Volume 9 - CH 2

Chapter 2: The Fuuga That Halbert Saw 

With Fuuga and his flying white tiger leading the way, we headed for Wedan. 

Once we lowered our altitude, we knew we would be sporadically attacked by flying monsters. However, we had Naden, Ruby, and the wyvern cavalry on our side. The moment the monsters appeared, they’d be struck by lightning, scorched with flames, or torn to ribbons. 

Aisha stayed with me instead of returning to the gondola, so with her reassuring presence nearby, I managed to maintain my calm. 

With my arms around Aisha’s waist, I watched Fuuga. 

There were monsters coming toward Fuuga, too, but he acted as if they didn’t matter, not even readying his weapon. Every monster that came was batted to death with one swing of Durga’s forepaws, so he had no need to fight any of them himself. 

This had to be at least in part because he trusted Durga implicitly, but it was still fair to say he had incredible guts to be able to relax on this battlefield. 

“Um, sire,” Aisha put in. “Aren’t you holding me a bit tight?” 

It seemed I’d tightened my arms around Aisha’s waist. “Oh, sorry.” I relaxed them a bit. 

Hal and Ruby came up alongside us to talk. 

“Souma, your face is looking kind of scary, you know?” Hal said. 

Hearing that, I realized for the first time how tense I probably looked. 

In order to get myself into a new frame of mind, I slapped my cheeks. “...Sorry. When I watch Fuuga, I can’t help but feel uneasy.” 

“Is there something that bothers you?” Hal asked. 

“I’m not sure about that myself...” 

Was it unease? Fear? Tension? When I looked at that man’s back, a feeling I couldn’t describe welled up inside me. It was different from the pure fear I’d felt when attacked by Gaius VIII; it felt more like something I didn’t know was slowly creeping up on me. It was a strange sensation. 

Catching a look at my face, Hal spun around the arm he held his short spear with. “You probably don’t have to be that worried. Sure, he’s the king of Malmkhitan, but that’s just one country in the Union of Eastern Nations. Sure, he’s strong, so I can understand why you’re on guard. Still, if he picks a fight with the kingdom, he’s not going to be winning it single-handedly.” 

“Hal...” 

“You have me, Ruby, Kaede, Young Miss Aisha, Young Miss Naden, and fifty thousand soldiers with you. So you can just sit there and act confident.” Hal thumped his chest as if to say, Leave it to me. 

Maybe he was trying to reassure me. 

It was true: no matter how powerful a warrior he might be, I didn’t think there was any way Fuuga could take us on as an individual. The man might be able to wreak havoc alone, but the kingdom had more than a hundred times his thousand soldiers. If he was just strong, there were any number of ways to handle him. 

But... I had a feeling there was more to him than just that. If I looked down upon him as the king of a petty state, I felt like that was going to come back and bite me hard. 

Aisha and Naden chimed in. 

“I will risk my life to protect you, sire,” Aisha declared. 

“Well, I’m pretty sure I’m tougher than that tiger, anyway,” Naden added. 

...Fair enough. I was uneasy, but when everyone said to leave it to them, that lightened my spirits just a little. 

“Thanks, Aisha, Naden. You, too, Hal. Sorry to worry you.” 

“I’m telling you, just leave it to us,” Hal said proudly. “Though, I’ll admit, this is kinda unexpected.” 

“Unexpected?” 

“Yeah. You’re fond of guys with crazy talents like his, right? Usually, I’d expect you to want to recruit him.” He looked a bit mystified. 

I shook my head with a wry smile. “What I’m looking for is capable people who are willing to move forward, matching their pace with mine. There are limits to what I can do alone, after all. I want to support a large number of highly capable people. But... that’s not a man who would work under someone else, or match his pace with anyone else, is he?” 

I didn’t have the strongest intuition. I couldn’t look at someone and tell how strong they were the way that Aisha and some of the others could. Still, the moment I’d seen Fuuga’s face, I’d sensed it. 

That guy’s BAD NEWS. 

It wasn’t an emotion or my experience; it was something like an instinct that was setting off warning bells. 

“We can’t afford to make assumptions with that man,” I went on. “If I started to think he was following me, I might find myself subservient to him before I knew it. If I try to use him, I’ll be used myself, and if I try to walk beside him, I’ll find myself being dragged along. That’s the sense I get. I can’t word it well, but we’re probably not very compatible.” 

“Not compatible, huh...” 

It seemed like Fuuga had sensed something similar, too. When he’d looked at me, he’d said I might drag him down into the mud, and that he felt like I came out of a different framework than him. 

Unlike me, he’d shown no signs of this bothering him, which said a lot about Fuuga’s natural strength. 

Even if we were feeling the same thing, I was weak, so I felt a strong sense of alarm, while Fuuga was strong, so it wasn’t leaving a lasting impression on him. 

At that very moment, Fuuga, who was leading the way, turned back, making a U-turn to come back to us. We stopped where we were for a moment, and Fuuga pointed downward. 

“Souma,” he said. “I’ve been watching the state of the battle, and it looks like the defenders are about to break on the west side. I’m going to support them a bit, so do you mind if I only lead you this far?” 

“Got it. Wedan Castle’s just a stone’s throw from here. If you’d like, should we send some of our people, too?” 

Fuuga shouldered his crescent blade and let out a hearty laugh. “That’d help. We should be able to wrap this up quick.” 

“Halbert,” I ordered. “Take half the wyvern cavalry and support Sir Fuuga.” 

“Roger!” 

“I’ll be going on ahead,” Fuuga announced. 

No sooner had he said that than he slapped Durga on the back, beginning his rapid descent to the battlefield below. 

“Us, too, then...” Halbert began. 

“Wait, Hal,” I interrupted. 

Seeing him about to follow Fuuga, I felt uncertainty all over. 

I beckoned Hal to come closer, having Naden use her tail to pull their bodies close together. 

With the distance closed, I told a dubious-looking Hal, “Hal, if you feel yourself being dragged along by Fuuga, remember Kaede and Ruby’s faces.” 

“Huh? Was that really worth calling me over to say?” 

Hal had a doubtful look on his face, but I nodded. 

“It’s important. I feel like you and Fuuga are similar. When people are close to those who are similar to them, they notice it, and they’re either attracted or repelled. They can get dragged along, in other words.” 

“Huh? Not sure I get it, but... you’re serious here, right?” 

I put on a serious face to make sure he knew I meant it. 

“...Okay,” Hal said. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

Halbert imagined how the two of them would see the way he was now. In his imagination, their expressions were a little worried. 

Halbert’s eyes went wide in silent shock. What had he just been thinking? 

Had he wanted to fight to his limit, like Fuuga and his men? 

Burning a brilliant, bright red, as his life flared out? 

Had he thought that, if his life could burn like that, he’d have no regrets, even if he died? 

...Even if it meant leaving Kaede and Ruby behind? 

“Like hell I could!” Halbert roared to the heavens. 

“Eeek?!” Ruby flinched. 

Halbert used the handle of the spear in his right hand to whack himself in the forehead as hard as he could. The incredible thunk that resulted spoke to the fact he hadn’t held back. His forehead bled a little. 

Seeing Halbert suddenly bleeding, Ruby panicked. “What are you doing?! Are you all right?!” 

“...Yeah, I’m fine,” Halbert said, looking up at the heavens. Something warm rolled down his cheeks. 

“Huh...? Hal, you’re crying...” 

“I’m fine. I’m... fine now, Ruby.” 

She stared at him mutely. 

Halbert wiped away the blood and tears before looking forward. 

Seriously... What had he been thinking? He’d been entranced by Fuuga’s prowess, starting to convince himself his life was his own to do with as he pleased. He’d even tried to chase those he ought to protect, those who were trying to protect him, from his head. 

It was true, he envied the life Fuuga and his followers led. But that’s a life I could only live if it were me alone. 

Halbert already had two fiancées, Kaede and Ruby. They had been kind enough to love him, and eventually become his family. He had no desire to force a lifestyle that would burn their lives away on Kaede and Ruby, too. 

As a warrior, he admired lives that burned hot and intense, like fireworks, but he wanted those he cared for to live happy lives, even if they were plain ones, full of smiles. 

That wasn’t something they could do if they were following Fuuga. 

If Hal was the same man he had been before he met Souma, obsessed with his own glory, he might have been dragged in. But he was different now. 

I have something more important than making a name for myself now! 

Halbert recommitted himself, swearing that he would never make the same mistake again. Then, turning his short spear toward the battle, he said, “We’re going in, Ruby! Let’s wrap this up, and get back to Kaede together!” 

“Huh?! ...Right!” 

It seemed Halbert’s determination had gotten through to Ruby, as she spread her wings wide. 

Then the red dragon knight descended on the battlefield. 

After parting ways with Fuuga and Hal’s group, we headed up to a higher plateau than Wedan City, which had been built against a small mountain. We were on our way to Wedan Castle, the home of Duke Chima. 

There was an intense back-and-forth battle unfolding on the battlefield below us. 

I was a little worried that Hal, who had gone after Fuuga, might be drawn in by the other man’s aura, but, well, Ruby was with him, so he’d probably be fine. 

Mutsumi stood up and bowed to me. “I am Mutsumi Chima. Thank you so very much for sending troops to aid us. You seem to have many good subordinates, Sir Souma. That’s very reassuring.” 

As she said that, Mutsumi glanced to my left and right. 

The ones standing beside me were Aisha and Juna. If she was looking at them and calling them “good subordinates,” then she was likely a good enough warrior to tell how strong her opponents were just by looking. It seemed her reputation as a woman blessed with wisdom and bravery was not an exaggeration. 

“Madam Mutsumi,” I said. “It’s true that they act as my bodyguards, but these two are also my fiancées. The one on the right is Aisha, the one on the left is Juna.” 

“Yes, sir. I am Aisha Udgard.” 

“Juna Doma. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” 

“Oh! Pardon me. I’m Mutsumi Chima.” 

Mutsumi quickly apologized for treating them like common retainers before shaking their hands. Then... 

“Souma.” 

I turned, feeling a tug on my sleeve, and Naden was looking at me with her cheeks puffed up. Her upset eyes said, “I’m your fiancée, too, so introduce me properly!” 

“Ahem... And this is Naden,” I said quickly. “She’s also my fiancée.” 

“Nice to meet you,” Mutsumi said. While shaking Naden’s hand, she stared hard at Naden’s antlers. “Antlers and a scaly tail... Are you of the sea serpent race, by any chance?” 

Naden puffed up her slight chest and snorted. “I am not. I’m a dragon from the Star Dragon Mountain Range.” 

“A dragon?! You’ve formed a dragon knight contract with a dragon, Sir Souma?!” 

“Yeah, well... we’re a bit of an unorthodox dragon and knight, though,” I told the surprised Mutsumi, smiling wryly. 

The moment he learned I had formed a contract with a dragon, I felt like Sir Mathew’s smile got a little deeper. “My word! To have formed a contract with a dragon, even though you’re not from the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom! That’s a truly heroic accomplishment. I am in awe.” 

“Uh, no, listen, my contract with Naden’s a very unusual one, and...” 

“Don’t be modest. Why, I envy those who will be lucky enough to marry you. I’ve been hoping my own daughters could marry a man such as you, you know.” 

“Urgh...” 

Whoa, buddy! Not so close. 

He was being weirdly pushy now. And oddly eager to foist his daughter off onto me. 

Juna subtly wrapped herself around my arm. 

While I was wondering what was up, Juna whispered so just I could hear, “Be careful. I’m sure Sir Mathew wants a connection to you, sire.” 

A connection... Oh, a direct line, huh? 

When Mathew Chima had sent a request for aid with the current demon wave, he had made public his intention to send his six capable children out to become vassals or marriage partners in response to how hard each party worked. 

While it was meant as bait to lure in reinforcements, it was also a way to get his children into the service of powerful factions, or to marry into them, in order to increase his own influence. 

From Sir Mathew’s perspective, I, as the provisional king of the largest power on the east side of the continent, was the best catch he could hope for. No matter what it took, he wanted to take this opportunity to set up a direct channel of communication. 

If possible, he clearly wanted me to marry his daughter and become a relative.