episode_0083

“Can I go to Tigrova today? I’ll go as soon as possible.”

“Of course it’s okay. Do whatever you want.”

Rohan reacted coolly as he watched the transparently excited Zion.

He also expressed his gratitude to Ichinose and Noah, who were watching the situation.

“Thank you for your help. I will repay you properly.”

The two girls who received Rohan’s thanks persistently stared at him demanding an explanation.

Rohan didn’t really have anything to say to her, so he did his best to pretend not to notice and just pass by.

Did you read even the slightest unnaturalness in that action and flow?

The girl who was watching Rohan became even more curious.

“Ugh···.”

Noah, who grew up freely in Tigrova, is not as good at hiding and suppressing his emotions as Ichinose.

A conflicted look, caught between the invisible walls of curiosity and courtesy.

The eyes staring at Rohan and his party and the lips moving seemed like they would ask a direct question at any moment.

“Noah. It looks like his business is over, so let’s go to the restaurant now.”

“Ugh!”

Ichinose was the first to notice this, so she grabbed Noah’s arm and quickly left the place.

This is also what Noah’s father asked Ichinose to do.

─ Nose! Just a moment…! Just a moment is all that’s needed!

─ That’s why it’s not possible for that short period of time.

Rohan exhaled deeply as he saw the two girls walking away with large steps.

“After···.”

I never expected that a chance encounter would bring about results in an instant.

This was an impossible development to begin with in Abyss City, where Zion does not exist as a playable character.

Rohan asked, feeling uneasy, even though he was not too worried since he knew the information related to the Seolho Festival.

“Zion. Shall we all go to Tigrova together?”

“No. I’ll go alone.”

At Rohan’s question, Zion smiled and shook his head.

Because now I know.

It wasn’t something he couldn’t solve on his own, and the moment he received help with directions, he realized that Rohan’s daily life was falling apart because of him.

A luggage-like appearance is not the picture Zion desires.

“It’s true that I still lack experience in outdoor life···but I can move around on my own without any problems. I’m not a child.”

“···.”

“Besides, Rohan said that the Academy exams are just around the corner. Absolutely not.”

At Zion’s bold tone, Rohan and Clara naturally changed the direction of their persuasion.

I’m worried, but I have a feeling I’ll do well.

“Then I guess I should buy a cell phone before I go. It’ll give me that much time, right? Let’s have lunch together.”

“Hey, sis! I’ll search for the route, so let’s eat together···!”

Even if I had announced to everyone that I would leave today, how could Zion refuse even that?

Zion showed his intention to go after making full preparations. He followed Rohan, led by Clara who held his hand.

While walking like that.

The lips that had been tightly shut opened.

“And I know it’s embarrassing… but would it be okay if we postpone our dinner plans until next time…? I’m really sorry… ”

The excitement of being able to solve one of your long-standing problems that seemed impossible to solve at an unexpected moment.

He got drunk there and pushed away the oath Rohan had made and said he would go to Tigrova today.

Remembering her own disgrace, the girl wanted to show that she was looking forward to spending evening with her group right now.

I never took it lightly.

‘Uh, how should I say this···.’

Zion, who witnessed his own sin, felt his throat choked up and his hair turned white.

“Why are you apologizing for something like that? Why don’t you come back and congratulate me?”

“That’s right!”

Rohan and Clara reacted simultaneously, as if sharing their inner thoughts.

“···.”

Whenever Zion encountered the kindness of the two people, he felt his emotions fluctuate and uncontrollably.

A conflicting light that seems to tell me that my dark life up until now was a lie.

It was too warm for a girl who had just gained her freedom to take it at face value.

“Let’s eat something delicious for lunch so that Zion can come back strong.”

“Yeah···!”

The three walked in a pleasant mood.

During the meal, Rohan and Clara did not discuss any heavy topics.

I filled my stomach with a warm soup that could be described as having a gentle taste in a comfortable atmosphere.

After eating, we headed to our next destination without hesitation.

Rohan opened another cell phone account in his own name and gave it to Zion.

“···.”

Zion held the first smartphone he had ever seen with both hands as if supporting it and stared at it intently.

The corners of her mouth are as blank as usual, but her eyes sparkle with interest, properly expressing the girl’s inner feelings.

‘With this, I can keep in touch even while traveling to Tigrova!’

The registered contacts are two. They end with Rohan and Clara.

Still, it doesn’t feel empty. The two names give Zion a feeling of fullness.

I learned the basics from both of them while eating, so I’ll have no problem making phone calls and sending messages.

“Please contact me as often as possible. I’ll be waiting.”

“If you’re confused or have any questions, please call me···! I’m always available! And I can search for you quickly···!”

A group was formed where three people could share messages.

Zion solidified the use of the message by pouring out meaningless consonants and vowels into the space.

He raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at the two people.

“I will report even the smallest thing.”

“Okay. And take this.”

The card and cash that Rohan hands over.

Zion accepted it without a word, his empty hands firmly standing his ground.

Holding it close to his heart, Zion made up his mind.

“No matter what anyone says, today’s work is personal. The money used will come back and be repaid somehow.”

“I won’t charge you any interest, so do whatever you want.”

Now you can go to the dormitory, put on your regular clothes that have dried and pack your weapons, and you’re ready to leave.

“Sister Zion. Tigrova said it was cold, so you should dress warmly···!”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Now, I naturally hug Clara, who feels as close as blood relatives.

I’m leaving before I’ve even spent a day there.

Looking back, it’s not even funny.

‘Like an idiot, I said in front of Frozen Heart that I would leave today.’

Now I have to leave and resolve my long-standing problem.

Zion was keenly aware of the heavyness of his steps.

The girl was holding onto Clara and lingering around, trying to pass the time even for a little while.

Rohan, who had been watching quietly, reminded the girl of the facts.

“Zion.”

“Hmm···?”

“You should go quickly so you can see it as soon as possible.”

A word that contains the obvious.

Zion’s eyes opened at the one word that groped for the truth.

··

··

“Sister Zion! This is the bus!”

After finishing preparations at Rohan’s dormitory, Sion took the bus from Academy City with Clara, who offered to take him to the station.

Rohan also expressed his intention to go with them, but Zion and Clara strongly pushed him away, telling him not to miss the afternoon classes and to participate.

‘It would have been nice if Rohan had come with us.’

But I know this is right.

Even though I knew it, my heart still couldn’t calm down. I regretted not finding out what perfume Rohan was using.

Rohan’s outerwear, which he had packed under the pretext of being cold just before departure, was sleeping in his bag.

Just remembering its existence causes the ripples in my mind to calm down.

‘It’s a sky train…’

Zion double-checked which mode of transportation he was supposed to take on the bus.

There are various routes and means of getting to Tigrova.

There are vehicles and railways on land, but compared to flying, it takes an absurdly long time.

It’s not exactly cheap, so unless you enjoy traveling or traveling by land, there’s no reason to choose it.

To get to the coast, there are icebreakers that can reach the ice-filled Tigrova pier.

But the problem is that this also takes up a lot of time.

The sight of him breaking through the ice and moving forward was spectacular and popular, but it was out of the question for Zion, who wanted to finish the work as quickly as possible.

In the end, there is only one answer left.

I decided to use the sky.

Through the app installed by Rohan and Clara, Zion reserved a ride on the floating train in the sky.

A means of transportation using floating stones, a specialty of the Sepia Archipelago.

What I liked most about it was that, unlike airships, it was a direct flight and fast.

I didn’t even notice the evaluation that it was very shaky. It’s enough to think of it as training.

‘The estimated time required is 11 hours.’

A round trip takes a day.

That alone is longer than the time I gained freedom.

I heard that the destination, Tigrova, has a large time difference from the school city.

“···.”

All sorts of thoughts dominated my mind for a moment.

Rustle.

Zion took out Rohan’s outer garment, buried his face in it, and took deep breaths.

“Huh, Sister!?”

Along with the passengers who were paying attention to his handsome appearance, Zion’s breathing was heavy and his actions were confident enough to astonish Clara, who was sitting next to him.

The elf girl seemed to be quite excited, as she occasionally stirred.

“Sup···!”

The girl took a deep breath and calmed her mind.

I made a promise with the scent of Rohan filling my lungs and head.

As fast as possible.

But don’t be hasty and end up regretting it.

If you listen to the story about your parents properly, the stain on the names of Tigrova Elf and Testarossa will be washed away.

“Hoo···.”

He exhaled, breathing his breath into Rohan’s outer garment, recalling:

That the place he should return to was with Rohan and Clara.

‘There is no other nest of Zion Testarossa.’

The girl’s eyes sparkled sharply as she raised her head from her outer garment.