98-98 Reunion (1/2)
When I rode back to the ground with Ines on the back of Lara, we saw a terrible scene. Buildings had collapsed as far as the eye could see, and the corpses of a great number of demons that seemed to have sprung up from the labyrinth were piled up like a mountain.
There was no sign of movement anywhere, and it seemed as if the once beautiful city of Mithra had been reduced to ruins.
However, we found Lean and Astira waving at us from the ground, and asked Lara to land right beside them.
We left her in the care of Lolo, who came to pick her up, and tried to exchange words of reunion with Lean and the others, but...
”──── Mr. Linneburg, we are back.
Inez, thank you so much for your help. Inez, thank you very much for all your hard work. Dr. Noll, are you hurt?
Yes. I'm fine.
As he approached, he looked at Leanne and became a little worried about her.
Leanne, are you okay? ...... You look pretty pale.
There were no scars on her face or arms, but her white dress was torn in places and she had what looked like burn marks around her hands.
Her face also looked tired after a while.
Yes, I was a little reckless and ...... got a little injured. But thanks to Astila, it's already healed, so don't worry about it.
...... Is that so?
I looked at Astila's face as she stood beside Lean, and she shook her head quietly.
No. ...... Not at all! It wasn't a little (...) at all, was it? It was not a little(ish) at all, was it? I managed to get myself patched up in a hurry, but ...... that was a pretty close call, to be honest.
Yes, I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused you ...... and I'm afraid I put you all in danger.
Astira shook her head again when she heard Lean's words.
”Really, what are you talking about ...... at all! We all owe you our lives, you know. You should be more proud and proud of yourself. You don't have to say it like that. ...... Well, that last one was a little scary.
...... I'm sorry I didn't inform you about that beforehand, too.
No! It saved everyone's life. No! It saved everyone's lives, and it's a small price to pay for being surprised! ...... Thank you so much for all your hard work.
”Yes, ...... thank you very much, Astila.
That's what I'm talking about, Mr. Lean!
Astila and Leanne looked into each other's eyes and laughed for a while.
Astila and Leanne looked at each other and laughed for a while, wondering when they had become such good friends.
I'm still a little worried about Leanne, but ...... she's laughing like that, so I guess she's fine.
As I was taking a break from watching the two of them, I heard a voice behind me.
”Your Eminence.
It was Sigil.
He's got those five guys behind him.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea. Fortunately, most of the citizens have taken refuge outside the city, and there is no threat of demons, but ...... there may be many people trapped under the rubble.
”...... I see.
”Therefore, I would like to request that we, the Twelve Saints, once again go to the rescue of the citizens.
Yes, I think so. Please hurry, Mr. Sigil!
”Thank you for your understanding, ────.
”Thank you for your understanding.” Sigil just said that and immediately ran off with the others.
”Mr. Linneburg. I'm going to make sure our luggage is safe. ...... Please wait until then to change your clothes.
”Yes, please, Inez.
Then Ines also walked away.
But I suddenly had a question.
Earlier, Sigil seemed to have reported something to Astira and left.
Is she (Astira) really that great of a person ......?
I've heard that she's just an adventurer.
Astila, what was that? I was told she was a ...... adventurer.
”Well, yes, but there are some circumstances. Now, I'm the mother (・・・・) of that boy ────, the prince of this country, Tirens-kun.
”......Mom......?
”Yes. It's funny how you suddenly feel like you've become a big deal, isn't it? I've never done anything like this before, but I think I'm going to be hooked.
”......?
Astila seems to be enjoying the conversation, but I'm not really following it.
As I was puzzled, a familiar boy who had been busily discussing something with a bunch of soldiers finished his story and walked straight towards me.
That's ────
──── Are you sure you are Lord Noor?
”Yes, I am.
I believe he is the prince of this land.
Yes, Prince Tirens, I believe.
”Lord Noor. I'm sure you're displeased with the rude ──── behavior of our people towards you.
”......? ...... No, ......?
”As the representative of the current regent, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies.
He stood in front of me, said so, and suddenly bowed deeply.
...... Wait a minute, please.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
As for me, all I remember is being entertained by Sigil and the others.
I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
...... Or maybe it was three times.
It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything that might help you.
This is a great way to make sure that you are getting the most out of your money.
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. It is because of you that this country has been saved. I can never thank you enough or apologize enough, Mr. Noll. I'm sure I'll make it up to you in time.
He looked me straight in the eye and said.
”...... Really?
...... I was kind of speechless from his energy.
I'm not sure what to say.
...... I don't want that, okay?
I don't know, this boy.
I've been thinking that he looks much better than when I met him yesterday,────, but I may have let my guard down.
Now he smells somewhat like Leanne and her family ......, especially that father (・・・・・・).
The vague response I just gave might ...... have been a bad idea.
No,......, if you don't clear up this misunderstanding as soon as possible, you might be in real trouble ...... later on.
I'm sure you'll be able to understand what I mean.
You can call me Astila-sama (・・・・・・), if you like.
The prince said, examining her (Astira's) face carefully.
Yes, there's no need to be so formal, you know. You can simply call me Astila. ...... Or should I be the one who needs to be dressed up? ......?
I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what I'm talking about. So you're the real ......?
I'm the only one, really. I'm Astila, of the one and only adventuring party, the Cup of Wisdom. I'm sure the party has already been disbanded. ...... ......It looks like a lot of time has passed. ......?
Astila said and looked around.
There was no longer a decent building in sight, just rubble, but she looked at it as if it were a curiosity.
As I recall, she said she had been in that strange place in the Blue Stone for a long time.
...... Speaking of which, how long was Astira in that place? You said she was locked up.
I don't know, I don't know anything about that. ...... It's hard to keep track of time there, there was nothing to do, I was usually asleep. But it looks like it's probably been at least a couple of decades. ......?
”Decades?
No. ...... I think it's probably not decades.
The prince interrupted, as if to confirm something.
It may surprise you, but I think it's definitely more than two hundred years old.
”What, ──── two hundred years?
Astira's expression hardened in surprise at the Prince's words.
I'm a little surprised, too.
...... She didn't look like such an old woman to me.
”...... Two hundred years, is it ......?
Yes. In the history books of our country, it is written that it was more than two hundred years ago that the labyrinth was broken through (・・・・・) by the Pope and the Holy Mithraic State was founded. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do when you're in a situation like this.
”Oh, ...... two hundred years, huh?
Astila sighed and looked up at the sky.
”I ...... have become a great grandmother without ...... knowing it, haven't I ......?
Is ...... that what you're worried about?
No, I think there's a lot more to say, but that's about it for now.
Well, that's about it.
I don't know, I've never experienced anything like that.
I don't know, because I've never experienced anything like that, and I don't think I'll be alive in 200 years.
I don't know. ......? But ...... Oaken is alive, isn't he?
Yeah, he's alive.
So could it be that ...... is a different person?
No, I think the person you are referring to, Astira, is definitely Dr. Oaken.
Lean, who had been quietly listening to us earlier, opened his mouth.