1033. You worked hard.
I’ll take the next one.
As soon as they crossed the dimension, Sinar spoke. He spoke even though they had passed through another pitch-black passage and everyone was busy catching their breath.
At this point, it would be more accurate to say his resolve went beyond mere steadfastness and was filled with venom.
His luminous blonde hair fluttered in the wind. On the surface, he seemed far removed from the word “venom,” but Sinar was sincere.
“Phew, instead of a hug, I’ll kick your ass. How about that?”
While Rem was speaking, Temares checked Enkrid’s breathing. He didn’t even need to touch him; he could feel just by looking that Enkrid was barely managing to breathe.
The only saving grace was that, over there, the skin—which had been disfigured by severe burns beyond just scorching and blistering—had returned to its original state.
“Yeah, I would have been sad if that face had been hurt.”
Esther knew that Encred’s spirit was damaged and that if not properly treated, permanent damage would remain on his body as well, so she used her magical power to tend to him the entire time she was leaving.
That must be the reason. Her fingers trembled as she opened her hand. The flow of magical power kept cutting off. Her vision blurred, and the strength drained from her thigh muscles, making it difficult to stand on two legs.
The physical strength she had possessed due to the curse of transforming into a leopard was now useless.
Am I too exhausted?
It was understandable. Encred, who was in his arms, slid down. Krang caught it.
If it had been even a little later, I would have been on the verge of grabbing the Emperor by the hair, not just the collar, to order him to bring everyone in.
It was brief for them, but it was a considerable amount of time for Krang. Before he knew it, the surroundings were dark. The twilight had vanished, and it was the time when the sun was setting in dark shadows.
I’d like to suggest we rest, but it feels a bit uncomfortable here, so shall we move?
Krang spoke. Everyone agreed. Enkrid was unconscious. Saxon supported him again and gave him a small pill. The motion of opening his mouth to insert the medicine and pressing his fingers into his neck muscles to swallow it was natural. Naturally, he was quite accustomed to such things.
What are you feeding them? If there is something good, let’s share.
Rem glanced at him and spoke. His complexion wasn’t very good either. He had fought under considerable strain, and his entire body’s muscles were trembling from the explosion of his magical power.
The medicine Anne gave me.
Saxony gave a clear-cut answer.
“Why are you the only one who received it?”
“I didn’t receive it; I packed it before leaving.”
Saxon was more thoroughly prepared than anyone else. This was only natural, considering he was a man whose profession was killing people by identifying their habits through preliminary research.
It was a secret medicine he had brought to give to Krang, rather than Encred, should any threat arise. He
had prepared the medicine, usually in a glass bottle, in a round solid form this time, so there was no room for doubt regarding its effectiveness.
After all, as someone who handles poisons, Saxon knew very well just how formidable a pharmacist Anne was.
Didn’t you take care of this older brother’s?
Saxony did not hurl his usual curses at the man spouting nonsense.
Had the barbarian not blocked the way when the Firebird shot fireballs and raged at the end, one or two of the people remaining here might have been trapped. That is how significant Rem’s role had been. And that was why he was exhausted, too.
His complexion was noticeably poor.
Is it now?
Saxon looked at Rem and pondered. It didn’t seem like killing him now would require much effort. He was a bit drained himself, but not as much as that bastard Rem.
“Look at those eyes. That bastard’s eyes alone are the very definition of fire, aren’t they?”
Rem asked everyone. There was no answer. Saxon did not carry out his plan. Now that he had barely managed to find the Captain, he did not want to do anything that he would dislike.
Now, let’s take a break here.
Krang stopped at a suitable spot. Even by then, Encred had not woken up, yet no one was particularly worried.
Did you go straight to heaven?
It was a remark Rem made for no reason. Encred’s face was peaceful. He looked like he was fast asleep.
Have a sweet dream.
Sinar laid Encred down on two blankets and even took off his cloak to spread out, then stroked his head.
Saxen crossed his arms and leaned his back against a tree. He was resting, yet his senses remained acutely alert, sensing his surroundings. What
if there were another demonic trap? He sharpened the blade of his senses. He had no intention of simply falling victim to it again, even if the same thing happened once more.
Rem went into the carriage and lay down to sleep, while Esther, despite her exhaustion, felt the flow of new magical power blooming within her.
It’s like a fire.
I was already deeply engrossed in fire-manipulating spells recently, and thanks to seeing the Phoenix in person and reaching its world, some of the methods for wielding the powers governing immortality, eternal life, and regeneration have been imprinted on my body.
I’ll sort it out later.
A new wind must blow through my world of spells.
Although she lacked the strength to move a single finger, she channeled her magical power to recite a few spells.
Esther, too, had no intention of falling for another trap, even if one appeared.
The same was true for Temares and Sinar.
Krang sat down, gazing at Encred, who lay motionless as if dead. Compared to the Mad Knights, Krang’s stamina was certainly not lacking. One
could say he was fine even after staying up all night.
In any case, he stayed up all night like that, tending to the campfire and preparing a few dishes. The entire Royal Guard helped him.
In the middle of it all, Esther fell asleep while sitting, and Saxon leaned against a tree. Only Rem slept soundly; he woke up at dawn, yawned wide enough to split his mouth open, ate, and went back to sleep.
The sun rose. Rem stepped out of the carriage, stretched, and spoke.
“Stray cat, you rest now. I’ll look after you during the day.”
They didn’t say a word to each other, but they had clearly divided their roles. Rem, who had pushed himself too hard in the fight, rested first, and in the meantime, Saxon kept watch over the surroundings. Now it was time to switch roles.
“I’ve hugged you to my heart’s content, so now it’s my turn.”
Sinardo was replaced by Esther. Esther entered the carriage without reciting a single spell. Although
Krang had stayed up all night for about a day, he sat in the driver’s seat with a clear mind. And with that, he said.
“In my youth, I drove every major merchant caravan at least once. I have never seen anyone drive a carriage better than me.”
“Your Majesty.”
The head of the Royal Guard frowned. “Seriously, isn’t this going too far?”
However, as soon as he summoned his king like that, he changed his mind. Come to think of it, it was precisely because he was that kind of king that he had fallen for him.
He was acting this way because he was truly someone worth risking his life for.
Please let me know whenever you get tired.
Speaking, he sat down next to the King. Everyone assigned their roles as they pleased and headed toward the Border Guard.
They drove the carriage along a road that was well-paved for a mountain path, and when they reached their limit, Rem carried Encrid on his back.
Don’t push yourself too hard. It is the right thing to do to conserve your energy.
Rem spoke to Sinar. The barbarian, who was a head tall, was right. Sinar knew the nature of demons better than anyone among them.
They weren’t the type to give up easily. They had dug a ridiculous trap, but they must be watching from somewhere.
Are they watching from a range beyond the reach of the senses of Saxen, Rem, and the Dragonkin, including himself? Is this truly the power of a demon? Although
Esther had recovered some of her strength, she could not sense anything watching this place through a spell.
Let’s go.
They took turns recovering their strength, crossed the mountain range, and finally reached the safe road.
Even until the moment they finally faced the Border Guard gates—tensed with suspicion that something might have happened to the Border Guard—Encred did not open his eyes.
He still appeared to be sleeping soundly rather than having fainted.
“Rise, my fiancée. It is home.”
“My Enki, we have come.”
Sinar and Esther spoke in turn. Their words overlapped, but they did not glare at each other.
After all, they acknowledged each other.
Even though the two called out to him, Encred did not open his eyes.
* * *
A purple lamp guided the way through the pure white mist. Encred realized that he was sitting on a ferryboat.
It’s just you and me.
A face covered in scars, it is Sion Bant. He is also a pessimist and a boatman.
Scratching his disfigured face with his index finger, he looked at Enkrid with his turquoise eyes.
If this moment passes, I’ll end up just like Zaidan.
Scars here and there made his face bumpy. The protruding skin looked as if dried-up earthworms had been implanted on his face.
On the outside, his face was enough to be called hideous, yet his voice was remarkably clear. It was a voice that brought to mind a clear sky. Or perhaps it was like a lake shining with a turquoise hue.
Those eyes and voice must have originally suited his face perfectly.
Perhaps due to the fog, nothing could be seen or heard except for himself and Sion. It seemed as though only a small part of the ferryboat was accessible.
Sion caught his breath for a moment, let out a sigh, and then, after catching his breath again, spoke.
“To be honest, I wanted to see my mom one more time.”
He revealed his honest feelings.
“And I also wanted to hang out with decent guys like you.”
He kept talking.
I wanted to go fishing together, grill meat over a campfire, and gather at an inn to sip on drinks and chat about trivial things.
It was the confession of an unfortunate man who longed for an ordinary life. Sion shed no tears. His eyes were already dry.
He had lived trapped here since becoming a boatman. To him, the repetition of today was a curse in the truest sense, as every single day was always tormenting.
Encred looked at him and wept on his behalf. He didn’t sob uncontrollably. Tears simply flowed, without a single change in expression.
How pitiful the man before him was, and how admirable he was amidst that pity.
Encred placed his hand on Sion’s head.
“You worked hard.”
“……Am I a child?”
Even his turquoise eyes turn red. Yes, they say tears never dry up. He is Usuke in the truest sense. No matter how much he cries, the tears keep flowing.
“If, if I were born again. If I were given the chance to live one more time.”
Zion paused, shedding clear tears, and continued speaking.
I don’t live like I used to.
Even if misfortune strikes, I will overcome it and find happiness somehow. Zion’s dream is happiness. His wish is a happy daily life. That is why he hoped that Encred, a mortal, would have a happy day rather than a peaceful one. He wanted to catch a glimpse of happiness, even if indirectly.
“Hey, I’ve bet on you too. Hang in there. We’ll see you one more time if everyone agrees, but this might be the last time. Don’t stop, Enki.”
Sion continued speaking.
As the fog lifted, Sion scattered along with it. White mist rose, revealing the black river.
In place of Sion, who had vanished from the bow, a dragon-like figure with blood-red eyes appeared. Its skin reflected the purple light of the lamp, revealing the pattern of scales.
Lumen, the seeker of light, the inquiring knight and dragon-like figure; Jitte Reduin is also a worryer and a boatman.
“My friend Zion, you were so shy that you used up all your remaining strength hiding your surroundings. Because of that, the time we spent talking must have been short.”
“It was enough.”
Honorifics are omitted. Trapped in another world and rolling around together, Encred felt that they were friends.
My real wish was to leave with a friend. That’s why I placed my bet on you.
He kept saying he had wagered something, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was. Encreed answered without questioning.
“Bet everything. I won’t give up.”
If that is the only thing left to him, he will overcome and move forward with that single strength. His will is steadfast, and his determination is high. That is why he was a shining person.
What a truly brilliant human being you are.
Jitte cleared his throat and said what needed to be said.
“Thanks to the change in purity, you will actually feel like you have regressed. Enki.”
Did he feel like a friend only to himself? No. Jitte also treated the mortal like a friend.
“Win in the end. Do it for your own sake, leaving my long-held ambition behind.”
Jitte was a good friend and a good teacher. Jitte did not vanish like mist. A robe appeared on his shoulders, and as he put it on and took it off, he disappeared, and the last boatman stood before Enkrid.
“Primahild, do you know the meaning of my name?”
She is a woman known as a mocker, a boatman, a prisoner, and a knight of the new era.
