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ED: LonelyMatter
Chapter 331 – A Moment of Rest. After Returning to Klyphoth
Ain was currently in the frontier city of Klyphoth, located in the remote southwestern corner of the continent.
The population was small, so there were few towns. Traveling by water train to major cities like the Royal Capital took far too long, and there were few departures.
In pursuit of Camilla, who had already crossed the sea ahead of them, Ain led everyone back to Klyphoth.
By the time they arrived, dark skies shrouded the surroundings—
“Hurry up! The fight isn’t over yet!”
“The cargo? Put that off until later!”
“Estimated arrival is early morning! Prepare immediately—”
Klyphoth’s harbor was abuzz with returning knights.
Lights came from haphazardly wrapped, oil-soaked torches, and magic lanterns were few and far between. The red and orange flames illuminating the area generated such heat that, despite winter, the air felt stifling.
The Sea Dragon Ship Leviathan.
Perched high above the deck and the ceiling stretching even higher, he gazed down at the bustling Klyphoth and muttered to himself.
“What do you call this feeling again? All-powerful? Omnipotent? Well, they’re probably the same anyway.”
Ever since he absorbed the Black Dragon’s magic stone, he’d been enveloped by the sensation that he could do anything.
In fact, the sensation now was even greater than when he absorbed the Sea Dragon’s and Marco’s magic stones. Ain repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, testing the feeling.
Behind him, an elf man approached.
“Excuse me, O one bearing the most noble blood.”
“Cyrus? Could you please stop calling me that?”
Cyrus approached with the same respect he’d shown since the day they met in the elf village.
“My apologies. Your Highness, I have a message to deliver.”
“Hmm. What is it?”
“Regarding the transport of the black dragon you slew, it’s been decided that the August Trading Company will handle it. They have a branch here in Klyphoth. The commander has already settled the matter.”
“Dill? That was quick. Wait, the August Trading Company has a branch here, too?”
As always, the former Head of the Augusto family was exceptionally capable.
Ain felt a silent respect for Graff’s skill in expanding his reach this far in less than a decade.
“…”
When Cyrus didn’t leave after finishing his report, Ain opened his mouth. “Um…”
“Did you have something else to report?”
“N-no—I’m done reporting.”
His words trailed off.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ain tapped the seat beside him.
“Sit down. You want to talk to me about something, right?”
“Then, if you’ll excuse me…”
(…He sat down immediately.)
Ain thought there was definitely something else. To make Cyrus more comfortable, Ain relaxed his posture and stretched out his legs.
In contrast, Cyrus sat in seiza*, his back perfectly straight. His expression was noticeably stiff. [T/N: Feet tucked under.]
“Elves have a keen sense for the presence of their own kind.”
He began abruptly.
“For example, in the forest, we can sense the presence of others. Even in the city, we can detect similar magical wavelengths.”
“…Huh?”
“What I mean is this: Right now, I cannot sense Chris-dono’s presence.”
“Why Chris now?”
Sweat beaded on Cyrus’s forehead, betraying his tension. Yet he spoke with such conviction, as if compelled to ask Ain no matter what.
“W-well, from what I understand, The Dryad tribe has a tendency to take root. That said, even as a lowly member of the Black Knights, I am well aware that you are no ordinary Dryad. What I wish to ask you is about that—”
“…Ah.”
Ain finally understood.
Cyrus couldn’t sense Chris’s presence. Since she harbored affection for Ain, Cyrus guessed that something must have happened between them.
“You want to know if I have done something with Chris?”
Cyrus couldn’t bring himself to nod plainly; he only clenched his hands tightly.
It wasn’t out of voyeuristic curiosity; it was a question born from genuine concern for his comrade.
Ain raised the corners of his mouth in a troubled smile before speaking briefly.
“Yes, a little.”
To be completely honest, there was the duel with her at the White Knight Castle in the capital, but he didn’t think it was something worth talking about. So he answered vaguely, “A little.”
“What a thing to say.”
A trembling voice escaped Cyrus as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
“Huh? Wait…hold on!”
“This is wonderful news! Chris-dono has finally… How delightful…”
“I told you to calm down.”
“I understand. I won’t speak of it lightly. I’ll keep it in my heart.”
“That helps, though.”
This time, Cyrus stood up briskly, a smile spreading across his face.
“By the way, we brought considerable forces with us, but are the Capital and Strohm secure? Strohm has Arche-sama, but what if something were to happen to the Capital?”
“It’s fine. Those guys don’t have enough firepower to take everyone down.”
“By ‘everyone,’ you mean Lloyd-dono and the others, correct?”
“Not quite. Of course, I trust Lloyd-san, but…”
Huh? Cyrus crossed his arms, puzzled.
What did he leave behind? He looked down at his lord’s profile and tilted his head slightly.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Ain’s confident words; he was just curious about their meaning.
Ain opened his mouth, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“I left behind quite a few others, too. Starting with a guy who’s a bit of a jerk and quite the smartass.”
“With all due respect, I’m afraid I don’t quite grasp what you mean.”
“Ah, no need to look so apologetic. I tell you—”
The gentle aura emanating from Ain eased the tension from Cyrus’s body, and he chuckled softly.
“Man-eaters. I went out of my way to prepare a bunch of potted plants. They should grow on their own from here.”
“I see. Well, that’s quite the misfortune for any enemies who might come calling…”
He felt a touch of sympathy.
Man-eaters were opponents that even Chris struggled with. Having to face multiple ones meant the outcome was practically decided.
As Ain’s familiars, the man-eaters would remain summoned as long as Ain’s magic didn’t run dry. And after the battle with the Black Dragon, Ain’s magic had grown stronger and showed no signs of depletion.
Finally, Cyrus bowed and said, “Well then, if you’ll excuse me,” and stepped away from Ain’s side.
Left alone, Ain looked up at the sky and said,
“Hey, Loli Goddess. About the dragonfolk…and me, too…there’s just so much I want to learn from you.”
He recalled what had been said during the battle with the Black Dragon.
“Once things settle down with Strohm’s rule, I was thinking of coming to ask you. How about it?”
He asked the void, but no answer came.
Yet, for an instant, a sea breeze brushed his cheek as if softly chuckling in his ear.
He listened to the sound of the waves and let the scent of the tide calm his mind.
Whatever he did, it was all about Camilla.
Thinking back, he felt a tinge of self-mockery. After all, he thought, he had a connection with her. He lightly scratched his right cheek.
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