episode_0103

* * *

A few hours ago.

“Gasp, gasp, gasp, gasp… … .”

Reika wakes up and wipes the cold sweat from her forehead.

Gradually, he came back to his senses, checked his peripheral vision, and recognized that he was in his own room.

‘dream… … ?’

It was a terrible nightmare.

As for what kind of dream it was, it wasn’t a dream about myself.

The person who appeared in her dream was Swen.

It was a very strange dream in which he was walking with his own feet directly into a pit of fire.

No matter how much I tried to call him, my voice couldn’t reach him.

Even if I tried to follow him, I was struggling in a situation where I couldn’t reach him – but when I came to my senses, I realized that it was a dream.

‘Why did I have this dream… … ?’

I didn’t usually dream often.

Especially if it’s a terrible nightmare like this.

Therefore, feelings of anxiety naturally began to sprout in the mind of a twenty-year-old girl.

‘Is something going to happen…? … ?’

Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to see his face for the past few days.

The thought that something irreversible would happen continued to clutter her mind.

As she was biting her nails and worrying, she realized that today was the day her father was home.

If you go and ask, wouldn’t they be able to tell you something?

After changing lightly, I went straight to the study and asked my father about the situation.

“You mean Swen?”

“Yes. I’m curious about when you’ll be visiting next time and your schedule… … .”

“What’s going on? Didn’t you say that you don’t have to think about practicing magic for the time being?”

Reika’s development speed was very fast, but because of something that happened not long ago, I decided that it would be better to stay at home and not go out for the time being, so I simply meditated at home.

Now, even if he isn’t around, I can still meditate by myself.

“That… … .”

Jinor made a strange expression as he looked at Reika, who was helpless and unable to speak.

“Do you miss him?”

“… … Yes?”

“He is asking if you miss him.”

Upon hearing those words, Reika’s expression clearly turned red.

Was his adoptive father the kind of person who would ask such things?

If anything, he was kind to me, but since it was my first time asking something human like this, I couldn’t hide my embarrassment and just barely took out what was inside.

“Ah, ah, no! Well, like that… … That’s not it, that’s… … I had a strange dream… … .”

“A dream?”

Reika explained to Jinor about the nightmare she had.

First of all, I thought that this was my first time having a conversation with my father about something very personal, like a dream.

“Umm… … That’s right.”

“Swen, how are you doing these days? Perhaps you are carrying out some special schedule… … ? If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d love to help. Well, of course… … Your father must give you permission… … .”

“… … .”

Jinor, who was lost in thought, nodded slowly and muttered.

“For sure, today is the day.”

Today is the day he heads to Hispil Castle, where Serpina is currently staying, for negotiations.

Things like what her dream position was weren’t that important to Jinor.

Although Reika was an irregular who used magic, she wasn’t the kind of person who could tell fortunes.

Although it is said that human dreams are filled with mystery, Jinor himself was the type of person who did not attach much meaning to dreams.

Thinking about Swen’s example, he thought there was a way to see the future using magic, but he didn’t think his daughter had that ability.

Jinor, who roughly organized his thoughts, then looked at Reika and asked.

“Okay. If you care, you can take me to him.”

“Really?!”

Reika’s expression was filled with surprise.

I can’t believe they gave me permission to go out so easily.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“No, that, that… … I was wondering if it was okay to go outside… … .”

“It’s refreshing. If I were to get married, I would follow my father’s wishes, not mine.”

“… … Yes?”

Reika, surprised by the sudden words, asked back, but Jinor maintained a calm tone.

“Why? Surely you weren’t worried about a man who wasn’t in your heart?”

“Ah… … .”

She lowered her head again.

Even his ears were dyed red, and he hesitated, not knowing what to do, and barely managed to get the words out.

“That… … Well, so… … .”

Reika thought.

Do I care about Swen?

So why am I so worried?

In a life where she had never liked a man, recognizing the feeling of ‘liking a man’ all at once was extremely difficult, at least for her.

Jinor understood the situation on his own and calculated the profit and loss.

There is no harm in building a bridge with him.

It would be perfect if Reika also liked Swen.

However, there were still things to check.

“Reika.”

“Ah, four… … !”

“Swen is scheduled to go over to Serpina County’s territory today.”

“Serpina… … ?”

“Okay. For the sake of negotiation, it’s like heading as an envoy accompanied by an armed guard. That’s why I can’t help but ask you a question. I hope you give me a serious answer.”

“Ah… … yes! If I could answer… … .”

Jinor asked, looking at Reika’s face.

“Regardless of what your dream was like, there could be a dangerous situation since you are being taken over by Serpina-kun. If you are really worried about him, Reika, you can be by his side and protect him.”

“I… … ?”

“Okay. You are already strong enough. Since something like that happened at Hispil Castle, it’s not like he can hide that ability forever anymore. However.”

The words Jinor utters carry great weight.

“You may have to risk your life. It’s probably safe, but the opponent is Serpina.”

“Ah… … .”

Jinor, who was looking at Reika’s hesitation, was suddenly overcome by a strange feeling.

Come to think of it… … At some point, wasn’t facing ‘Serpina-kun’ recognized as an extremely dangerous task?

Serpina von Eyngart.

He, who was in the emperor’s inner circle and was eating away at the empire, remembers what she looked like when she was young.

Although she was an intelligent and intelligent woman, I never imagined that she would become the bloodthirsty tyrant she is now.

It was surprising to me that at some point, I was thinking that I might have to risk my life.

Anyway, it’s not a problem to think about now.

After gathering his thoughts, Jinor asked Reika in a very serious tone.

“Do you still intend to follow him?”

Reika was lost in thought after hearing those words.

If you are just performing the role of an envoy for diplomacy, you may not need to worry-

Since I had that dream, I felt like I would be consumed by anxiety and waste the day if I didn’t do something.

If something were to go wrong with Swen, I would feel guilty for not being able to do anything.

He was the first person to give me a little freedom.

It’s good to use magic, but wasn’t he the one who taught me that there’s a reason to live without having to use magic?

Thinking about it that way, it wasn’t that difficult to decide what to answer.

“… … yes. If I can be of help, I would like to accompany you.”

“Is that so.”

Jinor nodded and answered in a calm tone.

“Go back to your room and get ready to go out. I will send my employees. Just do what they tell you.”

“Yes, I understand… … ! Thank you!”

* * *

“Are you saying that’s what happened?”

“Ah, yes… … ! Well, so… … As I was waiting for someone to come out to the castle and take charge of the guard, the person I saw last time came out… … .”

Is that how this strange two-shot came about?

At that time, Irene came closer to me and asked.

“Swen.”

“Yes?”

“They say it’s the teacher’s name, but no matter how you look at it, she’s just an ordinary girl… … Wouldn’t it be dangerous to take him to the enemy’s camp?”

“Oh, it’s okay. Reika, you’re a lot stronger than you look.”

“Really? The body is thin, so it doesn’t look like it’s someone who lives on the battlefield… … .”

I thought about just saying coolly that I know how to use magic.

I think Iren would trust me without having to explain. I didn’t take the time to explain.

Even if you don’t say anything, you’ll find out someday.

“Don’t worry. You are stronger than me.”

“Okay… … ? Well, Swen, if you say so… … .”

“By the way, Irene is there too. Why should I be worried?”

Irene seemed to like what I said and smiled slightly.

“That’s right. Even if the other person is Serpina, I have the confidence to protect you.”

“I believe in you, Irene.”

“Um.”

So, the three of us got into the carriage.

The goal is Hispil Castle, where Serpina stays.

It seemed like it would be a bit of a long journey, but… … I thought that if I was with these two people, it wouldn’t be a bad time.

The problem was that Reika was overly shy.

They say they met Irene once, but it was just a passing meeting, so it was almost like they were meeting each other for the first time… …

‘Do you think we can get along well?’

*

And, my worries were for naught.

“Iren, then you have been holding a sword since you were young… … ?”

“Okay. Because this was the only way for me.”

“Wow… … You’re amazing. You can feel this aura because you have been training since you were young.”

Reika started talking to Iren very quickly.

For some reason, the way her eyes sparkled as she looked at Irene made me feel like I was meeting an idol.

She was stuttering and didn’t know what to do, but he was able to talk to her without stuttering.

“Ah! Come to think of it, this thing on my waist… … Is it black tea?”

“Hmm? Do you recognize me?”

“Yes! It’s black tea that goes best with sweet snacks, right? We have it at our house too. There are a few more that are similar to this but have different flavors.”

“Really? That’s quite an interesting story.”

I made a hint to the girls who had the whole world in their own chatter.

“You became friends very quickly, right? Two people.”

“… … Ah.”

Reika then looked at me and lowered her head and spoke.

“That… … sorry… … Well, I didn’t mean to leave you alone… … .”

“Are you lonely, Swen?”

“No, Irene, are you talking like that too?”

“Hehe.”

Irene blushed slightly and smiled as if she was happy.

It was not difficult to notice that her tension had increased even from the small joke she had just told me.

Because I was the type of person who didn’t say things like that often.

When I thought about it, I thought that this was my first time seeing her talking with a woman of her age.

Basically, the battlefield was a man’s space, so did it feel like I met a friend of the same sex with whom I could communicate well?

Anyway, it was quite nice to see the two getting along well.

It made me think that if I were to form the word peace into a visual image, it would look something like this.

Just looking at it made me feel warm in a corner of my heart.

In the past, when I went to negotiate where the fate of the Lunarien army depended, I was alone.

at that time.

What Jinor said to me suddenly came to mind.

“Sword and shield are good, but I also want to tell you that it wouldn’t be better to have an additional person by your side who uses magic like you.”

‘… … .’

If Irene accepts my marriage proposal and becomes my wife.

And, if he accepts Jinor’s offer and takes Reika as his second wife.

then… …

Is it possible to continue to watch this peaceful scene?

I pictured my future with these two people in my head.

And for the first time, I thought that perhaps life with more than one wife might not be so bad.

*

“Is this the place?”

Hisfil Castle revisited.

The castle wall where we had made a hole was in quite a clean state, as if repairs had been completed.

You said Serpina was here, right?

‘Then, was Serpina still in the castle when the magic was used?’

After lightly bribing the guards, they entered the castle.

The atmosphere in the castle was quite chaotic.

Since it was a place under the control of the Brans army for quite a long time, the public sentiment of the territory’s residents would not have easily been taken over by Serpina.

And even more so after experiencing something like the castle wall collapsing.

With that in mind, I arrived in front of the royal castle of Hispil Castle.

‘Is there Serpina in here?’

gulp.

While I was swallowing dry saliva, I heard Iren’s voice.

“Swen.”

“Yes?”

“Are you nervous?”

“Me?”

“Okay. Your expression is different from usual.”

I’m nervous.

As she said, am I nervous?

Anyway, I’m just here to negotiate, so there’s no need to be nervous… …

Perhaps I was nervous because my opponent was Serpina.

As I was thinking that, Irene’s hand came up to my shoulder.

“It’s okay, Swen. It’s okay, don’t worry. Because I am by your side. I will protect you.”

This is what Iren says, not anyone else.

Isn’t she the person I can trust the most right now?

I grinned.

“Irene. Please take care of Reika.”

“Yes. Have a nice trip, Swen.”

In any case, the strange anxiety that rose in my heart will disappear when I meet Serpina.

With that in mind, I walked into the main castle of Hispil Castle.