Ch.27490. It Might Be That Kind of Warmth (3)

“This place changes drastically every time I come here.”

The silver hair fluttered in the breeze like a sob.

Zora, a beautiful girl with red eyes, wrapped in a tightly fastened reddish-brown coat, looked around with renewed curiosity.

“Even so, it’s still anachronistic.”

“What do you mean by anachronistic?”

And then.

Another girl following behind her asked curiously, finding Zora’s attitude puzzling.

“Luirin. You’re a being of this era so you wouldn’t understand, but for those of us who remember the demon realm and previous eras, this age is far too old-fashioned. There are many inconveniences. Though it has its advantages too… anyway, that’s how it is.”

“I don’t understand at all.”

Luirin.

Her once short bob had grown long enough to be tied back like a ponytail.

The little girl who once guided Kariel at the Second Prince Filbar’s arrangement had grown a bit taller since then.

Had she been fully human, she would have matured more, but being not purely human, her growth cycle and stages couldn’t possibly match those of humans.

That was why she still had the appearance of a young girl.

Her light purple hair and especially her silver-tinged eyes possessed a mysterious quality that could draw you in if you gazed at them carelessly.

They were indeed rare.

Like Zora, she was completely wrapped in a reddish-brown coat below her shoulders, so the dropping temperature had no particular effect on her condition or mood.

“But if the goal was to attend the festival, shouldn’t we have come earlier?”

“That’s just a side benefit. What’s fun about primitively hitting and fighting anyway?”

Zora snorted at Luirin’s opinion.

“I’ve never liked the glorification of knights and warriors.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t deny that their existence is maintained according to necessity. But glorifying them beyond necessity? Don’t make me laugh.”

Walking through the wide isthmus, Zora spoke while scanning the diverse human and racial crowds scattered all around.

“If my brother is the type to beautify and praise the world, I’m the opposite—I visualize the world as it is.”

Because that’s what they were born and created for.

“Anyway, such things aren’t meant to be enjoyed. Ah, if that’s what you want, I won’t stop you though.”

“I just thought… there might be something to learn.”

“If it’s for such a wholesome reason, I have no objection.”

Zora nodded as if it were nothing.

“I heard the Heroes of the Sacred Sword were invited, so I thought I might see Leo too.”

“Isn’t he busy with farming and guard duty? Or perhaps he’s completely smitten with that big-breasted, plump-bottomed witch and can’t tear himself away?”

“…Even as another woman, I have to admit Luciri is quite charming.”

After being apart for a while, they had eventually reunited and seemed to be doing well now.

Perhaps by the next visit, they might have another child, or Luciri’s belly might be visibly swollen.

…Maybe she was already in that state.

“The Witch of the Western Wind, huh.”

Zora gave a small snort.

“Narratives travel everywhere, I suppose.”

“??”

“It’s just how things are.”

Tales of Hero Leo and his companions were fairly well-known in the Eden-Levan Alliance.

After all, they were connected to a major incident that could have severely damaged the alliance itself.

“Come to think of it, Master’s family should be here too.”

“The Knight of Radiance, Hero Rueld—you’ve met him, haven’t you?”

“Well… yes.”

Though their meeting was brief when she first joined Leo’s group, and he had only answered a few questions.

“By now, all nine heroes, the great heroes, should be gathered here in the isthmus.”

“…That’s a bit frightening.”

“What’s frightening about it? They’re fools busy with self-restraint despite having power. If it were me, I would have already devoured the central continent and even encroached upon the chaotic east by now.”

The Empire is the master of the current era.

In fact, it would be more conducive to stability if the Empire took the initiative to sweep through and govern the surrounding areas.

This moment, when both the previous and current generations are competent, might be the only opportunity for that.

The fate of those who have lost their masters and become strays, and livestock wandering without owners, is always miserable beyond words.

Though some might prefer it that way, of course.

“Wouldn’t that turn you from a world-saving hero into an invader, a vicious conqueror?”

“If you’re going to kneel to reputation and appearances, you might as well give up being a hero or champion.”

Not like they’re children.

If you don’t know how to use what you have efficiently and properly, what’s the point of having that power?

“Damage and sacrifice are naturally presupposed when trying to achieve what you believe is right.”

“I’ve never thought that far in my life.”

“When we want something, we naturally pay a price, don’t we? If we don’t like that, we sometimes resort to violence. Conversely, even to cultivate the world properly, you must pay a price.”

“What kind of price… do you mean?”

“The price of sacrificing the present generation.”

Zora said.

“Since you’re half like us, you’ll probably live for quite a long time. Never categorize the world with the mindset of short-lived races like humans. That’s extremely tiresome.”

“…Maybe I should just shut myself away in some remote village like Leo.”

“That’s one choice too.”

Zora didn’t reproach her.

Though she explained things as if teaching, it was more like suggesting she take it as a reference.

“Anyway. There’s no failure in our lives. We’re learning by investing the resource of time. What remains are just two things: lessons or results. You could also substitute them with learning and success.”

“Hmm….”

“Sorrow and frustration don’t arise when there’s no hope. They arise when you don’t know the way.”

Luirin nodded slowly.

“Enough small talk….”

Before she could finish speaking, a particular building sign caught Zora’s eye.

A wooden sign protruding from an alley.

Following the arrow on the sign, they turned into the alley and approached a wooden door inside.

After knocking, a man opened the door and checked Zora’s face.

“Hmph!”

Though his reaction exuded antipathy, he flung the door wide open.

Stepping inside, the first impression was reminiscent of a small, cozy tavern.

Due to its location and building structure, the interior would have been dark even in broad daylight without lighting a fire.

It was eerily quiet inside with not a soul present, and the silence became even more pronounced as they descended to the basement.

And then.

“…What now?”

The man secluded alone in the basement greeted the two entering with a crooked gaze.

Luirin was momentarily confused about who he was, but.

“Uh… could it be?”

“‘Could it be’ my ass.”

Surprisingly, he seemed to recognize Luirin well and made his characteristic fierce expression.

“You’re… from the Salvation Knight Order… what was your name again?”

“Yeah. ‘What was your name’ is about right.”

He showed a slight smile with his amber-brown eyes half-open.

Then.

Casually, he threw something at her.

It could have seriously injured an ordinary person, but.

*Thump!*

Luirin caught it effortlessly, tilting her head in confusion.

“This is….”

Though she hesitated briefly in the darkness, as Luirin examined it closely, she felt it was strangely familiar.

It was a sword, resembling the Empire’s ceremonial sword form but slightly different….

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“Because that was my promise.”

“It’s also the promise I made to you, Luirin.”

At the man Venus’s crooked retort, Zora added as if to elaborate.

“Does this mean I should return it to Master?”

“You got it right away.”

Zora praised Luirin with her expression, bringing her black-gloved hands together for the correct answer.

“…Tch.”

Venus seemed somewhat displeased, but.

“But why was this in your hands?”

“You don’t need to know that, do you?”

Venus frowned with displeasure, sitting cross-legged on a wooden chair.

“True. It’s not like I was close enough to you for friendly conversation.”

Still, his presence here was somewhat suspicious.

What scheme was he up to this time…

“Don’t worry.”

Zora said, stroking Luirin’s head.

“The current Salvation Knight Order, and someone of his caliber, would struggle to even scratch Kariel’s fingernail.”

“What an elegant metaphor.”

Venus sneered.

“Still, it’s surprising. I never expected you to become a sacred sword’s companion.”

“……”

“Sacred sword?”

Venus gritted his teeth in annoyance at Zora’s words.

And Luirin tilted her head at those words.

“You have a much more intimate relationship with the sacred sword than Leo does.”

As Zora grinned openly, Venus let out a small curse.

“So, is our business concluded?”

“That’s not for me to decide, is it?”

Zora responded glibly to Venus’s question.

“Rescuing Snake Eyes isn’t exactly an easy task, you know?”

“That useless bastard, I swear…”

Despite his words, his determination to rescue him by reaching the heart of the Empire was clearly not an empty or formal response.

“Still, when Kariel causes chaos, that will be your opportunity. Try to seize it well.”

With those words, Zora patted Luirin’s shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

Venus watched their retreating figures and lengthening shadows as they climbed back up the stairs.

“……”

Unlike his fierce glaring earlier, his expression gradually froze into coldness as soon as their presence disappeared.

“I know. I know, alright? What kind of sword gets jealous of another sword? Ridiculous.”

Venus lashed out at the sword leaning against one wall.

“A sword should just keep its mouth shut like a proper sword.”

Given his personality, he wasn’t the type to quietly listen to a sword’s ramblings out of consideration for others.

That was also why he was holed up in this basement.

“I’m just doing what needs to be done. What does it matter if I do it well or poorly? If something needs to be done, you just do it. Why complicate things by overthinking? Pathetic.”

And so Venus began a one-sided argument with something.

He continued like this for quite some time, inhaling the dark, musty smell of mold.

====

Day 5 of the jousting tournament main event.

The semifinals were finally beginning.

With Alesius’s victory in the first match, he naturally secured his place in the finals.

In the underground area of the arena.

After leaving his horse at the stable according to procedure, he was just about to leave.

“Reius.”

As he was returning to the waiting room, someone in blue armor approached him as if they had been waiting.

“Or should I call you Prince Alesius, Your Highness?”

“You’re……”

As he removed his helmet, a familiar face matching the familiar voice came into view.

Hair like crimson waves, disheveled and messy.

And between them, two eyes like vivid sunset.

A strong impression and fierce expression.

Despite the unforgettable impression, he hesitated momentarily as she had matured considerably.

“Deilira, is it?”

“I’m honored you remember me.”

A voice full of hostility and antagonism flew at him.

A female knight who had risen this far in the jousting tournament without displaying any family crest or distinctive characteristics.

The reason her gender was known was because she neither disguised her voice nor refrained from speaking.

“Your Highness the Princess, or I suppose it’s ‘Your Grace’ now? If you were to win here while that person remains in seclusion, wouldn’t the picture become truly bizarre? Are you planning to reveal your identity to the world?”

“…I’ve never thought about that.”

Alesius was sparing with his words.

Could he honestly say he had no such expectations at all?

But one thing was certain.

“What I want to achieve here, what I want to prove, isn’t anything special.”

I just want to prove my existence to both of them and show the fruits of my growth.

Although I may have gained power from the Demon Kings.

I want to prove that I’m not just being used.

And that I’ve matured and grown more than before, demonstrating it through results.

Also…

“My offer still stands.”

“…You still have lingering feelings for someone like me?”

The woman before him had once proposed to him herself.

In his childhood, Alesius had overwhelmingly defeated her in a duel.

She had clung to him ever since, and confessed to him the day before he left.

At that time, Alesius was too busy following his sister Elhermina to notice anything else.

So, he felt a little sorry now, but…

If he apologized or offered considerate words in recognition of that, it would insult the woman before him in a different way.

“If I win this tournament, I will reveal your identity and secure your person.”

“……”

This was less like a public marriage proposal and more like… a marriage by capture.

“I am no longer a prince, nor the prince you once knew. Now, I am merely a criminal and an inadequate soldier.”

“That’s for me to judge.”

Deilira declared with unwavering eyes.

“I won’t ask you to leave the disgraced Eras. A man of your caliber wouldn’t be disloyal enough to abandon and discard his woman, or I would have no reason to possess you.”

“Deilira. You…”

“The conversation ends here. Our next talk will be in the finals.”

With those words, she put her helmet back on and walked down the waiting room corridor.

After the waiting period, another match would determine the next finalist.

She was about to compete in that match.

“……”

But.

Deilira, you don’t seem to know yet.

“Your opponent won’t be so easy.”

The King of Polearms.

The daughter of Marquis Barzenon was renowned for her genius skills despite her youth.

She was famous for entering the Empire’s knight rankings within the top 100 at such a young age.

While becoming a full knight at Alesius’s age was impressive enough, her skills and capabilities were proven by her entry into the rankings.

However, being such a figure didn’t guarantee victory in the tournament—that was a completely different matter.

“……”

Moreover, if her opponent was the one Alesius had considered the most formidable from the beginning.

That white knight whose identity and abilities he couldn’t even guess.

Even for an unparalleled genius and rising star, victory would be far from guaranteed.

“Good luck.”

He clearly understood that she lacked the finesse to appeal to him in any other way than this.

“Even so.”

In the end, regardless of what variables might arise, the victory in the jousting tournament would surely be his.