“Before coming here, I went to see Młynar and the camp…” Toland licked the watermelon juice from his fingers as he spoke.
“Sorry, but there’s no way I can go against Uncle Darksteel.” Clarus shrugged.
Toland shuddered.
“That place Darksteel’s running isn’t even a camp anymore.
If the campaign knights saw it, they’d probably mistake it for a bandit den and wipe the whole place out!” Then he sighed.
“Ah…
I should’ve known this day would come eventually.
Still, Darksteel hasn’t completely forgotten the old days.
He kept Młynar on as an honorary Darksteel of the Armorless Union.” “This last job paid pretty damn well too.
I can finally start preparing to settle down in the Grand Knight Territory.” “Well, congratulations.” Clarus raised an eyebrow.
“Your dream’s about to come true.” “Mm-hm.
Still doesn’t feel great, though.
Guess our youth really is over~” Toland stretched, visibly relaxing.
“Everyone has their own future.” Clarus patted him on the shoulder.
“I just hope Darksteel doesn’t drag Młynar and me down with him when he eventually causes trouble.” Toland rolled his eyes dramatically.
“I saw Młynar too.
He really looks like a corporate wage slave now, hahaha.
He even tried avoiding me, but honestly, I get it.” “To be precise, all three of us betrayed what we started out believing in.” “Młynar became a wage slave for the General Chamber of Commerce.
I just want to settle down instead of trying to save the whole world.
And Darksteel started selfishly building up his own power and chasing authority.” Clarus rested a hand on Toland’s shoulder, but for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
“Speaking of which, what about you?” Toland turned his head toward Clarus curiously.
“Didn’t you come to the wilderness because you were trying to figure out the meaning of your own existence?” “Well…” Clarus smiled.
“I’ve got some ideas now.” “Come on, tell me!
Big Brother Toland is super curious!” Toland grinned.
“I…” Clarus looked down at the table, a faint smile still on his face.
“Honestly, when I was living at the camp, I was still pretty lost.
Every day I’d just do a job, come back and chat with everyone for a while, then go to sleep.” “But I really did think everyone there was wonderful.
They were kind, just like my family.” “Little by little, I started thinking that everyone should be able to live that kind of happy life.” “But what happened with you guys taught me something too.
Having huge ambitions and wanting to accomplish something great is a good thing, but…
you failed.” “And that proved just how incredibly difficult something like that really is.” “Then I moved here.” Clarus laughed.
“I’m serious, though.
The first time I saw a little girl take the Oripathy suppressants I gave her and run home to give them to her mother instead, I was ridiculously moved.
Hahaha.” “I’m too weak.” “I don’t have enough power to make every kind of suffering disappear by myself.” “So…
since I’m Infected too, I figured I’d just help other Infected however much I can.” “That way, when I finally die, at least I’ll be able to go peacefully.” “This.” Toland immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
“This right here.” “That’s a damn good reason to live.
You even managed to avoid the holes the three of us fell into.” “I’m pretty honored if what we went through helped you figure that out.” “I’ve thought about going back to the Grand Knight Territory and setting up some kind of foundation.” Clarus smiled.
“Something specifically meant to give a little help to fellow Infected.” “Of course, I’d put the Nearl name on it.
With that name attached, people probably wouldn’t dare play too many tricks, and more of the money would actually reach the Infected who need it.” “If you really get it running, put my name on it too.
Whenever I’m free, I’ll come help.” Toland laughed and threw an arm around Clarus’s shoulders.
“It’s a deal!
Don’t forget to call me!” “Of course!” Clarus laughed too.
“My father’s a spokesman for the General Chamber of Commerce.
I’m sure the Chamber won’t be stingy when it comes to spending money on good publicity.” “Yeah.” Toland sounded a little emotional.
“Using money from those parasites in the General Chamber of Commerce to help people who actually need it…
maybe that’s what power is really supposed to be used for.” “In a couple of days, I’m heading into the Grand Knight Territory.” Toland grinned.
“This time I’m actually going to pick where I want to buy a house.
You free to come help me choose?” “Sure.
I haven’t been back in a long time either.” Clarus smiled.
“I’ll visit the Nearls while I’m there too.” “You and the Nearl girls…” Toland sighed regretfully and shook his head.
“Oripathy has ruined way too many people’s lives.” “It’s fine…” Clarus smiled.
“We all still have plenty of choices.
I just hope they…
don’t resent me.” …
Ever since Clarus began living in the wilderness, he’d picked up a new hobby—music.
Besides the distinct knight-style music of Kazimierz, the music of Leithanien, whose very nation was built upon it, was naturally something he had to appreciate as well.
Clarus listened to a wide range of music.
He even kept several songs from distant Yan in the east saved on his little music player.
“Monster Siren Records really knows what they’re doing.” Clarus hummed along with a large pair of headphones over his ears.
Toland sat in the motorcycle’s sidecar, an earbud wire trailing to his ears as well—Clarus’s player could support two sets at once.
“Yeah… I don’t really get music, but this actually sounds pretty good.” “I’ve made a few songs myself when I had nothing to do.
They’re not on this player, though.
I’ll play them for you next time,” Clarus promised as he passed through the gates of the Grand Knight Territory.
…
Clarus accompanied Toland as he looked at several houses, all of them in good locations and built to a high standard.
There wasn’t really anything wrong with any of them.
The problem was Toland himself.
He couldn’t decide which one he wanted because every house looked good to him.
He’d been inside the Nearl residence countless times, but this was the first time he’d ever been choosing a home for himself.
Being picky was understandable.
In the end, Toland decided to wander around the Grand Knight Territory first.
After all these years, he’d never actually had the chance to properly explore it.
He wanted to familiarize himself with the city where he hoped to spend the rest of his life.
He didn’t ask Clarus to be his guide.
Toland wanted to see the city for himself.
Countless people desperately fought for the chance to enter this City of Knights.
Toland had managed it with his own two hands.
His profession might not have been particularly respectable, but the glow of the neon lights would cover up everything that had come before.
People outside desperately struggled to squeeze their way into this city…
Clarus went to the Nearl residence.
After visiting Grandpa Kirill and finding that his health had improved somewhat, Clarus finally relaxed.
When he left, he was carrying another huge bag of letters.
Every single one had been sent home by Margaret.
After returning home and spending a wonderful evening with the family he hadn’t seen in far too long, Clarus sat down at the desk in his room and began reading Margaret’s letters.
One after another.
Carefully, without skipping a single one.
The young girl’s feelings were practically laid bare across the pages, every letter filled with how much she missed him after so long apart.
Clarus was happy.
But between them stood an enormous mountain called “illness,” forcing the two of them to remain thousands of miles apart even as they reached out toward each other’s fingertips.
Margaret remained as bright and cheerful as ever.
Even through her letters, her natural charm practically spilled off the page.
In one letter, she innocently wrote about how she’d helped a comrade who twisted his ankle during morning training and personally carried him to the infirmary.
Somehow, that comrade had managed to get his hands on a bouquet of roses and a cake inside the military camp and gave them to Margaret as thanks.
Margaret had been deeply moved.
So she decided that from then on, she would give this comrade—who somehow managed to injure himself just by walking—some extra guidance during training, hoping he could become an excellent campaign knight as soon as possible.
Still, she had her own little thoughts.
Every single letter ended the same way: I miss you, I miss you, I miss you…
I really, really miss you!
And Zofia too.
Clarus really wanted to tell her: You seriously don’t need to add Zofia.
Anyone with eyes can tell what you mean.
He read the letters one by one, a faint smile never leaving his face.
Being liked by someone…
really did feel wonderful.
He knew he shouldn’t grow addicted to that feeling.
But…
forgive him for being unable to resist.
Still smiling, Clarus picked up the final letter, already thinking about how he should reply.
He kept reading.
Then the smile on his face froze.
“Holy shit!
Margaret, what the fuck are you doing?!”