Chasing Dreams (3)

The snow, which had seemed as if it would cover all of Nabez, had stopped falling.

Fortunately, everyone who had fallen into slumber returned to normal.

Thanks to the quick evacuation of citizens by Lintrea’s mercenaries, the damage from the calamity was not as great as feared.

In fact, the damage caused by the demonkin was much more significant than the calamity itself.

In particular, the Count of Crimson Flames, Margal, had only run rampant briefly, yet the damage was substantial.

Even so, it seemed that the situation would soon recover and return to how it had been before.

“So, what happened to Sior in the end?”

“He disappeared.”

“To spend countless ages trapped alone in solitude, and in the end to die… how pitiful.”

Maria’s eyes filled with sadness as she heard the whole story.

Honestly, I did not feel comfortable about it either. After all, this ending was something I had written myself.

[Don’t blame yourself too much. You did the best you could, didn’t you?]

Just as Grancesia said, that was the best I could do.

With any other method, it would have been impossible to free Sior from the profile binding him.

‘No. Even so, I can’t turn my eyes away. I’ve decided to take on the responsibility, following in my father’s footsteps.’

[Well, if you’re alright with it, then that’s enough. But is it okay to break the Seven Swords Under Heaven like that? The Seven Swords are supposed to be necessary, aren’t they?]

‘You’re right.’

[Then isn’t this a big problem?]

Grancesia’s concern was natural.

The Seven Swords Under Heaven were swords created to prevent calamities.

Now that one blade was snapped and gone, there was cause for anxiety about what the future might hold.

Hearing the hint of consternation in Grancesia’s voice, I let out a wry chuckle.

‘From the beginning, Genova was made to cut the other Seven Swords Under Heaven.’

[Huh? What do you mean by that?]

The profile of Genova said it could cut anything.

And the synopsis mentioned that Fabian only ever carried a single sword.

Based on that, I suspected the sword Fabian had used to cut Solaris was Genova.

[But what if your guess had been wrong?]

‘I was sure there would be no problem.’

If I had been wrong, and Solaris was broken for no reason, that would truly have caused a huge problem.

But I was certain that if my prediction was off, Solaris would simply not break.

‘Because my father wouldn’t have written such a shoddy profile.’

If there was ever a conflict between Sior and Genova, Solaris clashing was inevitable.

One of the swords breaking without meaning wouldn’t have happened.

Even if my prediction was wrong, it would have only meant I needed to reconsider—there was nothing to lose.

‘And well, in the end, my guess was right, wasn’t it?’

==

〈Sword of Man (Genova)〉

A sword that grows stronger in response to mankind’s origins and wishes.

Also known as the Sword of Wish Genova.

…….

…….

〈Ability Added〉

Can cut through all boundaries. However, it cannot go against the world’s providence.

==

At the moment Solaris was destroyed, a new profile was added to Genova.

It was precisely Solaris’s ability.

* * *

A few days later, just as I was thinking it was about time to leave Eintban—

Someone unexpected came looking for me.

“Are you the hero who saved Nabez this time?”

White hair, blue eyes.

Exhaustion was clear in his face, and though he looked weary, he emanated a peculiar intensity.

He was dressed like some ordinary village farmer—yet because I could see profiles, I knew he was anything but ordinary.

‘Why did this person come here?’

The king of Eintban, Rashir Eintban.

He had come to see me.

And just when I was about to eat, of all times.

As I set my spoonful of stew down, I greeted him lightly.

“It was only possible with the help of others.”

“How humble.”

“I mean it sincerely.”

He watched me quietly.

Thinking him just a beaten king whose country had been crushed by calamity, I had underestimated him.

Indeed, he exuded the air of a true king.

‘Well, how could anyone stop a calamity of dreams?’

If a calamity could be prevented by human strength alone, it wouldn’t be a calamity.

Even if he had asked the empire for help a bit late, that didn’t make him an incompetent king.

“… Clay, was it? The name is the same as the hero who has recently made a name in the empire.”

“It’s just a coincidence.”

“And I hear you have a very special sword, too.”

“That’s also a coincidence.”

“I suppose it is.”

Letting out a soft laugh, Rashir’s gaze bore into me, only to gradually turn away.

“Well then, may I just as coincidentally share with you a story I happened to hear?”

I gave no response to his words.

If he wanted to say something, he was free to do so.

“The king of Eintban never forgets a debt. And I hear he owes a great debt this time.”

His tone was light, but I could sense his sincerity.

“To the extent he can grant a single request—whatever it may be.”

With those words, he slowly stood up.

And then, as if tossing off a comment, he added,

“… Ah, and there’s something else I forgot to mention.”

“What is it now?”

“Going forward, Eintban will begin to gradually open its doors.”

What?

For a second, my expression almost broke, but I barely managed to keep it in check.

Swallowing dryly, I replied as calmly as I could.

“Is that because of the incident this time?”

“No. It’s something we’ve been preparing for a long time. The timing just moved up a little, that’s all.”

With that, he looked into my eyes with those blue eyes of his.

As if he meant to see for himself how I would use this information.

“That’s all I have to say. Well then, young man. Till we meet again.”

With those words, he strode out of the tavern.

Though he spoke as if it was nothing, every word he said was shocking.

‘This is an unexpected windfall.’

Who would have thought the king of Eintban would come to me and offer to grant any wish, even if only once?

If used well, it could be a great weapon.

Being able to move Eintban meant being able to mobilize countless mercenaries.

To mobilize the mercenaries was to have the aid of the Mercenary King, Sehenz.

‘And… Eintban is opening its doors?’

Eintban had many mysterious special products.

If I could secure a monopoly over their distribution… the profits would go without saying.

Besides, the influential member of the Timmons Merchant Guild was right here.

Clatter!

“Maria!”

Leaving my half-eaten stew on the table, I dashed up to my room at the inn.

I had to move quickly, before word of this got out.

* * *

“Rutia, are you sure you’re alright not staying in Eintban?”

“The Black Skull Mercenary band was only something I joined for this mission, so it’s fine.”

“Still, you must have grown attached.”

“It’s not like we’re saying goodbye forever. I’ll just visit from time to time.”

Inside the departing carriage, Rutia gazed wistfully out the window.

Her role was finished, so she decided to return to her family.

Still, she had stayed in Eintban for quite a while, and she must have had some mixed feelings.

“By the way, why don’t you call me by my name like before? Between us.”

“… I’m not sure what kind of relationship we have. And the reason I dropped honorifics was only to hide the fact that you are Maria’s mother.”

I treated my elders with respect, after all.

Especially with Maria sitting right beside us glaring daggers, I couldn’t speak carelessly.

[Then show some respect to me, too.]

‘Yes, Ma’am, Grancesia, grandmother.’

[Don’t call me that! That’s mean!]

Ignoring the whining Grancesia, I turned back to Rutia, who was now looking at me slyly.

There was something unsettling about her gaze.

And as I feared, the next thing she said was utterly unexpected.

“How heartless, asking what our relationship is. You might have to call me mother-in-law soon.”

“Gah!”

“Mo-mother! What are you saying—ow!”

So startled, I nearly choked on nothing.

Maria, equally flustered, stood up in anger, turned crimson, and hit her head on the carriage ceiling.

“Oh dear, isn’t it true? I know all about it. You two slept together every night while in Eintban, didn’t you?”

Rutia often acted so girlish that I forgot her age, but seeing her tease like this, she was definitely the classic meddling auntie.

The worst part was that I couldn’t even refute it.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

For efficient training under Grancesia during sleep, Maria and I slept together.

But it was only for the sake of learning more effectively. I swear I had not the slightest wicked intention.

“Mother, there was someone else there, too.”

“Who? I never heard of that.”

“…”

Maria knew about Grancesia, but without being able to reveal that to Rutia, she fell silent.

Sighing softly, she finally opened her mouth.

“… But seriously, who told you that in the first place?”

“Jade.”

Apparently, the elusive Thieves’ Guild master had sold our information to Rutia.

So that’s what he was up to while out of sight.

‘He wanted to open a Thieves’ Guild branch in Vanhart territory, didn’t he.’

I’d have to say a word when I had the chance.

‘Well, it seems their relationship is on the mend.’

Watching Maria and Rutia bicker, they looked just like quarrelling sisters.

When they first met, Maria had been cold, but during her stay in Eintban, she must have come to understand Rutia’s situation, even a little.

“Oh, by the way. I just realized something now.”

“What is it this time?”

“No, I’m alive.”

Rutia laughed at her own words.

“At the very end, I was definitely…”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah…!”

Having spoken without thinking, Rutia fell silent under Maria’s cold gaze.

“Mother, were you planning to die at the end?”

“I wasn’t planning to die… but maybe I thought I would. But I lived, so it’s alright.”

“And you think ‘it’s alright’ just covers it?”

Listening to the two of them banter, I quietly gazed out the window at the slowly shifting scenery.

Between the bright sunshine and the melting snow, a patch of bright green grass peeked out.

Indeed, spring had finally begun.

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