episode_0080

Alcohol is an indispensable presence for those fighting on the battlefield.

It has become the only means, along with faith, to prevent warriors from fleeing the battlefield.

As humans have nothing but their lives, placing life on the opposite side of the scale from belief inevitably tilts the balance.

In such moments when the scale wavers, the potion of courage that is offered becomes essential.

This potion of courage comes with the side effects of reduced evasion and intelligence for a certain period.

However, it imbues courage and strength that offset all these drawbacks, so it was not uncommon for everyone to have a drink or two before facing battle.

As it gradually seeped into daily life, whether one liked it or not, one eventually developed a taste for it.

To the point where one felt a sense of emptiness without it.

Despite this, I did not often drink in front of Lycia.

Of course, there were occasions when I indulged in a sip of wine or beer from a flask, but I preferred to believe that water was clean or that beer had no alcohol.

Even then, I only drank enough to quench my thirst, so it could be said that I had never been properly drunk in front of Lycia.

There was a time when I tested my limits and drank excessively without restraint, but what was that experience like?

Although it was not in my memory, those who witnessed the situation could attest to it.

“Status window, status window! Show me my status window!”

“Why, hmph. Why are you acting like that?”

“Oh, my status window is gone…”

“Your status window… what’s going on?”

“If you don’t know… then I guess I have to explain. To understand what a status window is, you must first understand ‘status’…”

In the chaos of the battlefield where one could not endure in their right mind, alcohol instilled confidence, but when quietly drinking, it opened the floodgates of the mind, dispelling any sense of vigilance.

Perhaps it would have been better if it had ended there. Instead of just opening the floodgates, I found myself rambling about things left unasked, and amidst it all, those memories slipped away.

Still, on a day like today, I thought it might be okay to let it slide a bit.

The place Lycia led me to, holding my hand, was an inn near the university.

More precisely, it was known for its meals rather than being just an inn, and I had visited it once or twice whenever I came to Bolonga.

“Would you like to have some beer?”

“Of course. If not here, when will we have the chance to enjoy it again?”

Until now, whenever we dined, I was always the one paying, and I had rarely experienced being treated by someone else.

It felt like a long time had passed. It was a nostalgic feeling.

Thinking back, it had already been three and a half years since I first met the girl. Time had passed quickly.

There had been so much that happened during that time. I had stood on many battlefields while traversing half of the empire, and in the end, I was granted a fiefdom.

I had seen the faces of the emperor and the pope up close, and now, I found myself being treated to a meal by Lycia, who seemed like a child not too long ago.

Above all, the relationship with Lycia, who was initially just a temporary companion, had evolved into something akin to a family.

I watched Lycia eagerly open her mouth in anticipation of the food before us.

Even sitting down, it was clear that she had grown significantly in height, and her youthful face had matured, exuding a different aura from before.

It was not quite that of a fully matured woman, but her appearance had not lost its radiance.

If more time passed, she would undoubtedly become a desirable partner for many young men.

With that thought in mind, as we chatted for a while, the drinks soon arrived.

I roughly estimated my tolerance level, so adjusting accordingly should suffice.

The beer seemed a bit strong, but considering the alcohol content, I wondered how tipsy I would get.

So it goes, one glass, two, three, and more-

…Wait, how many glasses did I just finish?

“…Raven.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have any thoughts about marriage, Raven?”

As I was trying to count how many glasses I had, Lycia asked cautiously.

I thought she would ask about how I’ve been doing or the state of my sword and armor, but her unexpected question caught me off guard.

Well, since she asked, I should answer. My mind was a bit hazy, but I could still recall that much.

“Marriage… ”

Even after thinking for a moment, nothing particular came to mind. It was a topic I had never really thought about.

If I were a noble, I might have thought about my family line or my remaining relatives.

But as an orphan, I had no land to pass down to my children.

The land given to me by Count Canossa was simply the reward for my battles under the name of labor.

The oath of loyalty of a knight was such a trade, a contract that would naturally expire with my death.

Of course, if my child became a knight, I could use my connections to help them land on their feet.

I would become their mentor, and the sword would be passed down to them, making it easier for them to become a knight than I was in the past. Famous knightly families are often made that way.

But honestly, being a knight is not a profession I would recommend.

It’s a risky job, unlike being a skilled blacksmith or an innkeeper with secret recipes. Combat is not a business that can be passed down through generations.

Above all, being a knight is a widow-making machine from the start.

Traveling here and there is not uncommon, and every time you leave, you are gambling with your life.

That’s why I came to a conclusion.

“Not anytime soon. Maybe in the future.”

“If you were to get married, who would you like to marry?”

“As long as our hearts match, it doesn’t matter.”

“Is that all?”

“Well, we should be adults first. I’m not one to talk about love or lust to a child.”

“Ah, is there no room for compromise?”

“No.”

It was not uncommon to see people getting married at a young age.

Stories of nobles being engaged before they could even walk for fear of being taken by another family were not uncommon.

I believed that as a respectable adult, I should have the ability to make choices and take responsibility for myself.

Or rather.

Why is Lycia asking me this?

Could it be that Lycia is interested and affectionate?

I didn’t know this could be the answer. It had been two years since I had been living alone in Volorgna without a family. It was possible that she wanted a new family.

Looking back, she often seemed overly happy to see me compared to before.

If it was due to a lack of affection, it made sense.

But after thinking a little more, I realized it wasn’t that.

“Hmm… ”

Even though I didn’t touch the beer, my face turned red.

With eyes that seemed to want to say something, Lycia’s eyes didn’t stay still for a moment.

Even in my slightly dizzy mind, I could make a rational inference.

“Is there someone you like?”

With that question, Lycia was shocked. Whether it was hitting her knees or making a sound, the table shook slightly. At the same time, she stood up straight, stiffened her waist, and froze in that position.

No, upon closer inspection, her head was slightly moving towards me, creaking little by little.

I sometimes forgot because of her immaturity, but Lycia was now fourteen or fifteen.

Then, slowly, I began to take an interest in such matters.

Even though marriage was a decision that determined one’s fate, the authority to make that decision mostly lay with the head of the family or the owner of the family’s estate.

This theory applied not only to nobles but also to small families in most cases.

So, it was not strange in the eyes of the world for Licia to be the first to ask me.

“If you have someone you like, you don’t need my permission.”

“Yes, really?”

But for me, it wasn’t something to worry about.

It was a matter directly related to the authority of the head of the family, as well as issues related to the family’s honor and continuity.

It could be seen as the last stubbornness left to humans struggling between past lives and present lives.

“Sure, I said that.”

“Huh? Okay.”

Licia said as she clenched her fist.

After that, she seemed to be trying to say something, but her mind gradually faded away, and her voice, as if speaking from a distance, gradually broke and disappeared.

Did I drink too much? Was the alcohol stronger than I thought?

My mind fluctuated up and down, repeating, and soon I fell into a deep sleep.

*****

Laven slowly bowed his head. Did he fall asleep? Probably.

Leaving him behind in dreamland, Licia rolled her head tightly.

So, this is… isn’t it implicit permission?

It can only be interpreted as choosing a marriage partner as you please. It was a conclusion drawn in a rational way.

The restriction due to age… was a bit unexpected.

It was also a problem that couldn’t be solved immediately for herself.

Still, she didn’t know whether she should be grateful that she could eventually reach it. Waiting was one of the things she was good at.

If it’s uncertain, it’s unknown, but if the end is already determined.

She looked at his face, which had fallen on the table and lost consciousness.

His eyes were closed, and his breathing was rough. Even though he seemed to be asleep, she needed to be sure, so she gently shook his shoulder and asked.

“Laven, are you awake?”

“….”

No response. He wouldn’t wake up even if someone carried him right now.

It wasn’t a particularly good moment to do something with so many people around.

Of course, she knew from their conversation earlier that it wasn’t the right time yet.

Still, after scanning the surroundings once, she whispered softly in his ear, so that others wouldn’t hear.

“…Please wait a little longer. It won’t be long now.”