episode_0080

*

I hurriedly went to the palace’s throne room, where Yuuri welcomed me warmly.

I knelt down and spoke in a polite tone.

“I, Swen, have arrived at the royal castle under orders from my lord.”

“Swen! Come on. It’s been a while. How are you?”

“Thanks to you, I was doing well.”

“What about Iren? Are you okay? It’s been a while since I last saw your face.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Yes. Any news yet?”

“… … Yes?”

I looked up to ask a question.

Yuuri was giggling as if it was fun.

“Just kidding, kidding. huh. Still, I hope to hear good news soon.”

“… … .”

At that moment, I was able to figure out what she was trying to say.

I didn’t need to say anything more.

Fortunately, she also got straight to the point.

“Yes. good. It’s nothing else, I just want you to bring someone.”

“Are you talking about people?”

Yuuri let out a shy smile as if he was troubled by my words.

“That… … The only person I can ask for right now is Swen. Other generals had things they were doing… … Of course, since you’re doing our favor, you’re not doing anything, that’s not what I’m trying to say.”

“That’s okay. However, I would like to ask who I should bring.”

“One of our subordinate generals left on a mission.”

‘Perform?’

When I heard those words, I felt like I knew who it meant.

“I want you to go find me and tell me to come back. Even though I really miss you.”

“Perhaps… … Could you please give me a little more detailed information?”

Yuuri nodded at my words.

“The name is Anima Ingram. He is a very grateful and precious person to our military.”

‘also.’

Anima Ingram.

A general who was in charge of national affairs in the original Aishous County.

Jinor said that after he was put down from his position as a state counselor, he began training to improve his shortcomings.

‘But why are you looking for her now?’

If it hadn’t been a surprise attack, Jinor would have stepped down from his position as national advisor.

Because the surprise attack was successful, he was still active as a state agent.

I was a little worried that Yuuri wasn’t around right now, perhaps because he was away… Anyway, it wasn’t cut.

“I’ll tell you where it is. Please go to us and tell them to do their best for us. Oh, that’s right. I have to tell you this too.”

Yuuri spoke in a more serious tone than ever.

“I would like to ask you to become the lord of Lacline Castle, so please make sure to come back.”

‘aha.’

It seems like the bait to lure her in is the seat of the castle lord.

Although Seongju was not at the level of a national strategist, it was a position you did not want to miss if you were greedy for power.

Perhaps some people think that it is a higher position than a state strategist in that it wields the same power as a lord to a certain extent in a place where there is no lord.

I don’t know much about her personality, but I thought that if she was able to suddenly disappear into hiding just because she was kicked out of her position as a state counselor, she would have coveted the position of Seongju.

“Is that all the mission is?”

“Yes. Sorry. You’re probably already busy listening to my and Jinor’s requests… … I’ll cover your expenses and provide a generous reward.”

“It’s really okay, but out of courtesy, I’ll take everything you give me.”

“Hehe. Good.”

Yuuri smiled slightly at my words.

She was definitely not someone who emphasized her position as a monarch and lorded it over others.

It didn’t fit the image of a monarch in this era… … I thought he would be a pretty good boss in the dimension I lived in.

Is this the irony of the times?

“Then, please take care of me. Swen.”

“Yes.”

After nodding my head and showing my respect, I left the castle.

* * *

After Swen left.

Yuuri rested his chin for a while, lost in thought.

‘No… … .’

“Yuuri. We can do it. no. Let me be clear. You can do it. And, I will be your wings.”

“Don’t be scared, Yuuri. Epinel, Emma, and Hernandorf. In the end, it’s natural that you will be guided by your decision. You’ll have to get used to it in the future.”

“Let us end this difficult time with our own hands. Imagine a scene where red flags are waving all over the continent. Isn’t it really cool?”

The Anima in his memories was a very dependable childhood friend who instilled in him the mindset of a monarch when he was not very sharp.

that day.

The day the empire collapsed – the Piviola Academy, where she and Anima worked, also collapsed.

At that time, it was Anima, not anyone else, who saved her life from the brink of death.

“I feel like I still have many shortcomings, so I’m thinking of taking this opportunity to go on a retreat to reflect on myself.”

It’s not enough.

Even in this state, Anima was an indispensable person in the Aishous Army.

At least it was like that for Yuuri.

In my heart, I wanted to visit in person.

I actually visited a few times.

Anima was not visible when Yuuri came in person.

Epinel, Hernandorf, and Emma. Didn’t anyone come back without seeing her?

If it was Swen, who had never had a single moment of contact with her, maybe she would still meet him.

‘Please come back, Anima…’ … .’

Yuuri let out a long sigh.

* * *

‘Is this about it?’

This place is on the side of a mountain not far from Balharat territory.

It wasn’t too far from where I had taken Reika out for meditation last time.

Maybe it was because I had gone much deeper than before, but I felt like I was barely able to find it without realizing it.

‘It must be somewhere around here.’

According to what Yuuri said, there was an old shack somewhere around here.

No matter how much I looked, I couldn’t see even a human silhouette, let alone a house.

‘Let’s take a break… … .’

I sat comfortably on the rock.

Reika also said that she felt a lot of mana when she came near this area, but it turns out that she was just resting and wondering if this place was a good place for training or something.

‘uh?’

Beyond, a small shack hidden between the trees caught my eye.

It was so tightly hidden in the middle of the mountain that you could almost believe it was made of camouflage.

‘That’s why I couldn’t find it… … .’

I thought about taking a break, but I found it right away, so it was a bit frustrating, but I found it, so I can’t waste any more time.

I immediately got up and headed to the shack.

Rustle, rustle.

As I listened to the sound of stepping on the grass, I realized that my body was in front of the door.

I knocked slowly on the door.

“Are you there?”

It was strange because I felt like I was a tax collector.

From beyond… … A voice was heard that was very fragile, like thin glass that would easily break if touched.

“… … Who are you?”

“Are you by any chance Anima Ingram?”

My words were followed by silence for a moment.

“… … Is that so?”

“I came here under orders from my lord Yuuri. I have something to tell you, Anima.”

“… … .”

He didn’t answer for a long time again.

Soon, a small voice could barely be heard through the birdsong.

“Please wait a moment.”

A few minutes later.

Finally the door opens.

Anima Ingram appeared before my eyes.

The brown short hair had a dull feel to it for some reason.

The eyes, although overall giving a hollow feel, still had some clear details.

The costume itself wasn’t that unusual except for one part.

What was excluded was that the right arm was completely covered by a cloak-like thing.

“Did Yuuri send you here?”

“Yes.”

“This is my first time seeing this face… … Excuse me, but what is your name?”

It’s called “Swen. It hasn’t been long since I joined the Acious Army.”

“… … Is that so?”

She closed her eyes, then nodded and said.

“It’s shabby, but please come in.”

*

The inside of her residence felt quite familiar to me.

There was only a blanket lying around on the worn-out floor and in a room where there was nothing of note.

This is what the place felt like when I stayed at Zeeland Castle. surely.

“You’ve come a long way, but I have nothing to give you. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

I calmly examined her face.

She was looking at me with a faint smile… … Certainly, there was some level of caution.

Since there was a pattern on my clothes that symbolized that I was an Atious soldier, it seemed like I believed the statement that I was sent by Yuuri… … .

“Is Yuuri doing well?”

Does Anima feel comfortable speaking to her as well?

Well, since he seems to be one of the founding contributors, maybe it’s only natural.

“Yes. For now.”

“So, what did you say to Swen?”

“He said he hoped Anima would help him again.”

“Is that so.”

Anima said with a small sigh after hearing that.

“What is our county like?”

“We succeeded in capturing Lacline Castle not long ago.”

“Is that so? Fortunately, it seems to be going well without me.”

I could read her strange emotions in that look.

At first, I thought he might be doing something similar to protesting simply because he was put down from his position as a national officer, but-

Maybe not necessarily… … He seemed to be thinking that he had lost his place, or something like that.

That position is not about power, leadership, or anything like that… … Could it be something a little deeper and more personal?

It wasn’t concisely summarized in just one sentence, but I couldn’t read anything like a desire for power in those empty eyes.

Due to the nature of the Aishous Army, which values those who contributed to its founding, it was obvious that even if they did not take her back now, they would come back to get her again.

For me, climbing this mountain is quite a daunting task. If possible, I wanted to finish the mission in one go.

I opened my mouth cautiously.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily true.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. As well as you, many people, including General Epinel, General Emma, and General Hernandov, are missing Anima. I don’t know exactly because I just joined, but it seems like Anima was in charge of a very important part of this Aishous county.”

“Why do you think so?”

“That’s it, you can notice it if you spend a little time with it. Because Anima’s name keeps coming up.”

Of course, I never heard anything about it, but it was just MSG that I sprayed to make it look good.

In any case, if they could take her, the founding members of the Aishous Army, including Yuuri, would have liked it, but they didn’t seem to dislike it.

“… … .”

Anima listened to me and closed her eyes again.

“Everyone who has worked with Anima is looking forward to working with Anima. Would you please come back with me?”

She said nothing again.

This time, without urging her, I just stared at her face in silence until she said something.

How much time has passed?

Finally, she released her heavy lips.

“Swen. It’s a bit sudden, but do you know why I’m wearing this cape?”

“Are you talking about a cloak?”

I suddenly felt like it was a bit out of the blue, but-

I had a feeling that she was going to say something important, so I responded in a serious tone.

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

After saying that, she threw the cloak covering her right arm to the floor with her left hand.

And, what comes into my sight is-

“… … !!”

Where her right arm should be… … there was nothing.

‘wingy?’

“If I have surprised you, I sincerely apologize.”

“No, more than that… … How did this happen?”

“… … .”

Anima slowly opened her closed eyes.

Her hazel eyes became much clearer than before.

“It’s not a big deal. just… … Our story, that’s about it.”

By us, are we talking about Aceers?

Come to think of it – in Aceus-kun, the sense of solidarity between Yuuri and the founding contributors was a bit too strong.

Why on earth do they act like that?

Maybe this is an opportunity to find out.

I’m going to leave anyway, but since I’m in the position right now, there’s no harm in listening to the story.

“Do you want to listen?”

“As long as you want to hear it.”

“… … .”

Anima looked at me and nodded once.

Finally, we started talking about ‘what happened’.