episode_0069

“Hmm? Who’s there?”

Just then, an old man appeared with a small carriage.

Two small children were inside the carriage.

‘A carriage in a place like this? Why?’

With Ember’s downfall, there shouldn’t be anyone pulling a carriage to the eastern edge, should there?

“Who are you?”

“Hmph, I asked who you were first. Isn’t it proper for you to answer first?”

“…My name is Kara.”

“Kara? Same name as the Hero.”

I flinched slightly at that, but there was no benefit in revealing my presence here, so I simply nodded.

“I hear that often.”

“More importantly, don’t speak so stiffly. You look like a knight, sir. Isn’t it a bit odd to use such formal language with a mere coachman like me?”

“Then… I’ll speak more casually.”

“Good, that’s better.”

“More importantly, how did you end up driving a carriage all the way here?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

I glanced at the two children chattering and playing loudly inside the carriage.

“It doesn’t look like a merchant’s carriage, and it seems strange to drive a carriage with two children through the sparsely populated east.”

“Hmph, I suppose you could think that.”

At that, the old man smiled wryly.

“A coup happened recently, didn’t it?

Because of that, the capital was closed for a while, and after it reopened, the five cities were paralyzed, and the capital suffered from a severe lack of supplies.

So, a fellow named Cerebus of Gram gathered all the people who drove carriages in the capital and created a temporary trading company. I was semi-forcibly enlisted, paid to wander across the continent and transport supplies to the capital like this.”

He then gestured towards the boxes inside the carriage.

“These are the supplies for that. The children’s parents are in another region, and I was going to leave them there, but I was so rushed I couldn’t possibly leave them behind in their hometown, so I’m taking them with me like this.”

At that, Kara looked at the two children in the carriage with pity and said,

“You’re going through a lot of trouble.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Though it’s strange to say this, that fellow Cerebus opened the imperial palace’s vault, which supposedly contains infinite gold, and has been pouring money everywhere, so the income is unexpectedly good. With this much, I could at least buy a hardworking reindeer, if not a house.”

The old man nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Ah, speaking of which, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Ivan. Of the two rascals inside, the boy is Mikhail, and the girl is his younger sister, Maria. Kids, say hello to the Knight!”

“Hello!”

“Hewwo!”

At that, the two children, who had been vigorously playing in the carriage, bowed 90 degrees and greeted cheerfully.

Perhaps finding them very adorable, the old man named Ivan looked at the two children with affectionate eyes, then turned back to Kara and asked her,

“By the way, why have you ventured into such a remote place? I came to this remote area to supply the capital with much-needed goods, but a knight wouldn’t usually have business in such a remote place, would they?”

“Well… I’ve returned to my hometown after a long time.”

“Hometown? Which hometown?”

“…”

Kara gave a quiet glance, and following it, Ivan’s gaze turned and fixed on Fallen.

Then, with an astonished expression, he spoke to her as if shouting.

“You’re from Fallen?!”

“Yes, actually… I’m from Fallen.”

“Hmph, I thought all the people of Fallen had died. It’s a miracle a survivor remains.”

“…Is that all?”

“Eh? What do you mean by that?”

“They’re citizens of Fallen. People usually dislike those from Fallen, claiming the curse spreads, but you don’t seem to show any such aversion, Elder.”

“Hmm, well, that might be so… but I tend to treat anything I haven’t seen with my own eyes as superstition. I’ve heard that Fallen citizens have darkened, sunburned skin, but you don’t have anything like that, do you?”

His gaze fell upon Kara’s face.

“Do you?”

“…No, I don’t.”

“See?”

Ivan snorted.

“So, if you’re going back to your hometown after a long time, why is your expression so complex?”

“Does my expression look like that?”

“Yes, it might sound like an old man’s meddling, but… how should I put it, your face reveals all sorts of worries and anxieties, like someone going to reconcile with a separated lover.”

At that, Kara looked astonished.

“…You’re right.”

“Eh? Right? Really?”

“Yes, actually…”

Hesitating for a moment, she then explained the story with a bitter smile.

“I said some harsh things to that person. Even though I reconciled through letters long ago and received forgiveness, I’m going to see his face after 15 years, so I don’t know how to meet him.”

“Hmm, in that case, it would be good to bring a gift.”

“What? A gift?”

“I just thought of something really good. Please wait a moment.”

With that, Ivan got up from his seat and began rummaging through the boxes in the carriage.

And after a little while.

“Yes, here it is!”

He grumbled quietly about how hard it was to find, then placed a small bouquet in front of her.

“You said your name was Kara, didn’t you?”

“Yes, it’s Kara.”

“Would you be interested in buying these flowers?”

He held out a white and beautiful bouquet and explained.

“These flowers are also named Kara.”

At that, Kara looked surprised.

“There was a flower named Kara?”

“You didn’t know? Well, it’s not a common flower. I wouldn’t have known about it either if that child, who was like a younger sister to me in my youth, hadn’t told me. Yes, Kara is originally the name of a flower.”

With that, Ivan looked at her hair and nodded.

“Isn’t that why your hair is also white? Even if not here, the white Kara flower is the symbol of the Düstihes family in Criseldora, the granary of the Elf Empire. I thought your parents named you after recalling that white Kara, but is that not the case?”

My thoughts became complex for a moment at this new information, then I shook my head and told Ivan,

“No. Actually… it’s the name given to me by the person waiting in the city right now.”

“That person? Why-… Ah.”

He was about to ask why not her parents, but after hearing Kara’s words, Ivan understood the hidden meaning and sent her a sympathetic gaze.

“…Ahem. My apologies.”

“It’s fine. You didn’t know.”

“Hmm… still, I feel a bit awkward. Oh, just take the bouquet. I was originally going to sell it, but since I feel bad, I’ll just give it to you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s not like this is the only bouquet I have, and I picked quite a few flowers because I wanted to reminisce about old memories. And most of all-”

He grinned.

“If the man you’re going to meet gave you the name Kara, how meaningful and pleased would he be to receive this bouquet?”

“Hmm…”

I’m not sure.

Of all things, I’ve never seen Agape show any interest in flowers.

“Oh, he’ll love it, I tell you! Men, you see, outwardly they might seem like gruff, rough rocks, but inside, they’re as delicate as girls!

It’d be a miracle if he didn’t cry when he receives that bouquet, he’ll love it even more! Especially since he gave you your name, he’ll surely understand the meaning of that bouquet, so he definitely can’t dislike it.”

“Does this bouquet have a meaning?”

“Yes. A bouquet of white Kara flowers means ‘You are my luck.’ Isn’t that romantic?”

“Hmm…”

“Hey, this young lady, really.”

“Huh…?”

He shoved the bouquet into my arms, then Ivan, pulling his straw hat down, said,

“Just take it when I’m giving it to you. It’s not like I’ve planted a bomb in it, and I’m giving it to you as an ‘apology’.”

“…”

If I refused after he said all that, it wouldn’t be polite.

Carefully taking the bouquet with one hand, I gave a small bow to the old man and thanked him.

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Hehe, yes, yes. Go on. Didn’t you say that loved one or whatever is waiting?”

“Yes, thank you.”

As I bowed once more to express my gratitude, the old man waved his hand and got out of the carriage.

“Why out of the carriage-”

“I’m just going to rest here today. The sun will set soon, and there’s nothing but forest past here. It’s better to camp here.”

“So this isn’t your first time in this area.”

“Since the coup, I’ve been traveling around the villages and cities near Fallen for days. So I didn’t know well at first, but now I’m well-acquainted with the terrain around here.”

Before he entered the carriage to take out his camping gear, Ivan urged Kara, who was still standing there blankly.

“What are you doing?! Go on. If you stand there staring, the sun will set.”

“Ah, thank you, Elder.”

After my final farewell, I resumed my steps.

A soft rustle.

Clutching the small bouquet in my arms.

To give to the man I loved most, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, as a token of reconciliation.

***

Naturally, Fallen had become a ghost town.

The sun, just before setting, illuminated every corner of the alleys, revealing the city’s landscape in detail, making me realize that fact even more acutely.

Trudge. Trudge.

Buildings throughout the city had collapsed, and vines had tangled around the few intact ones.

Here and there throughout the city, I occasionally saw corpses so decayed that only bones remained, and in some places, I saw wild rats scurrying away in alarm, sensing my presence.

It was messy, a chaotic wreck, and corpses lay everywhere.

To others, this desolate and dirty city might feel repulsive…

But to me, it was the landscape of my hometown, something I yearned for deeply.

‘I missed it.’

Though it was the city that had caused us so much hardship, recalling the person I would soon meet made this city feel even more endearing.

Perhaps because of that, with the thought that the long nightmare would finally end, my emotions began to soar incredibly.

Pounding footsteps.

Unable to contain that surge of emotion, my steps gradually quickened.

Chirp- chirping-

Hearing birds chirping somewhere, I moved faster and faster.

Rapid steps.

Walking, walking, and walking. As my body instinctively weaved its way through the complex alleys, a familiar alleyway soon came into view.

‘Now…’

Stop.

Just past this corner, our old shack would appear.

The home where I, Agape, and Roland had lived together, building memories. Our home.

‘Agape.’

15 years ago, after I met him, on the day the Imperial Family tried to execute him for the crime of slaying a Hero.

As the Imperial Family tried to take him away for execution, I desperately pleaded with the Prophet of Light to prevent his death.

To please let the misunderstanding be cleared.

To let me write a letter saying that everything I had said was a lie, that I had actually wanted to see him, and that I had become a Hero to save him.

So please, just let me tell him to stay apart until I became a Hero.

After kneeling and pleading before him like that, I somehow managed to send Agape back to his hometown.

In exchange for being confined to Fallen until I defeated the Death Legion, I was allowed to exchange letters.

Yes.

Originally, it would have been an impossible feat.

If the old me had said such things to him, he would have scoffed and ignored me.

But when I begged him, I was no longer a powerless child.

Having reached the realm of a Sword Master and being the next Deputy Commander to succeed Sir Nemo, who was then the current Deputy Commander, even the head of the Regents could not ignore my request.

That’s how I managed to save Agape.

Confining him in Fallen instead, but allowing us to exchange letters.

No matter how powerful Lucas was, it had become difficult for him to manipulate a Hero of my caliber like a puppet anymore.

…What I mean to say is.

Pounding footsteps.

Even if the fallen Prophet, Lucas, their leader, tries to use Agape as a pawn to manipulate me again.

His threats no longer affect me.

Unlike before, I now had strength.

Therefore.

‘I can take Agape and live outside the city.’

Traveling freely outside the city, building a home in a place with wide fields and dense forests.

Living the life I had so desperately longed for, free from anyone’s threats.

Halt.

“…”

I stopped in front of the old shack.

“…Haa.”

And, to calm my pounding heart, I took a deep breath.

‘Why am I so nervous over something like this?’

I trembled.

I had no idea what to say first when facing him after such a long time.

Have you been well?

I missed you?

I’m sorry about back then?

Or…

Will you marry me?

“…What am I saying?”

No matter what, I knew I would be inexpressibly happy when I finally saw his face after all this time.

Even now, I couldn’t contain my joy, displaying a foolish smile.

Anyway.

“Phew…”

Taking another breath, I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again, then carefully knocked on the door.

Knock- knock- knock-

And waited for the door to open.

…

‘Is no one home?’

I knocked again.

Knock- knock- knock-

And waited once more.

‘…What is this?’

But the door didn’t open this time either.

No, I didn’t even sense any presence to begin with.

“…”

The firmly closed doorknob was rusted.

Dust had accumulated thickly, as if it hadn’t been touched in a long time, and now I saw that the door itself was so old it looked like it could fall apart at any moment.

“…”

Seeing the old door, untouched by human hands, I finally noticed the strange signs around me.

Everything in the vicinity showed no sign of being touched.

The door, and the wooden fence and roof too.

The fence was half-collapsed, and the roof also showed signs of not having been repaired for a long time, with large holes in various places.

“…”

That meant.

It was evidence that no one had lived in this shack for a very, very long time.

Bang!

“Agape!”

I desperately flung the door open.

Then, the dust that had accumulated thickly inside the shack scattered everywhere in the wind.

“Cough, cough…!”

And I, seeing the scene inside the shack with my own eyes.

“What, what is this…”

I froze on the spot, staring at every corner of the empty shack for a moment without a word.

Moldy stew.

A candle, already extinguished and turned to ash.

And bedding, old and discolored.

A chair with one leg rotted and fallen over, and books on the table, so worn they were unreadable.

I had returned to my hometown with long-held dreams and hopes, earnestly wishing to meet Agape.

Thud.

But the old, dilapidated shack was uninhabited.

The bouquet I held in one hand fell to the floor.

…My luck, was not here.