Ch.133New Stage

“You suddenly leave, then come back, only to leave again. It’s really hard to see your face. Isn’t it?”

The first thing Najin saw upon returning to Cambria was Dieta grumbling. She glanced at Najin with her arms crossed.

“You said you’re leaving for the Outer Continent tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, that’s my plan.”

“Why not rest a bit longer before going? What’s the rush?”

“Those who move quickly gain more, and birds that flap their wings without rest fly higher, don’t they?”

“Where did you hear that saying?”

“It was in the book Dieta lent me last time.”

“I shouldn’t have lent you that book.”

With a long sigh, Dieta approached Najin. She fingered the emblem attached to Najin’s clothes. It was a special emblem granted only to Najin.

The emblems worn by mercenaries contracted with her or high-ranking officials of the association bore the mark of the “Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins.” But Najin’s was different. Najin’s emblem had a bright yellow flower engraved on it.

Not gold coins (金貨), but gold flower (金花).

An emblem permitted only to Najin. It was proof that she would treat Najin specially, and also meant that in front of Najin alone, she would be a girl rather than a snake. The girl smiled as she touched the emblem with the golden flower engraved on it.

“Najin.”

“Yes, Dieta.”

“I’ve been thinking, and words alone seem insufficient. So I wanted to leave a clearer proof.”

She took out a small box from her bosom. With a click, she opened the box, which contained a pair of rings.

A pair of rings.

Najin’s eyes trembled slightly, knowing what that might mean. This person, not again? While Najin was flustered at allowing another surprise attack, Dieta smiled mischievously.

“Did you think I was making another confession? It’s not like that. These are artifacts.”

“Ah.”

“What’s with that expression? Are you disappointed? Were you expecting a confession? I could do that if you want. Najin, will you…”

“Hey now.”

Dieta chuckled.

She handed the ring box to Najin and said:

“They’re made from materials from the Red Dragon and White Dragon you hunted. Did you know? The Red Dragon and White Dragon were originally one dragon. So they have concepts like being a pair, matching, connection.”

A kind of mystery.

“It’s an artifact made using that property. When you wear this ring, you can feel connected to each other. It means that no matter how far apart we are, you can at least know that the other person is alive.”

Dieta grumbled as she spoke.

“I’m worried, that’s why. In the Outer Continent, it’ll be difficult to send letters or contact this side, so I’d have to keep waiting until you come back, without knowing if you’re dead or alive.”

“That’s…”

“I don’t like that. So I need to at least know you’re alive. Make sure to wear that ring. Understood?”

As she said this, Dieta extended her left hand toward Najin. Smiling as she held out her slender white fingers, Dieta said:

“Put it on for me. Whichever finger you want.”

With one hand extended to Najin, Dieta brushed her hair behind her ear with the other. It was night, and they were in her office. Dieta’s hair sparkled in the moonlight filtering through the window.

Najin knelt on one knee and gently took Dieta’s hand. When Najin’s hand touched hers, Dieta flinched slightly. Her face turned slightly red.

Najin smiled at this reaction. He was somewhat curious about how Dieta would react if he put the ring on her ring finger, but approaching with such a casual attitude wouldn’t be respectful to Dieta.

Najin slipped the ring onto Dieta’s index finger. Left index finger. A symbol of friendship and intimacy. Looking at the ring on her finger, Dieta shook her head as if she had expected this.

“I would have preferred if you’d put it on my ring finger, but I’ll save that for later. I’ll be satisfied with this for now.”

Dieta nodded as she touched the ring that had tightened around her index finger. It meant for Najin to put his on too. Najin also put the ring on his index finger.

A ring with red markings engraved on a white background.

Dieta placed her hand over Najin’s hand wearing the ring. When the rings collided with a click, the red engravings on the rings glowed. A signal that they were connected. Soon, a warm sensation emanated from the rings. A warmth like holding someone’s hand.

“Actually, you could just keep it on your person. You’re a swordsman, after all. It might get in the way when you wield your sword. It could also get damaged during combat.”

But, Dieta said:

“When you miss human warmth, squeeze the ring tight. It’ll feel similar to holding hands with me.”

She gripped Najin’s hand tightly.

A warm sensation enveloped Najin’s hand.

“How is it? Nice, right?”

“It’s an impressive gift.”

“Isn’t it? I actually thought about making pendants, but rings seemed more symbolic. I was aiming for that effect.”

“I thought so.”

“So, do you dislike it?”

Najin shook his head.

“How could I? I like it.”

2.

The day Najin left Cambria.

The streets were filled with numerous adventurers and mercenaries. They had all gathered to see off Najin, or to witness the boy who had written a legend in this city.

Just one year.

A boy who became a White-Horned rank adventurer in just one year after setting foot in Cambria, the city of adventurers. The youngest Sword Seeker, holder of twin stars, and the one who achieved the myth of dragonslaying against the Red Dragon.

If the greatest talent Cambria had produced so far was the great hero Arthur, this boy was designated as the talent to follow him. Having achieved such feats in just one year, such talk was natural.

Now this boy was leaving Cambria for a bigger stage. The Outer Continent, the outside world.

Najin walked confidently through the crowd that had gathered to see the city’s celebrity depart. The adventurers filling the streets erupted in cheers. Amidst the loud applause and calls of Najin’s name, Najin faced a nobleman waiting in front of the carriage.

The master of House Trebache.

Marquis Eldelmar was waiting for Najin.

“Who do we have here? The eternal friend of Trebache, and currently the number one romantic sought after by noble ladies.”

“…Pardon?”

“Hmm? Don’t you know that the young ladies who came to see the play starring you and Miss Dieta have become your fervent fans? Quite a few courtship letters must have flown your way.”

There were such things?

Najin glanced around. There was one person who managed all the letters sent to Najin, and quite coincidentally, that person had brown hair and bright yellow eyes, and was standing next to Marquis Eldelmar right now.

“I know nothing about this…?”

Dieta muttered, avoiding Najin’s gaze. Seeing this, the Marquis burst into laughter.

“You’re quite the sinful man. Well, with such outstanding looks, skills, and romance, it’s understandable. Naturally, a talented man steals the hearts of numerous ladies.”

Then he whispered to Najin:

“Be careful. The blade of a scorned lady is slightly sharper than that of a Sword Master.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was advice worth carving into his bones.

After such light banter, Marquis Eldelmar cleared his throat. Then he nodded at Najin. Najin slowly knelt on one knee.

“I, the founder of the Cambria Foundation and patron of Cambria, the master of Trebache. I, Eldelmar Trebache, declare in place of the great Empire’s sun.”

He spoke to Najin, and perhaps to all the adventurers in this city:

“The feats you have shown deserve praise. The achievements you have carved with a single sword will be engraved on the most solid stone of this city and remembered forever. Just as King Arthur did in the distant past.”

A stone engraved in the center of the city.

That stone records those who have passed through Cambria and the achievements they made in this city. Najin’s name and story will also be recorded there.

“We pursue profit. We covet gold coins. But an adventurer is not just that. An adventurer is a term referring to those who, while coveting gold coins, do not betray loyalty and know romance. You were an excellent adventurer and mercenary.”

Marquis Eldelmar shouted loudly:

“And now, you are about to become a hero. A distant land. The outside world. The path you take to the Outer Continent will be arduous. That is the nature of the path to becoming a hero. It will be full of trials and adversities, and numerous hardships will befall you.”

But, the Marquis smiled:

“Proceed with pride. Pursue honor. Do not forget the romance you learned in this city. Honor, pride, and romance. If you do not forget these three things, your path will always be right. Walk the right path, boy.”

The Marquis extended his hand to Najin.

“Rise, and become a hero.”

Najin took the Marquis’s hand and stood up.

“May blessings fill your path ahead. I pray that you obtain a shining star and become a constellation.”

He stepped aside.

There was a carriage waiting with its doors wide open. A carriage heading non-stop to the Outer Continent. Najin bowed to the Marquis and smiled at Dieta.

“Praise be.”

Thunderous applause echoed throughout the city.

The name of the boy who came to the City of Opportunity, seized the opportunity, and made his name known was chanted. When he first set foot in this city, no one knew of Najin’s existence, but when he left, everyone knew Najin.

Najin.

Morning Star.

The star that announces the end of night.

Amidst the praise, Najin boarded the carriage. The carriage carrying Najin departed for the Outer Continent.

3.

As the carriage moved forward, Najin closed his eyes. He focused on his inner self. Najin’s mental landscape. The scenery of the underground city welcomed Najin. In this clearer and wider mental landscape, the first resident to move in was waiting for Najin.

That resident didn’t seem too pleased with the landlord, as she was glaring at Najin with a disgruntled look.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You were just so thrilled, weren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“The ring. You looked absolutely delighted when you received that ring.”

“What are you talking about now?”

Ignoring Merlin’s words as she pouted, Najin plopped down beside her.

“So you said you’d tell me? About the Outer Continent.”

“Sigh…”

Merlin sighed deeply before speaking.

“The Outer Continent, and specifically where you’re heading now, is further than before. It’s what they call the ‘Battlefield of Stars.'”

“Is it where the constellations reside? The place you showed me in that vision when we first met?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The visions Merlin had shown Najin when they first met. The weight Najin would have to bear in the future. Najin tried to recall those visions, but there was no need.

Snap.

When Merlin snapped her fingers, the vision unfolded before Najin’s eyes.

Stars are born, and stars set beyond. Stars that have taken their place in the sky act territorial, and many shooting stars fall to the ground, toyed with by them. Fallen constellations look at Najin and try to crush him with their immense presence.

Transcendent beings trying to deny the foundation of Najin’s existence.

However, unlike before, Najin did not crumble. He merely withstood their gaze. Now Najin had a star too. His star was shining in the sky, too bright to be destroyed by someone’s gaze.

The vision broke. Merlin smiled with satisfaction as she looked at Najin, who had instantly broken free from the vision.

“Do you understand what it means to have qualification?”

“Definitely.”

“As that Sword Master told you recently, the most important thing in the Outer Continent is not to waver. It’s about not denying yourself.”

And, Merlin said:

“It’s about how to use the stars.”

She gestured. Starlight spurted from her fingertips.