Ch.6020. That Can’t Be Reality. (2)

“Even so, walking there… isn’t it too reckless to cross the Bruut Mountains on foot with nothing but your bare body?”

“……”

“It’s not just difficult to cross, but considering those who are lurking there, you could have died several times over.”

“As difficult as it is for me, those who follow me will face hardships too.”

“Even so….”

The carriage journey was quite long.

It was an advantage of sorts that they could travel continuously without needing to set up camp.

But that also meant feeling somewhat confined and stuffy inside.

The consolation was being able to hear various stories from Filbar.

For instance, the current whereabouts of Elbart, Grandeus’s beloved sword.

“In some forest in the Kingdom of Metran? I heard it’s buried in some mountain valley.”

A country with no shared borders or points of contact with the Empire.

From a diplomatic perspective, there was no particular friction; rather, since it was positioned behind the Kingdom of Dabas, it could be considered a cooperative relationship diplomatically.

However, due to overlapping cultural, religious, and racial issues, the relationship couldn’t be considered entirely smooth.

Especially since the Kingdom of Metran was where Grandeus and the Salvation Knights had been actively operating, leading to his heroization.

And.

Considering that most people who claimed the story of Grandeus defeating the Knight of Radiance, Hero Rueld, was true were from Metran, the relationship couldn’t be considered good without reservation.

…Though this was relatively common in this era.

Nevertheless, they say this was five or six times better than during the Demon Lord’s invasion, something those who hadn’t experienced that time couldn’t possibly understand.

“I can’t accompany you all the way due to my own schedule… but I’ll introduce you to a capable guide instead.”

“…Is that alright?”

Filbar smiled gently at Kariel’s words.

“Please consider it as thanks for showing and telling me various things. People who provide such inspiration and material for my creative work are quite rare.”

“……”

“No need to feel burdened. I’m simply returning a favor for what I’ve received.”

“Anyway,” he continued.

“Not only crossing the Empire’s border, but if you’re not planning to enter another country illegally, it would be better to have something to prove your identity simply, or create a separate identity that allows you to operate while concealed. If you don’t have a plan for this, I could arrange it for you, if you’d like?”

“……”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t considered that far.

Above all, no matter how secretly I operate, revealing my identity would be equivalent to exposing my position.

…I thought it would be enough to just hide moderately, but it seems worldly matters aren’t always so simple.

“Please, I’d appreciate that.”

“Yes. Then let’s take care of that as well….”

Afterward, Filbar continued to advise on various aspects necessary for the journey.

During the bright sunny daytime, he would calmly open his seat, go inside, and take a nap.

And when his servants or Kariel needed rest, they would stop the carriage, have meals, and camp accordingly.

Since Filbar volunteered for night watch, there was no issue.

He spent all his waking hours focused on writing, saying something about using nature as a companion and background?

“……”

While taking a breather a little away from the campsite, Kariel eventually asked the air.

“You’re surprisingly quiet.”

-Why? Did you want me to interfere?

“…You’re just unusually quiet, that’s all.”

-You have someone to talk to, and I’d be intruding if I butted in. I was being considerate, but how presumptuous of you!

“……”

-So what? Do you have something to say?

“No, not really.”

I’ve already asked everything I wanted to know long ago.

If something comes to mind, I’ll ask then.

“It doesn’t make sense that Grandeus knew the future and laid out this groundwork… right?”

-That again?

What Kariel had seen must have been conveyed to her, the Demon Lord, as well.

If she doesn’t know about it, then perhaps…

-Besides, that would mean he did all this for you, a chosen one or whatever. Aren’t you thinking too highly of yourself?

“……”

-When coincidences are this exquisite, they become inevitable, but… I’m not sure. As you know, not being able to have confidence without certainty is one of my mental afflictions.

“Was it good that I allowed Alesia to accompany me?”

-Why are you asking me? It’s your life. Will you ask for my opinion when you get married too? Will you ask me before having children as well?

“……”

Kariel let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re right.”

-Do as you please. Whether you’re unhappy or happy, that’s your share.

“So, you must have enjoyed watching?”

-Hm? In what way?

Kariel’s eyes held half-certainty.

“It’s not easy to meet good people. Yet on this journey, as if by layers of luck piling up… I’ve been entangled with improbably good connections.”

-If you’re aware enough to realize that, it means you haven’t completely abandoned your reason? Excellent. Even if any of them had harbored ill intentions to stab you in the back, you could have responded adequately, so that’s growth in its own way.

“…You’re changing the subject.”

-Me? How so?

“You must have thought this while watching me.”

I don’t expect anything.

I don’t trust, I don’t dream, but perhaps.

“Now, whether I want it or not, I’ll come to hope that I might meet more kind people like them somewhere on my journey.”

Perhaps like Alesia.

Or like the Baroness’s family.

Like the kind people I met in Kariella.

And.

Like Filbar, who communicates well and, though somewhat suspicious, clearly shows goodwill.

“But such luck continuing doesn’t make sense.”

-…

The Demon Lord, who had been silent, burst into laughter.

-Kuh, kuhkuh! Ah! This is why being smart is troublesome! I wanted to see your face steeped in frustration and despair later! Did you already guess everything? Really! Your insight is incredible! You’ve truly grown! Beyond my expectations!

“……”

-So that’s why you had such a gloomy face the whole time? I thought you were still trembling like a wary cat, afraid to trust people, but that wasn’t it? I was completely wrong?

Kariel sighed toward the Demon Lord who was laughing cheerfully.

“I don’t want to experience having expectations and then being devastated anymore.”

Rather than pursuing happiness, I wanted to learn how not to be disappointed.

And having learned and mastered that…

…I won’t repeat the same mistake again.

“Also, having unnecessary expectations of someone I’ve come to hope in, and then becoming disappointed on my own would be disrespectful.”

-Rather, you’re afraid of such situations arising in the first place, aren’t you?

“……”

-The present and future are opaque, so you bury them completely. If only the past is beautiful, you think that’s enough for you?

That’s why.

Alesia’s affectionate attention and direct love was…

…an overflowing joy.

So.

If I can remember that moment, that’s enough for me.

Morning dew is more beautiful than jewels.

But it’s truly ephemeral.

However.

For me, that fleeting moment was.

Necessary.

And more precious than anything else.

-Strange. I never taught you, yet you’ve reached a conclusion quite similar to my way of thinking? My view of happiness? Is this what they mean when they say people grow alike when they’re together?

“…Are you like that too?”

-I always live in the past. The present is extra, and the future is none of my business.

So it doesn’t matter at all.

That’s why I can watch and observe the current situation for amusement.

“We’ve lived through the past. Some might have skipped through life easily… but I’ll probably never forget, even if it kills me. I’m different from them.”

-But seeing the present and moving toward the future is the privilege of the living.

“…If I say any more, it would be considered impertinent by your standards, so I’ll refrain.”

-Your perception is indeed quick.

The Demon Lord grinned.

-Secure Elbart quickly. That way, you can resist the grudge that’s attached to you.

“…What exactly is that thing?”

-If it doesn’t reveal its identity to me, how would I know? It’s probably related to your past… but if you can’t remember, what can I do?

“……”

Perhaps it was a grudge that attached itself while Kariel was wandering as a hostage.

Both the Demon Lord and Kariel had concluded this long ago.

“Can I really resist it by obtaining Elbart? By what principle?”

-You’ll find out when the time comes. I oversee the realm of wisdom, not truth. If I did, I’d be like Grandeus or the Great Demon Lord, or as you might say, like those mages who claim to be seekers of truth, or swordsmen who tremble while walking the path of the sword, carving stones, carving wood, paving roads, seeking answers without answers for a lifetime. Perhaps?

“…What nonsense are you talking about now?”

-What else? It’s the path you must walk from now on.

The Demon Lord snorted.

-Whether you carve stone, carve wood, or pave roads. That’s for you to decide.

“……”

She’s still saying incomprehensible things.

But these are words of wisdom. Definitely not something to be taken lightly.

As firm as their contract is.

She must be on his side, helping him.

But judging and accepting is entirely up to him.

It would be problematic to assume that her standard of help aligns with his own.

-What’s certain is that your growth is accelerating beyond my expectations. Whether by coincidence or inevitability, take care of it yourself?

“……”

Even without saying it.

Even without urging.

…That’s what I intend to do.

But he didn’t voice those words.

He had already received certain answers before.

Heart determination.

She had said before.

The same characters, words, expressions, voice, even tone.

Depending on the listener’s situation, level, and realm.

Their content is never understood or applied with the same meaning.

[Otherwise, I can’t explain how you achieved such miraculous results. Perhaps even that simple heart determination I told you about contained something I don’t know?]

And also.

[Because it was something Grandeus sought from the Great Demon Lord and edited.]

For instance, it’s an area that can’t be clearly discerned even through the realm of wisdom.

Therefore, it can’t be recklessly explored.

But conjecture is possible.

Because it was…

…the realm of truth.

Using such conjectures as advice, as a guiding light.

That area where not even an inch ahead is visible.

He would have to pioneer it himself.

That is…