Book 14: Chapter 367 |
Chapter 367: Only You
「…Today, I can sense a pleasant smell from you. Your smell is usually stronger. 」
Inside Eldith’s private room, she spoke while wearing a proper nightwear. She was looking up in the air as if her high nose was groaning. Her blue eyes were quivering while her neck moved incessantly.
Did I have a strong smell? People were indifferent when it came to their own scent.
Well, I didn’t chew tobacco that much while I was drinking, so maybe that’s why.
When I replied lightly that I had no idea about my scent, Eldith said while raising her cheeks.
「Hmm, I see. That’s fine. I’ll give you some perfume next time. It’s homemade. 」
I widened my eyes. Was it an elf perfume? A medicinal solution that smelled like fragrant herbs?
If so, then no thanks. It was a luxury item because there weren’t many of them. However, because of that, I didn’t have good memories.
Eldith spread her shoulders to say that her perfume would be my favorite smell. She wasn’t willing to retreat. It seemed that forcefulness was an elf trait. Wouldn’t it be nice to fix that bad trait, even if a little?
Nonetheless, despite being distant, Eldith’s sighs seemed to pierce my neck. I wondered what really caught her attention. On this moment, the elf maid who came to call me made a small sound in her throat and said the following.
「Lady Eldith. Please, don’t forget this is an urgent matter. 」
Eldith stroked her neck with her thin finger while her expression got grim upon hearing those words. After that, she walked and looked at the window, no, out of the window.
The blue eyes were looking strangely far into the distance. It felt like they were looking at something invisible. She had a clouded expression. Eldith spoke quietly.
「Lugis. Actually, something bad happened. You said that you would save the Gharast Kingdom, didn’t you?」
I see. Was that the story? I twisted my eyebrows and nodded while pulling my chin.
After stirring up the nobles’ hearts, I unofficially crowned Philos Trait. That would be the easiest way for the Heraldics to compete with the Great Holy Church.
In order to make that happen, Philos and the Heraldic Order needed a credible track record.
In other words, a credible track record for saving the Gharast Kingdom from danger by slaying magical beasts. People always celebrated a savior close at hand rather than a distant King.
I knew that very well.
Of course, I didn’t think it would be easy to accomplish.
After all, it was a fictional picture I made up. The corners of that picture could be sloppy and unraveled. Opposition would surely appear from both the Heraldic Order and Ghazalia.
Eldith said that something bad happened while referring to my previous quote, which justified that fact.
Yes, I thought so. Facts always seemed to be two steps ahead of imagination.
I thrust my gaze at her and urged her to continue. Her blue eyes swayed to show her agitation.
Heavy words that I didn’t expect fell from her lips.
「The place that should be saved, Arche, the royal capital of the Gharast Kingdom, has fallen. To be precise, it lost its function as a royal capital. Since its information came from a single messenger on horse, I wonder how accurate it is.」
Eldith continued, saying that because of that piece of information, voices were starting to erupt from the Heraldic Order implying that they should withdraw for now.
She described that it was normal for those voices to appear and object to my plan. After all, that brand new information meant that a large horde of magical beasts showed with an unimaginably commanded threat.
But. To be honest, Eldith’s words didn’t reach my ears properly. The moment those words touched my ears, they seemed to have shattered into pieces. The first words spoken were too heavy.
What did Eldith say just now? Arche had fallen. Did she really say that?
What happened? It seemed the Kingdom was about to fall. That glorious center. And in a fast pace. I had not even heard of a castle being attacked first.
My skull was confused, and fever consumed my thoughts. I felt dizzy.
Was what Eldith said true? Was she joking or something? Or was the mead alcohol showing me a dream?
My waist was hot. The treasure sword was roaring. My thoughts were raging suspiciously. I swallowed my saliva and finally spoke.
「…What happened to the King? And what about the national army that serves as the shield of the royal capital? Were they defeated just like that, huh?」
At my words, Eldith’s lips shuddered. The hair of the same color as her eyes bounced silently through the air. Her head shook slightly.
「We haven’t received any news of the King’s demise, and we still don’t know the exact details. However, the only thing that is clear is that Arche, the royal capital, was completely unable to stop the magical beast disaster…or dare I say the magical devilish beings.」
Eldith continued saying that a large attack like that was probably the work of the magical devilish beings that led the magical beasts. They were called that name since the Age of the Gods.
Even between those words, my thoughts were running crazily inside my skull. It was so hot that my brain fluid was scorching.
I didn’t know what to say. What should I do now? It was not enough information.
After all, I never imagined that the royal capital Arche would fall from day to night. After all, that was the place where the hero once flapped his wings. And now that very place fell into the hands of the demons.
Even in my past life, such a thing had never happened. Even though I was exposed to the damage and danger of the magical beast disaster, the catastrophe never reached that far.
Then, I suddenly realized.
My thoughts were interrupted for a moment, and something unpleasant approached my throat. It felt so excruciating that my eyes even hurt.
…The Hero Helot Stanley was dead. If so, then things that weren’t possible because of his presence were now happening.
Such delusional thoughts popped up in my head. Then something boiling engulfed my entire chest. That idea even took on a strange sense of truth.
That’s right. This world was really troublesome. And it was going in the worst direction.
I felt like I had been hit hard with a stick. If there’s such a thing as a god, would he do something this cruel? No, perhaps he had that kind of personality from the beginning.
I let out a deep sigh. My fingertips were unknowingly searching for my chewing tobacco. However, the thin white fingers controlled the urge of my hand. It was Eldith’s fingertips.
She spoke as she took my hand.
「So, what are you going to do about it, Lugis? The Heraldic Order is trying to withdraw. Ghazalia has no intention of acting recklessly either.」
I see. If the fall of the royal capital was true, the Gharast Kingdom would’ve had most of its functions cut off.
The local aristocrats would lose control of the central government, and the King would lose his limbs. The turmoil caused by the magical beast disaster would increase the wounds of the Kingdom that had been created in the fall of Arche.
Forcing our hands into it was like picking up a stone in the fire. I doubted my sanity. Oh yes, I was not sane in the first place.
Therefore, it would be a very rational thing to say that we should wait and see. There was no other right option.
A right option in order to survive. Nevertheless.
Many would die. People would die like idiots at the feet of demons. Others would be treated as livestock. Squeezed blood and twisted heads. Humans would die in pain and sobs. A clear death.
I had seen people die like that many times in the past. No, to be more precise, I had let people die many times. Naturally. After all, humans were creatures that lived only for their own convenience. They never chose otherwise.
How many people risked themselves to save the lives of strangers they didn’t even know? Ah, I couldn’t do something like that, saving others.
Eldith whispered to my ears to clear my clouded thoughts. Her blue eyes seemed strangely close to mine.
「I’m sure a lot of people would hold you back, but I disagree. 」
I opened my eyes wide. What did that even mean? Looking at her reflexively, Eldith smiled and sighed.
「You are my knight, and I am your master. No matter what happens, that will never change. Even if it takes the lifetime of an elf. The Heraldic Order and Ghazalia won’t probably believe in you and won’t protect your back, but you have me because I believe in you, only you…what are you going to do, Lugis?」
I closed my eyes for a moment. My chest felt itchy and heavy. After all, in the past, she would’ve never entrusted me with her confidence.
However, now, the Hero Eldith had opened her heart to me, and I couldn’t be happier. For me, it felt surreal.
I moved my shoulders for a moment and exhaled deeply. I threw away a large number of thoughts that appeared in my head.
Then, I decided. Naturally, I had no choice but to move forward.
「…There’s no reason to retreat. Yes, I won’t abide to any withdrawal or hesitation. Because the throne and crown are up there.」
Then why don’t we go pick it up? I could only do what my heart told me to do. That’s why I had to do it until it was done. This time, I’ll do it and show it.
I said so while distorting my cheeks and smiling.