episode_0047

Loreldia.

There is only one case where a country’s name is used as a surname.

When the bearer of that name is of royal blood.

And Steria Loreldia.

The name of Loreldia Kingdom, the name of a long-lost compatriot.

“What… What nonsense is this?”

“…It’s none of your concern.”

Horanse said.

“You say it’s none of my concern…? None of my concern?! You bastard!!”

I immediately rushed towards Horanse.

“Wait!”

Krisha spread her arms in front of me to block.

“Move aside!”

I tried to push her aside, but her grip was unexpectedly strong.

“Why are you doing this?!”

“Who is Steria marrying?! Huh?!”

Ignoring her, I shouted at Horanse.

Krisha held me back, preventing me from reaching him.

“Steria marrying that scumbag?? Absolutely not! She would never marry such a bastard! What dirty deeds have you done?! What are you planning to do to us?! Tell me right now before I kill you!!”

“Wait, Rashiu…!”

“Get out of the way!”

I grabbed Krisha’s arm and twisted her joint, forcing her back.

“…!”

Krisha fell back without resistance.

In that moment, I lunged at Horanse with my sword drawn.

“Ugh…!?”

But before I could reach him, Krisha wrapped her arms around my waist from behind.

Furthermore, the warriors behind Horanse also drew their weapons.

“Let go! Release me! We need answers from that bastard!”

“Why are you doing this?! Who is Steria?!”

“Steria!! She is our compatriot!!!”

“What…?!”

Krisha’s grip momentarily loosened.

I pushed her arm away and tried to rush again, but this time, something tripped me, causing me to fall.

As I looked down, I saw roots like grass entwined around my ankle.

“Linde!!!”

“Sir! Please calm down! Please!”

Linde reached out towards me, shouting.

“Are you even listening?! These bastards are trying to deceive us again!! We won’t just stand by and watch!!”

“Tsk, tsk. Your words are excessive! Lady Steria’s…”

“Shut up!”

I interrupted Horanse.

“Do you know what history we’ve been through?! Do you?! No! We will never go through that again! Never!! Stop the wedding immediately!”

“We cannot. Lady Steria, under King Slone’s orders, has arrived in Brigal.”

“Oh, really? Then let me go there! Can’t I stop it by going there myself?!”

“What?! How dare you disrupt the laws of the Brigalian royal family!”

“These bastards who won’t live a hundred years and will rot in hell dare to speak for the royal family!!”

“You?! Daring to insult the royal family! I shall judge you in the name of Brigal right here!”

“Stop it!!”

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of my head.

Turning, I saw Linde looking at us with one hand raised and a distorted face.

And at the tip of her hand was… a massive black fireball.

It exuded a presence so overwhelming that it was hard to describe, almost making one forget even about anger.

“Ugh!? Ah, demonic magic…! This witch! Finally revealing her true colors!”

One of the warriors behind Horanse, who seemed like a priest, exclaimed.

“Quiet! Everyone, calm down!”

“This, this witch…!”

“And sir! Please calm down! Thrashing around like that won’t accomplish anything!”

…

I bowed my head and clenched my teeth.

Yes.

Linde was right…

Getting angry won’t change anything.

“Sigh… Phew…”

I took a deep breath.

“…Thank you, Linde.”

“…You’re welcome.”

The flames she conjured vanished, and the grass roots around my ankle snapped and withered.

I stood up, dusted off my clothes lightly.

“Looks like a sorry sight. Sigh… Alright, Horan-sae. Steria’s getting married, right? Huh? With that guy, Slon or Sron.”

“…”

“Then I’ll follow suit. Anyway, we need to know the truth right away. Knight Krista. Hurry up and come.”

Horan-sae turned his back and walked away.

“Rasiud…”

Krista called me with a worried tone.

I forced a smile to reassure her.

“Well then, I’ll go check it out first… Don’t push yourself too hard. Got it?”

She followed Horan-sae and glanced back at me.

“I got it. You take care too since you’re fine.”

I waved briefly to her and headed towards the mansion.

“Sir, earlier…”

Linde bowed her head.

“No, you did well. It was the best so far.”

I ruffled Linde’s hair roughly.

“We need to stay calm in situations like this. Rushing in blindly won’t do any good.”

“…”

“I’ll be leaving by the end of today as well. I’ll make all the preparations I can before that, so don’t worry.”

“I understand. But… please don’t overexert yourself. Okay?”

“If I can help it.”

“…”

I entered the mansion, gathered my armor and travel funds, and headed towards the town, towards the lord’s castle.

“Rasiu… What’s the matter?”

The guard at the lord’s castle asked with a tense expression.

“I came to see Buarno.”

“What specifically do you need?”

“Oh, nothing much. I just have a favor to ask.”

“Is everything alright?”

He stepped aside, and I went towards Buarno’s study.

Spect stood at the entrance of the study.

“Sir Rasiud. What brings you here?”

Spect asked with a slightly nervous voice.

“In a bit. Is Buarno inside for now?”

“Yes… Just a moment.”

He knocked on the door of the study.

After a brief conversation inside, he opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

“Please come in, Mr. Rasiud. What’s the sudden occasion?”

Buarno asked, rising from his desk.

“Oh, I’m a bit busy, but let me get straight to the point. Can you lend me Spect?”

I pointed outside the study.

“…Yes?”

“Spect. I need someone reliable as I have somewhere important to go.”

“Even if you say so suddenly…”

“It’s really urgent.”

“What exactly is going on?”

A voice came from the other side.

Turning my head, I saw Dmitry sitting at a small table, engrossed in documents.

Oh, I didn’t even notice he was there. My bad.

“Oh, didn’t realize you were here. Sorry, sorry.”

“It’s okay… You must be aware of your current situation, right?”

“Yeah. If I don’t solve the Labyrinth issue within 100 days, I’ll have to live there for 10 years.”

“Knowing that, you’re still planning to go far away? And with Spect as your guard?”

“Yeah, that’s how it is.”

“What led to this decision?”

“Have you heard the news about King Slon of Brigal getting married?”

“…I have.”

“Do you know who the bride is?”

“She’s said to be a viscountess from Loreldia. I didn’t catch her name, but it seemed a bit odd. Being a viscountess yet keeping her name mostly hidden. But… seeing you in such a hurry, I think I have an idea now.”

“Oh, right. You’re sharp as always.”

“Lord, Count. What shall we do?”

Buarno asked.

“Send him off.”

Dmitry said without even looking up from the papers.

“But…”

“He won’t be stopped anyway.”

“Understood.”

I smirked and winked at Dmitry.

He wouldn’t see it anyway since I was wearing a helmet.

“You heard that, Spect?”

I wrapped my arm around Speck’s shoulder.

“Let’s go on a trip together.”

“What? Me?”

He seemed flustered, unable to follow the conversation.

“Take care. Oh, and of course, you’ll be responsible for Speck’s wages during the time we’re away in Brigal, Mr. Rasiwood.”

Dmitri barely glanced in my direction.

It was a look of sympathy, tinged with resignation.

“Of course… Thank you. Well, let’s go.”

I nodded deeply to her and then led Speck outside.

“Um, where are we going?”

“To Brigal.”

“What? Brigal? Why am I going there?”

“Because you’re the best among the people I know.”

“Thank you, but…”

“I’ll explain more later. It’s going to be a long journey, so go home, pack your things, and come to the carriage stop. I’ll head there as soon as I’m ready too. Got it?”

“Yes… I understand.”

I sent Speck ahead and quickly left the castle.

Next, I went to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Welcome. Mr. Rasiwood… What’s going on?”

Misty asked me with a strange look in her eyes, as if she had caught on to something.

“Oh, I’m planning to leave Mysterious City for a while.”

“…For what reason?”

“Because of Evoni.”

“For how long?”

“About… a month or two?”

“I see… Take care.”

“Thank you.”

I bowed deeply, touching my head to the table.

“When you return, make sure to bring gifts.”

“Got it.”

“And if you have the time, please give my regards to my friend.”

“What’s their name? Where do they live?”

“It’s Onello. He’s the head librarian at the Royal Library in Brigal.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure to do that.”

“Take care… Oh, and if it takes more than three months, you must fulfill my request at that time.”

“Request? Um… Alright, if it’s something I can do.”

With that, I returned to the mansion.

Linde was waiting at the entrance.

“Sir…”

“Just a moment.”

I went inside the mansion, gathered all the items I hadn’t packed earlier, and came back out.

As I walked out, I turned to Linde following behind me.

“Linde.”

“Yes…”

“While I’m in Brigal, you can use anything in this house. If you need money, take gold coins or jewels.”

“Yes… But still… You should come back before doing such things.”

“Understood.”

“And one last thing…”

“What is it?”

“…Please take off your helmet.”

“Huh? Okay.”

I removed my helmet.

Immediately, Linde leaped up slightly and gently kissed my lips.

“Now, go.”

“You’ve grown quite bold.”

“It’s because of you, sir.”

“Alright, my mistake.”

“…Is it a mistake to kiss you?”

“Fine, fine. I’ll be off then.”

“Yes. Take care. Please.”

Leaving Linde and the mansion behind, I headed to where the carriages were waiting.

The Vanguard and Krisha must have already departed.

Looking around, I saw Speck waiting in the corner.

“Have you been waiting?”

“It’s fine. Are we leaving now?”

“Yes. We don’t have much time. We need to hurry. I’ll explain more on the way.”

“Okay.”

I approached the seated coachman, crossing my legs.

“Huxon.”

“Mr. Rasiwood. What’s the matter?”

“Did you see those men from Brigal’s Vanguard and the woman in white cloth-like attire earlier?”

“If you mean those people, they left the city outskirts a while ago.”

“Follow them.”

“It seems like quite a long journey.”

“Go.”

I tossed him a hefty purse.

Huxon accepted it.

“That’s substantial. Seeing you in such a rush, it must be urgent.”

“Exactly. Let’s depart right away.”

“Hey, wait!”

Huxon called over another coachman nearby.

“What is it, Yengam?”

“Tell my wife and kids that I’ve gone out a bit far.”

“Got it.”

“Let’s go then. Get on the carriage.”

And we got on the carriage.