Someone on the bed was breathing in shallow gasps.
“It’s almost completely healed!”
The old man’s voice of admiration rang through the room.
In the dim and modest room, the one lying on the bed was none other than Luman.
“Recovered?”
The person standing nearby watching over him was Giselle.
After examining Luman, drenched in sweat, and the hideous sword wound on the right side of his abdomen, Giselle nodded.
The entrails that had been torn beyond words and the ragged skin had now healed enough. Once it had recovered this much, there was no need to worry. A Hero’s body restored wounds of this degree in no time.
“Hoo. I was already grateful enough just to survive. And now I’m living again like this.”
Luman wiped away sweat as he spoke with difficulty.
In front of Ren, he had pretended to be fine, but Luman had actually been in a condition where moving was difficult. Only after swallowing dozens of painkillers strong enough to numb his physical senses had he barely managed to stand before him. Fortunately, Ren had not noticed.
“To use Lante for his sake. You’ve lost your mind.”
“Haha. How’d you figure it out? Ugh.”
“You still must not get up!”
At the physician’s words, Luman waved a hand carelessly and sat up against the bed. The wound split open and blood burst out, but that level of pain meant nothing to Luman. Not only to Luman, but to the Heroes, it was merely something familiar.
“You collapsed after doing something idiotic, so there was no way not to know.”
Giselle narrowed his eyes. He seemed to be mocking Luman, and also seeming pathetic toward him at the same time. Luman scratched his head and laughed.
In truth, Luman had used Lante in order to hide his wound from Ren.
With a body that would have been shattered to pieces if not for the Hero’s miracle that had barely preserved his life.
He had summoned Lante, even though summoning it itself was impossible in his condition, and used it as bandages for his body. Lante rampaged furiously, screaming that its blood had been sucked away, and Luman, lacking the strength to properly control his authority, collapsed unconscious on the spot.
“If things had gone wrong, you might have died. You know well enough that a Hero’s miracle only stitches together life itself.”
“There’s something I hate more than dying.”
Luman scratched his cheek with an apologetic face.
“Because of that child?”
“Ren. Call him Ren. He has a name, and he’s Temar’s younger brother, so are you going to keep calling him that? Cold-hearted bastard.”
Luman laughed as he reproached him.
“Right. If he heard I was badly hurt, he’d be shocked. Shouldn’t I show him a clean appearance?”
“That child will never know your effort.”
Luman shrugged as though it did not matter.
“Hoo. Thanks. For healing me.”
Giselle shook his head. Luman made a puzzled expression. Giselle was not someone who unnecessarily acted humble about his own accomplishments.
“It wasn’t you?”
“That’s right. By the time I tried to touch the wound, it was already recovering.”
“...That’s strange.”
Luman muttered while stroking his chin.
“I wonder if I should thank the god who gave me this damned power.”
Shaking his head back and forth, he suddenly lifted it as though remembering something.
“What happened to the prophecy? Did you figure anything out?”
“Not yet.”
“Damn, that’s frustrating.”
After sighing, Luman looked up at Giselle and cautiously asked.
“What about Ren? Did you tell that child anything?”
“What are you talking about?”
“...He held the spear of my authority. I absolutely don’t want it to be true, but. Could Ren... be an undiscovered Hero?”
Luman asked with an unwilling face.
He too held suspicions similar to Temar’s. That the reason Giselle had deliberately remained in the royal palace was likely to deliver words to Ren while they were gone. Even if Verdi had not suffered such severe injuries, Giselle would still have remained in the royal palace and departed later.
However, the words Giselle spoke were unexpected.
“Sorse said nothing.”
“...Really?”
Luman’s gaze sharpened. His eyes staring at Giselle as though searching for something became persistent.
Then did that mean Giselle had said nothing to Ren about what happened that day?
“The priest said it might be because his Aras is clear.”
“The priest? Ahh, Priest Kirky.”
The moment he murmured Kirky’s name, Luman’s face brightened. His complexion looked far more at ease than before as he nodded repeatedly.
“Right, as if a Hero who hadn’t appeared for years would suddenly show up. And Temar’s younger brother on top of that? There’s no way such an absurd coincidence exists.”
“Luman.”
“Why?”
Luman, who had been laughing while shaking his head as though lamenting, tilted his head. His unevenly grown bangs scattered crookedly across his forehead.
“You are a Hero of the Kingdom of Setor and a knight of Ragniel.”
“So what?”
Luman sharply raised one eyebrow.
Giselle’s voice almost sounded soothing.
“I’m only telling you because it seems you’ve forgotten. You know as well that you must not forget your position.”
“......”
“Fulfill your duty.”
“Haven’t I already retired? I’m only helping out of loyalty.”
A low growling voice rang out, and his hand faintly glowed.
“Really? And who was it that changed his words, saying he wanted to protect this kingdom?”
“That’s because!”
“Unless your authority has completely shattered.”
Giselle reached out and grabbed Luman by the chin.
“Since a miracle has happened to you twice already, you should know that you can no longer leave, Luman.”
Eyes as deep as the abyss stared directly at Luman.
***
“You’ve arrived.”
The one who greeted them at the front gate of the estate was Seton.
“Hello.”
“We’ve been waiting.”
“Hehe. Did Lady Gannion miss me very much?”
At Kirky’s question, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Seton smiled faintly.
“Come this way.”
The ducal estate was truly enormous. Riding in the carriage toward the main building, I newly realized Coco’s status again.
Until they arrived at the main building, Seton briefly told us about Coco’s recent circumstances. While speaking, he occasionally met eyes with me as well.
“Even Sir Seton can’t help himself. His eyes just keep drifting toward beautiful people—gwaah! Sir Seton! I was wrong!”
“Hmm? Did something happen? In any case, Lady Gannion is currently immersed in alchemy.”
Seton, who had rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, withdrew it as though nothing had happened the moment Kirky jumped in shock and apologized.
“Heeh. I never thought she’d enjoy such an outdated field of study.”
“If you say that in front of Lady Gannion, you’ll be punished.”
Pretending not to hear Seton’s words, Kirky hummed to himself.
He really is impossible.
Just when it seemed the inside of the carriage would become quiet for a moment because he stopped talking, Kirky suddenly jerked up his head.
“Ah! I should sneak in and surprise her! Please say only Lord Ren came to visit!”
“...?”
The moment Kirky rattled those words out, before there was even time to stop him—
“Lord Kirky!”
“Waaah! Gah! It’s okay-!”
He jumped out of the carriage. White light burst out from Kirky’s body as he rolled across the ground.
“Good heavens, are you all right?”
When Seton gestured for the carriage to stop, Kirky shook his head and shouted for them to hurry on ahead. Then he went whoosh—running off in another direction. His long hair streamed out behind him and glittered.
We let out sighs of relief before our eyes met.
“...The priest has been rude.”
“N-no, it’s okay.”
Sir Seton really has it hard. Muttering that inwardly, I smiled faintly. As expected, I probably didn’t need to worry about Coco.
Still, isn’t Kirky an idiot? They had already sent a letter announcing the visit, so she would know we were coming. I doubted Coco would actually be fooled by hearing Kirky had not arrived.
Resting my chin in my hand while watching Kirky’s retreating figure, I burst into laughter.
“Pfft.”
The way he staggered while running was way too sloppy! A servant who saw that would definitely report to Coco that Kirky had arrived. When I covered my mouth, Seton laughed quietly too. His fierce eyes and cold expression softened as a faint smile spread across his face. A moment later, after composing himself, he carefully opened his mouth.
“Is your body all right?”
“It’s the same.”
“We are searching for mages again.”
Even though they had been told it was ineffective, it seemed Coco still had not given up. Guilt welled up inside me.
“When I see you, I think of my younger brother.”
‘Shawn...?’
Startled, I looked at him. This was the first time he had spoken about his younger brother.
In eyes that seemed to be gazing somewhere far away, I was not reflected.
“He was a brave and good child.”
He looked as though he would say something more, but soon closed his mouth.
As the carriage slowly began to lose speed, focus gradually returned to Seton’s eyes. Now he was looking at me.
“This may be rude to say, but Hugh thinks of you like a younger brother.”
The workers inside the estate recognized Seton and greeted him. Around the time my attention, stolen by the sight of people busily going about their work, returned to Seton again, he continued speaking.
“I am worried as well.”
“Ah... thank you. Um. You don’t have to worry...”
“Regardless of Lady Gannion and Shawn.”
“What?”
“If something difficult to ask Lady Gannion arises, seek out either me or Hugh.”
I froze, unable to react to those words, and then Seton pulled something from inside his clothes and held it out.
It was a button about the size of a thumbnail, and when I looked closely, his name was engraved on it. And on the back side of the button was a drawing of Gannion Castle. The old castle where Luman had carried me when I was close to death.
“What is this?”
“Take it. Anyone who holds enmity toward the royal palace will see the name and help you at least once.”
“Why are you giving this to me...?”
Seton did not answer. Before I knew it, the carriage had stopped, and Coco’s voice could be heard.
“Ren—!”
He stepped down from the carriage and helped me by the hand.
“Lady Gannion, you’ve arrived.”
“Thank you, Sir. I would’ve been anxious if you hadn’t gone to greet him. Ren, hurry inside. Since you said you were coming, I prepared lots of delicious things, so you can look forward to it.”
Coco was livelier than usual. Her purple hair, tied high, swayed brightly. As she pulled me along by the hand, I looked back at Seton. But he still remained silent.
The button forcibly tucked into my pocket felt strangely heavy.
Had Seton guessed that I was going to leave?
***
“They say Lord Temar’s younger brother has arrived at the Gannion ducal estate.”
Giselle was heading toward Ragniel’s office. His steps were faster than usual. From the opposite end of the corridor, a familiar face hurried over in quick little steps.
“Send the people we prepared in about an hour.”
“Yes. Lord Giselle. But this matter...”
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
Another knight following behind him covered the mouth of the one trying to ask something unnecessary.
Giselle stopped walking and turned around. Then, looking at the knight who had been about to ask the question, he opened his mouth.
“Those who know too much eventually invite disaster upon themselves. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes, my apologies!”
Giselle dismissed the repeatedly apologizing knight. The attendant, who had been waiting for a chance to speak, hurried close the moment the knights withdrew and urgently opened his mouth. The face looked familiar—it was one of Ragniel’s attendants.
“Lord Giselle, I think you must come quickly. His Majesty... His Majesty...”
The attendant closed his mouth as though he could not bear to say the words.
