1-5 A drop of loneliness

“Thank you, thank you truly! You really saved me back there!”

“No, um, I didn’t do anything …….”

Falmer raised his head from the heavy, polished desk. The expression on his dark skin, characteristic of demons, was still dull, but his painful raw wounds had healed without a trace.

　The magic that Chris had used seems to be more practical than it looked, and Falmer had woken up soon after leaving the mine. He seemed to have regained consciousness before she finished healing his injuries, and the pain literally made him jump. He didn’t remember anything about the time when his body was taken over, but he was appointed as the culprit on his own, because of his daily activities.

　After that, we were invited to the mansion by Falmer and have been there ever since.

“No, that’s the way Sage always works. Just because we’re a little more robust he doesn’t give us any consideration.”

“Say what you want. Bad publicity and whether or not you owe me are two different things, okay?

“That’s true, but you were thinking of trying out some new magic, weren’t you?”

　I sipped at the warm cup in front of me and decided to remain silent, because it was completely true. On the other side of the cup, Marie was looking down at it with an embarrassed expression.

“But I guess chaos has finally set in here. What should we do? Can’t we do anything about it?”

　Blurting out, Falmer leaned his weight on the backrest and scratched at his corner.

“That type wasn’t that threatening, though. The worst of them are the ones that get around unnoticed when their host dies, and then take advantage of the chaos to switch to the nearest host.”

“Please stop. It’s burning a hole in my stomach.”

“Aah I had to give up doing some errands to deal with this. ……”

　I complained in a hateful tone of voice that I was sure would make me want to punch someone if they said it to me. I don’t know whether it was worth it or just pity, but Falmer crumpled up his hair and raised his arms.

“…… All right. I won’t owe you anything. Say it.”

“Well, then I’ll ask you to take care of these guys.”

　I took out a pair of swords that I had hidden away and laid them out on the table. Falmer took one look at the swords, which shone with a pale orange light, and instantly made a bitter expression.

　Chris, on the other hand, showed an unexpected interest in it. She leaned forward, her eyes shining as if she was about to wag her tail.

“Wow, it’s beautiful. Do these swords have magic power?

“Yes. Would you like to touch it?”

“You don’t mind?”

　It was an innocent reaction, like an infant touching a toy for the first time. Even her way of speaking changed a bit. {TN: Doesn’t translate to well but Chris typically speaks like a high handed noble lady with “desu-wa” and such}

　I’m not sure of her exact age, but this is probably her true behavior. The fact that she’s a princess whose true nature comes out when she sees a sword is not a problem to be delved into.

　The trajectory of the sword swing, which formed a semicircle in the air, was colored with dotted lines of light. The light that emerged and then slowly melted was rising from the entire blade like a vapor.

“This sword is amazing. It seems that just by holding it in your hand, your magic power will increase.”

“It’s a work of art that can be used as a sword, but technically it wasn’t made for swordplay, it was made purely as a magical tool.”

“A magic tool?　Then where is your sword?”

“I don’t have it though ……?”

　Chris turned her head slightly and fell silent. I wondered if I had said something wrong.

“I’ll give it back to you, then.”

　Chris quietly set the swords in her hands on the table, and took off the scabbard on her waist.

　The design was both practical and pleasing, with blue jewels scattered all over it. Sage was familiar with the polished blade, which looked like a star in the night sky.

“Hitenryu ……?” 

　It was the name of the twin swords that I thought had been lost in “the land of the dead” when I had entered as a hero of the human world. I didn’t know that Chris had inherited it along with the title, but for the moment, another question flew out of my lips.

Is it just Soryu (Green dragon)? What about Hiryu (scarlet dragon), the other half?

“It broke.”

“………… broke?”

“Yes. It collided head-on with Seiji-sama’s sword, and here it is.”

　Chris held up a different scabbard as she said this. I picked up the hilt that was fixed to the scabbard, and the sword, which had lost its tip from the middle, fell into my palm without effort.

　At the same time, Sage understood the meaning of Chris’s words, and he gasped.

　In the sky above the royal capital, he had quickly joined the sword fight in an attempt to control the situation. He had been forced to break her sword in the face of unexpected difficulty.

　It wasn’t even funny. Her former partner, who he had given up looking for, he had broken without even knowing immediately after finding it.

“Broke?”

　There was another person, or demon, who didn’t find this funny, I didn’t check his expression, but his voice didn’t sound like the tone of someone speaking to his benefactor.

“You bastard!　How dare you do this to one of my best swords…”

“Are you taking it out on him, Dad?”

　The sound of a powerfully opened door and a lively, neutral voice interrupted the words of the enraged demon. A woman dressed like a craftswoman was standing happily where the eyes of the place were focused.

“Isn’t it a bit much to expect someone with the power to come this far to be a good user?”

“……You’ve been eavesdropping for a while. You look pretty happy, Mithra.”

“That’s because my sword beat my father’s sword.”

　I wish she would clarify whether she was here to calm him down or stir him up.

　Mithra, Falmer’s daughter, approached with a big smile on her face, not seeming to pick up even an iota of my thoughts.

“Sage, leave this to me.”

　She whispered and turned to her father again.

“But it can’t be helped right? Those twin swords weren’t made for Chris-san, so my swords made for Sage were more compatible with the wielder.”

　Falmer’s expression darkened, and her body trembled. Chris, who was called by name, looked at the two demons alternately and opened and closed her mouth as if searching for the right words to say.

　Mithra’s swaying, as if the objective was clear but the means to achieve it skipped a few steps, had the shortest and most effective effect.

“Chris-san, was it?”

　The tension and anger drained from Falmer’s shoulders and elbows, and Mithra flashed a peace sign behind his back.

“I won’t call it a reward for this time. But these swords are two swords in one, Hiryu and Soryu, the Hitenryu. Let me re-forge it for you, young lady.”

I felt a little bit of regret when he pressed his head against the desk. However, if I said anything now, Chris might be the one bowing next.

“But that………”

　I nodded back at Chris, who looked at me hesitantly.

“This sword has been passed down from generation to generation among us holy knights. If it’s not too weak, please use it as a companion on your journey.”

　My choice of words seemed to have worked, as I didn’t want to tie her to the fact that the sword was broken. Chris’s expression, which had been shadowed, immediately became bright and sunny.

“Thank you very much!”

“Okay, it’s late today, so you can stay the night. Sage and Marie should do the same.”

“Huh, hey, ……!”

　I tried to stop Falmer, who got up from his seat with vigor, but he left the room without showing the slightest reaction.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, I wasn’t planning to be taken care of. I’m not prepared for anything.”

“It’s fine.”

　Marie smiled and lifted the luggage on her back.

“I have laundry drying in my room and a change of clothes ready for you.”

“…… You’re really prepared  for anything aren’t you?”

　I knew she was carrying a strangely large load, but I couldn’t help but be impressed at how well prepared she was. I placed my palm on Marie’s satisfied hair and lightly stroked it.

　To tell the truth, I wanted to borrow the bathhouse. Perhaps it was because I had used fire magic at the beginning, but sweat was oozing out of my clothes here and there, and the dust that I had kicked up in my grand gyrations was sticking to them. It’s not only uncomfortable, but it’s not something you feel comfortable with wandering around someone else’s house.

“All right, I’ll take you three in!”

　We followed Mithra, who had started walking with great enthusiasm and wandered down the familiar corridor. I couldn’t tell if Chris’s steps were sluggish because she was tired or because she was looking at me curiously.

“Oh, wait here for a minute.”

　In front of the door of the guest room, Mithra turned around as if she remembered something. Without waiting for an answer, we heard the sound of a lock slamming shut.

“Your Highness. I’ll find another place to sleep once I’m cleaned up, so would you mind sharing your room with me until then?”

　It was a statement meant to fill the silence, but the civility might be inappropriate. She came to this place not as royalty, but as a holy knight. If she had gone through the proper procedures to pass the test, she would have had a wealth of experience that she was hesitant to talk about, like slurping blood and mud.

　If anything, it might be us who feel uncomfortable. Just being a member of the royal family is enough to make me feel uncomfortable, but being a young girl…..?

“I refuse. I was planning on going to sleep today listening to Sage-sama’s stories.”

“Huh …? What…. was that …?”

　As if to interpolate the gap between the words, the door behind me slowly opened. Mithra, with only the top of her neck sticking out, was peering at me with a strangely happy smile on her face.

“……. What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. When dinner is ready, I’ll send for you!”

　After saying that, Mithra quickly walked away as if to avoid mention. I couldn’t even think of calling out to her, as she was running away so fast, she must have inherited her parents’ blood.

　There was nothing unusual about the guest room that I slipped into with trepidation. The interior, which had a lean and open feeling, was the same as when we had visited before, with daylight-based lighting and a variety of furniture and furnishings with a subdued taste, much like those found in human countries. I’m sure Chris will feel right at home here.

　I put down my luggage for the time being and sat down on the bed in the corner of the room. As I sank down, I threw myself down and looked up at the ceiling.

“Can I sit next to you?”

　Chris peeked out from the gap between his palms.

“….Please do”

“Then excuse me…….ei!”

　I hesitated, wondering what it would mean to be next to someone who was lying down, but I agreed, and after a pause, she threw herself onto the bed from behind.

“Hmm. are you surprised?”

　She turned to me with a happy expression on his face, while I was taken aback. The smile, however, quickly faded and disappeared.

“Sage-sama. I’ll be leaving for the mortal world tomorrow.”

“…..With all due respect. I think you’re being too hasty. You should at least stay until your magic is healed.”

　　I thought it was a universal opinion, but the fact was that we didn’t know what would happen on the return trip. Chris shook her head, resting her head on the bed, and expressed her intention to deny it.

“I used Sage’s name as an excuse for my departure. Now that I have accomplished my goal, and even repaired my sword, it would be selfish of me to want more.”

“Using my name as an excuse, just means that I’m the root cause. It’s not selfishness, you were just cleaning up my mess.”

“But if you could come back, you would have done so already, wouldn’t you?”

　As if the silence was pulling his hair back, Seiji raised himself up. Chris followed suit.

“……I won’t ask about the situation. Father never asked me to bring you back, either.”

“He didn’t?”

“Yes. He just said that he was sorry.”

“Is that so……”

Sage nodded with eyes that seemed to stare into the distance. He stood up unsteadily in a nodding position and looked back at Chris, who was about to open her mouth.

“I’m going to ask him to repair my dagger. Your Highness, please make yourself at home.”

　The words he said with an awkward smile undeniably indicated his intention to reject the continuing conversation. After watching his back go away, Chris laid her body on the bed again and slowly closed her eyes.

“Are you finished?”

　Marie was standing alone in the empty, chilly corridor by the door of the room Seiji had opened.

“What, you’re worried about me?”

“I thought there were some things you didn’t want me to hear.”

“I don’t have any secrets that I need to keep from you.”

“I’m sure you have plenty of secrets you don’t want me to know.”

“Please don’t. I don’t have anywhere to go back to in the human world.”

　Marie always has this kind of smug look on her face when she speaks out. She’s usually just teasing, but very occasionally she makes an expression that’s clearly not joking. Just like now, the crimson color in her large, absorbing eyes is deeply submerged, and her unreserved tone is subdued.

“Are you going home?”

It is Marie’s consideration not to say where.

“…… No. At least, I’m not planning on it right now.”

“Then, take this. It’s from Mithra.”

　I was offered the dagger, which I must have been holding in my back hand and had forgotten to ask Mithra to repair it. There were so many things I wanted to reflexively question, such as when did you take it from my hand and what do you mean by “then”, but I was afraid of what would happen later, so I decided not to mention it.

“There’s nothing to take care of, he said.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

The fact that I didn’t have to face Falmer was definitely the former. In that sense, Marie’s decision was ultimately a wise one.

“Thanks, you saved me. Anyway, Let’s take a break.”

“Yes. Oh, by the way, Mithra looked strangely happy, why was that?”

“It’s probably nothing good anyway.”

“She does like to play pranks……”

　　At least, it would be more sterile than this exchange.  The answer was revealed as soon as we found Chris breathing soundly in his sleep. I had thought it was an oddly large bed, but there were two pillows set up close together and a note beside it that said, “Take your time”. It was definitely on purpose.

　And no matter where you look in the room, there’s only one bed left.

“… Do you want to take your time?”

　That bed is the one I’ll never get up from again.

“I’ll sleep on the couch. You can take the bed over there.”

“No.  There’s the matter of Chris too but you’re just acting too  unaffected.”

“I’m fine. ……”

“People who say they’re fine, as an excuse, when asked by others, are usually not fine.”

　She adjusted Chris’s sleeping posture and pulled the covers over her, while speaking to me. It was annoying to be told what to do, but I couldn’t help it because it was right on the money.

　While being pushed back, I sat down on the bed that was placed on the other side of the room. Before I could catch my breath, a sofa as tall as I was came crashing down over my nose. I heard a bass sound that made the pit of my stomach tremble, followed by Chris’s hoarse sleep-talking.

“Don’t mind me. I’m going to sleep here.”

　Marie laid down on the sofa she had thrown with a blanket and pillow she had dragged from somewhere. I didn’t have the energy to argue, and I felt silly staying up alone, so I decided to lie down quietly.

　When I turned off the light, I realized that night had already fallen. The silver-capped mountains reflected the moon and starlight, revealing the irregular patterns on the ceiling by the window.

　How many minutes had passed since then? I felt tired, but my eyes were strangely bright, perhaps because of the battle. In the room where I could hear only the sound of sleep, I kept my eyes vaguely fixed on the ceiling. When I think about the fact that I tend to have nightmares on days when I have trouble falling asleep, it makes it even harder for me to sleep.

“A place to go, huh? ……”

　Chris probably sincerely wanted to take me home with her.

　In addition to that, when she honestly told me the message from His Majesty, I wondered how much conspiracy was going on underwater over the value of her title. I guess she hasn’t been given the chance to face that yet.

　I think that’s fine. She’s royalty, even though she calls herself by the same title. She has more than enough reasons to settle down in the human world, and in the future, she will be obligated to take charge of her country. It’s not like she’s just a commoner with a blossoming talent, she’s in a different place.

“…… Can’t sleep?”

　A whispered voice mixed with the night made my body tremble. . I twisted around and turned my gaze to meet Marie’s eyes as she peered at me.

　Her hair glistens like a starry sky, and her large red eyes are filled with a quiet melancholy.

“To be honest, I’m a little scared. I’ve used some black magic today…….”

　I can’t lie to Marie. When I expressed my vague anxiety, Marie’s mouth softened.

“It’s okay. I’m here. Rest easy and relax.”

　…… I still don’t know if my choice to stay here was the right one. But the intention to protect the peace that exists here and now, and to protect this girl, must not be a mistake.

“T,……. thanks for that. Good night, Marie.”

“Yes. Good night, Sage…….”

　As I continued to stare at her straightforward, moonlit smile, I was suddenly struck with embarrassment and hurriedly wrapped myself in the blanket.

　The anxiety that had been lingering seemed to have loosely melted into a feverish emotion.

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