Ch.223Interlude, A Story (4)

Time passed, and now back to the present.

On the boat journey back, Najin told Lapis and Anton about what had happened in the Black Tower.

“That’s how it went.”

Najin was organizing the letters. After hearing the story contained in those letters, Lapis remained silent. She chewed on her lip with a complicated expression.

“So I wasn’t the only one trapped in that tower? Lena was trapped there too? Then now…”

“She must be dreaming.”

Najin didn’t elaborate much on the choice Lena made after receiving the letter. He simply answered that she chose to dream, chose to rest while waiting for someone.

“I see.”

That was enough to understand the situation.

“So that’s the choice she made.”

Lapis exhaled deeply.

She looked up at the sky, then at her wrists where marks remained from being bound for so long, and finally at Anton sitting on the bow of the ship.

“It’s selfish and a bit mean to say, but…”

Lapis smiled bitterly.

“I think I was lucky.”

“Well, I think calling something you achieved through effort mere luck might be diminishing that effort.”

“I appreciate you saying that, but…”

She looked at the letters and said.

“I can’t deny I was lucky. Of course I made efforts. Anton never gave up for 400 years, and I endured for 400 years too. But that doesn’t mean Lena didn’t try, does she?”

That was also true.

Both Lena and Albert, the Brave of United Kingdom who loved her, had made bone-crushing efforts. If there were such a thing as deserving a beautiful ending in this world, Lena and Albert had earned that right many times over through their efforts.

“They were probably just one step away from their destination. All they needed was a bit of luck or a fateful connection. Anton and I had such a connection, but…”

Lapis pointed at Najin.

The person who had guided Anton to the Black Tower and done his best to help him reunite. Pointing at Najin, who had become their fateful connection, she said:

“Lena didn’t have that. That’s the only difference. In other words, it could have been the ending I faced.”

Lapis’s expression looked somewhat complicated as she spoke. Perhaps it was because the tragic ending she had imagined, and miraculously avoided, wasn’t much different from Lena’s story? She seemed to feel some kind of kinship.

“That man Albert.”

Anton, who had been sitting on the bow listening to the story, wasn’t the only one feeling that kinship.

“Technically, he would be my senior.”

“Senior?”

“There have been only three humans who loved witches, including me, and I was the third. The first is unknown, and the second was that warrior Albert.”

Anton Kehano said with his arms crossed.

“And as with all things in life, juniors learn from their seniors, from the pioneers.”

“What are you saying, Anton?”

“Nothing much, Lapis. It’s simple.”

A simple story.

Anton shrugged as he continued.

“Ways for humans and witches to be together. Ways to overcome the taboo. Information about that is very rare. There were only two precedents in 1000 years… Since there are no records of the first one, I had to rely on the second.”

This was part of the story of his 400-year journey.

“I collected all of Albert’s records, his diaries, all information related to him. That’s how I roughly figured out the method. Didn’t I tell you then, Lapis?”

Did you think I wouldn’t have known you would make such a choice? And did you think I spent 400 years idly without preparing countermeasures? Anton had clearly said so.

“I was able to prepare countermeasures thanks to the records left by Albert. So I’m grateful to him. I was just sorry that there was no way to repay the debt.”

Anton pointed at the letter Najin was holding.

“Now I have one.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’d like you to deliver that letter to Albert’s child. Tell them if they want to meet their mother, come find us. We’ll help as much as we can.”

Anton glanced at Lapis.

Aren’t you thinking the same? Don’t you want to help in some way? Anton asked with his eyes. Lapis burst into laughter as if she couldn’t help it.

“Yes, miracles don’t just happen on their own.”

Brushing back her hair fluttering in the sea breeze, Lapis looked at the receding Black Tower.

“Luck, fateful connections, and the lessons learned from the failures of those who walked similar paths before us. That’s what creates miracles.”

Yes, she said.

“I hope that child Roseline will be happy. Just as her parents wished.”

2.

A journey that was both short and long.

After completing their journey, Lapis and Anton returned to that cabin from 400 years ago. Lapis’s eyes widened at the sight of the red roses in full bloom in front of the cabin, and then something rather embarrassing happened, but…

Anyway, Najin and Anton completed their voyage.

“Well, this is goodbye, boatman.”

“You already seem happy, but I wish you happiness, Captain.”

“Of course. Miraculous days await me.”

After exchanging greetings with chuckles, Najin started walking away. Anton Kehano called out to the departing Najin.

“Let’s meet again, Najin.”

Next time on your stage.

Instead of answering, Najin just waved his hand.

Passing over the hills and across the Outer Continent, Najin headed toward the mainland. By now, he was familiar enough with the geography of the Outer Continent that finding his way wasn’t difficult. Moreover, when he did get lost, an excellent guide would show him the way.

‘Merlin.’

-What?

‘About Merlin’s past that I saw in the Black Tower.’

No matter how much Merlin asked about it, Najin had refused to answer. Knowing that Merlin was dissatisfied with this stubborn attitude, Najin briefly said:

‘There’s no special reason I’m not telling you.’

-Then what is it?

‘Knowing in advance ruins the fun, doesn’t it?’

-What?

Merlin exhaled as if dumbfounded.

-That’s your only reason?

That very reason is what kept you alive, Najin didn’t say. Instead, he smiled.

“Well, let’s put that conversation aside for now.”

The wind blew.

The continental border began to appear in the distance.

“Let’s finish delivering these letters.”

Walking toward the continent, Najin thought.

What exactly is this thing called love?

It was a question he had asked himself before starting this voyage. Back then, he couldn’t answer it, but now he felt he could provide at least some answer.

“Love is magic.”

“The greatest magic in the world!”

After hearing Anton Kehano’s story, Lapis’s story, and Lena’s story, he had a rough idea of what this thing called love was. Of course, he still didn’t understand what Anton meant by “love that drives people mad,” but…

“Vitality.”

Najin murmured. Vitality, vigor, life force, words like that. Thinking of the mysterious vitality possessed by those in love, Najin unconsciously thought:

That’s a bit enviable.

He wanted to experience similar emotions.

Someone who brings joy just by thinking about them, someone he might want to meet, or miss. When he thought like this, about two faces unconsciously appeared in Najin’s mind. He tilted his head at these suddenly appearing faces.

-What? What are you thinking about?

‘Nothing.’

-That’s not a “nothing” expression.

Were you thinking about me?

At Merlin’s joking question, Najin momentarily choked. Seeing this reaction, Merlin’s eyes widened as he poked Najin’s side, encouraging him.

You were thinking about me, weren’t you? What were you thinking? Tell me, and so on.

Najin, who had been giving perfunctory answers to Merlin, unconsciously smiled. He still had so much to learn. The world was full of new things, never a dull moment.

Well, I’ll figure it out eventually, one way or another.

With such thoughts, Najin walked on. Crossing the border of the Outer Continent and stepping onto the mainland soil after several months, the blowing wind felt exceptionally cool. Under the bright sunshine, Najin took a deep breath.

Letters sent from the Outer Continent to the mainland.

It was time to deliver letters that had accumulated over 600 years.

3.

As Najin recalled, the letter’s recipient could be commonly, almost nightly, spotted at a tavern in Cambria, so Najin headed to Cambria first.

Cambria, City of Opportunity.

The place where Najin had started his journey after leaving the underground city, and where he had first made his mark. Although it had been just a year since Najin had stayed there, after spending time in the Outer Continent where time flows were often distorted, it felt like 3-4 years had passed.

Najin pulled down his postman’s hat firmly.

Tap.

Walking toward the center of Cambria, Najin observed the people moving through the streets. Numerous adventurers and mercenaries, and merchants selling goods to them. As always, Cambria’s streets were full of energy.

Perhaps even more so than before he left.

Though Najin couldn’t know this, the fact was that after Najin left Cambria, the number of adventurers visiting Cambria had increased several times.

“Morning Star Najin began his journey in ‘Cambria, City of Opportunity’ and achieved great feats during his stay in Cambria…”

“The Miracle of Cambria.”

“A year of brilliant adventures.”

“You can do it too, in Cambria!”

This was because Cambria’s central guild and the foundations supporting Cambria actively promoted Najin’s exploits. At the forefront was Marquis Eldelmar, who was blowing his own horn, even expanding his theatrical troupe to the Empire’s capital to fuel the promotion.

“Huh…”

Looking at the advertisement posted on the wall, Najin burst into laughter. He couldn’t help but laugh at his own portrait drawn on the advertisement and the slogan “You can do it too, in Cambria!”

“If you have business in the central area, please fill out the forms here. If you have a blue grade or higher nameplate, please submit it.”

The gateway to Cambria’s central area.

Perhaps due to the recent increase in Cambria’s floating population? There was an inspection taking place on the way to the central area, and Najin had to resist the urge to take out his White Horn badge and shout “Do you know who I am?”

‘What would happen if I took out the White Horn here? Would people around be like, “No way, is that him?”‘

-……

‘Is that person really the Najin from the advertisement? The legend of Cambria? One of only five White Horn graduates in Cambria and the youngest Sword Seeker and the youngest…’

-Please, please!

If he did that, Merlin might really foam at the mouth and collapse. Besides, it was obvious that it would draw excessive attention.

‘I’m just joking, just joking.’

In fact, Najin was just teasing Merlin; he had no desire to gild his own face like that. Even without going that far, he had several ways to pass through the inspection.

“Next.”

When his turn came, Najin took out a badge from his pocket and showed it only to the guard. The guard, who had been inspecting with tired eyes, blinked. Then, with wide eyes, he looked back and forth between Najin and the badge.

“A-a knight of the Imperial…”

“Quietly.”

Najin calmed the guard, patted his shoulder a few times, and headed toward the central area.

-What did you just show him?

‘A badge indicating I’m a knight belonging to the Imperial family.’

-Aren’t you not affiliated with the Imperial family?

‘It’s a cover identity.’

Strictly speaking, Najin was unaffiliated, but that didn’t mean he had no backing. The most renowned figures in the Empire, including the Imperial family and the Knights of Atanga, vouched for Najin’s identity.

He could belong to the Imperial family if needed.

He could also belong to the Knights of Atanga.

Therefore, Najin also possessed a “badge indicating Imperial affiliation.” It was one of the many privileges of being a free knight.

‘I’m kind of a big deal.’

-What are you saying?

Shrugging his shoulders, Najin moved on.

Najin had no way of knowing.

The eyes of the checkpoint staff watching Najin leave were shaking wildly. All sorts of hypotheses and delusions were flashing through his mind:

Why is an Imperial knight in Cambria?

And so secretly?

Even disguised as a postman?

Is he on a secret mission that shouldn’t be revealed?

While he was in confusion, Najin was truly heading to the center of Cambria to deliver a letter. To the tavern where Roseline Askarlo was a regular.