal!? That's so reckless! What if there had been a demonic human stronger than you at the hideout!?"
"I had no other choice if I wanted to save young master Kargon. That was the best option..."
"No, no! You're a cadet too! ... Well, not a typical cadet, but still, that was way too reckless! Even if things worked out in the end... That was something you should have left to the knights! Don't ever do that again!"
"H-Haa! Young master! Really! I—I told you last time! To at least think about those of us who worry about you from behind...! I'm really! Upset, really! For being so reckless again!"
"............."
There was an odd sense of déjà vu in their reactions.
Only their tones were different. Weren't they saying exactly what Aris had said?
Telling him not to disappear on his own.
Yet, it felt different from Aris somehow.
Their nagging didn't feel all that unpleasant.
"Pfft."
Ian found himself letting out a soft laugh.
"Y-You're laughing!? You find this funny right now!?"
"Young master! I'm being serious, you know!?"
"Sorry, Sophia. Lady Yuria, I apologize to you as well."
"......"
Charlotte, awkwardly standing in the back.
"... I—I was worried too, young master Ian."
"...?"
Her expression was surprisingly sincere.
He'd never expected even Charlotte to worry about him.
"... Thank you for your concern, lady Charlotte."
He didn't recall ever seeing her act like this in his previous life.
Maybe after living together for several months, even Charlotte had grown a bit attached to him.
He wasn't sure what she was thinking.
"But I didn't throw myself into danger just on luck."
Ian continued the story.
How he easily took down the two demonic humans who had kidnapped Kargon.
How he gave Kargon emergency treatment after he'd been contaminated by magic power, and found himself outside in the city of Kartai.
How he'd immediately returned through the warp gate.
"I already knew the number and level of the demonic humans, and that the portal linked to somewhere nearby."
He didn't mention saving Scarlet from the hideout or picking up various loot.
That wasn't important for them, and it would only make the explanation more complicated.
"I entered the portal because I was sure it was doable."
"... Still. But still!"
"So you're saying you'd do it again next time!? Right now!?"
"... I mean, it was a rational choice—"
"You didn't hear a single thing I said, did you!?"
"Young master! Do you really want to see me lose my mind!?"
"... Y-Young master Ian..."
"......"
Ian shut his mouth.
"Ah, oh. Look at the time!"
He just tried to change the subject.
No matter how logically he tried to explain, it felt like all he got in return was nagging.
"The sun's already setting. Come to think of it, none of us have eaten since lunch. Let's eat first, shall we?"
"Is eating really important now!?"
"Young master! I'm not finished talking yet, you know!?"
"......"
Failed to change the subject.
"Ian. I know you're special, but that's exactly why you need to be more careful. You're only just starting to draw attention. I have more experience than you with this, so trust me! The place you're most sure you're ahead is often where traps are set. You're smart, so you know this. Do you know how many enemies can appear just because of that one thing—being special? Especially you. Be careful! If you ever make a serious mistake... Wouldn't it be such a waste of your potential!?"
"S-She's right, lady Yuria is right! Young master, you have to be aware of your position! If you keep being reckless like that...! How would you feel if I did the same!? Could you handle it!? That's what I always feel! When you left alone like that last time, I told you how worried I got, but you never! Never! You didn't listen then, did you!? You're not listening now, are you!? You'll do it again, right!? Huh!? HUH!?"
"A-Alright, Sophia... Lady Yuria, too..."
But their nagging continued for a good while.
"P-Please, enough now..."
It felt like his ears would start bleeding.
* * *
Only after enduring quite a bit of nagging did they finally get to have dinner.
Since Yuria was visiting the annex, the four of them dined together in harmony.
Normally, Ophelia—Charlotte's chaperone—would have been there as well, but she was on vacation.
She'd taken time off to match Charlotte's deserted island exam, but with everything that had happened, she'd probably have to briefly return tonight.
Ian took a moment of silence for her, knowing well how it felt to be called back from a hard-earned break.
-clatter! clatter!
-chatter, chatter!
The dining atmosphere was warm and cheerful.
Tonight's dinner was a rather unusual menu item—slime sashimi.
Ian had eaten it several times in his previous life, but for the other three, it was a first.
Its texture was slippery like pudding, with a chewy bite reminiscent of raw meat.
The flavor of slime varies depending on what it's fed as it grows—this one had a pleasantly nutty aroma.
Depending on the sauce, the taste changed entirely.
But since it was so fresh, the nerves were still alive, and picking it up with chopsticks made it squirm vigorously—quite a revolting sight.
Sophia was the first to bravely put a piece in her mouth, then shivered from the wriggling texture, twisting her body all over.
But apparently, she found it better than expected, and her eyes widened.
After that, Sophia picked up the slime sashimi more and more quickly.
However, she never quite got used to the texture, shivering and twisting every time she ate it.
Seeing that, Charlotte and Yuria also mustered their courage and picked up pieces.
And just like Sophia, they both shivered and twisted their bodies as they ate it.
Everyone laughed at the sight.
It was a pleasant mealtime.
After such a harmonious and warm dinner, it was time for Yuria to return to the Heavenly Sword Main Estate.
Ian accompanied her outside to see her off.
-step, step.
-tap, tap.
The road they walked together.
They deliberately took paths where there were no people.
If someone saw the two of them together, it would inevitably lead to bothersome rumors.
Their academy uniforms' hoods were pulled deep over their faces.
"......"
"......"
They didn't particularly speak.
-step... step...
-tap... tap...
Yet their footsteps were incredibly slow.
As if neither of them wished to reach the Heavenly Sword Main Estate.
"......"
Inside Yuria's head, thoughts were racing.
A rare and precious moment alone together.
No one around.
How many months had it been since they'd been alone like this?
Once this was over, it would probably be several months before they could talk again.
If Aris saw her getting close to Ian, who knows what she'd do.
"... Haaa..."
Unconsciously, Yuria let out a sigh.
It had been ages since she'd enjoyed a lively meal at the same table with others like today.
Probably the first time since she'd last eaten with her nanny Dellen, before Dellen had betrayed her.
She'd wanted to stay and linger there, it had been so much fun.
But once she returned to the Heavenly Sword Main Estate, she'd be alone again, day after day.
How long this time? A month? A quarter? Half a year?
"......"
She hated it. This situation.
Honestly, she was lonely. She often talked to herself out of sheer longing for conversation.
It wasn't that the Heavenly Sword Main Estate was empty.
On the contrary, it was full.
Servants to wait on her, knights guarding the estate, all sorts of administrators and retainers.
But most of them weren't well-disposed toward Yuria.
Especially those stationed underground, where Yuria stayed.
They were all people sent by various factions to spy on her.
Guards sent by her sister Aris.
A maid sent by her first aunt Estella.
An administrator sent by her second aunt Marceline...
They were never people she could laugh and talk with like today.
If possible—if only it were possible—she'd like to talk every day about what happened, with friends she could trust like Ian.
If only they could spend time and laugh together every day like today...
'But...'
If she got close to Ian, all sorts of trouble would surely befall him too.
Ian was a child so talented that even her own father, the lord of the Heavenly Sword family, had set his eyes on him.
If Yuria showed herself being close with Ian, Aris, her aunts, and all the other siblings and collateral kin—they'd all do whatever they could to keep them apart.
Ian would get caught up in it and suffer too.
'... So for now.'
For now, just...
Just this much.
Enjoying a brief, happy moment like this...
Being content with walking together for a little while.
-step... step...
Just moving slowly.
Trying to soothe the aching sense of regret.
However—
-step...
The way back was painfully short.
"......"
It was time to part ways.
The quiet rear garden of the massive Heavenly Sword Main Estate.
Once she went inside, there would be plenty of other people, and this was as far as Ian could walk her.
"We're already here."
"... Yeah."
"I'll stay until you go inside."
"......"
So that means...
If I don't go in, he won't leave either.
Yuria stood silently for a moment.
It was too hard to let Ian go like this.
She wanted to talk more, to be with him longer.
What's more, there was something she wanted to ask.
The question she'd left unspoken back on the deserted island.
Do you like me?
"Hey, um..."
-mumble mumble...
But Yuria knew.
Even if they stayed together a little longer, her longing wouldn't be eased.
And even if he confessed that he liked her...
Unless she became strong enough, there was nothing she could do for Ian.
Saying goodbye would only get harder.
So, in the end, she couldn't muster up the courage.
"Thanks for walking me back."
"......"
"Get home safely. I'm going in."
With deep regret behind her, Yuria turned to enter the Heavenly Sword Main Estate.
"Lady Yuria."
Ian called out to her.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Yeah, after the assault, nagging came next...
Also, slime sashimi, Rimuru would be mad...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】