Ch.39Don’t Leave Me (1)

“Aaam.”

Munch munch.

In a corner of a room decorated as lavishly as a palace.

A man took a big bite of grapes. Lounging casually on the sofa while savoring the fruit, he exuded a frivolous demeanor.

The large eyepatch on his right eye was like his signature item.

The man’s name was Troph Feita. He was an eccentric who shared the same name as the head of Duke Feita’s family who had been taken to the imperial palace.

“Hey, friend. Say something.”

Troph looked at the man sitting properly across from him.

With the same jet-black hair and mysterious red eyes as the Feita bloodline. It was Zikharun Misrakh.

“What should I say?”

“Again, again, again! Stop pretending you don’t know. Should I ask again? What’s your goal?”

“The destruction of the Eld Empire. How many times must you hear the same answer before you’re satisfied?”

“Oh my. Then how many times must my friend hear the same question before he’s satisfied? We live for Lorian Feita’s lifelong wish… but you don’t, do you?”

Troph adjusted his lazy posture and steepled his fingers.

“Why do you support the empire’s destruction?”

“Is that so important to you?”

“It’s not particularly pleasant eating grapes in the same room with someone wearing a mask.”

“I see it shows.”

Zikharun looked at the grape stem with only bare branches remaining. It was the remnant of life that had deliciously become someone’s blood and flesh.

Troph shamelessly looked away while whistling. Zikharun remained unaffected by this familiar attitude.

He simply answered in a subdued voice.

“I want to live. Without losing myself.”

“There you go again with the poetic expressions. What are you, some teenager going through puberty?”

“In a sense, that’s not wrong. As a spirit, I still need more time to fully mature.”

“Ah, right. I was curious about that too. Why has a spirit that went extinct in ancient times appeared now? And in human form, no less. You can at least give me a straight answer about this, right?”

“If you clearly reveal Lorian Feita’s lifelong wish, I might do the same.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Neither do I.”

“Damn it, it feels like we’re betting on who dies of frustration first.”

“You die first. I’m rooting for you.”

Troph’s face turned ashen at Zikharun’s rebuke. Of course, Zikharun couldn’t care less.

He rested his chin on his finger and added:

“However… I can tell you this. Irefi Justitia will be the biggest variable in what happens next.”

“Aaaaargh!!! That damn female knight. All those dismissive comments about her being just a ceremonial knight are now completely embarrassing history. What is she, her very existence is unfair!”

Troph ground his teeth with a reddened face.

Despite having numerous disposable portals and troops, he had failed to achieve his goal, which was truly frustrating.

“Yes, it’s unfair. If she wanted to, that woman alone could grind down the imperial family and all four ducal houses.”

“Honestly, it was hard to believe, but now I understand. That makes it even more frustrating. If only that operation had succeeded, white knight or whatever… sigh!”

Troph was already trembling all over as if having a fit. Zikharun’s next words made his eyes nearly pop out.

“Perhaps, and this is just a possibility, Irefi Justitia might soon destroy the empire herself.”

“W-what?!”

Zikharun casually added:

“If that happens, I’ll go with all my might to stop her.”

“Are you crazy?! Getting what we want without lifting a finger! And besides, why would that damn female knight suddenly do that?”

“…”

Zikharun withheld his answer. His silence on this crucial matter made Troph feel like his chest would burst.

As Troph’s rough breathing gradually calmed, Zikharun continued.

“It would be better for Feita too. If you want to be annihilated without a trace, I won’t stop you.”

“… Ha.”

Troph sighed. He leaned his body further toward Zikharun and narrowed his eyes.

“Look, friend. You know I trust you, right? After all, the disposable portal burial site, the Chainlich remnants, the white knight’s capabilities. Everything was exactly as you told me.”

“I suppose so.”

“Phew! Do you have some agenda? Even if it’s just a possibility, from our perspective, you’re telling us to just watch while you ruin the feast.”

“That’s right. For my sake, and for yours. Just watch.”

“Tsk, if you’d said something wrong even once, I could at least argue, damn it. But tell me…”

Troph narrowed his brow and asked:

“Really, can’t you tell me even a little? About why you’re deliberately taking the long way around?”

At his request, Zikharun’s eyes darkened. After a moment of contemplation, Zikharun slowly opened his mouth.

“As you said, there’s no need to intervene. But…

This kind of ending won’t do.”

“You dirty pubescent spirit friend. You only know how to use creepy expressions instead of giving straight answers.”

“If you’re done talking nonsense, let’s get going.”

“Yeah, yeah. Good luck today too.”

Just as his foot was about to cross the threshold to the outside, Zikharun suddenly stopped.

“Ah, right. There’s one thing I want to confirm.”

“Hmm?”

Troph made a tired expression as if wondering what it was this time.

Zikharun asked:

“Do you know something called ‘Just Dance’?”

“What’s that? Is there some new dance song trending in social circles that I don’t know about?”

“Heh, so you really don’t know. Never mind. Forget the question I just asked.”

The corners of Zikharun’s mouth lifted slightly. Troph could only watch, not knowing the inside story.

“I’ll be going now.”

“… Yeah, yeah.”

Troph gave a perfunctory farewell to Zikharun as he walked out with dignity.

Shuddering at the conversation that left him with nothing but questions, he kicked an innocent statue.

Bang!

“Ow, damn. That really hurts.”

He hopped around clutching his stubbed toe.

This happened after Zikharun’s figure had completely disappeared.

◇

It was a week after the duel with Bartlant.

We were currently in the reception room of a mansion owned by the Chester family within the territory.

Myself, Irefi, and Bartlant. The three of us were gathered together talking.

“You want me to become the commander of the Nelfrugia Knights? Why offer this to me when I lost the duel?”

Bartlant’s expression twisted strangely. Meanwhile, Irefi calmly added an explanation.

“The Viscount of Chester is unmatched in both skill and political standing. Especially for someone as unambitious as the Viscount. And I have no attachment to the commander position.”

“Then what was the point of the duel?”

‘Well, about that…’

How could I explain a duel that was triggered by Netionpiece’s sudden outburst…

Bartlant looked at me in bewilderment. I had to awkwardly choose my words.

“Um, I only stepped in because I felt Irefi’s honor was being excessively tarnished. So let’s do this.”

I presented a compromise that came to me intuitively.

“Irefi will step down as a simple retirement, not due to disqualification. And she’ll name the Viscount as her successor.”

“That works for me.”

Irefi readily agreed. Though it was an intuitive suggestion, it seemed like a fairly reasonable proposal.

Bartlant still showed signs of having difficulty accepting it, but eventually did so.

“Sigh, I understand both your intentions. I’ll visit the palace soon to coordinate the details with His Majesty.”

After he finished speaking with lingering reluctance, we left the reception room. I looked around curiously at Chester’s family style, which always fascinated me.

The interior was surprisingly modest for a ducal residence.

There were fewer servants than even a provincial baron might have, and signs of wear were visible here and there.

“I’m sure you don’t find the mansion very appealing.”

Bartlant scratched his head. I hurriedly corrected him.

“What? Not at all.”

Living in one of the greatest mansions in the territory but confining myself to a single room, who was I to judge if a mansion seemed a bit sparse?

However, Bartlant seemed to take my words as mere courtesy.

“I ask for your understanding as it’s a long tradition passed down from our first family head.”

Despite asking for understanding, his face showed more pride than shame.

“Do things yourself. Don’t hoard wealth but share it. What the family needs is not power or wealth, but the physical strength to protect the empire. Our first family head often said this, I’m told.”

‘That’s exactly the image I had.’

It matches perfectly with the impression from Netionpiece’s fleeting memories.

I couldn’t help thinking that the old man who committed crimes against such a friend was truly an irredeemable villain.

“That’s why they say Chester family’s territory is better to live in than Estern’s, which is rumored to be wealthy. Despite being on the empire’s frontier.”

If Irefi said so, it must be true. With the ducal heir showing such character, there was no reason to doubt.

“Maybe I should recuperate in Chester territory.”

“Nepy?”

“… Huh?”

It was just a casual joke. But Irefi’s composure cracked.

Facing her with that crack in her composure made my chest feel strangely tight.

I stammered out an unnecessary explanation in my confusion.

“I’m just saying. Why would I settle down somewhere with no home and no acquaintances?”

“If it’s Marquess Alteon, even at our main house you’d be welco—”

“Nepy is right. There’s no reason to go, is there? Everything is right here. Isn’t that so?”

“…”

Bartlant and Irefi’s conversation overlapped strangely. The difference was that Bartlant’s words were cut off midway, while Irefi remained firm.

It appeared as if Irefi had interrupted Bartlant.

Bartlant scratched his Adam’s apple, seemingly finding the situation awkward.

“Ahem, perhaps you could take a short trip sometime, Viscount?”

“Yes! You’d certainly be welcome at our main house.”

We wrapped up the subtle atmosphere and headed outside the mansion.

Chester’s estate was modest like the mansion interior. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t beautiful. The restrained sculptures and garden actually highlighted a pure beauty that rivaled any wealthy estate.

“Elfi sis! Nepy bro!”

From a distance, Miren waved energetically. I reflexively waved back but couldn’t smile completely.

That’s because behind Miren on horseback was Arnel Chester, exuding a subtle happiness.

‘That, that, that! Flirtatious boy!’

I hadn’t seen him that way before, but he had a rather bold side. Perhaps the Chester bloodline shows itself after all.

That’s when it happened.

The shout of an excessively energetic girl cut across from the edge of the estate to the front yard.

“Brotheeeeer!”

Neeeigh!

A robust warhorse galloped fiercely. The horse, leaping so high it could be described as soaring, landed in front of us and pranced.

“Haha, Enella. Riding a horse so wildly within the estate…”

“Hello, Brother Nepy!”

Enella ran over and curtsied like a lady.

She didn’t even glance at Bartlant who was scolding her. I felt sorry for Bartlant who couldn’t hide his disappointment at being ignored by his own sister.

“Um, hello?”

“Ahh, just my type today too… I mean, Brother Nepy? Since you’re here, would you like to go horseback riding with me?”

“Ugh? Are you asking me to ride a horse?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“…”

What should I do?

All I have is a driver’s license tucked away in my closet. How am I supposed to ride anything…?

Moreover, Enella’s horsemanship just now was truly impressive, befitting someone from a martial family. Far from giving her a ride, I’d need to hold onto her waist.

Bartlant clapped his hands delightedly, watching Enella’s sparkling eyes.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Enella! With Marquess Alteon’s horsemanship, there must be plenty to learn!”

‘Have you ever seen me ride a horse?!’

At most, I could teach how to ride a bus. That’s the kind of man I was.

“Hehe, right? Come on, Brother Nepy? Let’s go together… I mean, shall we go? Um, please come!”

Enella pulled one of my hands. The thick calluses on her young hands felt prickly.

As I was being dragged along by her, not gathering my wits…

A soft touch met my other hand.

“… Irefi?”

Something inside my heart dropped with a thud without me realizing it.

A familiar touch. The soft sensation from that night when we held hands while sleeping.

Memories replayed like a panorama, reviving heightened emotions. A breathtaking tension and something strange ran down my spine for a brief moment.

I hesitated for a moment and turned to look at Irefi.

She was bowing her head slightly. Hesitation was evident as she bit her lip firmly.

“… No. Nepy can’t.”

Ripples spread across a deep blue lake.

Her eyes.