The Heroes’ return happened quietly.
The war had temporarily entered a lull, and the soldiers remained there holding the line. However, with the Heroes’ authority, it was possible to cross vast distances in an instant. That was how they were able to return. Entering the royal castle in the middle of the night, they quietly sought out Ragniel.
“And Luman?”
After receiving a kiss on the back of his hand, Ragniel withdrew it and asked.
“The day after the telegram was sent, the Hero’s miracle manifested.”
Temar answered with an indifferent face.
“The wound left severe damage, but his life is not in danger.”
“That’s a relief. Truly... a relief.”
Ragniel nodded deeply.
“I heard Verdi has awakened.”
“He’s fine. Then is Luman resting in his room?”
“Yes.”
After briefly exchanging news, they discussed the anti-Hero weapons. The enemy nation had only used the weapon once in battle, but that single use had left Luman gravely injured.
“The problem is that we have no idea how many they possess.”
Ragniel let out a sigh.
“But it’s certain they do not have enough to waste freely. Considering they were even trying to obtain them from foreign nations.”
What Ragniel referred to was likely the ritual at the shelter.
“They said it was their first time attempting that ritual as well. Fortunately it failed. Since we killed every last one of them, it will take time to uncover what was really going on behind it.”
“Your Majesty. Did something happen?”
Geloman’s blue eyes studied Ragniel closely. There was something strange in his cynical yet worried expression.
“Nothing at all. More importantly, Temar, there is something I wish to ask you.”
Geloman nodded as though that settled it and left the office.
Only after the door closed completely did Ragniel shift his gaze toward Temar.
Dark reddish-brown eyes. The hair he had cut short before departing had already grown enough to lightly cover his forehead.
“Temar. There is something I want to ask you.”
“Please speak.”
“If the greater good could be achieved through one person’s life... would that be the right thing to do?”
Golden eyes filled with countless worries stared at Temar.
Temar slowly turned Ragniel’s words over in his mind.
‘Through one person’s life... the greater good...’
His thick lips hesitated, unable to answer easily. In the past, he would have answered immediately, but now...
Now Temar hesitated.
‘I hate dishonorable Heroes!’
But the voice Ren had shouted long ago struck Temar as though waking him from sleep.
Pressing his lips together, he answered while imagining that the life to be sacrificed was his own.
“Yes. I believe that is right.”
At the heavy answer that emerged after long consideration, Ragniel lowered his gaze.
“Think again.”
“What?”
“Think again. Is that truly the right thing to do?”
“......”
What answer did Ragniel want to hear? Why was he urging Temar to reconsider?
Looking closer now, his eyes were shaking.
But if it were an answer that could change simply because someone asked again, Temar would never have spoken it aloud in the first place.
Temar’s thick lips parted. This time there was no hesitation.
“I have lived my entire life that way. To me, it is only natural.”
“...I see.”
Ragniel nodded weakly and smiled faintly. Temar looked at that threadlike smile in confusion when Ragniel dismissed him.
After leaving at the order, Temar stood blankly in the corridor.
“Something feels...”
Uneasy.
An indescribable feeling. Was he overlooking something?
But no matter how hard he tried to think, the only thing that surfaced in his mind was Ren’s face.
As though the blood-soaked aura of the battlefield had painted over everything that came before it. As though even the doubts and distrust he had felt before leaving had all been erased.
Rather than cling to memories he could not grasp, he headed toward Ren’s room.
His heavy footsteps echoed through the royal castle as though shaking it.
“Lord Temar!”
The first person to greet him upon entering Ren’s room was not Ren, but Jepeto.
“Physician Jepeto. Have you been well? Ren is...”
“Yes, I’ve been quite—”
“Ren is sleeping right now.”
The one who interrupted was Geloman.
His massive frame had hidden Ren from view, but when he stepped aside, Ren could finally be seen curled up asleep in a large rocking chair.
“......”
Temar lost his voice.
“Is... Ren unwell?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself...”
Jepeto trailed off.
Truthfully, he had been feeling anxious lately. Ren constantly staring toward somewhere far away, and Veron busily moving about, both seemed to hint at something.
“Please explain properly. What is wrong with him?”
The suppressed voice slipped through clenched teeth. Jepeto was instantly frightened.
As Temar glared at him, Geloman rose to his feet. Despite his enormous build, the movement was soft and quiet. His giant frame moved to block Jepeto from view as blue eyes met Temar’s gaze.
“I asked first. He says the changing season has made him very tired.”
Jepeto had never said any such thing, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.
“...I see.”
After blinking several times, Temar forced down his emotions and nodded with difficulty.
He stared at Ren as though he wanted to approach him, then turned away.
“I’ll let him know you came!”
Jepeto hurriedly called after him, but Temar gave no response.
“Ah, right. I forgot to ask about Lord Luman. Is... is Lord Luman all right?”
Jepeto swallowed nervously as he asked.
Three Heroes had departed for the land of Media.
Two of them now stood before him unharmed.
Which meant the Hero mentioned in the telegram as injured was most likely Luman.
“He’s surprisingly fine.”
Geloman spoke as though there was no need to worry. Jepeto let out a sigh of relief.
“Whew, that’s such a relief. Ah, Lord Geloman, you’re unexpectedly incredibly perceptive! You saved me there.”
Trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, Jepeto kept talking.
“What do you mean?”
“Hm? Ah, um... about the changing seasons making him tired...?”
Jepeto trailed off in confusion.
I thought you made that up just now? Wasn’t it to stop Temar from getting agitated?
Apparently not.
“Ah. So that wasn’t something the physician said.”
“What?”
“I misunderstood. Isn’t he tired because the seasons are changing?”
“Wh-what?”
Jepeto stammered, unable to follow the conversation.
“I heard children become very tired when the seasons change. Ah, perhaps Charles said it. He mentioned that ordinary human bodies become exhausted over trivial things.”
Geloman spoke with such seriousness that Jepeto found himself nodding automatically.
“Still, Ren does seem unusually exhausted. Is he ill somewhere?”
The vivid blue eyes were sharp as honed blades. Jepeto flinched under Geloman’s pressure.
“I-I’ll... examine him carefully.”
But since he knew nothing else, Jepeto had no choice but to answer like a sinner begging forgiveness.
It had only been recently that Jepeto had begun spending long stretches beside Ren again. When Ren went out, he went with Veron, and while in the royal castle he spent most of his time with Verdi. Jepeto had noticed Ren’s condition worsening rapidly as well, but every time he tried to examine him, Ren would be deeply asleep, and Jepeto could not carelessly touch his body.
Of course, he had noticed other strange things too...
But Jepeto intended to investigate those quietly on his own.
“For now, understood.”
“...Yes.”
‘For now’?
Geloman said he would take his leave.
“Where would I be able to find Lord Luman? I think Ren will be very curious once he wakes up.”
“Hm.”
Geloman considered the answer briefly, then grinned.
“He’s recovered fairly well, so once morning comes, Luman will probably come looking for him first.”
With that, Geloman immediately left.
Jepeto blankly stared at the closing door.
Ren, asleep in the rocking chair, did not wake until morning, and somehow Jepeto ended up sleeping in Ren’s room as well.
Knock knock knock.
“Who is it...?”
Jepeto mumbled sleepily, and a familiar voice came from outside the door.
“It’s Luman.”
“Yeees... Wait, what?!”
Startled awake, Jepeto shot upright from the sofa only to tumble straight onto the floor.
“Urgh!”
Still, springing up like a coiled spring, Jepeto hurried to the door shouting for him to come in. The door opened and Luman peeked inside.
“Lord Luman!”
At the greeting filled with delight, Luman flashed a grin. His face looked worn, but his complexion was far better than Jepeto had feared.
When Jepeto ran toward him as though about to hug him, Luman recoiled in horror and shoved him away.
“I am technically still a patient, so please handle me gently.”
Hearing that teasing voice, Jepeto instead felt reassured.
‘Still... it really happened exactly as Lord Geloman said.’
To think he came first thing in the morning despite being injured!
Though perhaps it was not strange at all. Luman had always devoted himself completely to Ren.
For a moment, Jepeto was struck by an intense dilemma.
If it were Luman—
If it were someone as perceptive as him—
Would it perhaps be all right to discuss the strange unease Jepeto had been feeling?
