Chapter 79 - Adjustment, and Reiteration

The next day, after Aoi and I went to Officer Chief's office to give our formal statement about the incident with the bandits, we then went to the Guild branch here in the capital to deliver the envelope Alisha has been entrusted onto me before we left Plate Town.

"Hm? This place...isn't as large as expected."

In contrast to the bustling Plate Town branch, the capital city's branch is a tad smaller, cleaner, and a lot more quiet. The bulletin board where missions are posted are also somewhat clean, with the most recent mission posted about three weeks ago.

"Excuse me, is there anyone here?"

I ring the bell on the counter a few times, and there came from the back room the clerk on duty. Looking at the clerk's appearance I involuntarily let out a slight gasp, while Aoi eyes opened wide.

Dark brown skin, silver hair, long ears. A dark elf, perhaps?

"Good morning, how can I help you?"

I blinked a few times, then replied, "A-Ah, I came here to deliver doc.u.ments from Plate Town."

"From Plate Town?" The dark elf clerk tilted his head for a moment then exclaimed 'Oh!' after remembering something.

"Dian! Come here, that thing from Plate Town finally arrived!"

"Really?" Another dark elf--this time a young woman--scrambled for her glasses as she rushed to the counter. "Was it from Alisha?"

"Yes, Alisha asked me to send this envelope," I answered.

Then, the woman named Dian grabbed the envelope from the counter, opened it, and sniffed the doc.u.ments inside with much gusto, causing Aoi to wince in disgust.

"Ah, you see...she's has *that* attitude towards Alisha. Please don't mind it," the male clerk explained to us.

"I-It's understandable. She has quite a following in our town after all."

The male clerk laughed for a moment. "You two must be wondering right now, about why there are creatures like us here."

"Eh? We're not! Aoi, are you thinking of it right now?"

"...Uh-uh," Aoi shook her head.

"It's fine. Coming all the way from a far place like Plate Town, of course you won't get to hear news like this," he said.

He then introduced himself as Dion, and the one who's busy sniffing the doc.u.ments is his older sister Dian. As to why there are dark elves here in the capital--

"R-Really? The Princess asked your clan to stay here in Narashel?!"

Dion nodded. "Yes. After our forest village in the neighboring Praxus got destroyed because of civil war a few years ago, it was Her Highness herself who came into our aid. Through her help, we were able to start again here in the country. Some of our kin spread around different parts of Narashel--only Dian and I decided to stay here in the capital."

He also said that not only their kind was helped by her--there are also regular elves, dwarves, and beastmen living in more remote parts of the country, and are starting to integrate themselves with the common folk.

"If given the opportunity we would like to say our gratitude to Her Highness, but...I don't think that'll happen anytime soon," he muttered with a sigh.

Hearing that, I said to him: "It'll happen sooner than you expect."

"Huh? How can you be so sure?"

I shrugged my shoulders at him. "I don't know. Just wishful thinking, I guess?"

"H-Huh...?" he tilted his head in confusion.

-----

"Ah, welcome back! Did everything went well in your business today?"

"Yes, everything went we...--"

When we returned to Pops' house, Miss Lerish was busy reading one of Pops' books on the shelf. She stood up to welcome us, but Aoi stopped her from getting close, her arms spread wide.

"Um...is there something wrong, young lady?" she asked Aoi.

"...Stay there, don't get near big brother."

"Hmm?"

"Please don't mind her, Miss Lerish," I spoke to her, while tapping Aoi's head. "Everything went well, is what I said just now."

"My, that's great!" she responded in high spirits.

When she smiled at us, her eyes smile too. Such smiles are a rare sight to see, and one cannot help but to smile back at her.

"By the way, where's everyone? Has Saku and Saki left already?" Aoi and I left the house just before breakfast, so we didn't get to bid the siblings good luck on the convention.

"That's right. They left about two hours ago, while being accompanied by Pops."

"Even Pops left?!" I unconsciously raised my voice at her.

So that means to say...they all left the house in her care? How can they be so careless?!

"But you shouldn't be worried--I did everything to take care of the household while everyone's absent!" she said proudly to us.

Only when we looked around, that we became astounded by the cleanliness and orderliness of the interiors. Even the floor is mopped so well that Aoi quickly sat on the stone floor, for fear of having her panties be seen through the reflection below.

"...Why did you turn the floor into a mirror?!" Aoi yelled at her.

"My, it seems that I got carried away again while cleaning the floors. Please pardon me for that," Miss Lerish replied apologetically.

'Again'? So you say that, something like this happened before?!

"Still, cleaning the house all by yourself takes too much effort and energy. You must be tired by now," I said to Miss Lerish out of worry.

"I am not as fragile as you might think, Mister Ren Mortel," she protested. "Even I am capable of doing household chores too."

Ah, seems like I've stepped on a landmine. I almost forgot, I shouldn't give her that much special treatment especially when there's other people around.

"S-Sorry."

"Fufu, it's alright. Thank you for your concern," her mood brightened up again.

'Anyway, leaving that aside...' as her expressions softened, she then beckoned us to come to the dining area. "You two must be hungry right now. Just the right timing, I have prepared something for us to eat."

When she said that, Aoi and I only looked at each other in bewilderment.

-----

*Gokkun*

Sitting at the table, I couldn't help but to feel nervous while watching Miss Lerish in the kitchen. Aoi looked at me in worry, and asked: "...Big brother, what's wrong? You're shaking right now."

"H-Huh? What are you saying? I'm fine," I scoffed at her.

Though to be honest, being served by Her Royal Highness herself...makes me extremely tense. Aoi doesn't know about it yet, but im sure she's starting to have suspicions based from my actions.

"Sorry to make you wait, everyone..."

Saying that, Miss Lerish took the lid off the plate, and then--

""Woahhhh..."

Having an elongated body, with spines and scales, all deep fried to a golden brown.

No doubt, this is--

"F-Fish?"

"Yes," Miss Lerish nodded.

"But, isn't this expensive? Where did you find money to buy fish?"

"Not in this city," she replied abruptly. "As long as one seek for it, one can find fish even in the most unexpected places."

Really? It's been a very long time since the last time I ate fish. In Plate Town such things are a fortune--even small fishes can cost as much as one gold coin apiece. Is it really that cheap here?

"Fufu, that's actually an old adage here in the capital. Even I don't understand it quite well," she chuckled as she beckoned us to eat.

Holding our excitement, Aoi and I each took a small piece of fish. We tried it, and...

"...Mmmmmhhhhh!!!"

"Eh? EHH??"

What's this? What's this?! I'm sure this is freshwater fish, but its meat tastes like chicken, no, it tastes like that weird and overexpensive Peking Duck our relative once brought to our house during that one Christmas Eve that I can't seem to forget! That's right, it tasted like that!

"The only ingredients I used are the ones available here, and I apparently overcooked it a little. What do you think...?" Miss Lerish asked us, apparently feeling nervous too.

"...G...G-Good..." Aoi muttered, trying to conceal her reaction.

"It's delicious, Miss Lerish," I gave my honest impression.

Hearing our feedback, Miss Lerish became so elated, placing both her hands on her chest.

When evening came Pops and the Rainens also got to taste her dish and they too became astounded with the result of her cooking. They all start thanking me, for bringing such una.d.u.l.terated talent into their home.

"I'm glad you liked it! As long as I'm staying here, I'll do my best to make you satisfied with my dishes!" she said to us in extreme happiness.

And just like that, Miss Lerish took Pops' household in a storm.

-----

"Miss Lerish, your bath is ready now..."

For the whole week that Miss Lerish started staying with us, everything went smooth so far. With the exception of Aoi, of course, everyone has quickly became comfortable with her, and vice-versa.

I mean, who wouldn't? Not only she's elegant, she's also capable of doing household chores, is friendly, and most important of all, I can see that she's sincere in her intentions. They all start treating her like a goddess too, which made Aoi even more riled up.

I've been looking her outside the house for a while now. Hot water's ready, and she must take a bath now before others get to use it.

"Miss Lerish? Where are you? Ah--"

A few moments later, I saw her sitting on the nearby bench, gazing at the stars amidst the wine-colored evening sky. I carefully approached her and said: "Miss Lerish, I've been looking for you."

"Oh, is it already time?" she looked at me, startled.

"Yes. It's getting cold now, you should go back inside already."

"Hmm..."she then looked up and said, "but I want to stay here a little more..."

Intrigued, I asked: "Is there something you're looking for in the sky, Your Highness?"

"I am looking inward, to myself."

"Huh?"

Indicating the vacant spot on the bench, she asked, "Can you accompany me here even for just a while?"

"A-Ah, yes," I replied in a hurry.

As I sat beside her she stole a quick glance at me, which made my heart skip a beat.

Taking out something like a card from her pocket, she smiled and showed it to me. "An old woman gave this to me. She said that with this charm, I'll be able to think clearly whatever the circ.u.mstances."

A card charm? If what she said is true, then that thing is surely valuable to her.

"Although I didn't looked at it when I attempted to jump off that building, I still kept hold of it in my hand at that time. I would say that I'm half aware of what I was doing when I started to fall."

She kept on smiling at me, but her eyes revealed the bitter feelings deep within her. Even after a week, her mind is still as cluttered and conflicted as ever.

"Are you not believing in its powers?"

"What? No, no, that's not it!" she fervently shook her head. "Rather than not believing in it, I think such things don't deserve to be in my possession as their potential might be wasted in me."

Wasted? Miss Lerish, what are you saying?

Trying to give the card charm to me, she said: "You're a strange person, Ren. I still don't know you that much and yet, I feel at ease when you're around. That, as well as my own desperation, made me decide to entrust this charm to you instead. Whatever happens from now on, I want you to keep it for me."

H-Hey--

"I don't want to accept it."

"Why?"

"Because..."

Saying that, I quickly grasped her hands together while keeping the charm enclosed in them.

"R-Ren--?!"

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"Eh?!"

"Tell me, Miss Lerish, the one you wanted the most."

She got startled for a moment, then--

"Freedom."

"When do you want it?"

"As soon as possible."

"Then tomorrow, just before sunrise--you'll have to get out of here."

By 'freedom', it means that there's more than just being what she is right now. Miss Lerish is a royal by birth, yet a prisoner also of her fate. Regardless of consequences, I decided to help her break out of that 'prison'.

This is the reiteration of my promise that night.

"You don't have to lose trust in yourself just to put trust in others. If you want to achieve the freedom you want, make use of the things you have. You deserve to have them all."

It's just like trying to live in a different world. Since you don't have anything, you'll be forced to rely on anything Fate gives to you, even if it's just a placebo. Well, it's better a placebo than none at all.

"Miss Lerish, believe that you'll be able to surpass all of this."

Seeing my conviction to help her help herself, Miss Lerish also smiled at me as tears slowly flow from her eyes.

"Very well. Let's do it."

-----

To prepare myself for today, I decided not to sleep for the whole night. Leaving Aoi and the Rainens in our room while they're still wandering in their respective Dreamlands, I carefully tiptoed my way upstairs to see if everything's ready in Miss Lerish's end.

"I'm scared, but at the same time I'm also excited," she spoke softly to me.

"I know. Me too."

I guided her downstairs, trying to open the door as quietly as possible. When I finally pulled the lock, I made a hand gesture, telling her to follow me while being careful.

"There are plenty of blind spots on this road leading to the exit gate. Let's use this opportunity to go there undetected."

"What about the guards? What if they see us?"

"Don't worry about them, Your Highness, they'll be sleeping soundly tonight."

With no moon to light our way we quietly treaded our way to the exit gate, keeping watch of any guard patrolling around. After finally reaching the city's exit gate we saw several guarding knights in a formation, apparently doing their early morning routines.

"What shall we do? There are too many of them blocking the gate!" Miss Lerish grasped the hem of my shirt in worry.

"Like I said, I'll get you out of here. But..."

"But?"

"Whatever you'll witness just now, don't be afraid."

Closing her eyes, she said, "Alright."

Then, without wasting time I took a deep breath and muttered, "[Collapse]".

Thud! Suddenly, all of the guards fell down unconscious. Miss Lerish blinked a few times, then looked at me in shock as she gasped, "Eh?"

I held her hand, and placed a small bag on it. "We have no time. Please, take this money with you. With the magic imbued on you, I believe you'll make it safe to your intended destination."

"Thank you very much, Ren. I'll never forget this favor you've given to me."

"There they are! At the gate!"

""--?!""

All of a sudden a knight shouted from not far away, signalling his comrades that they found us.

"Impossible! They--"

"Miss Lerish, we have to get out of here!"

I hurriedly grabbed her hand, but just as when we're about to pass through the gate, an invisible barrier blocked us.

"D-Damn it...?!"

"Ren--"

"It's no use, Your Highness. You can't rely on [Identity Concealment] magic any more."

"You--"

A knight came, and with the help of torches I found out that his uniform is far more grandiose than any of his comrades surrounding us. He has a stalwart figure, blond hair, a proud nose, and a sharp set of eyes--an alpha male bursting with big knight energy.

Somehow, I feel negative vibes coming from that guy.

"Go back to the palace, Your Highness. His Majesty the King has been very worried for you for a long time now."

"If His Majesty really wants me to go back, he shouldn't have decided on that thing in the first place," Miss Lerish replied with a faltering resolve.

"I have no say about that matter. I'm just following orders," the knight said.

As he took a step towards us, Miss Lerish unconsciously clung herself onto my arm. When the knight saw that, he looked at me in the eye.

"I can see that you're trying to help Her Highness in her folly. Are you not aware of the consequences of your actions?"

"I'm aware of it, yeah," I said to him.

I tried to assess his character based from his looks. Apparently, this guy isn't someone who takes jokes so easily, facing everything with a face so straight he's putting rulers to shame.

And I'm really not comfortable with those type of guys.

"Last warning. Come with us peacefully and nothing bad will happen, or I'll cut your head right here and now and take Her Highness from you by force."

I checked Miss Lerish's condition. Her hands are cold and shaking, and I can sense fear coming from her--but she kept clinging onto my side tightly, trying not to let go.

Since it has come to this, I--

"[Soul Burn]--!!!"

I created a huge wave of black flames, surging towards the knights' ranks. With this being one of the capabilities of my Arcana, I'm confident no one can survive if they touch the flames...

However--

"Fool."

"G-GAAAHHHH--"

The moment the black flames touched his uniform, an unknown force knocked me out and crashed against the invisible barrier, causing it to shatter as I fly in an arc outside the city gates.

"REN?! NOOOOOOO!!!"

Miss Lerish rushed to help me, but the knight easily seized her by the hand.

"Granz! Let go--"

"Give up already, Your Highness."

"Gah--?!"

Then without warning, he poked his finger somewhere on the back of her neck, causing her to quickly lose her consciousness.

"Granz, please..."

"You basta--BUUUHHH?!"

I hurriedly got up, but another surge of force came crashing towards me like a speeding car, and my body hurtled even farther from them.

"Let's go."

Carrying Miss Lerish on his shoulder, the knight and his comrades turned their backs around and immediately set foot to the palace, leaving me who's lying injured on the ground.

"Miss Lerish...kuh--"

Vomiting a few mouthfuls of blood, I can't help but to groan while looking helplessly at them as they leave.