Book 3: Chapter 51 (1/2)

A huge hole was formed in the garden. Sediments scattered around, and black smoke was rising from the hole. It seems that “Queen of the Night” was loaded with a fairly powerful shell.

As for the arrow lodged in my shoulder, I cast【Flower Magic】on the vines of a nearby tree and entwined it around the arrow firmly. The arrow was pulled out as I leaned away from the tree (tears came out because of the pain), and I applied first aid with【Healing Magic】and Mimino-san’s salve.

Thank you… Mimino-san. Since she loves herbs more than the three meals a day, I should present her some fascinating herbs.

The servants and soldiers of the mansion came out and were in a commotion, so I ran in the shadows of the garden while silencing my footsteps with【Sprinting Technique】. Right then–

「As I expected… you are Reiji-san.」

「!!」

A voice came down from above. It was Polina-san.

She was perched on the high wall of the mansion, her bow ready to lose an arrow.

「What is your reason for attacking Her Highness Anastasia?」

「I wasn’t attacking her… I’m just dressed like this so that my identity wouldn’t be found out.」

「…………」

The tensed string of her bow was at its limit. …She’s super suspicious of me, ain’t she.

「I captured the Labyrinth of Fear at the behest of Her Highness, you know? I don’t really have any reason to hurt her…」

「Why are you sneaking like this then?」

「Before I talk about that, are you on Her Highness’ side? Or are you an enemy? You are the one who is sneaking in the shadows.」

I can hear sirens. And even the commotion from the buildings over the wall.

People will come around here as well before long. If that happens–well, I wouldn’t be able to escape, right?

「Reiji-san, I’ll let you go if you didn’t hurt Her Highness. But I won’t go easy on you if you approach her again.」

Polina-san turned around and jumped off the wall.

…Man, I couldn’t even talk to her properly. She could’ve at least apologized. “Sorry for attacking without confirming first,” or something like that. Though, I’m not sure I would have accepted such a light-toned apology.

「Feels like Polina-san is living a secret life. She even infiltrated the Golden Brigade party to enter the country, after all… hmm.」

Well, whatever. I guess it doesn’t concern me anymore.

Her Highness Anastasia will surely be able to live without problems if she practices using mana from now on. That’s good enough. I won’t have to get involved anymore.

…Though, she was trying to say something a while ago.

I wonder what it was. Gratitude? No, it felt like something else, but… I don’t know.

「There’s no point thinking about something I don’t know.」

I pulled myself together and started running. By the time I escaped from the site and into the city, I had changed from the thief-style to the adventurer-style clothes. There were traces of blood on my right shoulder, but it’s dark so it’s manageable.

「Now, then. Let’s go back to Muge-san’s company.」

In the city, people were talking in an elated tone about the sudden appearance of the “Queen of the Night” and the airships pursuing it.

「Good luck, Empire!」

「That’s the “Queen of the Night”, huh… It’s amazing.」

「I wonder if they’ll be able to catch up to it?」

I walked while listening to such clamouring. A lot of things happened today, so I just wanna go home and sleep peacefully… I’ll sleep until noon tomorrow…

Then, I just suddenly looked up for no reason. “Queen of the Night” was passing right overhead.

A human figure could be seen from a window on one of the rooms in the ship—it felt like the figure was looking down at me.

「…………?」

Even with enhanced eyesight, the room was too dark and I couldn’t really make out what I was looking at.

However, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

Is that a…

A white palm touched the window.

That hand… I have seen it somewhere.

Why? Why can’t I remember?

My memory was unclear as if it was blocked by haze. Almost like, Orihime and Hikoboshi across the Milky Way know that the other is there but cannot meet each other because of the rain clouds.

[TL Note: According to legend, the lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, are separated by the Milky Way, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. However, they cannot meet if it rains on that day, and have to wait for the next year.]