Interlude: Meanwhile…
The fourth son of the Blakes ducal house, Klim Blakes, had been missing for two months.
The truth was that an enraged Ryu had abducted him and sacrificed him to goblins.
Only the members of House Ardren and Margrave Grace knew the truth.
His mother, Duchess Olivia Blakes, knew nothing of it.
Olivia had hurried from the Duchy of Blakes to the capital and continued the seemingly endless search with her few remaining subordinates.
Her heart was already half-broken.
Each day, she staggered around the capital in search of him.
That day, she tried to leave and search again, but she couldn’t find the strength to stand.
Her body and mind had reached their limit.
“Olivia-sama. Please, at least for today, you must rest. If you continue like this, you’ll collapse from exhaustion…!”
“Absolutely not. If I, his mother, lose heart… then who will search for my son?”
“However, it’s already been nearly two months since Klim-sama disappeared. We have investigated every underworld hideout we could uncover. There were no traces. To be frank… there are no places left for us to search. Please, rest today. We shall continue in your stead…”
“Thank you for your concern. But no. I can’t waste even one day.”
In the midst of this exchange with her knight—
“Olivia-sama. A letter has arrived from the Gran Federation.”
“The Gran Federation? If it was delivered to the capital rather than the ducal territory… then it must be addressed to me, correct? But I don’t recall having acquaintances in the Federation…”
Muttering to herself, she opened the letter.
“K-Klim?!”
“To Mother.
Two months ago, I left home to chase my dream. I thought my kind mother might come searching for me in the capital, so I sent this letter here. I’ve always dreamed of traveling the world as an adventurer, though I kept it secret. I’m now in the Gran Federation. Next, I may go to the Principality, the Empire, the Kingdom, a smaller nation, or even another continent. It’ll be a long and difficult journey. I don’t know how many years it’ll take, and I may lose my life along the way or find somewhere else to settle. That’s why I have decided to cast aside the name Blakes and live simply as Klim. If I survive and fulfill my dream, I’ll come see you again. I’m sorry for leaving without a word and for being such a selfish son. Farewell.
From—Just Klim”
The moment she finished reading, tears spilled from Olivia’s eyes.
“O-Olivia-sama! Are you alright?!”
“I’m fine… forgive me.”
(So… that’s how it is. Well… he was always a child who did the most unexpected things… I suppose this, too, is simply who he is…)
After crying for a while, she stood.
“Very well. We’re returning to the Duchy of Blakes. I’ll explain on the way.”
“Eh…?”
“Understood?”
“Y-Yes! At once!”
(Haa… I do hope we meet again. My beloved son…)
Olivia pictured Klim’s smiling face.
◇◇◇
“A-Alice-sama, please wait!”
“Nope! I’m an untamable wild horse now—no one can stop me!”
Shaking off the knights who tried to restrain her, Alice charged headlong into a swarm of orcs.
The enemy wielded weapons.
She was surrounded on all sides.
“Kh—!”
There was no way she could fend off every attack, and her wounds continued to multiply.
She could now view the battle from angles she had never seen—or tried to see—before.
“Ahahaha! Ahahahahahahaha!”
Alice swung her sword desperately, scattering blood and sweat as she laughed.
That day, Ryu had lazily caught her full-power strike between two fingers.
You’ve never fought a battle where your life was truly on the line, have you?
You’ve never suffered a serious injury.
You’ve never carried anything on your shoulders.
Well, you’re a noble lady, after all.
A bottom-tier swordswoman who polished technique alone, who’s never killed a person or monster.
An E-rank adventurer who’s merely a little good with a sword.
Don’t blame others because your swordsmanship won’t improve.
A perfect instructor riding in on a white horse isn’t going to appear.
…No wonder you’re weak.
Every word Ryu had said pricked at her heart.
But she also remembered his other words.
You want to become the strongest swordsman who can shoulder a nation, right?
Then live a wild, one-of-a-kind life that never fits neatly into a mold.
Smash through your own ceiling.
…The name of that friend of his was Sakamoto Ryoma.
The greatest swordsman in history—the one she admired.
(I’ll reach it too… the same realm as Ryu-sensei…!)
Blood made her hand slip, and she dropped her sword.
“Geggegege!!!”
“…Ah.”
The orcs lunged.
And in the next instant, they were cleaved cleanly in half.
“Alice-sama. We’re returning.”
“Ah… o-okay…”
The captain of the Blanc Knight Order carried her back to the residence.
(Still a long road ahead… but I’ll keep going…!)
◇◇◇
“Well then, shall we head back to the capital soon?”
“Yes! I can’t wait—it’s been so long!”
“Though once we arrive, I must first present myself at the Imperial Castle and prostrate before Her Majesty the Empress…”
“Ah… that’s true.”
After completing their mission in Garcia Kingdom, the branch chief and Zekkai began their journey home together—a return trip that had turned into a date.
“I’m sorry for making you wait over a month…”
“I don’t mind. Even mages require leave from time to time. And besides…”
“And besides…?”
“I-it’s my first time having a lover, after all! Ahem—”
“EHHHHHH?!”
Zekkai quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
“D-Don’t shout, you fool!”
“Weren’t you super popular back in school?!”
“For reasons unknown, I was generally feared by the opposite sex…”
“I see… That’s the charming part, though. They just didn’t get it.”
Zekkai was a handsome beauty.
Her eyes were sharp, and her voice was slightly low.
In short, her face was intimidating.
Moreover, she had been the academy’s best in both magic and academics, with no obvious flaw anyone could tease her about.
If anyone angered her, their life was as good as over.
It was no wonder the opposite sex feared her.
“You probably had plenty of female admirers, though.”
“Ah—countless confessions. Unfortunately, I don’t swing that way.”
“So you were the unattainable prince of the academy.”
“You’re mocking me.”
“I’m not! I’m praising you!”
The two enjoyed their return trip while trading banter like a married couple.
“Oh, by the way, it’s my first time too.”
“I assumed as much.”
“Hey! That’s mean!”
◇◇◇
Meanwhile, in the Hizen Domain of Hinomaru.
“Phew~ At last, things have settled down, have they not?”
“Yes. It’s been a long road. Without you, Ryoma-san, it would have taken three times as long.”
“Hahaha. You overestimate this humble one.”
Ryoma had traveled to the former Hizen Domain, newly absorbed into Tosa territory, and had been handling countless administrative matters.
Only now had things finally quieted.
(Should I remain here a while longer… or return to Tosa? Hmm… a difficult choice indeed…)
Just then—
“Ryoma-saaan! A letter from the Empire!”
A young retainer ran over and handed him what was less a letter than a crumpled scrap of paper.
“Such insolence! Sending rubbish like this to Ryoma-san—just tell me who it’s and I’ll go discipline them!”
“Patience, patience. Let us read it first.”
He smoothed out the wrinkled paper.
Written upon it was only one word:
“Come.”
Ryoma broke into a broad smile.
“Hahahahahahahaha!!!!”
“R-Ryoma-san?! What is it?!”
When he showed the paper, the retainer tilted his head.
“What… is this?”
“It’s a message from my dearest friend.”
“A message…?”
“If one were to elaborate, it reads: ‘Come to the Empire. You’re idle anyway, aren’t you?’”
“How utterly lacking in manners…”
“For me, there could be no greater delight.”
“Then… I suppose that’s good.”
Ryoma turned his gaze westward.
A sea breeze stirred his hair.
(It’s been too long. I suppose I’ll go see my dearest friend.)
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