Kays Translations

Epilogue: At the End of the Eupheim Story

Another hour later—

“Muuh…!”

It was Licia.

She should already have departed the Ignat estate for Clausel. She was still here because an urgent message had reached her the previous day.

News of the attacks had reached both the Imperial Capital and Elendil, forcing many magic ships to suspend operations. Licia’s return journey—and the work she had intended to perform at home—had therefore been postponed.

“Why does something like this always happen when I am not there…?”

It was not a complaint. Her frustration merely revealed how worried she had been about Ren.

In a guest room of the Ignat estate, Licia repeatedly asked whether he was injured or in pain.

“Honestly, I do not entirely understand how it happened myself…”

Ren answered with his usual composure, and the tension drained from Licia’s body.

“And you became a Sword Saint as well, did you not?”

“Yes. That happened rather suddenly too.”

“You make it sound so simple… Though I suppose that is like you.”

For Licia, his safety was already enough.

Fiona, standing nearby, plainly felt the same and nodded along with Licia’s words.

Soft, fluffy snow—rare in recent days—drifted beyond the window.

Licia exhaled and stepped away from Ren.

“I am going to greet Marquis Ignat.”

Her sudden visit was naturally connected to the previous day’s crisis.

Lessard had also wished to come and speak with Ulysses, but he was responsible for governing his own territory and could not abandon the work awaiting him there.

Licia therefore needed to discuss those matters with Ulysses on his behalf.

“Licia.”

“What is it?”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“No. As long as you are safe, that is enough.”

Her radiant smile was both happy and relieved.

“Tell me everything later.”

“Yes, of course.”

They could exchange words like this without end. Even when Ren used polite speech, his manner with Licia was noticeably relaxed.

After Licia left the room, Fiona said,

“Father has probably prepared a letter for Viscount Clausel. He must have been deeply worried by this incident.”

“Understood. I will speak with him as well.”

Ren changed the subject.

“It feels as though winter vacation will be over before we know it.”

“I feel the same. After everything that happened, we will all become busy. You will have a great deal ahead of you as well, Ren.”

“Me?”

“Oh… Did no one tell you?”

“I am afraid I know nothing. What are you referring to?”

“Well, in the Mighty Sword Style, once someone becomes a Sword Saint—”

Ren had never heard about whatever came next.

As Fiona explained, he blinked repeatedly in surprise.

Watching him from beside the window, Fiona narrowed her eyes with amusement.

(I will think about that later.)

Ren stretched beside the window.

The previous day, he had killed one Wadatsumi alone and then joined Estelle in killing the second.

Reports of those achievements had already been circulated. More than a few people knew that Ren had been involved.

How those facts would be handled remained uncertain.

For the moment, he was too tired to think about it.

“You seem extremely busy too, Fiona.”

“Not at all. Compared with what you accomplished, this is nothing!”

“Is it? You have not slept since yesterday.”

She had spent the night overseeing the aftermath.

Ren had offered to help, but neither Fiona nor Ulysses had permitted it.

Another ten or so minutes passed.

Licia would probably return soon.

After chatting idly, Ren glanced at the clock on the wall. Fiona also rose from her seat.

“Licia should be back shortly. I will ask someone to prepare tea and sweets.”

“You must be exhausted too. There is no need—”

Ren had followed a few steps behind her. Only seconds later,

Clatter!

A gust of snow struck the window. Fiona spun toward the sound and was startled to discover Ren immediately behind her.

She tried to retreat, lost her balance, and Ren reached out to catch her.

While preventing Fiona from falling, Ren himself toppled backward onto the nearby sofa.

“….!?”

Perhaps because she had not slept, Fiona could not put strength into her body as she intended.

Supported by Ren, she ended up leaning over him.

“Fiona, are you all right—”

“……”

Something landed softly on his cheek.

It lasted only an instant, and Fiona’s glossy hair spilled between them, preventing him from seeing what had happened.

Fiona hurriedly pushed herself upright and sat on the neighboring sofa. With her face burning red, she pressed her thighs together and stared down.

“Are you hurt?”

“I-I-I am completely fine!”

“Then why are you panicking?”

“I-I am not! I am behaving exactly as usual!”

When she raised her face, her eyes were so damp that she looked ready to cry.

Her cheeks remained impossibly red as she struggled to appear calm, but Ren still had no idea what had happened.

“No, you are very clearly not behaving as usual!”

“I truly am all right!”

“What do you mean by saying you are ‘all right’?”

Fiona stood, his words repeating in her mind. She had not regained her composure, but that question refused to leave her.

What did she mean by being all right? The phrase echoed again and again.

“Please wait here. I will return soon…!”

Leaving those words behind, she fled from Ren’s side.

Part of her regretted pulling away after he had caught her, but she also needed time to calm herself. Thinking only of Ren’s bewildered expression, she found the racing of her heart strangely pleasant.

The door clicked shut. Fiona leaned against it from the corridor.

“Ren… You see…”

She closed her eyes and surrendered to the nervous excitement.

There was only one honest answer.

“Because… that is what it means.”

She had felt that way ever since the day they first met.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

This happened in a distant age.

“Hey, you. Where are we?”

“Will you not call me by my name already?”

“No. It is embarrassing.”

“All I am asking is for you to say ‘Cecil’ once.”

“I still cannot.”

Her reply was blunt, but she was plainly embarrassed. Knowing that was enough for Cecil.

“Then where are we?”

“This town grew out of a nearby metropolis. It is still considered a new city.”

They walked through a town that was still developing. Because a great city stood nearby, however, its growth was extraordinarily rapid, and many nobles already lived there.

Both wore robes. At a glance they resembled ordinary travelers, so no knight stopped to question them.

“Should a knight question us, shall we run?”

“Why would anyone question us? What could they possibly ask?”

“Perhaps whether I abducted you and dragged you away against your will.”

“How would they know to ask about me when my very existence was concealed?”

“Even so, someone could still declare the two of us wanted criminals.”

“…That is true.”

The girl moved ahead of Cecil.

Her robe swayed with each light, buoyant step.

“But take back one thing.”

“What would that be?”

“The claim that you dragged me away. I chose to come with you, so do not misunderstand.”

She spoke brusquely again, and once again her embarrassment was obvious.

Their destination was a building at the edge of town.

“Your friend is here?”

“Yes. He is the director of this orphanage.”

“Geno Orphanage…?”

She read the name written on the sign.

“Let us use the rear entrance. The children should be asleep, and I do not want to wake them.”

“Very well.”

They went around the building and knocked on a wooden door at the rear.

The door opened, and an orphanage employee appeared.

Cecil spoke with the employee as though they knew one another well, and the pair entered through the rear door. The orphanage was silent; the children were evidently still sleeping.

Cecil and the girl proceeded to the room at the far end of the building.

After the employee bowed and withdrew, Cecil said,

“There is one thing for which I must apologize.”

“I would like to forgive anything you do, but I should probably hear it first.”

“It concerns what I am about to do. It may be easier to explain after you have seen it for yourself.”

They entered the rearmost room.

The instant the girl—the Corroding Princess—saw the man named Geno waiting inside, her power nearly ran out of control.

Cecil had kept his promise, however, and he held her hand. With his help, the danger passed without harm. A mithril coin in the pocket of her robe was corroded during the moment and fell to the floor.

After hearing the explanation, the Corroding Princess gradually calmed. She hid behind Cecil and watched Geno closely.

Geno gave a rueful smile.

“You appear to be treating my sister well. That alone is enough for me.”

“That goes without saying—”

“Now you try to behave like an older brother? What brought on this change of heart after you spent so long treating me as though I did not exist?”

“That is not true. You are being unfair to Geno.”

Cecil explained the truth.

Geno had devoted himself to his sister for years. Without her knowledge, he had researched every possible method of suppressing her power.

Before the pair left populated lands behind, Geno wanted to determine how completely that power had been brought under control.

The Corroding Princess regained a little more of her composure.

“Geno studied objects corroded by your power in the hope of finding a way to suppress it. The pen you once used was brought here for that research as well.”

“I… see.”

“I will not demand that you believe me. But that is the truth.”

Geno spoke with quiet sorrow, then sighed and invited them outside.

They stopped beside the playground equipment behind the orphanage, where Geno stood before a prepared canvas.

“Let me paint while we talk.”

“Why?”

“Why? Painting is my only hobby. Surely I may paint one picture of my sister before she leaves, Cecil.”

Cecil and the Corroding Princess exchanged glances, then agreed.

While the two passed a peaceful interval together, Geno worked his brush across the small canvas and conversed with them.

“Cecil, do you truly intend never to return to public life?”

“Yes. I intend to live quietly with her.”

“Is that truly acceptable? Someone of your ability—”

“Geno. No more.”

“I’m sorry.”

The Corroding Princess tilted her head at their suggestive exchange.

Sensing that she should not interrupt, she sat on a swing and watched them.

Their serious conversation ended there.

Afterward, they avoided further mysteries and simply enjoyed the peaceful time together.

Eventually Geno finished the central figures in the painting.

“Is it complete?”

“Do not be ridiculous. I still need to paint the surrounding scenery.”

With that, they returned to Geno’s room inside the orphanage.

Standing before a wall covered in paintings and an altar, Geno faced Cecil and the Corroding Princess.

“Have the two of you held a wedding ceremony?”

“A ceremony?”

“W-Wha—!?”

“Your reactions answer the question. You have not held one, and it appears you have no intention of doing so.”

Both were stunned. The Corroding Princess flushed bright red beside Cecil.

“Given our circumstances, holding a ceremony would have been impossible, now or in the future.”

“That is what I expected. Then I am glad you came. I will bless the two of you here.”

The ceremony was modest and witnessed by no outsiders.

It would never be recorded in history.

But that was enough.

“Cecil Ashton, I ask whether you enter this marriage—”

The ceremony proceeded without difficulty. When it ended, the couple departed from the city.

Geno did not ask where they were going or what they intended to do.

He believed it was better that way.

Several days later, he stood before the canvas in a corner of the orphanage garden.

When the painting was finally complete, he said,

“That is a fine picture.”

Then he looked up at the brilliant blue sky.

This had happened in the distant past, long before Ren discovered the painting.

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