Chapter 23 (1/2)
Escaping was easy.
The convenient plot development where the anki all die or turn to ash because their [nest] got destroyed didn’t happen, but with [Move Outer Plane], we just strolled out of there without the anki finding us.
There were still a lot of anki in those underground pa.s.sages, so I didn’t forget to use the remaining [Meteor] charge to collapse the entire cave system. And speaking of not forgetting, I also didn’t forget to heal Gillion’s hand with [Complete Recovery].
The something that I saw the moment the [nest] was destroyed that looks so similar to my Door of Wizardry.
Are anki born from someone’s wizardry? But in the first place, wizardry and the Door and all those are merely the products of our imaginations. Is ‘He’ or The Guardian related to a transcendental existence that affects both Sedia and my old world? If so, then it would mean that I am not a mere bystander. It is clear to me that even when I lay down plans for the future unrelated to anki, I must always take notice of them.
♥♦♣♠
When we returned to the fort and reported all the details, the Carbanera knights were greatly excited (of course, I kept quiet about the Door).
Under Arnogia’s precise instructions, the knights gradually tightened the encirclement, hunting down all of the remaining anki.
The fine tooth comb of the fort’s vicinity and forested areas ended up taking 5 whole days, but the anki clean up was a success. Of course, we can’t say with 100% certainty that none of them got away, so there will be knights stationed at the fort for a while longer as a precaution. Arnogia a.s.sertively said “as this task is the duty of the Carbanera Knight Order, we will accomplish it, even if I have to dip into the Sadishu family’s personal finances.”
Furthermore, after the other knights also heard what happened, their treatment of me went from ‘obligatory’ to ‘respectful,’ to the degree where they a.s.signed me the best room in the fort, better than even Arnogia’s own (well, it’s the one that used to be Jyagul’s).
♥♦♣♠
Six days after the destruction of the [nest], we found ourselves in Yuule.
Leaving behind Vice-Commander Gunnah and his subordinates, who had been tasked with the continued vigilance at the fort, we were on our way back to White Sword Castle.
News of the appearance of anki, deployment of the Carbanera Order, and the crus.h.i.+ng of the [nest] had already been spread far and wide throughout the village by the time we got there, so they threw us a huge feast.
An enormous bonfire was lit in the middle of the village square, and the village head unlocked all the warehouses and supplied tons of wine and food.
The men, be they knight or villager or dwarf, all brandished tankards and drank themselves silly, while all the girls dressed up and danced. The chorus of the villagers’ simple farming songs, the dwarves’ rowdy songs, and the youngsters’ songs of love and romance all melded together in merriness.
While all the merrymaking was going on, I was in an isolated part of town.
To be more specific, I was in the dining room of the mansion that belongs to the local feudal lord, Baron Carbanera.
In the first place, it was not good that the villagers now know about my meteors on top of me clearing the bandits out of the fort.
The amount of grat.i.tude and words of praise that they heaped onto me was incomparable to the time when I saved Mora. However, the villagers’ att.i.tudes had also grown stiffer than before. When the proprietress of Pavilion of the Iron Pot Knight spilled wine on my robe, her face turned pure white and she started apologizing to me while crying. Of course, I didn’t get angry, and somehow managed to calm her down, but I can’t forget how the faces of everyone present had stiffened up with fear.
While I may have gained the status of a Great Wizard, I have also equally become an object of fear in people’s eyes.
As this is the result of a decision that I myself had made, I have no right to say anything about it, but neither could I help being slightly shocked at it all. It was then that Gillion and Lioria called out to me.
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“Magician, I heard that you have been of great help to Gillion and Lioria. You have my thanks.”
The very neurotic-sounding voice that is addressing me belongs to the current head of the Carbanera family, Gilrand Carbanera. He is the man who caused the Order to suffer enormous losses due to his reckless strategies 15 years ago and was thus forced off the position of Grand Cross. Upon closer inspection, his handsome face seems more like Lioria’s than Gillion’s.
Exquisite fare on an exquisite table. Formal-looking furniture and decor. By all appearances, it is a gorgeous dinner, but my mood is at rock bottom.
At the table is Gilrand, Gillion, Lioria, and myself. Just us. I fully understand why Sedam and Claura so coldly declined Gillion’s invitation.
“Ahem, I’m actually a Wizard……”
“Of course, there is no doubt at all in my mind that it was Gillion who performed the most meritorious feats in this subjugation campaign! As expected of my son.”
“Y-, yes…… it was all thanks to the aid of Wiz-...... Margils-dono.”
It is like words don’t even reach him. Back when I was a salaryman in j.a.pan (though it was less than 10 days ago), I did meet people like this every once in a while. Hmm, didn’t I also think the exact same thing when I met Gillion for the first time?
“Lioria, you have also done well helping your brother. I give you my praise.”
“T-...... Thank you very much, Father!”
“With this, those Sadishu backstabbers and those in the Order must have gotten at least a glimpse of the most fitting blood for Grand Cross of the Carbanera Knight Order!”
If these two were raised by that father, then I understand how Gillion ended up the way he is. More rather, it seems that they turned rather rather well, considering.
The two of them do look aware that their father is not quite there. However, their pleased smiles at being praised, despite their father’s state, will forever remain in my heart.
♥♦♣♠
The next day, we returned to White Sword Castle.
After the conferral of honors and the victory banquet and all the a.s.sociated ceremonies, I can finally take a breather.
I am in the same guest room as before.
“Haa~ What am I to do next……” (Gio)