MTM 96

“Is it okay to keep going like this? It’s raining cats and dogs…?”

“That’s true.”

They had run through the desert all night and safely entered the Regnovar Empire, which was good, but the rain pouring down like a deluge was far from welcome to the group.

The biggest problem was the carriage they were riding in.

The camels that could walk without trouble on sand became much slower on the laid gravel road. Since they had crossed the border, it would have been right to change their means of transport, but the conditions weren’t good. The Royal Knights judged that even if it took more time, it was better to get as far away from the border region as possible.

“…We can’t delay any longer.”

Zed wasn’t the type to quietly follow along. Now that he had arrived in the Regnovar Empire, all he wanted was to reach Arnovar, the capital where the Imperial Palace was located, as quickly as possible.

Clunk.

Growing impatient, Zed threw open the carriage door without caring about the rain and shouted at the coach.

“How much farther do we have to go?!”

Zed’s hair, soaked with rainwater, was no longer golden but dyed black. On the way here, just in case, he had used magic to dye his hair black.

“We’ll reach the branch before nightfall!”

Rumble, crash!

The moment the driver answered, thunder roared from the sky. At the same time, fierce wind and rain blew in, splashing rainwater into the carriage.

“Hey! Zed, close the door!”

Allen shouted urgently in alarm. Zed immediately closed the door and sat back down. Allen brushed off his clothes that had gotten wet in that brief moment and said,

“Zed, times like this are when you need to keep your mind calm….”

“……”

Zed said nothing even after the advice.

“Ahem, but thanks to the Royal Knights, we got into Regnovar safely. That’s such a relief.”

“That’s right. Passing through the checkpoint of such a huge empire without any restrictions was really surprising.”

When an embarrassed Allen spoke to Leon, he nodded.

“Did you see earlier? He just showed something like a badge to the guard, and the guy totally froze.”

“Not just froze, it looked like he was about to wet himself on the spot.”

Allen and Leon joked around, trying to lighten the mood. But Zed seemed unable to focus on their conversation.

Maybe it was because his appearance had changed. He had already lost weight while being treated in Saela Village, making his impression slightly dull, and the blackened hair only added to his gloom.

“……”

Unlike the other two, Zed was completely lost in his own thoughts. It was because of what he had heard at the inn that morning.

‘Isadora? Do you mean Isadora Grenhardt?’

The captain who had come to find Zed in person brought unexpected news. He said that the Royal Knights’ ‘Golden Wings’ unit moved under Commander Isadora and was scouring the entire continent to uncover the truth behind the rumors involving the Crown Prince.

‘I’ll follow.’

The moment he heard her name, there was no reason to hesitate. Isadora was someone he had known since their days at the Academy, someone he had built a certain level of rapport with. Even though three years had passed in the blink of an eye, thinking back on their old ties, there was a good chance she would help him.

That was why. Before settling things with Crown Prince Magnus, he had to meet Isadora as soon as possible, even if only for a moment.

His belief that Harto was definitely alive hadn’t changed. However, the mere fact that he couldn’t confirm whether he was alive or dead made his chest ache as if it were tearing apart.

‘Harto, just a little… just wait a little longer….’

If he were to meet Harto again… this time, no matter what happened, he wouldn’t let him leave his arms. Zed quietly clenched his fist and reiterated the vow to himself.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“Harto! What on earth happened? The attendants said we absolutely can’t leave here…!”

When Harto returned to the annex with Robert’s help, Reina shouted with a terrified face. Ser also greeted Harto while failing to hide his tense expression.

“Ah, well….”

Harto couldn’t continue speaking for a moment. He hesitated over whether he should tell them that the Crown Prince was coming here. They almost had been handed over to the Crown Prince just because they were blond. And not just once, but twice.

“Harto, didn’t you hear anything?”

When Ser asked, Harto pursed his lips. He judged there was no need to stir up more anxiety.

“I don’t really know either…. I think it’s because a guest is suddenly coming. They just told me to stay in the annex until the guest leaves.”

“Really? Then it’s probably not a big deal….”

Reina said, but she still didn’t seem at ease. Even as she let out a sigh of relief, she took out a bronze mirror and muttered something. It looked like she was trying to read a fortune to calm her anxious heart.

“Hm…. Harto, if you’re fine with it, can you come into my room for a moment?”

Leaving Reina behind, Ser quietly called to Harto. He wanted to be alone because of his complicated feelings, but Ser’s gaze looked serious, so he followed him into the room.

Click.

As soon as Ser closed the door and Harto sat down on a chair, he asked,

“Did you ask Isadora?”

“Huh?”

“Weren’t you going to ask her to help you find your companions?”

“Huh, how did you….”

Harto was startled. He hadn’t said anything separately to Ser before meeting Isadora, but it seemed Ser had already noticed.

“It’s obvious at a glance. You show everything on your face, Harto.”

“R-really…?”

Harto unnecessarily touched his face. He wondered if it showed that he had been crying his eyes out.

“I’m joking. Isadora called me and Reina yesterday and asked if there was anything she could help with.”

Realizing it was just Ser’s joke, Harto inwardly sighed. Watching him, Ser smiled slightly.

“Reina wants to go back to Hipora Village.”

“Ah… I see.”

Even though she had said she was a drifter, Reina had spent a long time working as a fortune teller, and she had even seen her aunt’s two faced nature here, so it wasn’t strange that she didn’t want to stay any longer.

“Are you going to Hipora too, Ser?”

“I’m… thinking of staying here. I said I’d protect things until this matter is wrapped up.”

It was an unexpected answer. Harto, who had thought Ser would leave together with Reina, was surprised and asked for the reason.

“Well…. You might not believe it even if I say it now, but I didn’t stay at ‘Honey’ by my own will.”

“No, I believe you.”

“Do you? Then that’s a relief.”

When Harto said it sincerely, Ser smiled.

“I figured that if I asked Isadora, she’d help find me at least some kind of work I could do. I don’t have anywhere to go. I might look like this, but I can handle most alchemy. Well, I guess I’ll be useful somewhere….”

Ser looked somewhat bitter, but his eyes, burning with resolve to start over again, shone.

To be honest, Harto still didn’t know Ser’s full circumstances. He could only guess that Ser hid something he couldn’t easily speak about. Otherwise, Harto thought, there was no reason for someone so skilled in alchemy to stay in a place like that for so long.

“Aren’t you curious how I ended up in to that place?”

Harto flinched, then he carefully nodded. Seeing Harto’s reaction, Ser took a deep breath in and out, and opened his mouth.

“It might be a cliché story.”

“I want to hear it.”

Harto spoke sincerely while holding back the complex emotions swirling in his heart. Right now, more than anything, he wanted to hear Ser’s story.

Ser paused, looked at the door in case someone might overhear, and then murmured quietly.

“I loved someone. … A love that, ironically, ended in failure.”