Ch.101Chapter 101 – Diana

-Clunk, clunk

The carriage heading to the fortress was shaking.

I had been letting my body sway with the motion when I finally managed to gather my wits.

‘Was I spacing out again?’

My memories of the past few days were hazy.

I had agreed to participate in the dragon defense battle as Princess Liriel suggested, and then with Sera…

A moment later, I snapped back to reality again.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

That day, all that happened was a kiss.

Yes, just a kiss, nothing more.

Sera had run away in embarrassment afterward, and we hadn’t properly spoken since.

I too seemed to have lost my mind since that day, barely able to remember what had happened over the past few days.

Whenever I stayed still for even a moment, Sera’s face drawing close would…

A moment later, I snapped back to reality again.

‘I’ve gone mad.’

The moment I let my guard down, I’d immediately lose my train of thought.

The only fortunate thing was that the frequency of these mental lapses was gradually decreasing.

They say humans are creatures of adaptation.

Still, I needed to shake this off as quickly as possible.

“…I should drink some water.”

My throat was dry, and I wanted to distract my thoughts, even momentarily, by drinking some water.

I moved my hand to grab my canteen.

And just as I brought it to my lips—

The canteen was completely empty.

“…Come to think of it, I’ve been drinking a lot.”

Thinking back, I had been drinking water every time I managed to regain my senses after the kiss with Sera, trying desperately to restore my composure. That must be why it was empty.

With no other choice, I gave up on the water and decided to slap my own cheeks to bring myself back to reality.

-Clang, clang

“Tch.”

Right, I was wearing a helmet.

Slapping my cheeks only resulted in the sound of hitting the helmet.

Still, thanks to these two pointless actions in succession, I seemed to have shaken off my daze a little.

“At least it’s fortunate that men and women are traveling separately.”

If Beatrice had seen me in this state, she would have mocked me mercilessly.

Christina would have been genuinely concerned.

Sera… I’m not sure.

And if Eve had been here, though she wasn’t traveling with us…

‘Let’s not think about that.’

For some reason, I felt she might try to do something to help me forget.

I immediately stopped imagining it.

“…Really, what troublesome people.”

They were precious and dear to me.

I didn’t want to create situations I couldn’t take responsibility for.

I didn’t want to cause them sadness.

Only after repeating these thoughts to myself several times was I finally able to sort out my feelings.

+

The carriage to the fortress was operated by the knighthood to transport soldiers and adventurers.

As Princess Liriel had suggested, I was participating, but there was no special accommodation providing separate carriages for our group. We had been traveling in the caravan for days now, separated by gender.

Still, during our journey, I had occasionally met Beatrice and Christina at the campsite and heard that everything was fine.

Before departure, I had worried about troublemakers mixing in, but men and women were kept separate, and female knights were strictly controlling everything.

Plus, according to Christina, Beatrice had been constantly following her and Sera around, so there shouldn’t have been any problems.

And that was fortunate for me too, as I hadn’t seen Sera during those days.

‘Originally, I was planning to leave her behind.’

I had intended to leave Sera with Eve since it was a dangerous place, but I must have forgotten due to my mental state over the past few days.

Considering the Emiris Order, it was better not to be separated, but…

-Clunk

“Hey, we’ve arrived!”

I stood up at the sound coming from outside the carriage.

I got off with the other adventurers who had been riding with me and gathered in one place.

They were checking to make sure no one was missing.

“…Everyone’s here. Head to the fortress.”

At the knight’s words, the adventurers began moving toward the fortress in their own way.

There were quite a few of them, partly because both the royal family and the guild had promised compensation just for participating, and partly because an enormous bounty had been placed on the dragon’s head.

Of course, I wasn’t under such an ordinary contract, so that didn’t apply to me.

“Over here, benefactor!”

I heard Christina’s voice.

The carriage carrying the women had departed before mine, so it made sense that I’d hear her from ahead.

“Over heeere! Benefactoooor!!”

Despite the long carriage journey that should have made her back sore, Christina was energetically waving her staff under a large tree.

Beside her were Beatrice and Sera.

‘Ah, damn it.’

How am I supposed to face Sera?

I quickly lowered my head as I approached them.

“Helmet, are you feeling unwell?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been spacing out a lot these past few days.”

Beatrice sighed and tapped my helmet once.

Then Christina looked at me and spoke.

“Um, benefactor. If you’re not feeling well, would you like to rest? They said they’ll assign us rooms in the castle.”

“Rooms?”

No matter what, they wouldn’t provide rooms in the castle.

That place wasn’t meant for ordinary adventurers to stay in.

“I thought we’d inevitably get tents or something like that.”

“It’s all thanks to me.”

Beatrice stepped forward.

“I may have just ridden in the carriage because I couldn’t be bothered, but I’m the only mage dispatched from the Magic Tower, you know? This level of treatment is only natural.”

“Was that so?”

“I explained it many times before we left, but you’ve forgotten everything. You really aren’t well.”

Beatrice said this and then turned to Sera with a bright smile.

“Right, little miss?”

That face.

That behavior.

She seems to know about what happened between Sera and me.

Sera silently turned her head away, and Beatrice snickered at the sight.

“Um, shall we start moving now?”

Christina suggested with a slightly uncomfortable expression, and Beatrice winked at her.

“Let’s go unpack and rest a bit. I think there will be a meeting since I’ve arrived.”

“A meeting?”

“We’ll probably hear about things we need to know in advance, various matters.”

That made sense.

Proper handover is important.

“Rudger and Aria arrived a while ago and are waiting for us. Let’s hurry.”

“Alright.”

I nodded as I followed Christina, who was urging us to move quickly.

Sera and I briefly made eye contact, but we both quickly looked away.

+

As Beatrice had said, after unpacking and resting briefly in our fortress rooms, news came that there would be a meeting.

Normally, Sera, Christina, and I would have no reason to attend, but Beatrice currently held the title of Master’s proxy.

She didn’t want to go alone and threw a tantrum, so it was decided that we would all go together.

“It would be lonely.”

“As if.”

Rudger and Aria were going together anyway.

Beatrice sometimes showed a childish side.

“By the way, this is strange.”

“What is, sir?”

“Usually, when someone of my or Aria’s stature arrives, the person in charge comes out to greet us personally.”

Rudger said.

“Is that important?”

“I don’t mind, but the Order does. Unless there’s a personal relationship, it’s considered disrespectful.”

It seemed that with his position came such considerations.

Come to think of it, Beatrice also held the proxy title of the Magic Tower’s Master.

As Rudger said, she was in a position where someone should have come to greet her personally.

“Perhaps they’re just bold.”

“Or maybe they’re just stupid.”

“Who are you calling stupid?”

Rudger stopped at the sudden voice.

Looking ahead, an elderly woman with white hair and many wrinkles was walking toward us.

‘…She’s quite spry.’

Surprisingly, this old woman was wearing armor.

She moved easily despite wearing armor that would be heavy even for adult men.

“Well, well. It’s Diana.”

“Still not dead, Rudger?”

The two looked at each other with slight glares.

“Are you the person in charge?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect they’d call even a retired old woman like me to help.”

The two stared at each other for a moment.

Soon, Rudger smiled and extended his hand, and the old woman gladly shook it.

“Do you know her?”

“Indeed. I never expected to see her here.”

Rudger looked at her with slight delight.

The old woman soon looked us over and spoke.

“Call me Diana, youngsters.”

Diana introduced herself just like that and walked toward me.

She looked me up and down once and then turned to Rudger.

“Is this young man your successor?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re finally preparing for retirement.”

Rudger laughed lightly at her words.

“Jealous?”

“Hardly. I’m going straight back to my secluded life after this job is done.”

Diana said this while looking at Aria.

“It’s also strange to see an Inquisitor become a Saint.”

“It’s been a while.”

Aria greeted her respectfully, apparently also an acquaintance.

“But I heard you had completely given up the spear. How are you here?”

“The royal family sent someone asking me to be in charge here.”

Diana hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“And the orphanage was short on money.”

“You’re running an orphanage?”

“Yes.”

Diana’s eyes clouded slightly.

But soon she spoke as if nothing had happened.

“My grandchildren are waiting for me when I return.”

“I see.”

“Not related by blood, though.”

Rudger nodded quietly at Diana’s words.

As if introductions with acquaintances were now complete, Diana began looking at our group.

“So, what are your names?”

“Ah, Seraphina Medimai…”

“Come forward when you speak. It’s not polite to talk from behind, little one.”

“I-I’m Seraphina Medimaker.”

Sera quickly spoke, looking slightly flustered at Diana’s words.

Diana nodded once after looking Sera up and down, then smiled and said:

“You look like him.”

“Pardon?”

“Maria, I mean. Maria Medimaker. You’re her granddaughter.”

Sera looked slightly surprised at her words.

“You knew my grandmother?”

“I did. How is she doing?”

“…She passed away.”

Diana seemed slightly surprised at Sera’s words.

Soon she placed her hand on Sera’s shoulder and spoke.

“That must have been hard for you, child.”

“I’m okay now.”

When Sera smiled and said this, Diana nodded once more and removed her hand from Sera’s shoulder.

Then she turned her gaze to me.

“I’m Kay.”

After my introduction, she looked me up and down once.

She nodded, glanced at Sera, and then looked back at me.

“…Youth indeed. Take good care of the young lady.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re not two-timing, are you?”

“What?”

“Ah. So you’re not in a relationship with anyone yet.”

“Um…”

Let me speak.

But Diana nodded as if she understood everything.

“Behave yourself.”

“…Yes.”

I answered while suppressing a feeling of guilt, and Diana turned her gaze again.

I felt a jabbing sensation in my side, but I ignored it.

I didn’t want to bother explaining to old man Rudger.

“Beatrice.”

“Yes. So you’re the mage dispatched from the Magic Tower.”

Beatrice didn’t answer but just nodded once.

Finally, Diana looked at Christina.

“…And you, young lady?”

“Ah, I’m Christina.”

“No surname?”

“I’m an orphan.”

Diana stared at Christina for a while.

For quite a long time, she stared at Christina as if piercing through her.

“Um, Lady Diana?”

“Oh, sorry. I thought I saw a bug on your face.”

Christina quickly wiped her face at Diana’s words.

Diana laughed at Christina’s flustered reaction.

“You’re pretty.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Except for your eyes. They remind me of someone I dislike.”

Christina’s face turned pale.

“Ah, I-I’m sorry!”

Christina apologized profusely as if it were her fault, even though it wasn’t.

I thought this was going too far.

“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Ah, this was indeed too much. I’m sorry, child.”

“N-no, it’s fine.”

Diana apologized readily, seemingly aware of her mistake.

Christina accepted the apology, though somewhat awkwardly.

“Well then, shall we go? We’re running late because of Rudger.”

“What nonsense is that? We’re late because you were greeting everyone one by one.”

The two began bickering as they walked ahead.

These elderly folks sure had a lot of energy.

Then Diana, walking ahead, looked at Christina.

“By the way, child. I’m sorry, but would you walk beside me?”

“Pardon?”

“While talking with Rudger, I’d rather walk with a pretty young lady. Grant an old woman’s wish, would you?”

“Ah, um… yes.”

Christina agreed with an awkward smile.

Seeing this, Rudger slowed his pace slightly and moved back.

Soon Diana and Christina began walking side by side.

At first, their strides didn’t match, but before long, they began walking at the same pace.

“She’s being considerate of Chris.”

“Indeed.”

I said this while watching Diana, who had been walking faster than Christina, begin to match her pace.

Surprisingly, the two of them didn’t look awkward walking together.

After a while, Diana and Christina began exchanging words, smiling.

“Lady Diana seems like Chris’s grandmother.”

“It’s because Christina is kind.”

Christina was fundamentally a good person, despite some quirks.

That’s probably why she was accommodating Diana so well.

‘Or maybe Diana is the one being accommodating?’

Diana had mentioned running an orphanage earlier.

Judging by her reaction when Christina said she was an orphan, she might be treating Christina well out of sympathy.

Seeing Christina’s smile reminded me of him.

“It reminds me of Kara.”

“…Yes, it does.”

Sera nodded in agreement, apparently feeling something similar.

‘Why am I thinking of that guy?’

There was no commonality in the situation, yet strangely, I was reminded of Kara.

I couldn’t understand why I felt that way.